Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Beio/Can make Chengzhi Society grow stronger...
At Winston Manor, the melodious music continued. Light from the crystal chandelier fell on the silver trays carried by the waiters, moving through the halls with the pace of the movement.
The knives and forks on the table were neatly arranged according to the rules, the blades reflecting the hems of the ladies' velvet skirts and the edges of the gentlemen's tuxedos, and even the breathing was wrapped in the slow rhythm unique to upper-class banquets.
Aunt Sophia walked in wearing a silver fox cloak, the jewel brooch on her collar gleaming coldly in the candlelight.
"My dear, long time no see. This dress sets off your complexion beautifully."
She walked forward with a smile, her expression intimate and friendly, full of the kindness of an elder.
Isabel returned the kiss. "Long time no see, Aunt Sophia. It seems the long journey to St. Petersburg hasn't affected you at all. You even had the energy to travel north to Kent to visit my daughter-in-law and her family."
Sophia chuckled. Of course, she could hear that this was a subtle irony about how she had fled to St. Petersburg and run away in disgrace like a defeated soldier, but now she was full of energy to come to Kent to cause trouble.
"Oh, just take it as a compliment. After all, who doesn't want to stay young and full of energy?" Sophia's gaze lingered on Isabel's face for two seconds longer, a smile etched in her lips, yet a sharp edge concealed within. "You don't seem surprised by my arrival?"
Isabelle's expression was perfectly balanced with surprise. She gestured for the waiter to pass her some champagne. "No, I didn't expect to see you here. I thought losers always needed more time to recuperate."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm good at getting back up after falling down." Sophia took the champagne, clinking her fingertips against the rim of the glass. She lowered her voice so only the two of them could hear, "But... darling, there's no need to hide anything between us, right? You should know why I'm here."
Isabelle took a sip of champagne, her smile unchanged. "Aunt, you might as well speak frankly."
Their eyes met, and the seemingly harmonious atmosphere was actually sparks flying.
Sophia smiled: "I'm here to tell you some good news."
As she spoke, she suddenly raised her voice, and the champagne glass in her hand shook, creating tiny bubbles. "It's just right, so that everyone here tonight can hear this good news."
Everyone was watching this place silently. When they heard the sound, they looked at each other and pricked up their ears at the same time.
Heinrich frowned slightly and strode to his wife. Just as he was about to speak, Isabel pulled him behind her and shook her head suggestively.
Herman and Audrey, who was running over with her skirt in hand, stopped a few meters away and also looked at the uninvited guest.
With everyone's attention focused on her, Isabel's face remained calm as she stared at Sophia's red lips opening and closing.
"Thanks to Miss Norman, I just came back from St. Petersburg and met the Archbishop." These words instantly quieted the surrounding discussions, and several eyes were focused on him.
Sophia continued slowly, "Next year, Archbishop Griffin plans to rebuild the cathedral in Haddonfield to celebrate the Pope's birthday. To this end, the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre has issued a new oracle, requiring the collection of atonement money throughout Kent County in advance to be used for ceremony preparations and the repair of sacred objects."
"In other words, the atonement money that was originally scheduled to be paid after Holy Sunday will now be paid a month earlier."
Everyone's gaze gradually froze, and the scene became quiet.
"A month in advance?" Mrs. Moore exclaimed. "All the accounts at home are calculated according to the original date. This sudden advancement..."
She swallowed the rest of her words. The ugly expressions of all the merchants from the White camp in the field said it all.
"Yeah, that's really worrying, isn't it?" Sophia glanced at everyone, the pain in her eyes tangible. "The order from the Galan Temple will arrive soon. I just received the news and informed everyone in advance. Please prepare early."
"Otherwise..." Sophia's gaze fell back on Isabel, her brows furrowed, a secret smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "If you can't even pay the penance money symbolizing loyalty on time, how can you be worthy of the blessing of the Holy God? And how can you get the Archbishop to approve the technology license for next year?"
"Don't you think so, Audrey?" Sophia asked softly, "Did your aunt fulfill her duty of warning by bringing you good news?"
Isabel didn't say anything, but the commotion around her became more obvious. Some people quietly clenched their wine glasses, while others lowered their heads and whispered to the people around them.
——Everyone knows about the financial crisis of the White camp. Now, there is still no news about the money, but the day of "repaying the debt" has been brought forward!
Most of Haddonfield's merchants make their living from factories, so a technological blockade would mean disaster. Everyone is extremely anxious!
Isabel didn't panic. She put down her champagne glass and gently traced the rim with her fingertips. Her tone was calm but tinged with sarcasm: "Aunt is so eager to show her cards. But she pulled out the knife before the last minute. If she can't retract it, wouldn't it be embarrassing?"
Sophia paused and smiled: "It's okay, I enjoy the fair duel game."
Isabel also laughed, raised her champagne glass, and said calmly, "That's great. There's still a month and a half left until the deadline. I wish you a happy Christmas."
