bookbashuk Chapter 34 East Market Tea Party, Publicly Overpowering Others
Chapter 34 East Market Tea Party, Publicly Overpowering Others
The next day, at noon.
The largest teahouse in the central part of Dongshi, Qingyun County, was entirely booked by the Wang family.
A green bamboo-patterned flag was hung outside the building, a red carpet was laid in front of the door, and guards stood in rows on both sides. People watched from a distance, not daring to approach, yet reluctant to leave.
Everyone knows that.
Today's tea party is not for drinking tea.
It was the Wang family that used the influence of the Xu family in the county town to re-establish their authority.
⸻
Upstairs in the elegant hall, most of the guests had already arrived.
Zhao Yuancheng, the head of the Zhao family, several small and medium-sized business owners, representatives of independent cultivators in the county, and even a clerk from the county government were all present.
The people sat in different postures, but their expressions were largely the same—
wait and see.
They favor whoever wins.
This is the reality of Qingyun County.
⸻
Sitting in the main seat, Xu Cheng'an, dressed in brocade robes, sat leisurely, fanning himself.
Behind him, the gray-haired old man Zhou Yue closed his eyes to rest, his aura as steady as a mountain.
Wang Tonghai sat to the side, and his complexion was much better than it had been a few days ago.
With the arrival of officials from the prefectural city to oversee the situation, the Wang family finally regained some of their confidence.
⸻
Xu Chengan looked around at everyone and smiled faintly.
"Please don't be so formal."
"I came to Qingyun County to visit relatives and friends, and also to see the local scenery."
"I never expected that such a small county town would produce so many laughable things lately."
The atmosphere in the hall tensed slightly.
Everyone could tell that he was referring to the Li family.
Wang Tonghai picked up his teacup, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.
The first step in today's tea party is to undermine the Li family's influence.
⸻
Zhao Yuancheng chuckled and replied:
"Young Master Xu is well-traveled and knowledgeable; Qingyun County is a small place and naturally doesn't meet his standards."
Xu Chengan gently waved his folding fan.
"Small places should also abide by local rules."
"Families are ranked in order of importance, and power is determined by rank."
"If someone tries to overturn the table and seize their seat just because they have a bit of luck—"
A slight smile played on his lips.
"That is ignorance of one's own limitations."
Several elders of the Wang family immediately echoed with light laughter.
Some opportunists in the hall also joined in with forced smiles.
⸻
Just now.
An announcement came from downstairs.
"The young patriarch of the Li family has arrived—"
The laughter in the hall suddenly stopped.
Everyone turned their heads at the same time.
Li Xuan, dressed in white, entered with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and composed, as if he had only come to attend an ordinary tea party.
Only two people followed behind him.
Li Yuanshan held the account book, looking wary.
Li Yuanlie carried a knife, looking like he wanted to chop someone up.
⸻
Xu Cheng'an's gaze fell on Li Xuan, a scrutinizing glint in his eyes.
Young and composed, he didn't seem like a typical young man from a small clan in the county.
Wang Tonghai's expression darkened slightly.
With Li Xuan's arrival, the atmosphere naturally shifted away by three-tenths.
⸻
Li Xuan walked into the hall and casually cupped his hands in greeting.
"I came because I heard someone had invited me for tea."
"Young Master Xu, you don't mind, do you?"
Xu Chengan smiled and said:
"Guests are welcome, so we don't mind at all."
"It's just that Young Master Li has been too prominent lately, I thought you were too busy to take care of him."
Li Xuan said calmly:
"fine."
"Closing shops, collecting debts, and winning back hearts and minds—it's been quite a busy time."
Many people in the hall almost lost their composure.
These words never mentioned the Wang family, yet every sentence was a direct insult to them.
Wang Tonghai's face instantly darkened.
⸻
Xu Chengan paused with his folding fan, then his smile deepened.
"Young Clan Chief Li has excellent speaking skills."
"But when it comes to getting things done, you ultimately need solid foundation."
"Do you know how much the Xu family in the prefecture spends on medicinal herbs each month?"
Li Xuan shook his head.
"I don't know."
Xu Chengan raised his chin, his tone indifferent.
"Starting at 100,000 spirit coins."
Everyone in the hall gasped in shock.
Most families in Qingyun County may not see this much money in a year.
This is the oppressive feeling of the county city families.
