Protect Our Chief-Chapter 559 - 39: The Wrath of the 7-Tailed Fire Fox

...

"Hmph~"

Upon hearing this, a cold smile appeared on the dignified face of Patriarch Qiaan: "To complete all the arrangements in such a short time, and even come up with a complete marketing plan without needing any trial and error, this ’aerial cold-chain transportation’ must have been a plan that the Wang Family devised long ago."

"However, if not for that little brat’s reckless actions, would the Wang Family dare to work independently without us? This matter greatly impacts us, even shaking the foundation of our clan industry. Many elders in the family have voiced their objections. Uncle Zhong, there’s no need for you to persuade further; if we don’t severely punish that little brat for such a grave mistake, how will we quell public anger?"

Qiaan Zhong, the steward, moved his lips slightly but ultimately said nothing more.

Just at that moment.

Suddenly from outside the main hall, an angry shout was heard: "Qiaan Qinhong, how dare you!"

As soon as the shout subsided, a woman in gorgeous clothing led a grand entourage of maidservants and attendants through the door.

She was a radiant beauty.

Phoenix eyes, a delicate nose, cherry lips, snow-like skin, and a graceful figure... every part of her seemed to grow according to the standards of beauty. However, her whole demeanor was domineering and sharp, with an air of arrogance.

This woman was none other than the current principal wife of the Qiaan Family — Cao Lina.

The biological mother of Qiaan Xuerui.

She was born into the direct lineage of the Fifth-Grade Purple Mansion Family, the Liaoyuan Cao Family in Liaoyuan County, with a very distinguished background. Now in her early forties, her strength is at the early stage of the Spirit Platform Realm, and even though she had a child, she still looked as radiant as a woman in her early twenties.

"Nana, why are you here?" Upon seeing her, Patriarch Qiaan Qinhong’s eyebrows slightly twitched, "This matter is of great importance, don’t act recklessly."

"How am I acting recklessly?" Cao Lina raised her delicate eyebrows and said angrily, "As your remarried wife who bore you a son, how could our son not stand the same prospects as the Eldest Legitimate Son? Yet, Er’er has been diligent from a young age, studying hard and practicing assiduously, even the Ancestor is quite fond of him."

"This time Er’er went south, and everything he did was for the sake of the family’s development. Even if there were mistakes, they were merely youthful misjudgments, being not cautious enough. And now, you actually want to punish him for this trivial mistake! Do you still regard him as your own son?! Or perhaps, only Qiaan Xuehan, born from you and your deceased wife, is your real child, and Qiaan Xuerui is just a bastard I picked up from someone else?"

"Nonsense!"

Patriarch Qiaan Qinhong’s face turned livid with anger.

"Nana, stop talking nonsense. Xuerui is, of course, my son. However, his recent recklessness destroyed a great opportunity for the Qiaan Family. You probably don’t know yet, several Noble Families with ties to us have already come to complain, saying now that they’ve lost the high-quality grain seeds, their family industry revenues have dropped significantly. The family elders, too, have significant objections regarding Xuerui. If he’s not punished strictly, how can public anger be appeased?"

"Public anger? What public anger?!" Cao Lina sneered coldly and said angrily, "This is clearly the Wang Family’s fault! Just a tiny Seventh-Grade Noble Family, relying on some connection to the Academy, they think they can lord over us. Back then, when the Wang Family was so poor they couldn’t even eat, didn’t they depend on us, the Qiaan Family, to reach their current status? Now that they’ve grown bold, they dare to turn against us for mere profit. If they ever reach Sixth or even Fifth Grade as a Noble Family, where will the Qiaan Family find a place?"

At the same time.

Steward Qiaan Zhong also advised: "The Patriarch is benevolent and wants to take this opportunity to repair relations with the Wang Family. But if we show kindness too easily, the Wang Family might view us as weak, becoming more arrogant in the future. Even if the Patriarch wishes to draw in the Wang Family again, we need to first display the strength of the Qiaan Family to prevent the Wang Family from underestimating us."

Qiaan Zhong is an elder of the Qiaan Family, having served diligently for over three hundred years and served three successive patriarchs, possessing insight and experience beyond ordinary people. Even the current Patriarch, Qiaan Qinhong, must carefully consider his advice and opinions.

"Uncle Zhong’s words are very true." Patriarch Qiaan Qinhong pondered for a moment and felt it made sense, "In that case, let’s demonstrate the tactics of the Qiaan Family so that they don’t really think we are weak and can be bullied."

Moreover, Qiaan Xuerui is still his son, and with his mother, Cao Lina, backing him up, it’s necessary to regain some face back for him.

Seeing his response, Cao Lina immediately turned her anger into joy, clung to Qiaan Qinhong’s arm, and spoke sweetly, softly whispering sweet nothings.

As a young miss from a Purple Mansion Family, she was proud but also understood how to grasp human emotions, knowing that being arrogantly domineering would only cause Qiaan Qinhong’s disgust; softening her stance at the right time was the way to gain a man’s compliance.

...

A few days later.

Longzuo County City, Shouda Trading Company.

Flying Chariot Driver Hui Qisi was carefully polishing the Thousand-Mile Telescope and the Celestial Secret Disc in his hands, his movements extremely meticulous and cautious.

These two items were his main tools for earning a living. The Celestial Secret Disc was a lower-grade spiritual artifact provided by the Academy, specifically for determining directions, while the Thousand-Mile Telescope was given by the Changning Wang Family, allowing for long-distance observation.

Navigating the vast skies while piloting a flying chariot is a skilled job, and it all relied on these two "treasures" to avoid losing direction.

Hui Qisi was already over ninety years old and was once an ordinary disciple of the Purple Mansion Academy.

According to the rules, after graduating, ordinary disciples of the Academy need to serve the Academy for fifty years as a return for the Academy’s training. When the fifty years of service are complete, they can choose to return to their family to enjoy their later years or choose to continue staying in the Academy to earn more.