Chapter 174: Chapter 116: Water Bandits 2

Priority supply rights for the Naxi City fish market meant the Wu Family’s Treasure Fish could enter one of the mid-tier markets at an optimal price. The potential profits were incalculable.

Unlike before, when they could only sell to other fish merchants at the lowest prices.

Wu Manqing suppressed her excitement and bowed deeply. “Thank you, Young Master! Thank you, Patriarch Zheng!”

However, while some rejoiced, others despaired.

The moment Zheng Hui finished speaking, the expressions of several representatives from smaller families, comparable in strength to the Wu Family, instantly soured.

The Wu Family’s gain was naturally squeezed from their own shares.

They looked at Wu Manqing with incredibly complicated expressions.

Gu Ruo Hua was also quite surprised, not having expected the Wu Family to receive such generous treatment.

Li Wan, however, gave Chen Qing a deep look, and a realization dawned on her: ’It’s not Wu Manqing that Zheng Hui values, but the man behind her—Chen Qing!’

The Wu Family was just a clan that had moved from a small city… At this thought, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy toward Wu Manqing.

Top-tier geniuses like the Five Heroes and Seven Talents were existences that families like hers could never hope to attract.

But a young elite of the next tier, like Chen Qing, was a much more realistic target to win over.

Li Wan secretly made up her mind. When she returned, she would also focus on finding similar talent.

The distribution of profits at this year-end gathering continued in this delicate atmosphere.

Watching this, Chen Qing couldn’t help but think to himself, ’In this world, strength and background will always be the strongest bargaining chips when it’s time to divvy up the rewards.’

Once the main profits and resources had been mostly distributed, the conversation shifted to the difficulties faced by the various Noble Families. It was then that the undercurrents hidden beneath the harmonious surface finally began to stir.

The patriarch of a Noble Family involved in large-scale water transport sighed, his face etched with worry. “…Sigh, business is getting harder and harder. The waterways are obstructed, costs are soaring, and our profits have been squeezed until there’s almost nothing left!”

His words immediately struck a chord with the others.

“Isn’t that the truth! My batch of medicinal herbs bound for Lin Mansion was intercepted outside Qianchuan Marsh by men from Nine Waves Island. They demanded thirty percent as a ’toll’! That’s worse than any tax!”

“Thirty percent? Old Li, you got off easy! They demanded fifty percent for my cargo! When I refused, they seized the men and the goods! In the end, I had to pull some strings and pay a hefty price just to get them back!” another man chimed in resentfully.

“Exactly! Those of us who work the waterways are barely surviving! Patriarch Zheng, you are a man of high prestige. Shouldn’t the merchant association do something about this?”

The murmurs grew louder, and the voices of complaint swelled.

The smile on Zheng Yuankui’s face faded, and his brow furrowed slightly. “Everyone, everyone! Please, calm down! The matter of Nine Waves Island is indeed a cancer on our Yunlin Trade Route. The merchant association is actively mediating and seeking a solution…”

“A solution?”

A cold sneer cut through Zheng Yuankui’s words. The voice wasn’t loud, but it was exceptionally jarring.

“Easy for you to say! Why is it that the Zheng Family’s business is almost completely unaffected? Don’t you find that strange?”

A hush fell over the hall as everyone turned, searching for the source of the voice.

Was the speaker a madman!?

To make such accusations against the Zheng Family on their own territory!?

“I heard the Zheng Family’s business really hasn’t been affected.”

“Could it be that…”

Irrepressible whispers broke out among the crowd.

The Zheng Family’s Steward, Zheng Tong, his face as dark as iron, roared, “Who was that?! Get out here!”

“If you’ve done it, why are you afraid of people talking about it?”

At that moment, a man in his thirties stood up and sneered.

This was the representative from the Bai Family of the west city. He was the one who had first spoken out.

Zheng Tong said coldly, “You insolent whelp! What are you scheming?!”

“What am I scheming?”

The Bai Family representative had thrown caution to the wind. He gritted his teeth and said, “Your Zheng Family is colluding with the Nine Waves Island Water Bandits, and you ask me what I’m scheming!?”

WHOOSH—!

The entire hall instantly erupted in an uproar!

The Zheng Family colluding with Nine Waves Island!?

Could it be true!?

“Utter nonsense! This man has malicious intent, daring to slander my Zheng Family here!”

Zheng Tong flew into a rage. His figure blurred, and in an instant, he appeared before the man, his speed astonishing!

Killing intent flashed in his eyes. Giving the man no chance to speak again, his right fist, infused with tyrannical True Qi, smashed directly toward the man’s head without any flourish!

“Stop!”

Liu Han’s expression changed, and he shouted sharply.

But it was too late!

BANG—!

With a sickening thud, like a ripe watermelon being smashed by a sledgehammer!

Red and white matter splattered everywhere!

Under the force of Zheng Tong’s savage Fist Force, the Bai Family representative’s head exploded like it was made of paper-mâché!

The headless body swayed, then slumped to the ground as blood rapidly stained the polished floor.

“AHH—!”

Several young ladies from the Noble Families who were standing nearby turned pale with fright, screaming and stumbling backward.

Many others also turned deathly pale, their stomachs churning. They hadn’t expected Zheng Tong to be so ruthless, resorting to such a brutal public execution over a single disagreement!

Zheng Tong retracted his fist without a glance at the corpse on the floor. He cupped his fist to the somewhat panicked crowd, his voice icy. “This cur was spouting nonsense and slandering my Zheng Family’s reputation. His death was well-deserved! I ask you all not to listen to such absurd words and let them spoil the mood of this gathering! Someone, clean this up!”

A few imposing Zheng Family guards quickly came forward and began efficiently cleaning the scene.

The smell of blood mixed with the aroma of food and wine, filling the hall with a bizarre stench.

Zheng Yuankui’s expression had also become ugly. He said in a deep voice, “My Zheng Family has stood in Yunlin for a hundred years, built on honest business and the hard work of generations! Colluding with Water Bandits? How could my Zheng Family ever do something so utterly depraved that would destroy our own foundation? It’s the most ridiculous joke in the world! I ask you all to see the truth clearly!”

However, the moment he finished speaking, another sudden change occurred!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep