IDWBE -Chapter 553 Partnership

Seeing Wang Xiaoshuan drinking with great relish, Wang Xun couldn’t help pouring himself a cup as well. After taking a small sip, he said, “I really can’t understand it. Back then you had a perfectly good business going—how did you suddenly end up running off with that fellow Sun Chongde? You’re from Sanhe, he’s a northerner. There’s no way you two could truly be of one mind. Luckily your fortune was good and Wei Yishan was willing to pull you out, otherwise you’d probably still be raising horses right now.”

Wang Xiaoshuan sighed. “If I wanted to become an official, it’s naturally because I didn’t want people looking down on me. These days, if you don’t have at least a little power in your hands, anyone can step on you.”

“You’re exaggerating,” Wang Xun said dismissively. “Tell me—who would dare step on my father? Who would dare treat Liang Gen as if he were nothing?”

He snorted. “You think money is useless only because you don’t have enough of it.”

Wang Xiaoshuan laughed awkwardly. “When Prince He was short of money, your father was an honored guest of the Prince He residence. Who would dare look down on him? Prince He himself had to give him some respect.”

“Exactly,” Wang Xun said. “Look at that brat Ye Chen. Why does he dare act so arrogant in Ankang City? Isn’t it because he has a good older brother? Tell me—does Ye Qiu have money, or does he have power?”

Wang Xiaoshuan replied, “He’s a Grandmaster. My talent in martial arts isn’t bad, but I’m not even as good as Yu Xiaoshi or A-Dai—let alone compared to Ye Qiu. In this life I’ll probably only reach Ninth Rank.”

“And you’re not satisfied with Ninth Rank?” Wang Xun rolled his eyes. “In the past that would have been enough to found your own sect! Even now, in Ankang City and Sanhe it may not be worth much, but if you went to the provinces, what prefect or magistrate wouldn’t greet you with his shoes in hand? Sometimes in life you should learn to be content. Don’t keep thinking that the mountain you stand on is lower than the next one.”

Wang Xiaoshuan pushed his cup forward for more wine. “Why are you lecturing me? Aren’t you supposed to be meeting your father later? And you still dare drink so much?”

After taking another sip, Wang Xun said, “You mentioned earlier about doing inventions and innovations. I think that idea is quite reliable. Explain it in detail. When I see my father later I’ll sell the idea to him—maybe he won’t scold me. And even if he still scolds me, so be it. I’ve been scolded since childhood; I’m used to it.”

Wang Xiaoshuan laughed. “You were just telling me to be content, but clearly you’re the one who isn’t. Your family has so many brothers, and you’re the seventh. Being able to run this business in Ankang City—aren’t you already doing better than most?”

Wang Xun chuckled. “If you put it that way, I guess I’m doing alright. Honestly, even my father probably doesn’t know how many children he has. Only a few of us brothers actually have the chance to come out and gain experience.”

Some of their siblings didn’t even have the qualification to be scolded by their father—because they never even got the chance to see him.

Wang Xiaoshuan said, “You’re exaggerating. How could your father not know how many children he has?”

Wang Xun replied, “How could he possibly know? In Sanhe alone he has more than a dozen concubines. Each of them gave birth to at least one child—some four or five. I’ve also heard he keeps several mistresses in Nanzhou. And he hasn’t even been in Ankang City long before he took in another courtesan. Then there are the ones from his one-night affairs. If someone finds my father, he’ll acknowledge them and give them some silver—but they won’t enter the family genealogy. And even more women never manage to find him. So honestly, how many descendants the Wang family actually has—it’s a mystery.”

Wang Xiaoshuan wiped drool from the corner of his mouth.

“Your father is truly a role model for our generation. When I get rich, I’ll marry many women too. A man can’t stay young forever, but his women can.”

Wang Xun waved his hand.

“Enough nonsense. Back to the main topic. Tell me again about this invention business—how exactly do I cooperate with the Academy of Sciences?”

“I already told you,” Wang Xiaoshuan said while chewing peanuts. “Outside the city there’s an exhibition hall run by the Academy. They have staff specifically to receive visitors. If you say you want cooperation, they’ll show you a catalog of projects. If you think some technology or invention is good, you can buy it and start production—or cooperate with them. They provide the technology, you provide the silver, and the profits are split.”

Wang Xun thought for a moment.

“Cooperation sounds more reliable.”

“If it’s reliable or not, you’ll know once you go see it yourself.”

After saying that, Wang Xiaoshuan held out his hand.

“What for?” Wang Xun asked.

“Silver. Two thousand taels!”

Wang Xiaoshuan said irritably. “What, you planning to go back on your word?”

“As if I’d cheat you out of such a small amount,” Wang Xun said.

