Chapter 546: Only My Way Chapter 546: Refusal

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Yi Yaer is the High Priest of Malacheng; his status compared to the Temple's Grand High Priest is worlds apart. His ability to mediate between Chen Yi and the Temple relies on Chen Yi's trust.

Therefore, for any matter concerning Chen Yi, he does everything within his power, his attitude humble as if he were a different person entirely — none of the lofty condescension seen when the West River City-State was first established.

Adopting a friendly welcoming posture, Yi Yaer laughed heartily at Zhang Jing: "I have yet to ask for the Honorable Representative's esteemed surname and name; I have had a banquet table set up in the Tower — shall we eat and talk?"

A very China-appropriate approach; Zhang Jing adapted to it seamlessly and followed along, saying: "This humble one is Zhang Jing, a member of the Zhang Family."

He never again mentioned representing Chen Yi or Chen Yi's representative, but neither did he deny it.

What manner of man is Yi Yaer? He has presided over a region's sacrificial affairs for decades. He has seen few Divine Art Knights, but he has seen no small number of Combat Knights who dare not lie. Hearing Zhang Jing evade and deflect, Yi Yaer's heart tightened, and he asked further: "Honorable Zhang Jing, did Divine Art Knight Chen Yi send any message for me?"

Were it not for the involvement of Jiangning City-State people, he certainly would not be this polite.

Compared to the High Priest, the so-called outstanding Zhang Jing lied with palpable inexperience, stammering: "Divine Art Knight Chen Yi, just the day before yesterday, praised the High Priest's devoted performance of duty, heh heh."

The day before yesterday, he didn't even know who High Priest Yi Yaer was.

Making it up as he went along was his only recourse.

High Priest Yi Yaer naturally didn't believe it, but couldn't be bothered to expose him, so he smiled and said: "Let us take our seats."

He is the Temple's liaison officer; he might severely punish Temple officials who impersonate others, but he will not meddle in West River City-State's people and affairs.

This is the "principle" issue Chen Yi emphasized repeatedly.

Therefore, Yi Yaer neither exposed Zhang Jing nor bothered with him. Two or three minutes after seating, he feigned having business, stood up, and left.

Leaving a Young Priest to accompany Zhang Jing in drinking, the banquet instantly became dull.

"When is the High Priest returning?" Zhang Pei waited 20 minutes and grew impatient.

"I am also unclear; is there any message I can relay?" Young Priest though he may be, he is also a politician weathered by wind and frost; dealing with two young Earthlings is child's play.

No matter what Zhang Jing said, he received similar answers.

With no alternative, he could only try shocking words: "We can sell a batch of Knight Long Spears at a cheaper price."

"You people?"

"Xu Zhou Heavy Industry Flagship Store. We offer a fifty percent discount to the Temple's brave Warriors. The Long Spears purchased by Divine Art Knight Yin Senpi came from our store." Zhang Jing felt nothing about the sale of the first Long Spear, but had great interest in selling hundreds or thousands of them.

The Young Priest was indeed influenced, "Oh" he said: "That is somewhat interesting, but we have already signed a contract with Honorable Mo Shaoqiu."

"A signed contract is no obstacle; we can sign another contract — for instance, a long-term supply contract." Just like other families on the West Continent, everyone wants to sign long-term contracts while supplies are tight, but few succeed.

The Young Priest showed surprise, then hesitated: "It sounds good, but I lack the qualification to decide."

"We can supply several hundred Long Spears. Please explain to High Priest Yi Yaer." Zhang Jing also dared not say too much, lest the price be pressed down completely.

After all, these are goods that must pass through the Channel; if the price drops further, it is very possible. Of course, within the predictable years ahead, Channel Tonnage will certainly increase step by step, and price drops can be expected. Goods that don't make money or lose a little now become big earners under a long-term contract.

"Please wait a moment." The Young Priest hesitated a moment, then went out.

Zhang Jing, thinking his scheme had succeeded, smiled and stroked his beardless chin.

Zhang Pei, left behind, clasped his hands and said quietly: "Poaching business — is that alright?"

"If we don't poach, they'll think we're weak and easily bullied."

Zhang Pei glanced sideways at his elder brother, detected his anger, and naturally recalled that video of the rejected bribe, laughing: "Don't overthink it; that video was just a coincidence."

"I'm not like you."

The moment Zhang Jing said this, he realized it was wrong, but the conversation was over.

Yi Yaer delayed for a very long time and still did not come down.

By the time the soup had gone cold, the previous Young Priest finally appeared leisurely and said: "High Priest Yi Yaer has decided to uphold the sanctity of the contract."

"What? Sanctity?" Zhang Jing's forehead gleamed; he said dully: "You mean you'd rather pay double the price than take our Long Spears?"

"Yes."

"What about forty percent?"

"I'm sorry, the contract is already established and cannot be reneged upon."

Zhang Pei had a flash of cleverness and asked: "What is the content of the contract?"

The Young Priest glanced back, received a signal, and answered: "All military supplies in the Temple War must be procured from Mr. Chen Yi on a priority basis."

