Chapter 96: Discussing the Power of Agency

In the Lin family hall, after Patriarch Lin, Lin Feng, and Lin Chuan Zhi had finished discussing their matters, everyone dispersed to attend to their own affairs.

Lin Feng and Xia Ruoxi returned to their room to continue discussing company business. Lin Chuan Zhi and his wife retired to their chambers to plan their own affairs as well, for Lin Chuan Zhi would soon take over the Lin family’s commercial empire. After his company merged with theirs, he would likely spend more time in Beijing, making it essential for the couple to carefully outline their future plans.

With the hall now empty, Patriarch Lin finally recalled the promise he had made to Lin Feng earlier that day. He needed to settle the overseas agency rights issue as soon as possible. Europe had already been assigned to the other three families, but the remaining regions remained undecided. Patriarch Lin felt uneasy at the thought of handling such weighty matters alone. Now that cooperation with the three other families had begun, he decided to seek their opinions and promptly notified the three elders to convene at the Lin residence for a joint discussion on the agency rights.

Less than half an hour after the messages were sent, all three arrived, especially Murong’s elder, who, still agitated from the previous night’s Tiger Head Gang affair, could not contain himself upon seeing Patriarch Lin. “Old Lin, has your Lin family truly prepared to defy the heavens? That devilish Lin Feng grows more mysterious by the day. I once believed I could glimpse a sliver of his true nature, but after last night’s video leaked, I realized I was merely a frog in a well—completely blind to him.”

The other elders were accustomed to Murong’s impulsive temperament, yet even the usually composed Long patriarch found himself sighing in agreement. “Precisely. That fellow Lin Feng is a true monster. After watching the video, I was boiling with excitement, wishing I had been the one to eliminate the enemy instead of Lin Feng. Even my own third-generation descendants, Long Hai and Long Ling’er, admire him and vie to be his friend. Especially that girl Long Ling’er—she declared she would marry no one but Lin Feng! Old Lin, why don’t you consider it?”

Patriarch Lin remained silent. Murong’s elder could not hold back. “Old Long, don’t even dream of it. Lin Feng has a fiancée. Without that complication, it would already be my turn to intervene, and I would have long matched our Xue’er with him.”

Patriarch Lin and Xie’s elder watched the two elders bicker the moment they met, choosing not to intervene. Instead, they sat nearby, sipping tea and observing the spectacle.

Indeed, after Murong’s elder finished speaking, Long’s elder retorted indignantly, “What do you mean it wouldn’t be my turn? Even if Lin Feng had no fiancée, we compete fairly. My Long Ling’er is no inferior to your Murong Xue. On what grounds do you speak so?”

“Humph, there must be a first come, first served,” Murong’s elder sneered at Long’s elder.

“Love knows no first come, first served. Your Murong Xue is too aloof. Lin Feng might prefer lively, endearing types like my Ling’er. Old Lin, whether Lin Feng needs a lover or not, my Ling’er could serve just as well.” Long’s elder addressed Murong’s elder first with displeasure, then turned to Patriarch Lin and declared fiercely, “Old Lin, don’t even think about it.”

Hearing them speak with such frankness, Patriarch Lin could no longer feign ignorance. He rubbed his forehead helplessly and looked at Long’s elder. “You pitfall, how can you utter such words? If your granddaughter hears them and spreads it, do you believe she won’t pluck every whisker from your beard?”

Only after the words fell did Xie’s elder shake his head in mingled amusement and exasperation at the disrespectful old man. “You scoundrel, others say you pit your father; you pit your own granddaughter!”

They exchanged light banter until Patriarch Lin finally interjected, speaking seriously to the other three elders. “I summoned you today because there is important business to discuss. It concerns the Lin family company’s overseas agency rights. Now that our four families are formally allied, we represent the cooperation of established families. Europe has been taken by you three, so what are your plans for the remaining regions? Lin Feng keeps pressing me for the list. I cannot decide so many territories alone and wished to hear your counsel.”

“Ah, is that the only matter? There are many people eager for the agency rights. How can you not decide?”

“Exactly. Even in Beijing, let alone across the country, numerous family forces are eyeing this position. How could you fail to find candidates?”

The other two elders chattered among themselves. Xie’s elder offered no comment but watched Patriarch Lin with curious eyes.

“It is not that no one is willing, but that too many people desire it. I am at a loss and thought to consult you together,” Patriarch Lin explained helplessly.