He pulled out two banknotes from his chest and tossed them over.

“You still underestimate me.”

“Three thousand taels?”

Wang Xiaoshuan counted the extra thousand and handed it back.

“I won’t take advantage of you. What’s owed is what’s owed.”

Wang Xun shook his head.

“It’s for you. Keep it. But I have one condition.”

“What condition?”

Without hesitation, Wang Xiaoshuan stuffed the three thousand taels into his pocket.

“Come with me to the Academy of Sciences,” Wang Xun said. “Help advise me.”

“For this much silver, not just one trip—even ten trips I’d go with you,” Wang Xiaoshuan said with a grin.

Wang Xun suddenly said, “How about we become partners in this workshop?”

Wang Xiaoshuan stretched lazily. “When has the Wang family ever done partnership business? Even if I agreed, you wouldn’t get past your father. You’d better forget it—otherwise you’ll just get scolded again.”

Leaning back in his chair, Wang Xun said, “So you mean, as long as my family has no objection, you’ll agree?”

“Only a fool wouldn’t!”

This was the Wang family of Sanhe—the richest family in Sanhe.

Doing business with them meant he had nothing to fear.

Even if the business didn’t make money, the reputation alone would be worth a fortune.

People would say: Look, that’s Wang Xiaoshuan—the man who does business with the Wang family!

Who would dare question his strength then?

This was probably what people meant by borrowing the tiger’s might to intimidate others.

“Then it’s settled,” Wang Xun said.

He finished the last sip of wine and clapped his hands.

“I’ll head out now. We’ll talk later.”

“Wait!”

“What now?” Wang Xun asked, turning back.

Wang Xiaoshuan pointed to the messy table.

“Tell your waiter it’s on your tab. Don’t let them come asking me for money again.”

“Hmph. Pathetic,” Wang Xun snorted before leaving in a hurry.

“Waiter!”

“Yes, Commander Wang?”

“Bring another pound of roast chicken and a pound of wine,” Wang Xiaoshuan said grandly. “Wrap them in oil paper—I’m taking them away.”

The waiter silently cursed Wang Xiaoshuan’s ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart—but when handing over the food, he still smiled politely.

“Safe travels, Commander Wang.”

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Moonlit Night – Prince He’s Residence

“Ow! My hair!”

Lin Yi suddenly had a burst of fatherly affection and lifted the little girl onto his shoulders to let her ride like a horse.

But the child kept grabbing and pulling his hair.

It hurt terribly.

“Your Highness—”

Zixia quickly took the princess down from his shoulders.

“I’m your real father! How could you be so ruthless?” Lin Yi protested, looking at the hair in the little girl’s hand.

“Ah!” The little girl seemed very pleased.

“And you still dare laugh? You deserve a spanking,” Lin Yi said, pinching her cheek—though not too hard.

The girl burst into loud tears.

“Ah… you’re really filial,” Lin Yi sighed to Zixia. “Take her away and let her mother calm her down.”

His little “padded jacket” might be warm in the future—but right now she clearly had holes in it.

Before Zixia could move, Hu Miaoyi came over and fixed Lin Yi’s hair.

“Your Highness, you spoil her too much. Later she might become even more disobedient.”

Lin Yi sat down and let her arrange his hair.

“Whether I have sons or daughters, I didn’t bring them into the world just so they would obey me. I only want them to be themselves—to follow their own hearts.”

In his previous life he had always been acting—playing roles others liked, trying to be the obedient child.

In this life he didn’t obey blindly, so he didn’t want his children suppressing their own hearts either.

Hu Miaoyi didn’t fully understand his meaning, but she could feel how deeply he loved the child.

“Your Highness is right… but children shouldn’t be too spoiled either. You said yourself—everything must have moderation.”

“I’m already moderate,” Lin Yi said, sipping tea.

“She’s still a child. She’s just expressing her nature. No matter what logic you tell her, she won’t understand. What she needs is patience—until she grows up.”

Hu Miaoyi sincerely said, “Your servant has learned much.”

Lin Yi understood her intention immediately.

This woman wants another child again…

With a sigh he said, “You should take the child and rest first. I still have some matters to deal with.”

Hu Miaoyi bowed respectfully and left.

Lin Yi rubbed his forehead.

“Any movement from those natives yet?”

Han Deqing replied, “After Pan Duo captured their deputy envoy Marko, they sent ten thousand taels of silver.”

Lin Yi snorted.

“These idiots really have problems in their heads. They can’t even find the temple door when burning incense. Stealing martial techniques… quite bold. It’s not a capital crime, but punishment is unavoidable. Tell them to hold a joint trial and teach those natives a lesson.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”