Did he trick the young marshal into becoming sworn brothers and then go south to Huangpu Military Ac

Sister Song completely ignored Lin Qi's polite words.

She picked up the set of thin-walled blue and white porcelain teaware from Jingdezhen, lifted the copper kettle on the red clay stove, and personally poured Lin Qi a cup of Pu'er tea.

The deep red tea swirls in the porcelain cup.

"Mr. Lin is too modest! In Guangzhou today, whose name is as well-known as yours?"

Sister Song put down the copper kettle and began the first round of flattery before the confrontation.

She wants to establish an absolute superior position in terms of discourse power through this method.

"With 150,000 silver dollars thrown in, the Shijing Arsenal, a pile of scrap metal, was revitalized. A mud pit was dug on Cheung Chau Island, and those arrogant and proud sons of heaven were tamed into submission. Just two days ago, he led a team alone to wipe out Chen Jiongming's assassins at the Black Wharf without bloodshed, leaving the traitor alive in the main hall."

Sister Song looked at Lin Qi, a hint of admiration curving her lips.

"Mr. Lin's ability to manipulate events is among the best in Shanghai, a bustling metropolis. With such a powerful figure as Mr. Lin at our headquarters, it's like adding wings to a tiger."

Lin Qi picked up the teacup, blew away the foam, and began his Tai Chi push-hands mode.

"Madam Kong, you flatter me. I am but a craftsman who has studied abroad for a few years and knows a little about lathes and foreign affairs. I was able to accomplish all this thanks to your prestige and Principal Chang's support. As for those assassins, it was just a lucky coincidence. I do not deserve such praise from Madam Kong."

The two chatted back and forth for a full fifteen minutes, discussing the local customs and culture of Guangdong and the output of the arsenal.

No one touched on that truly sensitive topic.

The atmosphere in the private room seemed harmonious, but in reality, it was as tense as a steel wire that could snap at any moment.

Sudden.

Sister Song slammed the lid of her teacup onto the rim of the cup.

The crisp sound of porcelain clashing cut off Lin Qi's pointless and empty pleasantries.

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes fixed on Lin Qi's face.

"Since Mr. Lin is a man destined for great things, let's speak frankly and not beat around the bush."

Without any preamble, Sister Song directly tore away all the pretense.

"You fabricated a story about a fiancée who controlled overseas smuggling routes and British customs. Using this as a pretext, you directly rejected the gentleman's offer to marry your third sister to you at a family banquet at the Grand Marshal's mansion."

Sister Song's tone was sharp as a knife, cutting straight to the bone.

"What you're doing isn't about a wife who's shared hardship and can't be abandoned. Your real purpose is that you feel the political vortex in headquarters is too deep! You don't want to form a marriage alliance with our Song family, you don't want to be branded with the political stigma of the Jiangzhe conglomerate, and you're afraid that if this game goes wrong, you won't be able to extricate yourself!"

Lin Qi's breath hitched. This woman's keen perception was comparable to that of radar in later generations.

But the muscles in his face instantly produced the most perfect conditioned reflex.

They feigned extreme shock, or even panic as if they had been splashed with dirty water.

Lin Qi suddenly stood up, placed his hands on the table, waved his hands repeatedly, and raised his voice eight octaves.

"Madam Kong! What makes you say that! This is a huge misunderstanding!"

He looked completely wronged, and even reached up to wipe non-existent sweat from his forehead.

"I, Lin Tuozhi, am a complete bookworm! All I know is how to calculate ballistics and mix gunpowder! What do I know about political avoidance or corporate entanglements? My fiancée does exist, and many Chinese in San Francisco can testify to that! If I were to abandon my wife for the sake of currying favor with the powerful, I would be making those overseas Chinese suffer the scorn of their compatriots in Southeast Asia!"

Looking at Lin's perfectly innocent performance, Sister Song's eyes grew even colder.

"Alright, Mr. Lin, this overacting is disgusting."

Sister Song leaned back in her chair, her hands clasped on her knees, her posture haughty and superior.

"Capital's lifeline will never be tied to a marriage contract. If your fabricated wife's family truly possesses extraordinary smuggling connections, they can easily negotiate directly with the Ministry of Commerce at headquarters. Besides, would a madman like you, who dared to openly curse even the Soviets, willingly be blackmailed by a woman?"

Sister Song made her point out directly, leaving no room for negotiation.

"We're all sensible people, so let's skip the pretense. I'll just ask you one question: do you really look down on the Song family? Do you look down on my third sister?"

Lin Qi stood by the table, his fearful expression vanishing, and did not answer.

Sister Song thought she had his weakness in her grasp and threw out a bargaining chip that would drive any politician or warlord in the Republic of China crazy.

"Mr. Lin, I don't care what ulterior motives you're plotting. Now, I'll show you a real path to success."

Sister Song stared into Lin Qi's eyes, speaking each word clearly and forcefully.

"If you change your mind now and agree to this marriage, whether that so-called overseas fiancée is real or fabricated by you, the Kong and Song families will clean up the mess for you, and I guarantee that no one in the headquarters will dare to say a word against you."

This eliminates any worries, followed by the unparalleled allure of power.

"Not only that, I assure you."

Sister Song's voice exuded an air of domineering control.

"With the strength of the Kong and Song families, plus your achievements in military industry and the prestige of the Whampoa Military Academy, we will sweep away politicians like Hu and Wang who only know how to write articles within a year, and even make the entire Guangdong Army obediently obey you."

"At most one year! I'll make you the undisputed number two in the South! In the future, you'll rightfully succeed your father and become a truly influential figure who impacts the world!"

The private room was eerily quiet, with only the faint sound of waves crashing against the embankment coming from outside the window.

This is the greatest sincerity the Song family has shown.

This was essentially presenting the highest power of the entire southern regime as a dowry directly to Lin Qi.

If Chiang Kai-shek were sitting here, he would probably be trembling with excitement and making all sorts of promises.

however.

Lin Qi pulled out the chair again and sat down.

Looking at Sister Song across from him, his expression was as calm as an ancient well, without the slightest ripple.

He did not hesitate for a moment, nor did he struggle with the internal conflict.

Lin Qi picked up the cup of Pu'er tea in front of him, which had already cooled down, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

boom.

The teacup rested steadily on the mahogany table.

"Madam Kong, thank you for your kind words. This dowry is so heavy it could crush the sky."

Lin Qi looked directly into Sister Song's confident eyes, his voice completely flat.

"But I, Lin Tuozhi, am stubborn. My fiancée and I grew up together and have a deep affection for each other. I cannot abandon my wife who has shared my hardships. I am afraid I cannot agree to this marriage."