There was a chair there with a straight back and no cushions.
Yao Qing sat down with his back straight.
Yao Jingyi leaned back on the chair, picked up the tea cup at hand, and took a slow sip.
"Let's talk." He said, his tone was calm, as if it was a matter of routine.
Yao Qing took out several account books from his sleeves and handed them over with both hands.
"Treasure Pavilion's accounts have been counted. These are the details of the past five years, including inventory, flow, and losses."
Yao Jingyi took the account book and did not look through it immediately, but kept it at hand.
"Shi Donglai paid it?"
"Yes."
"Why is he willing to hand it over?"
Yao Qing was silent for a moment.
"Haier sent Zhou Qi to talk."
Yao Jingyi's fingers tapped lightly on the table.
"Is that the Zhou Qi who injured Lu Family in the street?" Yao Jingyi asked, his tone still calm.
"Yes." Yao Qing said.
Yao Jingyi nodded, did not ask any more questions, and lowered his head to flip through the account book.
One page, two pages, three pages.
Turn the page neither too fast nor too slowly, and read every page without stopping.
Occasionally, my eyes will stop on a certain line of words for a moment, and then continue to scroll down.
Yao Qing sat opposite, motionless.
The booklet is not just the accounts for the past five years.
There are also some accounts that Yao Ke secretly smoothed out.
That was what Yao Qing asked Shi Donglai to mark out deliberately.
Yao Jingyi flipped through the entire account book, closed it, and placed it on the corner of the table.
He made no comment, and didn't even mention Yao Ke's name.
"Treasure Pavilion's matter ends here." He said, "From tomorrow on, it will be your responsibility to take care of it. Change the people who should be replaced, and settle the accounts that should be settled. If Shi Donglai does not cooperate..."
He paused and his eyes fell on Yao Qing's face.
"What are you going to do with him?"
Yao Qing was stunned for a moment, he didn't expect his father to ask this.
A few thoughts passed through his mind, and he considered it and said, "Shi Donglai has worked at the Treasure Pavilion for fifteen years, and he is familiar with everything. If we change him directly, there will be trouble in the handover. It is better to keep him first, and then..."
"Behind him is Yao Ke." Yao Jingyi interrupted him.
Yao Qing's words were stuck in his throat.
Yao Jingyi looked at him with calm eyes. "You know that Yao Ke is behind him, why do you still keep him?"
Yao Qing was silent for a moment, and then said, "Shi Donglai... it's nothing to worry about."
Yao Jingyi took a deep look at Yao Qing, picked up the cup of tea, and took another sip.
"Go on," he said.
Yao Qing knows this topic has passed.
He took a deep breath.
"My guest Zhou Qi, I need Cultivation Method from Foundation Establishment Late Stage."
Yao Jingyi's brows raised slightly.
"Foundation Establishment Late Stage?" Yao Jingyi repeated these three words, "What state is he in now?"
Yao Qing hesitated for a moment.
He didn't tell the truth.
"Foundation Establishment, Fifth Layer." he said.
Yao Jingyi looked at him with calm eyes and said nothing.
The room fell silent for a few breaths.
Yao Qing suddenly realized that his father might already know.
In that battle on the street, Lu Family was seriously injured by a punch. Many people saw it. Everyone should have guessed that Zhou Qi must be more powerful than Foundation Establishment, Fifth Layer.
This kind of thing cannot be hidden from Chancellery Secretariat.
But Yao Jingyi didn't expose him.
"Cultivation Method's matter is not urgent." Yao Jingyi retracted his gaze and picked up the tea cup, "You let that Zhou Qi come to see me first."
Yao Qing's heart sank.
"Yao Residence Foundation Establishment, Sixth Layer's guest..." Yao Jingyi spelled out the word "sixth floor" very clearly, "You should be treated with due courtesy."
"Don't neglect me."
Yao Qing's fingers clenched the cuffs tightly.
He understood.
The guest of Yao Residence is not the guest of Yao Qing.
"Yes." Yao Qing lowered his head, his face changed from gloomy to sunny, and finally he opened his mouth.
He stood up and prepared to leave.
"Qinger."
Yao Jingyi's voice came from behind, much softer than before.
Yao Qing paused in his steps.
"You and Yao Ke are both my sons." Yao Jingyi's voice was not loud, but every word was like a nail hammering into his ears, "You can argue, but don't cross the line."
Yao Qing stood there, with his back to his father, silent.
He didn't look back, he just said "yes" and then opened the door and went out.
The study door closed behind you.
In the corridor, Yang Zhenshan was still leaning on the pillar. When he saw him coming out, he didn't ask anything, but just followed him and walked out.
