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Quan Shaoqing tossed the document in his hand onto the table and said indifferently, "Do you really want to collaborate with this kind of invader to open a mine? They’re the kind that devour people without even spitting out their bones."

"They’d have to be able to swallow me first," Quan Gui replied, holding a teacup and taking a sip, his tone icy cold. Despite his graying beard, he was still spirited and bright-eyed.

"I have no opinion, but if it were me, I’d never work with them.

It would tarnish your reputation," Quan Shaoqing said as he stood up and dusted off his clothes.

He lacked the talent for business, had no love for meticulous planning, and liked deception even less.

He was altogether disinterested in such collaborations.

Quan Gui glanced at him and sighed involuntarily, "You! If only you had half your brother’s business sense, I wouldn’t have to worry about our lack of a successor."

The old man felt heavy-hearted as he set down the teacup and suddenly remembered something.

Addressing Quan Shaoqing, who was about to leave, he said, "Didn’t you bring your wife home?

As the elder of the family, I should meet her!

Stop hiding her; no one in this house is going to steal her from you. "

"Sure thing! Just keep your subordinates away from me. If she gets hurt by accident, I won’t take any responsibility," Quan Shaoqing hinted at the likes of Wen Lu who could perform the Invisibility Technique around Quan Gui. After all, having someone who could turn invisible by your side isn’t really safe, right!

Quan Gui was left speechless for a moment, then said to the beautiful woman beside him, "Tell everyone to stand down, and give them the night off."

"Yes, Chairman!" The gorgeous woman bowed respectfully and retreated.

Gu Xiaoxi, dressed in her clothes, came down the spiral staircase to find the room empty. While she was curious, she saw Quan Shaoqing pushing open a door on the second floor.

Seeing her, Quan Shaoqing immediately smiled and waved to her, saying, "Wife, over here!"

Gu Xiaoxi lifted her skirt and walked over. Quan Shaoqing looked at her light blue gown, swaying gracefully, pleased with how she dressed, and complimented, "My wife looks so beautiful."

"Stop it with the flattery, what did you call me over for!" Gu Xiaoxi’s cheeks turned slightly red, remembering this big bad wolf, not only dark-hearted but downright wicked.

Quan Shaoqing immediately said with a serious face, "My dad wants to see you!"

"Ah! Where is he?" Gu Xiaoxi looked around frantically, her heart skipping a beat.

Quan Shaoqing pointed inside the room through the door.

Gu Xiaoxi turned to stone in an instant! She had imagined all kinds of scenarios for meeting her in-laws, but at that moment, her mind went blank.

It took a while before she realized that this was her father-in-law’s home.

She had slept until dark without even realizing he had returned!

Damn!

Gu Xiaoxi was dumbfounded and was pulled into the study by Quan Shaoqing.

She looked at the kind-looking old man in front of her, her palms sweating, not being able to utter a single word for quite some time. In any case, she felt she had been rude.

"Call him ’Dad,’ silly girl!" Quan Shaoqing wrapped an arm around her shoulder, quickly reminding her.

Gu Xiaoxi immediately responded, her cheeks burning red, nervously calling out, "Dad!"

"Don’t be so formal, this is your home. Just like in your own house, come sit down, and try dad’s treasured Xuelv tea," Quan Gui said with a warm smile. At this moment, the woman who had prepared the tea returned. She immediately respectfully brewed a cup of fine tea for Gu Xiaoxi.

Gu Xiaoxi wasn’t accustomed to drinking tea and couldn’t tell the taste, but she was also attracted by the rich aroma.

"Xiao Xi, your performance in the world competition was very good!" Quan Gui said with a kind face, praising her without hesitation.

Quan Shaoqing, with one arm around Gu Xiaoxi’s waist, sat beside her, offering gentle protection.

Gu Xiaoxi

Quan Gui had his secretary hand over the documents he was holding to Gu Xiaoxi.

It was the very same one that Quan Shaoqing had just looked at.

The head of Xuan State wanted Quan Gui’s help to mine in Dafen Country for three years, making use of his company, subordinates, and tools, promising him fifty percent of the profits.

Upon reading, Gu Xiaoxi couldn’t help but click her tongue in amazement. She closed the contract, smiled, and said, "He really is generous, a fifty-fifty split. This could indeed be a big windfall for you."

