Qian Wanli held his tongue for a while before saying, "Fine! Fine! In the end, I failed to recognize a true master standing before me and underestimated you, Brother Li. In that case, consider these spirit materials my apology to you both. Steward Wan, fetch two more sets of farewell gifts to see them off."
"Then it would be discourteous of us to refuse." Li Chen stood on no ceremony, ordering Steward Wan, "Pack everything up and toss it to me."
Steward Wan refused. "That won't do. What if you take the goods and still hurt my Employer?"
Qian Wanli said, "Steward Wan, do as he says."
Steward Wan said, "Employer..."
Qian Wanli waved a hand. "I do have some understanding of Brother Li's character. Rest easy. Besides, we're all respectable people. Why make things so ugly?"
Li Chen said, "What a President Qian, what a respectable man. You certainly live up to your reputation as a local magnate who rides the wind and stirs the waters here."
Qian Wanli said, "You flatter me, Brother Li. Haven't I still fallen into your hands?"
"It's laughable, really. At first, I thought you and Old He were people I could mold in the palm of my hand. Since you wanted to spread your wings and fly far away rather than serve me, you no longer had any value. Who would have thought you were mighty dragons crossing the river, not to be slighted in the least?"
"Had I known, I should have forged a friendly bond and sent you off beyond our borders with every courtesy."
Li Chen said, "Even now, you still think you were justified, and only lost because you made a bad investment?"
Qian Wanli said, "I'm a merchant. If I don't talk about investments, what else should I