“What is the matter?” Qu Xiaojue gestured for her to sit down and asked in a calm voice.
“I heard that the Qu family is planning to expand their network of subordinates in the city?” Having already seated herself, Li Xianlan went straight to the point.
“Yes,” putting down the teacup and glancing at her, “This matter does not affect the Li family.”
Does it not affect them? Li Xianlan raised her head to look at her. The person in the main seat had a calm expression.
After thinking for a moment, she said, “How does the Qu family head plan to handle us old families?”
“Everything remains unchanged, with each family’s base price reduced by half a layer.”
Would that really compensate for the benefits taken by their new competitors? Li Xianlan slightly raised an eyebrow. “Qu family head, this makes it difficult for us old customers!”
Qu Xiaojue glanced at her. “The Qu family’s expansion was predetermined. We informed everyone before the year, and the prices and commissions follow the old rules. Miss Li, what are you concerned about now?”
Li Xianlan replied, “Although the Qu family has not broken the rules, we have been trading with the Qu family for years, maintaining a stable situation. The Qu family’s sudden expansion puts us old hands in a difficult position.”
It wasn’t that they were afraid the Qu family would strongly support other forces, but rather that each family was like this – habits were hard to change, and facing new pressures, they always wanted to intervene at the source.
Qu Xiaojue glanced at the light dancing on the tea cup and said calmly, “Miss Li, the Qu family is not solely dependent on the Li family.”
“You—” Li Xianlan looked at her cold face and suddenly stopped. She had forgotten this person’s usual demeanor.
Yesterday, she had been surprisingly tolerant towards one of her men and had easily agreed to meet her. Her thoughts shifting, she stood up and bowed apologetically. “Qu family head, it is understandable that the Qu family is expanding to this extent. However, we have always traded with the Qu family and are reluctant to turn elsewhere. You should at least tell us whether we, as old servants of the Qu family, can maintain our basic interests.”
