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At noon, the Tu Family’s residence was bustling, as rare delicacies were brought to the banquet as if they cost nothing.

Glasses clinked, hosts and guests enjoyed themselves, while a young servant standing at the door shouted the congratulatory message, "Sea merchant Zheng Qianli, presents nine large pearls from Hormuz, wishing the old lady of the Tu Family everlasting youth and eternal spring—a lifetime of fortune and happiness."

Li Cheng, or rather Gray Rain disguised as Li Cheng, sat in the corner of the birthday banquet, feeling uninterested in feasting, only placing a simple serving of bear paw, bird’s nest, shark fin, and abalone in her bowl,

especially a dish of pale pink fish sashimi, which melted in the mouth with a sweet aftertaste.

Unafraid of parasites, Gray Rain devoured two large servings, while using the eavesdropping device and Bluetooth earphones hidden beneath the table to discreetly gather information, watching in six directions and listening in all eight.

"Tonight, the Tu Family is likely to divide. Tu Dongcong from the third branch could very well take over sea trade on the Luzon side, relationships must be built early,"

In the corner of the banquet, an old sect leader who looked like an immortal was conversing in low tones with his disciple.

The division of the Tu Family was like splitting a big company into smaller subsidiaries. For the family members, it meant becoming masters of their own affairs. For outsiders, it meant opportunities sought.

Now, the Great Ming’s sea trade is flourishing, commerce is thriving, from street vendors to scholars and even martial artists of the worldly society, everyone is talking about stocks, futures, and corporate systems—new trendy terms.

Even more so, border army officers, rather than fighting wars or suppressing frontier rebellions, read newspaper stock reports daily, interpreting market fluctuations, wanting nothing more than to dive into money.

"And what about that Daoist from Dragon Tiger Mountain, Zhang?"