82: Negotiate? Who will negotiate with you?
Chu Qing comforted Madam Jin.
Under his guidance, Madam Jin recounted her past.
Back then, Madam Jin and Jin Yiren were in their prime.
However, when Jin Yiren was competing for an academy spot in the Prefecture City, he was suppressed due to certain events, and eventually, his household registration was even canceled, making him an outcast.
More than ten years passed:
The former Jin Yiren had become a fat man with a big head and ears.
And Madam Jin had remained in the remote Shiji County for over a decade.
"These years, I've constantly replayed the past."
"At that time, if we had killed the person who humiliated us, perhaps everything would have turned out differently."
Chu Qing nodded and said, "That's right, many times, you must kill the enemy to truly deter them!"
Madam Jin sighed.
She said to Chu Qing, "In the future, if you go to the Prefecture City, I hope you can maintain this mindset."
"After all... the pressure in a big place is greater."
"Many times, under various pressures, everyone gives up on themselves."
Chu Qing nodded.
While chatting with Madam Jin, a servant came to report:
"Master Qing, the lords of thirty-four Fortified Manors invite you to drink at the Xian Yuan Restaurant."
Chu Qing said calmly, "Understood!"
The servant hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.
Chu Qing frowned and said, "You may leave!"
The servant said, "Yes!"
Pfft!
Madam Jin laughed, "He actually wanted a specific reply from you, but... you didn't give him one!"
Chu Qing chuckled, "The people from the Fortified Manors are looking for me, it's nothing more than to negotiate!"
"And the negotiation already began when the servant delivered the message."
Madam Jin was thoughtful.
Chu Qing waited for another hour at Madam Jin's place.
He practiced calligraphy, read, and even told Madam Jin jokes.
He made the lady shake with laughter, unable to close her mouth.
After a long while, Chu Qing finally got up to go to the Xian Yuan Restaurant.
And Madam Jin leaned against the doorframe, staring intently at his receding figure, remaining silent for a long time... On the top floor of the Xian Yuan Restaurant:
The Wubao Lords looked at Cui Moyang and the others.
At this moment, it was like that other moment:
A few days ago, they were here, at daggers drawn.
Now:
It was even more so.
Only:
The He Family Head, who led last time, was gone.
His entire Fortified Manor had been burned to ashes.
This time:
Although the atmosphere was tense, the Wubao Lords were very restrained.
A Wubao Lord, unable to hold back, said in a deep voice,
"Everyone, whatever you want, you can trade with us for it."
Cui Moyang spun her teacup.
Wang Yinyang wiped his long sword.
The Twins ate their food, chattering happily like children.
Nangong and Ximen exchanged glances, secretly smiling bitterly.
No one was speaking, and since Lead Big Brother wasn't here, they had to speak.
"Ahem... Everyone, as before, we want bright pearls."
"We want all the bright pearls in your homes."
"All the bright pearls from the Quarry are also ours."
The Wubao Lords exchanged glances and said,
"Alright!"
"But, you must pay us at market price."
"Or exchange them for golden incense."
Nangong and Ximen exchanged glances and asked, "What's the market price for one bright pearl?"
"Ten thousand taels."
"Too expensive, make it cheaper!"
"Nine thousand taels, no less."
"We hire people to dig stones, and the consumption is very high."
Nangong frowned.
Although they had plundered the gold and silver from two Fortified Manors, if they were to buy bright pearls, they wouldn't be able to buy much.
"Cheaper!"
A Wubao Lord said, "You can trade golden incense with us!"
"One golden incense for one bright pearl!"
Nangong and the others' eyes lit up.
golden incense was very precious.
It could accelerate Cultivation.
It even had a double effect on Golden Tendons.
However, compared to bright pearls, golden incense was still insignificant.
They could get three golden incense sticks every day.
This was a large quantity.
But Nangong still wanted more.
The two sides argued fiercely over the trade proposal.
After a long while:
They finally settled on: five golden incense for six bright pearls.
Both sides were quite satisfied.
"Alright then, we'll trade like this from now on."
The Wubao Lords secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although they knew that the bright pearls might hide a secret.
