Auspicious event
The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat subtle. The previous heated exchanges seemed to have been interrupted by this little incident.
However, this delicate calm did not last long.
Another guard walked over quickly, this time looking slightly hurried, and whispered a few words to Qin Lingfeng.
Upon hearing this, Qin Lingfeng's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, though he quickly recovered.
But Jiang Manyan, who had been keeping an eye on him out of the corner of her eye, did not miss this detail.
"It seems that Young Master Shen is indeed very busy today."
Jiang Manyan stood up considerately and patted off non-existent taro crumbs from her hands.
"I should go back and rest now; this injury will take some time to heal."
He has actually recovered quite a bit.
However, in order to create the illusion that "Jiang Shanren" had disappeared and his fate was uncertain, Qin Kun became complacent and revealed his weakness.
Only after Young Master Shen repeatedly urged him to stay did he agree to remain here for "rest and recuperation."
"I apologize for my poor hospitality."
Qin Lingfeng also stood up, looking apologetic.
"No, the tea is very good, and the taro is very fragrant."
Jiang Manyan smiled brightly, seemingly unconcerned about the earlier incident.
"I will trouble you again another day, Young Master Shen."
Jiang Manyan cupped her hands in farewell and turned to leave. As she did so, the relaxed smile on her lips gradually faded, turning into deep thought.
The guard smelled of gunpowder and rust, and seemed to have a faint scent of blood.
Although it was extremely faint, he wouldn't mistake it for something else.
This "Shen Lingfeng," the wealthy cloth merchant, seems to have a very "exciting" business!
Qin Lingfeng, who remained in the waterside pavilion, watched calmly as Jiang Manyan's figure disappeared at the end of the path.
"Master, we just received news that the sabotage we set for Qin Kun as you instructed has been too effective. He has lost two of his capable subordinates and is now investigating who is behind it all, like a mad dog."
The guard reported in a low voice
“He might… suspect anyone he’s had a recent conflict with, including… the missing ‘Kang Shan-in’.”
The guard's words were loaded with meaning.
Qin Lingfeng's eyes turned cold.
"Send more men to secretly protect this private residence and its inhabitants. Anyone who attempts to spy on or force their way in should be killed without exception."
"yes"
An afternoon tea may seem calm on the surface, but it is actually full of undercurrents.
Both were pretending, both were testing each other, and both developed a curiosity and exploration of each other that went beyond their initial purpose.
How long can that thin layer of disguise last?
That afternoon, after tea, the atmosphere in the private residence was as tense as a bowstring.
Jiang Manyan continues to play the role of a "wealthy businessman's son" recovering from her injuries, but beneath that leisurely demeanor lies a subtle scrutiny.
Qin Lingfeng became increasingly cautious, needing to maintain his "cloth merchant" persona while also mobilizing resources to deal with Qin Kun's potential backlash and secretly strengthening the security of his private residence.
That evening, the sudden rain stopped.
Jiang Manyan leaned against the porch, looking at the courtyard that had been washed clean by the rain, and suddenly spoke.
"It seems there are quite a few more guards at Young Master Shen's residence than in the past few days?"
His tone was casual, as if he had noticed the small change unintentionally.
Qin Lingfeng was flipping through an account book when he heard this. He looked up, his expression natural.
"The southeast has been rather turbulent lately. I heard that Qin Kun lost a shipment of important goods and is now running around like a headless fly. It's inevitable that we need to be extra cautious. Did that frighten you, Young Master Wang?"
No, not at all.
Jiang Manyan smiled, her gaze sweeping over a dark shadow that flashed by in the distance.
"I just think that Young Master Shen's guards all look quite... capable."
Jiang Manyan deliberately paused slightly on the word "efficient".
Qin Lingfeng said without changing his expression, "When you're out in the world, you always need some means to protect yourself. They're all elderly people arranged by the family, and they're quite capable."
He changed the subject: "The rain has stopped, and the air is very fresh. Would you like to take another walk, Young Master Wang?"
The two walked side by side on the wet stone path.
The setting sun pierced through the clouds, casting golden rays, and amidst the misty vapor, there was a touch of hazy poetry.
"Speaking of which," Jiang Manyan said casually.
"Young Master Shen, do you think that if Qin Kun falls into misfortune, it will be a good thing or a bad thing for us business people?"
"Of course it's a good thing," Qin Lingfeng replied without hesitation.
"Only by removing the malignant tumor can the market become clear and transparent."
"oh?"
Jiang Manyan turned her head to look at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"But I've heard that Qin Kun is backed by the main branch of the Qin family in the central district. Aren't we afraid of angering a real behemoth by messing with him?"
This question was extremely pointed, almost a direct test of Shen Lingfeng's attitude towards the Qin family's main branch.
Qin Lingfeng did not stop walking, but his heart skipped a beat.
He pondered for a moment.
He said slowly.
"The Qin family... is indeed powerful, but even the largest family will ruin its own foundation and reputation if it allows its branches to act recklessly like this."
"In my opinion, if the person in charge of the Qin family is wise, he will not only not protect his own, but perhaps... he will personally clean up the house."
Qin Lingfeng's words, spoken from the perspective of an objective "businessman," were reasonable and even subtly revealed a hint of expectation for the Qin family's main branch.
This perfectly concealed his identity as the "person in charge".
Jiang Manyan nodded thoughtfully and did not ask any further questions.
He sneered inwardly: "Such high-sounding words! The rot in the central district has long since taken deep root and become corrupt. If the Qin family truly wanted to clean house, why would they have allowed Qin Kun to remain so arrogant until now?"
