Protect Our Chief-Chapter 673 - 80: Drawing Calamity Eastward! Opening up the Wastelands in the Outer Domain (Requesting Monthly Tickets)
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Liaoyuan County, Seafood Inn.
"Seafood Inn" is a millennium-old establishment, also the most luxurious and upscale restaurant in Liaoyuan County, specializing in various seafood delicacies.
Its history can almost be traced back to when Liaoyuan County was first being cultivated.
The reason it has stood strong for so many years is because its backer is the Liaoyuan Cao Family, a Fifth-Grade Purple Mansion Family.
On this day.
The top floor of the Seafood Inn, with the best views and most extravagant decor, welcomed two distinguished guests in one of its private rooms.
One of them, dressed in ornate and gorgeous clothing with an elegant demeanor, is the owner of the "Seafood Inn," patriarch of the Liaoyuan Cao Family, Cao Bangning.
The other, with a sharp face and monkey-like facial features, a clever aura, and a small tuft of beard on his chin, is the patriarch of the Liu Family, a Sixth-Grade Noble Family from Qeng’an County, Liu Tianming.
The two took their seats at the table one after the other.
The shopkeeper of the Seafood Inn, accompanied by a group of staff, served the dishes and carefully poured wine. After paying respect, they respectfully withdrew, instructing the waiter outside to guard the door, strictly forbidding anyone from approaching the private room.
The waiter naturally dared not slack off, repeatedly assuring without further mention.
Meanwhile, inside the private room, Patriarch Cao Bangning eagerly poured wine for Liu Tianming, added food, and warmly invited him to eat and drink.
"Come, come~ Brother Tianming, you only come here twice a year, it’s rare for us to gather. Today, I’m hosting, you eat and drink to your heart’s content. My brother’s place has enough good food and wine for you..."
"Brother Tianming, try this. This is the top-grade Tier Four dragon lobster, just delivered from the sea today, specially cooked by the restaurant’s chef using a secret technique; it’s fresh, fragrant, and tender, without a hint of fishiness. It’s the signature dish of Seafood Inn, unavailable elsewhere..."
"And this, the Spirit Fish, one of the three deep-sea treasures. Only during this season each year does it appear..."
For this table of dishes, Cao Bangning spared no expense. Financial matters are secondary; the key is that ingredients for several dishes are rare tribute items not easily consumed even by himself, yet now all are used to entertain Liu Tianming.
The kitchen of Seafood Inn had been busy since the previous evening, working tirelessly to prepare such a feast full of color, aroma, and flavor.
And Liu Tianming certainly enjoyed himself, eating and drinking heartily.
After three rounds of wine and sampling five flavors of dishes.
Having eaten enough, Liu Tianming finally put down his glass and looked at Cao Bangning: "Patriarch Bangning, you’ve really gone all out today~ Rest assured, this year I’ll give you the best price on grain, even if I earn less myself, I won’t let you suffer a loss."
Liaoyuan County, with its large population and limited land, requires a substantial amount of grain to be procured from other counties annually. Naturally, Qeng’an County, the so-called "granary" of Daqian, right next to Liaoyuan County, becomes its main grain source.
Liu Tianming typically travels between the two places, dealing in grain trade.
The Purple Mansion Cao Family, being one of the largest families among Liaoyuan Guard, annually purchases a significant amount of grain from him.
However, upon hearing this, Cao Bangning felt a pang in his heart, couldn’t help silently cursing "old fox."
Cao Family had recently encountered some issues, and he didn’t believe Liu Tianming was unaware. His words clearly indicated he was pretending ignorance, waiting for him to speak up and ask for help~
Yet, despite knowing this, he had no other choice but to show a shamed expression, standing up and pretending to offer a deep bow: "Patriarch Tianming, to be honest, I’ve invited you here today because I have a favor to ask. Considering our families have maintained marriage ties within the direct lineage for many years, I ask you to lend me a hand." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
"Oh, Brother Cao, there’s no need for such words between us. We’re practically family, why talk about favors?" Liu Tianming quickly supported him, "Get up. Just tell me how you want me to help, if I can assist, I certainly will."
He appeared enthusiastic outwardly, but inwardly was smugly pleased.
Cao Bangning, this old chap, often looked down on others, relying on his status as patriarch of a Fifth-Grade Noble Family, and the fact that his aunt is the Saint Land’s core disciple, Cao Youqing. But now that problems arose, didn’t he have to seek his help after all?
The two went back and forth for quite a while, sincerely displaying their "deep affection" and "strong ties," before finally settling down to discuss the matter at hand.
"Brother Tianming, your youngest daughter married into the Zuoqiu Family, isn’t she? I heard she’s part of the direct lineage." Cao Bangning poured Liu Tianming a drink, saying, "Do you think you could pass a message, asking your daughter to mediate on my behalf?"
"Well..."
Upon hearing this, the previously magnanimous Liu Tianming immediately looked troubled.
What a joke~ he worked hard to marry his daughter into the direct lineage of the Zuoqiu Family, and only through this connection would the Zuoqiu Family agree to allocate some high-quality grain for him to trade externally.
He certainly wouldn’t waste this hard-earned connection for the Cao Family’s mess.
Of course, he wouldn’t say this outright, instead diplomatically responded: "Brother Cao, you know, the Zuoqiu Family is different from our noble families. Their patriarchs are at least at the Celestial Human Realm, with each tenure lasting a century or more, resulting in numerous direct lineage descendants. Though my youngest daughter married into the direct lineage, she’s merely a direct grandson, not the eldest son..."
