Chapter 380: Hu Fei?!
"Who else." Liu Shi Shi replied with a smile.
Lin Xuan Qi nodded his head and said, "I will let Master Lee know."
The only other person that Liu Shi Shi knew in the mansion was Lee He Song and it would naturally be him as the stand-in elder for Liu Shi Shi.
That was all that he needed to know.
The wedding would happen soon and he hoped that it would go smoothly like it was with Xue Cong and Yue Jie.
Both of them sat in the pavilion together marveling at the pond until Xiu came along.
"Master Lin, dinner is ready." Xiu bowed at him and said.
"Come, let’s go and have dinner. I’m starving after the long day." Lin Xuan Qi stood up with Liu Shi Shi and they headed for the dining hall.
...
Next day.
Lin Xuan Qi woke up and he headed out to the factories in the south after he had breakfast.
Fortunately, everything was going smoothly in the factories.
The production was still going on while the new factory was being completed by Old Shao and the other carpenters and iron smiths.
Lin Xuan Qi picked up the new workers from the slave brokerage next and brought them over to the factory.
The workers were handed over to the seniors for them to be taught about the production process.
His plan was to let some of the senior workers be at the new factory with the new workers, promoting them to be leads for the new workers.
It would be an incentive for the current workers to work harder while helping the production with those who got promoted guiding the new workers.
There weren’t many hiccups and Lin Xuan Qi was able to leave to seek out the site for another new factory.
This time he went around the area but he couldn’t find any other property for sale.
He spent half the day going around asking and by the time it was lunchtime he had thought that maybe he would have to get another new factory in other areas.
It wouldn’t be optimal as the delivery of the kelp would take a longer time and the fishermen might have to increase their price for the deliveries.
Lin Xuan Qi sighed and he stepped outside a warehouse that looked suitable to be converted into a factory within a short amount of time.
"Who are you?" One of the laborers asked when he saw Lin Xuan Qi standing at the entrance with Lee He Song.
Lin Xuan Qi cupped his hands and asked, "I would like to meet the owner of this place if that’s possible."
The laborer narrowed his eyes at him and said, "The owner of this place is Master Hu from the Hu Clan.
"You can try to meet him if you want."
Lin Xuan Qi looked like a young master but the laborer couldn’t recognize him and thought that he was someone who wasn’t too important.
To the laborer, Master Hu wouldn’t entertain someone unknown like Lin Xuan Qi.
Better to let Lin Xuan Qi go to the Hu Clan mansion and get the gates of the mansion slammed in his face.
However, it was enough information for Lin Xuan Qi.
"Thanks. I will check with Master Hu at the Hu Clan." He said to the laborer and turned around with Lee He Song.
Lee He Song glanced at him and said, "The Hu Clan isn’t on good terms with the Sima Family as far as I know."
Lin Xuan Qi frowned when he heard Lee He Song.
It meant that the possibility of Master Hu selling the property to him wasn’t that great.
And his hunch was right.
"Master Hu is busy with some business matters, you can come back some other day." The guards at the Hu Clan mansion said when Lin Xuan Qi requested a meeting.
"Thanks. I will come back again soon." Lin Xuan Qi said and he left with Lee He Song.
He glanced out of the horse carriage’s window as they headed back to the Lin Mansion.
The relationships and networks between these Clans and Families proved to be a much bigger obstacle than he had thought.
When he got back to the mansion, Sima Ye and Sima Long were there waiting for him.
"Master Sima Ye, long time no see." Lin Xuan Qi cupped his hands at Sima Ye and greeted him.
He hadn’t seen Sima Ye in a long while and he was surprised by the visit.
"It’s been a while and I see that things are going fine for you." Sima Ye said as he glanced around the main hall.
Xue Cong had gotten the preparations underway and there were decorations for the wedding being stuck onto the walls and pillars.
"Things are going fine so far. Let’s have a seat first." Lin Xuan Qi gave Sima Ye a smile and gestured for them to take a seat at the tea table.
Sima Ye and Sima Long nodded their heads and did so.
Xiu, who was standing by the side, quickly poured them a cup of tea.
While they waited for the tea, Sima Long gave Lin Xuan Qi a sheepish smile as he pointed at the wedding decorations.
Lin Xuan Qi rolled his eyes at his buddy and shook his head.
"I was just back from the factories, trying to get a new site for another factory.
"It’s unfortunate that the site I preferred belongs to Master Hu from the Hu Clan." Lin Xuan Qi said and glanced over at Sima Ye.
He wanted to see if Sima Ye had any useful information for him on Master Hu.
But it was not to be.
Sima Ye took a sip of the tea, shook his head at Lin Xuan Qi and said, "Hu Fei has been our competitor for years.
"It’s unlikely you would be able to get the property from him.
"I would spend my time looking for another site if I were you."
"Thanks, Master Sima Ye. I will adjust my plan accordingly." Lin Xuan Qi nodded his head and thanked Sima Ye for being frank with him.