I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1076 - Chapter 1076 Chapter 370 The Friendship of a Gentleman

Chapter 1076: Chapter 370: The Friendship of a Gentleman (Please vote for monthly tickets!) Chapter 1076: Chapter 370: The Friendship of a Gentleman (Please vote for monthly tickets!) “`

To tell the truth, Huangfu Wang still couldn’t understand why his father had sent him to find Yun Tian.

He had certainly heard of Yun Tian’s reputation, a former big shot of the Qingtian Gang who, at a young age, had fought and killed to establish a great name for himself. In the entire East Market, his word was law, and his authority was supreme.

Latterly, the Cloud Council introduced headman governance, setting up headman shops in every food market and commercial street, and conferring the title of headman to supervise each.

Having intended to make an example of the Qingtian Gang, little did they know that Yun Tian would get wind of it beforehand and dissolve the gang members in advance.

Just when everyone thought Brother Tian was disbanding his followers to flee, he continued to live in the East Market alley, strolling and enjoying his days, yet he still commanded tremendous respect in the East Market. His word was almost more effective than that of the guardhouse, not to mention the headmen who were all bark and no bite.

It was under these circumstances that the guardhouse reluctantly wished to invite Brother Tian to assume the role of the vegetable market’s headman.

A gang leader who made the guardhouse bow down, Yun Tian undoubtedly became a legend of the East Market. After all, it’s a lifetime’s achievement for an orphan to cross from the underworld to legitimacy.

But what was even more relished was Brother Tian’s immediate rejection of the offer from the guardhouse’s chief, and his promotion of the Qingtian Gang’s former Brother Hu.

The former underlings were now headmen of the East Market, and Brother Tian’s status needed no further comment. Huangfu Wang could hardly dare to imagine that if Brother Tian had ill intentions, what would happen to his family of defenseless women and children.

After truthfully recounting the ordeal that the Huangfu Trade Group had encountered in Beimang, Huangfu Wang sat like a lamb awaiting slaughter, not even daring to breathe too heavily as he quietly awaited Brother Tian’s judgment.

In the night, Brother Tian’s cheeks were hollow, his eyes dark and gloomy. Folding his arms, his fingers twitched, tapping his arms intermittently as if he were pondering how to recoup his losses.

This fearsome appearance drove Huangfu Wang to despair, feeling like his father had entrusted him to a non-human, and that his entire family might be devoured by wolves.

Finally, after a long contemplation, Brother Tian spoke at last, “After liquidating the returned goods into cash, start by distributing the pensions to the guards and managers who died in battle, then to the traveling funds for the common people. These payments cannot be delayed; delay them a few more months, and the Huangfu family will never be able to recover. If the cash from the goods isn’t enough, I’ll help you find a buyer – start by selling the city houses!”

As soon as he mentioned selling the house, Huangfu Wang became anxious: “The cash on hand is definitely not enough, but selling the Huangfu Family’s estate… If sold, where would the Huangfu family stay? It might be better to sell the farmland first, and if that’s not enough, then consider selling the estate – how about that?”

“Fool!” Brother Tian frowned and said, “Maintaining the city estates is already a huge expense. If Elder Brother Huangfu were still here, he might consider selling the farmland to go into business. But you, you know nothing of trade, nor do you have any skills; how can you sustain the loss of property? Now, with the soaring grain prices in Chaochang and winter approaching, where will your family get food for next year if you sell the farmland? Sell the estate to settle the pensions and travel expenses. Then, with what’s left, build a thatched house next to the fields. Relying on the harvest should be enough to support your family, and then you can plan for the future.”

Young people who face great tribulations as soon as they start out are the most pitiable, for they have not prepared to face the world, and the barrier that stands between them and reality has been broken down.

While Huangfu Facai was still alive, Huangfu Wang believed he was a prodigy destined to become a legendary merchant in Chaochang. But upon his father’s departure, he realized he was capable of nothing.

Just like Brother Tian said, he knew nothing of trade nor had any source of income. Even providing for his family depended on the farmland left by his father.

“`

Huangfu Wang bit his teeth fiercely and nodded vigorously, though tears uncontrollably started flowing down his face.

“Crying? Do you think this is the end?” Brother Tian frowned and said, “The real trouble is still to come. Besides me, how many other lenders did Brother Huangfu also find?”

The so-called lenders and money dealers are unique terms in Chaochang, usually pointing to private moneylenders. However, the difference lies in that lenders are the primary creditors, while money dealers often represent the presence of organizations or individuals providing loans.

Money dealers charge high interest, lenders charge low, but the lender’s money is genuinely lethal. With the current state of the Huangfu family, any “lender” could retrieve their losses through the ways of merchants.

“Besides yourself, Brother Tian.” Huangfu Wang answered shakily, “There’s Manager Liu from Yunlai Inn, Second Senior Brother from Ding Family Dojo…”

“How much did they each invest?

“Twenty percent each.”

Adding Brother Tian’s thirty percent, a whole seventy percent of the Huangfu Trade Group’s cargo fund was debt. No wonder the young man looked as if the sky had fallen.

After hearing what Huangfu Wang had to say, Brother Tian also couldn’t help feeling a bit of remorse. If it wasn’t for his analysis of the Longzhou medicine prices, Huangfu Facai wouldn’t have desperately pulled together such a venture.

Brother Tian shook his head and sighed softly, “Give me the proofs of debt (documents proving the receipt of funds) from these two men; I will deal with them for you!”

“Brother Tian!” Huangfu Wang looked up at Brother Tian, hardly believing what he heard.

As the largest lender to the Huangfu Trade Group, Yun Tian was not only thinking of making him sell properties to cover the deficit, but he was actively planning on his behalf and even willing to negotiate with the two other lenders for him.

One should know that Yunlai Inn was backed by a noble family, and Ding Family Martial Arts Hall was considered a formidable outsider. Brother Tian was going such lengths for the deceased Huangfu Facai. Huangfu Wang found it unbelievable because, in his memory, his father and Brother Tian were merely casual acquaintances.

“Alright, cut the act and go back to discuss with Lady Huangfu about how to sell the house for a good price. If others try to lowball you too harshly, let me know.”

“Also, those managers who followed Brother Huangfu are each a crafty lot. If you try to use them again as a young man, you’ll surely be devoured whole. Part on good terms. After paying the severance, dismiss the managers, and then see if there are any workers willing to stick with you. Those are young too; you can grow together, and perhaps in the future, they can become your strong supporters!”

After instructing the tearful young man, Brother Tian patted his shoulder and looked into Huangfu Wang’s eyes earnestly, “Brother Huangfu has passed on, and from now on, you can no longer cry, nor can you laugh heartily. Even in the face of great injustices, you must maintain composure and not let others easily read your emotions. Learn to be patient, cautious in everything, and think things through three times. Always remember that behind you is a whole family. Remember, once you step out of this door, you are the head of the Huangfu family!”

For Huangfu Wang at this moment, there were no words more powerful. After his father’s death, although the managers appeared respectful on the surface, their attitude had become increasingly dismissive.

Since boarding the ship, the managers would often gather together, staying up all night as soon as the storage lamp was lit. Every night on the ship, Huangfu Wang dared not close his eyes, fearing that the managers would conspire to harm him.