Chapter 48

Ye Yu finally realized that Pan Chengfeng was deliberately mocking him tonight.

He had not expected that despite his repeated tolerance, the other party would not show any gratitude, and even deliberately expose his sore spot in public.

Although he had come to terms with his disability, such unrelenting ridicule was truly unbearable.

So, he drank the wine in his cup and said with a cold smile, "What Second Master Pan said is not without reason, but you are only half right!"

"Really? How so?" Pan Chengfeng raised an eyebrow and asked with a cold smile.

In response to Pan Chengfeng's questioning, Ye Yu did not rush to answer. Instead, he looked around at the Pan family's young disciples and then said with a smile, "With this crippled body, I can make my opponents retreat one after another, leaving them powerless. No despicable tricks can harm me at all! May I ask, Second Master Pan, isn't this disabled person much stronger than those with all limbs intact but with wooden brains?"

"Uh!..."

Pan Chengfeng was so angry at Ye Yu's words that he couldn't speak. The faces of the Pan family members also changed. How could they not understand the implications of Ye Yu's words? Even the usually calm Old Master Pan Yue's eyes twitched slightly.

Since you started it, I'll finish it. Since you caused trouble at this festive banquet, I, Ye Yu, am not a clay figure to be kneaded at will.

Seeing that the situation was not yet intense enough, he added fuel to the fire: "Furthermore, no matter how inadequate I am, I can still carry on the Ye family's lineage. But some people, despite being over forty, still have no children! Second Master Pan, do you think such people are pitiful?"

"Ye Yu, you!... You..."

Pan Chengfeng was furious at Ye Yu's counterattack but had to suppress his anger and not argue. However, Ye Yu's next words made him feel as if his tail had been stepped on, causing him to lose control.

Seeing Pan Chengfeng's face turn red as if he had taken aphrodisiacs, Ye Yu shook his head and ignored him. He thought to himself, "This is your fault, don't blame me for exposing your secrets."

In fact, the fact that Pan Chengfeng had no children was already known to everyone in Qingliu County. Over the years, Pan Chengfeng had not been able to have a son, which had become a sore spot for him.

Everyone knew that Pan Chengfeng was sensitive about this matter, so few people mentioned it to his face. Now, Ye Yu had brought it up indirectly, which naturally made him lose control.

"Chengfeng, that's enough! Today is a joyous occasion, and you must not cause trouble!" Old Master Pan Yue, who had been silent, moved his lips and then sternly scolded the angry Pan Chengfeng.

Pan Chengfeng sat down in a huff, still angry, and glared at Ye Yu but said nothing more. He felt that it was beneath his dignity to lose his temper over a young man.

Pan Chengfeng had originally planned to cooperate with Ye Yu in private, wanting to use his strength to push his elder brother off the throne. The incident at Hama Pond was a good opportunity.

He had intended to use the filling of Hama Pond to get the dyeing formula from Ye Yu. This way, he would get the formula he wanted, and Ye Yu could build a dyeing workshop to compete with his elder brother, Pan Chengjun.

However, he did not expect that Ye Yu would mobilize the entire city's residents to fill Hama Pond, which completely foiled his plan to achieve two goals with one action.

It was precisely because of this incident that the narrow-minded Pan Chengfeng truly began to hate Ye Yu. This hatred led to the incident at Yushan Mountain.

Tonight, taking advantage of Ye Yu's participation in the banquet, he deliberately mocked and made things difficult for him.

What, just like this? Since the fire has been ignited, Ye Yu had no intention of putting it out. He bowed to Old Master Pan Yue and said respectfully, "Tonight, at this joyous banquet, I have a question and hope that the old master can enlighten me!"

Ye Yu's initiative to ask a question made Liu Yuanshan's face light up with joy, eagerly waiting for the next words. Old Master Pan Yue, however, frowned and said solemnly, "I dare not accept such praise, but feel free to speak, Mr. Ye!"

"What is the standard for doing business?"

"This..." Old Master Pan Yue did not expect Ye Yu to ask such a profound question, but after a moment's thought, he said solemnly, "I believe that integrity and benevolence are the standards for doing business!"

Ye Yu clapped his hands in admiration, "Good! Good! The old master's four words capture the essence! Then, may I ask, if a businessman is not honest, how can he be a businessman?"

"If that is the case, he should be judged as a swindler and despised by his peers!" Old Master Pan Yue's expression became serious as he said this.

"The Records of the Grand Historian states, 'Deep waters nurture fish, deep mountains attract beasts, and wealth attracts benevolence and righteousness.' If the old master wants to protect this hard-earned family business, should he not adhere to these four words even more?"

"Exactly!"

"Good!..."

As he said the word "good," Ye Yu's voice suddenly rose, and he said solemnly, "I believe the old master has heard about the Huai River flood. Although our Qingliu County has not been affected, the price of grain has risen by thirty coins! May I ask, Old Master Pan, how do you explain this? Such profiteering seems to contradict what you said earlier!"

