Junior Uncle is too cunning.

After closing the list of priests, Li Shundao pondered slowly, deciding to wait and see what tomorrow would bring.

……

"Fire Love" has something new to say!

This immediately attracted the attention of merchants throughout the city. Qiao An led his men, divided into five teams, and began negotiating cooperation with each merchant according to the list in their hands.

Basically, Qiao An and the others went in smiling, while the boss's face was frosty. After a while, both sides came out smiling. When asked, the boss just smiled and didn't say anything.

People quickly realized that the merchants they were discussing cooperation with today were all among the top buyers who had followed "Fire Love" in the past few days.

Finally, some stubborn people refused to accept Joan's conditions and revealed the contents of the negotiations.

The "Fire Love" mission has two main points.

First, franchising: Various businesses join the Huolian group by franchising their restaurants and other establishments.

Second: Buyout. Huolian can spend money to acquire all of the other party's shops at market price, and can even hire the original merchants to continue to serve as managers.

When other chambers of commerce saw this opinion letter, they were in an uproar. Although the "Fire Love" Group was very large and the leading catering company in Donghai Town, it only occupied four-tenths of the entire market.

Where did they get so much money to acquire all the restaurants in the city at once? In their eyes, the owner of the "Fire Love" Group had gone mad.

But this is even better for them, as some are already secretly raising funds and preparing to enter the market.

The exposure of the opinion letter had some impact on the acquisition team, which had already completed most of the acquisition, but not a significant one. Qiao An simply launched the Ming acquisition directly.

Sure enough, some people were stirred up and started to have other ideas.

They either demanded exorbitant prices or refused to cooperate at all costs. Qiao An and the others didn't mind and went straight to the next shop, since there were plenty of other businesses anyway.

For a full two weeks, Huolian acquired, merged, and franchised eight businesses in Donghai Town. With the return of Qiao An and others, the Huolian Group once again attracted the attention of the entire Donghai Town.

With the payment date fast approaching, the various chambers of commerce secretly reached an agreement that no one could lend it money.

This is also why the Chamber of Commerce did not take any action during the acquisition process, even though it sometimes encountered some minor problems.

After all, the acquisition has already been agreed upon. If they can't pay the money, the merchants will definitely object, and if a conflict breaks out, "Fire Love" will be finished. After all, Honghuang still values ​​integrity very much. A company without integrity basically has no future.

Just then, Qiao An ran in to report that Fairy Liulian had arrived, looking somewhat puzzled.

Li Shundao didn't tell him the specifics, but only asked him to invite the person to the guest room. After Qiao An left, he thought about it and understood Liu Lian's purpose.

Seeing Liu Lian bring Xiao Ru in, Li Shundao said to Qiao An, "Take Miss Xiao Ru to the next room for a while. I have something to say to Fellow Daoist Liu Lian."

Qiao An's eyes lit up, and he looked at Liu Lian with some hesitation. Although he also felt that Li Shundao's words were too domineering, it seemed a bit inappropriate to directly set the requirement for the two of them to be alone. At the very least, he should have asked Liu Lian's opinion.

"What do you want? I..."

Liu Lian glared at Li Shundao and interrupted Xiao Ru, "Alright, you and Fellow Daoist Qiao An go out for a stroll first, and buy whatever you like. The boss is treating us today."

Li Shundao smiled and nodded at Qiao An.

Qiao An was practically bowing down in admiration. If there hadn't been so many people, he would have knelt down and worshipped Li Shundao, asking him how he had seduced... ugh, won over Fairy Liulian.

Xiaoru was also confused. Looking at Liulian's figure, she thought quickly. She had always thought that Liulian and Huogong Daoren were together. After three hundred years, she had accepted and recognized this marriage. She didn't expect that another one would appear today. Could it be that Miss is two-timing?

She was startled by her own thought, not even noticing that Qiao An had stopped, and bumped right into her; it was soft and comfortable…

After the two left, Li Shundao immediately activated the restriction and asked Liu Lian curiously, "How did you end up here today?"

Liu Lian sat down without ceremony and said irritably, "If I don't come here, where else can I go? I would like to go to a farmhouse, but you're not here."

