Xiao Yufan’s boldness didn’t provoke any displeasure from Bai Xiaozhuo, because he knew this man truly possessed an untamable strength…
“But there’s one thing you might not know—this inspection team wasn’t arranged by our Bai family. Even if the Bai family wanted to target the Qiao family, we wouldn’t stoop to such despicable methods!”
“The Bai family is the most likely suspect against the Qiao family—who else could it be…”
Clearly, Xiao Yufan had also pinned the inspection team incident on the Bai family. However, he believed Bai Xiaozhuo wouldn’t lie—he suspected there might be another hidden truth behind this matter.
“On this turf in the North, there are no shortage of people who’d love to target Young Master Xiao. And anyone with half a brain could discover how close the Qiao family has been to you. Naturally, the Qiao family has become a thorn in many people’s sides…”
Bai Xiaozhuo felt extremely frustrated, annoyed that his family had been used like this. What bothered him most was that Elder Su had been pressuring the Bai family for quite some time, causing them immense hardship.
“I only want to know who’s really pulling the strings. As for everything else, I neither care nor want to involve myself…”
Xiao Yufan understood this point Bai Xiaozhuo made very well. Setting aside the fact that Situ Wenchang would never allow him free rein in the North, the threat that Huihuang Enterprises posed to certain people alone was enough to provoke attacks against him.
“It should be Gao Hong, one of the Northern Three Young Commanders, who’s making the move. After all, the Gao family’s political influence far surpasses ours…”
“Why should I believe you? Compared to the Gao family, I still think the grudge between the Bai family and me runs deeper. Aren’t you always trying to redeem your reputation—how do I know you’re not just trying to stir up trouble between me and the Northern Three Young Commanders?”
Before Bai Xiaozhuo could finish speaking, Xiao Yufan had already taken over the conversation. Although he didn’t fully believe Bai Xiaozhuo, he believed most of what he said. From his understanding of Bai Xiaozhuo, this man, at least, wasn’t particularly deceitful.
“This isn’t really me stirring things up. The relationship between the Northern Three Young Commanders and Young Master Xiao doesn’t seem particularly harmonious either…”
“What do you mean?”
“When Huihuang Enterprises expanded into the North, the Northern Three Young Commanders openly declared they’d make sure Huihuang couldn’t take a single smooth step in the region. And I know that Situ Wenchang, one of the Northern Three Young Commanders, has an even deeper feud with you, Young Master Xiao!”
Bai Xiaozhuo said with a smile. How could he not understand Xiao Yufan well enough? He was a smart man who knew exactly how to increase his own leverage…
Xiao Yufan’s flamboyance didn’t provoke any resentment in Bai Xiaozhuo, as he knew this man had the capability to be unruly…
“But there’s one thing you might not be aware of. The inspection team incident wasn’t orchestrated by our Bai family. Even if the Bai family wanted to move against the Qiao family, we wouldn’t resort to such underhanded tactics!”
“The Bai family is the most likely to act against the Qiao family. Who else could it be besides the Bai family…”
Clearly, Xiao Yufan also attributed the inspection team incident to the Bai family, but he believed Bai Xiaozhuo wouldn’t lie. There might be more to this story.
“In the northern territory, there are probably quite a few who want to act against Young Master Xiao. Those with ulterior motives could easily find out that the Qiao family is close to you, so naturally, the Qiao family has become a thorn in many people’s side…”
Bai Xiaozhuo was seething inside. The thought of the Bai family being used like this was extremely frustrating. What’s more, Elder Su had been putting pressure on the Bai family for a long time, making their situation unbearable.
“I just want to know who’s behind all this. As for other matters, I don’t care and don’t want to get involved…”
Xiao Yufan was well aware of what Bai Xiaozhuo was saying. Not to mention that Situ Wenchang would never allow him to act recklessly in the north, the mere threat posed by the Glorious Enterprise to some people was enough to make them want to move against him.
