This confrontation with the Morgan family could be a protracted war or an dishonorable compromise. In any case, no matter how this matter ends, it cannot be resolved hastily.

So after a moment of worry, Duanmu Ci regained his composure, gently blew away the tea leaves floating on the water, and took a sip of tea. As the lingering fragrance spread on his tongue, Duanmu Ci's mood also returned to calm.

"This matter is very thorny, but it may not be unsolvable. Moreover, the Morgan family may not necessarily want to be completely wiped out. In my opinion, there should still be a chance for this matter to turn around. It may even be an opportunity. Let's see how we seize it."

"Opportunity?" Aslan was puzzled.

“Of course.” Duanmu Ci adjusted his posture. “The quickest and most effective way to become a hero is to defeat another hero! If the Duke of Wellington hadn’t defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, he would have been nothing more than a nobleman who liked to hold balls in his castle. How could he have been remembered by the world and by posterity?”

"Similarly, if we can successfully deal with the Morgan family's threat this time, then in the eyes of outsiders, we will be labeled as 'a family that even Morgan can't do anything about.' And for us, this is undoubtedly the best opportunity to enhance our reputation!"

Aslan nodded as if he understood something. "In your Chinese parlance, this is what they call 'fortune favors the bold'?"

"That's right! Do you know Li Zicheng?"

“I know,” Aslan, who has a deep understanding of Chinese culture, said. “Li Zicheng was the leader of a peasant uprising at the end of the Ming Dynasty. He destroyed the Zhu family’s empire.”

Duanmu Ci nodded and continued, "Li Zicheng was the most powerful violent man in the world at that time. He almost ended the rule of the Han people. Under his attacks, the declining Ming Empire suffered defeat after defeat. If any imperial general could be defeated by him, even with dignity, he would be given an important position by the emperor!"

"In other words, if we can have a great showdown with the Morgan family instead of being defeated at the first touch, then we can also gain the respect we deserve, and in everyone's eyes we can be seen as a family that can stand up to the Morgans. This may be a blessing in disguise."

Duanmu Ci meant that the Morgan family, as the pinnacle of the global business pyramid, commands respect from any family capable of effectively challenging them. It's like during Napoleon's conquest of Europe; any noble lord who managed to preserve their territory amidst Napoleon's attacks would be granted even more land by the king!

Because those were men who could rival Napoleon, and that principle applies today as well. Now, the Morgan and Duanmu families are about to clash in an unequal fashion, which will also bring them to a point of parity at some point, greatly benefiting the Duanmu family.

To use a somewhat imprecise analogy, it's like a third-tier female celebrity being rumored to be having an affair with a superstar. This affair might be a worry for the superstar, but it would be a great joy for the third-tier female celebrity! Because it would increase her value exponentially!

Of course, all of this is based on the premise that the Duanmu family has the ability to confront the Morgan family; otherwise, it is all just empty talk.

Aslan frowned. "You mean, we want to take advantage of this opportunity to deal with Morgan to enhance our own value and status?"

“Of course,” Duanmu Ci said. “Just like how the President of the United States wouldn’t fight with a beggar, the person who can challenge the President must at least be the Secretary of State.”

Aslan had his eyes closed, then suddenly opened them. "I get it, you're trying to 'bundle sales'!"

Bundling refers to the practice of selling two or more brands together during a certain period of time. If the two brands are not of equal standing, this type of bundling can help the brand with a lower status to enhance its image.

Without a doubt, the Morgan family is the superior one, and the other families are the inferior one. The confrontation between the two will, to some extent, benefit the inferior ones, provided that they are qualified to accept the challenge.

Duanmu Ci revealed a look of aptitude, "That's right, that's exactly it. Although doing this is disqualifying, there's no other way. When you go back, think carefully about what bargaining chips you have on hand. Every little bit helps."

Then he turned to Bu Tongxun and said, "Go call the old butler in Chicago later and tell him that things have changed. Hold off on selling Thaftl for now and see how the Morgan family reacts."

Thaftl is one of Chicago's busiest commercial streets, and the Chicago city government had been trying to buy it, with the Duanmu family prepared to accept their offer. This matter had originally been managed by the old butler, but recently Duanmu Ci received news that the buyer was someone else entirely—the Morgan family. No wonder there had been rumors that "this street belongs to the Morgan family."

This can be considered a bargaining chip; let's see if we can secure a more advantageous position for ourselves.

Afterwards, Duanmu Ci treated Aslan to dinner, and then firmly refused Aslan's request to stay overnight—it's fine for a woman to stay overnight, but what's a man doing here? Besides, this man has a super five-star hotel he can stay in at will! Does he need to be taken in?

After Aslan left, Duanmu Ci sat on the sofa, lost in thought, and said, "I feel like I've forgotten something..."

Bu Tongxun placed a glass of red wine on the coffee table in front of Duanmu Ci, and frowned upon hearing this, "Yes, I also feel like I've forgotten something, it's so strange..."

Duanmu Ci thought for a while, then waved his hand dismissively, "Anyway, nothing major has happened recently. Maybe he just forgot some small things. There's no need to worry about it too much."

Bu Tongxun nodded in deep agreement.

Actually, for Duanmu Ci and Bu Tongxun, the master and servant pair, Aslan's presence was really not that significant, so it's understandable that they forgot to take their international friend Aslan back to his hotel for a moment...

At the same time...

On the chilly, windswept Jingyuan Street, along the banks of the Huangpu River where the mournful horns of ships blared, a solitary figure wandered aimlessly, seemingly lost in thought. Shivering, he shoved his hands into his pockets, touching the colorful US dollar bills, and silently gazed up at the heavens—

"What terrible things have I done?!"

...

...

p: Duanmu Ci: Why don't you come back to find me?

Aslan: Because I'm ashamed.

Duanmu Ci: So how did you get back to the hotel?

Aslan roared in grief and anger, "I had the hotel manager cover it for me! He covered it for me!"

...

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