Though not comparable to his youth, at least he could see things passably.
After reading through the entire plan formulated by Han Mo, Cai Jing's face suddenly showed a hint of relief.
"Well said, young man! The Han family is fortunate to have a descendant like you. At your current age, you are destined for unparalleled glory within the next fifty years!"
Placing the spectacles and the booklet back on the table, Cai Jing looked at Han Mo with a much gentler gaze.
"Are you not angry, husband?"
As Han Mo spoke, he poured Cai Jing a cup of wine.
"Can anger solve problems?"
Instead of answering his question, Cai Jing retorted.
"It seems not!"
"If that's the case, why should I be angry?"
"I thought it would be a great pleasure in life to see you explode in anger!"
"Hahahaha!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Cai Jing burst into laughter. The hearty laughter sounded not like two sworn enemies, but rather like old friends who hadn't seen each other for years.
"You are truly a remarkable young man!"
His eyes watering from laughter, Cai Jing slowly ceased his merriment and continued.
"It's merely a childish prank; you've made me look foolish."
"A young man without youthful exuberance is hardly a youth, but I have four words for you!"
With a trembling right hand, Cai Jing lifted his wine cup and drained it. He then smiled at Han Mo again.
"Please, husband, tell me!"
"None of my business!"
"Hahahaha!"
"Hahahaha!"
After hearing Cai Jing's reply, Han Mo was momentarily stunned, then he too burst into laughter.
Cai Jing then joined him in hearty laughter. Gao Shun, standing at the bow of the boat, was completely bewildered by the sounds emanating from the cabin.
He had expected to witness the renowned cursing abilities of Cai Jing, the Prime Minister of the Great Song dynasty, tonight. However, he never imagined that these two mortal enemies would be in such a state when they met.
"As expected, my husband is indeed my husband. Old ginger is spicier."
His stomach aching from laughter, Han Mo wiped the tears from his eyes and stood up again to pour Cai Jing another cup of wine.
"I've been hungry all afternoon. You should serve me a bowl of soup first. Oh, and take out the pearl rice from the food box. This pigeon soup needs to be paired with rice to truly savor its flavor!"
Pushing the wine cup aside, Cai Jing tapped the table and said.
"Yes, sir!"
Bowing to Cai Jing, Han Mo, as instructed, retrieved a small bowl of rice from the nearby food container. He then ladled two spoonfuls of pigeon soup from the large soup tureen into the rice bowl and respectfully placed it before Cai Jing.
"Your actions are indeed devious, but your generosity is quite remarkable. This entire feast must have cost at least a hundred strings of cash!"
After taking a satisfying sip of the pigeon soup, Cai Jing squinted his eyes and asked.
"Indeed, it was a full one hundred and eighty strings!"
Picking up a piece of braised beef from a exquisitely crafted plate, Han Mo chewed it slowly and replied.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. These people are getting greedier. The price has increased by more than forty percent!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, Cai Jing couldn't help but curl his lips.
"It's not entirely their fault. You probably don't know, husband, but the price of rice in Bianliang City has more than tripled compared to before!"
"I'm old, my energy is failing. If I were ten years younger, I wouldn't be so ignorant of such matters!"
After hearing Han Mo's words, Cai Jing couldn't help but pout.
Listening to his muttering, Han Mo smiled and stood up, diligently serving Cai Jing dishes.
When he had asked Gao Shun to arrange the meal, he had specifically instructed that the dishes chosen be easily digestible. Cai Jing's hands did tremble a bit with age, making it somewhat difficult to use chopsticks. However, with Han Mo serving him, the meal was not excessively messy.
"I'm full. You, young man, are quite considerate."
After finishing the rice in his bowl, Cai Jing slowly reached out and picked up a few grains of rice that had fallen on the table. He carefully put them into his mouth, then took the tea that Han Mo handed him, rinsed his mouth, and said again.
"To receive such praise from you, husband, is enough for a lifetime."
"Hahahaha, I like you, young man. Why don't you tell me, what is it you wish to gain from me after all this effort?"
After taking another sip of tea, Cai Jing slowly asked.
"Don't you want to try again? Perhaps you might find a way to break through this impasse?"
Looking at Cai Jing's faint smile, Han Mo also asked with a smile.
"Didn't you already say it? I'm a smart man, why would I do something so thankless? You've already calculated all the escape routes. If I want to break through now, the only option is mutual destruction..."
Like the old fox he was, Cai Jing quickly saw the solutions after reading Han Mo's booklet. Moreover, there wasn't just one solution. However, any of them would require a devastating price.
It could only be said that Han Mo was too meticulous in his planning, leaving Cai Jing completely cornered. Unless he gambled his entire Cai family, there might be a sliver of hope. But if he failed, the entire Cai family would vanish with him.
With his intelligence and wisdom, he would naturally not choose such a path.
"My husband is indeed wise and intelligent. However, there is one matter I do not understand, and I hope my husband can enlighten me!"
Looking at Cai Jing's inscrutable smile, Han Mo suddenly bowed to him again and asked earnestly.
"Chatting with a young man like you is truly a pleasure. Please ask away, but I may not answer!"
Adjusting the soft cushion on the back of his chair, Cai Jing smiled again.
"Han Mo wishes to ask, husband, now that you support Tong Guan's alliance with the Jin people, have you not considered what this alliance will bring to the Great Song? If the Jin people prove difficult to handle, what then should we do?"
Looking into Cai Jing's cloudy eyes, Han Mo asked without reservation.
"Naturally, peace is paramount! If peace cannot be achieved, then we fight. A dog must know its place, wouldn't you agree?"