Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

The shipowners' congress was held as scheduled, and fifty-one shipowners, including Sun Chi, came with orders.

Nianyao stood in the main seat of the hall: "All of you uncles and brothers have come to attend the Shipowners' Conference with your orders. This is a sign of your trust in my father, your support for me, and even more so, your trust and support for the Great River Gang and Chongming Island. Nianyao thanks you."

This was Nianyao's first major shipbuilding conference since assuming the position of gang leader, and she was poised and courteous. Liu Lin's eyes were full of admiration; she was truly excellent.

Nianyao bowed in greeting, and the boatman returned the greeting before they sat down in order.

Qin Jiu suddenly said, "Young Master hasn't come. I'll go and call him."

After Qin Jiu finished speaking, he walked out of the main hall in a flash. Nian Yao sighed and raised her hand to stop him, but it was too late.

Liu Lin got up and moved a chair: "Brothers, please wait a moment."

Qin Jiu waved to Nan Fei from outside the tea room. Nan Fei jumped out: "Brother Jiu, what's up?"

Qin Jiu said in a low voice, "Today is the Shipowners' Conference. As the son-in-law of the Great River Gang, you must attend."

Luo An had been bedridden for two days, and had barely sat down in the tea room when another problem arose. Nan Fei resolutely refused: "No..."

"One hundred taels of silver, plus two levels of monthly allowance." Qin Jiu interrupted him: "You can sit there and daydream for no more than half an hour, or peel melon seeds and drink tea."

Just by changing locations to drink tea, peel melon seeds, and daydream, you can earn this much in half an hour? Nanfei asked skeptically, "You just give it to me like that?"

Qin Jiu said, "You don't believe me? Then forget it."

Qin Jiu made a move to leave, but Nan Fei grabbed him and said, "You'll get three more levels of pay per month."

Qin Jiu said decisively, "Deal. Hurry up, everyone's waiting."

Nanfei walked to the tea room in a few steps and put the teapot, teacups and melon seeds on a small tray: "Young master, let's go and peel melon seeds in another place."

Luo An remained motionless.

Nanfei was deeply saddened, his expression and voice revealing his grief: "Young Master, I've served as your apprentice for so many years, working like a slave, doing my utmost. I think of you when I eat good food, I remember you when I drink good beverages, I regularly have clothes sent to me, I frequently check the remaining sunflower seeds, I order on the appointed days, worried that the sunflower seeds won't be fresh if I order too early, and worried that we'll run out of food if I order too late... These past few days you haven't been feeling well, I've been preparing medicine and porridge for you, taking care of your personal hygiene and every little detail, working tirelessly day and night..."

Working tirelessly without sleep? Did he? How come he didn't know?

Nanfei was so moved that tears almost welled up in his eyes: "Honestly, I've never done anything to wrong you all these years. Is it really so difficult to ask you to sit somewhere else? Not even for half an hour? How can you bear to do this to me..."

Luo An gritted his teeth, got up, and left the tea room.

Qin Jiu said with a serious expression, "Young Master, come with me."

There was already an empty chair next to Nianyao across the coffee table. Qin Jiu led Luo An over: "Young Master, please sit here."

Luo An slowly sat down, and Nan Fei placed the tray on the coffee table, saying in a low voice, "Young Master, you can drink tea, peel melon seeds, or just daydream, it'll only take half an hour at most, just bear with it."

The main hall was silent. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Luo An stood with his eyes lowered and his hands clasped on his knees, motionless. Nan Fei stood tall behind Luo An, tilting his head slightly to admire the "Ten Thousand Miles of the Jingjiang River" painting opposite him: the river winding around the mountain cliffs, mist and clouds shrouding the towering peaks, a scene of both reality and illusion, distance and proximity…

Beautiful, truly beautiful! Nanfei felt he needed at least half an hour to study it. If things went smoothly this time, he could continue studying it next time.

Liu Lin coughed lightly and reminded him, "Chief, let's begin."

