Volume 1: Mission in Danger Chapter 56: The Beauty of the Ye Family
Wu Chengjian was a little surprised: "Why go to the Ye family? Do you still think Ye Dalin will help us?"
Wu Guoying shouted, "What are you calling me? How rude! Even if you don't call me father-in-law, you should at least call me Uncle Dalin."
Wu Chengjian sneered: "It's good enough that I didn't spit on him in person, but why do I call him uncle?"
Wu Guoying said: "It is human nature to choose to protect oneself when encountering danger. Although considering the friendship between our two families, his behavior is chilling, but it is also... barely understandable."
"I'm not as broad-minded as you, father." Wu Chengjian said, "But since you know that he is ready to break off diplomatic relations to protect himself, why do you still want to go?"
Wu Guoying stared at his son and said, "Besides you and me, there is no one else here. What do you want to do? Can't you tell me?"
Wu Chengjian spread his hands: "Right now, there are less than three out of ten conditions that can be met for me to take action. I don't even have a 30% chance of success. What's the point of talking about it?"
Wu Guoying said: "If that's the case, then we have no choice but to give it a try."
"How?"
"Go find Ye Dalin," Wu Guoying said, "I hope he will change his mind for the sake of our decades of friendship and the marriage of our children, and join us in fighting against Cai and Xie tomorrow."
Wu Chengjian was embarrassed when he heard this. Not to mention that Wu Ye's power was not as good as Cai Xie's, even if he could barely fight, Cai Xie had the Guangdong Customs Supervisor behind him, but who could Wu Ye have behind him? Unless the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi was willing to come forward.
As for the Pan family, since Pan Youjie hasn't shown up since then, we know that they have long planned to sit back and watch.
Wu Guoying glanced at his son and said, "As long as we can convince Old Ye, our Wu and Ye families will rush to the Pan family tonight and save our reputation. I believe that Youjie will be moved. If the three families join forces, we may be able to turn the tables at tomorrow's business meeting."
This is the truth, and it seems feasible - but if you take human nature into consideration, Wu Chengjian knows that it is unlikely. The "method" that Wu Guoying thought of had already been thought of by Lu Guanhuan, but how did Old Lu judge it?
"The Wu family values loyalty, while the Ye family is ungrateful. If you attack the Ye family, the Wu family will protect the Ye family. If you attack the Wu family, the Ye family will abandon the Wu family."
A person who could start from scratch and then gain the trust of two consecutive governors-general of Guangdong and Guangxi must have a unique vision.
Therefore, Wu Chengjian was not optimistic about the old man's attempt for a "last fight".
"What if Ye...Uncle Ye doesn't agree?" Wu Chengjian said.
Although Cai Qiaozhu herself refused to say a word about how she was humiliated by Cai Shiwen, he later found out about 50% to 60% of the story, and he could guess the rest through speculation.
Even if he was at the end of his rope, he didn't want to go to Ye Dalin and humiliate himself.
Unexpectedly, Wu Guoying said: "If he is unwilling to help, then we will cancel the marriage."
Wu Guoying's words were beyond Wu Chengjian's expectations. He thought that the old man was going to compromise this time.
"If our Wu family is destined to fail, then why should we delay the daughter of the Ye family?"
Wu Guoying said, and suddenly changed the subject: "But if it comes to this, our Wu family can still turn things around, and our future will be limitless. I can't let my son, who has a bright future, marry the daughter of such a faithless and ungrateful man! I can't let my son's reputation be tarnished. If we break off the engagement when we are prosperous, it's my fault. If we break off the engagement when we are declining, it's their fault. Everyone in Guangzhou will think we were forced, and they will stab Old Ye in the back. I know you have never liked this marriage, so take this opportunity to get it over with."
Wu Chengjian looked at Wu Guoying. This was the first time in three years that he showed admiration for the old man. He couldn't help but smile and said, "Okay, Dad, let's go!"
After Ye Dalin joined forces with Mr. Cai, he remained cautious and sent spies to Xiguan, fearing that there would be any unexpected events during the second Baoshang Investment Meeting.
As the days passed, the date for the second round of investment in the business was getting closer, and the news received from all parties was unfavorable to the Wu family.
First, Wu Chengjian was humiliated in Shenxianzhou, and on his way back, he was stopped by the police. Then, one of his four hangers-on, Tietou Junba, also defected. Cai Qiaozhu went to Cai's house late at night and could not hide it from others. What happened to her in the inner house of Cai's house was originally separated by several walls, but the news came out the next day. All kinds of rumors were flying around, but what remained unchanged was that Cai Qiaozhu was humiliated in Cai's house and did not get a promise from Cai Zongshang. Only then did Ye Dalin feel relieved, knowing that the Wu family had been deserted by everyone.
