In the early winter afternoon, under the sunlight, in the teahouse, the atmosphere was like a confrontation.
"Sure enough … it was you …"
To be honest, this was not the development process that Wu Qilong had imagined. Before this, he had already guessed Ning Yi, guessed Su Tan'er, guessed the situation that the Wu Family was facing this time, and had a preliminary conclusion. But in fact, at least today, he did not think that Ning Yi would say such a sentence.
After all, a guess was just a guess. After a guess, there was always a process of verification. In the past two days, when he greeted Ning Yi, including sitting in front of him at this time, he was still thinking about how to test and how to see some clues from the other's behavior. A moment ago, when he heard Ning Yi talking about chemistry and metal, he was still thinking that the fading of the cloth this time was really related to him? This was also a process of gradually piling up chips to confirm the speculation. But he did not expect that the other party just looked at him like that, and directly pushed everything aside, confirming the doubts in his heart.
This was originally unreasonable. After setting up a trap, at this time, he chose to show his cards? It was not in a formal occasion, not after careful consideration, but in this early winter afternoon, in a seemingly leisure place, unexpectedly talking about such a thing casually. All kinds of feelings of astonishment surged in Wu Qilong's heart. Even if he had been mentally prepared for Ning Yi's trap before, the sudden feeling of confusion was still indescribable.
However, then Ning Yi just glanced at him, then lowered his head and began to pour himself tea.
"You look very angry, why?"
This sentence was faint. Ning Yi picked up the teacup and took a sip, his expression unchanged. But Wu Qilong almost suddenly clenched his teeth.
Why was he angry? Of course, because …
Because …
He suddenly laughed, turned his head to look around, and then leaned back in the chair behind him. "So it was really you … Everyone missed it …"
Ning Yi shook his head and didn't care much about this matter. "The matter between the Su family and the Wu Family has been like this, so it doesn't matter who did it … How bad is the situation over there?"
Not expecting that Ning Yi would ask this question with a calm expression, Wu Qilong was stunned, and then couldn't help laughing. "Don't you know the situation?"
"I'm not very clear. Recently, the family has been in a mess, and I haven't asked about this matter for more than a month."
"You …" Wu Qilong tilted his head and widened his eyes. "Haven't asked about it!?"
This matter began a few months ago. It could even be said that the Su family had been preparing since a few years ago. It had developed to the present, and it had affected countless people and things. Countless people were still panicking about it. The money involved in just a few months was probably tens or even millions. At such a time, when he found a key person, the other party played down and said that he hadn't asked about it for more than a month!?
He looked at Ning Yi, and the absurdity in his eyes was indescribable. Ning Yi looked at him for a while, then smiled and reached out to close the book next to him. "It's about time. Tan'Er has mentioned it several times at home recently. I heard that she began to spread rumors outside. It should be about this time."
"… The rumors were spread by her, right?"
"Well, yes." Ning Yi nodded sincerely. His voice was not loud, but it was clear. "It's not the specific news yet. I'll consider it. The first delivery date of the first batch of goods should be coming soon. It should be about time."
The absurd atmosphere seemed to permeate the whole teahouse. On one hand, Wu Qilong could understand these words, but on the other hand, he felt like he was in a completely unrealistic environment. Ning Yi's tone was calm, and his attitude was sincere. It seemed that there was nothing he couldn't say to others. It seemed that he was completely detached from the matter and was narrating everything from the perspective of a bystander. Now that Su Tan'Er had started to spread rumors, she would start to release the specific news later. He actually said it without concealing it. He had never seen such a person before. This kind of talk, negotiation, and confrontation was simply absurd.
But there was one thing that was most ironic. Even if he clearly knew these steps, he couldn't stop the other party from saying these things.
Wu Qilong looked at Ning Yi in such a ridiculous way, unable to organize his words for a while. Ning Yi also looked out of the teahouse while drinking tea, waiting for him to come back to his senses. After a long while, Wu Qilong took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and nodded, "So, you think it's time to lay your cards on the table, right?"
Ning Yi pursed his lips and thought, shook his head, and then nodded, "Uh, not really … maybe. In general, this is not my business. You still need to discuss it with Tan'Er."
"Then … what do you mean?"
"Fate … on a whim … probably anything." Ning Yi smiled. "Anyway, you've already realized it. Since you're here today, and I'm free, and you want to talk about this, it doesn't matter if I tell you. Actually, if it's earlier, you'll have some time to consider and buffer. I think it'll be better for the Su family." He raised his cup and took a sip of tea.
Wu Qilong calmed down and approached the table, "So, Ning Liheng, what do you think is the best?"
"Give Tan'Er whatever she wants." Ning Yi shook his head, "It will save a lot of trouble."
"How do I know what your wife wants?"
"Sincerity, whatever you can offer, whatever the first branch of the Su family can accept …"
"… Everything!?"
"Well, everything."
