Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 230 Flaw
Hongxiu always gives people the impression of being low-key and approachable, unlike the other three who always seem to keep people at arm's length.

This is also what attracts Wang Xi the most; it perfectly matches the image of her ideal teacher.

However, the fact that Hongxiu was able to leave Pingkangfang unharmed shows that she was not a very simple woman. It's just that her methods were rather subtle and she was very patient and good at seizing opportunities, so she didn't seem that formidable.

But in fact, Hongxiu has a very keen sense of smell.

Previously, the Sun family father and son frequently came to see her, putting pressure on her both openly and subtly, trying to get her to go back with them.

However, she declined because Wang Xi and his gang were too unruly. If she went with them, they would not harm her, but they would likely harm the Sun family father and son, which would be even more unfilial. Therefore, she kept pleading with the Sun family father and son to give her more time.

This reason is quite perfect, using filial impiety to refute filial impiety, leaving the Sun family father and son with little recourse.

But suddenly, the Sun family father and son stopped coming, and she immediately realized that something might have changed.

If the father and son were brought here by Madam Zixia, then it means that Madam Zixia already had other ways to deal with Wuming Academy and no longer needed to put pressure on her.

Wang Xi strongly agreed with Hongxiu's assessment.

So he immediately sought out Huangfu Sengnian and Li Jieman to discuss countermeasures.

"Huh? Where's Shuang-ge today?"

Wang Xi asked.

Li Jie said, "I'll sleep in the old potter's house."

Wang Xi asked curiously, "What did he do last night?"

Li Jie said, "He said he gave his father a lesson on buoyancy all night, but he ended up confusing himself. He came here early this morning and spent a long time discussing it with Lao Tao."

Wang Xi said, "Shuang-ge is really something, there's no need for him to get extra lessons from Uncle Wang."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Uncle Wang has always worked very hard. His Majesty asked him to raise horses, so he found many herdsmen to learn from. Now his knowledge of horses is much better than that of many herdsmen."

The implication is that this is Wang Maozhong's style.

Another damned jerk. But it's better for dad to be a jerk than for me! Wang Xi knew this phenomenon all too well, and couldn't help but sigh, "We're all fathers, so why is there such a big difference? Look at my dad, sigh..."

Li Jie said, "But Shuang-ge has confused himself."

Wang Xi laughed and said, "When Shuang-ge wakes up later, let's go and give him a lesson, and also teach Lao Tao a lesson while we're at it."

Li Jieman suddenly asked, "By the way, Brother Que, what do you want with us?"

Wang Xi then remembered the purpose of his trip and immediately told the two of them about Hongxiu's worries.

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Your aunt won't let this go easily; we expected that."

Wang Xi nodded and said, "If the teacher is not mistaken, she has already found a way to deal with us."

Li Jieman said with a hint of nervousness, "We have to be careful, your aunt is not someone to be trifled with."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Judging from your aunt's previous methods, she is better at finding the weaknesses of those around us. I believe she will not target us unless necessary."

Li Jie said, "Most of the students in our Wuming Academy are from prominent families. Your aunt wouldn't dare to make any rash moves. It's just Old Tao, the teacher, and junior sisters like Linglong."

Huangfu Sengnian said, "Linglong and the others are all palace prostitutes. Although they are lowly, they have a special status. In principle, all palace prostitutes belong to His Majesty. So she only summoned her junior sisters back to the music academy to use them to learn opera, not to deal with them."

Li Jieman asked, "So you mean Old Tao?"

Huangfu Sengnian frowned: "If that's the case, then the situation could be very unfavorable for us."

Old Tao was actually their Achilles' heel, which is why Wang Xi was so ruthless, not only giving him extra lessons every day but also making an old man study physics. Because there was no other way but to slowly work on this Achilles' heel and make it stronger, so that they would feel more at ease.

Wang Xi suddenly said, "Besides Lao Tao, there are two other people."

"Two people?"

Huangfu Sengnian immediately asked, "The Bai family father and daughter?"

Wang Xi nodded. "The Bai family father and daughter left Chang'an a few days ago, taking the money with them to Zhengzhou."

Huangfu Sengnian's expression changed in surprise. "This is bad! The Bai family father and daughter own 30% of the winery, and with your aunt's connections, they might actually be able to persuade the Cui family to return the Cui family property to the Bai family father and daughter."

If they reach an agreement, then your aunt will get the technology for the "Beauty Wine," and then we'll lose everything.

Li Jieman immediately tensed up, "That little cook is so eager to welcome her mother back, she might betray us, what should we do?"

Seeing that Wang Xi remained silent and did not seem particularly worried, Huangfu Sengnian asked, "Brother Que, do you still hope that they will complete this deal?"

"You can't say that."

Wang Xi shook his head and said, "I just think that things have come to this point, and we can no longer control them. Maybe they've already made a deal, but if that really happens, then... then I can accept it. Because...!"

"Are you crazy?"

Li Jie said, "How much money does the Beauty Wine make us? How many people beg for it? We just give it away like that, and when we get a woman back, she's still our wife. Why should we give her away like that?"

Huangfu Sengnian said, "I also can't accept it, especially when I think about my aunt showing off in front of us."

"Listen to me first."

Wang Xi said, "Based on my understanding of my aunt, she doesn't care about the Beauty Wine now, but will try to control the Bai family father and daughter."

