Chapter 78 – Ye Tianying’s Standoff
Two middle-aged men sat at the head of the main hall. The one on the left wore deep blue robes, a jade belt cinched at his waist. His features were sharp and masculine—this was Ye Feng’s father, Ye Tianying, an early-stage Golden Core Realm cultivator.
At the moment, however, he wore a fawning smile.
Standing quietly behind him was a girl in a flowing light blue dress—Ye Qing’er. Her beautiful, delicate features were streaked with tears, her phoenix-like eyes lowered to the floor.
Ye Tianying raised a wine cup and smiled. “Brother Zeng, it’s not that we’re unwilling to deliver the goods. It’s just... I don’t know what happened with my suppliers. They’ve suddenly failed to deliver on time. Given how many years we’ve known each other, I ask for just two more days.”
The slightly plump man beside him appeared utterly at ease. He wore blue robes embroidered with a golden dragon. His nose was fat and garlic-shaped, his lips thick, and his eyes showed a scheming glint. He lounged with one leg crossed over the other, idly spinning a wine cup on the table without ever lifting it up.
This was Zeng Shuheng, patriarch of the Zeng family and head of a major medicinal herb business. He was a powerful cultivator at the mid Golden Core Realm.
“Old Ye... it’s not that I refuse to give you extra time... It’s that this batch of goods was supposed to be given to a major sect. You know how difficult it is to do business with sects. They only care about the results. I wouldn’t have agreed to the hundredfold penalty clause if I hadn’t taken this order seriously.
“And let’s not forget, this is a massive deal. If we weren’t on good terms, I wouldn’t have even asked you to take on half the supply. You know how much we stand to gain if this goes through.”
Zeng Shuheng paused there.
Cold sweat formed on Ye Tianying’s forehead. Of course, he knew the value of this order, but he didn’t have the inventory to fulfill it. And if he broke the contract and faced the penalty clause... the Ye family’s coffers would be emptied, and other business partners would follow suit, seeking to tear up their contracts. The Ye family would fall to rock bottom overnight.
Before Ye Tianying could reply, Zeng Shuheng continued, “Three days are left before the shipment’s due. My half is ready. As for your half, Old Ye, what should I do?”
Ye Tianying frowned. He had already lowered himself to beg Zheng Shuheng many times. However, Zeng Shuheng remained stubborn and even brought up the contract.