“It’s probably Gao Hong, one of the three young marshals of the north, because the Gao family’s political influence far surpasses that of the Bai family…”
“Why should I believe you? Compared to the Gao family, I think the Bai family has deeper grievances with me. Aren’t you always trying to save face? Who knows if you’re deliberately trying to sow discord between me and the three young marshals of the north!”
Before Bai Xiaozhuo could finish, Xiao Yufan had already taken over the conversation. Although he didn’t fully trust Bai Xiaozhuo’s words, he believed most of it. Based on his understanding of Young Master Bai, this man wasn’t exactly a scheming individual.
“This shouldn’t be me sowing discord, right? The relationship between the three young marshals of the north and Young Master Xiao doesn’t seem to be very harmonious…”
“How so?”
“When Glorious Enterprise entered the north, the three young marshals once declared that they would make it impossible for Glorious to move forward in the north. Moreover, I know that Situ Wenchang, one of the three young marshals, has an even deeper grudge against Young Master Xiao!”
Bai Xiaozhuo said with a smile. He knew Xiao Yufan well enough. He was a smart man and knew how to increase his bargaining chips…
“You’re very clever, but do you really think I can be used by you? What you’re aiming for isn’t just the title of Young Master Bai, is it? Shouldn’t there be a place for you among the three young marshals of the north? Can I assume that?”
It had to be admitted that Bai Xiaozhuo was very smart. Knowing that he and the three young marshals of the north could never coexist peacefully, he thought of making an enemy’s enemy his friend…
“This isn’t about using, it’s about cooperation. I believe Young Master Xiao could also find the Bai family useful!”
Bai Xiaozhuo was no stranger to Xiao Yufan’s bluntness. This man was different from what he had imagined, but he believed Xiao Yufan would make the right choice. The Bai family’s strength was undeniable, and for Xiao Yufan, the Bai family could be a valuable ally.
“If we’re talking about cooperation, what kind of sincerity does Young Master Bai have to offer…”
Xiao Yufan was indeed swayed. Although he was confident, he wasn’t arrogant. To deal with the three young marshals of the north, his own strength alone was far from enough. With the Bai family on his side, the situation would improve significantly!
“The Bai family will no longer take any action against the Qiao Group, and we can even cede the Bai family’s assets in the areas where the Qiao Group operates…”
The first part of the statement didn’t faze Xiao Yufan, as he knew Bai Xiaozhuo wouldn’t dare to move against the Qiao Group again if he had any sense. But the offer to cede Bai family assets did surprise him.
Especially Qiao Chuxi, who heard this, felt an unreal sensation. The Bai family’s assets were dozens of times larger than those of the Qiao Group. In the areas where the Qiao Group operated, there were always Bai family assets. If all these were merged into the Qiao Group, it would be a tremendous fortune!
“It seems the Bai family is quite generous. I don’t see any reason to refuse such cooperation…”
After the initial surprise, Xiao Yufan could only shake his head helplessly. With such an enticing offer on the table, even if he didn’t want to agree, he had to. Moreover, he believed Bai Xiaozhuo must have something to ask for.
“You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. Besides, these assets are nothing to the Bai family…”
Bai Xiaozhuo also felt a pang of pain, but he pretended not to care. Even if the Bai family was wealthy, they couldn’t afford to squander resources like this. If it weren’t for the fact that ordinary conditions wouldn’t catch Xiao Yufan’s eye, he wouldn’t have done something so foolish.
“True, true. The Bai family is a major clan in the north. Losing some assets is no big deal…”
Xiao Yufan casually agreed, watching the twitch at the corner of Bai Xiaozhuo’s mouth. He found it quite amusing. This guy didn’t seem to be as scheming as he thought. Cooperating with him might just work.
“Since the Bai family has shown such sincerity, Young Master Xiao, could you perhaps ask Elder Su to ease up on the Bai family? After all, the inspection team incident wasn’t our doing…”
Having laid the groundwork, Bai Xiaozhuo finally got to the main point. The thought of Elder Su’s presence gave him a headache. Wasn’t Elder Su just being overly protective?