Nianyao's heart suddenly raced, and she felt a little nervous. She cleared her throat: "Since its establishment, the Dahe Gang has advocated mutual help and unity. I am young and my abilities are limited. I rely entirely on the loyal support of all my uncles and brothers to lead the Dahe Gang."

The Dahe Gang are upright businessmen, with a clear conscience and a clear conscience. Their rules explicitly forbid them from having private dealings with government officials, colluding with bandits, indiscriminately killing innocent people, or forcibly taking women. Ji Kongming betrayed the gang, colluded with mountain bandits, murdered a boat captain, and forcibly took a singing girl; his crimes deserve execution.

As the gang leader, it is my inescapable duty to eliminate the traitors and restore the gang's prestige. I have gathered you all here today for two reasons: First, to make my stance clear: I will defend the Great River Gang to the death, protect every boatman, and avenge our fallen brothers.

Secondly, let's discuss countermeasures. Ji Kongming has occupied Xiangshui, and will inevitably move to Jingjiang to fight us. This matter concerns the life and death of the Great River Gang. The entire Great River Gang must unite as one to achieve victory. Please, for yourselves, for your brothers, and for the Great River Gang, offer your suggestions and speak freely.”

There was a moment of silence in the hall. The news that Nianyao had been humiliated by Ji Kongming in Yuezhou and had slunk back to Chongming Island had already spread far and wide, and many ship captains were simply taking this opportunity to probe her background.

Nianyao looked around and called out, "Let's go in order, starting with Jingjiang No. 1. Uncle Sun..."

Sun Chi neither delivered the account book nor pledged allegiance to Ji Kongming. He hadn't said a word when he came last time, and he hadn't expected anything this time either. Now that he was the first to be targeted, he wasn't going to be polite.

Sun Chi said, "If we don't avenge Ji Kongming's killing of Li Bingjun, it will chill the hearts of all the brothers; the gang leader led about a hundred men to Yuezhou, which was extremely reckless, and he escaped death thanks to the help of Chief Yan... As a leader, one must be decisive in killing, listen to the advice of subordinates, be thoughtful and considerate, and have a broad mind. One cannot be bound by personal feelings and disregard the interests of the Great River Gang..."

Sun Chi spoke frankly, pouring out his pent-up frustrations from the last time and his anxieties from this time. Liu Lin tried to interrupt him several times but had no chance.

Nanfei couldn't help but shift his gaze from the Wanli Jingjiang Map to Nianyao. Even Luo An turned his head to look at Nianyao. The little girl's courage to face criticism was commendable.

Sun Chi said, "...In short, I hope that the gang leader will act more prudently next time and prioritize the overall situation."

Nianyao nodded slowly: "Erhu, have you memorized everything?"

Erhu kept writing without looking up: "I've memorized every single word."

Nianyao felt a chill on her back, but her expression remained unchanged. She said nonchalantly, "Continue, Jingjiang No. 2!"

With Sun Chi's excellent start, the rest was as smooth as the waters of the Jingjiang River. The ship captains talked about everything from personnel allocation, weapons procurement, food reserves, battle strategies, and coordination to a bright future, displaying an air of certain victory and certain defeat for their side.

Half an hour passed, and Nan Fei kept glancing at Qin Jiu. But Qin Jiu was so focused on her own thoughts that she didn't even notice his gaze.

Nanfei shifted his attention to Luo An, determined to hold him down firmly should Luo An get impatient and get up. He couldn't let the cooked duck fly away.

Fortunately, Luo An's eyes were slightly closed, and the old monk remained motionless in meditation.

Liu Lin concluded his speech: "Brothers, you have come with this order, representing our shared fate with the Great River Gang. The Great River Gang will not allow traitors to go unpunished. We will fight Ji Kongming to the bitter end to avenge our fallen brothers and bring peace to our surviving brothers."

It is now noon. Please return to your base immediately after lunch. The situation is urgent and cannot be delayed. Thank you again, brothers, for your unwavering support of the gang leader, Chongming Island, and the Dahe Gang.

Nan Fei let out a long sigh. It was supposed to be half an hour, but it's been more than an hour already. He had to ask Qin Jiu for extra compensation.