"Sorry for keeping you two waiting."
When the tea that had been served but had not been touched once by the two of them had completely cooled down, Lu Li's voice slowly sounded, breaking the silence in the living room.
"finally come."
Before the two of them looked at Lu Li, Tan Long, who had been standing by him, immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't help wiping the sweat from his temples and looked at Lu Li who walked in from outside.
"It's not a long wait."
"I've met Mr. Lu."
Zhang Zhiming and Hou Baye stood up at the same time to greet Lu Li. Although the words they spoke were different, they both expressed the same meaning.
That is deference.
Although the current situation in Yanzhou is far different from what Lu Li originally envisioned, and in a sense, the plan he had promised has failed, this does not seem to have affected the 'cooperative relationship' between the two parties.
"You two don't have to be formal, please take a seat." Lu Li cupped his hands and asked them to take their seats with a smile.
The two heads of the aristocratic families sat down in silence.
Lu Li sat on the main seat and signaled Tan Long, who was about to retreat, to listen here.
Tan Long was slightly startled, but then he showed a look of ecstasy.
Is Mr. Lu acknowledging me? Are you going to take this opportunity to train me
Many thoughts ran through his mind, but Tan Long still controlled the ecstasy on his face very well, walked to Lu Li's side, looked at his nose, nose and heart, pretending that he didn't exist.
Although Zhang Zhiming was a little dissatisfied with Lu Li's request for a guard to observe, he still hid it and took the initiative to say: "Manager Lu, it's been so long. You took the initiative to contact me. You must have made a decision?"
Decide
After hearing this, Mr. Hou Baye glanced at him expressionlessly, with a sneer on his lips.
I'm afraid this Zhang family's 'wolf cub' still doesn't understand what happened, right
Even if Lu Li made a promise to you before, at this point, it is destined to be impossible to fulfill.
Coming to the door to ask for a decision was actually asking Lu Li to take the initiative to make a choice.
"You have found your home after seeking death." Hou Baye shook his head slightly and did not make any comment on Zhang Zhiming's behavior.
Zhang Zhiming didn't pay attention to the 'old man', but stared at Lu Li with burning eyes. The uncomfortable illness had completely receded, and his whole person became a little sharper.
"Master Zhang is still anxious."
Lu Li gently tapped the armrest with his index finger, his tone was gentle, and there was no hint of emotion or anger. After a pause, he continued: "Now that Yanzhou is like this, it's like a completely defenseless dinner plate. What does the Zhang Family Master want?" Plant delicacies, just go get them yourself, when will it be my turn to make the decision?"
Just as Zhang Zhiming's expression changed slightly and he wanted to refute, Hou Baye followed Lu Li's words and chuckled twice: "Although the Zhang family leader is not old, he has a huge appetite. In just ten days, Inside, he has swallowed up the legacy properties of at least five middle-class families, and even mastered a secret trade route in 'Yuncheng'. Isn't it possible that such a rich harvest can't feed you?"
After saying that, Master Hou pulled his eyes away from Lu Li and took a deep look at Zhang Zhiming: "The head of the Zhang family is too greedy."
"That's what the Zhang family deserves."
Zhang Zhiming did not deliberately deny this in front of Lu Li.
Because he knew very well that although Lu Li had been staying in Prince Yan's mansion these days, those furious local killers were all his eyes and ears.
In a short period of time, these earth killers will replace the functions of the sky to a certain extent. Even if he really hides it, he will never be able to hide it from Lu Li.
What's more important is that although Zhang Zhiming is still a little afraid of Lu Li, he is not afraid of Hou Ba Ye at all.
These days, when all the other aristocratic families are dormant, there will always be some 'friction' between the two collaborators chosen by Lu Li when they are trying to divide the results.
If Lu Li would be angry because of the Zhang family's actions, then the Hou family's behavior could be called heinous.
The middle-tier family's cake has not yet been divided, but the Hou family has devoured at least one-fifth of it, which is more than ten times more than what the Zhang family got. When the Hou family completely digests this industry, its power will at least double its current size.