"Since it's priority, and our price is lower, shouldn't we be even more prioritized?"

The Young Priest smiled and did not answer.

Several hundred Long Spears are certainly a major matter, but it is the Temple's money being spent. High Priest Yi Yaer depends on Chen Yi for his livelihood; he naturally values Chen Yi's feelings more. Exercising priority rights the very day after signing? No matter how sufficient the reasons, this is a political error in decision-making.

Zhang Jing will likely never understand the deeper reasons; he can only rage and curse official-business collusion, and after returning to Jiangning City-State, wrote an article and published it on the Xijiang Forum.

This is a forum anyone can see, including naturalized West Continent natives. Although only an extremely few natives with high Control Coefficients can access Car ECUs.

The article seemed to sink without a trace, as if no one noticed it at all.

Zhang Jing checked the forum every day, found no one cared, and naturally his mood was depressed. At first Zhang Pei tried to persuade him: "The West Continent's internet is real-name based, so of course no one dares speak recklessly," or "The article has been issued and had its effect, don't worry."

But Zhang Jing, like many scions of official families, simply could not listen to opposing words; back at his residence, he still flew into rages.

Old Master Zhang saw it and couldn't be bothered to persuade him; when the second week's return day arrived, he ordered him back to the family, not to come here again.

Zhang Jing dared not lose his temper in front of the old master, but even upon arriving on Earth, his whole body trembled with rage.

The Housekeeper and servants feared provoking him; they had to draw lots to decide who would deliver meals. That evening's dinner — an unlucky kid from the hometown won the short straw.

"Young Master Zhang, time to eat." The unlucky kid pushed the dining cart, like a foolish hotel kid who hadn't woken up.

"Scram."

The unlucky kid dared not leave; he left the dining cart outside the door.

Hearing the thump-thump-thump of footsteps coming downstairs, Zhang Jing took a long while before opening the door and dragging the food from the cart inside.

Thirty seconds later, knocking came again.

Zhang Jing felt instantly cheated in his heart, and flung the door open in anger.

"Second Brother Zhang." A weathered old face appeared.

"Xi Tan?"

"Want to discuss something with you," Xi Tan said, squeezing through the door crack with a wonderfully strange smile.

Iyar High Priest changed into festive finery and once again headed for West River City-State. Having refused discounts worth hundreds of millions, he naturally had to go before Chen Yi to claim credit.

The pure white sacrificial long robes used complex folds and gold thread, appearing solemn and grave, with a hidden air of majesty, as if some monster had draped the Forbidden City over itself and wore pyramids as underwear. He stuffed the small note prepared beforehand into his sleeve cuff, and after carefully checking, got out of the carriage one kilometer from the Government Office and walked on foot to pay his respects to show devoutness.

Iyar had tried many ways to express devoutness, with "beauties" and "beasts" for play both once written on the gift list. But the West River people's attitude toward beauties was much like their attitude toward beasts, even requiring quarantine, and since then the High Priest had given up the idea of giving gifts.

Proper benefits, however, could gain a bit of decent attention, Chen Yi's attitude was also quite good, so Iyar naturally kept them.

To him, what was walking a thousand meters?

The huge dragon beast boredly played with its own horn using its hair, dragging an equally huge carriage behind, following behind Bishop Iyar, making clatter-clatter sounds.

Though a bit noisy, that mainly came from the carriage; the wheels using rubber were instead unusually quiet.

In the hotel east of the Government Office, Old Zhang, drinking by himself, poked his head out and just happened to see Iyar High Priest bend over and walk into the Government Office.

"This fellow, who knows how deep his roots are in the West Continent."

Similar questions had long hovered in the minds of the domestic senior management.

Everything they heard about the West Continent came from Chen Yi's mouth; almost everything they invested in the West Continent was also in Chen Yi's hands.

Of course, the senior management at this time did not realize that only Chen Yi could control the subway; they still thought it was some special driving skill—even if Chen Yi was unwilling to make it public, the gentlemen who considered themselves elite believed they could explore and master it.

What they originally valued most was the power of the Channel Committee; everyone cared about how much Wu Li Fang could be transported into the West Continent, and how much wealth could be transported back to Earth.

But now, many people including the elders, seeing the attitude of the West Continent natives, had to think more and think more deeply.

The heavy burden of family inheritance often falls on the strongest. Others can disregard the future and pursue short-term benefits, but the strong must consider more, and more still.

"Mao'er, ask if Old Chen has time, let's go over."

"Now?" Mao'er was his nephew, very familiar with Old Zhang's afternoon tea habits, but rarely saw him do things before or after drinking tea.

Old Zhang nodded slightly, thinking: given the current situation, if we don't get close to the Chen Family, later we might only have leftovers.

The benefits of the West Continent were truly astonishing; if managed well, they could ensure five generations of prominence and wealth. This was the bait Chen Yi put out, or rather benefits deliberately leaked through his fingers; the sole criterion for judgment was loyalty. Young people like Zhang Pei and Zhang Jing didn't understand, but Old Zhang understood all too well.

... (Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to come to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)