“Uh… I have no idea what my grandfather has done!”
Hearing Bai Xiaozhuo mention his grandfather, Xiao Yufan was also puzzled. He hadn’t told him about these matters. It seemed Bai Xiaozhuo’s visit was out of desperation. The Su family’s influence far exceeded that of the Bai family.
“Elder Su hasn’t done anything directly, but over the years, his disciples are spread all over the country. A single word from him, and my Bai family suffers!”
Seeing Xiao Yufan’s gloating expression, Bai Xiaozhuo was furious. Whether it was Elder Situ or Elder Su, both were very attentive to this guy. It was only natural for them to do something behind the scenes.
“I’ll bring up the inspection team incident with my grandfather. He’s very discerning and naturally wouldn’t wrong innocent people…”
Bai Xiaozhuo was sincere, and Xiao Yufan knew what to do. His grandfather held immense prestige. A single word from him could put the Bai family in a difficult position, but now that he was cooperating with the Bai family, he couldn’t continue to suppress them.
“Very discerning, huh?”
Bai Xiaozhuo curled his lips and muttered softly, clearly displeased. Elder Su probably didn’t even investigate before blaming the Bai family. Otherwise, why would the Bai family be in such a mess…
He had to admit, Bai Xiaozhuo was extremely clever. Knowing that he and the Northern Three Young Commanders could never coexist peacefully, he wanted to turn the enemy of his enemy into a friend…
“This isn’t being used—it’s merely cooperation. I’m sure Young Master Xiao must also have situations where the Bai family’s help would be useful!
Bai Xiaozhuo was already accustomed to Xiao Yufan’s bluntness. This man was different from what he’d imagined, but he believed Xiao Yufan could make the wisest decision. The Bai family’s strength was unquestionable and could serve as a significant asset to Xiao Yufan.
Xiao Yufan’s flamboyance didn’t provoke any resentment in Bai Xiaozhuo, as he knew this man possessed the unruly strength to back it up…
“But there’s one thing you might not be aware of. The incident with the inspection team wasn’t orchestrated by our Bai family. Even if the Bai family wanted to move against the Qiao family, we wouldn’t resort to such underhanded tactics!”
“The Bai family is the most likely to act against the Qiao family. Who else could it be besides us…”
Clearly, Xiao Yufan also attributed the inspection team incident to the Bai family. However, he believed Bai Xiaozhuo wouldn’t lie, suggesting there might be more to the story.
“In the northern territory, there are likely many who want to move against Young Master Xiao. Those with ulterior motives could easily find out that the Qiao family is closely associated with you, making them a natural target for many…”
Bai Xiaozhuo was seething inside. The thought of the Bai family being manipulated in such a way was infuriating. What’s more, Elder Su had been putting immense pressure on the Bai family, making their situation unbearable for quite some time.
“I just want to know who’s behind all this. As for the rest, it’s none of my concern, nor do I wish to involve myself…”
Xiao Yufan was well aware of Bai Xiaozhuo’s point. Not only would Situ Wenchang never allow him to act recklessly in the north, but the mere threat posed by his enterprise, Glory, was enough to make some people want to take action against him.
“It’s probably Gao Hong, one of the three young masters of the north, who’s behind this. The Gao family’s political influence far surpasses that of the Bai family…”
“Why should I believe you? Compared to the Gao family, I think the Bai family has a deeper grudge against me. Aren’t you always trying to save face? Who knows if you’re deliberately trying to sow discord between me and the three young masters of the north!”
Before Bai Xiaozhuo could finish, Xiao Yufan interjected. While he didn’t fully trust Bai Xiaozhuo’s words, he believed most of it. Based on his understanding of Young Master Bai, this man wasn’t exactly a schemer.
“This isn’t me trying to sow discord. The relationship between the three young masters of the north and Young Master Xiao doesn’t seem all that harmonious, does it?”
