Chương 6: Agreement
Shortly after, Li Ming found himself seated at a dinner table with Li Xuan's family. His heart was beating rapidly, reflecting his troubled mind. He hadn't anticipated being invited to a dinner.
Five individuals occupied the room, including Li Xuan and Li Ming. Li Xuan ended up sitting beside him, while a beautiful, mature woman sat across from her. Despite her older appearance, she possessed a youthful countenance without a single wrinkle. The young man seated in front of Li Ming seemed a few years younger than Li Xuan and occasionally stole glances, his curiosity evident.
However, the most significant presence in the room was the middle-aged man sitting diagonally from them. With a single glance, Li Ming could sense an extraordinary aura befitting his status as the patriarch. Exuding authority and wisdom, his muscular physique spoke of years of martial training and discipline.
The dinner passed in silence, with no words exchanged until everyone finished their meal. It was then that the mature woman suddenly grabbed the young man's arm, ushering them outside and leaving the three alone. Seizing the moment, Li Changming, the patriarch of the Li Clan, introduced himself.
"I am Li Changming, the patriarch of the Li Clan and Li Xuan's father. I wish to express my gratitude for assisting my daughter," Li Changming began, disregarding Li Ming's attempts to downplay his involvement.
Li Ming awkwardly smiled, confirming that they were talking in a formal, yet graceful. He had expected it and tried it himself, but he still had some trouble talking this way. But he was determined to do it since he had to adapt to this world. He replied, "You don't have to. As I told her, I simply passed by."
Ignoring his response, Li Changming continued, "I have been informed that you seek to acquire oil in bulk. Is that correct?"
Li Ming paused for a moment, his expression growing serious. "Yes, that's correct."
"I see." Li Changming stroked his short beard thoughtfully. "In that case, can you enlighten me as to how you plan to use the oil?"
Li Ming shook his head, hesitating to reveal too much. "There are many ways to utilize oil, but I'm afraid I cannot disclose my specific intentions. However, I can say that I intend to use it in a manner different from common practices."
Li Changming, apparently changing his line of questioning, raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Nonetheless, it is quite challenging to find oil in this land. Do you believe you can discover it?"
Li Ming sensed something peculiar about Li Changming's sudden shift in inquiries. It dawned on him that he was being tested. His appearance differed from the locals, making it difficult to establish trust.
From the way he conducted and his equipment, Li Ming resembled a spy from a foreign land. Li Changming sought to ascertain whether Li Ming possessed the knowledge to support his claims.
Amused by the situation, Li Ming inwardly remarked, "Haha, I anticipated this." He raised two fingers and replied, "There are a few steps that can make the process of finding oil slightly easier. By examining rocks and analyzing surface formations, for example. However, I'm afraid I cannot elaborate further."
Li Changming closed his eyes momentarily, contemplating Li Ming's response. The latter purposely hinted at the methodology without divulging all the information, waiting for their acceptance before sharing the rest.
"Alright, I understand," Li Changming said finally. "I can authorize it, but as the patriarch of the clan, I cannot spend excessive funds without a valid reason, can I?"
Li Ming had prepared for this question and responded with awareness, recalling his discussion with Eyses.
...
A moment ago.
"I understand the need for surveying, exploration, testing, and refining. However, considering the size of this clan, they undoubtedly seek profit as well. Do you have a business strategy in mind?" Li Ming had asked Eyses.
After processing the request, Eyses generated a few options:
Resource Development: Actively seeking and developing new oil reserves.
Strategic Alliances: Forming alliances for resource, knowledge, and technology sharing.
Economic Diversification: Expanding beyond martial arts.
Education and Training: Focusing on oil-related skills and firearms.
Recalling this, Li Ming knew he couldn't be too greedy and had to consider future prospects. He raised a finger and proposed, "We can actively seek and develop new oil reserves, accumulating a significant amount of oil while introducing novel applications. Through this approach, we should be able to gain various benefits, from financial gain to influence."
Li Changming furrowed his brows, expressing interest. Li Xuan, who had been listening attentively, muttered to herself, "Seeking and developing new reserves will take time. It presents numerous opportunities to learn from him and exploit his knowledge to our advantage."
Li Changming posed another question, "How do you propose to split the proceeds?"
"I will provide you with knowledge and technology, and you will supply the manpower and grant me access to exploit the resources on your land. As for the split, how about a 50-50 division?" Li Ming suggested.
"50-50?" Li Changming appeared surprised by the proposed split. Although he would contribute the manpower and land, he couldn't exploit the oil without Li Ming's knowledge. Consequently, the split proved advantageous to him. He could absorb all the knowledge from Li Ming and eventually negotiate a more favorable share.
To demonstrate his generosity, Li Changming stated, "In that case, I agree. However, we will split the gross gain. I will be responsible for the workers' wages and other expenses."
Li Ming widened his eyes, expecting them to be more avaricious. It became apparent that they were astute individuals, much smarter than he initially assumed.
"Father!" Li Xuan suddenly rose from her seat and clasped her hands together.
Li Changming nodded, acknowledging her. "Since Mr. Li Ming was the one who saved you, it is only fitting that you take the lead in this collaboration."
"Thank you for your trust, Father," Li Xuan expressed gratefully.
Li Changming then turned to Li Ming, clasping his hands. "Mr. Li, although my daughter is a woman, she possesses exceptional intelligence and power. I hope you don't mind if she assists you in this collaboration."
Li Ming understood the implications. In this world, women often held lower standing within families, and it wasn't surprising that Li Changming felt compelled to apologize. However, a peculiar thought crossed his mind. "This woman is intelligent and beautiful. She doesn't seem to be useless. Instead of dealing with a stern old man, wouldn't it be better to have her by my side as long as we achieve our goals? It's like killing two birds with one stone."
Li Ming reciprocated the gesture, following their traditional customs. "Please do not worry. As long as we accomplish our objectives, I don't mind working with anyone."
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