You're Strong But Now You're Mine-Chapter 166 - 165: Destroy the Jing Family

Silver Blood.

What a venerable label, ever since Jing Qingfu was born, he had always grown up with this label.

The standard of living was comparable to that of the Imperial Family, the toys of his childhood were mechanical products that the children of ordinary farming families had never seen, and during his adolescence, he attended the national school in the inner city, surrounded by descendants of noble clans and wealthy merchants. When he first felt the stirrings of love, he went to Xiangxue Sea to taste the forbidden fruit for the first time.

He was undeniably a Silver Blood offspring, fond of fine dwellings, beautiful maids, catamites, splendid clothes, gourmet food, fine steeds, bright lamps, merry music, antiques, flowers and birds, reveling in tea and oranges, indulging day and night in debauchery, enjoying life to the fullest.

Even so, he easily defeated his other brothers to take control of the Jing Family. It wasn’t that the other brothers were useless, but as the eldest brother, Jing Qingfu had started his scheming as soon as his younger brothers were born, setting a bad example for them, yet secretly putting in hard work and forging good relationships with other Silver Blood offspring, ultimately becoming the deserved Patriarch.

Therefore, Jing Qingfu looked down on Jing Zhengwei—the influence of his own experiences cannot be dismissed—as an elder brother, if you can’t even manage to ruin your younger brothers, do you really think you can take control of the Jing Family?

After getting married and establishing his career, Jing Qingfu boldly reformed the Jing Family, purging the vampires within the family and scheming against competitors outside. His methods were nothing more than assassination, estrangement, price undercutting, gangsterism, muggings, and kidnappings. In just a few years, the Jing Family’s business association became one of the top ten Silver Blood organizations, and after the Jing Family completely dominated the Dongyang steel industry, it became one of the top five Silver Blood associations.

At that time, Jing Qingfu was in his prime, filled with ambition and vision for the world. He accurately foresaw that after the technological revolution of factories, the Silver Blood Association would grow stronger, heralding the coming era of merchants. He wasn’t satisfied with being merely a merchant; he longed to be renowned in the annals of history, to shine brilliantly, potentially changing the world.

However, no one knew of these thoughts of his, nor did he believe anyone could be his kindred spirit. Listening to ancient bones, Lu Tianba meekly nodded in agreement, the brothers Quan Yuan and Quan Xu were shortsighted, Lan Pingzhi was merely a conservative craftsman...

Until that young Grain Transport Inspector appeared in front of Jing Qingfu.

Qin Xiao.

Before Jing Qingfu assumed the role of Patriarch, they were already close friends. Jing Qingfu’s development of the Jing Family could not have been possible without Qin Xiao’s assistance.

Over the years, Jing Qingfu clearly saw the ambition and dissatisfaction in Qin Xiao’s heart, and Qin Xiao’s insight and decisiveness earned Jing Qingfu’s recognition. Rare are those who share the same aspirations, Jing Qingfu shared his plans with Qin Xiao, who helped him refine the details and accurately pointed out that the Silver Blood Association had become a cage for the Jing Family.

"When I return, I will bring an edict from the Imperial Court to dissolve the Silver Blood Association. By then, you outside, and me inside, it will be the best time for us to seize Dongyang."

"The future is the era of merchants, and this era will etch our time into history."

This wait lasted twenty years.

What Jing Qingfu awaited was only the news of Qin Xiao’s death.

His resentment towards Qin Xiao was not just because Qin Xiao introduced the premature, life-consuming water pipe to the Silver Blood Association, but more because Qin Xiao forgot their agreement.

All these years, he turned the Jing Family into an impregnable fortress, waiting for the optimal moment brought by Qin Xiao. But with Qin Xiao’s death, the original plan to dismantle the Silver Blood Association from above was now unattainable; he had to take another path.

"This path is the one you are currently treading." Jing Qingfu took out a white handkerchief to cover his mouth, coughed lightly twice, and said, "Align with White Night to dismantle the Silver Blood Association from bottom to top."

"Why don’t you consider becoming the president of the Silver Blood Association?" Le Yuxin curiously asked.

If you want to utilize an organization, the normal approach should be to become the highest authority through official channels and then start the reforms. This way, the risk is lower, and feasibility is higher. Why do they always come in trying to smash the Silver Blood Association to gain loot and experience?

"Think with your own logic, and you’ll understand." Jing Qingfu sneered, "Although I look down on Ting Gu, he’s not lacking in certain skills, rather it’s his overall perspective. It’s not that he hasn’t thought of using the position of president of the Silver Blood Association to strengthen the Ting Family, but if he tried to do something, he would only face obstructions from the other associations."

