In the Twelve Linked Huts, the lights blazed brightly, and in a hall smelling of fish, a table was set.
The twelve leaders of the Linked Huts, along with Yuchi and little Ximo, and then three people from Shouning Town.
Seventeen people in total, gathered around a large table to eat.
On the table were fish meat hacked to pieces, along with various meats, and of course, some peculiar items.
The taste was alright.
"Brother, I’m hungry."
Ning Su cautiously said to her older brother sitting next to her.
She watched little Ximo eating, unable to stop herself from swallowing; many things she had never eaten before.
She looked at little Ximo’s situation, feeling truly envious, wondering when she could have such an uncle.
Thinking of it brought a bit of grievance.
"Hold on, I’ll buy you something delicious after it’s over," Ning Yong said worriedly.
Thinking: Ancestors, honestly, this is not the place to fill your stomach.
Do serious people write diaries?
Do serious dining places have twenty or thirty dishes?
Yuchi was leisurely feeding little Ximo, who sat on a small stool.
You could clearly see the harmonious gaze in this young man’s eyes, including the doting look at the little girl.
No wonder he’s the president of the chamber of commerce, able to stay composed eating even at this moment.
"Calm and fearless..."
"Composed and at ease."
Ning Yong glanced at his father, Ning Fengshan, sitting to his right.
His father kept his head down, drinking tea sip by sip.
It was unclear what he was thinking, but his mood was surely very complex now.
There was no way to know how to start speaking now.
Whether to discuss business matters over the meal or wait until after.
Even as the leader of Shouning Town, he didn’t know Xufu Town’s rules at this moment.
The dinner was full of all sorts of underhanded struggles; what if someone got angry if he handled things poorly?
"Should I stand up and toast him now?"
Ning Fengshan glanced at Yuchi.
Immediately dismissing this idea within himself.
The other party was clearly feeding the little girl; standing up to toast now would be just watching others make a fool of themselves!
The dinner truly was awkward, a group of strangers pulled together due to unfamiliar interests.
Eating felt wrong, not eating also felt wrong.
And then, after the meal, invite this young president for a foot massage?
He wanted to make sure little Ximo ate well.
As for the others from the Twelve Linked Huts, they had already started secretly communicating like crazy with their eyes.
"What’s the situation now, should we just keep calmly eating?"
"I don’t know, why don’t you bring up a topic now?"
"None of my business, Shouning Town matters aren’t under my charge, I have no connection with Shouning Town."
"Isn’t Shouning Town Eleventh’s connection? Since you organized this meal, you should start to mediate the situation."
"I admit it’s my connection, but for now, let’s not talk, just eat quietly."
"You all are really annoying."
"There’s really nobody to step out and say a few words?"
"If you can, you go?"
The gazes of the Twelve Linked Huts fell silent, each eating quietly.
When did these tough guys from the Twelve Linked Huts ever eat so cautiously, they always ate with their hands.
At this time, using chopsticks to slowly pick food, pretending not to see the situation at the scene.
And so, this meal ended in a very painful process.
After the meal, little Ximo drank two sips of clear soup, held her small belly, and fell asleep in her uncle’s arms.
"Not bad, you ate quite a lot this time," Yuchi said contentedly.
Children shouldn’t lack nutrition, or they won’t grow up later.
Then he spoke up, "Does Shouning Town want to obtain the use of at most two ships from the chamber of commerce?"
Ning Fengshan, who was cautiously drinking tea, his heart anxious, immediately came back to his senses.
He stood up, "Yes, Mr. President, our only route is through the Linked Huts’ ships."
He spoke, quite worried.
And in such a very serious matter, there was no special expression on the other party’s kind, handsome face at all.
It was just like a casual chat at home.
Yuchi slowly nodded, relaxed his eyebrows, and his gaze turned to the people of the Twelve Linked Huts.
"Can the Twelve Linked Huts ensure the chamber’s goods won’t be affected?" Yuchi asked.
"We can, rest assured, Mr. President!" they promptly gave a definite response.
Under the candlelight, Yuchi’s complexion was rosy and glowing, and he didn’t put on any airs.
Straightforward and simple, "You can."
Ning Fengshan excitedly asked, "Did the president agree!"
Yuchi had no reason to disagree.
And now he started to realize his status had risen.
Otherwise, at other times, there was no reason for these people to talk to him .
Considering such matters again.
In my view, it’s a small matter, but it actually involves the relationship between the chamber and the Twelve Linked Huts.
So the Twelve Linked Huts couldn’t bypass the chamber and agree directly, or if I found out, it would violate the agreement.
They must get my consent.
Every stage is tightly interconnected.
"Visit the chamber for tea when you have time."
Yuchi stood up smiling, "Of course, if Shouning Town has difficulties, you can come to me."
"If there’s a problem I can help with, of course, I’ll help."
Ning Fengshan nodded gratefully.
The others from the Twelve Linked Huts also stood up.
All let out a sigh of relief.
Looking back at the meal, it was actually very simple; they overcomplicated matters.
As long as the interests of the chamber aren’t harmed, Yuchi has no reason to refuse such things.
The chamber president can’t be the type to boast.
Friends are always better than enemies.
"President, this is a small token from Shouning Town." Ning Fengshan held a box.
Heavy, surely gold and silver.
"No need," Yuchi smiled, "a mere trifle."
He wanted Ning Fengshan to owe him, maybe he could use this connection in the future.
Ning Su secretly watched the situation unfold.
She wasn’t sure what happened, but clearly, she felt the tension at the table suddenly eased!
Was this all controlled by this youth?
And now smiling, he seemed very bright and not daunting.
Ning Su didn’t understand either, obediently sitting in her chair.
The meal ended, and everyone stood at the dock chatting for a while.
Little Ximo slept soundly, and Yuchi was about to return.
It was still early, he could still visit the brothel, wondering if he could find a mother for little Ximo.