The great-grandmother's gaze fell upon Ye Fei, realizing that direct confrontation was not an option. Therefore, she resorted to emotional appeals.
"You have a good relationship with Chairman Bai, see if you can get them to reduce the amount!"
The great-grandmother spoke again before Ye Fei could reply.
Following that, the great-grandmother's eyes landed on Qin Lan and Qin Bing, her attitude equally benevolent as she asked them to help persuade him.
At this moment, the great-grandmother had no choice but to yield.
After all, the matter of joining the chamber of commerce was a significant family affair!
Remember the prestige of their Qin family in the past?
But what about the current Qin family? Merely a second-rate family.
How many second-rate families were there in Jiangdong?
Furthermore, there was a world of difference between a second-rate family that joined the chamber of commerce and one that did not.
Therefore, at this juncture, the great-grandmother absolutely would not miss such a good opportunity!
"Family infighting, scheming, and underhanded tactics are prevalent within the family. However, when it comes to matters that determine the family's destiny, we must present a united front and have a single purpose!"
"Otherwise, the entire family will inevitably fall apart and ultimately face annihilation."
After delivering her earnest plea, the great-grandmother looked at Ye Fei pitifully.
"Ye Fei, how about you see if you can reduce it a bit?"
At this moment, Qin Lan's gaze fell upon Ye Fei, and she spoke.
Although she found the great-grandmother's previous attitude and hidden schemes to be detestable, seeing her current pathetic state stirred her sympathy.
"Alright, alright. Since Xiao Lan, you've spoken, then let's deduct ten million... Old woman, you have no idea that deducting ten million from one collateral branch means over a hundred million when you consider all thirteen branches. I'll have to argue endlessly with Bai Ruge about it."
Ye Fei waved his hand, feigning a concession.
The great-grandmother's expression stiffened.
Deducting ten million!
While this was a substantial reduction, it was far from the great-grandmother's expectations.
"Xiao Fei! If you deduct ten million, making it forty million per family, it's still a bit much..."
The great-grandmother looked at Ye Fei and spoke cautiously.
"Still a bit much?"
Ye Fei was immediately displeased.
"A bit much? Then you can go join the association yourselves!"
Ye Fei looked at the great-grandmother and spoke without hesitation.
"Xiao Fei, don't get agitated, don't get agitated. I was just grumbling!"
Seeing Ye Fei's strong reaction, the great-grandmother quickly tried to explain.
Then, her mind raced, and before Ye Fei could speak, she added, "Also, Xiao Fei, you mentioned earlier that after my birthday banquet in a couple of days, Bing Bing's family is going to be the head of the thirteen branches."
"When one becomes the head of the thirteen branches, the family has many core industries that need to be taken over and operated. Developing them will require a significant amount of capital!"
"At that time, as the great-grandmother, I can't just stand by and do nothing! If five or six hundred million is taken out at once, the family's capital chain will be paralyzed!"
"That would be very detrimental to the family's development, and your family, having just become the head of the thirteen branches, would need to achieve some tangible results for me, as the great-grandmother, to face the family with dignity..."
At this point, seeing that Ye Fei was unyielding, the great-grandmother changed her approach and stated her concerns indirectly.
Ye Fei looked at the cunning old fox of a great-grandmother, who spoke with such noble intentions, and inwardly sneered.
In truth, Ye Fei didn't intend to make things unnecessarily difficult. He simply wanted to show the old woman that he could crush them as easily as crushing an ant.
From now on, it would be better for them to refrain from engaging in such elaborate schemes in front of him!
"Alright, alright. Since Great-Grandmother has said so, how can I be ungrateful?"
"After all, money spent is money gone. Money kept is still ours. As for me, at most I'll just have to put on a thick skin and say a few more words."
Ye Fei looked at the great-grandmother, calculating.
He didn't immediately state a price after reaching this point.
However, the great-grandmother became anxious.
She feared Ye Fei would once again demand an exorbitant price.
"Three hundred million!"
"Great-Grandmother, this price is the absolute limit. If all thirteen collateral branches join the Nine Dragon Chamber of Commerce, it averages out to just over twenty million per branch!"
"It's not me boasting, Ye Fei. If I were to tell other families and powers that I could help them join the Nine Dragon Chamber of Commerce, they would flock to me at a hundred million per branch, believe it or not!"
Ye Fei looked at the great-grandmother and stated plainly.
"Three hundred million?"
The great-grandmother breathed a sigh of relief.
Three hundred million was within her acceptable range.
"Alright, let's go with your price... However, Xiao Fei, when will our Qin family..."
The great-grandmother did not haggle further with Ye Fei, as she knew very well.
If she continued to bargain, Ye Fei might just lose his temper.
Therefore, at this moment, she directly agreed.
Then, her gaze fell upon Ye Fei as she inquired when they could formally join the Nine Dragon Chamber of Commerce.
"I'll go to the Nine Dragon Chamber of Commerce later to inquire about this matter," Ye Fei replied, glancing at the great-grandmother.
"Go to the Nine Dragon Chamber of Commerce later?"
The great-grandmother's expression faltered.
"Mm? What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Ye Fei asked the great-grandmother in confusion.
"Xiao Fei, didn't you just say... you'd go now?" the great-grandmother said hesitantly.
After speaking, the great-grandmother stared intently at Ye Fei, awaiting his answer.
"Heh heh! If the money isn't in place, why would I go? To embarrass myself?"
"When I go depends on when the money arrives."
Ye Fei smiled and reminded the great-grandmother.
The great-grandmother slapped her thigh, suddenly realizing.
"Xiao Fei, forgive this old woman's forgetfulness. Don't worry, I'll go back and gather the other twelve branches to collect the money from each of them!"
"Oh, and as for your branch's money, I, the great-grandmother, will cover it. After all, you've been ostracized from the family for so many years and suffered so much. Consider it a small compensation from me."
The great-grandmother looked at Ye Fei and the two women, then spoke humanely.
"Great-Grandmother!"
"Great-Grandmother..."
Qin Lan and Qin Bing's eyes welled up with emotion upon hearing the great-grandmother's words.
Two million yuan, directly covered!
Earlier, they had thought the great-grandmother was cunning and devious. Now, all their dissatisfaction vanished instantly.
Ye Fei shook his head slightly upon witnessing this.
The older the ginger, the spicier it is.
Qin Bing and Qin Lan were no match for this old woman.
With just a few words, she had them in tears.
Honestly, if the great-grandmother had said she was short on cash and asked them to lend her fifty million, they would have willingly done so.
However, Ye Fei said nothing at this moment.
What Ye Fei wanted now was for the great-grandmother to change her perception of Qin Lan and Qin Bing's family.
He wanted her to understand who the future of the Qin family depended on.
Of course, these matters were not to be proven with words but through actions.
Subsequently, Ye Fei left with Qin Bing and Qin Lan.
The great-grandmother, meanwhile, began calling the other collateral branches, urging them to attend a meeting immediately to provide the funds.
Three hundred million yuan! Even if she had the money, she couldn't just produce it.
When the other twelve branches of the Qin family heard that one collateral branch needed to pay twenty-five million, their faces turned green.
"Grandmother, why is it so much? That scoundrel Ye Fei is clearly trying to rip us off and treat us like fools!"
Among them, the eldest uncle Qin Jun's branch was immediately displeased and spoke angrily.
Earlier, his son had almost been crippled by Ye Fei, and now he couldn't even hold his head up in the family.
Therefore, he harbored an intense hatred for Ye Fei.