Amidst cries of anguish, Shi Gong finally understood clearly. The old patriarch was right; these people were still tilling fields and toiling for them, all for a bite to eat!
But once Ye Feng's Ten Thousand Year City was established, wouldn't those commoners fight desperately to reclaim their deeds of sale? It would be better for them to become shops within Ten Thousand Year City now!
"Father, you're still the best!" Shi Gong quickly praised him a few times. "Without you, I, your son, couldn't possibly hold this family together alone!"
Old Patriarch Shi beamed with joy. "As expected of my son, you can take advice. If you didn't have this merit, I wouldn't be at ease handing over such a vast enterprise to you!"
Shi Gong hastily stood up and refilled Old Patriarch Shi's teapot. "Your son is young and can't handle many things. I still need Father to guide me at all times!"
"Naturally. Back in my day!" Old Patriarch Shi said, his eyes half-closed and his voice full of excitement. "Your old man worked so hard to build this fortune. It's impossible for you to squander it away!"
For a moment, saliva flew everywhere. The old man, beaming, stared at Shi Gong, then suddenly slapped his thigh. "Quick, quick, don't just stand around gawking. Deal with these things quickly, or those old fellows will make their move, and we won't get a good price!"
Old Patriarch Shi was referring to no one else but the other richest men in Liangzhou City, with whom he had competed for a lifetime and still emerged slightly superior.
"Don't wait for those darned turtles to come to their senses. Go, go!" Old Patriarch Shi urged impatiently. "Once we get the silver, our Shi family will be far ahead of them!"
Shi Gong immediately reacted. With several servants, he carefully packed antique vases, jade artifacts, and famous calligraphy and paintings into more than a dozen chests and hurried out the door.
Treasure Pavilion, the largest treasure trading venue in Liangzhou City, usually deserted, was now packed with people, eager to trade. The shopkeeper's abacus nearly sparked as he frantically urged them:
"Please wait, everyone, wait!" The more the shopkeeper shouted, the more anxious the people rushing in became.
"Everyone, wait! We definitely have enough silver," the shopkeeper said hoarsely. "More silver has arrived!"
"Shopkeeper, hurry up, don't dawdle!" someone cursed. "Are you expecting me to wait for you!"
The shopkeeper raised his head slightly, the beads on his abacus moving gently. He pretended to be regretful. "Alas, I miscalculated. I have to start over."
"You're playing with me?" the young man gritted his teeth and cursed. "Do you really think someone behind me..."
Before he could finish, a hand gently tapped his shoulder a few times. The young man snapped back to attention, about to speak, when he received a hard slap across the face.
"I have someone behind me..." the young man said in exasperation.
No one tolerated such obnoxious behavior. The next moment, the young man was thrown out, along with a dismissive remark: "Go ask around in Liangzhou City, who isn't someone of standing? You really think you're something?"
"Who are you calling names!" the young man's face darkened. "Believe it or not, I'll make you..."
Before he could finish, a deranged beggar walked by, and a shoe landed squarely in the young man's mouth. "You want to eat? Here you go!"
This immediately caused a roar of laughter. The young man, no longer caring about explaining his identity, fled in haste.
The shopkeeper squinted, the beads on his abacus flying faster. Soon, invitations were delivered to the homes of the aristocratic families.
Unlike before, everything at the auction required silver. With silver, one could even be offered the main seat.
This was indeed Ye Feng's idea. He couldn't help it; he had been poor for too long and still needed to build Ten Thousand Year City, which would incur significant expenses!
As Shi Gong carefully packed the silver and loaded it onto the carriages, the old shopkeeper came out to see him off. He cupped his hands and said slowly, "You gentlemen didn't tell Duke Shi about our new silver storage method!"
"Shopkeeper, we did. Duke Shi didn't accept it!" a young assistant quickly defended. "We couldn't force Duke Shi to accept it!"
The old shopkeeper gave the young assistant a sidelong glance. The young assistant quickly retreated a few steps. Only then did the old shopkeeper put on a smiling face. "This young man has been spoiled by me, becoming lawless. He was disrespectful to you, my esteemed guest."
"Not at all?" Shi Gong knew this was just polite talk from the old shopkeeper and naturally didn't play along. "I've long heard that the assistants you've trained are exceptional. It seems the rumors were true."
Shi Gong smiled and cupped his hands. "Now that I see it, even calling them three times more capable would be an understatement. Unlike the dullards in my own household, they can't be molded!"
"Ah, that's where you're mistaken!" The old shopkeeper stopped Shi Gong and exchanged pleasantries for a while before saying, "Does Duke Shi find something amiss, which is why you are unwilling to entrust it directly to our care?"