That's right. We used to fight over the wine, but not anymore. Now we're fighting for control. I want to control my aunt, and my aunt wants to control me. Especially after the face mask appeared, the beauty wine is secondary. Even if my aunt gets the beauty wine, it won't change the status quo; she won't give up.

Therefore, the best way is to secretly control the Bai family father and daughter, and through them, to control us.

In other words, even if they obtain the secret recipe for the wine, it doesn't mean they've won, which is why I can accept it.

Huangfu Sengnian said, "You're right, so the Bai family father and daughter can no longer be trusted."

Wang Xi nodded and said, "Once they return and have investigated the matter thoroughly, we will give the distillery to them and then terminate our cooperation."

Li Jie said, "It's fine to terminate the cooperation, but why should we give the winery to them? You're clearly just trying to curry favor with that little cook."

Wang Xi said, "There are two reasons why I chose to give it away. First, it's to intimidate my aunt. To others, this Beauty Wine is a treasure trove, but to us, it's just a toy that we can throw away at any time. We don't care. This is not only a demonstration of our strength, but also a reflection of Old Tao's superior demeanor. Originally, this wine was intended to be given to the Bai family as compensation."

Secondly, if we don't give up, it's equivalent to continuing to cooperate with my aunt, which is what my aunt expects. That would mean we would be hampered by my aunt, which would be detrimental to us.

"The key to the whole game is that we are the goddesses, and my aunt is just a simp who wants to get close to us, and we have to reject her."

After thinking for a moment, Huangfu Sengnian said, "I agree with doing this, but we still need to send people to monitor the Bai family father and daughter immediately."

Wang Xi nodded. "Of course, after all, this is all just our speculation. Let's hope we're just being cynical."

Wang Xi and Lady Zixia are family, not enemies, unlike the relationship between the Wang and Wu families. They both just want the other to submit. Otherwise, Lady Zixia wouldn't have gone to the Emperor and Empress to speak to them. She must have used underhanded methods. Only strength can make the other submit.

Interests were never the key point of contention between the two; ultimately, the conflict remained unresolved.

Talent is the key.

When you realize that you cannot defeat your opponent, you have no choice but to give in.

Therefore, this way of playing is quite special.

As the three were discussing, a servant came to report from outside, "Young Master Wang, Manager Yixian Juebai requests an audience."

Huangfu Sengnian was taken aback. "It's impossible for him to be back so quickly."

"It seems something really has happened."

Wang Xi immediately said, "Let him in quickly."

"Yes."

A moment later, Bai Siyong walked in.

"Old Bai! How is it? Have you welcomed Madam back?" Wang Xi asked anxiously.

Bai Siyong's expression was slightly moved. He shook his head and smiled, "Thank you for your concern, young master. But the other party still refused. Actually, this was within my expectations."

Huangfu Sengnian questioned, "The problem is that you're carrying so much money, you shouldn't be able to return so quickly."

Bai Siyong nodded and said, "That's right. As soon as I left Chang'an, the Cui family took the initiative to send people to stop me from going there, indicating that they would not agree."

Huangfu Sengnian nodded, but there was some doubt in his eyes.

Bai Siyong added, "Furthermore, I have come to bid farewell to Young Master Wang."

Wang Xi asked, "Where are you going?"

Bai Siyong said, "I plan to go back to Zhengzhou with Su'er. Although I won't be able to see her mother, I can still be closer to her."

Huangfu Sengnian suddenly asked, "Did you betray us?"

Bai Siyong hurriedly said, "No! I absolutely did not betray you young men."

Li Jieman sneered, "If there's nothing wrong, why are you so agitated? Let me tell you, we already know the situation. Did you make a deal with someone to sell the technology of the Beauty Wine in exchange for your wife?"

Bai Siyong asked in surprise, "You already knew?"

Li Jieman was furious, grabbing Bai Siyong with one hand, "We've been so good to you and your daughter, how dare you betray us?"

"Injustice! Injustice!"

Bai Siyong hurriedly said, "It is precisely because I do not wish to betray you young men that I have come to bid you farewell."

"Xiaoman! Don't be impulsive!"

Wang Xi patted Li Jieman's arm, and after Li Jieman let go, he asked Bai Siyong, "Old Bai, what exactly happened?"

Bai Siyong said, "To be honest, Young Master Wang, my daughter and I had just left Chang'an and had not yet reached Luoyang when we encountered the Cui family. The Cui family said that as long as we agreed to obey their orders, they would be willing to reunite my husband and me."

At first, I didn't understand, but later I realized that they wanted to use us to deal with the Nameless Academy. The teacher and the young master have been very kind to my father and me, so how could I agree to this?

Therefore, I decisively refused the other party. However, as you know, my daughter really wants to welcome her mother back. I'm just afraid that she might do something impulsive and betray you all. That's why I've come to say goodbye. Moreover, I have no intention of hiding anything from you. As long as I tell you the truth, you can put an end to the other party's thoughts, including my daughter's.

"But I fear that if I tell you now, you young men will think I'm trying to gain your sympathy. Therefore, I plan to hand over the 'Fine Delicacies' to the Nameless Academy and only tell you all this before I leave."

"That's right!"

Upon hearing this, Li Jieman felt very guilty and said, "I'm sorry! I shouldn't have misunderstood you just now."

Bai Siyong hurriedly said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Young men, you can rest assured that I would never betray you. Moreover, if I did, even if my wife came out, she would not join us, because she also despises such ungrateful people the most."

(End of this chapter)