"A regular customer?"
Seeing Chunshan Long standing at the door, Song Qiao took a sip of tea and said with a light smile.
Although Guan Shanming and Song Qiao were not acquainted.
Chunshan Long, however, bore a tremendous hatred for him!
He saw Song Qiao sitting inside, his face stretched long, and his eyes burning with rage as he berated, "How can someone like you be here?"
Du Qin, upon hearing this, knew there was some past conflict between them.
She introduced him to Chunshan Long, saying, "Firstly, this is my son-in-law, not 'someone like this or that' as you described. Secondly, do you two think he shouldn't be in my house?"
When Du Qin revealed Song Qiao's identity, Chunshan Long's previous remark naturally became a joke. If even the son-in-law shouldn't be in the house, who else could come? Who would dare to come!
Chunshan Long was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.
Guan Shanming then apologized to Du Qin, "We are very sorry, Du Duozhu. We were rude."
After apologizing, Guan Shanming glared fiercely at Chunshan Long and questioned him coldly, "This is not the first time you've been disrespectful. What is going on!"
Chunshan Long's face turned ashen. He lowered his head and explained softly to his master in perfect Japanese, "This is the person who ruined our deal with the Tao family. He is Song Qiao!"
Guan Shanming nodded subtly, not immediately showing hostility towards Song Qiao. Instead, he turned back and carefully examined Song Qiao. With a single glance, he understood. He could tell Song Qiao had a martial arts foundation, but he felt it wasn't very high.
Seeing the master and disciple remaining silent, Du Qin smiled and said, "If you have any past grievances, perhaps you could grant me some face. Let's let it pass after this meal today, how about it?"
No one dared to refuse a meal personally prepared by Du Qin. Even a difficult request for favor had to be at least superficially honored. However, Chunshan Long, like a calf just stepping into China, was unaware of the stakes. As he was about to say more, he was silenced by a stern look from Guan Shanming.
"The gift?"
Chunshan Long quickly shut his mouth and presented the prepared gift with both hands. "A small token, I hope Du Duozhu will accept it."
Liu Qing glanced at Du Qin's demeanor, then accepted the gift and invited them to sit. Meanwhile, Xia Yuqing, during this time, began her curious inquiry.
"Hey, hey, do you have a grudge against these two Japanese people?" "How did you get involved with them? That guy looked like he wanted to kill you."
Song Qiao calmly replied, "It's nothing much, I just found them displeasing to the eye."
Du Qin knew that Song Qiao's relationship with these two Japanese people was not that simple. However, if she wanted to be the Duozhu locally, she still needed external support. The Iwa-Sui Ryu, also seeking to establish themselves in Modu, was the best choice. Moreover, someone like Du Qin knew there were no absolute enemies. Aside from certain unforgivable hatreds, there was nothing that couldn't be resolved through discussion. Therefore, she warmly welcomed Guan Shanming's visit. Extending a hand to him, she smiled, "Welcome to my humble abode. Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."
Song Qiao, not wanting to disrupt Du Qin's plans, stood up and clapped his hands, welcoming them, "Welcome, welcome."
Chunshan Long snorted and was glared at again by his master.
The two sat down, and after a few rounds of drinks, Guan Shanming first praised Du Qin's cooking and offered customary words of thanks for the hospitality. Then, he got straight to the point, "Du Duozhu, I wonder if we can now discuss matters of substance?"
Du Qin smiled and nodded, "That is precisely my intention!" As she spoke, she glanced at Liu Qing. Liu Qing naturally understood her meaning and said to Guan Shanming, "Mr. Miyamoto, our Deputy Duozhu wishes for you to endorse her as the Duozhu of the local Tongmen."
At this point, the conversation became very simple. Both sides merely needed to exchange their conditions. Guan Shanming calmly nodded at Du Qin's objective, stating it was entirely acceptable. He then presented his own conditions.
"Our conditions are also very simple, only three."
"Oh? We are eager to hear them," Du Qin said, extending a hand to him in a gesture of invitation.
Guan Shanming picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and continued, "First, we wish to establish a martial arts school in Modu, flying the banner of Iwa-Sui Ryu. Second, we require the Modu Tongmen to provide us with corresponding resources to help our Iwa-Sui Ryu establish a sect in Modu!"
"As for the third..."
"Do you still have any shame?" Before Guan Shanming could state his final condition, Song Qiao interrupted him forcefully. He glanced at the two Japanese devils opposite them and said irritably, "If you want to establish a sect in Modu, you already have to get permission from the Tongmen. Your help is expected! Don't you realize that without the Tongmen's approval, how could you two foreigners open a martial arts school and flourish in Modu? And yet, you want resources from within the Tongmen? Do you want the guns from the Security Department too?"
"Scoundrel!" Chunshan Long angrily slammed the table and stood up, shouting at Song Qiao, "We are negotiating with Deputy Duozhu Du. What does this have to do with you!"
"Chunshan! Sit down!" Guan Shanming roared, his face dark. It was evident that his expression had become displeased. He had come to Modu to establish a martial arts school, intending to expand the Iwa-Sui Ryu. Yet, in the end, he still had to defer to the Tongmen? This was never his intention; he believed he and the Tongmen were in a partnership, not a superior-subordinate relationship.
"Du Duozhu," Guan Shanming frowned and asked Du Qin, "Does your son-in-law's statement represent your views?"
Even Du Qin felt a sense of awkwardness at this moment. Song Qiao quickly stepped forward to ease the tension. He nodded and slapped the table, shouting loudly, "Yes!"