Chapter 1447: Shameless

"Uh... Qingyang Xiansheng, let's skip the tea for now; we should discuss business first," Captain Gelin said directly.

Qingyang Shuo glanced at the two of them, and the unfamiliar British man he didn't recognize also nodded in agreement.

Qingyang Shuo looked at the unfamiliar British man in confusion, wondering who exactly he was.

Only then did Captain Gelin notice the look in Qingyang Shuo's eyes, remembering that he had been too excited earlier to introduce Captain Qiaozhi.

"Oh, Xiansheng, this is my friend, Captain Qiaozhi."

"Lord Kelinxi has entrusted the two of us to come and discuss the matter of trading Longyan Cannonball."

Qingyang Shuo looked at the two of them; it seemed they had come prepared this time.

They had brought up the trade directly, leaving him with no way to continue stalling and wearing them down.

So be it. Since the other party had stated the topic so quickly, he would discuss it.

Qingyang Shuo clearly didn't have much expression, but upon hearing this, he felt a sense of melancholy.

Captain Gelin glanced at Qingyang Shuo and signaled to Captain Qiaozhi that it was his turn, while he himself began fiddling with his walnuts.

Captain Qiaozhi cast a glance at Captain Gelin, who had been leading him astray ever since they arrived in Longyan, and said, "Greetings, respected City Lord of Longyan. It is like this: our Kelin is very satisfied with the five Cannon, and we would like to purchase five more."

"However, there are some details of the cooperation that we would like to discuss with you."

Qingyang Shuo lifted his cloudy eyes, looked at Captain Qiaozhi, sighed, and said faintly, "Although those were the junk Cannon that Longyan didn't want, we don't have much surplus in America either."

"You British have already exchanged for seven of our Cannon across two Colonial Area; I think that should be enough."

Mentioning this, Captain Qiaozhi's complexion looked very poor, and Captain Gelin was the same.

Two colonies had exchanged for seven Cannon, but five of them were junk that even Longyan didn't want to use.

The most important two Cannon had already been snatched away by the French.

Although he didn't know if they were like these Cannon, requiring Longyan's special cannonball to be used.

But if they weren't used, then those two Longyan Cannon, suitable for mountain warfare, would be invincible.

If the French utilized them in the next battle, the positions he had worked so hard to occupy would be lost again.

By then, not only would the two positions be wasted, but he would also suffer a loss of troops.

But neither of them dared to mention this in front of Qingyang Shuo; the other party's strength was well-evidenced.

Those two Longyan Cannon were snatched by the French after they were handed over to them; it had nothing to do with the Longyan people.

Captain Qiaozhi's mouth twitched, but he put on a smile: "Xiansheng, since there are difficulties, let's talk about those cannonball first."

"You know, those Longyan Cannon can only exert their power using your Longyan cannonball; now that those Cannon are in our hands,"

"they are completely useless."

The attendant behind Qingyang Shuo held back his laughter upon hearing this; it was the first time he had seen Qingyang Xiansheng get called out in public by the victim after scamming them.

Qingyang Shuo remained indifferent, without the slightest embarrassment, and said without hiding anything: "That is true, didn't we give you fifty cannonball to use?"

Captain Qiaozhi was stunned; he hadn't expected this elderly Longyan man to be so thick-skinned.

To scam the British like this, he actually admitted it just like that, and even told them quite calmly that they had received freebies.

This remark left them speechless.

Captain Qiaozhi signaled that he was out of ideas, indicating to Captain Gelin that since he was the one who negotiated the deal initially, he should handle it.

Captain Gelin rolled his eyes, spinning the walnuts in his hand rapidly, and sat on a lower chair, putting on the serious posture of a Longyan negotiator.

Captain Gelin said with high spirits and great pride: "It is like this, Xiansheng, our leader wanted us to come and talk about the cannonball, but, I personally want to express my gratitude"

"for your hospitality these past few days."

Having said that, Captain Gelin laid out their bargaining chip for this trade: money.

"These Gold Coin are a personal tribute to you, fifty in total."

Standing to the side, Captain Qiaozhi's eye twitched, and he glared at Captain Gelin; these Gold Coin were what they were supposed to use to trade for the Longyan Cannonball.

How could you just give them to him like that!

Captain Gelin glanced at him and said faintly: "Captain Qiaozhi, Qingyang Xiansheng has shown me kindness; isn't it only right that I repay him?"

Captain Qiaozhi ignored him; using public funds for personal favors, truly shameless!

Captain Gelin looked at Qingyang Xiansheng with a smile, about to open his mouth to persuade Qingyang Shuo to accept the money.

But when he looked at the table, the fifty yellow, dazzling Gold Coin were already nowhere to be found.

Captain Gelin looked blankly at Qingyang Xiansheng; you really are something, old man.

You just took the money like that.

I've seen those Longyan people in teahouses negotiate by pushing back and forth, pulling hard, and in the end, the other party begs them to take the money.

Then the other party calmly gets the job done.

I didn't expect that with you, old man, you would just take the money so directly.

Qingyang Shuo looked at Captain Gelin and said faintly: "Let's talk business."

The subtext was: I know your intentions, but let's talk business; talking about money hurts the relationship.

Captain Gelin's expression stiffened; the other party didn't seem to have any intention of letting go, and Captain Qiaozhi on the side sneered.

"Xiansheng, we would like to purchase some more cannonball from you this time, please take a look." Captain Gelin chose to continue playing the submissive role.

This was the rich experience he had learned from the teahouses in Longyan City over the past few days.

Qingyang Shuo acted like a master, took a sip of tea to savor the fragrance in his mouth, set down the teacup, and said unhurriedly: "Alas, our Longyan City has its difficulties."

He didn't say a word about the cannonball, but instead spoke of Longyan City having difficulties.

As soon as he said this, Captain Gelin realized that things were not simple.

"If Longyan City has difficulties, we British can help solve them," Captain Gelin said in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Qingyang Shuo widened his eyes: "Our Longyan City lacks ore; how much is your Britain prepared to aid our Longyan City?"

He started by asking for aid, which meant being fleeced... Captain Gelin shrank his neck, feeling that if he continued to talk, the chips Kelinxi had given would likely be gone, and he might even end up in debt.

He looked toward Captain Qiaozhi for help.

Captain Qiaozhi sneered, as if telling Captain Gelin, where did that arrogance of yours go?

Giving away fifty Gold Coins just like that!

If you're so capable, negotiate it yourself.

Captain Gelin returned the look, signaling to stop, for if he kept negotiating, both of them would end up as vagrants upon returning to Britain.

Captain Qiaozhi chuckled and mouthed a word.

Captain Gelin understood in a second and instantly felt embarrassed... that wouldn't be very good.

Captain Qiaozhi remained leisurely.

Although Qingyang Shuo could not understand how these two Europeans were communicating, he was greatly shocked that they actually understood each other's meaning, and he clearly heard a word in a European language.

"Daddy..."