You're Strong But Now You're Mine-Chapter 157 - 156: Silver Blood Council

Due to the industrialization and collective labor, coupled with the developed market economy, information exchange among the people of Xuanzhu County is quite frequent. Gossip and rumors are almost a distinctive feature of Xuanzhu County.

Don’t be fooled by how lofty the Silver Blood Association seems; even the news within the Silver Blood Association often becomes the juicy gossip among the common people. For example, the dispute over inheritance among the four sons of the Jing Family, the eldest son of the Ting Family inheriting his father’s concubine, the only son of the Luo Family frequenting the Red Jade Sea... Even if the big families try to block the information, the workers are all servants, how could they keep it hidden? Inevitably, some rumors will leak out.

However, gossip about family inheritance disputes or aristocratic grudges only stays popular for a while and is forgotten within a few months as people turn to other topics. But there’s one topic that the people of Xuanzhu County have debated for centuries without reaching a conclusion; even a random child can speak about it with some authority.

And that is the ’headquarters’ of the Silver Blood Association.

Some say the headquarters of the Silver Blood Association is the Ting Family; the meetings of the Silver Blood Association are just the Ting Family discussing with the five major chambers of commerce, turning their will into the will of the eighty-eight chambers of commerce;

Others say the headquarters of the Silver Blood Association is actually in the Governor’s mansion, as the Silver Blood Association is always subject to the jurisdiction of the Governor’s mansion, and meetings must be held within the government;

Many even believe the headquarters are in an underground armory in the inner city, on a ghost ship at sea, or in a golden palace in the mountains, and whenever a meeting is needed, some members of the eighty-eight chambers of commerce disappear to the headquarters where the Silver Blood Association has accumulated its wealth for over a century...

Although the various conjectures differ greatly, one thing everyone can be sure of: the headquarters of the Silver Blood Association does indeed exist.

But unlike their guess about the rich, the headquarters of the Silver Blood Association is not an underground chamber full of firearms ready to revolt at any time, nor is it a mysterious ghost ship that can disappear without a trace, nor is it a golden palace built with a century of wealth—Le Yu doesn’t understand why so many people insist that the Silver Blood Association owns a golden palace; perhaps it’s like the emperor’s golden pitchfork.

In many speculations, people overly exalt the powers of the president of the Silver Blood Association, believing he can control the wealth of the eighty-eight chambers of commerce, turning his hand to call the gods and another to rule the world, money enough to kill a dog blocking his way.

In fact, this is impossible.

It’s not even possible to build a golden palace with the wealth of the eighty-eight chambers of commerce; even attempting to use Silver Blood’s funds to build a bridge or patch a road is watched by dozens of eyes.

And the legendary headquarters of Silver Blood is not so mysterious; it’s just an ordinary courtyard in the inner city. Except for those who have come here for meetings, others passing by wouldn’t even give it a second glance, thinking it no more than a private residence of some government official.

Why is everyone so curious about the exact location of the Silver Blood headquarters?

Because this is the power center of Xuanzhu County and the entire Dongyang region.

Although there are stratagems and calculations by the military, political, and commercial factions within the Silver Blood Association, to outsiders, Silver Blood is viewed as the actual governing body that completely controls the economy, military, politics, and even culture.

Even though the meetings within the Silver Blood Association are only attended by the eighty-eight chambers of commerce, their decisions are enough to influence the decisions of the people—unless it reaches an absolute, non-negotiable baseline; the decisions made by the eighty-eight chambers of Silver Blood must be accepted and conceded to by the Heyang Army and the Governor’s mansion.

Of course, the Silver Blood merchants rarely offend other ruling classes; most of the time they prefer to concede some interests for the sake of making money in peace, pulling others into their interest group, which is why the Silver Blood Association has expanded into such a colossal entity.

But the core of the Silver Blood Association remains the eighty-eight chambers. During official meetings, the chambers send representatives with decision-making powers to discuss the future of the merchants. The collective will formed in this council will be implemented in every corner of Xuanzhu County.

When Le Yu arrived, he wasn’t too nervous. Although things were a bit serious, he had the protection of the identity of the eldest son of the Jing Family, and others were there to share the blame. Could the Silver Blood Association really eat him alive?

Eighty-eight people, which sounds like a lot, but Le Yu had once danced the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in front of hundreds of people at the graduation party!

