Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo'-Chapter 790 - 489

Xiao Jianzhang said, "We do business with the He Family and originally had little to do with the Lu Family. No matter who is in charge of the Lu Family or who comes today, things need to be made clear. I’m her father, and I can’t be subjected to this indignity!"

***

Lu Chunying sneered. "He claims he was aggrieved? He asked for seven thousand, and we paid seven thousand. Who aggrieved him? What grievance did he suffer?"

The Yalang didn’t dare say more.

Xiao Yeci sighed. "In the end, it’s because he didn’t value me. When I went to see him, I clearly told him everything I’d wanted to say back then!"

Lu Yuanxin said, "Madam, don’t go. Some things can be said later. I’ll go clarify the matter about the house. He didn’t want the seven thousand. Now I’ll offer one thousand and see if he sells."

Watching from the side, He Yuxiu thought Lu Yuanxin’s temperament was so much like Lu Dongjun’s. If Lu Yuanxin went, the Xiao Family would surely be in big trouble. He wouldn’t be taking one thousand Ocean Dollars to buy the house; that would be blood money.

"Yuanxin, you shouldn’t go either. I’ll send someone else." He Yuxiu wasn’t afraid of someone losing their life, but she didn’t want Xiao Yeci to be too distressed. So, she had Account Manager Sheng Shanzhou go to the Xiao Family instead.

This time, Sheng Shanzhou had come specifically for the business deal. He entered the Xiao Family home, where he was warmly received. After inspecting the quality and price of the lumber, Sheng Shanzhou shook his head. "Leave this lumber for other families; we no longer want it."

Xiao Jianzhang panicked. "Master Sheng, what’s the matter? What’s not satisfactory about this lumber? Just tell me."

"Nothing is satisfactory."

Sheng Shanzhou had long advised He Yuxiu not to engage in the lumber business at Bridge Yesong. Today was the perfect opportunity to reject this deal.

"Old Xiao," he continued, "we’ve known each other for so many years. Let me say a few things. Broaden your horizons, open your mind, and be clearer in your dealings. Your daughter, Xiao Yeci, came with our lady, and they are as close as sisters. Your family couldn’t sell the house, so your daughter bought it. You should go to her home and thank her. Have you forgotten how you treated her back then? After thanking her, you still need to apologize!"

Xiao Jianzhang said angrily, "Master Sheng, that reasoning isn’t correct. I’m her father!"

"Oh my, Master Xiao, what an authoritative tone you have! To think you’re a father!" Sheng Shanzhou scoffed. "If you’re so capable, then don’t waste my time here. With your seniority, go to the Lu Family and act as the patriarch there. Why bother with this small business at all?"

As Sheng Shanzhou stood up to leave, Xiao Jianzhang quickly stopped him. "Master Sheng, I wasn’t talking about you, I meant..."

"If you’re objecting to her, that’s even worse. Old Xiao, if I were you, I’d take the Land Deed and the House Deed to Miss Xiao and offer the house to her. See if this can patch things up. If it can be mended, your Xiao Family can still live well in the future. If not, from today onward, not a single major family in Puluo State will do business with you. Don’t doubt my words."

After Sheng Shanzhou left, Xiao Jianzhang sat in the courtyard, staring blankly and sighing endlessly.

After pondering for more than two hours, Xiao Jianzhang finally understood.

He asked his wife, Sun Huiqin, to take out the House Deed and Land Deed.

Sun Huiqin objected, "My lord, that’s Yucheng’s house. Why should we just give it to that girl?"

Xiao Yucheng, at the side, said, "Mother, don’t make this more difficult. The house was indeed meant to be sold, and truthfully, we did wrong her back then."

"Who did her wrong!" Sun Huiqin shouted. "She tarnished our family’s reputation! Wasn’t it right to kick her out of the house?"

Xiao Yucheng sighed. "You know very well who tarnished the reputation. Please don’t bring this up again. Mentioning it is a slap in the face to the Lu Family!"

Xiao Yucheng took the House Deed and Land Deed and pressed them into Xiao Jianzhang’s hands. "Dad, you should deliver these."

"You go," Xiao Jianzhang shook his head. "I can’t bow my head in front of her."

Xiao Yucheng sighed. "It’s no use if I go. They might not even accept it from me."

As expected, when Xiao Yucheng delivered the Land Deed and House Deed, he wasn’t even able to see Xiao Yeci and was sent away immediately.