Cough~ cough~

Li Shundao choked twice. Ever since Liu Lian learned of Li Shundao's identity after they had been drinking together, he no longer hid it and revealed his true colors.

Of course, Liu Lian did not betray his trust and never let the news out. In this world, apart from the original Chen Fusheng and Zhu Wuneng, she was the only one who knew the name Li Shundao.

But that's precisely why she uses this to make fun of herself whenever she gets emotional.

Li Shundao shook his head with a wry smile and explained, "It's my fault. Huolian has indeed been quite busy lately." He knew the saying "confess and you'll be treated leniently, resist and you'll be punished severely."

After spending three hundred years with Liulian, he learned a crucial lesson: when faced with a woman's question, regardless of whether you are right or wrong, always admit your mistake first, especially when it comes to relationships that are more than friends but less than lovers. Your attitude is very important!

"Yes, I know, that's why I came. But I seem to remember that I also have shares in Fire Love, right, Mr. Li?"

"Yes, Mr. Qu, you own 30 percent of the shares."

Looking at Li Shundao's teasing face, she couldn't help but reach out and use her Dragon Claw Hand technique, accurately pinching, twisting, and pulling his waist in one smooth motion.

Li Shundao hissed, "That really hurts!"

He wasn't Chen Fusheng's physical body, and he didn't dare use a protective shield for fear of lingering trauma, so he could only swallow the bitter pill himself.

Liu Lian glanced at Li Shundao, snorted, and a blush slowly rose on her face. She whispered, "I'll teach you to tease me again."

After a long tiff, Liu Lian finally vented her anger and asked solemnly, "Is Huo Lian alright now? I've heard that a lot of people are watching you. They'll say that if you can't pay tomorrow, they'll use that as an excuse to make a move. If all else fails, I have some money here. You can take it and use it first." As she spoke, she quickly took out a storage ring and several storage bags.

Seeing the lingering and concerned look in her eyes, Li Shundao knew her intentions just from the fact that she could take out a storage ring. After all, even with her cultivation level, she couldn't possibly obtain a storage ring. This one was probably given to her by her master, True Monarch Yunying.

He hurriedly pushed it back to her, saying, "No need, no need, I really don't need it right now. Everything is going according to plan. I'll ask you for it when I need it, and I won't be polite."

Liu Lian carefully examined Li Shundao. She knew he was always a man of careful planning, and his expression didn't seem to be lying. So she slowly put it away. "Then I'll put it away for now. Remember to ask me for more if you need more."

"I know, I know."

"Hmph, you sound unhappy. Let me tell you, I was just showing concern for Huo Lian as a friend... no, as her boss. Don't get the wrong idea."

"Yes, yes, that's what I think too. Is there any other reason?"

"you……"

A woman's heart is unfathomable, changing in an instant. Liu Lian, adhering to the ancient tradition of resorting to violence when she couldn't win an argument, once again unleashed her level ten Dragon Claw Hand at Li Shundao's waist.

……

Even as he watched Qiao An leave with a lingering look on his face, Li Shundao was still clutching his waist. But seeing Qiao An's blushing expression, he frowned and gave him a hard slap on the shoulder. "Hey, are you alright? What? You've taken a fancy to that niece?"

Qiao An snapped out of her daze, her face flushed red, and she waved her hands repeatedly, "No, no, I wouldn't dare."

Li Shundao smiled and said, "You can't talk to me about that. By the way, have you made arrangements for tomorrow?"

"Everything has been arranged exactly as you wished."

"Then pass on the notice, let's begin now."

"Now? Why not wait until tomorrow?"

"No need to wait any longer. I'm afraid some people are already impatient. Let's start now." Having learned about the merchants' plans from Liu Lian, Li Shundao knew he couldn't wait any longer; time was money now.

Following Huolian's announcement, the merchants who had already agreed to cooperate rushed towards Huolian. Other chambers of commerce soon learned of the news as well, and they all shook their heads, quietly waiting for further news.

With everyone present, "Fire Love" was slowly enveloped by the protective array. Everyone's expressions shifted, and they understood that "Fire Love's" life or death depended on this.