Protect Our Clan Leader

He gaped at Wang Shouzhe for a long while before saying, “Little brother, you wouldn’t be trying to deceive me, would you? Or set me another trap to fall into? Given my current situation… Is there any chance for me to redeem myself?”

“The cause of the insect plague and the reason why Insecticide Powder is gradually losing its effect, as well as the direction for the research on New Bug-killing Powder…” Wang Shouzhe stated lightly, “If this information is not enough for Old Brother Qian to turn his fate around, then I have misjudged you.”

“Is this true?” Qian Zhushi suddenly stood up, a powerful aura erupting from him that equaled the peak of the Vital Energy Refining Realm. His eyes sparkled, “If this is a significant contribution, then you, Shouzhe, are a true brother to me, Qian Xue’an.”

What a powerful aura!

Even Wang Shouzhe was slightly surprised. Qian Zhushi kept his abilities hidden, but he was at such a high level of cultivation. Truly impeccable for the affluent Qian Family of Longzuo County. Even a minor official within a branch was this powerful.

With a glimpse into their power, it could be seen just how formidable the Qian family of Longzuo County was.

“Is Principal Qian using this major achievement to seek a chance to break through to the Spirit Platform Realm?” Wang Shouzhe narrowed his eyes slightly, noticing that Qian Zhushi was demonstrating his aura not in a random manner, but to express his value and potential.

“You understand me, little brother,” Qian Xuean returned to his harmless smile after showing off his strength, “To be honest, I am a side branch son of one of the Qian Family bloodlines. My status and treatment can be imagined within the family, the difficulties I faced to get where I am today. If there is no major contribution, the chance of seeking family support to break through to Spirit Platform Realm is very slim. No matter the result, I would be grateful, if you provide me with support.”

“Old Brother Qian, do you know why I did not submit this achievement to the Academic Palace myself?” Wang Shouzhe laughed, as if testing Qian Xuean’s wisdom.

“The issue of Insecticide Powder is very significant, while your Ping’an Wang Family is weak,” Qian Xuean said with the same cheerful smile, “Even if you contributed your research findings to the Academic Palace, they might not be grateful given their condescending attitudes. But the Qian Family of Longzuo is different. With this information, we can negotiate with the Academic Palace. Even if we can get an additional tenth of the profits from selling the New Bug-killing Powder, that would be a huge amount of money! So, you chose to give me this big accomplishment, it is what you termed before… ”

“Maximizing benefits,” Wang Shouzhe filled in, sipping his tea.

“Exactly, that’s the word,” Qian Xuean reiterated solemnly. “But there is a condition for this: I must show gratitude towards you, Shouzhe. We can sign a secret pact about this, and if I betray it, you can make it public and ruin my reputation completely. As you know, our Qian Family values trustworthiness, you know what would happen if one’s personal reputation is ruined.”

This Qian Zhushi is indeed a clear-headed friend.

Wang Shouzhe calmed his heart. In these times, the fear is casting pearls before swine, wasting efforts on a thankless person.

Through previous interactions with Qian Xuean, he realized that Qian was a person who paid great attention to details and was sensitive at heart. Otherwise, how could he have come this far being a side son of a direct bloodline in the family?

“Old Brother Qian, if we sign this secret pact, we will be on the same boat,” Wang Shouzhe asked one last time, “Are you sure about this?”

Qian Xuean pondered for a moment before speaking: “If the pact was with someone else, I would have needed to consider it.” He paused, then looked intently at Wang Shouzhe, saying earnestly, “But forming a secret pact with you, Shouzhe brother, is a desirable opportunity for me. You are discreet yet daring, and your ability to turn situations around impresses me greatly. I firmly believe that standing on the same side as you is my lifelong fortune.”

His words may seem exaggerated, but Wang Shouzhe could feel Qian’s genuine sincerity, and he decided immediately to draft the secret pact.

Abiding by the principle of letting the wicked go first, Wang Shouzhe painstakingly drafted the pact with comprehensive and unambiguous terms, specifying the mutual responsibilities and duties.

When Qian Xuean finished reading the alliance contract, he found himself frozen in place, not because the terms were too complicated or demanding, but because they were overly simple and equal. In his mind, his own future either ended dismal or soared to incredible heights, but all of it was in the grasp of Wang Shouzhe.

Even if the terms were a bit harsher, it would have been normal, at least he had mentally braced himself for it.

