Chapter 48: In return for your kindness, I have nothing but myself to offer.

  On the second day, Wan Xi Chen still didn't go to the academy and stayed at home. In the study, Wan Xi Jing De and Wan Xi Chen's father, Wan Xi Yi Shan, were all anxiously discussing something with worried faces.

  "Father, is there really no other way?" Wan Xi Yishan's face was somewhat pale, with bloodshot eyes and a disheveled beard, looking very haggard. He had just returned from the nearby city, seeking help from others, but to no avail.

  "Perhaps, this is fate." Wan Jiede said somewhat dejectedly, letting out a long sigh as he gazed out the window. "The Wan family's hundred-year legacy will be destroyed at my hands. I blame myself for being too greedy in the past... it was not worth it, not worth it..." As Wan Jiede spoke, his eyes welled up with tears.

  "Father, this is not your fault. You also want the family to grow and prosper." Wan Qi Yishan had never seen his father, who was supposed to be a pillar of strength, look so defeated before, and he felt a pang in his heart as he spoke words of comfort.

  "Grandfather, father..." Wan Qi Chen was about to say something when a servant's voice echoed from outside the door.

  "Report to the master, there is someone outside who wants to see him. He says he's from Lin's merchant association." The servant outside reported.

  Wan Jiede suddenly stood up and said loudly: "Come in!"

  The servant obeyed and pushed open the door, walking in with his head lowered.

  "You, what did you just say? Say it again?" Wan Jiede couldn't quite believe his ears.

  "Master, there is someone outside asking to see you. They say they are from the Lin's Merchant Association." The servant repeated his previous words clearly once again.

  Wan Xi Yishan and Wan Xi Jingde exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

  "Father, didn't you say that the Lin family's merchant association refused to help us?" Wan Qi Yishan asked in puzzlement.

  "Grandfather, maybe the people from Lin's Chamber of Commerce have changed their minds again? Let's still have someone invite them in first, lest others think we're being slow." Wan Qi Chen hastily spoke up.

  "Yes, yes, right, go and hurry up to invite the guests to the hall, we'll be there immediately." Wan Jiede finally came back to his senses, looking at the servant who was about to retreat, and called out to him again, "Wait, remember to brew good tea, got it?"

  "Yes, sir." The servant replied respectfully.

  "Go quickly, go quickly!" urged Wan Xiande.

  After the people retreated, Wan Jiede touched his white beard under his chin and felt a little nervous: "I hope the people from Lin's Chamber of Commerce bring good news this time."

  "Father, let's hurry over too." said Wan Xi Yishan.

  "Uh, let's hurry." Mohe Ren De nodded.

  Then the three of them hastily made their way to the great hall.

  When they arrived at the hall, they saw a refined and elegant young man in Chinese tunic suit sitting elegantly on his seat, leisurely tasting tea. Behind him stood four guards, one of whom was a heroic and refreshing woman. Wan Jiede recognized that this was the second young master of Lin's Chamber of Commerce - Lin Yuhanshan.

  "Lin Shaozhu, I didn't expect you to come in person. I apologize for not welcoming you personally from afar." Wan Jiede stepped forward, a smile spreading across his face, "I don't know what brings Lin Shaozhu here today, is it something important?"

  "Alright, Master Wan, I won't beat around the bush either." Lin Yuhanset down his teacup and smiled slightly. "I agree to help you, and I will quickly dispatch a group of skilled craftsmen from nearby cities to assist you in building. The craftsmen from the capital city will also arrive soon."

  Wan Qi's eyes widened in surprise as he stared at Lin Yuhans' smiling face. Lin Yuhans' previous words were like a pie falling from the sky! What a huge surprise! The Wan family is saved!

  "Lin Shaozhu, are you serious? That's great, that's great. Thank you so much, Lin Shaozhu! We don't want any profit, let Lin's Chamber of Commerce have it all." Wan Qi Jingde was overjoyed when he heard that the Wan family could be saved, and at this moment, he didn't care about the profit at all.

  "Don't thank me, you should thank Mr. Wan's friend instead. She found me, what else could I do? As for the profit, I don't want it either. Just settle the wages with the workers and that's fine." Lin Yuhansighed and smiled wryly, looking at Wan Zhanchen.

  Now, both Wan Qi Yishan and Wan Qi Jingde looked at Wan Qi Chen in surprise. Which of Wan Qi Chen's friends was so powerful that he could invite Lin Yuhuan from the Lin Clan Merchant Guild to help, and not take a single penny of profit?

  "How can this be? How can Master Lin give up his profits?" Wan Jiede waved his hand, "Master Lin is willing to lend a hand this time, it's already a great fortune for the Wan family."

  "Then it's two percent. Lin Yuhans thought for a moment, smiled and said, "To draw people from the capital, it indeed consumes financial and material resources. Just two percent, Master Wanxi doesn't need to say more."

