Chapter 347 - 334: Decision

Chapter 347: Chapter 334: Decision

Inside the Purple Qi Pavilion.

Cao Wenxuan’s gaze was fixed on Chen Shouheng.

But Chen Shouheng had been tempered by years of experience, his disposition and mind long since polished into a state of calm maturity.

Faced with this sudden request, a thousand thoughts raced through his mind, but his expression remained placid. He simply gave a slight nod. "You overstate things, Cao. We are fellow students. A small matter like this hardly qualifies as a favor. If the time is right, I will naturally guide you."

"Then I thank you in advance, Chen."

A smile bloomed on Cao Wenxuan’s face as she deftly changed the subject. "Sister Shuwei, forgive my forwardness, but with the Commandery Magistrate’s Office auctioning off the Sun Family’s assets, I was wondering if the Chen Family is interested?"

Zhou Shuwei exchanged a look with Chen Shouheng. Instead of answering directly, she countered, "Why do you ask, Little Sister Wenxuan? Could it be that the Cao Family is also interested?"

Cao Wenxuan didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point. "You misunderstand, Sister. My Cao Family has little interest in the Sun Family’s meager assets. I only bring this up today because the Cao Family wishes to make a deal with the Chen Family."

"A deal?"

Zhou Shuwei and Chen Shouheng exchanged another glance before she turned back to Cao Wenxuan. "And what kind of deal does the Cao Family have in mind?"

Cao Wenxuan’s expression grew more serious as she spoke frankly. "Regarding the upcoming auction by the Commandery Magistrate’s Office, according to the information the Liyang Commandery Magistrate’s Office shared with my family, the Sun Family’s assets will be split into three portions and sold to the Cao Family, the Tan Family, and the Chen Family, respectively.

"The Cao Family can promise to merely act as spectators during the bidding and not compete with the Chen Family at all. In fact, even if the Commandery Magistrate’s Office insists on awarding one portion to us, the Cao Family can later transfer it to the Chen Family at a low price. Furthermore..."

She looked at Chen Shouheng and added, "If the Chen Family finds itself short on silver coins for a time, the Cao Family can also provide a low-interest loan to help with cash flow."

As she finished speaking, you could have heard a pin drop in the private room.

Chen Shouheng’s fingers tightened slightly on his teacup, and Zhou Shuwei’s pupils contracted.

Even though they were prepared for the Cao Family to have ulterior motives, they couldn’t help but be astonished.

These terms sounded too good to be true, like a pie falling from the sky!

’Not only would they voluntarily give up competing, but they would also offer financial assistance?’

’Since when had the Cao Family become such philanthropists?’

Zhou Shuwei was silent for a moment before looking up at Cao Wenxuan. "With such a generous offer from the Cao Family, I must ask... what is it you want?"

Cao Wenxuan replied, "We don’t ask for much. Only that the Zhou Family or the Chen Family sign an Official Tribute Contract with the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau for a minimum of three years. A guaranteed annual delivery of forty thousand bolts of silk, at the official price the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau has always paid: fifteen taels per bolt."

Fifteen taels a bolt, forty thousand bolts, for three years.

Zhou Shuwei and her husband, Chen Shouheng, exchanged a swift glance. Both saw the shock in the other’s eyes.

For a time, the room fell silent, with only the faint sound of string and bamboo instruments drifting in from outside the window.

On the surface, this wasn’t a deal at all; it was an immense benefit delivered right to their door.

Not only was the Cao Family ceding their share of the Sun Family’s assets, but they were also solving the Chen Family’s most pressing problem.

And all they asked of the Chen Family in return was to sign a supply contract with the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau.

The price in this contract was indeed extremely low—fifteen taels per bolt, far below market value.

The thing was, the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau had always paid this exact price when procuring Official Tribute Silk.

Though the profit margin was thin, the deal offered stability and the status of an official supplier.

For the Chen Family, who was currently being throttled by the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau and struggling to sell their goods, this was like receiving charcoal in a snowstorm.

With this contract, even at a low price, the mountains of silk piled up in their warehouses would have a stable sales channel. Capital would flow back quickly, and their various enterprises could be revitalized.

No matter how you looked at it, this was a deal where they couldn’t possibly lose.

But that was precisely what made it so strange.

’What was the Cao Family after?’

’Was it really just to get the Chen Family to sign an Official Tribute Contract?’

’What benefit was there in this contract for the Cao Family?’

Seeing them remain silent, Cao Wenxuan sighed, her tone taking on a perfectly measured note of sympathy and apology. "Sister Shuwei, I only recently heard whispers that your family suffered some misfortune and that there was some history with the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau. Fortunately, all is well with you now, and the Chen Family is thriving. If the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau acted improperly in the past, I hope you won’t hold it against them."

Zhou Shuwei smiled faintly. "You’re being too serious, Little Sister Wenxuan. The past is past; there’s no need to bring it up again. As for the deal you just mentioned..."

She paused and looked at Chen Shouheng.

Chen Shouheng understood her cue and took over. "My wife and I appreciate the Cao Family’s generosity. However, this matter is of great importance and involves our family’s affairs. We dare not make a rash decision and must return to discuss it before we can give you an answer."

Cao Wenxuan was not surprised by this. She simply nodded. "A matter of this magnitude naturally requires careful consideration. It’s just that the Commandery Magistrate’s Office’s auction is imminent. I hope that you and Sister Shuwei can give me a definite answer before it takes place."

"Of course."

Zhou Shuwei agreed with a nod.

With the official business concluded, the atmosphere in the private room seemed to relax a little.

Suddenly, Cao Wenxuan looked at Zhou Shuwei with a smile, her eyes filled with envy. "You know, I truly envy you, Sister Shuwei. I heard a while ago that you and your husband have both reached the Spirit Realm Fourth Level, opened your Divine Hall, and achieved the Grandmaster Realm. It’s been less than a year since we last met, and your progress has been so astonishingly fast. It’s truly worthy of celebration!"

She feigned a hint of distress. "Unlike me. I’ve been stuck at the Profound Acupoint Pass for nearly three years, completely unable to ascend to the Inner Mansion. I wonder if you might offer some guidance?"

She asked with an air of casualness, but Chen Shouheng and Zhou Shuwei both felt a chill in their hearts.

They hadn’t deliberately hidden the fact that they were Grandmasters, but few people knew. They never imagined that she, all the way in Jiangzhou City, would already be aware.