"Of course, blessings to you too, dear." Sophia kept smiling, took the silver fox coat from the waiter, and touched Isabel's face again.
She looked at Heinrich again, met his cold gaze, and nodded gracefully: "And you, Hein, I wish you all the best."
Heinrich sneered: "If you hadn't shown up, I would have been fine."
Sophia remained calm, as if she hadn't heard anything. She looked at the owner of the manor again and said, "Mr. White, Mrs. White, thank you for your hospitality. I wish you a wonderful evening."
Herman nodded coldly. Audrey subconsciously hid behind her husband and looked at the woman warily.
"Oh, there are so many beauties in the Norman family. The two sisters look so alike." Sophia's gaze lingered for a moment, and she complimented with a warm smile, then turned around and said goodbye, leaving surrounded by the Brusen family.
The party was still going on, but no one was in the mood to have fun.
The moon sets and the sun rises.
The grand Duke's welcome ball made headlines in major newspapers, with a lot of space describing the distinguished guests in attendance with extremely gorgeous words, but apart from ordinary people, the attention of businessmen had shifted.
In the study, the firewood in the fireplace crackled, and sparks splashed on the stone mantelpiece, quickly extinguishing into a little ash.
Hermann sat behind the mahogany desk, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the table. In front of him stood Mr. Moore, his most senior businessman, and behind him were two cloth merchants who were clutching their account books, their faces filled with anxiety.
"Mr. White." Moore spoke first, his voice a little deeper than at the banquet.
He pushed the account book and paper aid agreement onto the table. "We've already paid the workers, and we can't afford redemption now. If the technology license is revoked, we're finished."
The fabric merchant nearby chimed in, "Mr. White, the Mechanicum has officially announced that Madam Sophia's news from that night is true! Either pay the balance now, or share your team's technological research progress with us! We can't wait any longer. If the technology truly fails, we'll lose everything we have!"
It was no secret that Hermann had invested heavily in building a technical research team. More precisely, it was common knowledge that all businessmen who made a living from this had their own teams. After all, no one wanted to live under the monopoly of the church forever. Being the first to try something new would be a historic achievement.
As the leader, Hermann's team is naturally considered the most promising.
However, faced with anxious questioning, Hermann did not answer the question.
His finger stopped at the edge of the map on the table. The dotted line on it marked the new route, but the newspaper was covering the key section.
He raised his eyes, his tone not impatience at all, but calmness: "The balance will be settled in mid-December. This is stipulated in the contract and cannot be changed."
"Mid-December?! If we wait until then, we'll be finished!" This time even Mr. Moore couldn't help but raise his voice. This was the first time he dared to speak so loudly to Hermann.
Hermann stared at him expressionlessly.
Moore's expression froze, and he pleaded, "Mr. White, we supported you because we believed in your ability. Please, for our sake, please think of a solution!"
"Yes! If, I mean if the White family can't hold on, please tell us earlier! At least we can make other plans!" The fabric merchant said in a threatening tone.
Herman didn't get angry, but just started tapping the table with his fingertips again. "Please feel free."
Fabric Merchant: "You!"
Herman raised his eyes, his tone without any soothing tone, but revealing an unquestionable certainty: "If you want to leave, feel free to do so. If you don't want to leave, just do as I said just now and wait patiently."
Several cloth merchants left angrily, but More stopped and hesitated.
He looked at the two cloth merchants who were leaving, then looked at Hermann, and finally said nothing more, just nodded: "I will wait for your news, but sir, please don't make me wait too long, please."
After saying that, he turned and left. The cold wind that came in when he closed the door made the candlelight flicker.
Hermann leaned back in his chair and was about to raise his hand to rub his brow when the door opened again.
"Charles, didn't I tell you not to disturb me today..."
Before he could finish his words, he heard a woman's voice.
"It's me."
Isabel walked in and sat down opposite naturally. "Moir is here to ask for an explanation?"
"Yes, I want the balance and also want to know about the technological progress." Herman said in a cold tone, casually picking up the technical report that had just been delivered yesterday and flipping through it. "If Moore and his team don't see the cash, they won't be able to build confidence. Without them, the route won't be established in a short time, and our funding will also be in trouble."
The report contained a sketch of the steam engine improvement, with several traces of modification circled in red pen.
Herman picked up the sketch and ran his finger over the area circled in red. His expression was a little grim. "Money can't solve the problem. The church is too rigid about the core parameters, and there's no progress in technology. Both paths are blocked."
Isabel took the sketch and looked at it carefully.
Herman sneered, "Because you lured the snake out of its hole, now both of our families have been bitten by this venomous snake. If we don't find an antidote, we will all die together."
He had been frank in front of Moore just now, but he was actually angry in his heart.
It was all because of this woman that she caused trouble and mess, and now the new route is about to be in crisis.
Isabel was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. She tapped the edge of the sketch with her fingertips, her tone tinged with sarcasm. "Antidote? You already have the antidote in your hand, but you're staring at these unproductive drawings. Aren't you stupid?"