"Dad, Yecai and Chunying want you, Mom, and me to go see her together."

"She’s turned against us!" Xiao Jianzhang refused to accept this. He reached out to relatives and friends, trying to sell the lumber elsewhere, but no one dared to take it.

With no other options, Xiao Jianzhang, carrying the House Deed and Land Deed and accompanied by his wife, went to see Xiao Yeci.

This time, both Xiao Yeci and Lu Chunying appeared.

The two of them were staying in He Yuxiu’s house, sitting in the living room and playing cards with He Yuxiu, while Xiao Jianzhang, along with Sun Huiqin and Xiao Yucheng, had been standing in the courtyard for two hours.

Lu Chunying looked at Xiao Jianzhang and finally spoke. "Grandfather, the year you drove my mother and me out, I barely remembered anything. But I heard others say that my mom cried all day, and you couldn’t even be bothered to glance at her. Now that you and Grandma have been standing here for two hours, do you think I’ve let you off too easily?"

Xiao Jianzhang suppressed his anger and lowered his head. "At that time, I had my difficulties..."

"What difficulties? Tell me. Was it my mother who brought shame to the Xiao family, or was it me?"

Xiao Yucheng tugged at Xiao Jianzhang from behind, reminding him not to say anything rash.

Xiao Jianzhang sighed deeply. "It’s not easy to maintain this family business. Everything I’ve done was for this family! Yecai, if you must hate, hate me alone. As long as the Xiao family’s business can be preserved, I’m willing to smash my head into this stone and die!"

As soon as these words were out, Xiao Jianzhang was about to smash his head into a stone, but Sun Huiqin and Xiao Yucheng hurriedly held him back. "Dad, you can’t! Our family can’t live without you!"

He Yuxiu lit a cigarette and smiled. "Don’t stop him. Let me see if Old Xiao really has the guts to die right here."

Xiao Jianzhang panicked internally. He looked at his wife and son, signaling them to be sure to hold him back.

While his family was crying and making such a scene, Xiao Yeci finally turned her face towards them and spoke. "Father."

"Yecai!" Xiao Jianzhang promptly responded.

Xiao Yeci said, "I grew up with my mother. I was nine before I entered the Xiao household. My mother told me to call you ’Father,’ but you never acknowledged it. You looked down on my mother, and you looked down on me. What are you doing here now?"

Xiao Jianzhang, with tears in his eyes, said, "I did all this for the Xiao family."

Xiao Yeci couldn’t understand. "Looking down on me was also for the Xiao family? What kind of reasoning is that?"

Xiao Jianzhang sighed. "Yecai, the past is over; I can’t even remember it. Why bring it up again? All I’m asking now is for you to give the Xiao family a way to survive. If you really can’t let go of this grudge, you can do whatever you want to me!"

Xiao Yeci nodded. "Alright. You said it: I can do whatever I want to you."

Xiao Jianzhang looked back at his wife and son, signaling them to be sure to hold him back at the crucial moment.

Xiao Yeci took out her wallet and pulled out a stack of Huan Country Banknotes. "When you kicked us out of the house, you gave me two hundred. Now, as a show of filial piety, I’m returning it tenfold. I’ll give you two thousand. You are to leave the Xiao household with nothing and find your own way to make a living. Then, this matter will be considered over."

"I..." Xiao Jianzhang turned around, signaling his wife and son to quickly hold him back.

Sun Huiqin did not stop him.

Xiao Yucheng did not stop him either.

They could both accept this outcome.

But Xiao Jianzhang couldn’t accept it. "This... this won’t do! Everything I did was for the Xiao family! The Xiao family can’t go on without me!"

Lu Chunying couldn’t help but chuckle.

He Yuxiu laughed out loud.

Xiao Yeci let out a long breath. The knot that had been in her heart for so many years had finally loosened.

***

Li Banfeng sat in the small boat, admiring the scenery on both banks. He had to admit that Bridge Yesong was truly beautiful, as picturesque as a painting. The buildings were neatly arranged with black tiles and white walls. In the distance, mountains, wreathed in mist, were faintly visible, their simple lines creating a profound artistic conception. If not for the occasional person seen walking on the stone-paved roads, one might truly believe the scene was an ink sketch.

When he arrived at the mouth of an alley, Li Banfeng paid the boat fare and disembarked.

Deep in the alley, there was a two-story building. Li Banfeng had discovered in recent days that the bishop of the Chase the Light Group’s Boundless Camp was residing there.