Chapter 521: Hold a meeting and study it
Zhang Jiucheng said: "Old brother, Sun Zhe's death... was heroic."
Sun Fugui's tone was calm: "What do we do next?"
Zhang Jiucheng let out a long breath: "The specific situation, let's talk when we meet. Anyway, now we cannot touch Lu Chengwen, absolutely cannot touch, even if beaten to death, cannot touch!"
Hearing this, Sun Fugui's heart bled.
He knew his son had been exchanged for two billion in cash, and in the future, the Zhang family could receive dividends of several hundred million from Lu Chengwen annually!
Hehe, the Zhang family doesn't have to do anything. In the North Kingdom, there are already few families richer than them.
Sun Fugui said: "Why? My son was killed by him."
"Yes, Lu Chengwen this grandson, struck too damn ruthlessly! But Fugui ah, the situation has changed, we underestimated him. I just came from the Yu family. Lu Chengwen's situation is very complicated, complicated to the point... I don't know how to say it..."
Sun Fugui sneered coldly.
Don't know? Better to say you've been playing me from beginning to end.
Using me to put enough pressure on Lu Chengwen, using my son's corpse to extort Lu Chengwen.
Now you've taken Lu Chengwen's money and tribute, and come to control me, making me stand down, swallow the bitter fruit.
Zhang Jiucheng!
Didn't realize you were so insidious before!
"Then my son just died in vain, right?"
Zhang Jiucheng also felt deeply guilty.
Firstly, he didn't expect Lu Chengwen to withstand the siege of so many masters. Secondly, he didn't expect Lu Chengwen to really kill Sun Zhe without holding back.
Now that things had developed like this, he had an inescapable responsibility.
"Fugui, how about this, I'll have Lu Chengwen give you a sum of compensation, my Zhang family will also give you a sum of compensation. This matter really cannot be pursued. If pursued... we'll all be finished."
"I understand."
Sun Fugui hung up the phone.
...
Yu family internal meeting.
Yu Kuohai couldn't hide his excitement: "Junshi, the things sent to His Highness, did he receive them?"
Junshi stood up: "Received, didn't say anything."
"Excellent!" Yu Kuohai said smilingly: "Everyone, from now on, my Yu family can also be considered to have climbed a high branch. His Highness Tiger of the Jiang family gracing the Yu family, once this news spreads, all families will look at our Yu family with new eyes. Those three families, probably their eyeballs are almost green with envy now, hahahaha..."
Junshi said: "Our Yu family people must be aware, be low-key when going out recently. Cannot be that just after His Highness Tiger leaves, we become arrogant, letting His Highness Tiger think we are shallow dishes, borrowing the tiger's might (riding on coattails)."
"Right!" Yu Kuohai said: "You all must be low-key! Shasha really didn't work for nothing for the 'bored and overfed', actually managed to connect with His Highness Tiger, really invited His Highness Tiger to specifically come to the Yu family for a day. Heaven helps me! Truly heaven helps me! Junshi, do you think... His Highness Tiger might have taken a fancy to Shasha?"
Junshi said: "There's this possibility!"
Yu Kuohai rubbed his fists: "If His Highness Tiger can marry Shasha, even as a concubine, our Yu family will prosper."
Junshi said: "Miss Shasha's side needs some admonition. If there truly is such a good match, must cherish it doubly. His Highness Tiger is different from ordinary young talents; serving him requires double caution, absolutely cannot throw a young girl's tantrum."
"Mm, right." Yu Kuohai said: "Prepare to start discussing agenda items. His Highness Tiger didn't assign many tasks to the Yu family, nor big ones. But, we must do them beautifully, reliably!"
Several agenda items discussed.
Finally, Junshi proposed: "Family Head, it's time to discuss that merchant's matter."
"Called Lu Chengwen, right?"
"Yes."
"Mm. Document prepared?"
"Prepared."
The large screen turned on. Junshi began to explain: "Everyone, listen carefully to the following intelligence summary!"
A document was displayed on the large screen, containing Jiang Xiaohu's words from just now.
Junshi explained: "Regarding this Lu Chengwen, I believe most people aren't too clear. But, since His Highness Tiger would mention this person, specifically ask a question, it's definitely not simple. The rest of the work is normal showdowns and His Highness Tiger's ordinary private dealings, actually not much room for maneuver. Doing it steadily is qualified."
"Only this one matter is slightly mysterious."
Junshi said seriously: "Firstly, the timing when His Highness Tiger mentioned this person was unusual, it was after all official business was concluded, when he was about to leave. Clearly, it was after deep consideration. Of course, it could also be just a whim, a casual question."
Junshi emphasized again: "But! He can ask casually, we absolutely cannot not think about it at all. This agenda item is very likely the one where we have the most leverage to do things for His Highness Tiger. Everyone must brace themselves."
The crowd said in unison: "Yes!"
At this moment, Second Steward Yu Funan came in to refill everyone's teacups.
Junshi said: "Secondly, when His Highness Tiger mentioned this person, both the Family Head and I clearly felt his emotions were very strong. For all previous agenda items, His Highness Tiger was steady and stable, almost no emotion or feeling. Only when mentioning this person, His Highness Tiger's emotions were very full. Clearly, His Highness Tiger's relationship with this person is not ordinary."
