Liu Kaichen sat down, and Liu Yifeng raised his wine cup and clinked it with theirs before draining the contents.
"I know why Third Uncle and Kaichen are here to see me, but I truly cannot agree to this. If it were anything else, it would be manageable, but I've already given my word to someone else. To break my promise now would be disastrous. My livelihood depends on my reputation; if word gets out, who would be willing to do business with me?" Liu Yifeng put down his wine cup.
Liu Chunsheng listened, completely bewildered. "What is it about?"
"Second Brother, it's really not a big deal. It's just that Kaichen has a major client who is interested in Yifeng's vegetables and is willing to buy them at double the price, but Yifeng refuses. You should quickly persuade him. Refusing double the price, I really don't understand what he's thinking," Liu Chasheng explained.
Liu Chunsheng looked at Yifeng. "What exactly is going on? If it's truly double the price, why would you refuse?"
"Dad, you don't know the full story. Kaichen's client's condition for buying my vegetables is that I can only sell to him. I've already promised Longteng Hotel that as long as I grow vegetables, I won't interrupt our cooperation. If I break my word so soon, how will people view us? Moreover, Kaichen's client is a competitor to Longteng Hotel. If I truly stop supplying them with vegetables, it would be like cutting off their financial lifeline. I cannot bring myself to do such a thing."
Call it being overly compassionate or whatever else. In short, he had to act according to his conscience.
"Yifeng, aren't you overthinking this? Business is about who has the stronger hand. Besides, even without you, they would still manage," Liu Chasheng said.
"Whether their hand is strong or not is their business. But we cannot change our promises on a whim. Adults should behave like adults; this isn't just children playing house," Liu Chunsheng sided with his son. He had been honest and upright his whole life and could not, nor would, do anything that betrayed trust. This was also how he had raised Yifeng since he was young, which was why his son was so sensible. He wouldn't boast, but among his nephews, none were as filial and sensible as Yifeng.
Seeing his second uncle siding with Yifeng, Liu Kaichen wasn't surprised, as Yifeng was his son. However, this matter had to be resolved today, or his position would be jeopardized. With a troubled expression, he said, "Second Uncle, I don't want to make things difficult for Yifeng, but I truly have no choice. If I cannot sign a contract with that client and achieve results, the head office will demote me. I worked hard to become the general manager of the branch through my own ability. If I'm demoted because of this, it will be incredibly difficult to get promoted again. Do you want to see me stuck at this level for the rest of my life?"
"Is it that serious? Aren't you newly appointed?" Liu Chunsheng asked earnestly.
"It's precisely because I'm newly appointed that I haven't achieved any results and have even lost many clients. If I don't show some achievement this month to compensate, I might even be packing my bags. Second Uncle, I've never asked you for anything in my life. Please, just help me this once. As long as I get through this difficult period, any matters concerning you and Yifeng will be my utmost priority, and I will not hesitate to help," Liu Kaichen said with genuine sincerity.
"This..." Liu Chunsheng began to waver. After all, this concerned Kaichen's future, and Kaichen was his nephew. He couldn't just stand by and watch him be demoted or even fired. However, if he agreed, Yifeng would be in a difficult position, which made him very conflicted.
"Second Brother, how another hotel's business fares is not our concern as outsiders! But Kaichen is our own flesh and blood. Can you truly bear to see him fired by the company?" Liu Chasheng began to guilt-trip him again.
Liu Yifeng dreaded this the most and hated hearing it. "Second Uncle, it's not that I don't want to help you, but you must also consider my future! I still need to do business. If I act unscrupulously today for Kaichen, who will dare to cooperate with me in the future?"
"Didn't Kaichen's client say he'd take all your vegetables and buy them at double the price?" Liu Chasheng immediately countered.
"Second Uncle, you also know that I'm building greenhouses. The vegetables I'll grow in the future won't be tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of pounds, but millions, even tens of millions. Do you think he has the appetite to consume so many of my vegetables? If he can't digest them, and I can't sell them to anyone else, wouldn't they just rot in the fields?" Liu Yifeng's words left Liu Chasheng speechless.
"Yifeng, a boss of that magnitude, how could he not handle it? Even if his hotel can't digest them all, he'll surely help you find a solution and won't let your vegetables rot in the ground," Liu Kaichen said.
"Let's not say any more. My stance remains the same: he can buy my vegetables, but monopolizing them is absolutely out of the question."
"You... how can you be so unfeeling towards family? You're an older brother, how can you stand by and watch your younger brother in dire straits?" Liu Chasheng's face soured. As an elder, he had lowered his pride and offered a toast, expecting Yifeng to show some respect. He never expected such a firm refusal. It indicated that Yifeng didn't value him as an elder at all.
"Third Brother, don't be angry. Yifeng isn't someone who disregards family; it's just that you're putting him in too difficult a position."
"Kaichen, I remember I once recommended my vegetables to your clients, but you disdained them and directly refused on behalf of your clients. This shows that you've never taken me, your cousin, seriously. You never considered helping me. Now that you need me, you suddenly remember me. Is this how family ties are maintained?" Since things had reached this point, Liu Yifeng no longer wanted to beat around the bush. He would accept it if they could, and forget it if they couldn't. Their brotherhood hadn't been very deep to begin with. If he hadn't made something of himself through Tongtong, he doubted Kaichen would even give him a second glance.
Liu Kaichen felt extremely ashamed, his face flushing with embarrassment. If he hadn't been seeking his help, he would have left long ago. As a university graduate from 918, being lectured on human interaction by someone who graduated from an ordinary university was a complete humiliation.
"Yifeng, what happened before was indeed my fault. I shouldn't have been arrogant and looked down on your vegetables. But this time, I truly need your help, otherwise I wouldn't have asked. I still hope you can consider our blood ties and help me." He said this with sincerity.
Liu Chunsheng hadn't expected this young man to be so composed. He had thought they were about to fall out, but it seemed Kaichen desperately needed Yifeng's help. However, this matter should be decided by Yifeng himself. Whether to help or not was entirely up to him; he shouldn't interfere in the affairs of the younger generation.