196: Chapter 196 Chen Family

Wuyang City, Pei Clan Estate.

Pei Qingyun was listening to a report from Jiu, the leader of the secret guards.

Ever since receiving a letter from Pei Tianquan a month ago, Pei Qingyun had been closely monitoring the movements of the Qian Clan, even sending the leader of the Family secret guards, Jiu, to Jinhuai Prefecture, and had been maintaining a direct, single-line connection with him.

Yet, after that, the Qian Clan suddenly became silent.

This could not help but make Pei Qingyun feel somewhat surprised.

Given the Qian Clan's status in Jinhuai, if they really wanted to make a move against the Yuanhang Trade Caravan, there would be no need to deliberate for such a long time.

However, looking at it from another perspective, the Qian Clan not taking action was ultimately a good thing.

According to his predictions, if the Qian Clan intended to deal with the Yuanhang Trade Caravan, there were only two methods.

One was to compete with the Yuanhang Trade Caravan by establishing a Qian Clan caravan with the same business model.

This, in the business competition of his previous life, was also one of the most common methods.

If they couldn't innovate, surely they could copy.

Not to mention, this world had no such thing as patent rights.

Plagiarism was as easy as pie.

The only thing that could protect one's own rights was strength.

Yet a month had passed, and the Qian Clan's firm hadn't even imitated them, let alone shown any activity.

Overall, this was still a normal method of business competition. If the Qian Clan chose this method, Pei Qingyun would be happy to see it happen.

As for the second method, it would be to sabotage the business of the Yuanhang Trade Caravan.

The Yuanhang Trade Caravan's biggest business currently was undoubtedly transportation.

If a problem arose in this area, it would naturally affect the revenue of the Yuanhang Trade Caravan.

This was also what Pei Qingyun was most worried about.

Once the Qian Clan employed such methods, it would be impossible to guard against.

"Keep a close watch during this time, and do not let your guard down. If there is anything unusual, report to me immediately. Arrange for people to monitor the storage warehouses on every street in the prefecture city," Pei Qingyun instructed.

"Yes," Jiu replied respectfully.

After Jiu left, Pei Qingyun's expression became more solemn. He knew very well that since the Qian Clan had stepped forward, they could not sit back and watch the Yuanhang Trade Caravan grow, otherwise, why would the Qian Clan have bothered with such superfluous actions?

Meanwhile.

Jinhuai Prefecture, Chen Clan Estate.

As the second-largest Great Family in Jinhuai, the Chen Clan Estate was vast, being no less significant than the Pei Clan's estate after its expansion.

At a glance, one could see stretches of building complexes. These complexes were neatly arranged, each with a very different design. However, looking at the style, one could find that certain aspects had a similar charm, as if everything had been created by the same person.

The Chen Clan's main residence was situated in the very center of this complex, standing out like a crane in a flock of chickens.

One only needed to take a single look to know that this was the Chen Clan's main residence.

Although the Chen Clan had a history of several hundred years, it looked like a Great Family that had developed slowly over time.

In reality, that was not the case; the Chen Clan's ancestors attaining the status of a Great Family was entirely an accident.

To use the words of Pei Qingyun's previous life, they were essentially nouveau riche.

If it hadn't been for the Chen Clan's ancestor stumbling into the Immortal Cave of a powerful martial artist, there would be no Chen Clan today.

Furthermore, the Chen Clan's ancestor was a low-key person. It was only after Cultivating to the Six Viscera Realm that he gradually revealed his true strength.

In just over thirty years, they had become a second-rate Great Family. Back then, that was absolutely a legendary existence.

However, after several hundred years, most of the Chen Clan members had become hazy about this history, mostly believing their ancestor was a person of heavenly talent.

Inside the Chen Clan's main residence.

Two men were concentrating intently on playing a game of chess.

One of them was around fifty years old, wearing a dark blue brocade robe, with a resolute face, sharp eyes, and strands of white hair at his temples.

The other was slightly younger, with prominent cheekbones and a sharp nose, giving his whole appearance a three-dimensional feel.

Judging by their features, the two resembled each other by two or three parts. However, the older man looked more dignified.

The older man was the current head of the Chen Clan, Chen Zemin.

The slightly younger man was named Third Elder Chen Zexi.

"Zexi, this throat-sealing move is quite ingenious. It's been a while since I played with you, and your chess skills have improved quite a bit. Tell me, where did you learn this move?" Chen Zemin said while conversing and playing.

At this moment, the black and white pieces were like two giant Dragons, entangled in battle on the battlefield.

"Second Brother, you underestimate me too much. This move was created by me. They say that the tide turns every thirty years, and my talent is only a tiny bit worse than yours," Third Elder Chen Zexi said, unconvinced.

Chen Zemin retorted unceremoniously, "Give it a rest. I've played with you for so many years, and you never had a breakthrough. You go out for a trip, and suddenly you learn to create your own moves? Do you think your Second Brother is a fool..."

Third Elder Chen Zexi laughed out loud, "As expected, I couldn't hide it from you, Second Brother. I stayed with Chen Yuanba for a few days. It just so happened that Chen Yuanba's chess skills aren't bad, so he played a few games with me."

Chen Zemin asked, "How are things with Chen Yuanba?"

Third Elder Chen Zexi explained, "Currently, the situation is going smoothly, and the people under him have long been recruited. However, Chen Yuanba seems to be quite short on silver recently."

Hearing this, Chen Zemin almost couldn't help but roll his eyes, "He isn't short on silver; he's just spent it all."

Others might not know what the Yuanhang Trade Caravan was doing, but as the head of the Chen Clan, it was naturally impossible for him not to know.

He did not oppose Chen Yuanba's act of investing in shares. But, Chen Yuanba had unexpectedly not invested in the name of the Chen Clan, but in his own private name.