“Why would the deal only be half completed even if the conditions are suitable?” Pang Xiao anxiously shot to his feet.
Qin Yining timely displayed embarrassment, standing up to “quietly” tug at his sleeve.
Pang Xiao seemed to only then react, awkwardly sitting back down and coughing as if to cover his embarrassment.
Lu Zheng observed coldly for a long while. Seeing him like this, he curved his lips with no small amount of mockery: “First listen to my conditions. If you’re willing to agree, we’ll continue the discussion. If you won’t agree, there’s no need to continue talking. There’s no need to get so excited now.”
“Cough, when was this young master excited? You must be seeing things.” Pang Xiao’s face was full of stubbornness, though his posture revealed several points of dejection, his expression even more rigid and unwilling.
The knife handle was in the other party’s hands—Lu Zheng didn’t believe there was anything else he could do.
Detecting Lu Zheng’s contemptuous gaze, Pang Xiao deliberately snorted heavily in dissatisfaction.
Lu Zheng privately thought this Young Master Wan wasn’t completely useless—at least he knew to honestly keep quiet at this time.
“Our Lu family’s conditions are very simple. First, I need to ask whether your Wan family already has a designated candidate at court? If so, it will be more difficult, and the conditions will need to be calculated separately.”
Pang Xiao’s heart jumped: “Oh, there is a candidate—seems to be a civil official of the fifth rank. The specific name I recorded in a booklet. I’ll need to check later. I’m busy with countless daily affairs, so I might remember incorrectly.”
What countless daily affairs indeed. Lu Zheng curved his lips, amused, and shook his head. After hearing Lu Xi’s report, he had once harbored some suspicion about this dandy and had secretly observed him. After learning the results of those investigations, now he couldn’t even be bothered to send people to follow him. This person spent his days in wine and pleasure, otherwise taking his beauty out to play and show off wealth. He did nothing proper, but was quite skilled at eating, drinking, and merrymaking. Coming to Danzhou City—while Guangtong Company was here for business, this eldest young master was probably here to have fun.
Lu Zheng was too lazy to even look at the man. Looking instead at the well-behaved, dignified woman beside him, he once again felt regret.
“Having a candidate already makes things easier. In that case, my Lu family will find a way to promote your designated candidate to become imperial inspector of the old capital. After you confirm the candidate, inform me.”
Speaking to this point, Lu Zheng couldn’t help but add a warning: “Make sure you get the person right before informing me. Don’t get the wrong person. We conduct business deal by deal. If you get the candidate wrong and later tell me you want to promote someone else, I won’t be responsible.”
“What kind of talk is that? Would we really renege on one person’s official position? Besides, I’m grown up and literate—how could I get it wrong?” Pang Xiao said angrily: “Are you insulting me!”
Lu Zheng waved his hand as if too lazy to argue: “As compensation, from now on our Lu family will take half of Guangtong Company’s annual profits as payment.”
“What! Are you joking with me? This is robbery!” Pang Xiao flew into a rage.
“We set the rules. If you’re unsatisfied with the price, you can choose not to do this business. It’s not like our Lu family is rushing to help your Wan family.”
Pang Xiao gritted his teeth, pacing around irritably.
“This isn’t a small sum. Forget about whether we’d accept or refuse such extortion—even if we agreed to give you half the profits, what if you don’t accomplish the task in the end? What if our designated candidate doesn’t become imperial inspector?”
Lu Zheng looked down on his petty attitude, saying coldly: “You needn’t worry about this point. I’ve said many times—the Lu family doesn’t conduct such business just once. Your family’s old master was willing to eagerly seek out the Lu family precisely because he knows our capabilities. If we can’t accomplish the task, naturally we won’t want your payment either.”
Crossing his legs, Lu Zheng toyed with a chess piece in his hand, mocking: “The Lu family’s century-old foundation—to speak bluntly, half of Guangtong Company’s profits wouldn’t even count as a hair to us. I truly don’t think much of it.”
“You’re really talking big. Do you think our Guangtong Company is some small household running a little shop front?” Pang Xiao glared at Lu Zheng with his neck stiff.
Lu Zheng snorted: “I have no patience to haggle with you. If you won’t agree, there’s no need to continue discussing this business. Do as you please.”
“But your demands are too excessive. Half our future profits? You might as well go rob people on the road—that would be faster!”
“Enough.” Lu Zheng waved his hand: “If you think it’s unsuitable, please leave.”
Pang Xiao swallowed hard: “Is there no room for negotiation? Can’t it be less?”
Lu Zheng looked him up and down disdainfully, then raised an eyebrow toward Qin Yining, saying directly: “You are Lady Ning?”
Qin Yining stood up, lowering her gaze: “I am indeed.”
“Following such a person is truly a waste. If you’re willing to stay, your future days would certainly be more carefree than at the Wan family.”
Lu Zheng stood up, walking slowly to Qin Yining with his hands behind his back. He bent down to closely examine Qin Yining’s pretty features, then smiled at Pang Xiao: “If you’re willing to give me Lady Ning, I might consider your request—the payment could be somewhat less.”
With one motion, Pang Xiao pulled Qin Yining behind him: “Out of the question. She’s mine.”
