Chapter 797: Harsh Words Upfront

Li Zhuang and Huang Lihua took the contract and began to look it over carefully.

The waiter served the food and drinks.

Shui Xingqi remained silent, calmly observing the ethereal woman across from him. He remembered that when she had come to the Shuiyuan Clan, she hadn’t looked like this at all.

’If he hadn’t heard her name at the birthday banquet, he truly wouldn’t have recognized her.’

’So young, yet with such stunning beauty, an extraordinary aura, and outstanding medical skills. You’d be hard-pressed to find another person like her in the world today.’

Ye Qianning sensed his probing gaze. She looked up and smiled faintly. "Young Master Shui, please be patient. I will give you an answer regarding your matter shortly."

"Alright," Shui Xingqi uttered coldly.

Li Zhuang finished reading the entire contract, shocked beyond belief. He slammed his hand on the table. "Deal! This contract is perfect. We can sign it right now."

’Four copper coins a pound to buy the wild fruits that grow all over our mountains... And our Barbarian Clan has a countless supply of them.’

The annual yield—

’Tsk, tsk, it’s exciting just to think about. We’re practically sitting on multiple gold mines!’

"Clan Leader Li, don’t you want to take a closer look?" Ye Qianning asked.

"I’ve understood it all. The only thing is, the contract is for ten years. If I were to add anything... I was wondering, could we possibly make it for twenty years?" Li Zhuang asked tentatively, his eyes wide.

"..."

Ye Qianning and Gu Shuo exchanged a look.

"Ten years is fine, too! That’s fine! I was being presumptuous." Seeming to realize his request might have been excessive, Li Zhuang grew flustered, as if afraid they might now refuse to sign even for ten years.

"Clan Leader Li, it’s not that we won’t sign for twenty years. It’s just... things are always changing. You all saw the people of Nanyuan trashing the port today. For ten years, my father gave so much to Nanyuan, and in the end, they call him black-hearted. It’s truly disheartening," Ye Qianning sighed.

Li Zhuang paused. He thought of the scene at the port. ’Back then, Nanyuan was even worse off than our Barbarian Clan.’

’In just three or four years, their seafood industry took off, and now they’re countless times better off than the Barbarian Clan. When we first heard that Gu Shuo was buying Nanyuan’s seafood, we just figured Nanyuan had struck it rich.’

’Who knew that Nanyuan would get jealous now that he was making a profit? They showed no mercy when they were trashing the port.’

’The Prince of Nanyuan’s attitude was also atrocious. No wonder Boss Gu and Miss Ye are speaking this way.’

"Miss Ye, rest assured, the Barbarian Clan will absolutely not be ungrateful like Nanyuan." Li Zhuang stood up and thumped his chest, guaranteeing, "Our Barbarian Clan is willing to sign for twenty years."

"Clan Leader Li, let me be blunt," Ye Qianning said, her voice growing firm. "Once this contract is signed, I expect no breaches. When it expires, if you wish to continue our partnership, we will negotiate a new price. If not, we can part on good terms. There’s no shame in being direct. Business is about profit, after all. Just... when the time comes, don’t make things as ugly as Nanyuan did."

Li Zhuang mulled over her words and suddenly empathized, realizing just how despicably Nanyuan had acted. "Miss Ye, Boss Gu, we of the Barbarian Clan value integrity! I, Li Zhuang, can swear an oath right here and now: if the Barbarian Clan ever acts like Nanyuan, then let our people...!"

"Clan Leader Li, that’s going too far," Gu Shuo interrupted.

"Boss Gu, if you’re still worried, I can have all the people of my clan co-sign the contract."

"There’s no need. I trust you, Clan Leader," Gu Shuo said. "Business is just as my daughter explained. After ten years, if you wish to continue our partnership, we can renegotiate the terms. If not, we will part on good terms. If you have no further questions, we can sign the contract now. Tomorrow, I will have someone deliver the deposit to you."