Train to Another World.

Chapter 561 Greengrass

(2-in-1)

There were only five people sitting at the large dining table. At one end was Li Zhuoguang and his two lackeys. Li Zhuoguang was dressed in his usual outfit, while Malfoy used double the amount of hair oil he usually used, so that a fly would split its legs if it stood on it.

As for Percy, it can be seen that he has put on his best clothes, but the effect... is similar to Li Zhuoguang's usual clothes.

At the other end of the long table was an old man and a young girl. The three of them had seen the girl before. She was Daphne Greengrass, the eldest daughter of this generation of the Greengrass family. She was a person who was crazy about pure-bloods. If nothing unexpected happened, she was another Bella.

The old man was the current patriarch of the Greengrass family, the one who sold the seat to Wei Changfeng. The Greengrass family was very special. Whether it was during the heyday of Voldemort or after Voldemort's fall, they did not express their position.

They just watched everything happen like a spectator. But they were not targeted by Voldemort. The reason might be that the Greengrass family had started to decline more than ten years ago.

For example, the Malfoys, although they have a small population, are quite wealthy. For example, the Weasleys, neither of their branches is very wealthy, but they have a large population. The Greengrass family has almost absorbed the characteristics of these two families, with few people and little money. The only valuable thing is probably the old patriarch's position as a member of parliament.

The reason why only the old patriarch and Daphne were sitting at the table this time was probably because there were no other family members except Astoria who was still young.

Daphne looked at Li Zhuoguang with some curiosity. In her opinion, this man was her future brother-in-law. Although he was not one of the twenty-eight holy pure bloods, foreign pure bloods were still pure bloods.

The old patriarch, on the other hand, wiped his mouth with a napkin after eating half of the steak on the plate and pushed the plate aside. He glanced at the bottles in the wine basket beside the table. One of the bottles had a blue ribbon tied around its neck. It was brought by Li Zhuoguang as a souvenir and he just put it in the wine basket.

Seeing the bottle of wine now, the old patriarch frowned unhappily, then calmed down and said to Li Zhuoguang calmly: "Are you here to cancel the engagement? No, that's not right. We haven't even been engaged, so how can you talk about cancelling the engagement?"

Li Zhuoguang was stunned, but Percy beside him had already spoken: "Mr. Greengrass, Mr. Li came to visit this time as a junior, with good intentions..."

The old patriarch interrupted with a wave of his hand, "Percy Weasley, right? I've heard of you. You've been very famous recently. The first time the head of the Lee family visited an outsider, he only brought you and the only youngest son of the Malfoy family, and in most cases you were responsible for external communication.

When I visited the three congressmen before, other people's comments on you were quite favorable. But at this time, I would rather hear what he has to say himself. "

Percy closed his mouth and looked at Li Zhuoguang helplessly.

Li Zhuoguang straightened up slightly and looked at the old patriarch: "Excuse me, how did you know that I didn't want to marry into the Greengrass family?"

The old patriarch said casually: "This time you single-handedly solved the basilisk in Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets. It is no secret to all of us. Your strength and the strength of your family are recognized by all of us.

Every member of the Wizengamot has invited you. But you have visited four families in the past two days. The first three are the families of the three most powerful councillors, and I am the fourth. I have even left the Wizengamot and have not invited you.

Out of more than 50 invitations, only three were selected. Each family only stayed for half a day, and let someone from another family speak for you. It seems that you really hate this kind of social activities. But in the end, you chose to visit me, which means you really have something important to talk to me about.

Your souvenir is just a bottle of wine. Of course, I don't mind your souvenir being shabby. A bottle of Latour from 1980 is enough for anyone you visit.

What I mean is, even though I explicitly hinted that I wanted Astoria to marry you, you never responded. And this time, you didn't even prepare a small gift for the girls.

To me, the meaning is clear.”

Li Zhuoguang wiped his mouth with a napkin. "As expected, the old man from the Wizengamot is not simple. I came here to talk things out. Actually, I should have come a long time ago, but I was a little... immature before, so I couldn't figure out a lot of things."

The old patriarch sneered: "I remember it was just last year, how come you have become more mature after a year?"

Li Zhuoguang smiled bitterly and shook his head. He didn't know how to explain, so he could only perfunctorily say, "I have entered puberty, and there are new changes every day. But I can assure you that I am definitely not an ungrateful person. Although the position of congressman is not within my plan, since you gave it to me, I will definitely repay you generously."