Quan Gui immediately revealed a cunning smile and nodded, "Exactly!"

But there were hidden dangers, and he didn’t know if she had seen them.

Plainly speaking, he wanted to test if this daughter-in-law had a mind for business.

"But while he reaps the benefits and makes money without effort in the background, you do the work, and in the end, you’ll be seen as an enemy by the people of Dafen Country.

They’ll think you’re the robber who plundered their resources, and your name will go down in history, cursed by future generations for thousands of years," Gu Xiaoxi clearly understood the advantages and disadvantages here.

At the same time, she had to admit, the guy from Xuan State sure knew how to calculate.

Not just calculating against Dafen Country, but now even plotting against merchants.

Merchants, driven by profit, naturally wouldn’t care about their reputation, as long as they made money. So, the plan was to secretly sign the contract, then find someone to make money for them. They would enjoy the benefits without lifting a finger, and rake in both fame and fortune.

Eating people without spitting out the bones must be like this.

Quan Gui immediately clapped his hands, laughing in an extremely crafty manner, and asked Gu Xiaoxi, "So, Xiao Xi thinks what is the best course of action for me to take?"

Gu Xiaoxi looked up, glanced at the old man, saw the confidence in his demeanor, and laughed, "Dad, don’t you already have a decision in mind?"

"Although I have a decision, I am old now. I still want to hear what the younger generation thinks," Quan Gui immediately explained.

Gu Xiaoxi indeed had ideas and thought there was no harm in sharing them.

So, she spoke in an indifferent tone, "From a businessman’s perspective, it is a sizable profit.

If you don’t take it, someone else will.

But we cannot be the ones to take the blame.

While mining, we should also set up charitable organizations in Dafen Country, build schools, and pave roads to help the poor.

I think you can probably gain both fame and fortune as well.

As for the public opinion in the background, get a few newspapers to stir things up.

Kick this black pot back to the scoundrels of Xuan State and let them carry it. "

Because she had experienced the war in Dafen Country, she found that although the country was rich in gold and other precious minerals and its citizens were quite wealthy, everyone was too content with their lives.

The level of education was not high, road transportation was poor, and the gap between the rich and the poor was too wide, leading to some chaos in their economy.

From a businessman’s point of view, mining there really did feel somewhat exploitative. But if a portion of the profits were given back to them, it could likely soothe the uneasy conscience.

After all, in the law of the jungle, even if you don’t do it, someone else will. Perhaps, others could do it even more ruthlessly.

As for the scheming of Xuan State, whoever had the power to control the economy had the right to speak. If the opposition was calculating against them, they could fully calculate in return. This loss had to be swallowed silently by the opponent.

She had never been a good person, so while her actions and words were never too extreme, she definitely would not suffer losses.

Upon hearing Gu Xiaoxi’s opinions and analysis, Quan Gui’s eyes lit up, and he stood up excitedly from the sofa.

One had to admit, Gu Xiaoxi’s approach was decisive, authoritative, and thoroughly considered from all aspects.

Xuan State indeed threw him a juicy piece of meat, but it wasn’t easy to enjoy it because the meat had been tainted.

If he wanted to partake, he would be labeled an invader by others.

But as Gu Xiaoxi suggested, by doing good deeds and making contributions, then stirring up the media later, the people of Dafen Country would see the reality.

Let Xuan State carry that bad reputation.

He was just a kind-hearted and benevolent merchant.

And he would be the one to gain both fame and fortune!

"Excellent!" Quan Gui immediately clapped excitedly, "You truly are Shaoqing’s beloved wife. This insight is much stronger than Shaoqing’s. You’ve thought much farther ahead than I did."

Gu Xiaoxi didn’t know how to respond to the praise and quickly tried to deflect with a shy explanation, "Maybe it’s because I’ve experienced these people’s schemes that I consider more. Dad, you flatter me."

"No! Your suggestions and views are excellent, even more concrete than what I had in mind. I’ve been troubled by this contract all day long.

This piece of fat from Dafen Country is a dilemma, to eat or not to eat.

Now I finally have a way to wash clean this dirty piece of fat and cook it well before eating it," Quan Gui continued to applaud in amazement.