Chapter 269: Chapter 236: The Fate of the Twin Beauties

Su Qi is definitely a man who loves his liquor, and he can drink a lot. Even after a hearty drinking session, he shows no change in his expression. Clearly, he’s a seasoned drinker.

The wine brewed by Lin Miao has a much higher alcohol content than what’s typically found on the market, something that most people evidently cannot handle.

Even though Su Qi is a good drinker, trying this high-proof wine for the first time left him slightly muddled by the end.

It’s smooth and sweet at first, but then it really packs a punch.

Being martial artists, a little intoxication is easily dealt with unless one decides to indulge in the drunkenness naturally.

If not, there’s always a professional physician around, with sobering soup ready to serve, which can solve the problem.

"Dear nephew, there’s something I need to discuss with you privately," said Su Qi, looking flushed after lunch as he pulled Lin Miao aside to speak quietly.

"Uncle, please go ahead." Lin Miao wore an attentive expression, having only tasted a bit at noon since he had patients to see in the afternoon.

"I have a daughter, Su Qi, who is only twelve this year, and she’s a real beauty..."

Su Qi’s words startled Lin Miao. It seemed like he was trying to match his daughter with him, even though she was just a little girl.

"Uncle, I already have a fiancée, so let’s just forget about this, okay?" Lin Miao quickly responded.

"No rush, we’ll wait a few years until Qi’Er grows up, and then I’ll send her your way. Our Su family isn’t bound by so many rules; as long as you’re happy, it doesn’t matter who’s the primary or secondary..." Su Qi continued rambling on.

"Uncle, let me help you to the guest room to rest a bit." Lin Miao wasn’t sure whether Su Qi was really drunk or pretending, but the words sounded like drunken talk to him.

"Lin, let me handle this." Bai Feng saw the situation and hurriedly stepped in to take her husband from Lin Miao’s hands.

...

"Lin, your uncle was just drunk earlier, don’t take his words seriously." Bai Feng said to Lin Miao after taking Su Qi to the guest room to rest and then coming to see Lin Miao in the study.

Lin Miao gave a sheepish smile: "Auntie, don’t worry, I understand."

"Regarding Qi’Er, don’t overthink it, she’s still young, and the future is uncertain," Bai Feng said. "What I wanted to discuss is about Lianxin and Liansuo."

"Aunt, what’s the matter with Miss Lianxin and Miss Liansuo?" Lin Miao’s heart skipped a beat, recalling a conversation he overheard between the two women the other day, he asked uncertainly.

"Lin, although the Snow Mountain Sect is a martial arts faction in Da Li, a large part of its territories is within the Yue Country. Due to the good relations between Da Li and Yue, the Snow Mountain Sect also maintains a good relationship with Yue. In fact, a significant portion of disciples in the Snow Mountain Sect come from Yue. Lianxin and Liansuo are such disciples. According to our Snow Mountain Sect’s internal rules, marriages between disciples from within are based on mutual consent and do not distinguish between Da Li and Yue. However, if it involves marrying someone outside, usually a disciple from Da Li would marry someone from Da Li. A while ago, Yuwen Hu, a royal disciple from Yue, proposed through the Snow Mountain Sect to take Lianxin and Liansuo as his concubines. While the marriages of our Snow Mountain Sect disciples respect parental and teacher authority, we also respect personal choices and generally do not arbitrarily decide on disciples’ marriages. Therefore, Elder Xiaoqin, the master of Lianxin and Liansuo, did not agree nor refuse immediately but instead said she would consult the two sisters for their opinions before responding." Bai Feng explained.

"Shouldn’t this matter be asked of the sisters themselves, why are you coming to me about it?" Lin Miao asked, feigning ignorance.

"They are currently your guards, shouldn’t their stay be subject to your opinion?"

"Auntie, they may be my guards, but it’s not like they’ve sold themselves to me. If they wish to marry, they can leave anytime, I haven’t restricted their freedom." Lin Miao said, feeling a bit helpless.

"Lin, do you really not understand your aunt’s intentions?"

"Auntie, I understand your goodwill, but I may not be able to provide the kind of life they want. If you let them stay with me, their youth and time will be wasted on me, and that’s not worth it." Lin Miao spoke candidly.

"Is it that you don’t like them, or are you resistant to the idea of this being a transaction?" Bai Feng asked.

"Auntie, although I’m a physician, I’m not as extraordinary as you might think. Lianxin and Liansuo are both wonderful women, and to be honest, I do like them. What man wouldn’t be moved by beautiful women? But I don’t have a strong desire to possess them. It’s not about claiming every pretty woman I see. Otherwise, how would I be any different from a beast?" Lin Miao replied.

"Since you’ve put it this way, let me ask you a question. If Lianxin and Liansuo are willing to follow you in the future, would you accept them?" Bai Feng asked directly.

"Auntie, you’re putting me in a tough spot here!"

"Lin, just give me a straightforward answer to this question."

After thinking it over, Lin Miao realized this might not just be Bai Feng’s intention, but also the Snow Mountain Sect’s plan to bind him through marriage.