They were at a disadvantage in such a trade.
But they simply didn't know the secret of the bright pearls.
One bright pearl could only produce two Bronze Tendons.
It wasn't worth offending this group of ruthless individuals with influential backgrounds for Bronze Tendon resources.
A Wubao Lord took out two contracts and had Nangong and the others sign and stamp them.
The Crowd checked, found no loopholes, and all signed and stamped.
Then, cups clinked, and laughter filled the air.
And just at this moment, Chu Qing arrived.
The Wubao Lords' pupils contracted.
The laughter stopped.
The clinking of cups ceased.
The Wubao Lords felt immense pressure.
They knew that Chu Qing was actually the leader of the small group.
Nangong said happily, "Qing Ge, we've settled with them!"
"Five golden incense for six bright pearls!"
"golden incense is given for free by the academy."
"We're not losing out!"
The Wubao Lords' mouths twitched.
Don't rub salt in our wounds with such things.
It hurts.
Chu Qing took the contract, looked at it, and shook his head: "This thing won't do!"
The Crowd: "Huh?"
Rip!
Chu Qing tore up the contract.
Nangong and the others were completely bewildered.
The Wubao Lords were even more bewildered.
"Qing Ge..."
"We're exchanging our free golden incense for their bright pearls, this condition... it's pretty good."
"Yeah!"
Nangong and the others were utterly confused.
And the Wubao Lords' expressions grew even uglier.
You're using free things to exchange for our bright pearls.
And you're still not satisfied?
Chu Qing smiled and said, "With such a trade, we're not losing out."
"But... the Fortified Manors are getting a bargain."
The Crowd... was bewildered.
Chu Qing casually threw the shredded paper on the ground and smiled:
"The reason the Fortified Manors trade with us is because we are strong enough!"
"So, they hold their noses and endure it."
"But, if one day they become strong, they will definitely go back on their word."
"And golden incense is a resource that can make them strong."
"The principle of trading with such people is—we must get all the benefits, and they... cannot get any advantage!"
The Crowd was thoughtful.
The Fortified Manor people's faces were grim, and their hearts were uneasy.
Cui Moyang suddenly realized, "We must get the bright pearls, but we cannot give them any resources."
Chu Qing clapped his hands and laughed, "That's right, that's the logic!"
"Come, let's negotiate again!"
He sat down grandly, staring intently at the Wubao Lords opposite him.
The Wubao Lords' faces were gloomy.
A Wubao Lord, angered and ashamed, growled, "You're already getting a bargain by trading golden incense with us."
"Now you want to take the bright pearls for free?"
Chu Qing nodded and said, "That's right!"
"For free!"
"Your Fortified Manors have been lording it over this place and enjoying yourselves for hundreds of years."
"Now, what's wrong with giving us some bright pearls for free?"
Pfft!
Nangong and the others laughed.
The Wubao Lords trembled with anger.
"Chu Qing, you're going too far!"
"This isn't negotiation at all!"
Chu Qing smiled and said, "Negotiation? Who's negotiating with you? I'm just informing you."
"Thirty-six families... no, now there are only thirty-four families left."
"Each of you must hand over twenty-five bright pearls tomorrow; and from now on, you must hand over one bright pearl every ten days."
"Those who can do it will continue to exist."
"Those who can't... should just cease to exist."
"Alright, I've said my piece!"
"Whether you agree or disagree, I want to see the bright pearls by noon tomorrow!"
After speaking, he got up and left.
Nangong and the others exchanged glances, then also got up and followed.
Soon, only a group of Wubao Lords remained, looking at each other.
A moment later, a Wubao Lord, trembling with anger, said, "Everyone... let's kill them!"
"We brought many skilled fighters, we can catch them off guard."
A Wubao Lord nodded, killing intent boiling.
A Wubao Lord remained silent, weighing the pros and cons.
"Killing people is easy, but is it easy to kill this group of Noble families Prodigies?"
"That Chu Qing is even more formidable than the Noble families Prodigies, how many people will die to kill him?"
"Can we... bear that kind of loss?"
After a long while, a Wubao Lord sighed and said, "This is a serious matter, let's plan carefully!"