At his age, the old patriarch could tell that Li Zhuoguang was not lying, but his face was still quite gloomy, even with a hint of sadness: "In fact, I have been prepared for this. The seat of the Wizengamot senator is indeed precious, but it is not necessary for a powerful family. You just let your housekeeper take over the seat of senator.

As you can see, the Greengrass family has long been in decline. The father of Malfoy next to you once offered a price to buy the seat of MP with gold Galleons, but I refused.

Although our family doesn't have much money, fortunately we don't have many people, so we have enough. What I really want is an opportunity for the Greengrass family to rise again, so I am willing to gamble with a seat as a member of parliament."

Malfoy shrank his neck. He seemed to remember that his father had said that he was going to marry him to the youngest daughter of the Greengrass family.

But ever since the Lee family obtained the seat of parliamentarian from the Greengris family, they never mentioned it again. Even when they learned that the eldest brother might marry Astoria, Malfoy decided to keep the matter to himself.

After thinking for a while, Li Zhuoguang confirmed with the old patriarch: "So your appeal is for the rise of the Greengrass family?"

The old patriarch frowned: "What do you mean?"

"I've already said it before, there will be a great reward. Since your goal is to make your family rise, and marriage is just a means, then I will skip the middle process and help you rise."

The old patriarch was shocked: "Do you know the rise of a pure-blood family..."

With a snap, Li Zhuoguang threw a stack of parchment directly in front of the old patriarch's desk. The old patriarch took a closer look and found that it was a thick stack of contracts, but he used a clip to clamp them together in a very childish way.

The old patriarch picked up the contract, opened the folder and read it page by page: "What is this?"

"The Black family's businesses are yours. I checked with Gringotts and found that they are still operating, but because the Black family is dwindling and being suppressed by others, you have to find a way to revive them.

As long as it works well, what was able to support a Black before can now support a Greengrass. I will give you another 100,000 gold galleons as starting capital, and the rest is up to you. "

The old patriarch frowned and looked at Li Zhuoguang in astonishment: "What do you mean? You think Greengrass is not worthy of your marriage, so you want Greengrass to become your vassal?"

Li Zhuoguang waved his hand: "You think too much. I don't need you to be my vassal, and you don't need to over-understand. It means literally, 'there will be a generous reward'. After this, you can do whatever you want, and I don't have any requirements for you."

Suddenly, the old patriarch laughed, then shook his head helplessly: "Such help, even ordinary in-laws would not support to this extent. Can I ask why you are unwilling to marry into my family?"

Li Zhuoguang shrugged: "At any time, my marriage is not a bargaining chip. If I really get married one day, I will marry for love.

Just hearing about marriage alliances is annoying."

"Is that so?" The old patriarch looked at Li Zhuoguang deeply and said, "Then I'll also remind you that your previous actions have offended many people."

Li Zhuoguang scratched his chin: "I have been very restrained since I came here, how could I have offended anyone?"

The old patriarch pointed at Percy: "Because of him."

Percy was a little confused and a little horrified: "Excuse me, do you have any questions?" The old patriarch said: "Weasley is one of the twenty-eight pure bloods, but there are many branches of Weasley, and Arthur's branch also has many sons.

So you can't even represent Arthur's branch, let alone Weasley. It can be said that when you follow the head of the Li family to visit members of other families, your role is even less than that of the youngest son of the Malfoy family. "

Malfoy looked up in confusion. Am I so important?
The old patriarch continued, "The Malfoy family has always been a single-line family, with only one son in each generation, so the son of the Malfoy family must be the patriarch of the next generation, and he can fully represent the Malfoy family.

He only needed to go along to visit, and without even saying a word, to show that the Malfoys and their allies and vassals were all on the same side as the Lees. He was extremely important.

But you are different.”

Percy was a very smart person, and when he heard this, his face turned pale. He wanted to take this opportunity to meet more powerful people, but he didn't expect...

"If you go along, it won't be a big deal. Everyone will just think that this is Weasley. No, that's not right. It should be a signal that Arthur's Weasley branch is approaching the Li family.

But you took the initiative to take on the responsibility of external communication. The patriarch of the Li family is on an equal footing with them. Although the children of the Malfoy family are a little inferior, they are barely OK. Do you think you are equal to them?"

Percy's pale face began to turn red. The answer was right on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't say it. He was the most restless Weasley. He longed for power and to stand out. What he could not accept the most was the fact that he was just a small character.

