"The First Madam, please understand. At that time, I had already arranged the opera troupe and negotiated the price, but then the old family head was severely injured and lost years of his life. After that... I have been helping you and had no time to manage this matter."
Madam Feng's face turned awkward upon hearing this.
Zhu Xiaosuo coughed twice.
Over twenty years ago, when Zhu Fulu was seriously injured and his lifespan greatly reduced, he began frantically taking concubines.
Zhu Liusong had to put aside his business to wholeheartedly help the First Madam deal with those concubines and young masters.
His plan had been shelved until now.
Zhu Xiaosuo said, "Zhu Liusong, draft a detailed plan for the opera troupe for me. I'll take a look first. If there are no issues, proceed with the negotiations according to your plan."
"Thank you for your trust, Family Head!"
Zhu Xiaosuo, Madam Feng, and Zhuang Yun reviewed Zhu Liusong's "Mountain Chicken County Entertainment District Plan" and praised it highly.
The core goal was to increase customer flow.
The key point was that new projects would drive the business of surrounding teahouses and brothels.
The implementation method was to build a Zhu Clan entertainment troupe centered on drama, supplemented by various performing arts and acrobatics.
Around these three basic structures, Zhu Liusong proposed many feasible plans.
Even Zhu Xiaosuo, who had traveled from the future, couldn't help but call it professional.
He had initially worried that Zhu Liusong's plan wouldn't be grounded enough and that he would need to steer the direction himself.
He had underestimated Madam Feng's chief steward.
It seemed his experience could only offer suggestions on packaging and promotion.
"Alright, since that's the case, our negotiation must secure the entertainment industry in Mountain Chicken County!"
After a few more days of preparation, Zhuang Yun and Zhu Xiaosuo happily attended the meeting.
In the cultivation world, the strong are respected.
The highest cultivation level participant this time was a Bone Transformation Stage cultivator invited by the Niu Clan.
Therefore, the negotiation location was set by the Niu Clan.
It was held at the most luxurious banquet restaurant in Mountain Chicken County—Screaming Tower.
This time, only cultivators were present.
"Thank you all for gracing us with your presence. This is Elder Zhou Bi from Immortal-Knocking Town."
Niu Shilin hosted and first introduced the Bone Transformation Stage cultivator.
"Greetings, Elder Zhou."
Zhou Bi nodded slightly and specifically returned a salute to Zhuang Yun.
As expected, Zhuang Yun wasn't exaggerating. Although he was at the Rebirth Stage, his status as an Immortal Sect disciple commanded respect from the Bone Transformation Stage elders of the cultivator clans.
"Elder Zhou, you've arrived? Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come here."
Ma Baoying greeted warmly.
Zhou Bi, however, ignored her.
"Please, everyone, take a seat. Tonight's matters, you all can discuss. I'm just here as a witness."
Zhou Bi took his seat, brewed a pot of tea for himself, and then closed his eyes to rest.
Ma Baoying's face turned awkward for a moment, but she quickly composed herself, pretending nothing happened.
The cultivators from the Niu, Ma, Yang, and Zhu families also took their seats one by one.
Soon, the table was filled with delicious food and wine.
Everyone took a few bites, then put down their chopsticks and looked at Niu Shilin.
Although the food and wine at Screaming Tower were exceptional, Niu Shilin knew that no one cared; the main event was the negotiation.
He also put down his chopsticks and said, "Today, I've invited you all here not just for a lively gathering, but also to discuss something else."
Everyone looked at Niu Shilin.
"Anyone who's ever kept a cat or dog knows that these little creatures, though seemingly insignificant, have their own territories and usually don't interfere with each other. If even cats and dogs have such habits, we cultivators should clearly define boundaries and establish rules to avoid accidentally harming each other."
After opening the topic, Niu Shilin poured himself a glass of wine and drank it in one go.
"The last time we discussed this matter, it was Zhu Fulu who represented the Zhu Clan. Unfortunately, fate was unkind, and Zhu Fulu passed away young."
He sighed with a bitter expression.
"But fortunately, Zhu Xiaosuo is young and promising and hasn't let the Zhu Clan decline because of it. Now that the dust has settled, we should discuss this again. What do you all think?"
Ma Weixin was the first to speak:
"It's fine with me. We can stick to the previous allocation among the Niu, Ma, Yang, and Zhu families. I think the previous division was quite good."
Niu Daihao also said:
"I agree. The previous allocation method was discussed for a long time and was widely accepted."
He had expected Niu Daijie, who had killed Zhu Sixiu and caused trouble for the Zhu Clan, to speak up.
To Zhu Xiaosuo's surprise, Niu Daijie, who had always liked to provoke him, remained silent, sipping tea on the side.
According to the previous allocation, the Zhu Clan's share of the business was less than ten percent of all the business in Mountain Chicken County.
Of course, this was unacceptable.
Zhu Xiaosuo then looked at Yang Linqiu and Yang Shuru:
"What is the Yang Clan's stance?"
Yang Linqiu chuckled and passed the ball back:
"If the three of you agree, then the Yang Clan has nothing to say."
The Yang Clan's attitude was clear: they had no stance.
Now that he knew the three families' attitudes, Zhu Xiaosuo thought for a moment and said:
"If you're planning to negotiate like this, then I have to say that Elder Zhou has made this trip in vain."
After speaking, he cupped his hands and got up to leave.
Zhou Bi waved his hand, and Zhu Xiaosuo instantly felt his entire body bound by powerful spiritual energy, unable to move.
With a casual gesture from a Bone Transformation Stage cultivator, Zhu Xiaosuo was powerless to resist.
This made him grateful that he had ruined Zhuang Yun's breakthrough opportunity earlier.
Otherwise, he would be at everyone's mercy now, with no escape.
Zhou Bi smiled and said:
"Clan Head Zhu, sit down. Negotiations are about give and take. In negotiations, you start with a high asking price and then negotiate down. They've made an offer; you can counteroffer, right?"
"Yes, Elder Zhou."
Zhu Xiaosuo felt the binding spiritual energy disappear and returned to his seat.
Ma Weixin sneered:
"Just a mere Rebirth Stage, Third Layer, and you dare to put on airs? How do you have the nerve?"
Zhu Xiaosuo looked at Ma Weixin and said word by word:
"Ma Daoist, did you have a great figure like Elder Zhou present during your last negotiation?"
"Hmph, this time it's Elder Zhou giving us face."
Zhu Xiaosuo laughed:
"Ma Daoist, if you're not foolish, you should understand that Elder Zhou is here not to give face to your Ma Clan or the Niu Clan, but to give face to my Zhu Clan, understand?"
After speaking, he tapped the table with his finger and glanced around.
Why was Zhou Bi here?
Wasn't it to balance the Zhu Clan, lest Zhuang Yun's status as an Immortal Sect disciple became too dominant?
"Remember, it's because my Zhu Clan is at this negotiation table that Elder Zhou has graciously come to Mountain Chicken County. If it were just your three families negotiating, do you think you could invite Elder Zhou?"
As Zhu Xiaosuo spoke, everyone looked at Zhou Bi.
Zhou Bi remained with his eyes closed, showing no reaction.
Ma Baoying played the peacemaker:
"We're all here today to have a good discussion. Clan Head Zhu is young and energetic. If you want to vent, there are plenty of opportunities; it doesn't have to be at this table, right, Clan Head Zhu?"
The Ma family's aunt and niece played the roles of good cop and bad cop so well that Zhu Xiaosuo almost wanted to invite them to join the opera troupe.