“Indeed, this is troublesome. Bestowing it upon anyone would make enemies. We must devise a method to resolve it, or it will be difficult to explain to the outside world—and even harder to explain to Lin Feng himself.” After listening, Xie’s elder nodded and voiced his thoughts.

“That is exactly the idea. So I called you here to think together. Let us come up with a solution today. Three cobblers can equal one Zhuge Liang. With four of us, we are bound to find a way.”

Silence fell over the hall as everyone pondered. Suddenly Murong’s elder broke the deadlock. “This concerns Lin Feng. Shouldn’t that boy offer his opinion?”

“Hey, it is obvious. If Lin Feng is willing to give advice, we would have no role to play today.” Long’s elder answered swiftly.

Murong’s elder considered it and fell silent.

Finally, Xie’s elder suggested a solution to the other three elders: “What if we handle it publicly? If we truly cannot decide, we could open a formal bidding process and recruit overseas agents. Let them submit proposals for each foreign region. Whoever offers the best plan should receive the agency rights. Only those with the ability to secure the sources and establish themselves in the region can succeed.”

Murong’s elder was thrilled. He slapped the table and declared loudly to Patriarch Lin, “Old Lin, this is an excellent idea. Let us do it openly and let them compete. We will award the rights to whoever submits the best proposal! How did I not think of this?”

Long’s elder also approved and nodded in agreement.

Patriarch Lin reflected for a moment and deemed the method the most reasonable yet. He concurred and told the three elders, “Since you all agree, then it is settled. We shall use this approach!”

With the matter resolved, Patriarch Lin felt much lighter. He chatted with the three elders for a while before each received two taels of tea and saw them off.

Long’s elder and Murong’s elder departed, but Long’s elder remained because of other matters.

After the other two had left and Patriarch Lin returned to the hall to sit down again, he looked at Xie’s elder, who was sipping tea alone, and asked, “Xie elder, why did you stay behind? Is there something else?”

“There is indeed something about Lin Feng. This morning I already informed your eldest son, and now I seek your opinion as well. I wish to recruit Lin Feng into the military.”

“Ah, let Lin Feng join the army? No, I must have misheard. Old Xie, did you eat the wrong medicine? How did you come up with such a notion?” Patriarch Lin stared at him in astonishment.

“Don’t look at me like that. I ate nothing wrong; I am perfectly lucid.” Xie’s elder grew somewhat speechless under Patriarch Lin’s gaze and explained helplessly.

Patriarch Lin was even more bewildered. Though his acquaintance with Lin Feng was brief, he had discerned much of the young man’s character. “I say, why did this idea suddenly occur to you? That boy is so lazy. Are you certain he won’t taint the military?”

“Talents always possess distinct personalities. As long as Lin Feng is willing to join, I can accept every demand he makes.” Xie’s elder spoke without hesitation, pledging firmly.

Seeing Xie’s elder so resolute, Patriarch Lin grew even more puzzled. He scratched his head and continued, “Xie elder, the more I ponder, the less I understand. What is there about Lin Feng that you desire so badly you would spare no effort to bring him into the military?”

“Old Lin, do not feign ignorance. Look at Lin Feng’s abilities. In Beijing, probably no one can match him. If he is willing to join the army to cultivate talent, how swiftly will our nation’s military strength grow? Within a few years, it can sweep foreign armies without effort. I have already discussed this with the Chairman, and he wholeheartedly agrees.”

Patriarch Lin heard that the Chairman had endorsed the idea and grew serious, yet he still did not know how to respond.

He remained silent, sipping tea from his cup. Xie’s elder grew anxious and urged, “Old Lin, speak up. You are his grandfather. Tell me whether you agree or not!”

“Xie elder, you are not unfamiliar with our family’s situation, nor with Lin Feng. Do I need to ask? Can I control that boy? I have no means to restrain him. Whatever he wishes to do, I will not interfere. If you can persuade him to join the military, I will have no objections.” Patriarch Lin spread his hands helplessly.

“How can you be so unreliable? You are his grandfather. If I could settle this alone, why would I need to inform your eldest son and you? I would have spoken to Lin Feng long ago.” Upon hearing Patriarch Lin’s words, Xie’s elder grew anxious.

“Then what do you intend?” Patriarch Lin asked, puzzled by the anxious expression.

“What else could I mean? Strength comes from numbers. I wish to find several more people to persuade Lin Feng together. You are his grandfather; Lin Chuan Zhi is his uncle. You two seniors can exert yourselves to wear him down daily. I refuse to believe that boy will not agree.” Xie’s elder revealed his purpose, his face twisting into a sinister smile.