In Xiguan, a place of interests, everyone is doing things that are in the name of the red and the white. As long as the Wu family is in decline, there is no need to worry about no one stepping in.
However, seeing that the second investment was getting closer, he still didn't dare to let his guard down. He had been hiding at home for the past two days and hadn't gone anywhere.
His two unmarried daughters were serving him. The second daughter, Ye Haocai, was massaging his legs, and the third daughter, Ye Youyu, was arranging his bookshelf. In fact, Ye Dalin had never read any of the books on the bookshelf. When he was in a good mood, he would at most ask the third daughter to read to him.
Seeing her father still looking cautious in her study, Miss Ye Er, who was massaging his legs, sneered and said, "Dad, it has come to this, what are you still worried about ? Can the Wu family still turn things around after this?"
In Cantonese, "salted fish" is a synonym for a dead body. "Salted fish turning over" means that the dead are resurrected. Yihehang has not yet collapsed, but in Miss Ye's eyes, it is no different from a salted fish.
"It's impossible to turn over." Ye Dalin said, "The position of the Guangdong Customs Supervisor is controlled by the Cai family. After your father and I took refuge with Old Cai these two days, we got some news that we didn't know before. It turns out that the Cai family's intention to attack the Wu family was not a sudden impulse, but a long-term plan..."
Miss Ye Youyu, who was arranging the bookshelf, froze when she heard this.
"...Since Old Cai has been plotting against the Wu family for a long time, he will not change his mind because of some temporary changes. The Wu family has no hope of becoming the supervisor of the Guangdong Customs. And how the gate of the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi is closed to the Wu family is clearly seen by hundreds of eyes in Shenxianzhou. Now, Yihe Bank is facing a situation of pressure from both sides. The Wu family has no hope!"
"If that's the case, then what is Dad worried about?" Miss Ye Er's appearance was considered outstanding among the rich ladies in Xiguan. At this time, she also put on a little rouge at home, which made her look more pretty. However, her forehead was a little narrow and her chin was too sharp, which made her look a little mean. She said, "Didn't the higher-ups say that only two families need to take the contract? The quota of the lower five families has nothing to do with us. As long as one of the upper six families is selected, it will be fine - as long as the Wu family is in trouble, our Ye family will be safe."
She is Wu Chengjian's fiancée and the future daughter-in-law of the Wu family, but when she said this, it was full of gloating.
When Third Miss Ye Youyu heard this, she couldn't help herself any longer and turned around to glance at her sister. Because she was standing and Second Miss Ye was half-kneeling, this glance seemed a bit condescending.
If the second young lady of the Ye family is considered pretty after putting on light makeup, then the third young lady who doesn't even wear light makeup is already a stunning beauty in the world. She is just seventeen years old this year and has grown into a graceful young lady. Because she is at home, she does not put on any makeup and only wears a blue cloth shirt, but she looks elegant and refined.
Ye Dalin often sighed privately that it was a pity that his family was not a bannerman, otherwise he would definitely try to send his daughter to the palace. With such a stunning appearance, even if she could not become the queen, she would definitely be a favored imperial concubine.
Miss Ye Er was furious at her sister's look . She glared back and said, "Little bitch! What are you looking at?"
She had always been jealous of her sister. Why did she put on makeup even at home? It was because she didn't want to be outdone. But even if she used up all the best rouge, she would naturally lose in front of Ye Youyu. Every time she saw this face, she was jealous. Fortunately, Ye Youyu was born to a concubine, unlike her, who was born to a legitimate wife. So Ye Youyu usually yelled at her and would get angry as soon as there was a slight chance. She never had a good face.
The third young lady, Ye Youyu, did not talk back, nor was she angry, nor was she discouraged, she just drooped her eyelids.
Seeing her calm expression, Miss Ye Er became even angrier. However, before she could lose her temper, Ye Youyu turned around and continued to organize the bookshelf.
"Daddy doesn't read books, why are you organizing these?"
Ye Dalin didn't know many words, but he felt that being able to sign and seal, and understand the names of goods and account books was enough. He couldn't understand any more profound classics, history, and miscellaneous works. Now there were bookshelves full of books in this study, all of which were made to show off his knowledge - but he didn't expect that this mistake would lead Ye Youyu to read all the books in the room.
Ye Youyu didn't turn around, but just said softly: "Although Daddy doesn't read books himself, it's the same if my sister reads to him."
Miss Ye shouted angrily, "Bitch, are you mocking our family for not reading?" She herself was not very literate, and although Ye Dalin had hired a teacher for her daughters, Miss Ye would doze off as soon as she saw a book.