Everyone nodded one after another.
Junshi said: "Mentioning Lu Chengwen, His Highness Tiger had a total of nine sentences. Many changes, many emotional turns, let's analyze them together."
Nine sentences, a group of people began to study them back and forth, over and over.
Finally, Junshi said:
"First sentence: Family Head was chatting with His Highness Tiger about other topics, His Highness Tiger suddenly interrupted, proactively asked 'Lu Chengwen, know him?' Everyone note, when His Highness Tiger asked this, the three characters Lu Chengwen were brought up one word at a time!"
"Second sentence: His Highness Tiger then changed his style, tone slightly relaxed, even a bit of a smile, said: 'It's fine, he's a minor figure, it's right you don't know him, it would be strange if you did.'"
At this moment, a person raised his hand: "Junshi! There's a problem here!"
"Speak!"
"His Highness Tiger said, 'it's right you don't know him, it would be strange if you did!' This shows, in his heart he knows we probably shouldn't know Lu Chengwen, or most likely don't. But he still asked. Knowing we don't know, yet still asking if we know, plus the emphasized tone of the first sentence, I think His Highness Tiger deliberately wanted to bring up this person, make us pay attention."
"Makes sense."
Junshi said: "But the third sentence is interesting. His Highness Tiger said he and Lu Chengwen 'not a friend, not familiar either.' Was 'just asked casually.'"
Someone said: "Lu Chengwen isn't His Highness Tiger's friend, he's not qualified to be His Highness Tiger's enemy, and not His Highness Tiger's family... this is hard to analyze. Asked casually... maybe really just asked casually?"
Junshi said: "So, His Highness Tiger's emotions are hard to capture, intent hard to determine. Fourth sentence, he said 'His matters, you can't manage.' When His Highness Tiger said this, he was smiling, very happy!"
Yu Kuohai said: "I think the next few sentences can be analyzed together."
"Yes." Junshi said: "Fifth sentence is: 'His background is thick, now even I can't touch him.'"
"And the sixth sentence, was after the Family Head expressed his stance, His Highness Tiger said: 'You got that right! He is now thoroughly under the Jiang family's protection!' Note, His Highness Tiger said 'thoroughly', under the Jiang family's protection! This 'thoroughly', what does it mean?"
An older Yu family elder stood up, walked to the screen, looked for a long time with reading glasses.
"Fourth sentence, said we can't manage. This is very worth pondering. We can't manage, is it in terms of ability, or in terms of status?"
"Fifth sentence again said, Lu Chengwen's background is thick. For His Highness Tiger to say his background is thick, then the background must be truly thick. Know that His Highness Tiger is a prestigious family that regards itself highly, a real power faction renowned throughout the world!"
"Also said 'now' even I can't touch him. This shows... His Highness Tiger has touched him before, could touch before, can't touch now. Something must have happened during this period, causing a huge change in Lu Chengwen's identity and status! Very likely because 'his background is very thick.'"
Junshi nodded: "Old sir's analysis is correct, similar to what I thought."
The old sir, not interrupted by Junshi's praise, continued: "And the sixth sentence, said he is 'thoroughly' under the Jiang family's protection. What counts as thoroughly? Entered the inner sanctum, became a Jiang family retainer? He's clearly not qualified. Became a Jiang family adopted son, or by some coincidence, he stepped in dog shit luck, saved someone from the Jiang family, helped the Jiang family?"
Junshi nodded: "Should be. I lean more towards, saved someone from the Jiang family, and a very important person. Otherwise, His Highness Tiger wouldn't use the word 'thoroughly'. This shows, after that incident, the Jiang family will manage this merchant completely, definitely not the type to just give some benefits and be done with it."
Everyone nodded one after another.
The old sir returned to his seat: "Junshi, please continue."
"The tone of the seventh sentence was the strongest, even the most emotionally volatile in the entire conversation about Lu Chengwen, just one sentence: 'Did I ask you to send people?' His Highness Tiger, upon hearing we were going to send people, was very displeased, very angry."
"Very strange."
"Then the eighth sentence, His Highness Tiger clearly instructed: 'His life or death, you all don't bother, someone will take care of him.' This sentence sounds simple, but actually is the least simple."
Junshi said: "'Life or death', these two words can have many interpretations."
"Is it literal life or death, or a general reference to 'no matter what he does, how he is' you all don't bother with him? I personally lean towards the latter."
Someone said: "Mm, since he is 'thoroughly' under the Jiang family's protection, the Jiang family definitely won't let him die."
Another person said: "If really 'life or death' don't need to be managed, His Highness wouldn't place this person in his heart, still specially bring up this topic before parting."
Junshi nodded: "So, His Highness hopes we notice him, but... cannot intervene, cannot let him know we, know His Highness is noticing him, paying attention to him, even... protecting him! Can it be understood this way?"
Someone said: "'Someone will take care of him', these four words are also very strange! Who is taking care of him? Is it Jiang family people? Or has His Highness Tiger already arranged other people to handle this task? Doesn't want us to clash?"
Junshi shook his head: "Listening to His Highness Tiger's tone, the person managing this matter will not be of small origin, and their relationship with His Highness Tiger—absolutely not ordinary!"
The hall fell into silence.