"Alright, Auntie, I promise you that if Lianxin and Liansuo are willing, I can give them a status, but they can’t be the main wife."

"It’s enough to have you say that." Bai Feng also breathed a sigh of relief, if Lin Miao insisted on refusing, things would have been difficult.

"Qi’Er..."

"Aunt, let’s not discuss this matter." Lin Miao promptly and directly refused, he didn’t want to form a marital alliance with the Su Family, especially since the other party was a twelve-year-old girl.

Bai Feng instinctively closed her mouth.

"There’s another matter, originally Su was going to tell you, but in his current state, it’s obvious he can’t speak to you, so it’s up to me to discuss it with you." Bai Feng said, "Our Su Family plans to expand the herbal business in Dongshan City. This time, we’ve established a supply channel from the Great Yue Country for herbs. Lin, I know you’ve been constrained by the supply of herbs. If we can control a larger share of the herb supply and wholesale in Dongshan, your influence in Dongshan will also increase. We can even support you in joining the Medical Association in Dongshan to become a key decision-maker." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Aunt, I support the Su Family’s expansion of the herbal business in Dongshan, but I’m not interested in becoming a decision-maker in the association, let’s leave it out." Lin Miao nodded.

"For the Su Clan’s herbal business, our Su Family also wants you to take shares, without you having to pay a single penny, and holding thirty percent dry shares."

"No, joint Investment is okay but not contributing money is inappropriate, even though two families have good relations, business is business, friendships are friendships, I’ll invest as much money needed for thirty percent of the shares, and you don’t have to worry about me not being able to afford it. I don’t even know how to spend the money now!"

Bai Feng smiled, who can accumulate millions in family wealth at less than twenty years old?

Su Qi also achieved today’s success with the accumulation of the Su Family over the years, but people truly can’t be compared, Lin Miao’s efficiency in making money is unparalleled compared to everyone, except maybe the emperor who collects taxes while lying down.

"I heard you’re planning to move the Glass Workshop to Li Hen City?"

"Yes, Dongshan City is very unsafe. If I continue to stay here and get exposed, people will start targeting me, so to avoid trouble, it’s better to move to Li Hen City. Although it’s a lawless place, as long as I hold power, no one would dare come at me, and the imperial forces can’t enter."

"The court only sees where there’s no profit to be made, even if they sent troops to wipe out Li Hen City, there’s no value in garrisoning, so they don’t want to interfere much. Besides, having such a den of iniquity allows some outlaws a place to go without pushing things to extreme violence, disturbing the region. These people wouldn’t threaten the court’s rule anyway," Bai Feng said.

"So, is Li Hen City chaotic and disorderly, right?"

"It can be said so, over the years, Li Hen City has never had a single dominant power. The best result is a state of triangular balance."

"If this balance is broken and a fourth force suddenly emerges?"

"There would certainly be a fierce battle, and then a new triangular balance would form again." Bai Feng asked in surprise, "Lin, you wouldn’t be planning to intervene in the struggles of Li Hen City, would you?"

"Aunt, I do intend to, and I’ve already entered." Lin Miao said, "The ’Lin’s’ grocery store in Li Hen City is my business."

"The ’Lin’s’ grocery store that recently sold crystal sugar at thirty percent below market price is yours, Lin!" Bai Feng exclaimed in shock.

"Yes."

"Crystal sugar is scarce, it can be sold at high prices in the Yue Country..." Bai Feng’s eyes revealed an incredible expression.

"I have the technology to purify mixed sugar directly into crystal sugar. This tech is like a treasure which one stepped out wrong attracts vultures, so once exposed, those predators will come chasing me, so I need to hide it," Lin Miao explained.

"But eventually someone will know this secret."

"Once I’ve reached a certain height or hold a force that intimidates, then why not let the secret be exposed? Would they dare take action again?" Lin Miao smiled freely.

"Lin, you’re right. This way, you spare yourself a lot of trouble. Weakness in others’ eyes is an original sin."

"The purification and production of crystal sugar depend on the raw material of mixed sugar. We are not a production area for mixed sugar, so it must be purchased from outside and transported back, resulting in high costs, which are unavoidable." Lin Miao said, "I can cooperate with the Su Family, providing us as the intermediary. You are royal merchants with tax advantages, even offering us mixed sugar at a fair price, you can still profit, and even if the mixed sugar is slightly lower quality, it amounts to just adding a couple of extra steps for us..."

"Lin, from now on, Su Chen will liaise with you about these businesses. After his trip to the Great Yue, his capabilities have been recognized within the Su Family. Some matters should also be his responsibility," Bai Feng said.

"Alright, I’ll talk to him when he gets back."

"Alright, I won’t disturb your afternoon work anymore. We’ll leave once Su wakes up."

"Then I won’t see you and uncle off."

"No need, I’ve been staying with you for over half a month, not an outsider, you get busy, and we shall gather again when Su Chen returns." Bai Feng nodded.

"Alright."