Chapter 314: Chapter 58: Shouzhe Makes a Plan! Stirring Up the Storm_2
His expression was grave and unpleasant: "The Qianma Huangfu Family somehow acquired new weaving techniques. Whether for silk reeling or weaving silk, their costs are only half of ours."
"Now they’re purchasing all the cocoons in the surrounding areas at a price 50% higher than us, forcing us to raise our purchase price to meet the demand for raw silk and silk production and supply. But in doing so, we’re not only unable to profit, but we’re also continuously incurring losses."
"Under normal circumstances, our Changning Xu Family could still hold out. But now, our ancestors of the Changning Xu Family are gathering resources for a breakthrough to the Celestial Human Realm and are still short of over a hundred thousand Qian Gold. We had hoped to rely on silk income from the next ten years to secure a loan, but we didn’t expect to be intercepted by the Qianma Huangfu Family."
Xu Anbang worriedly said, "You know that our ancestors are already a hundred and sixty-five years old. The longer this drags on, the lower the chances of successfully entering the Celestial Human Realm."
"Have you considered selling off a large portion of assets again?" Wang Shouxin casually suggested.
"Shouxin, you may not know." Wang Liuqin spoke up for the first time, "Actually, the family has already mortgaged some assets. If we sell off more, it would severely injure the core of our family. If the ancestor’s breakthrough fails, the Changning Xu Family might decline rapidly."
Once a family shows signs of decline, it’s very likely to fall into a vicious cycle and continue to deteriorate.
Wang Liuqin’s concerns were not unfounded.
For a Celestial Human Family, completing the Celestial Human transition is no simple feat.
Failure once results in severe injury, and twice might mean the family can’t sustain itself.
For an Eighth-Grade Noble Family aiming to become a Celestial Human Family, it’s even more challenging, requiring fate, luck, and accumulation over a century or two.
A hundred and fifty years ago, the Changning Xu Family attempted to break into the Celestial Human Realm, but that ancestor failed and perished under the Celestial Tribulation.
It was from that time the Changning Xu Family began to show subtle signs of decline.
If we sell assets and attempt another failed breakthrough, maintaining even the Eighth-Grade Noble Family status over the next decades would be questionable for the Changning Xu Family.
Noble Families always find ascending difficult, but descending is frighteningly fast.
"The ancestor implies that he has at most a fifty percent chance of breaking through to the Celestial Human Realm this time." Xu Anbang said helplessly, "Even the ancestor himself is unwilling to stake everything. Otherwise, if he fails, how would he face our ancestors?"
These words have merit, because the Changning Xu Family is a three-hundred-year-old lineage. If they recklessly risk everything, what would become of the family?
Though entering the Celestial Human Realm is crucial, it’s more important for the family to continue peacefully and securely.
Xu Anbang took a deep breath, somewhat embarrassed yet still spoke: "Shouxin, Five Uncle knows our Ping’an Wang Family is doing very well now, with quite a cash surplus. I shamelessly ask you, could the Ping’an Wang Family lend us a hundred thousand Qian Gold, giving our ancestor a chance to break into the Celestial Human Realm."
Wang Shouxin frowned deeply: "The biggest issue now for the Changning Xu Family is that their pillar industry is being targeted, casting doubt on their future repayment capacity. If not for this, I believe the Changning Xu Family wouldn’t have approached us."
"That’s right." Xu Anbang’s face was somewhat defeatist, "The Huangfu Family’s attack at this moment is also intended to shake our ancestor’s resolve to attempt the Celestial Human breakthrough."
"They even sent intermediaries to hint that as long as the ancestor gives up this attempt, they don’t wish to rupture relations and will withdraw from the weaving industry."
Ascending to become a Celestial Human Family is the mutual desire of every Eighth-Grade Noble Family.
Yet the Changning Xu Family now faces a dilemma.
"Five Uncle, pardon my candidness." Wang Shouxin said sternly, "Once you start something, it becomes difficult to retract. Perhaps the Huangfu Family might keep their promise and withdraw from the weaving business temporarily. But who can guarantee that they won’t act against you in thirty or fifty years? Or does the Changning Xu Family intend to be suppressed generation after generation?"
Xu Anbang realized that the Ping’an Wang Family’s Wang Shouzhe likely had long considered this.