This "Young Master Shen" is either too naive, or... knows some inside information...
— — — —
That day, Jiang Manyan was sitting by the window reading when Jiang Zhong came to visit as usual—this was permitted by Qin Lingfeng, after all, it was reasonable for the steward of the "Young Master Wang's" family to care about the young master.
"Young master, how are you feeling today?"
Jiang Zhong put down the fresh fruit he had brought, his voice loud and clear, as always.
"Much better."
Jiang Manyan put down her book and smiled, but her keen eyes noticed a hint of barely suppressed joy between Jiang Zhong's brows.
Qin Lingfeng happened to be away, so Jiang Zhong leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said, unable to hide his excitement.
"Young master, good news! That scoundrel Qin Kun has offended some deity and is in deep trouble!"
"Oh?" Jiang Manyan raised an eyebrow, immediately showing interest. "Tell me more."
"Just last night, a shipment of his important goods at the dock somehow spun out of control and burned completely! It's said that it was the key to his efforts to bribe officials and salvage the situation!"
Jiang Zhong spoke with great enthusiasm.
As Jiang Manyan listened, her eyes sparkled, and the corners of her lips unconsciously turned up.
This was nothing short of a disaster... no, it was a stroke of good fortune! He could almost picture Qin Kun looking flustered and furious.
"Do you know which force was behind this?" Jiang Manyan asked in a low voice, quickly filtering through possible suspects in her mind.
Jiang Zhong shook his head.
"That's the strange thing. The person who did it was extremely clean and efficient, leaving no obvious traces. They don't seem like a local from Southeast China, but rather..."
He hesitated for a moment.
"It looks like it was done by an extremely professional team."
A vague thought flashed through Jiang Manyan's mind.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
"Great! That's wonderful!"
Jiang Manyan clapped her hands and chuckled softly, her eyes becoming sharp and excited.
"He lost his composure, which is the perfect opportunity for us to strike while he's down!"
Jiang Manyan quickly issued the order.
"Brother Zhong, make the arrangements immediately. Isn't he in a mess because his goods burned? Then let's take advantage of his tight cash flow and ruthlessly suppress the grain and salt prices he controls! Let the fire burn even more fiercely!"
"yes!"
Jiang Zhong accepted the order, but hesitated.
"Young master, that unknown force...should we investigate it? Just in case..."
"No need."
Jiang Manyan said decisively.
"Dealing with Qin Kun is the priority right now. No matter who he is, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
"We fight our own battles, they fight theirs, and the best understanding is to not interfere with each other."
"However... Brother Jiang, could you go and investigate the information about the current head of the Qin family?"
Jiang Zhong accepted the order and left.
In the following days, a sudden upheaval occurred in the business community of the Southeast District.
Qin Kun suffered a double blow from unknown forces and "Wang Family's Herbal Medicine and Mountain Goods Store" (secretly directed by Jiang Manyan).
This was like adding insult to injury, resulting in a complete rout.
Although these two forces were unaware of each other's specific origins, they displayed an astonishing tacit understanding in their actions.
With a combination of overt and covert tactics, they swiftly dismantled Qin Kun's power.
In his private residence, Qin Lingfeng listened to his subordinates report on the unusually active business of "Young Master Wang" and his precise targeting of Qin Kun's industries.
Comparing this to the other troubles he had secretly created for Qin Kun, a meaningful smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
That's interesting. It's so interesting!
This "Young Master Wang" reacted so quickly, his methods were so shrewd, and his grasp of timing was so precise... He truly deserves to be called the "leader" of the three towns.
During dinner, Qin Lingfeng casually mentioned, "I heard things have been quite lively outside lately; Qin Kun has really suffered a major setback."
Jiang Manyan was elegantly sipping her soup when she heard this. She looked up, her face bearing just the right amount of schadenfreude that belonged to "Wang Ping'an".
"Absolutely! It's truly gratifying! That kind of bully deserved his just deserts long ago!"
Jiang Manyan's performance was flawless.
Qin Lingfeng looked into his bright eyes, which were filled with "pure" joy, as if he were just an ordinary boy who was happy to see evildoers get their comeuppance.
"This is truly gratifying."
Qin Lingfeng echoed this, pouring himself and Jiang Manyan each a glass of light wine.
"Speaking of which, it seems that the Wang family has seized the opportunity this time, and their business is thriving?"
Jiang Manyan felt a slight alarm bell ringing in her heart, but she smiled sheepishly on the surface.
“My father said that business opportunities are fleeting. It just so happens that some medicinal herbs and mountain products that we had stockpiled have come in handy. Compared to your big business, Young Master Shen, our little venture is nothing to worry about.”
Jiang Manyan started kicking the ball around skillfully again.
Qin Lingfeng didn't press further, but simply raised his glass.
"Then I wish us all... to be able to seize the 'business opportunities' we want."
Their glasses clinked lightly, producing a crisp sound. They exchanged a smile, each lost in their own thoughts.
Jiang Manyan thought to herself: This "Chen Lingfeng" is indeed well-informed?
Could it be that the head of the Su family is secretly targeting Qin Kun?
Given the Su family's reputation, it's understandable that they would secretly take action against the Qin family's branch for exploiting the common people. However, the Su family simply doesn't have that kind of power!
Recalling their last conversation, Shen Lingfeng had high expectations for the Qin family's main branch. Could it be...?
...
An inexplicable tension filled the air between the two.
The thin layer of paper on the window seems to be about to be torn at any moment.
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