Chương 258: The Rift

After beating around the bush for half the morning, Yun Laifu finally gave his older brother a meaningful wink. The latter immediately understood.

"I also heard that previously, Yun Shan tried to recruit Worthy Nephew to join our Yun family. However, because the conditions couldn't be agreed upon, the matter was dropped in the end. I wonder if this is true?" Hearing Yun Tianxiang's question, Song Que slightly furrowed his brows but had nothing to hide, frankly admitting:"Such a thing did happen. At the time, I had just arrived in Qinghe. Chief Steward Yun cherished talent and wanted to guide and support this junior.

But this kid felt it would be too restrictive, so in the end, I had to decline, failing to live up to the Yun family's good intentions."

"Hmph! That man truly achieves little but ruins much! Facing a brilliantly talented person like Worthy Nephew, he didn't know to go all out to rope you in, instead haggling over petty details. Next time, I must definitely punish that Yun Shan heavily."

"Uncle praises me too highly. The conditions Chief Steward Yun offered were already very generous. It was just that this kid didn't know what was good for him at the time. Moreover, I'm used to a free and undisciplined lifestyle, which is why I couldn't accept." With Master Song speaking up for him, Yun Tianxiang's expression softened a bit. After a few more hypocritical pleasantries, he cut straight to the point:"Worthy Nephew, at this moment, I solemnly invite you once again to join the Yun family.

What are your thoughts?"

"As long as you agree, you can freely use the resources of the Sea of Clouds Pavilion. Our Yun family will stand fully behind you and support you. As for the daughters of the Yun family, as long as Worthy Nephew takes a liking to one, I can make the decision to marry her to you—even my own daughters, Yun Yan and Yun Xi." The moment these words fell, Yun Xi, who was sitting beside Song Que, instantly had her face drain of all color. He even secretly noticed the deep disappointment and unwillingness in her eyes.

This wasn't necessarily because the beautiful Yun Xi wasn't interested in Master Song; she was purely feeling the bitter despair of being treated as a bargaining chip to trade for benefits. Song Que couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for her. Who said being born into a wealthy noble family was all good? Sometimes, only those involved could personally understand the true mixture of joy and suffering. Regarding the act of trading daughters like merchandise, Grandee Song's attitude was entirely one of disgust.

Therefore, without a second thought, he directly shook his head, completely ignoring Yun Yan's constant amorous winks from across the table.

"Many thanks, Uncle, but unfortunately, I am very satisfied with my current life. Furthermore, I have quite a few brothers under me who risk their lives for me. I cannot do something that would disappoint everyone."

"Little Friend Song, your thinking is flawed. If you join the Yun family, your properties will still be managed by you in the future. At that time, with the Sea of Clouds Pavilion supporting your Moon-Lacking Pavilion, your scale will instantly multiply several times over. The people under you will be too busy rejoicing to even speak of disappointment," Yun Laifu immediately analyzed for him. Yun Xi's eldest brother, Yun Jinglong, also spoke up with a look of concern:"Exactly, Brother Song.

Your Moon-Lacking Pavilion has just started, yet it doesn't lack people coveting it. The recent invasion by the Money Gang is the clearest proof. In the future, no one can say such things won't happen again. Without a solid backing, if the other party acts recklessly, how will you resist? You cannot be careless!" Toward their rhetoric, Song Que merely smiled and let it pass. Coming to Yangnan this time, he clearly realized that the Yun family wasn't as powerful as he had imagined.

Their so-called 'backing' could only be considered better than nothing. Furthermore, with his current soaring momentum, if the Yun family placed a massive bet and decided to submit to him, it would be acceptable. But for Master Song to submit to them? That was absolutely impossible. Thus, he very sincerely declined:"I thank everyone for thinking on my behalf, but when soldiers come, the general will block them; when water comes, the earth will dam it. I will find countermeasures for everything.

I've always been stubborn; I won't turn back until I hit my head until it bleeds. I can only let down the Yun family's good intentions." Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"Worthy Nephew Song, won't you reconsider a bit more?" Yun Tianxiang's tone inadvertently grew a few degrees heavier. Seeing this guy still nonchalantly shaking his head, Yun Laifu couldn't hold back and spoke coldly:"Young Hero Song, you must know that your main source of income right now comes from the Raging Fire Liquor sold on our behalf. You've gained no small benefit from this, haven't you? Currently, all external matters are spearheaded by our Yun family.

