What if there is no saving? What will happen to the Wei Family?
What will become of him, Yuchi?
Wouldn't everything be different in an instant?
By then, will the Qi Family continue doing business with the Wei Family?
Not likely.
Not to mention the Qi Family has already come over to refuse the marriage agreement, isn't this burning bridges?
If he agreed, he would be betraying his family.
Playing is playing, but in front of the family, romance must be set aside, Yuchi could never agree to her.
For Yuchi, he must take responsibility for the over three hundred people in the Wei Family!
It's not as if cute little Ximo should be left destitute?
Qi Yuan'Er's heart was bleeding, she stole a glance at the other, his expression now utterly indifferent.
This was a gaze that wouldn't consider any emotions, his stance was purely for the Wei Family.
From beginning to end, it would not waver.
"Ten thousand taels." Qi Yuan'Er bit her lip, pressing her hands tightly on her knees.
"Fifty thousand." Yuchi nodded, "I can persuade the Wei Family to agree to your requests."
Fifty thousand?
Qi Yuan'Er took a sharp breath, fifty thousand?
How could they even come up with that, the Qi Family truly doesn't have that much liquid silver and gold right now.
On the books, there's at most a little over twenty thousand taels!
The principle of Yuchi was simple, a tenfold compensation for deceit.
Break off the engagement, the Qi Family took five thousand taels, so to reconcile, fifty thousand is required.
Quite logical, isn't it?
Yuchi also saw that the negotiations broke down immediately, he continued to ask: "Do you have any other requests?"
Qi Yuan'Er had a distressed look, the young girl's appearance at this moment seemed very tragic.
This was something that should not, or had no qualification to be faced by a girl like her.
This was all arranged by her own father.
She hurriedly drank some tea, wiping the tea stains from the corner of her mouth.
Taking a deep breath.
"Since you don't agree with the first matter, there's no need for this young woman to speak of the second one." Qi Yuan'Er said bitterly.
"Alright."
The coldness disappeared from Yuchi's face, he stood up kindly, "Things are as such, forgive me for being powerless."
"If you need help with anything privately, I'll try my best to assist you."
"Let me see you off now."
...
After an incense stick of time, watching the other mount the Wei Family's carriage, Yuchi returned to the courtyard.
The sky was slightly dim, mist rising on the horizon, perhaps there would be autumn rain.
"Third Brother." Wei Zhe appeared before him.
"Elder Brother."
The two walked together during the bustling dinner preparations at the Wei Family, occasionally servants greeted them respectfully.
"I didn't expect her to come find you, so she still came for the Qi Family?" Wei Zhe inquired.
"Yes."
Yuchi smiled, taking a carrot from a maid's basket, munching as he walked, "I presume it was still Qi Bai who sent Qi Yuan'Er over to find me. Qi Bai truly is a petty person, pushing his own daughter out at this time, completely squeezing any use out of her, who knows whether Qi Yuan'Er is even his biological daughter."
"So you…"
"I refused." Yuchi smiled.
"You refused, huh?" Wei Zhe was surprised, he really needed to take a good look at his Third Brother!
A previously indecisive young man, yet he could act decisively!
Especially when the other has such extraordinary beauty!
When such a girl comes to plead, even he wasn't sure if he could maintain his composure!
"Haha, Elder Brother, I don't think with my lower half."
"Besides, I've seen some beauties."
"Not to the extent that I'd fall for every beauty I see."
Little Qinghan would highly agree!
Yuchi teased, "The story of King Zhou and Daji really existed, countless heroes have fallen for women."
"King Zhou and Daji?" Wei Zhe pondered, clearly unaware.
The two brothers leaned against a corner of the courtyard, facing a white wall.
"It's simple, when an emperor is manipulated by a woman, it's not him who suffers, but the people."
"The world ignores the suffering of the people, sometimes even sympathizing with such temptresses."
"Though Qi Yuan'Er is not a temptress, I am no King Zhou either, I can't let the Wei Family fall into decline, how could I face the rest of the Wei Family then?"
Yuchi caught the aroma of food in the courtyard, listening to the banter of the servants.
He rarely spoke the truth.
The truth he now spoke, he'd only speak in front of his elder brothers.
The grudges of past lives need not be mentioned, but when he came here a month or two ago, he surprisingly felt no separation.
Even though Elder Brother initially resented him somewhat, it was iron not turning to steel, but family is still family.
There was trust! This was clearly felt!
Would he betray his family this way? Would that still make him, Yuchi, a person?
"A man must be decisive! Consider the bigger picture!"
Wei Zhe watched the nearby young man with emotion, the youth was younger by over ten years, yet his words truly moved him.
Nowadays, many offspring in noble houses speak only of what they want, demanding what the family should do for them, never considering how they might help the family.
As if all things were heaven-sent.
"So, Third Brother, how do you view the matter with the Qi Family?" Wei Zhe asked quietly.
"Strike fear into others as a warning." Yuchi replied, "This is just for the Zhangsun Family to see, I might need to visit the Zhangsun Family in the next few days."
"Ah?" Wei Zhe was baffled.
He excelled in planning business content, especially well-versed in entries, capital, and such.
He might understand striking fear as a warning.
But what was the purpose of visiting the Zhangsun Family?
They were behind this matter!
To demand an explanation?
"No."
Yuchi looked at the carrot in his hand, "Xufu Town doesn't genuinely have a commercial association, business inherently has conflicts, it's time for someone to take a lead in establishing an association."
"Not talking about other industries, let's start with clothing, with an association we can alleviate some of the Cloud Mountain Sect issues."
"At the same time, if there are issues in clothing in Xufu Town in the future, we can resolve them through the association, at least since the world is so vast, why should we be constrained in the small Xufu Town for secretive competition? If we can unite and expand the clothing business, I think there wouldn't be eternal enemies in the world, our life would be better."
Wei Zhe understood his Third Brother's implication, both astonished and filled with doubt!
How to persuade?
Would they listen?
Will an association suppress Cloud Mountain Sect?
"I believe they will listen, as long as the family is slowly earned by them." Yuchi smiled.
He didn't elaborate, "Elder Brother, let's eat first, bring Second Brother too."
"Ah, alright!" Wei Zhe answered heavily, "I'll quickly show you the dossiers after dinner."
"Yes, information about the merchants collaborating with the Wei Family, including top families in Xufu Town, get all the merchant information you can."
"Let me make preparations."
"Then we still need Elder Brother to arrange a meeting, bringing together decision makers from various families for discussions."
Wei Zhe nodded solemnly, "Let Second Brother go, he feels guilty."
Yuchi was taken aback, then patted his forehead, "That would be perfect!"