...
"What?!" Zuoqiu Guanyu felt as if he had been slapped hard, his face turning instantly red with rage simring and about to overflow, "Wang Shouzhe! How dare you talk to like that?!"
"Hm."
Wang Shouzhe glanced at him, not bothering to address him.
Taking up the tea cup from the table, he sipped at it unhurriedly.
Seeing Zuoqiu Guanyu's face getting steadily more uncomfortable as if he was unable to bear it, Wang Shouzhe finally began to speak, "Master Guanyu, one must understand his status. With the ongoing crises inside and outside the Zuoqiu family, it's you who are seeking my help. I wonder where you get the courage to put on airs before ?"
"Even if I simply refuse to negotiate, just being held accountable by the National Capital would be enough for the Zuoqiu family to face the music."
"Even if you manage to smooth things over at the National Capital owing to your years of connections, and suppress the turmoil within Qing'an County using martial power. But if the crops can't be sold, how many years can the Zuoqiu family hold out? Large family, big business, it's certainly impressive. But can you afford the annual expense?
Or else, you can reduce the number of Celestials exchanges, Purple Abode exchanges. You could also ask the family to cut down on their expenditure, which could sustain you for several more years."
"Sadly, no matter how much one saves, it can't change a fate of constant decline."
Every word from Wang Shouzhe was like an arrow, each one penetrating through Zuoqiu Guanyu's heart one after another.
Being the head of the Zuoqiu family, no one understood the financial situation of Zuoqiu's more than he did. Just the cost of supporting six Purple Abode Ancestors was a huge expenditure, not to ntion the many more Celestial Elders below them, it was burning money every day.
As for reducing their upkeep, dare he?
Six Purple Abode Ancestors, any one of them could easily take care of him. Even if De Ye Ancestor and Zhenghua Ancestor, these two direct line ancestors, were willing to support him, the remaining four direct line Purple Abode ancestors would not agree. If the inner conflicts of Zuoqiu family arise, the consequences will be even more serious.
If they don't sell crops, Zuoqiu family cannot maintain its current stability.
"Aren't you afraid that our Zuoqiu family will turn against you?" Zuoqiu Guanyu clenched his fists, murder seeping into his look at Wang Shouzhe, "With the power of Zuoqiu, extinguishing your Wang family would be easy."
"Hm." Wang Shouzhe sneered before turning to Taishi Ankang, "Prefectural Governor, since when did our Daqian Law allow high-ranked families to trample upon those of lower rank?"
"Master Guanyu, watch your words." Taishi Ankang glanced at Zuoqiu Guanyu as he sternly warned, "My eight thousand Black Armor Guards of Longzuo County don't just eat and do nothing. Besides, since you've been inquiring about the Wang family, you must be familiar with Miss Wang Li Yao, who is a beloved student of Tianhe Enlightened One and an esteed Great Sky Pride."
Just the title of Great Sky Pride is enough to intimidate many Purple Abode Realm Cultivators. Not to ntion, she also has an Enlightened One teacher from the Divine Abilities Realm.
Doesn't Zuoqiu fear making an enemy of Wang Li Yao? In a hundred-odd years, she would have ascended to the Purple Abode, and after hundreds of years, she will be a Divine Skills Enlightened One.
Aren't you afraid that she might seek revenge on Zuoqiu when she becos a Divine Skills Enlightened One in the future?
"Besides, the Changning Wang family is no rootless water hyacinth," Taishi Ankang added, "Many of its family mbers have entered the service of those in the Purple Abode. The main lineage of Wang is the Great Qian Wang Clan!"
A family that can be terd "Great Qian" must be at least a Grade Three or once was a Grade Three family.
For instance, though the Zuoqiu family of Qing'an is ranked fourth and almost dominates Qing'an County, it can only be prefaced with Qing'an. Brazenly using "Daqian" would make them a laughing stock and would not be recognized by others.
Just like the Wang family can be referred to as "Changning" but can't arbitrarily be terd as "Longzuo". And the Longzuo Wang family, though it was once a fifth-grade family and now it has declined, it still carries the "Longzuo" title.
When Taishi Ankang ntioned the "Great Qian Wang Clan," Zuoqiu Guanyu's already severe countenance grew even more severe.
Even though the reports suggest that the current Changning Wang has no active communication with the main lineage in Daqian. But, if the matter escalates, it's uncertain if soone might go to Daqian to pull so strings.
For example, if Wang Li Yao were to go to the Great Qian Wang Clan, given her status as the Great Sky Pride, she would definitely receive a warm welco, and who knows, she may even be able to call upon a Divine Skills Old Ancestor.
It is this myriad of considerations that has sowhat restrained the Zuoqiu family....
Seeing the deadlock, U-Ding Hai, the prefect of Qing'an, who had not spoken drew, made the peace: "Alright, alright. It's normal for young heads to have so disagreents, let's just let it out. Master Guanyu, as it is your Zuoqiu family who wants to negotiate, let's not put on airs as the Fourth Grade family. Let's give a little where we should, and not be ruled by our tempers."
"The governor is right."
Although Zuoqiu Guanyu was discontented, as the head of a prominent family, he was willing to give and take.
Recognizing the situation, he obliged the governor with a bow of thanks and then, adopting an elegant deanor, looked at Wang Shouzhe, saying, "Master Shouzhe, I was impulsive. Here is what I propose. After all, it was our Zuoqiu family who initiated this business conflict. We, Zuoqiu, will make the first move, the pricing in Flying Carriage Market will be decided by Keep Achieving Comrcial Firm.
After all, we should all profit in doing business, why give undue advantage to others?"
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