Lu Zheng spread his hands: “You can ask the beauty’s opinion.”
Qin Yining held Pang Xiao’s sleeve with one hand, timidly lowering her head: “Thank you for Young Master Lu’s kind intentions. I already belong to Young Master Wan. Though my birth is humble, I still understand the principle that a virtuous woman doesn’t serve two husbands. Please forgive me, Young Master Lu.”
“Do you know what you’re declining? This is the Lu family—a century-old family.”
“The Lu family is indeed great and good, but Young Master Wan has never treated me poorly either.”
When Lu Zheng looked at Qin Yining again, his gaze became increasingly profound.
He had thought this “Lady Ning” was a plaything who served with beauty and had no heart. He hadn’t expected her to be so deeply devoted to this wastrel. The more she was like this, the more Lu Zheng looked up to her.
Pang Xiao stamped his foot irritably, shouting in dissatisfaction: “Don’t go too far! I already said she’s my person—I won’t give her to anyone. If you’re discussing business, talk about business matters. What’s the point of innocently dragging a woman into this!”
Lu Zheng stopped continuing this topic with Pang Xiao, only saying: “So, half of Guangtong Company’s future profits—will you give it or not?”
Pang Xiao pretended to struggle, but his heart was already calculating like an abacus.
If Lu Zheng had asked for silver this time, Pang Xiao would have had to “hemorrhage” money for the plan. But Lu Zheng wanted half of Guangtong Company’s profits.
Profits were naturally different each year, which would require annual calculations. Since calculations were needed, it definitely didn’t mean paying his silver immediately.
This wasn’t bad. He could agree immediately without having to pay money himself. The accounts could be left for Guangtong Company and the Lu family to slowly calculate themselves. Perhaps without spending a tael, he could accomplish the task while incidentally cheating both families out of a large sum.
Having made up his mind, Pang Xiao deliberately asked: “Fine, but what if you don’t succeed? If our designated candidate doesn’t become imperial inspector, how will you return the silver?”
“In that case, our deal would naturally be void. If the Lu family doesn’t fulfill its promise, your Guangtong Company needn’t hand over half the annual profits either.”
Lu Zheng was obviously very familiar with this process, adding: “We’ll first arrange people to handle the matter. Once it’s done, we’ll arrange for someone to go to your Guangtong Company as second manager. This way the accounts will be fair to everyone, and paying profits will be convenient.”
Hearing this, Pang Xiao confirmed he didn’t need to pay money now and felt more confident.
After pondering for a long while, he reluctantly agreed like a warrior cutting off his wrist: “Then let’s write up a contract.”
Lu Zheng looked at Pang Xiao with the contemptuous gaze one uses for fools.
“Write a contract for this kind of business? Ha. Rest assured, our Lu family has never cheated customers in conducting such business.”
Pang Xiao seemed to also realize that leaving a written contract for selling official positions would be leaving ironclad evidence for his own execution.
Looking uncomfortable, he said stiffly: “Fine, no writing then. But aren’t you afraid that after you accomplish the task and our person becomes imperial inspector, Guangtong Company won’t pay the silver?”
Lu Zheng said mockingly: “You’re welcome to try. See whether that imperial inspector can continue living, and whether your Guangtong Company can continue operating.”
Lu Zheng smiled gently and amiably, but to observers, it had a chilling sensation like a dull knife cutting flesh.
Pang Xiao shuddered all over.
Lu Zheng smiled with satisfaction, adding: “Don’t worry. You and Lady Ning can temporarily stay at the Lu mansion. Since you’ve agreed to our conditions, we’re now partners. The Lu family has always treated people with courtesy and has always been generous to partners. You can also take this opportunity to properly appreciate Danzhou’s local customs and practices. When the imperial inspector takes office, you can return to Guangtong Company with the manager to fulfill your promise.”
Though spoken simply, both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining’s hearts tightened.
Lu Zheng’s meaning was to detain them at the Lu family as hostages until the imperial inspector took office?
This Young Master Wan from the Wan family was, after all, the young master of Guangtong Company. If Guangtong Company did anything unsatisfactory to the Lu family, or even if Guangtong Company was fishing for information, the Lu family could immediately dispose of him.
“I believe our business will go very smoothly.” Lu Zheng smiled warmly. With such an important bargaining chip, Guangtong Company absolutely couldn’t cause any trouble.
Pang Xiao quickly calculated the pros and cons in his mind, finally nodding helplessly. His eyes rolled as he smiled: “Then wouldn’t I be imposing on your mansion?”
Hearing his tone as if he’d gained some great advantage, Lu Zheng understood his petty thoughts and couldn’t help but look at him mockingly.
Still claiming to be born of a great family, yet delighting in such small gains. Not afraid of losing face as a noble young master—such pettiness was truly laughable.
The Lu family had great wealth and extensive business, so naturally they didn’t care about such small money. Since the business was settled, entertaining customers wasn’t a big deal.
“Naturally. I’ll have people arrange guest quarters for you and Lady Ning shortly. During these days, if you wish to go out sightseeing, you can leave the mansion anytime. The guest quarters have a separate side gate, so it won’t interfere.”