"Can you two stop speaking in riddles? I haven't understood a word you've been saying. Can we talk about something I can comprehend?"
Wang Bing was genuinely frustrated, watching the two converse so formally for so long.
If they had spoken some poetry or literature, he might have been able to contribute a sentence or two. But as for "机" (ji) and other concepts, he was completely lost.
"Hahahaha, forgive me, Brother Wang. It's my fault. Come, come, I'll punish myself with three cups of wine!"
Han Mo's greatest hope was dashed. In his disappointment, he decided to focus all his interest on the banquet.
Shao Bowen seemed to notice Han Mo's dejection. Although he didn't know the reason for Han Mo's disappointment, he could vaguely guess it was because he couldn't answer Han Mo's question.
However, no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't figure out what kind of things Han Mo was talking about – refrigerators, color TVs, and washing machines.
It was one thing for Han Mo to ask himself, but he never expected that such a simple question would trouble Shao Bowen for his entire life.
So much so that, even on his deathbed, he still couldn't forget, urging his descendants to solve this cross-century puzzle.
The feast continued until evening. Only when all three were thoroughly drunk did it reluctantly conclude.
While they were happily drinking, the Pu family's situation was quite different.
"Patriarch, someone from the Cai family just informed us that their southbound fleet encountered rough seas. It seems the payment they owe us will be delayed..."
"What did you say? How long will they delay?"
Upon hearing this news, Pu Haida suddenly had a bad premonition.
The two families had cooperated for so many years, and such a situation had never occurred until now.
They had just lowered their guard and agreed to pay ten percent of their profits in exchange for the Cai family's help against Han Mo.
Now, the Cai family had made such a move, which made him harbor some unpleasant thoughts.
Sea trade was indeed extremely profitable, but to achieve their current scale, the initial capital was astonishingly large. To maintain their advantage in scale, they had invested almost all their annual profits, after fixed expenses, into shipbuilding!
Over the past few decades, the Pu family's business had grown larger and larger, and their seafaring vessels had increased in number. Although their assets had also grown, they had very little hard cash in hand.
After all, how could such shrewd merchants allow copper coins to lie in warehouses and rust?
While this posed no problem in normal times, it presented a significant credit crisis for them in the current situation.
After all, a considerable portion of the funds they were expecting had already been allocated.
If this money didn't arrive on time, the subsequent events would be a chain reaction, with each link developing in a negative direction!
"They said it will take at least three months to re-allocate the funds..." the old steward said cautiously.
"Nonsense! Where is the person they sent to our house?"
Pu Haida was truly angry now. The Cai family was different from them.
While they invested most of their profits into new businesses each year, the Cai family converted large amounts of copper coins into gold, silver, or land annually, even directly hoarding large quantities of copper coins.
According to Pu Haida's estimate, the copper coins hoarded in the Cai family's old residence alone amounted to at least seven to eight million guan!
When they said such things at this time, it wasn't a delay in payment, but a clear stab in the back!
"The person who came was just a young clerk. After delivering the message, he left directly!"
"Bastard!"
After hearing the old steward's words, Pu Haida's heart sank.
"Patriarch, if they really do this, we'll be in serious trouble. The advance payment for shipbuilding in Mingzhou, the taxes payable to the Maritime Affairs Bureau, and the payments due to the Qian, Wang, and Zhang families – all together, it will likely amount to at least four to five million guan!"
"Get out! All of you, get out!"
The old steward's words had only made things worse. As soon as he finished speaking, Pu Haida completely erupted, violently smashing the set of exquisite porcelain he favored the most.
Now he finally understood. This was all a premeditated plan.
"Yes..."
Seeing him in a fit of rage, the old steward helplessly waved his hand, signaling the servants attending him to leave.
"Did you all hear what happened today?"
Although these people were Pu Haida's trusted confidantes, after retreating from the room, the old steward sternly asked them.
"He-heard..."
"Keep these words buried in your stomachs. You heard nothing and saw nothing today. Anyone who dares to spread a single word will face the family rules!"
When he uttered the words "family rules," a naked killing intent flashed in the old steward's eyes.
This thoroughly terrified the servants, who were already as timid as quails, silencing them completely.
"Yes!"
After all, the Pu family's disciplinary rules were different from others. Anyone who leaked secrets would be tied to the ship's side and dragged into the sea to feed the sharks.
Anyway, how many ships didn't lose ten or eight people each year?
Most of these servants were from Champa, and they had no household registration in the Great Song Dynasty, let alone personal safety. If a citizen of the Great Song Dynasty died, the government would surely make a fuss.
But if it were one of them who died, the government wouldn't even bother...
"If you understand, get out!"
Annoyed, after dismissing all the servants, the old steward no longer had the mood to waste time with them.
Having served Pu Haida for so many years, he had a rough idea of the Pu family's overall situation.
Although the Pu family appeared to be immensely prosperous, the total amount of liquid cash they possessed would not exceed two million guan.
If the Cai family's funds failed to arrive on time, a catastrophic disaster would await them.
After all, fear was contagious, especially in the business world!