“How so?”
“When Glory made its move into the north, the three young masters once declared they would make it impossible for Glory to gain a foothold here. Moreover, I know that Situ Wenchang, one of the three young masters, has an even deeper grudge against Young Master Xiao!”
Bai Xiaozhuo smiled. He knew Xiao Yufan well enough. He was a smart man, aware of how to increase his leverage…
“You’re clever, but do you really think I’d let you use me? You’re probably not just after the title of Young Master Bai, are you? I assume you want a place among the three young masters of the north, right?”
Bai Xiaozhuo had to admit, he was very smart. Knowing that he and the three young masters of the north could never coexist peacefully, he sought to turn enemies into allies…
“This isn’t about using you; it’s about cooperation. I believe Young Master Xiao could also benefit from the Bai family’s support.”
Bai Xiaozhuo was unfazed by Xiao Yufan’s bluntness. This man was different from what he had imagined, but he believed Xiao Yufan would make the right choice. The Bai family’s strength was undeniable, and for Xiao Yufan, they could be a valuable ally.
“If we’re to cooperate, what kind of sincerity can Young Master Bai offer…”
Xiao Yufan was indeed swayed. While confident, he wasn’t arrogant. To deal with the three young masters of the north, his own strength alone wouldn’t be enough. With the Bai family’s support, the situation would improve significantly!
“The Bai family will no longer take any action against the Qiao Group, and we’re willing to cede our assets in the areas where the Qiao Group operates…”
The first part of the statement didn’t faze Xiao Yufan, as Bai Xiaozhuo, if self-aware, wouldn’t dare move against the Qiao Group again. However, the offer to cede Bai family assets did surprise him.
Especially Qiao Chuxi, who overheard this, felt an unreal sensation. The Bai family’s assets were dozens of times larger than those of the Qiao Group. In areas where the Qiao Group operated, the Bai family’s presence was significant. If all these were merged into the Qiao Group, it would be an immense fortune!
“It seems the Bai family is quite generous. I don’t see any reason to refuse such cooperation…”
After the initial surprise, Xiao Yufan could only shake his head in resignation. With such an enticing offer on the table, he had no choice but to agree. Moreover, he believed Bai Xiaozhuo must have something to ask of him.
“You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child. Besides, these assets mean little to the Bai family…”
Bai Xiaozhuo was also feeling the pinch but tried to appear indifferent. Even if the Bai family was wealthy, they couldn’t afford to be so extravagant. If it weren’t for the fact that Xiao Yufan wouldn’t settle for anything less, he wouldn’t have made such a move.
“Indeed, indeed. The Bai family is a prominent clan in the north. Losing a few assets here and there is nothing…”
Xiao Yufan chimed in, amused by the twitch at the corner of Bai Xiaozhuo’s mouth. This guy didn’t seem as cunning as he thought. Cooperating with him might just work.
“Since the Bai family has shown such sincerity, Young Master Xiao, could you perhaps ask Elder Su to ease up on the Bai family? After all, the inspection team incident wasn’t our doing…”
Having laid the groundwork, Bai Xiaozhuo finally got to the main point. The thought of Elder Su’s presence gave him a headache. Elder Su was clearly playing favorites!
“Uh… I have no idea what my grandfather has been up to!”
Hearing Bai Xiaozhuo mention his grandfather, Xiao Yufan was puzzled. He hadn’t informed him about these matters. It seemed Bai Xiaozhuo’s visit was out of desperation. The Su family’s influence far exceeded that of the Bai family.
“Elder Su hasn’t directly done anything, but over the years, his disciples have spread across the nation. A single word from him puts immense pressure on my family!”
Seeing Xiao Yufan’s gleeful expression, Bai Xiaozhuo was furious. Whether it was Elder Situ or Elder Su, both had a soft spot for this guy. It was only natural for them to act behind the scenes.
