FID – Chapter 707

Chapter 707: Hungry to the Point of Losing My Abs

After the first negotiation with the Lu family, the second meeting was delayed for an indefinite period.

Liu Yusheng thought the situation would be in a stalemate for quite a while. Meanwhile, the merchant group had already begun planning to meet with the heads of the Li and Huo families.

One day, the doorman of the royal residence suddenly came to report that Qian Baihao had come to request an audience.

“This morning, Patriarch Lu sent an invitation to the merchant group to visit the manor and renegotiate the terms. Previously, his side had demanded a profit split of 30-70, but after this meeting, they lowered their demands, and in the end, they settled on a 40-60 split.” 

After the meeting, Qian Baihao got straight to the point, not wasting any words, “I didn’t sign the contract immediately. I told them I would consult with you first before agreeing on a date to sign. From the looks of their attitude, if we take a bit more time, we might be able to secure at least an additional half a percent in profit. Nannan, Your Highness, what do you think about the Lu family suddenly changing their stance?”

Qian Baihao’s face showed no obvious joy; instead, he looked cautious and prudent.

Liu Yusheng thought for a moment and said, “Our nourishing wine already enjoys a strong reputation in Nanling, and its benefits have spread widely. If we successfully form a partnership, the advantages for the Lu family are obvious. This time, their willingness to concede is likely due, at least in part, to concerns about competition from the other two families. Our priority choice has always been the Lu family, which gives them an edge. But if negotiations remain stalled and we choose another partner, it’s not us who will suffer losses—it will be them.”

“These past few days, there have been rumors circulating outside about the Li family,” Feng Qingbai added. “It’s said that the eldest young master of the Li family is showing signs of recovery. If his health improves and he regains his strength, the Li family, which has been rather passive in business, will likely refocus its efforts and groom Li Ruifan as the successor, eventually handing over the family’s power to him. At that point, the Lu family will face yet another formidable rival.”

What the Lu family was truly worried about, Feng Qingbai thought, was the Li family.

The Li family’s foundation was something the other two families couldn’t compare to. 

Even a sinking ship still retained some strength. 

Though the Li family appeared to be in decline at the moment, with their deep roots and extensive connections, it was only a matter of time before they staged a comeback and surpassed the others.

Moreover, the Li family’s eldest son was being treated by Shengsheng herself, which had already established a unique bond that others couldn’t match.

With that bond, combined with the Li family’s upright and grateful nature, it would become much harder for the Lu family to secure the nourishing wine partnership.

That was why they were now so eager to finalize the deal. 

Watching the two young people analyze the situation so thoroughly, a trace of amusement flashed in Qian Baihao’s eyes.

In truth, his thoughts aligned perfectly with theirs. Now, he wasn’t in a rush anymore.

Unless the terms met his expectations, he wouldn’t sign the partnership agreement.

The losses certainly wouldn’t be theirs.

Merchants pursue profit, and he was just an ordinary man with simple priorities.

Naturally, it was best to keep the lion’s share of the benefits in his own hands.

“Then we won’t rush. Let’s wait and see. If the Lu family can’t offer terms we’re satisfied with, I’ll visit the other two families,” Qian Baihao said, pulling a letter from his coat and handing it to Liu Yusheng. “This came along with the family correspondence—a letter from the Liu family estate for you. Take a look. I’ll head back to the inn and prepare for the next round of negotiations.”

After Qian Baihao left, Liu Yusheng opened the letter.

It wasn’t long—just a few brief lines.

Attached to the letter were two drawings.

After reading it, Liu Yusheng burst out laughing, clutching her stomach as she collapsed into a chair.

Watching her doubled over, Feng Qingbai raised his eyebrows, took the letter from her hands, and saw what was written:

“Nannan, when are you coming back? How much longer? I don’t think I’ll survive until the day you return!”

Below the text were two simple, sketch-like drawings.

One depicted a man running wildly with his ears pulled, baring his teeth, howling in agony, while behind him, a cleaver, a ladle, a wooden stick, and tongs flew after him.

The other showed two humanoid dogs sitting pitifully at the kitchen door, gazing inside where a family was happily enjoying a meal, the aroma wafting out. The humanoid dogs were drooling.

Feng Qingbai curled the corner of his lips. Without needing to think, he knew the protagonists in the drawings were none other than Liu Zhiqiu and Wei Lan.

He had indeed painted a very vivid picture of his current life, which was filled with hardship.

“When I go back, how miserable will my second brother and Uncle Lan be?”

“Don’t worry, they won’t starve. Even if they can’t eat, they’ll steal. As for Wei Lan, he’s the kind of person who wouldn’t lose weight even if you threw him into the deep mountains and forests for half a year. There’s no need to worry about them.”

If they made mistakes, they’d have to suffer the consequences.

Since Beicang hadn’t yet announced the results of the talks to the world, he couldn’t leave just yet to avoid any unexpected changes.

He wouldn’t leave, and naturally, he wouldn’t let Shengsheng leave alone either.

As for that guy, Zhiqiu, he probably had a mind full of wicked thoughts about how to trick him. Let him think a little longer.

Since Liu Yusheng quietly left, the Liu family courtyard had been unusually lively every day.

The villagers, passing by the courtyard after work, could always hear the sounds of desperate howling and continuous begging coming from inside.

Liu Zhiqiu’s life could no longer be described as being in a dire situation—it was worse than that.

When Shengsheng left, Wei Lan’s words had become a prophecy—they truly couldn’t even get to the dinner table anymore.

When the old lady was angry, she simply stopped cooking for the two of them. Every night, she scraped the pot clean, leaving not even a small crust of rice, so they couldn’t even steal any.

Liu Zhiqiu and Wei Lan squatted by the kitchen door, sniffing the food wafting through the entire courtyard and watching the others inside eat with great enjoyment. Both of them were drooling, their gazes growing more and more pitiful.

But neither of them dared to approach.

Grandma Liu had a fire tong right beside her feet.

Liu Zhiqiu glanced at the fire tong, touched the aching spot on his back, and sighed as he looked up at the sky, “When will this kind of life come to an end?”

“Wait until Nannanni comes back, find a chance to redeem ourselves, and we might still have a chance to get back to the dinner table.” Wei Lan swallowed hard.

“How long will we have to wait?”

“I don’t know.”

The two of them glanced at each other, then both turned their heads away, their heads drooping.

An indefinite wait!

Liu Muqiu sat at the dinner table, eating while occasionally glancing outside. Her chopsticks would sometimes swiftly grab two pieces of meat and bury them under the rice, thinking she was being sly and unnoticed.

“Muqiu, don’t send food to the people outside. If we don’t teach them a lesson, they’ll cause trouble again in the future.”

Liu Muqiu was so startled that her hand shook, almost knocking over the bowl. She quickly withdrew her gaze from the window and obediently responded, “Got it, Grandma.”

Inside, she was scratching her heart in frustration. With such close supervision, how could she sneak food to Zhiqiu?

In just a few days, the poor guy’s jaw had become so sharp from hunger.

It was now noon, and after lunch, the elders went back to their rooms to rest and take a nap.

Taking advantage of this moment, Liu Muqiu sneaked into the second courtyard to check on Liu Zhiqiu. “Brother Zhiqiu, are you hungry?”

Liu Zhiqiu rolled his eyes weakly, “Isn’t that obvious? Feel it for yourself, I’m so hungry that I’ve lost my abs!”

“…” Liu Muqiu twisted her fingers nervously, her gaze flicking to the man’s stomach. She did want to feel it, but she didn’t dare.

How embarrassing!