The two sides looked at each other for a moment. Wu Qilong smiled coldly and sarcastically, while Ning Yi looked indifferent and sincere like a three-year-old child. After a while, Wu Qilong took a deep breath, "Well, Brother Ning, why don't you give me an example? What does' everything 'represent?"
"Everything means everything. Recently, the places where the Su family has made arrangements, uh … Luzhou, Shouzhou, Guangzhou, Hezhou, Xuanzhou …" Ning Yi seemed to be counting with his fingers, "These places, the shares that can be given away in business, some convenient real estate, uh, a few cloth formulas, I heard Tan'Er mention a few, one of which seems to be very dense, what is it … It is the unique method of your Wu Family. After all, some shares and businesses need to be coordinated to smoothly hand over, and then …"
Before he finished, Wu Qilong slammed his palm on the table, "Ning Liheng! Do you know what you are talking about? Today, you are here, in front of me, and you want half of my Wu Family!? "
"It should be less than half." Ning Yi glanced at him, "Recently, the Su family has also been in turmoil. The Wu Family has a strong foundation, and Tan'Er alone can't swallow half of the Wu Family. She's just trying to eat as much as possible. If she doesn't use one-third of the Wu Family, it will be close to saturation. With one-third of the Su Family, although there is no imperial business, it is enough to prove that Tan'Er is qualified to be the head of the Su family. And the most important thing is that this time, what she is most angry about, what she cares about the most. What is it that the Su family is most angry about? You should understand that when the time comes, you must be sincere. There is only one chance … "
"Do! In your dreams! " Wu Qilong gritted his teeth, "You really think that you can swallow my Wu Family, just because of such a small matter? For so many years, my Wu Family … "
"It's human nature. Everyone will think so in the beginning." Ning Yi faintly interrupted him, "In your dreams. A man who is never content is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Who will directly give up these things? That's why I said that I could more or less explain myself. In fact, in one and a half months, almost everything that needs to be done here is done. The fading cloth … "
"We will ask the Weaving Bureau to postpone. Let's see how long the Su family can last."
"Yes, postpone …"
"So, you are spreading rumors, saying that our Wu's cloth has faded. Just say it. Even if it has an impact for a while, to be sure, you have to wait until our Wu's delivers the goods before you can make a conclusion. What can you do?
Ning Yi glanced at him and sighed, "Well, we will definitely say it. In fact, we don't want to wait until ten days later. Because when the news spreads, other cloth merchants will more or less have some preparation. By then, it will be more difficult for us to take it down. It is better for you to take it down ourselves … Oh, by the way, Manager Liao has gone to the capital. I don't know if you know about this …"
"You …"
"I heard that he used to come and go in the capital and knows a few big cloth merchants. He also has a lot of connections. This time, he brought some money — the first branch of the Su family only has a little money left. Anyway, he brought all of it. The main purpose is to make the Wu Family guilty of deceiving the emperor. "
Seeing Wu Qilong's twisted expression, Ning Yi smiled and shook his head, "In fact, I know what you are thinking. It's just the fading cloth. To put it bluntly, it is deceiving the emperor. But the emperor has always been generous these years. Of course, an imperial edict like confiscating and exterminating a family won't be easily issued. The Su family has connections, and so does the Wu Family. But their connections are not very big. If both sides are working together, it just depends on the mood of the higher-ups. Anyway, this is a bargaining chip. Tens of thousands of taels of silver will definitely be useful. If the Wu Family accepts the punishment, the result may be better. Uh … If you are sincere, in fact, Tan'Er will also ask Manager Liao to help speak up for the Wu Family. The punishment will not be very light, but confiscating and exterminating the family is after all too exaggerated … "
Wu Qilong gritted his teeth and smiled, "You also know that the crime of deceiving the emperor will not be easily convicted …"
"But there is going to be a war, Qilong." Ning Yi took the teapot and reached out to fill the teacup in front of Wu Qilong. "Over the years, what is the most needed in a war? Money. Everyone sees business opportunities in a war. Haven't you thought about this? Although the Wu dynasty is said to be rich and developed, the country is always short of money. Before the three armies move, the food and fodder comes first. Once the troops move, how much money will be needed to fill this bottomless pit? No amount is enough. We don't know when the war will start, but everything will be decided before the war. Does anyone know if it has been decided now? "
He looked at Wu Qilong, "If it has not been decided, there is still a chance to turn things around. But, tsk … will it be decided tomorrow? Or at the end of this month? What about next month? It doesn't matter if it drags on … Once the matter is decided, the emperor, the prime minister, and officials at all levels of the three provinces and six ministries will have to worry about money. If it is your Wu Family, with such a deep foundation, how much money can you come up with? I am not very clear about this. Anyway, it is a lot, right? Several million taels? More than ten million taels? Isn't it too much to say … It just so happens that it happened … "
Wu Qilong's face was already pale. Ning Yi sighed and comforted him softly, "Don't think too much. Once the matter gets out of hand, your Wu Family will definitely be confiscated and exterminated. There is no escape …"
*****
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