Xu Chengan continued:
"So some people earn a few thousand or tens of thousands of spirit coins in the county and think they're something special—"
"In reality, it's just like looking at the sky from the bottom of a well."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
These words certainly carry weight.
⸻
Li Yuanshan's face turned pale upon hearing this, and he whispered:
"Young clan leader, his act makes me want to punch him."
Li Yuanlie nodded.
"I want to too."
"But I'd rather cut it."
⸻
Li Xuan simply picked up his teacup and gently blew on the steam.
"Young Master Xu is right."
"The Xu family of the county seat is naturally a large and powerful family."
A hint of satisfaction appeared in Xu Cheng'an's eyes.
They're quite sensible.
However, the next moment, Li Xuan put down his teacup and calmly spoke:
"pity."
"No matter how much water flows, it's not yours."
The hall fell silent instantly.
Zhao Yuancheng nearly spat out his tea.
ruthless.
It's too cruel.
⸻
For the first time, the smile on Xu Chengan's face froze.
Li Xuan continued:
"You said the Xu family's monthly turnover is 100,000 spirit coins."
"That's the Xu family."
"It's not Xu Cheng'an."
"Just like how the Wang family used to suppress Qingyun County, that was due to the Wang family's abilities."
"The fact that they have suffered several defeats in a row is also due to the incompetence of the Wang family."
"Having a few cups of tea with Young Master Xu is nothing to do with me."
Each word was calm, yet each one was sharp and incisive.
⸻
Everyone in the hall lowered their breathing.
No one expected that Li Xuan would not back down an inch when facing the guests from the county town.
Wang Tonghai clenched his fists so tightly they cracked.
Xu Chengan slowly closed his folding fan, his eyes turning cold for the first time.
"Young Clan Chief Li is very bold."
Li Xuan looked at him.
"How can you do business if you're not bold enough?"
"But it's Young Master Xu who's come all the way from the county seat to Qingyun County to show off his power—"
"That takes courage too."
⸻
The gray-haired old man, Zhou Yue, slowly opened his eyes.
The aura of the eighth level of Qi Refining faintly spread out, and the pressure in the hall suddenly increased.
Many people turned pale.
This is blatant intimidation.
Li Yuanlie's eyes lit up, and he straightened his knife.
"Finally, something interesting is happening."
Li Yuanshan was almost scared to death and quickly tugged at his sleeve.
⸻
Li Xuan's expression remained unchanged.
Although the aura of someone at the fourth level of Qi Refining is weak, it is as stable as a rock.
He merely glanced at Zhou Yue and said simply:
"If you wish to take action, the county clerk is sitting right there."
"The Xu family in the county town is bullying others by abusing their power. If the news gets out, it will surely cause quite a stir."
The clerk in the corner immediately sat up straight, his expression becoming serious.
Zhou Yue's eyelids twitched, and he slowly withdrew his breath.
This is not the county seat after all.
We can't do anything reckless.
⸻
Xu Chengan stared at Li Xuan for a long time, then suddenly laughed.
"it is good."
"That's interesting."
"Since we can't determine who's better verbally, let's try a different approach."
Li Xuan asked:
"What kind of gameplay?"
Xu Chengan unfolded his folding fan.
"The auction will be held in the East Market in three days."
"My Xu family handles the shipping, the Wang family handles the details."
"If your Li family has the ability, then come and compete with us."
Everyone in the hall perked up.
auctions!
This is much more practical than engaging in verbal battles.
Whoever can dominate the entire arena is the true winner.
⸻
Li Xuan's lips curled up slightly.
"Can."
"But if we lose, Young Master Xu, please don't say that Qingyun County is bullying outsiders."
Zhao Yuancheng lowered his head to drink tea, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
This kid really doesn't give me any face.
⸻
The tea party has ended.
As the crowd dispersed, everyone realized one thing.
The Xu family arrived, but they couldn't subdue Li Xuan.
Instead, he was publicly rebuked.
The Wang family's first step in leveraging power—
It didn't work out.
⸻
at night.
Blackstone Mountain Study Room.
The system panel appears.
Publicly confronting external forces
[Family Reputation Increased]
[Family Luck +19]
[Current Luck: 348]
[New Event Begins: East Market Auction Showdown]
[Reward Preview: County City Reputation Unlocked]
Li Xuan looked at the panel with a calm expression.
Xu Chengan thought the auction was to give the Wang family a chance to make amends.
But in his eyes—
That's just another round of reaping good fortune.
Chapter Thirty-Four (End)