"Mother, is Father still not going to take his medicine?"
"Oh, he can't drink it."
Mother Song shook her head and sighed, "The Song family has worked hard for three generations to achieve its current status and wealth. Now, just because he was kind-hearted back then and saved the Zhou family's beggar, and helped him with business all the way, the Zhou family, along with outsiders, wants to destroy the Song family's foundation. He only feels that it is all his fault, so how can he drink the medicine?"
Seeing his mother wiping away tears, Song Yi's heart clenched tightly. His father had fallen ill from anger, and his mother's hair had turned quite white.
“Mother, please persuade Father again. I have found a merchant from Jiangnan who has a way to sell us some goods without anyone noticing, bypassing the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce.”
"Really?"
"real."
"Is it very expensive? Then how can we still make a profit? Oh no, the most important thing now is to stock the store. Treasure Pavilion is the ancestral property of our Song family, and we must not let it fall into the hands of others."
"Mother, rest assured. Last time, the Zhou family sent someone to say they wanted to buy our Treasure Pavilion, but I already refused. As long as the ancestral property exists, the Song family will remain!"
"Good, good, good. You should contact that merchant carefully. Even if he offers more money, we still need to stock up. We're in business; we can't keep our counters empty."
The mother and son talked for a while, and Song Yi repeatedly assured her that he would receive the goods. Only then did Song's mother's expression improve. She then ordered someone to warm up the medicine and went inside to take care of Song's father, who had been ill for a long time.
Upon hearing the news, Mr. Song was so happy that he drank all the medicine.
These days, not only has Song Yi been running around trying every possible solution, but he has also sacrificed the reputation of three generations of the Song family, begging for help everywhere, but to no avail.
Now that they heard the Song family could be saved, they naturally wished they could recover immediately.
Song Yi seemed to be preoccupied.
The customer had asked him to make a down payment a few days ago. For those of them who are in the gold and jade jewelry business, even a half-percent down payment is a considerable sum.
The agreed delivery date has now arrived, but the customer has yet to contact him.
Thinking about it, Song Yi couldn't help but become impatient.
Just then, the butler rushed in.
"Young Master, Young Master Zhou is here!"
Song Yi's brow twitched, a bad feeling creeping over him. Sure enough, when he arrived at the reception hall, he saw the merchant who had been delaying the delivery closely following behind Zhou Shang'an.
"Zhou Shang'an!"
Zhou Shang'an is another vice president of the East Market Association and the Zhou family's chosen successor. He was the one who orchestrated the attack on the Song family, along with outsiders.
Song Yi glared at him hatefully, his fists clenched tightly.
"Brother Song, it's been so long, I've missed you terribly. But looking at you, I can't sense that you're not happy to see me?"
“Brother Song, you weren’t like this before. You used to welcome me whenever I came to the Song family.”
Zhou Shang'an spoke with a mocking expression, then swaggered down in the host's seat and even ordered his servants to serve him tea. It was clear that he was very familiar with the Song family.
"Zhou Shang'an, the Song family is not a place where you can act recklessly!"
Song Yi spoke to Zhou Shang'an, but his eyes were fixed on the merchants beside Zhou Shang'an.
In addition to the huge initial payment, the merchants also used their connections to ask him for money in various ways, bypassing the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, and he gave them all.
Sensing Song Yi's murderous gaze, the merchant showed no fear of being in the wrong. Instead, he arrogantly raised his chin, clasped his hands, and said, "I am sorry to offend Vice President Song. I have long heard that you are a famous business genius, but I did not expect you to be so unworthy of the reputation. You dare to make the first payment without even seeing the goods. You are really bold. Unlike me, I am careful and cautious, unlike you, Vice President Song, who is rich and powerful."
“Since you know your own shortcomings, why don’t you learn more from Brother Song? Brother Song is a well-known Confucian merchant, literate and knowledgeable, far beyond your reach.”
Zhou Shang'an made sarcastic remarks, and the servants behind him laughed heartily at his words.
"Yes, yes, we should all learn from Vice President Song."
"I've heard that Vice President Song is exceptionally intelligent and quick to grasp the ways of business. Many people have been saying that Vice President Song is not only going to be the president of the East Market, but also one of the candidates for the president of the General Association."
"I look forward to your guidance, Vice President Song."
"With your guidance, we'll be set for life."
The crowd mocked Song Yi, trampling on his dignity.
"You're talking nonsense! You were the ones who took samples and tried to do business with my young master. You colluded with the Zhou family to cheat us, and yet you dare to be so arrogant!"
Song Yi clenched his fists, still retaining his rationality, but his servant couldn't stand it and rolled up his sleeves, ready to rush up and beat him.
"stop!"
Song Yi roared, and the servant glanced at him.
"Young Master..."
"Get out of the way!"
The servant, his face flushed, forced himself to retreat to the side, enduring the humiliation.
“That’s more like it. We’re businessmen. We make money through harmony. We’re not thugs. Fighting will get us into legal trouble.” Zhou Shang’an said, patting his richly dressed mansion.
He had wanted to run away when he saw the Song family about to beat him up, but now that he saw Song Yi dismiss the servants, he became smug again.
"Brother Song, please don't blame me. Although our two families have been friends for twenty years, and your father has been kind to our Zhou family, there is no such thing as father and son in the business world. Mere sentimentality is nothing compared to the development of the family. Don't you think so?"
Seeing that Song Yi did not respond, Zhou Shang'an stroked the gold copper coin embroidered on his sleeve and continued, "Of course, our Zhou family also has a conscience. As long as you sell the Treasure Pavilion to us, we will not only not hinder the Song family's other businesses, but will also give our full support. I believe that with your strength, the Song family will soon recover its strength."
"Ha!" Song Yi sneered, "Brother Zhou, you've got a good plan. Treasure Pavilion is the Song family's ancestral property. Most of the Song family's success comes from Treasure Pavilion, and it has a reputation built up over three generations. If the Song family abandons Treasure Pavilion, what's the difference between them and any second-rate merchant on the street?"
"The Song family has built its current status over three generations, and it is absolutely impossible for it to be ruined by me."
"Song Yi, you are truly stubborn and incorrigible!"
Zhou Shang'an was also angry. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Do you still think you're the same person you used to be? The Song family has fallen. No one in the entire capital dares to help the Song family. Your Song family is a business that sells goods. You don't even have any goods. What kind of shop are you running!"
Upon hearing this, Song Yi's expression grew even more unpleasant.
"Miss, why is the Song family so passive? They don't even know how to fight back when the Zhou family comes to their door to bully them."
On the other side of the reception hall, Qingxing secretly watched the Song and Zhou sides confronting each other in the main hall through the beaded curtain.
"How do you plan to resist?" Jiang Shuwan asked casually, waving her jeweled fan.
"Of course we should take down that merchant. If the Song family can't deal with the Zhou family, surely they can't deal with a small merchant? Song Yi signed a sales contract with him and paid the down payment. Shouldn't he deliver the goods on time?"
"So what if he just refuses to tell you?"
“If he doesn’t pay, we’ll take him to court and make him pay money. The Song family’s business has been bad lately, so this will be a good opportunity to help them out.”
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