Luo Ling had dinner with Guo Qian. They cooked in a small private room upstairs in the cafeteria. Guo Qian was very happy because his test was successful today. He made an exception and ordered three dishes and a soup: fried tomato and eggs, stir-fried wild boar meat, steamed river fish, and potato and wild vegetable soup. The cafeteria lacked ingredients and seasonings, so these were the best dishes.
"Old Chang has taken good care of our vegetable garden. He promised me that by this time next year, we will be able to make soy sauce and vinegar. Then I can eat the braised pork I have been dreaming of. I didn't eat much meat in the past because of fatty liver and high cholesterol. Now I think it's a waste."
"Uncle, eat more. You've lost a lot of weight since coming here, and you look much more energetic." Luo Ling picked up a piece of the best pork belly and stuffed it into Guo Qian's bowl.
"Hey, what's going on? You must be up to something, girl. Tell me what you want from me today."
"It's nothing big. It's just a small plan that I need your approval for." Luo Ling used her index finger and thumb to make a very short distance.
"A small plan? Last time, your small plan flattened a mountain, destroyed a village, and gave us more than a thousand dwarf refugees. I get scared when I see your small plans."
"Please stop kidding. When you saw the dwarf that day, your mouth was so happy that it was crooked. Well, to make a long story short, I plan to go to the royal capital with the next caravan in a few days, and then stay there for a while to do my work well." Luo Ling said.
Guo Qian was stunned, "Isn't Xiao Chen over there?"
"I received a letter from Xiao Chen. He analyzed the current situation and I think it is necessary to strengthen our forces in the capital."
Luo Ling told Guo Qian some of Xiao Chen's opinions, and then said, "The situation in the capital is too complicated. The royal family, nobles, mages, temples, and all kinds of guys hiding in the shadows are all concentrated there. I can feel that he is overwhelmed."
"Then there's no need for you to go. You just came back from the ruins, and I don't know how dangerous it was. Every time you go on a long journey, my heart is hanging in the air."
"He and I are old friends, and others will need to get used to each other. Besides, the capital is not a remote place."
Guo Qian smiled and said, "Actually, there's no need to be so anxious. I think he has the situation under control. It won't be too late for us to take action after he tells us what he wants."
Luo Ling thought to herself: Can I say that what he wants is for me to go? But she was still too embarrassed to show Guo Qian the letter that had invited her twelve times. "I'm not in a hurry, I just want to better protect our school."
"Whether to protect the school or to protect Xiao Chen, I think this is a problem."
"So do you eat for your stomach or for your body?"
"You clever fellow." Guo Qian shook his head and pointed at Luo Ling with his finger. "Hey, be careful when you go over there."
"Oh, you agree then?"
"I disagree. Your feet are still on your legs. I believe that if we hold a committee meeting, my niece will surely convince all the committee members."
Luo Ling bit her chopsticks and chuckled, "It's good that you know my determination."
"However, you are not the first person to come to me and ask to go to the royal capital." Guo Qian said while eating.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Luo Ling suddenly became serious.
"When the caravan came back yesterday, Lao Chang and Lao Chu had already come to me. They wanted to recommend Liu Pengfei to the business team. Next time, he will go to the capital with the caravan. They said they wanted to quickly build up the capital's trade network."
"These guys, are they so intent on forming cliques and factions?" Luo Ling frowned.
"We support the rotation of key personnel. There is nothing wrong with their approach. Don't make random accusations."
"They've been shoving people everywhere lately, just like puppies marking their spots after drinking enough water. Isn't that obvious?"
Guo Qian laughed and said, "You are too venomous, girl. Is it because you do too much intelligence work that people become more and more conspiracy-minded?"
"Everyone else is almost planning an open conspiracy. Only you are still eating at a leisurely pace!"
"You have to eat well."
Luo Ling curled her lips and said, "Chang Lin and Chu Ying are in the same boat. I heard that they are advocating the liberalization of the private economy and asking the school to give up some industries. Maybe this trip to the capital is also to pave the way for this? After all, most of the business opportunities near Black Mountain are controlled by the school, but the capital is almost a virgin land that has just been developed. If we seize any business opportunities, it may develop all of a sudden."
"So what? You have an opinion?"
"It's not stable yet, uncle! I think we should continue to concentrate on the big things and not spread our energy over the details."
"Don't be so extreme." Guo Qian said as he drank from the bowl of soup. "It's true that Mr. Chang has his own thoughts. You can't expect everyone to be dedicated to the public. I don't think their plans are all for themselves. Maybe they want to be a catfish."
"Given his size, he's a catfish? He's more like a pufferfish." Luo Ling put down her chopsticks and pushed the bowl away. "You want to dance in a house that's not even built yet? Aren't you afraid of shaking it down?"
"Mr. Chang is not so blind to the overall situation. Don't underestimate the other members of the committee. No one is a fool."
"Chang Lin is a typical sophisticated egoist."
"So what?"
"I hate it! It's not because I have a moral obsession, but because sophisticated egoists always like to look into the distance with myopia and can never find the optimal solution to a problem."
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Guo Qian finally finished his meal and said to Luo Ling, who was looking sullen, with a smile: "Oh, it was a very satisfying meal. I agree to all your requests. Now that we've finished complaining, shall we leave?"
"Wait, I only remembered to talk about them and almost forgot about another important matter."
"Anything else?"
Luo Ling took off the two earrings, one white and one black, and put them in her hands. "Let me introduce two new partners to you."
Then, to Guo Qian's astonishment, the two earrings turned into two people.
The girl was wearing a white dress and holding a long sword in her hand, while the boy was wearing a black jacket and dark blue jeans, with a magic wand inserted in his belt.
Luo Ling put her arms around their shoulders and said, "Let me introduce them. They are Milda and Glade. They are not only the canons of the Seven Holy Towers, but also powerful magic swordsmen and magicians. After coming out of the underground ruins, they have been quietly following me to observe our school. Today, they finally made a decision and are ready to become one of us. Dear uncle, you two should get along well from now on!"