The old patriarch smiled and said, "The truth is a little unpleasant, isn't it? But this is the fact. Everything you feel now is what I have felt for decades."

Percy looked at the old patriarch in surprise.

The old patriarch continued, "You will only feel uncomfortable for a while, and you will get used to it after a while, but he..."

The old patriarch nodded at Li Zhuoguang and said, "I didn't say anything nonsense just now. Other people's evaluation of Weasley is indeed quite favorable, and no one will bear a grudge against him.

Although he has never attended a high-class banquet, he is neither humble nor arrogant, his actions are well-thought-out, his wording is precise, and he can even express many of your perfunctory ideas in an acceptable way.

But no matter how well he behaves, others will only think that you bring Weasley to the party just because you don't want to talk to them too much, which is a kind of contempt for them.

Since you have this attitude towards those three families, you can imagine how the other families who didn't attend the banquet will view this matter."

After listening to the old clan leader's analysis, Li Zhuoguang said calmly, "So that's how it is. They finally figured it out."

The old patriarch sighed helplessly: "With your attitude, you can't pretend at all."

Li Zhuoguang shrugged: "I just don't bother to deal with them. Back then, Voldemort would kill anyone who didn't surrender to him. You Greengrass only escaped because of your small population and weak strength.

They could tolerate Voldemort back then, so why are they so harsh on me now?"

The old patriarch was a little uncomfortable hearing Voldemort's name suddenly, but he still said: "I don't deny that you may be more powerful than the Dark Lord in the future, but you haven't grown up yet after all."

Li Zhuoguang scratched his chin: "I believe they will change their wrong views."

"You... Oh! Never mind, I'll help you explain it in private, just be careful next time."

Li Zhuoguang did not reject the other party's kindness. He just chatted for a few more words and was about to leave, and the old patriarch did not try to keep him.

When Li Zhuoguang left Green Grace's old house, the old patriarch heard a series of subtle footsteps, which seemed to be moving away. He shook his head and said to Daphne, who had said nothing from beginning to end, "Go and persuade your sister later. The reason why they don't want to marry is not because she is not good, nor because the family is weak. She should have heard what others said just now. She may have a chance."

Daphne nodded coolly and left the table.

The old patriarch was the only one left in the reception room. Recalling the meeting just now, he couldn't help muttering: "Weasley and Malfoy, the most loyal and the most discerning, interesting..."

It was dusk when the three returned to Hogwarts, and they climbed over the wall to get in. The students around them ignored them. However, the three of them who were walking outside the castle saw what they did. Ron's eyes widened. He couldn't understand why Percy was hanging out with Li Zhuoguang.

As they were about to approach the castle, Li Zhuoguang heard Percy whisper to him, "I'm sorry."

Li Zhuoguang turned around and asked, "What are you sorry for?"

Percy gritted his teeth: "It's all because of me..."

"You did a great job. Old Greengrass even praised you. And I really don't want to play diplomatic rhetoric with others. That's why I brought you to the banquet. You did a good job. I'll look for you next time."

"Didn't Old Greengrass just say..."

"Oh, I take care of them. When we went to the banquet, did they express their dissatisfaction to us in person?"

"No."

Li Zhuoguang said indifferently: "This is how it is to socialize with people like them. You have to save face. Just like I don't want to deal with them so I come to you. Although they are dissatisfied in their hearts, they will only greet you with a smile.

I don't have anything to ask them, but they want to get in touch with me. I don't know the resources I have now, so go ask Wei Changfeng when you have time. You can visit the remaining 40 or so stores yourself. Of course, you can bring Malfoy with you if you want.

You know all about resource integration and sharing. Don't do business at a loss. The rest is up to you. Anyway, Wei Changfeng is almost too busy, and he is eager to have an assistant to share his worries. "

Percy stammered, "But, I'm a Weasley."

"Does it matter?"

Percy suddenly felt like he had nothing to repay: "No...nothing. What about after I graduate?"

"Tsk, don't always think about sucking up to someone else, think more about how you can become someone else's boss.

With the authority you have now, if visiting these forty-seven companies still doesn't allow you to gain a firm foothold, then you'd better stay away from the world of fame and fortune. It's not suitable for you.

I told you from the beginning, 'Don't do business at a loss.' Business is profitable. As long as you don't lose money, it is normal for you to extract a reasonable portion of the profit as your own performance."

Percy was stunned. He stood there blankly, watching Li Zhuoguang walk into the castle gate.

(End of this chapter)