Ye Youyu didn't turn around either. She turned to the bookshelf and said softly, "Sister, what you said is strange. My last name is Ye too. If I ridicule my whole family, isn't that just ridicule myself?"
Miss Ye Er was furious and almost jumped up, but Ye Dalin had already said, "What are you doing? Why are you angry with your sister again?"
Miss Ye Er twisted her body and said, "Father, you are protecting her again. If you hadn't always protected her, would this slut dare to be so presumptuous with me?"
"Alright, alright." Ye Dalin was able to become the founder of a generation of insurance merchants in six of the Thirteen Hongs. He was not blind and could see that his second daughter was just being unreasonable. He was made even more annoyed by her.
His second daughter, relying on his favor, could not help but become spoiled, and her words and deeds were not as considerate as those of his third daughter. But he had no choice. Before he became successful, his wife accompanied him through many years of hard times. Half of the first business he did after leaving the Pan family was also financed by the Yue family. They could be considered a couple in adversity. Therefore, his wife's family, Ma, always had a loud voice in the Ye residence. Although the mother and daughter had bad tempers, he still tried to be patient.
As for the third daughter, it's a pity. Although she inherited her mother's genes and became a beauty that could shame the moon and flowers, unfortunately she was born in a humble family. If she could help find an honest man to marry in the future, it would be a good future for her. If Ye Dalin was more ruthless, he would probably trade his daughter's looks.
Just then, the housekeeper came to report: "Master, Master Wu is here to visit."
Ye Dalin couldn't stand hearing the word "Wu" recently. When he heard it, he waved his hands and said, "No, no! No one with the last name Wu will see me - just say I'm sick."
The housekeeper Ye Zhong who came to report was also an elder in the family. He knew the seriousness of the matter, so he added, "It was Mr. Wu Guoying, who came in person with Mr. Wu."
Ye Dalin cried out, jumped up, and finally murmured, "Whatever you fear, it will come true."
He has been staying at home recently, claiming to be sick, because he is afraid that Wu Guoying will come to him. He didn't expect that even though he is sick, Old Wu would come to his house in person!
Miss Ye Er said, "What if Old Man Wu comes? Just say that Daddy is sick."
Butler Ye Zhong stood still and just looked at Ye Dalin.
Ye Dalin snorted: "What do you know!"
His friendship with Wu Guoying was different from others. They were both from the Pan family. When they were young, they worked together under Pan Zhenchen of Yuehai Jinao. They were Pan Zhenchen's right-hand men for a time. Later, they both left the Pan family to start their own businesses. There were more than just the two of them who left the Pan family to start their own businesses, but in the end, it was only him and Wu Guoying who succeeded in the business.
For a long time, both the Wu and Ye families depended on the Pan family and became the "right-hand man" of the Pan family in another sense. The two families used the Pan family as a bond and echoed each other in the business world. Even if conflicts of interest occurred occasionally, Pan Zhenchen would mediate to maintain harmony. In fact, Wu Guoying and Ye Dalin had different personalities, but as long as Yuehai Jinao was alive, the two families had never been at odds with each other.
If the Wu family and the Cai family can be considered to have formed a "semi-alliance" through marriage, then the Wu family and the Ye family are natural allies. Wu Guoying and Ye Dalin are also a pair of brothers in distress who are well-known in the Guangzhou business world. No matter how badly the Wu family has fallen, Wu Guoying has come to visit him in person despite being ill. If Ye Dalin doesn't see him today , everyone in Guangzhou will point at his spine and curse him tomorrow - let others curse him, but he is afraid that the news will spread to the Pan family, and Pan Youjie will have some ideas about him.
Ye Youyu put away the last book and said, "Dad, do you want to move to the living room or let your daughter tidy up this study?"
The third daughter was thoughtful. She knew immediately that she still had to meet Wu Guoying and his son. Ye Dalin hesitated for a moment and said, "Forget it, let's meet in the study."
No matter what he planned in his mind, since he was going to meet, he still had to make things look presentable. For a meeting between the heads of the family, meeting in the study would show intimacy, while meeting in the living room would show public acquaintance. Given the relationship between the two of them and their two families, it would be too formal if he met Wu Guoying in the living room.
Ye Youyu quickly cleaned up the mess, but Miss Ye Er was still standing there in the way. Ye Youyu, who was in the way, called out, "Second Sister."
Miss Ye Er pretended not to see it. Ye Dalin, who had walked to the door, turned around and shouted, "Go do what you need to do! Don't get in the way here! Don't you know when to lose your temper?"
Miss Ye Er thought that her father was protecting her again, so she stomped her feet and left angrily.
Ye Dalin then straightened his clothes, put on a smiling face, and hurried to greet Wu Guoying.
