He had previously used his power to oppress others, which, in reality, was also a tactic. If he could truly control the Wang family, wouldn't that be wonderful? Even if he couldn't, he wouldn't lose much. Look, the mont he saw the Wang family's stiff stance, Zuoqiu Guanyu imdiately changed his strategy.
"Good idea," Wang Shouzhe said with a beaming smile, "Then our Keep Achieving Comrcial Firm will also get involved in the flying carriage market in Qing An Prefecture, we can negotiate the prices. As for the grain business, we can do it together. You can sell to our Longzuo, and we can sell to your Qing'an as well."
"Since Master Guanyu is so generous, giving the pricing power of the flying carriage market to Keep Achieving Comrcial Firm. I, Wang Shouzhe, am naturally not a small-hearted person either," Wang Shouzhe took on a deanor full of bravado and proclaid, "The price of the grain will be determined by your Zuoqiu family, and I won't overcharge a single shilling."
Zuoqiu Guanyu's expression faltered, and in his mind, ten thousand mud horses galloped wildly past.
If our Zuoqiu family's grain could compete with your Wang family's grain at the sa price, would I have run all this way to be humiliated by you?
Zuoqiu Guanyu fiercely pinched his palm, managing to control his expression and force a smile: "Master Shouzhe, you jest."
"You were the one who started joking," Wang Shouzhe said, his smile resembling both laughter and non-laughter.
"So according to Master Shouzhe's aning..." Zuoqiu Guanyu, having sufficiently sensed Wang Shouzhe's formidable strength, cautiously probed, "Is there a solution to this matter?"
"Naturally, there is a solution." Wang Shouzhe was too lazy to beat around the bush, "First, your Qing Feng Comrcial Firm's flying carriage operations should be completely disbanded, with our Keep Achieving Comrcial Firm fully taking over both the flying carriage business and the debts."
Zuoqiu Guanyu's mouth twitched.
Is he serious? Such an outrageous condition, and it's only the first...
"Secondly, grant our Keep Achieving Comrcial Firm access to the flying carriage market in Qing An Prefecture." Wang Shouzhe said nonchalantly, "As long as these two conditions are t, it expresses your sincerity, and you can negotiate the grain business with our Wang family."
Such two vicious conditions were only prerequisites?
Even Prefectural Governor Wu Ding Hai's face had started to look unpleasant: "Master Shouzhe, aren't you being a tad too greedy? Isn't your approach rather unsightly? One must always leave room for maneuvering, so don't be too excessive."
Upon hearing this, before Wang Shouzhe could respond, Prefect Taishi Ankang broke into heartily laughter: "Wu Ding Hai, why does your remark sound so familiar to ? A year ago, when I personally went to Qing An Prefecture to discuss with you, wasn't this what I told you? How did you answer then?"
Mimicking Wu Ding Hai's tone, he said, "Taishi, it's all proper business competition, it's a good thing for the people. You're simply worrying too much over nothing."
After finishing, he looked at Wu Ding Hai with a smirk: "By your logic, our Master Shouzhe selling grain at a low price to all the prominent families in Qing An Prefecture, wouldn't that also be a great deed that benefits the country and the people?"
Wu Ding Hai's face imdiately reddened, looking as if it had been slapped, it burned.
The way he had given Taishi Ankang a telling-off in the past was now being paid back twofold. And, he couldn't even leave in a huff like him, because if he did, the Zuoqiu family would et their end sooner or later. Before that happens, they might even do sothing crazy, and then his, Wu Ding Hai's, days would truly be numbered.
Perhaps it was due to the pressure of their impending doom, but the Emperor had beco increasingly sensitive over the past few years. If such a massive mistake were made, he would most likely be banished to the frontier battlefields. If his luck wasn't good, he might even imdiately beco cannon fodder.
"Prefect Taishi." Wu Ding Hai knew he was in deep water and had to smile, saying, "Indeed, I was at fault in this matter. I apologize to you."
Refreshing!
Taishi Ankang felt as satisfied as eating an ice block on a hot day, from top to toe. Thinking about it, when he looked at Wang Shouzhe again, his eyes contained even more joy and admiration.
The Wang Clan of Changning having such a son as the Family Head will surely prosper~~
"Though these two conditions may seem harsh..." Wu Ding Hai tried to smooth things over with a forced smile, "However, all's said and done, it was the Zuoqiu family who listened to my vile advice and provoked this dispute. If there's a reasonable arrangent on the grains side, we at Qing An might not refuse."
"Prefect! These conditions..." Zuoqiu Guanyu panicked.
However, before he could finish, he was interrupted by Wu Ding Hai's stern rebuke: "Master Guanyu, when will you finally understand? The position of your Zuoqiu family is now like fish on a chopping board, you have no qualifications to negotiate. The most pressing matter right now is to have a good discussion and find a way to resolve the dispute over grains.
That is the foundation of your Zuoqiu family."
Zuoqiu Guanyu was reeling as if struck by lightning; his face turned alternatingly red and pale, and it took him a while to co back to his senses.
He, of course, knew all this in his heart... but the renown of a rank-four prominent family was too loud, he had gotten used to being towering above others. They were always the ones controlling others' destinies. It was simply impossible for him to accept that his fate was now in the hands of a re seventh-grade family.
After what seed like an eternity, he finally regained his composure: "Master Shouzhe, our Zuoqiu family can agree to the two conditions. However, we are willing to pay a high price for the cultivation rights of the few grains that you sell in our Qing An Prefecture. A one-ti fee of five million Qian Gold for the cultivation and selling rights of five types of grains in Qing An Prefecture."
"Otherwise, we, the Zuoqiu family, would rather die than submit. At that ti, how the situation will develop will have to be left to fate."
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