However, there's always a way. Since they couldn't give gifts, they simply went to Lu's shop and bought a lot to show their sincerity.
However, while some people are self-disciplined, others naturally do not play by the rules.
Lu Baichuan drank quite a bit of alcohol the day before and went to bed early. He was still dizzy when he woke up the next day. After practicing at the martial arts field, he felt much more energetic. Since he had nothing else to do, he decided to go to the shop to check on things so he could give his wife an explanation when he returned to Changzhou.
Before he even left the house, he was told that someone was requesting an audience. He instinctively assumed that they had come to deliver gifts and said, "Just tell them that I'm not seeing any guests lately and to send them back."
The servant looked somewhat embarrassed and explained, "Third Master, the young master outside is not here to deliver gifts. He claims to be Yuhe, the grandson of Princess Anping, and says he has something to discuss with you, Third Master."
Yuhe?
Lu Baichuan went over the name in his mind three times, but he really didn't remember it and they had never had any contact before.
I have heard of Princess Anping. She was the Emperor Emeritus's cousin. She was favored in her early years and was bestowed the title of Princess Anping by the late Emperor. However, her father committed a crime and was demoted, and her family fell into decline. The late Emperor spared her from punishment because she was already married, and she retained the title of princess. However, she lost favor because of this.
With the changing of the guard among the powerful in the capital, Princess Anping had long faded from public view. What was her grandson up to now that he had suddenly appeared?
Since the other party had at least mentioned the name of Princess Anping, I couldn't refuse to give them face, so I said, "Bring her in."
The servant acknowledged and left. Lu Baichuan went to the reception room to wait. Before long, the servant brought in a young man of similar age, accompanied by two other servants, all of whom were empty-handed.
Lu Baichuan thought to himself, since they're not here to give gifts, they can't be here to ask him for favors, so he'll just give them a few perfunctory replies.
Yu He held a paper fan and dressed like a refined young master, trying his best to look like a wealthy young man. However, Lu Baichuan noticed that the silk robe he was wearing was starting to pill and the cuffs were frayed, so he knew that his family was probably not doing well.
However, this was someone else's private matter, and he did not have any objection to Yuhe because of it. He even politely got up to greet him.
"Young Master Yu, please have a seat. May I ask what brings you here today?"
He smiled and gave Yuhe plenty of face.
Yu He, fanning himself with a fan and tilting his head back, adopted a haughty demeanor and said, "Greetings, General Lu. I am the grandson of the Princess, and my status is above yours, so I will not greet you with formalities. I hope you will understand."
Lu Baichuan's smile froze for a moment. He thought to himself that this guy was probably a complete idiot. If he didn't want to greet him, he didn't care. Why bother explaining?
What's the point of deliberately mentioning that he's the eldest grandson of a princess?
He instantly recalled something his wife had once said: "People always love to show off what they lack, how pathetic..."
However, Lu Baichuan quickly came to his senses, ignoring Yu He's pretentiousness, and instead looked at him with a smile, waiting for him to explain his purpose.
Yu He felt somewhat embarrassed and annoyed that Lu Baichuan was ignoring her words, but remembering her purpose, she still took the initiative to say, "I heard that your Lu family's business has expanded to Qianzhou?"
Lu Baichuan nodded. They hadn't hidden anything, and had even gone to great lengths to send Lianhua to Qianzhou to manage the industry. It wasn't surprising that these people heard the news.
"Qianzhou is so far from the capital, and the terrain is quite complex. It must not be easy to govern it, right?"
Lu Baichuan glanced at him, then continued the awkward conversation without saying a word: "It's alright."
Now it was Yuhe's turn to be dissatisfied. Did this person even know how to have a conversation? How many people had died from the difficult mountain roads in Qianzhou, and he just casually said "it's alright".
He had originally intended to exchange a few polite words, but seeing the situation, he realized he had nothing to talk about with Lu Baichuan, so he simply said, "I'm a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush. I've come here today to discuss cooperation with your Lu family."
"What kind of cooperation?"
Lu Baichuan's tone was indifferent, which made him seem like a block of wood in Yu He's eyes, and she felt increasingly disgusted with him.
Such a person would only know how to fight recklessly on the battlefield and would not understand business at all. It seems that the task that his grandmother entrusted to him will be very easy to complete.
Thinking this way, he became more and more confident and blurted out: "Your Lu family has so many businesses, it's not convenient to manage them all. Our Yu family is just trying to help out. You can give me a share of the mines over there to manage. I won't take advantage of you. I'll just ask you to take 80% of the profits. How about that?"
Lu Baichuan: ? ? ?
He couldn't help but widen his eyes. Wasn't this considered taking advantage?
He couldn't help but laugh out loud and asked, "Since it's a cooperation, what benefits could I possibly gain?"
"Didn't I tell you as soon as I walked in? My grandmother is Princess Anping, a princess personally bestowed by the late emperor! Your Lu family is of lowly birth and can't hold your head high in the capital. Especially since you've been traveling far away and haven't been able to take care of your family, you don't even know how your family members are being bullied by outsiders. If you cooperate with my family, you'll naturally have my Yu family's princess protecting you in the capital, and no one will dare to bully your family. In that sense, your Lu family is actually getting a great deal!"
Lu Baichuan: ? ? ? Is this Zun Du or a fake Zun Du?
"Thank you very much, Young Master Yu."
Yu He's eyes lit up: "So you're agreeing?"
"No."
Lu Baichuan smiled and took a sip of tea, then called out, "Old Liu, see the guest out!"
Upon hearing this, Old Liu, the manager who was already guarding the door, immediately came in and stood beside Yu He, respectfully saying, "Young Master Yu, please clear the bar."
Yuhe was very unhappy. Didn't we just agree on this?
"Don't you think this is a mutually beneficial and good thing? Why are you so rigid?"
"You can't even be a general anymore, which means the Emperor has already grown tired of your Lu family. If you don't find a powerful backer to cling to now, you'll regret it later!"
“My grandmother was personally bestowed the title of Princess Anping by the late emperor. Do you know how great an honor that is?”
...
Lu Baichuan ignored him and waved his hand impatiently. Old Liu then dragged the man out.
He overheard everything and realized that this person was just trying to take advantage of him, and he was doing it so confidently.
Who gave them the courage?!
Lu Baichuan was speechless. He had thought it was a proper collaboration, and even if he wasn't interested, he would treat her with courtesy. He never expected that she came with such intentions. He was already being polite by not personally taking action.
If the princess's status really worked, would their family have fallen to this state?
Looking at the tea that Yu He had taken a sip of on the opposite table, Lu Baichuan felt a pang of regret for the first time. Such good tea, what a waste.
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