“I’ll bring up the inspection team matter with my grandfather. He’s fair and just; he wouldn’t wrong an innocent party…”
Bai Xiaozhuo’s sincerity was evident, and Xiao Yufan knew what to do. His grandfather held immense prestige. A single word from him could plunge the Bai family into a stalemate. But now that he was cooperating with the Bai family, further suppression was out of the question.
“Fair and just, huh?”
Bai Xiaozhuo smirked, muttering under his breath, clearly displeased. Elder Su probably didn’t even investigate before blaming the Bai family. Otherwise, why would the Bai family be in such a mess…
Xiao Yufan was indeed moved. Although confident, he wasn’t arrogant—he knew that alone, he wouldn’t be able to deal with the Northern Three Young Commanders. Adding the Bai family into the equation would significantly improve his situation.
“The Bai family will no longer take any action against Qiao Group, and we can even vacate our businesses located in Qiao Group’s operational areas…”
Hearing the first half of this, Xiao Yufan felt nothing special. If Bai Xiaozhuo had any self-awareness, he naturally wouldn’t dare target Qiao Group again. However, the offer to vacate Bai family businesses surprised him.
Especially Qiao Chuxi, who upon hearing this, felt an overwhelming sense of unreality. The Bai family’s business empire was dozens of times larger than Qiao Group’s. Wherever Qiao Group operated, Bai family businesses had a presence. If all these were to be transferred to Qiao Group, it would constitute an enormous fortune.
“It seems the Bai family is quite generous. I don’t see any reason to refuse such cooperation…”
After his initial surprise, Xiao Yufan could only shake his head helplessly. With such an enticing offer, even if he didn’t want to agree, he’d have to. Moreover, he believed Bai Xiaozhuo must have some request in return.
“You can’t catch wolves without sacrificing lambs. Besides, these businesses aren’t that significant to the Bai family…”
Bai Xiaozhuo felt some pain letting go but pretended to be indifferent. Even though the Bai family was wealthy, they couldn’t afford to be so wasteful unless the conditions were exceptional enough for Xiao Yufan to even consider them. Otherwise, he wouldn’t do something so foolish.
“Indeed, indeed. The Bai family is a major clan in the North. Losing a few businesses here and there means nothing…”
Xiao Yufan nodded along, amused by Bai Xiaozhuo’s twitching lips. This guy didn’t seem particularly scheming after all. It seemed feasible to cooperate with him.
“Since the Bai family has shown such sincerity, could Young Master Xiao possibly convince Elder Su to leave the Bai family alone? After all, the inspection team incident wasn’t our doing…”
With the groundwork laid, Bai Xiaozhuo finally got to the main point. Thinking about Elder Su’s presence, he felt an indescribable irritation—wasn’t this classic favoritism?
“Uh… I have absolutely no idea what my grandfather has been up to!”
When Bai Xiaozhuo mentioned his grandfather, Xiao Yufan also looked puzzled. He hadn’t informed Bai Xiaozhuo about these matters. So Bai Xiaozhuo had come here out of desperation? After all, the Su family’s power also far exceeded that of the Bai family.
“Elder Su hasn’t acted directly, but over these many years, his disciples have spread throughout the country. One word from him, and my Bai family suffers greatly!”
Seeing Xiao Yufan’s amused expression, Bai Xiaozhuo couldn’t help but feel angry. Whether it was Elder Situ or Elder Su, both had been extremely protective of this guy. It was only natural they’d do something behind the scenes.
“I’ll mention the inspection team matter to my grandfather. His wisdom will ensure he won’t wrongly accuse the innocent…”
Since Bai Xiaozhuo had been sincere, Xiao Yufan naturally knew what to do. His grandfather’s prestige was immense—his words alone could paralyze the Bai family. But now that they were cooperating, he naturally couldn’t continue suppressing them.
“His wisdom, you say?”
Bai Xiaozhuo sneered slightly, muttering under his breath with extreme displeasure. Elder Su probably hadn’t even investigated, immediately blaming the Bai family. Otherwise, how could the Bai family have been so humiliated?
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