“Brother Shouzhe, this contract…” Qian Xuean furrowed his eyebrows slightly, “Perhaps more restricting clauses for me should be added?”

“Old Brother Qian, I am looking for allies not underlings.” Wang Shouzhe said while leisurely sipping his tea. “Since we are allies, naturally we should adhere to principles of fairness and justice, mutual respect and mutual assistance. If there comes a day when you feel the alliance has lost its meaning, you can refer to the last clause, with a compensation of 10,000 Qian Gold, the alliance can be annulled.”

Qian Xuean took a deep breath, signed and stamped both contracts, then bowed deeply, “The breadth of Shouzhe’s mind is something I’ve rarely seen in my life. I swear, as long as you don’t betray me, I will not betray you, or else may I be struck by lightning and die.”

“Your words are too serious, Brother. From today onward, we are brothers, sharing honor and disgrace together.” Wang Shouzhe was very satisfied with this outcome. After collecting the contract, he handed the previously prepared documents to Qian Xuean, “How to operate next, I believe you understand better than me.”

Qian Xuean concentrated on the documents, the more he read, the more fascinated he became, “Incredible, incredible, yet it makes perfect sense. Brother Shouzhe, this information is extremely precious, it can prevent future batches of Insecticide Powder from becoming ineffective again.”

This document was written by Wang Shouzhe himself, trying as much as possible to express in simple and clear language how the honey bugs developed resistance, and if one wants to kill the current drug-resistant honey bugs, the old formula of Insecticide Powder needs to be adjusted.

As for how to adjust and how to experiment, Wang Shouzhe did not offer any advice, letting the Academic Palace find out on its own.

Furthermore, Wang Shouzhe hadn’t considered at all about developing a new Insecticide Powder, the interests involved in this were just too big. This was the equivalent of levying an insecticide tax on all the fertile lands in Longzuo County, the astronomical interests involved could easily crush the Wang family.

“Okay okay okay, with this great contribution.” Qian Xuean’s eyes sparkled, “If I can’t make good use of this, then I’ve lived my 38 years in vain.”

He solemnly stored the contract, and said to Wang Shouzhe with a grin, “Brother Shouzhe, I must admit. If it wasn’t for this great contribution, I would truly hate you, you played your cards too well. But now, well, I can only say brother, you’ve done well.”

“I just went with the flow.” Wang Shouzhe smiled, “How much are you shopkeepers planning to pay to redeem the contract?”

“Originally, we shopkeepers had a psychological bottom line of twice the price of the contract. Of course, the best scenario would be to make you back off, and settle it with a few thousand Qian Gold.” Qian Xuean squinted his fat eyes, “However, this locust plague is very fierce, various prominent families predict that without effective measures, the production could decrease by 60 to 70 percent, which is equivalent to a loss of about ten Copper Coins per acre. If disaster relief could be applied in time with a double dose of Insecticide Powder, the loss could be reduced to one or two Copper Coins.”

“So according to Brother, the psychological bottom line of those prominent families is about six Copper Coins per acre for Insecticide Powder?” Wang Shouzhe has also made calculations about this, and he laughed, “Then won’t the Qian Family’s trade firm not only not lose, but make a profit by buying back the contract at twice the price?”

“Wrong.” Qian Xuean squinted and smiled, “The psychological bottom line of those prominent families is at least twelve Copper Coins, or even more. Furthermore, they would have to beg us, the Qian Family, to sell to them, because the existing stock of Insecticide Powder is far from enough to save all the prominent families.”

“Instead of making more losses, they might as well not invest, and just let the crops decrease.” Wang Shouzhe frowned, not quite understanding.

“You should know, Brother, that the Daqian law prohibits manipulating grain prices during years of surplus and disaster, which on the surface seems like an excellent policy to pacify the people.” Qian Xuean sneered, shaking his head, “But in fact during the years of disaster, it actually does more harm than good. Merchants don’t get up early without profits. If the price of grain doesn’t rise, how many merchants are willing to transport grain all the way to Longzuo?” “Therefore, the overall shortage of food in Longzuo has become a confirmed situation. Most of the prominent families have enough grain reserves to cope with the disaster, but there will inevitably be a considerable part of the population who even with money would find it difficult to buy grain. Just take our entire Changning County for example, the total population is over half a million, but the total number of fertile lands is only 1.5 million acres.”