"President Lynette, I implore you to save our Feiyun Commerce Guild. From now on, whatever Master Yide commands, I will obey without hesitation," Xingyun pleaded, his tone filled with desperation.
But Lynette remained unmoved.
Since becoming the vice president of the Furina Foundation, she had experienced too many scenes like this.
She spoke in a calm voice, "President Xingyun, my father clearly instructed you to purchase grain at a normal pace. However, you were blinded by greed and hoarded grain, even seizing a shipment that was meant for Port Fudé. I must say, you are truly cunning."
Xingyun looked embarrassed. Being reprimanded by a girl about the same age as his son was a great humiliation. Nevertheless, he couldn't lose his temper; he could only meekly beg for forgiveness.
"President Lynette, please give the Feiyun Commerce Guild one more chance."
As he spoke, he rose from his chair, his legs trembling as he prepared to kneel.
Lynette frowned slightly, inwardly despising Xingyun's groveling. But she quickly stepped forward to support him, saying softly, "President Xingyun, there is no need for this. The Furina Foundation is willing to extend a helping hand to get the Feiyun Commerce Guild through this crisis. However, we have one condition."
Xingyun responded eagerly, "I will accept any condition."
Lynette slowly extended a finger and pointed to Xingqiu, who was standing beside them. "Our condition is that Xingqiu joins the West Factory."
Xingqiu's eyes widened in disbelief. "Why?" he asked.
Lynette looked at him intently and replied in a serious tone, "Because you are a true genius. Even the current Tianquan, Ningguang, is far from your equal in the future. My father highly values your potential and talent."
Hearing this, complex emotions stirred in Xingyun's heart. He had always favored his elder son, Xingchun, who was keen on business, while paying relatively little attention to Xingqiu's development. He had even imagined Xingqiu's future as nothing more than a wealthy idler. Now, he looked at Xingqiu with eyes full of pleading and expectation.
Feeling his father's gaze, Xingqiu sighed inwardly and said with resignation, "President Lynette, I am willing to join the West Factory, but I must make one thing clear: I will never do anything that violates the code of chivalry and morality."
Lynette chuckled, a hint of mockery in her voice. "Rest assured, although the West Factory's methods may seem ruthless, our actions are more guided by the principles of chivalry than even the Qixing."
Afterward, Lynette, on behalf of the Furina Foundation, took over all the remaining grain from Xingyun at a price of 130 Mora per jin. Although this price was far below Xingyun's cost, it was quite fair compared to the market price. After all, if Xingyun had tried to sell the grain himself, the market price would likely have crashed instantly, possibly falling below 100 Mora per jin.
...
The Jade Chamber.
In the magnificent bedroom, Ningguang and Beidou sat opposite each other, a beautiful chessboard between them covered with black and white pieces. The room was elegantly decorated, with every detail revealing luxury and taste.
At this moment, the minds of the two players were clearly not entirely on the game.
Beidou frowned, slowly placing the black piece she was about to play back into the bowl. "Ningguang, I don't approve of the decisions you've made recently. The sharp rise and fall of grain prices have had a major impact on the daily lives of ordinary people."
Hearing this, Ningguang looked up from the board and stared at Beidou, a trace of disappointment in her eyes. "Beidou, we haven't seen each other for days, and you came all this way just to criticize me?"
Beidou shook her head gently. "No, that's not the only reason I came. I'm more worried about you."
At these words, Ningguang's heart trembled, and a wave of warmth washed over her. The expression on her face softened, and she broke into a radiant smile. "Beidou, you know that what's truly important to me has never been wealth or power, but..."
"Ningguang," Beidou interrupted her in time, "some things are best left unsaid."
Ningguang nodded and didn't press the matter. In this world, some things were indeed better left in silence. Once spoken, they might lose their preciousness and purity, and both of them might lose their final retreat.
Then, Beidou changed the subject. "Ningguang, I sincerely advise you to consider peace talks with the West Factory."
Ningguang raised an eyebrow, a defiant look on her face. "I have the upper hand now. Even if there are to be peace talks, it should be the West Factory coming to me."
Beidou continued to persuade her, "Ningguang, I have a strong feeling that you might lose badly."
"Oh?" Ningguang chuckled with a hint of challenge. "Then I'd like to see for myself just how badly I'll lose."
Seeing Ningguang so resolute, Beidou knew that further words would be useless and chose to remain silent.
Just then, Ningguang's secretary, Baishi, walked in gracefully. She approached Ningguang and reported respectfully, "Lady Ningguang, the price of grain has rebounded again. It has now risen to 160 Mora."
Ningguang frowned slightly. In her calculations, her market manipulation should have driven the price below 150 Mora. The rebound indicated that Xingyun was still resisting.
A contemptuous smile touched her lips as if mocking Xingyun's overestimation of his own abilities. She ordered Baishi in a cold tone, "Lower the price of grain to 120 Mora and sell without limit. I'd like to see how he can possibly continue to raise the price."
Baishi hesitated. "Lady Ningguang, we have already sold a quarter of our grain reserves. If we continue to sell in such large quantities, I'm afraid..."
Ningguang waved her hand. "No need to worry. Xingyun's capital chain will soon break. When that happens, all the grain piled up in the Feiyun Commerce Guild's warehouses will have to be sold at a low price."
Upon receiving the order, Baishi immediately turned and hurried away to carry out Ningguang's instructions.
The next morning, the price of grain in Liyue plummeted once again, falling from the recently stabilized 160 Mora directly to 120 Mora. Furthermore, the supply of this grain seemed endless; no matter how much was bought, it could not be exhausted. The price of grain was fixed at 120 Mora per jin.
Countless merchants who had participated in this grain war were ruined. But many also made a fortune, such as Kaiyang of the Qixing. He was now so wealthy that he went to Liyue's most famous den of pleasure, the Pearl Galley, and booked all the famous beauties for a night of luxury.
However, what no one noticed was that the Furina Foundation was acquiring grain at an even faster rate.