If outsiders were to know that all of this belongs to you, the visitors wouldn't be as simple as a tiny faction like the Money Gang. Young Noble Song, you should consider carefully before making a decision." These words already clearly revealed a threatening intent. The Yun family wanted to publicly announce that he possessed the recipe for the Raging Fire Liquor to force him into submission. Song Que's face also darkened:"Second Master Yun doesn't need to waste his mental effort on this.

I can guarantee that in all of Yangnan, no one will dare to make a move against our Moon-Lacking Pavilion. Even if there is, the other party wouldn't be someone the Yun family could resist anyway."

"Song Que, what do you mean by this?!"

"You..."

"Second Uncle!" Yun Xi shouted angrily.

"Father, Young Noble Song must have his own calculations for whatever he does. Our Yun family should just remain the Moon-Lacking Pavilion's most trusted ally as before. What need is there to use such harsh words?"

"Oh my, Seventh Sister, you haven't even married the man yet and your elbows are already turning outward, only caring about your lover," Yun Yan, who had long found her an eyesore, didn't miss the chance to throw out a caustic remark.

"Shut your mouth!"

"You..." The beautiful Yun Xi losing her temper was a rare sight, broadening Master Song's horizons. Almond eyes glaring, yet not lacking in authority. Tsk tsk, truly a domineering beautiful CEO!

"Enough! Shouting and making a scene in front of a guest, what kind of proper behavior is this?!" In the end, it was Yun Tianxiang who stepped forward to end this farce. Shouting down the two arguing Yun family daughters and conveniently tossing the previous issue aside, he continued to chat with Song Que about family matters as if nothing had happened. However, a barrier had already formed in everyone's hearts. This meeting couldn't be considered pleasant.

After chatting for a while longer, Master Song used an excuse to decline their invitation to stay for a meal. Bidding farewell to Yun Xi, he stood up and left. Judging from their attitude today, the Yun family people didn't hold much respect for him, their ally. They were just like everyone else, wanting to swallow him whole. If they truly viewed each other as equals, Yun Tianxiang wouldn't have tacitly approved of Yun Laifu's probing attack in the beginning.

Today, if it were someone else in his position—like Du Ruhui or even Lin Zhenjie—and the Yun family dared to act so presumptuously, the other party would immediately turn hostile without a second word. All of this was because they viewed Master Song as a country bumpkin. The Yun family is bestowing favor upon you; whether we praise you or beat you, it is all for your own good. You should obediently endure it. Grandee Song felt mentally exhausted.

Even at the very end, he still didn't truly understand what these people's ultimate goal was. A show of force to pressure me into submission? That seemed to be part of the idea, but not the whole picture. Unable to figure it out, he simply stopped trying. Shaking his head, he tossed the thoughts out of his mind, only able to sigh that the 'routines' of city folk were too deep...... The Yun Family. After seeing Song Que off, Yun Xi stormed back to the guest reception hall, boiling with anger.

"Father, what was the meaning of today?! I spent so much effort inviting him here, how could you act so recklessly?" With pig-like teammates like these, if they weren't her elders, she might have just pointed at their noses and cursed them out.

"What's the matter, Seventh Sister? Your lover got angry, and now you're taking it out on us? He's just a greenhorn brat. You act as if you've brought home some incredibly formidable figure." Yun Yan still secretly hated the dark-skinned brat for ignoring her charms over and over again today. Today, this bitch had flirted with her friend right in front of her face. Yun Xi had closed one eye and let it pass, but now she was still spouting caustic remarks! How could she endure it?

She scolded back without holding back:"Shut your mouth, you slut! If it weren't for Song Que today, could you have so proudly walked up to the second floor of the Moon-Gazing Pavilion?!"

"You... Father! Look at what she's calling me! She truly has no upbringing!" Yun Tianxiang was well aware that this girl, his youngest Seventh, was at odds with everyone else among his children. But for them to dare curse at each other right in front of him made his expression quite unsightly.

"All of you, shut up! Bickering all day long, don't you get tired?"

"Xi girl, I know you have invested heavily in this Song Que, and your judgment isn't bad. But from what I can see, his true nature isn't kind; he's like a white-eyed wolf that can never be tamed. If we don't give him a show of force right from the start to put him in his place, don't even dream of controlling him later. What your father and I did today was also with painstaking, well-meaning intentions. You don't need to harbor resentment because of it."

Hearing her Second Uncle's explanation, Yun Xi was so furious she laughed instead:"Control? Why do you constantly think about control?! Song Que is like a hidden dragon in the abyss; he's only waiting for the opportunity to ride the clouds and soar through the nine heavens! With the meager strength of our Yun family, you still think you can control him?! Father, Second Uncle, don't you find that laughable?!"