65: Chapter 65: The Wang Family Presents the Marriage Certificate, the Chen Family Sets Up a Trap.

Night deepened, and the study in the Li Family's New Courtyard remained brightly lit.

Before Li Qingfeng lay two vastly different letters.

One was a secret marriage proposal written by the Wang Clan Head Wang Chongyue, with a dowry list engraved using a spirit seal, the handwriting steady and powerful. The other was an invitation to a small business banquet sent by the Chen Family Trading Firm from the Outer Town, its gold-leafed cover exuding a sense of fake courtesy.

Su Qingyue had just settled the two children, her body still carrying a faint scent of milk and the fresh aroma of grass and trees. She walked to the table, picked up the Wang Family's marriage proposal, and her eyes fell directly on the dowry list.

"Two old trade routes, a stable supply of Spirit Beast cubs at half price, and three senior stewards familiar with all the surrounding towns." She read softly, her voice revealing neither joy nor anger. "The Wang Family has certainly invested heavily this time."

She had recovered exceptionally well after childbirth, her figure appearing even more full and voluptuous than before. A loose, moon-white lounge robe could not hide the moving curves outlined under the soft light.

Li Qingfeng pushed the Chen Family's invitation toward her and said, "This side is the trouble."

Su Qingyue put down the marriage proposal and, after just one glance at the invitation, nodded gently: "One side wants to send someone in, while the other wants to cut off our path. Husband, I'm afraid you'll be busy these next few days."

Li Qingfeng did not rush to deal with the Chen Family's matter but instead looked at Su Qingyue very seriously and asked, "If you are unwilling regarding the Wang Family matter, I can find an excuse to stall it."

Upon hearing this, Su Qingyue raised her eyes, her gaze looking exceptionally clear under the lamplight. She smiled faintly and shook her head: "If I only cared about the peace of my own backyard, I would naturally be unwilling. But if the Family wants to rise, we cannot lack trade routes, Spirit Beasts, or news from the Outer Town. Wang Qingluan is capable and knows her limits; she is not some decorative vase who only knows how to compete for favor."

She paused, her tone still gentle but carrying an unquestionable weight: "As long as the rules are clearly written, I do not oppose it. People entering the Family are here to add support, not to cause trouble."

Li Qingfeng reached out, held her hand on the table, and said in a low voice, "No one will ever be able to shake your position."

With her hand held by him, Su Qingyue felt a warmth in her heart, but a cunning smile appeared on her face: "I'll remember those words. If you show favoritism in the future, I'll take this statement out to settle accounts with you."

The next day, Li Qingfeng invited Wang Qingluan to the New Courtyard, and Su Qingyue was also present.

This was the first time the three of them sat down formally to discuss how two women could coexist in one courtyard.

Wang Qingluan was dressed in her usual capable manner today, wearing a long green dress with a simple jade belt tied around her waist. She had not a shred of a young girl's shyness and went straight to the point: "If I enter the Li Family, I do not seek to surpass Sister Su, nor do I want to be an idler who just stays in the backyard. I want to continue managing the trade routes jointly operated by the Li and Wang families, the procurement of Spirit Beasts, and the storefronts in the Outer Town. I will send a copy of the account books to Sister Su and you each month."

After listening, Su Qingyue nodded with satisfaction: "That is fine. I do not understand business matters, so I am at ease with you managing them. However, the internal affairs of the New Courtyard, the daily lessons for Changqing and Changsheng, and the maintenance of the Family fields and herb gardens will still remain under my management."

Wang Qingluan answered crisply: "I will not fight for those."

Li Qingfeng watched as the two women clearly defined their rights and responsibilities in just a few words, and for a moment, he couldn't even get a word in.

Seeing him dazed, Su Qingyue turned to look at him and asked deliberately: "Does my husband have any objections?"

Li Qingfeng rubbed his nose and smiled tactfully: "None at all. The two of you have arranged it very well; I will just listen."

After finishing the official business, Wang Qingluan rose to leave, and Li Qingfeng walked her to the corridor.

She suddenly stopped, turned to look at him, and said with a hint of subtle resentment in her tone: "You didn't say a single word to help me just now."

Li Qingfeng laughed: "Do you need me to help you?"

Wang Qingluan thought for a moment and shook her head very seriously: "No, I don't."