Looking at chests of silver being converted into paper currency, no one would easily accept it. However, Shi Gong found a way out after a moment's thought. "Old Shopkeeper, you may not know this, but my father loves this silver the most. If I don't bring it back, he might be displeased."
"Ah, I see!" The old shopkeeper tilted his head, listening for a long time, and feigned agreement. "Please, take your leave!"
The sound of carriage wheels faded into the distance. Shi Gong's steward looked up and asked Shi Gong, "Master, carrying so much silver is so heavy. Since we'll need it in a few days, why not entrust it to the shopkeeper? Who would dare owe us silver then!"
"Foolish!" Shi Gong laughed and scolded. "Little fellow, think carefully, who started all this? Or what caused these things to appear?"
"Ten Thousand Year City!" The coachman scratched his head, still confused, and looked to Shi Gong for an explanation.
"Precisely! With Ten Thousand Year City, we've been led by the nose. If we truly left the silver, what would the Shi family, big and small, do? How would they eat and drink? Moreover, if there are other schemes behind this matter, with the silver in our hands, we can handle anything!"
Shi Gong decided to be frank and clearly explained the stakes. "If Ye Feng gives us what he promised normally, we'll give him silver, and it's a clean transaction. But what if Ye Feng is using Ten Thousand Year City as an excuse to fleece us? With the silver still in our hands, we have nothing to fear."
"Your wisdom is extraordinary, Master. No wonder Old Master often praises you!" The steward hastily offered flattery. "With your leadership, the Shi family will surely reach new heights!"
Shi Gong chuckled gleefully. Soon, they arrived at the Shi mansion. Seeing that many carriages were already parked at the entrance, he quickly composed himself and instructed the steward, "Take them and place the goods in their designated locations. I will send rewards later!"
He strode into the main hall and, facing the gentlemen of the various aristocratic families, bowed. "Greetings, Uncle Masters."
"Father, I shall withdraw first!" Shi Gong adopted a dignified demeanor, as he would in court.
"Go!" Old Patriarch Shi, in his seventies or eighties, waved his hand and commanded, "Go!"
"Wait a moment!" Old Patriarch Ma smiled faintly and, with his remaining teeth, mumbled, "Having served as an official for so many years, you can listen to these things if you wish. Your Uncle Ma will vouch for you!"
"No matter the time, you elders are elders. How can I, a junior, speak out in front of my elders!" Shi Gong cupped his hands again, thanked them, and tiptoed as if to withdraw.
"Stay!" Old Patriarch Shi instructed softly. Shi Gong hastily bowed respectfully. "Yes, Father!"
Shi Gong found the last seat and sat down, then shifted slightly to sit on only half of it, striving to maintain an upright posture. He then drank tea in silence.
"What a good child. If I had such a son, I'd be overjoyed!" Old Patriarch Ma said with a grin, pulling out a jade pendant from his embrace and hastily pressing it into Shi Gong's hand. "Nephew, I was in a hurry when I came out this time and didn't bring many good things. This is for you!"
"No, no, no, Uncle, I absolutely cannot accept this!" Shi Gong hastily pushed it back with both hands. Old Patriarch Ma's expression immediately changed. "My child, you treat your uncle like an outsider!"
"A gift from an elder, one dare not refuse!" Old Patriarch Shi said with authority. Only then did Shi Gong reluctantly accept the gift.
With one person starting, the rest also took out one or two trinkets to give to Shi Gong. Old Patriarch Ma continued to comment, "This little item is quite good, that one is worthless!"
After everyone had finished giving their见面礼 (meeting gifts), Old Patriarch Shi coughed lightly. "You are all old friends. Don't hold anything back. Once you leave this door, no one will remember."
With his prior assurance, everyone felt unburdened and eagerly spoke up. "What do you esteemed brothers think about the auction of land? Should we go all out?"
"Of course, do you think those present don't see the subtle advantages?" someone coldly scoffed. "Or do you intend to monopolize the benefits yourself?"
"Not at all. If we fight each other to the death, who will benefit in the end? I fear that while the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman will gain," the man said loudly. "It would be better if we could cooperate and obtain the greatest benefit!"
The others were not fools and had considered everything clearly. They frowned and after a moment's thought, expressed their stance.
"First, tell me how we can cooperate. If your proposal is as you say, cooperation is not without merit!" Old Patriarch Shi and Old Patriarch Ma smiled faintly and spoke first.
"Good. Since that is the case, I will speak directly," the man said enthusiastically. "In fact, it's simple. As long as we agree that whoever obtains that land, no one else will contend for it. That way, everyone can get what they desire." Old Patriarch Sun said with a smile. "And it won't cost so much money!"
"I understand Old Patriarch Sun's intention, but if that's the case, who gets the worst deal?" Old Patriarch Ma asked, puzzled.