"The Silver Blood Association is a blade for major associations to exploit minor ones, but also armor for the minor ones to protect themselves. Every association having a voice means that no single association can infringe on the interests of the majority."

"It nurtures the strong but also restrains them; it exploits the weak but also protects them."

Le Yuxin nodded—everyone in the Silver Blood Association is a rascal, everybody uses petty thoughts to measure others. How could they not know that the president of the Silver Blood Association is the most likely to become the absolute monopolistic overlord? Therefore, any slight movement from the Ting Family will spark the vigilance of the other associations.

The Silver Blood Association unites externally, and internally as well—everyone unites to limit the expansion of the president.

"In the past, this mechanism of the Silver Blood Association had no issues, but now all potential within the Dongyang region has been exhausted by the Silver Blood Association, and even the Scandinavian market is almost filled. With roads closed due to war, internal strife in the Silver Blood Association is inevitable."

Jing Qingfu closed his eyes: "Moreover, Xuanzhu County has already turned into a pigpen for the Silver Blood Association."

"In the officialdom, descendants of merchants struggle to find importance, and after Quan Yuan became an official, he supported the Quan Family while suppressing the Silver Blood Association."

"In the army, the Heyang Army only sees the Silver Blood Association as a money bag, using influence to dominate. Most of the money earned by the Silver Blood Association is spent on feeding officials and soldiers, just to exchange for their ’respect’ and ’protection’ of Silver Blood. But this ’protection’ is akin to how you protect factory machinery."

"The most important thing is that the eighty-eight associations within the Silver Blood are content with the status quo. They resist anyone trying to reform, whether that person is Ting Gu or me—even becoming a money bag for the military is seen as justified."

"They are raised like pigs, for the past hundred years, Dongyang has been peaceful, the Silver Blood Association hasn’t been slaughtered, so they naively think it never will be."

Jing Qingfu suddenly reminisced: "When I was in high school, I was once provoked by the Governor’s nephew. At the time, I didn’t know his identity, so we got into an argument. Later, the teacher demanded an apology from me..."

Le Yuxin: "You didn’t apologize?"

"Of course, I did." Jing Qingfu’s face remained unchanged: "I’m not a fool; why should I offend the Governor’s nephew? Later, we became friends, and I received plenty of help from him."

No wonder, Le Yuxin thought silently.

"That was the first time I bowed my head in life, and there were countless times after, and the reason I bowed my head has always been the same—power."

Jing Qingfu said, "I am thankful for that conflict because it woke me up, the Silver Blood I relied on granted me the privilege to be unreasonable to others, but there are also those who can be unreasonable to me."

"I can bow my head, but we, the Jing, can’t bow our heads forever."

"They once gained the privilege to be unreasonable through guns, knives, swords, and pens."

"I can do it through money just the same."

"But over the decades of doing business, I’ve learned something—the more you try to gain power, the more you realize the limits of the Silver Blood Association..."

"Unless you surpass the Silver Blood Association."

"Promise me." Jing Qingfu opened his eyes and said coldly, "You must support White Night, destroy the Silver Blood Association, and overturn the Governor’s mansion."

"Seize the legacy of the Silver Blood Association, and guide the infighting of the Heyang Army."

"Incite hatred, manufacture massacres."

"In the name of the Jing Family, protect the people and associations, occupy moral high ground, usurp power." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"Then..." Jing Qingfu suddenly grabbed Le Yuxin’s wrist, staring intently into Le Yuxin’s eyes, "Make the Jing Family greater, so that we, the Jing names, will no longer bow like servants!"

Le Yuxin touched the iron wrist guard on his left wrist, and amidst the invisible dust motes in the light, a thin, long needle stealthily extended from the iron wrist guard.

"I promise you."

"I will support White Night, destroy Silver Blood, and overturn the Governor."

"I will seize the legacy of the Silver Blood Association, and guide the inner turmoil of the Heyang Army."

"Incite class hatred, stir up bloodbaths."

"In the name of the Jing Family, protect the innocent, occupy moral high ground, and seize Xuanzhu’s power."

"The Jing Family will become greater, and from then on, no Jing will ever need to bow to anyone."

Jing Qingfu let out a long sigh, releasing Le Yuxin’s hand with satisfaction.

His mind at ease, he could now pass away peacefully, to meet his ancestors.

But at that moment, Le Yuxin suddenly grabbed his wrist, pulling Jing Qingfu closer to face him, allowing him to see his eyes.

Determined.

Bright.

Pure.

Without a trace of impurity.

In his eyes, Jing Qingfu only saw his own aging, shadowed self.

"And then I will..."

With a push of his left hand, the thin iron needle from the ’Saint’s Relic, Soul Purification Sword’ wrist guard had deeply pierced Jing Qingfu’s wrist.

"Destroy the Jing Family."