The two of them walked through the corridor, walked through the bamboo forest, and headed towards the other courtyard.
The night wind passed through the bamboo forest, carrying a cool breath of bamboo leaves.
Yao Qing walked more than ten steps and suddenly stopped.
"He wants to poach Zhou Qi away from me." His voice was low.
Yang Zhenshan was silent for a moment, and then said, "Zhou Qi should not be that kind of person."
Yao Qing was silent, but still stood still.
"He was beating me just now. In his eyes, Yao Ke is always the eldest son." Yao Qing raised his head, with a trace of unwillingness in his eyes, "He asked me to let go of pursuing Yao Ke."
Yang Zhenshan said no more.
"Yao Ke has been targeting me for decades, and I have never seen him say to Yao Ke to let me go..."
Yao Qing's eyes were already a little gloomy.
"Now you still want to take away my trump card!"
Yang Zhenshan patted Yao Qing on the shoulder and said, "Go back first and see what Zhou Qi says."
Yao Qing looked at him for a few seconds and nodded.
The two continued to walk forward, and the sound of their footsteps gradually faded away on the bluestone.
In Yao Qing's Separate Courtyard, Zhou Qi is still practicing boxing.
When the door was pushed open, he raised his head and saw Yao Qing and Yang Zhenshan walking in one after the other.
Yao Qing's face didn't look good, but Yang Zhenshan looked as usual.
"How is it?" Zhou Qi took back the move.
Yao Qing sat down opposite and told him what happened in the study.
When Yao Jingyi wanted to see Zhou Qi, he paused and his eyes turned around on Zhou Qi's face.
"Father may try to win you over." Yao Qing said, trying to be as calm as possible, but holding the teacup with a little force.
Zhou Qi's expression did not change at all. "Then go there."
Yao Qing waited and saw that he didn't say anything further, so he asked again, "What... do you have in mind?"
Zhou Qi picked up the tea cup and took a sip. "Go and listen to what he says first. You don't have to worry."
He put down the tea cup and looked at Yao Qing: "I haven't finished what I promised you."
Yao Qing was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses, with true feelings flowing in his eyes.
This sentence is enough.
Yang Zhenshan stood aside, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and said nothing.
Zhou Qi followed Yao Qing through the central axis of Yao Residence and walked towards Yao Jingyi's study.
The study is in the deepest part of the house, in a separate courtyard. There is no guard at the door, only two young men stand there. When they see them coming, they open the courtyard door silently.
Yao Qing stopped at the entrance of the hospital and glanced at Zhou Qi: "I won't go in."
Zhou Qi nodded and stepped into the courtyard gate.
The courtyard is much quieter than outside.
There are several poles of green bamboo and a pool of clear water. There is a stone chair beside the pool, with a few bamboo leaves falling on the chair.
The door to the study room was ajar, and a faint scent of sandalwood came out from inside.
He walked to the door, but before he raised his hand, a voice came from inside. "Come in."
The voice was not loud, but it was clear, with an unquestionable aura of superiority.
Zhou Qi pushed the door open and entered.
An old man stood by the wall, with his back to the door, looking at the Great Yong territory map on the wall.
Zhou Qi's eyes swept over the picture.
The location of each state and county is marked on the map, Blackstone City, Western Profound City, Yongjing City, all circled with red pen.
Next to Blackstone City, someone lightly drew a cross with a charcoal pencil. The mark is very faint, but you can tell if you look closely.
The old man turned around.
Yao Jingyi.
He looks like he's in his early fifties.
He has a thin face, slightly high cheekbones, and a pair of eyes as sharp as an eagle. When his gaze falls on Zhou Qi, he seems to have substantial weight.
Zhou Qi bowed and clasped his fists. "Zhou Qi, I have met Mr. Yao."
Yao Jingyi did not speak immediately.
His eyes stayed on Zhou Qi for a few breaths.
"Early twenties, Foundation Establishment, Sixth Layer Peak, where are you from?"
Zhou Qi straightened up and said in the same calm tone, "Rogue Cultivator."
Yao Jingyi looked at him and suddenly laughed.
He didn't ask further questions, turned around, walked back to the desk, sat down, raised his finger and pointed to the chair opposite. "Sit."
Zhou Qi Sit down.
Yao Jingyi picked up the tea cup and took a sip. His eyes fell on the account book on the corner of the table. "What do you want from helping Yao Qing?"
"Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivation Method."
Yao Jingyi put down the tea cup, leaned on the back of the chair, and tapped his fingers on the armrest twice.
"Cultivation Method I can give it." He said, his eyes falling on Zhou Qi's face again, "But you have to answer me a question first."
Zhou Qi is waiting.
"Are you from Yao Qing or from the Yao Family?"