What is this concept
With everything the Hou family has, they will be able to recruit at least ten more grandmasters and hundreds of immortals!
Even if they cultivate them personally, those huge industries are enough to support them to raise two more 'Marquises'.
Even Zhang Zhiming was a little jealous of this harvest.
So he wasn't worried about Lu Liqiu settling the score later.
If we really want to settle accounts, we should settle the accounts with the Hou family first, and it won't be their Zhang family's turn yet.
Thinking of this, Zhang Zhiming's expression became much more relaxed, and he looked at Lu Li who said nothing more, "Logically speaking, the Zhang family's current harvest is enough to pay for Manager Lu's promise, but... to accept this property, we must also pay for it." We have worked hard for the stability of Yanzhou. The Zhang family has taken a lot of risks, so this reward should be the Zhang family’s."
"The decision I came to ask about today is what Director Lu really promised."
"I have handed over the information about those families in advance. The Zhang family has also done what Mr. Lu asked me to do."
"So now..."
Zhang Zhiming was still talking, but suddenly he saw Lu Li, who was sitting in the main seat, stopped tapping the armrest and glanced at him.
It was this glance that made Zhang Zhiming feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, as if he had seen his mysterious and powerful 'teacher'!
How can it be
Thinking of the true identity of his teacher, Zhang Zhiming suddenly felt that his idea was a bit absurd.
After forcing himself to calm down, Zhang Zhiming took a deep breath and confirmed that Lu Li had not wasted this time. His strength had become stronger again.
"Mr. Lu, I think the basis of cooperation is trust." After thinking about the words for a while, Zhang Zhiming also restrained his tone. He did not force the status of both parties to be equal, but gave in a little. He said cautiously as if he was speaking to a superior: "The Zhang family trusts Prince Yan's Mansion, and I trust Manager Lu, so between Prince Yan's Mansion and..."
When he said this, he paused slightly as if he was stuck, and then said helplessly: "Neither the Zhang family nor I stood idly by when you needed help the most."
This sentence was said a little cautiously. In fact, he even wanted to swallow it back if it was not necessary.
It's a pity that the Zhang family's current power is not strong enough for certain things that must be accomplished.
In the process of competing with the Hou family for victory, Zhang Zhiming also tried his best to find out that no matter how unpredictable his methods were, the Hou family's strategy was to ignore him completely.
The Hou family didn't pay any attention to the things he arranged carefully.
Whenever they find something weird, they would rather abandon the benefits they could have obtained and pursue other gains instead of giving him a chance.
And this kind of "shameless" behavior relying on the powerful family power just restrained all the trump cards that Zhang Zhiming could use now.
So even though Zhang Zhiming was 'fearful' of Lu Li's power, he still chose to ask him for what he deserved.
"You're right."
At this moment, after some thought, Lu Li nodded and said: "When Prince Yan and I needed help the most, Second Young Master Zhang extended a helping hand. Even if it is a trivial help, it still cannot erase your love for Yan." The goodwill of the palace.”
Zhang Zhiming raised his eyebrows.
He didn't expect Lu Li to be so easy to talk to, and instinctively thought there would be some kind of trap behind it.
But before he could speak again, Lu Li said, "Everything belonging to those four families belongs to the Zhang family."
As soon as he said this, Hou Baye raised his head and glanced at Lu Li, but immediately looked away.
Because of the four companies Lu Li mentioned, two of them have already been taken over by the Hou family.
What does this mean
Give the Hou family power
Hou Baye began to think about Lu Li's intention of doing this.
But then, Lu Li's words made him dispel his doubts.
“Everything has its value.”
"I believe the head of the Zhang family knows the value of these four families better than anyone else."
"After tasting the delicious food, it's our turn to talk about the 'price' issue."
Lu Li was still smiling, but along with his words, Zhang Zhiming suddenly felt that this smile was a bit 'scary'.
He groaned, suppressed the strangeness in his heart, and whispered: "Please clear up the confusion, Mr. Lu."