This small scene couldn’t possibly intimidate him, right?

Go ahead and kill me if you dare, there’s nothing to be afraid of!

Although Le Yu had given himself plenty of mental preparation upon arrival, stepping into the council chamber still made his heart race uncontrollably with anxiety!

He glanced at the people standing nearby, such as Ting Chaozao, and saw that their faces also looked grim. Qin Leyin no longer smiled, and Quan Xin was drenched in cold sweat, head down not daring to look forward.

Le Yu vaguely felt something was amiss: if these five, who are only unlucky scapegoats caught up in the mess, were this nervous, then wouldn’t he, the mastermind behind the scenes stirring trouble, be scared to the point of painfully honest confession later?

Clap.

As the creaking sound filled the air, the council chamber’s doors were closed tightly by the servants outside, shutting out the morning sunlight until not a crack remained, deepening the room’s dimness.

"Now that everyone is here..." A middle-aged man sitting at the head of the northern roundtable began to speak softly.

"Wait a moment." Suddenly, one of the northern roundtable members stood up: "Young Master Hongle, please come over and sit down."

Qin Leyin let out a relieved breath, nodded slightly to the other five, and strode over to sit down.

"Tsk."

Luo Zhen made no attempt to conceal his jealous grinding noises.

"Young Master Bo," someone stood up next to the head seat: "The Patriarch instructed, you sit here today."

"How can I feel right about it, with you all standing while I sit." Though he said this, Lan Jianbo quickly went over to sit down.

Le Yu still wondered if they had back problems, why did they seem so pleased when they got the chance to sit down? But just then, someone on the opposite side of the head seat stood up: "Eldest Son Jing."

Le Yu looked over and recognized him as a trusted confidant of the family, Jing Shou.

During family banquets, he had seen Jing Shou twice, though Jing Shou didn’t interact with anyone, silently eating, portraying a ’the bustle is all yours’ demeanor.

However, Jing Shou could be considered the chief executive officer of Jing Qingfu, directly managing most of the Jing Family’s industries, holding decision-making power especially in the likely event of Jing Qingfu leaving this world, inviting the whole family to feast underground.

Yet, true to his name, Jing Shou never engaged in any transgressive behavior, honestly safeguarding the Jing Family’s properties. When Jing Qingfu wanted to distribute industries to his sons, Jing Shou dutifully complied.

Normally he didn’t engage in forming alliances, and completed his tasks meticulously, which likely earned him Jing Qingfu’s complete trust.

Jing Zhengwei and Jing Zhengwu had attempted to approach him, but with Jing Shou being childless and unmarried at an older age, shunning indulgence in pleasures, they couldn’t even find a way to curry favor, nor did Jing Shou respond to their goodwill gestures.

According to Jing Zhengwei’s assessment, Jing Shou didn’t seem particularly capable, at best a conservative watchdog, but a rare loyal dog—it’s said even his name was given by Jing Qingfu, with his life’s purpose dedicated to fulfilling loyalty to the Patriarch.

His representation of the Jing Family in the Silver Blood councils was thus appropriate.

"Master instructed me," Jing Shou said: "From now on, the eldest son will attend the Silver Blood councils."

"Hmm!?"

"What?"

"It’s actually Jing Zhengwei..."

"’Blackthorn’ Jing Qingfu finally..."

"Is the Jing Family landing smoothly?"

The council room buzzed with murmurs, then the middle-aged man at the head produced a bell and shook it softly.

A piercing sound rang through the entire hall, causing everyone to slightly lose focus, instantly bringing silence.

Soul-Stabilizing Stone Bell!

A tool Ting Chaozao once used, a Ting Family heirloom, while having certain environmental demands, its successful use bewildered those affected into a dazed state!

"Quiet." The middle-aged man at the head said calmly.

Jing Shou made way, gesturing towards Le Yu: "Eldest Son, please."

Le Yu vaguely sensed this was some sort of internal ceremony within the Silver Blood Association, and as he walked over, he saw people all around casting envious, jealous, and flattering glances, even the likes of Luo Zhen and other second-generation heirs were no exception.

These looks seemed to perceive him as a lucky person hitting the lottery jackpot.

When Le Yu sat down, he immediately felt something unusual—

He melted.