Hermann narrowed his eyes slightly.
Isabel took her time and took out a brand new mechanical improvement diagram from her handbag.
"Please look at your wife's achievements." Isabel's voice was softer, but every word was clear. "You have a genius by your side, but you always rely on outsiders' skills. Herman, you fox, sometimes you make mistakes."
Hermann suddenly raised his eyes, took the sketch and looked at it carefully, and the more he looked, the more surprised he became.
He was not unaware of his wife's strengths and talents, and he had always indulged her in developing those hobbies, otherwise he would not have opened a small factory specifically for her.
However, he was too busy during this period and had no time to pay attention to Audrey's progress. Of course, the reason was that he didn't place his hopes on this girl.
After all, it was a big deal to improve the machine.
Hermann clutched the blueprint tightly and was about to ask further questions when Isabel turned and walked out the door.
-
The next day, Winston Manor.
Early in the morning, the morning mist was chilly, indicating that today would be a sunny day.
Since it didn't snow today, Audrey decided to go to Haddonfield to tell Jeshia and Theresa the good news!
Just yesterday, she finally completed the blueprint for the improved machine.
I was so excited the whole day that I was not satisfied even with telling my sister. I wanted to tell the whole world the good news!
Outside the manor, a carriage was waiting at the door. Audrey, holding up her heavy pearly white skirt, had just stepped onto the running board. Before her fingertips touched the door frame, a slender white hand suddenly rested on the door. The cuffs of her dark green satin skirt fell down. It was Isabel.
Audrey's feet stopped in mid-air and she looked up in surprise: "Sister?"
Isabel didn't say much, just tilted her head towards the carriage and said with a smile, "You don't mind bringing an extra person today, sweetheart?"
"But, where I'm going is..." Audrey glanced at the driver and whispered, "Chengzhi Society."
"Yes, I know." Isabel had already gotten into the car calmly, sat next to her sister, and helped her adjust her scarf. "Can you introduce me to your friend?"
Audrey obediently let her sister fix her clothes, but she imitated the tone of the opera actor and said in a low voice: "Oh, of course, I can never refuse a beautiful lady."
Then he leaned over, picked a rose from the roadside flowerbed, bit it in his mouth, and raised his chin handsomely: "This is for you, Miss Norman, from the heart of a gentleman."
Isabel took the rose with a smile: "Thank you, Miss Gentleman."
The driver staggered back and forth and almost dropped his whip.
-
The carriage drove happily on the road and took them to the city.
Audrey skillfully took her sister to change to a simple carriage, and she really looked like a gentleman throughout the journey.
The two arrived in Haddonfield when the sun was high in the sky.
The familiar little house was hidden between two brick houses. The paint on the wooden door was peeling a little, and there were two pots of withered mint on the windowsill. It looked no different from the other houses on the street.
The sound of horse hooves stopped at the door. Audrey got out first, her pearly white dress striking against the plain street scene. Isabel followed, her dark green satin dress even more lustrous. The two of them stood at the door, like two flowers that had strayed into a dark alley.
Audrey raised her hand and knocked on the door. The door knocker was made of old iron and made a "knock knock" sound when she knocked on it.
After a few seconds, the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs was heard in the house. They were light but steady, the rhythm of Mrs. Jeshia.
The door opened from the inside. Mrs. Jeshia was wearing simple work clothes like last time. When she saw Audrey at the door, she was a little surprised, but her tone was familiar: "Why are you here today? It's so cold. Come on..."
Before she finished speaking, her eyes passed over Audrey's shoulder and saw Isabel, and she suddenly stopped - similar blonde hair and blue eyes, but a cold and calm aura. It was not difficult to guess that this was the Duchess who dominated the headlines of the newspapers.
The familiarity on Mrs. Jeshia's face faded instantly, her hand gripping the door handle tightened, and her eyes became more alert.
Audrey smiled and said, "Mrs. Jeshia, please rest assured. This is my sister. She is very reliable and will never reveal our secrets."
Jeshia's expression softened, but she still remained on guard.
"Excuse me, Duchess, what is the important matter that has brought you here? If you are simply worried that your sister might go astray, or if you are simply here to investigate our surroundings, then please return."
Audrey was stunned and was about to explain, but was stopped by her sister.
Isabel took a half step forward and nodded gracefully to Jeshia: "Mrs. Jeshia, please forgive me for the intrusion of visiting Chengzhi Society."
She got straight to the point: "I want to discuss a business with you."
Jieshiya's face was expressionless: "What business?"
"It will allow Chengzhishe to grow and prosper, and become a sustainable business."
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Author's Note: I added so many favorites today! I checked online and saw so many readers recommended this for me! So touching! [Breaking tears][Breaking tears][Breaking tears] These are such sincere and heartfelt recommendations. How could I possibly deserve this? Sooooooooooo!! I love you all!! I'm going to finish this even if my keyboard breaks!!
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