"Do you really think I am a mere brat who would believe a Farming Association with proper bookkeeping to miscalculate their Pearl Rice inventory by 10,000 Jin, Pavilion Master?" Yang Chunqiu repeated his question to Yang Xiao. At the same time, it also serves as a warning to the Pavilion Master to not push on his luck too much.
"Of course not, young master... Of course not. I'm sure there's some misunderstanding in between," Yang Xiao instantaneously responded due to the seriousness of this matter. His instinct also tells him that the whole issue would worsen if he took his time to reply.
"So, there's really a misunderstanding in between? Maybe it's because the Farming Association was trying to see how keen we are to purchase the Pearl Rice in their hand? Could that be a possibility?" Yang Chunqiu continued. His experience tells him that it will be hard for him to tell the truth unless he continuously traps Yang Xiao with such questions.
"That's possible, young master. After all, the discussion had been going on for several days, and the prices had already been adjusted from three silver per Jin to today's one and a half silver. Furthermore, this is the harvesting season, so it's natural for them to keep adding fresh inventory to their book." Yang Xiao calmed himself a little and responded to the second question.
"Pavilion Master... Even I have difficulty believing your answer. What about you just answer my next question honestly?" Yang Chunqiu chuckled.
"Tell me, how much did you get from the 450 gold asking price?" Yang Chunqiu asked his last and decisive question.
"Fou - Fifty gold, young master." Yang Xiao was crushed when he answered. It was neither a big nor menial sum. And to be honest, taking eleven percent from the agreed price as his commission was a good number as well, as the sum was too small to catch the main branch's attention.
"Just a little above a tenths for so many tedious works? You might as well give up that cake and take a spot beside me instead. In return, I'll ensure the fifty gold you gave up today will be multiplied by a thousandfold three months later." Yang Chunqiu belittled the Pavilion Master a little before offering him an option.
"All you need to do is to fight for the best price for me on this Pearl Rice," feeling there was no point twisting his words further, Yang Chunqiu opened up and told Yang Xiao what he wanted in return.
This was indeed a request that was hard to reject. After all, Yang Xiao's responsibility in this branch was to ensure that each transaction was done with the word "profit" in their mind. Since the request doesn't go against his "responsibility" as the Pavilion Master, there's naturally no reason for him to reject Yang Chunqiu.
"Young master, I obviously can help you as it was within my responsibility to think from the Treasured Pavilion's interest. But a thousandfold within three months... Doesn't that sound a little too unachievable?" Yang Xiao responded to Yang Chunqiu without sounding eager to take the offer.
"All you need to do is follow my instructions. Since I dare to say they'll multiply a thousandfold in three months, I naturally have my own way of making that happen. As someone without any important position in the external branch, I'm sure you have a good brain inside that skull of yours." Yang Chunqiu replied.
"What do you think? Fifty gold, even if that does not multiply by a thousandfold, at most, your losses would only be that small sum of gold ingots." he added before Yang Xiao thought of something else to reply to him.
"Hahaha, to think that our third young master was also not someone to be underestimated. No wonder those from the capital say that you can offend anyone else but never the people from Yang Household. I could see why they say so," Yang Xiao laughed to eliminate the awkwardness. At the same time, it also helps ease the tension between them.
Still, his reply didn't clearly indicate if he was with Yang Chunqiu or against him. Although Yang Xiao's help in this matter was unnecessary, managing to pull him onto their ship before it sailed would be helpful in the long run.
After all, there's no limit on the amount of money to be earned. If sharing a small piece of the profit was all Yang Chunqiu needed to gain a strong ally in this Yuanling City, then he naturally wouldn't be stingy with it.
"Let us not test each other here any further, Pavilion Master. I want a word from you. Are you with me, or against me?" feeling that there's no point in continuing to measure one another, Yang Chunqiu decided to make Yang Xiao choose before he left the Treasured Pavilion today.
"Of course I'm with you, young master." Yang Xiao answered Yang Chunqiu. "As the Pavilion Master of this Yuanling Branch, it is my obligation to stand alongside with our third young master through thick and thin, fire and water." Yang Xiao added.
"But this subordinate is curious at the same time. What are you planning to do with the Pearl Rice, young master? Should I tell you prior that this crop was monopolized and cultured specifically by the Burning Spirit Sect, and they do have the final say on the supply?"
"It would turn into an issue if we came up with something just to be cut off from the raw material the following year. This is also a reason why the Burning Spirit Sect monopolized the Pearl Rice's production and supply for so long without anyone capable of taking that right off their hand." feeling that he was obliged to at least share this piece of information with Yang Chunqiu, Yang Xiao explained.
"What does the Burning Spirit Sect do with the Pearl Rice, except from brewing wine?" Yang Chunqiu asked. He believes that based on how he has yet to eat any dishes made from pearl rice, or likely the breed similar to sticky/starchy rice from Earth till today, their application in the rice is presumably very limited.
"Why do you ask, young master?" Yang Xiao was puzzled by the question.
"If there's nothing, let's plant and monopolize the Pearl Rice. I have much better use of them." Yang Chunqiu replied.