"Miss, your subordinate feels that there really is no need to go to Yongfeng City again. It’s simply too dangerous. We don’t even know who wants to strike at our Nalan Family. If Miss rashly goes there again, your subordinate worries about the danger!"

"Nalan Wu, if Miss does not go in person, Tai’an Manor will simply not provide us with the materials. This is all because of the trouble caused by your good son. Well now, do you want to see our Nalan Family fall into a passive situation due to a lack of materials? Probably, some people just hope Miss doesn’t go to Yongfeng City, right?"

"Nalan Linhen, one can eat carelessly, but words must not be carelessly spoken. I, Nalan Wu, am wholeheartedly concerned about Miss’s safety. As for you, what exactly are your intentions? Knowing that someone wishes harm upon Miss in secret, you still want to send Miss to Yongfeng City. Isn’t this pushing Miss into a pit of fire?"

...

Ye Luo looked at the quarrel in the hall with confusion, roughly understanding the situation. The hall was divided into two factions: one believed that Nalan Rou had to go to Yongfeng City to purchase goods; otherwise, the Nalan Family’s business would be hard to maintain!

The other side felt that the trip was dangerous, hence recommending that Nalan Rou should not go!

Both sides had their reasons, one for the sake of the family, the other for the sake of Nalan Rou’s safety. Speaking of which, both had valid points.

Ye Luo did not speak, but under Nalan Chen’s gesture, he took a seat at the very end of the hall.

Everyone was aware of this newly honored worshiper but did not pay him much heed, continuing their argument instead.

However, when Ye Luo arrived, Nalan Rou’s eyes lit up. In her view, since Ye Luo had just joined the Nalan Family, he might be able to offer more constructive suggestions. Thus, she waved her hand, interrupting the dispute in the hall, and asked Ye Luo, "Ye Luo, what do you think should be done about this matter?"

As Nalan Rou spoke, Nalan Chen quickly briefed Ye Luo on the situation.

It turned out that the Nalan Family was currently facing a severe shortage of materials, to the extent that business was hard to sustain. And Tai’an Manor in Yongfeng City was the closest source for procurement the Nalan Family could find.

The last time Nalan Rou went to that stone garden, it was actually organized by Yongfeng City! The goal was to make contact with Tai’an Manor.

But since there had been no cooperation before, coupled with the previous broken agreement, Tai’an Manor stipulated a condition for cooperation that Nalan Rou must visit in person, as a sign of sincerity...

As for the rest, even without Nalan Chen’s word, Ye Luo had already understood.

At this moment, Ye Luo frowned slightly. The issue seemed simple on the surface, but the fact that Nalan Rou was being hunted made the situation somewhat complex and puzzling!

Why does Tai’an Manor insist that Nalan Rou must visit?

And who is it that wants to strike at Nalan Rou?

Even within the Nalan family, what are these people thinking?

One could say that what was just a simple matter of procurement has, at this moment, become complicated.

No wonder the decision of whether to go to Tai’an Manor or not has led the Nalan Family to hold a clan meeting!

After a moment of contemplation, Ye Luo finally said, "Miss, why must you be the one to go?"

Upon Ye Luo’s remark, everyone’s gaze was drawn to him.

One of the Nalan Family Elders disdainfully said to Ye Luo, "I have to say, worshiper, you’re unaware of the situation, so we don’t blame you. Tai’an Manor is countless times stronger than our Nalan Family. Since they’ve made it a condition that Miss must go there, do we even dare to refuse? Tai’an Manor has the goods; if we don’t buy, naturally, many other families are ready to make a purchase. If the Miss doesn’t go, I fear there will be no deal to discuss!"

Clearly, this was an Elder who supported Nalan Rou’s personal visit.

Ye Luo was not angered by the Elder’s defiance. Instead, he asked, "Since you’ve said it yourself, they have goods to sell and will sell to anyone, then how can you be so sure that if the young lady doesn’t go there, they won’t sell to us?"

"Right, that’s the very point. If Tai’an Manor is willing to sell to anyone, then isn’t there a chance even if the young lady doesn’t go? Besides, is Tai’an Manor the only one with goods? If worst comes to worst, we can simply switch to another supplier. We have money; surely, we won’t have trouble buying what we need?"

Another person spoke up loudly, echoing Ye Luo’s statement.

Unfortunately, Ye Luo did not take the compliment.

"No, going to Tai’an Manor to purchase goods might be our only choice right now. Firstly, as you’ve all mentioned, Tai’an Manor is the closest, and our family no longer has any stock. Therefore, it would be best to buy the materials and get them back as soon as possible. Otherwise, the longer we delay, the more likely things will change."

Nalan Rou frowned slightly. Ye Luo was implying something with his words!

"Ye Luo, speak your mind directly," she said.

"Fine, I’ll speak frankly. Miss, since we must go and purchase and it’s not safe for you to go, why don’t we put together a merchant caravan to go instead, bring some gifts, and give them first before talking business?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Ye Luo’s proposal set off a buzz of discussion in the hall since many people could not see the rationale behind it.

But in reality, Ye Luo was just employing the simplest strategy of relational marketing.

Tai’an Manor had no prior cooperation with the Nalan Family, which is why they wanted Nalan Rou to go personally; to put it bluntly, they wanted to test the Nalan Family’s sincerity!

Of course, this assumes that Tai’an Manor genuinely intends to do business with the Nalan Family and is not plotting something else.

However, Ye Luo was quite certain that Tai’an Manor had no ill intent.

The reason is simple; even in Nan Zhou City, the Nalan Family is not considered a major clan. If Tai’an Manor were to act against the Nalan Family, they would gain little benefit, given that Tai’an Manor merely sells materials and doesn’t own a production factory.

Therefore, it isn’t necessary for Tai’an Manor to engage in deceit just to have Nalan Rou come over; it’s likely all for the sake of sincerity.

Those who might want to act against the Nalan Family could be the local powerhouses in Nan Zhou City, or even members of the Nalan Family itself!

But as long as Nalan Rou does not go out, their sinister plots would likely fail to materialize!

After all, the City Lord’s Mansion is not there for show!

Nalan Rou thought carefully, looking at Ye Luo and then at the council of Nalan Family Elders filling the hall. Still, she chose to trust Ye Luo, for a very simple reason: Ye Luo, being new to the Nalan Family, could not possibly have formed cliques, while the other Elders, each one of them, would first consider their personal interests before the family’s.

In this regard, perhaps Ye Luo was the most selfless.

As for the suspicion that Ye Luo might act against the Nalan Family?

Nalan Rou was even less likely to doubt him, because Ye Luo had saved her life!

"Alright, since that’s the case, I’ll leave this matter to you to handle. Uncle Chen, you coordinate with Ye Luo!"

With that, Nalan Rou turned and left without giving the Elders any opportunity to speak!

For Nalan Rou, who was well aware of the various machinations of the council of Elders, choosing Ye Luo was not only out of trust but also because of Ye Luo’s prior performance in stone-gambling. In her heart, she had already recognized Ye Luo’s extensive knowledge in stones!