"Is this true?"

Old Master Pan Yue stood up abruptly at these words, first staring intently at Ye Yu, then turning his wide eyes to Pan Chengfeng, "Chengfeng, speak!"

"Father... Due to the flood on both sides of the Huai River, the autumn harvest has decreased, making grain scarce, so the price has risen..." Pan Chengfeng's face, which had just turned pale, turned red again as he tried to explain.

Liu Yuanshan, who had been silent for a long time, now joined in, feigning confusion, "According to my knowledge, the price of grain sold by the Pan family to other places has only risen to 140 coins, but the price to the counties along the Huai River is 160 coins!

I don't understand business, Old Master Pan, but logically, selling grain nearby should be cheaper due to lower transportation costs. Why is it higher instead?"

The double act of Ye Yu and Liu Yuanshan had already made Old Master Pan Yue, who was usually calm, turn pale. He pounded his pear wood cane and glared at Pan Chengfeng, "Is this true?"

"Father... This..."

"You scoundrel! Who gave you the nerve!?"

Old Master Pan Yue was so angry that he trembled all over, picked up his pear wood cane, and tried to hit Pan Chengfeng. Fortunately, he was stopped by Pan Chengjun, who comforted his father, "Father! Second Brother was momentarily confused, please calm down!"

"Hmph! I, Pan Yue, have built a reputation over many years, and today you, my ungrateful son, have ruined it!" Old Master Pan Yue continued to scold Pan Chengfeng, and only gradually calmed down after everyone's persuasion.

Once he had calmed down, Old Master Pan Yue bowed to Liu Yuanshan in shame, "If it weren't for your reminder today, I would have been in the dark! Although I am not a paragon of benevolence, I would never do such a thing! I will send people to notify all the Pan family grain shops to lower the price to 100 coins!"

"Ah! Old Master Pan, isn't this..."

"Sir, there's no need to say more. Since the Pan family has made 30 coins more than it should, I will lower the price by 30 coins to make amends. Only then can I be at peace, and I hope you will not dissuade me!"

Ye Yu did not expect Old Master Pan Yue to be so generous. He had heard that Old Master Pan Yue was upright, which was one of the reasons he had been tolerant of the Pan family.

He had originally intended to use this opportunity to expose the matter and force the Pan family to lower the price to 130 coins under public pressure.

Now, Old Master Pan Yue not only lowered the price to 130 coins but also reduced it by another 30 coins, which was something Ye Yu had never expected.

Old Master Pan Yue, leaning on his cane, walked up to Ye Yu and said with a complex expression, "I am ashamed! I am ashamed of the four words 'integrity and benevolence'!"

"Old Master Pan, there's no need for that. Because of my question, this joyous banquet has become so solemn. I am truly at fault! I am a close friend of your grandson, and I did not bring a proper gift today..."

Ye Yu paused, then took out several sheets of paper from his sleeve, "Let this be my gift, to show my sincerity. I hope Old Master Pan will not refuse!"

Old Master Pan Yue took the papers with a puzzled look and opened them. He was stunned on the spot. After reading them all, he looked at Ye Yu in shock, "This is..."

"It's a gift! For thousands of years, merchants have pursued profit, but profit has never diminished! Beyond Qingliu County, there is Chuzhou, and beyond Chuzhou, there is a vast expanse..."

After saying this, Ye Yu bid farewell to everyone, and Liu Yuanshan also left Tianxiang Tower, leaving Old Master Pan Yue standing there, pondering Ye Yu's words.

He then handed the papers to Pan Chengjun and limped out of the living room, muttering to himself, "A frog at the bottom of a well... a frog at the bottom of a well..."

Under the quiet wutong tree, leaves fell with the wind. Ye Yu looked at a pond and said with a smile, "Sir, you were quite enthusiastic today!"

Liu Yuanshan, standing beside him, looked at the moon reflected in the water and said to himself, "If I hadn't pushed the matter, we wouldn't have achieved so much today!"

"It seems I shouldn't have asked you about the grain prices that day! Otherwise, I wouldn't have been used as a pawn today..." Ye Yu said with a bitter smile, feeling annoyed but helpless about being used by Liu Yuanshan.

"When you asked about the grain prices that day, I guessed you would take action. The banquet tonight was your best opportunity!"

Liu Yuanshan turned to look at Ye Yu and asked, "If you can do something good for the people, is it wrong to be a pawn?"

Ye Yu pursed his lips and bowed, "The people's well-being is your concern! Goodbye!"

"By the way! What gift did you give Old Master Pan?" Liu Yuanshan asked urgently as he watched Ye Yu leave in his wheelchair.

"The dyeing formula..."

The fading voice echoed in Liu Yuanshan's ears, making him somewhat surprised. After all, the dyeing formula was the foundation of the dyeing workshop.

But when he saw She Tongcheng pushing Ye Yu's wheelchair, he could only sigh in relief, "This kid always surprises me..."

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