He immediately said, "Shouxin, let’s not beat around the bush. What’s Patriarch Shouzhe’s view?"
"We can lend the hundred thousand Qian Gold." Wang Shouxin stated, "But in the future woven industry sector of the Changning Xu Family, our Ping’an Wang Family must permanently hold a 40% share."
Xu Anbang’s expression changed drastically: "Shouxin, that’s going too far, isn’t it? Trying for 40% of our Xu Family’s shares for a mere hundred thousand Qian Gold seems like opportunism."
Seeing the tension rise, Wang Liuqin quickly intervened: "Patriarch, please hold your anger. I’m confident that Shouzhe and Shouxin aren’t opportunists; there must be more to this."
Xu Anbang’s expression eased slightly, though he still felt a bit displeased.
He fixed a cold gaze on Wang Shouxin, curious about his explanation.
"Actually, Five Uncle, you might not know." Wang Shouxin, after stirring his tea leaves, calmly dropped a bombshell, "For these years, our Ping’an Wang Family has also been researching silk reeling and weaving technologies. If it weren’t for our familial ties with the Changning Xu Family, it might not have been the Huangfu Family who forced them out first, but us."
What?!
Xu Anbang was so shocked that his teacup nearly slipped from his grasp.
Wang Liuqin and her husband were equally taken aback.
No matter how much they racked their brains, they didn’t foresee this. Yet proving such a thing would be straightforward, and Wang Shouxin had no reason to deceive them.
Wang Shouxin had seemingly anticipated their reaction, maintaining his composure.
The Silkworm Manor had always been his responsibility, and under the guidance of his fourth brother, he, along with the estate managers, gradually developed new technologies. No one was more qualified to speak on this matter than he was.
He candidly explained some of the manpower or water-powered reeling and weaving equipment efficiencies developed by the Ping’an Wang Family. He then said, "Five Uncle, once our two families collaborate, with our advanced technology, we can instead ensnare the Huangfu Family, making it impossible for them to extricate themselves."
Xu Anbang’s expression grew increasingly fascinating.
Being a capable patriarch with a deep understanding of the family’s pillar industry—textiles—his mind raced with possibilities.
If everything Wang Shouxin said was true, it wouldn’t just be as simple as holding back the Huangfu Family.
The future could potentially see a massive expansion in production capacity, involving continuous mergers and growth. In such a case, even granting 40%, 50%, or 60% of the shares, the Changning Xu Family would still profit greatly.
However, after the initial excitement, he settled back into thoughtfulness: "Patriarch Shouzhe is indeed a capable figure who can revitalize the Wang Family. This move of his seems to involve us facing off against the Huangfu Family, at least requiring them to divert some of their efforts and resources, right?"
"Naturally. Otherwise, why should our Ping’an Wang Family loan out a hundred thousand Qian Gold for only a 40% stake?" Wang Shouxin answered calmly, "Moreover, Five Uncle needn’t overly fear the Huangfu Family. Shouzhe’s fourth brother has a strategy that can make the Huangfu Family end up failing to outwit us, dragging them into a costly quagmire."
Xu Anbang’s eyes sparkled, nearly consenting immediately.
Nevertheless, he eventually said, "This is a significant matter, and I need to discuss it with our ancestors. An Feng, Liuqin, please see Shouxin back to his rest."
"Yes, Patriarch."
Wang Liuqin and Xu Anfeng responded in unison.
Subsequently, Wang Shouxin rose to bid farewell.
His mission for today was already accomplished. Faced with such a temptation and underlying resentment towards the Huangfu Family, his objective was achieved.
He spent a little more time talking with Fifth Aunt and Fifth Uncle, making small talk. Only when night fell did he return to his room in Lixiang Garden.
But when he did, his legs nearly gave out beneath him, and he almost ran away.
Only to see Xu Chunyun, a little drunk, her cheeks slightly flushed, beckoning him with her finger: "Husband, come here."
No, I’m not going over there. You’re so bewitching, you’re going to eat me alive?
"Shouxin, get over here now!"
"Chunyun, don’t be impulsive. Let’s talk this over properly."
"No, today I’m excited. Do whatever you want."
"No, don’t do anything hmf..."
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