  "Is it just two percent? This..." Wan Qi Jingde wanted to say something, but seeing Lin Yuhans raised hand stopping him, he finally didn't entangle this issue anymore. Afterwards, he thought again, which of Wan Qi Chens friends would have such a big face. Could it be Ling Feiyang? As soon as he thought of this, Wan Qi Jingde asked tentatively, "May I ask Young Master Lin, is the friend you mentioned, Little Chen's friend, Ling Feiyang?"

  Lin Yuhans face froze for a moment, then the corners of his mouth curled up into a sarcastic smile: "Wan Qi old master, do you know? I really don't know what to say about your judgment. I'm taking a risk by helping you guys too. But this person is worth me taking that risk."

  Wan Qi Jing De was told by Lin Yu Han and became even more puzzled, what kind of person could ask Lin Yu Han to take a risk to help them?

  "Tomorrow, the craftsmen will go to your forge one after another." Lin Yuhans stood up and brushed off his sleeves, "I'll take my leave now."

  "Lin Shaozhu..." Wan Qi Jingde spoke up, wanting to stop Lin Yuhans.

  Lin Yuhans walked two steps, suddenly turned his head, revealing a sarcastic smile: "The person who helped you is Zhuge Mingyue. Although Ling Shao is a member of the Ling family, it's still not enough to make me take the risk to help you."

  After finishing speaking, Lin Yuhans didn't care about Wan Zhide's shocked expression and turned around to leave.

  "I'll see you off." Wan Xi Chen went forward to send them off.

  In the hall, Wan Xi Jingde's expression was somewhat complex, and he sat anxiously in his seat. Wan Xi Yishan noticed that something was wrong with Wan Xi Jingde and asked aloud: "Father, what's wrong?"

  "It's actually Zhuge Mingyue, it's Zhuge Mingyue!" Wan Jiede muttered repeatedly the name of Zhuge Mingyue, his face gradually turning ashamed, "I treated her like that, yet she still helps us like this."

  "What's going on?" Wan Xi Yishan was even more perplexed.

  Wan Qi Jingde somewhat embarrassingly told Wan Qi Yishan about his previous attitude towards Zhuge Mingyue. Wan Qi Yishan said with some emotion: "Father, having such a friend as Zhuge Mingyue is truly Xiao Chen's good fortune, and the good fortune of our Wan Qi family. Since Zhuge Mingyue has helped us without holding past grudges against us, we should properly thank her another day."

  "Yes." Wan Jiede felt ashamed in his heart, thinking that he was already at this age, but still not as broad-minded as a younger generation.

  "We'll come in person another day to thank you," said Wan Xi Yishan.

  "Ah, okay." Wan Qi Jingde nodded. Lin Yuhans walked back on the road, turned his head to look in the direction of the Wan Qi family, and a hint of an arc appeared at the corner of his mouth. This time he was indeed taking a risk by mobilizing craftsmen. Now his competition with his older brother was becoming increasingly fierce, and he needed to accumulate power. Zhuge Mingyue, this person, was worth him taking such a risk. He had a premonition that Zhuge Mingyue would one day shine brightly.

  ……

  After sending Lin Yuhans out, Wan Qichen went straight to find Zhuge Mingyue. He knocked on the door and it was opened by Duanmu Xun. Zhuge Mingyue had not returned from school yet. So, Wan Qichen moved a stool and sat at the entrance, waiting for Zhuge Mingyue.

  Zhu Ge Mingyue, Ling Feiyang and Xue Zihao returned home to find Wan Qi Chen dozing off while waiting for them. Zhu Ge Mingyue then understood that Lin Yuhans had kept his promise and gone to look for the Wan family.

  "Fatty, dinner's ready." Xue Zi Hao burst out laughing and went forward to shout in Wan Ku Chen's ear.

  "Where? Is dinner ready?" Wan Xichen suddenly popped up, then wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and only after opening his eyes did he see clearly that it was Zhuge Mingyue and the others.

  "Fatty, it's not good to have a habit of daydreaming." Xue Zihao burst out laughing.

  "Shoo!" Wan Xi Chen waved his hand to shoo away the flies, and then chuckled as he leaned in close to Zhu Ge Ming Yue's face. In a very flattering tone, he said, "Ming Yue, thank you so much! I owe you one this time. Your kindness is something I can never repay, unless... unless I offer my body to you. I hope Miss Ming Yue won't find me unworthy."

  "Cut the crap, go in." Ling Feiyang kicked Wan Qichen's butt from behind and sent him tumbling inside.

  "I'm going all out with you!" With a heroic spirit and a loud roar.

  "You think you can beat me?" The voice sneered in a disdainful low tone.

  "We can't win...". The voice that was just full of vigor and spirit suddenly weakened.

  "What a load of crap!" with an even more contemptuous tone.

  "Alright, stop arguing, let's go in and discuss the matter." Zhuge Mingyue spoke up, and everyone quieted down, walking into the house.

  Digression

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