"Then why should I interrupt?" Li Qingfeng asked back.

Wang Qingluan looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then said in a low voice: "You respect Sister Su very much."

Li Qingfeng said frankly: "She has accompanied me from the hardest times, step by step, to where we are now. Half of this Family was built up by her."

There was no jealousy in Wang Qingluan's eyes; instead, she showed a sense of relief. She nodded gently: "That is good. If you had treated her poorly, I wouldn't have dared to enter the Li Family's door."

Three days later, the small business banquet in the neighboring town.

The banquet was held in a grand restaurant, and many small trading firms in the Outer Town that dealt in spirit plants and spirit mines had sent people. Young Master Chen Huaili sat in the main seat, a warm smile on his face, but his eyes hid calculations.

After three rounds of drinks, Chen Huaili finally revealed his true intentions.

He raised his glass and said loudly to Li Qingfeng: "Brother Qingfeng, to be honest, I invited you here today to discuss a big business deal. The Outer Town Chamber of Commerce is willing to join forces to provide the Li Family with a stable source of Spirit Beast cubs, and the price is negotiable. It's just that we have a small condition: we hope the Li Family can share the formula for spirit fertilizer and the Medicinal Pill ratio for the beast-calming pill with everyone so we can all get rich together!"

Several managers of trading firms on good terms with the Chen Family immediately chimed in.

"That's right, Young Lord Li, let's all make money together!"

"Only by making the formula public can we cooperate with peace of mind!"

Li Qingfeng did not get angry; he simply set down the wine glass in his hand, took out a cooperation agreement he had prepared long ago from his Storage Pouch, and said unhurriedly: "The formula cannot be made public. However, business can be done in another way. The Li Family can buy the young beasts; the Li Family can supply spirit fertilizer at market price; and the beast-calming pill can also be exchanged in quantities. Those who want to cooperate, follow the rules in the contract. Those who want to get something for nothing can go eat at another table."

His words were not loud, but they made the entire restaurant go quiet.

Chen Huaili's face turned somewhat ugly on the spot.

Just at this moment, Wang Qingluan, accompanied by two old Wang Family stewards, walked up from the staircase with a calm gait.

She didn't even look at Chen Huaili, walked straight to Li Qingfeng's side, placed a newly signed contract on the table, and said in a cold voice: "This is a batch of Green-Horned Deer branch cubs just purchased by the Wang Family's newly expanded secret route, and the contract has already been sent to the Li Family's accounting office."

After she finished speaking, she turned to look at Chen Huaili and asked with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "Young Master Chen just said he wanted to unite the Outer Town Chamber of Commerce to provide a stable source of Spirit Beasts for the Li Family? If the Chen Family could really monopolize young beast procurement, why would they go to such great lengths to invite Young Lord Li to this banquet today?"

With one sentence, she directly punctured Chen Huaili's bluff.

The small trading firms at the table that had originally been clamoring immediately fell silent.

Li Qingfeng smiled and added a finishing blow: "Business can be discussed slowly, but using threats to negotiate—that is not called business."

The business banquet ended on a sour note.

On the carriage ride back, the System notification sounded crisply.

[Ding! The host has successfully protected the Family's core formula and, with the help of an ally, resolved the joint price-suppression attempt by the Outer Town Chamber of Commerce!]

[Family industry autonomy has increased, and the ability to respond to trade route risks has been enhanced!]

[Rewards: Cultivation infusion (medium amount); Alchemy experience (small amount); Trade route risk deduction once.]

[Current Alchemy attainment: Beginner Apprentice Alchemist · Mid-stage.]

A stream of pure true essence poured into his Qi Sea, and Li Qingfeng's cultivation, which was already at the mid-stage of Qi Refining Stage 9, was pushed up another notch, only one step away from Perfection.

The carriage traveled to the fork in the road outside the town, and the sky was already completely dark.

Wang Qingluan suddenly sat up straight, and through the carriage curtain, said in a low voice to Li Chengyue, who was driving outside: "Stop."

She listened for a moment, then said to Li Qingfeng: "They have followed us; there are three of them, hiding in the woods."

There was no surprise on Li Qingfeng's face. He glanced at the pitch-black alley outside and replied softly: "Perfect. Let's clean up the last bit of trouble before delivering the marriage proposal."