Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 171 The Fathers' Decisions and the "Cake Dividing" by the Four Groups

The next morning, Tang Bingyuan acted swiftly and immediately took his wife, Wen Jinmei, to apply for US visas. Things went smoothly, and by noon, the couple had returned to their residence in Repulse Bay, still immersed in anticipation of their trip to New York and the "dream cotton."

However, two unexpected guests arrived at the house.

"Sir, Mr. Li Yaozu and Mr. Zheng Yizhi have come to visit. They said they did not make an appointment but hope to see you," the butler announced.

Tang Bingyuan was taken aback at first, then immediately recalled that his youngest son, Liu Qian, had indeed mentioned in his telegram that Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming were also involved in the matter. He understood immediately; his two friends must have come for this reason.

"Please come in quickly!" Tang Bingyuan straightened his clothes and personally went to the living room to greet the guests.

"Brother Bingyuan, I apologize for disturbing you, and I hope you will forgive me." Zheng Yizhi and Tang Bingyuan were acquainted through their shipping business, and Zheng Yizhi greeted them with a cupped-hands salute and a smile. Li Yaozu, who was standing to the side, also exchanged a few pleasantries, his attitude quite polite.

The three men sat down, and a servant served them fragrant tea. After a brief sip, Li Yaozu, a wealthy businessman who made his fortune in real estate and had a more direct personality, spoke first, explaining his purpose: "Brother Tang, to be honest, we've come today because of our two good-for-nothing sons." His face showed a mixture of helplessness and doubt. "They sent a telegram from America saying they're going to partner with someone there to do a big business deal. At first, I didn't believe it at all, especially my son Wenbin. As his father, I know his limitations best; he's never been cut out for business."

Zheng Yizhi picked up the conversation, his tone much calmer: "Yes, although my son Jiaming spoke with great certainty in his telegram, we elders always need to verify things from multiple sources. However, both of their telegrams mentioned an important piece of information: my nephew Liuqian was also deeply involved." He glanced at Tang Bingyuan, his words carrying an approval and trust in the Tang family's educational achievements. "The character and abilities of my two nephews, Liuqian and Jiqian, are widely recognized in Hong Kong circles. We thought that since the Tang family was also involved, this matter might not be trivial, which is why we took the liberty of coming here to seek confirmation from Brother Tang."

Tang Bingyuan understood after hearing this. He didn't have much contact with Li Yaozu, but he did have business dealings with Zheng Yizhi, so he couldn't be evasive, both morally and logically. He pondered for a moment and decided to tell him the truth.

"Brother Yaozu, Brother Yizhi," Tang Bingyuan's expression turned solemn, "What you two nephews said is indeed true. This matter is not unfounded; the opportunity stems from a young man named Lin Yan..." He didn't exaggerate at all, recounting everything he knew in detail: from how his son Liuqian met Lin Yan in New York, to that bag of "revolutionary" premium cotton samples, and the grand vision of jointly establishing a high-end clothing brand. He objectively described the Lin family's mysterious background and substantial capital, and also frankly admitted the shock he felt after personally verifying the quality of the cotton.

"...To be honest, my wife and I just got our visas for the United States this morning," Tang Bingyuan said at the end. This was undoubtedly the most powerful proof of his actions. "I plan to fly to New York as soon as possible. On the one hand, I want to have in-depth discussions with the Lin family about the details of our cooperation. On the other hand," he smiled and added a reasonable reason, "I also want to meet with my in-laws and discuss Liu Qian and Xi En's marriage."

Li Yaozu and Zheng Yizhi listened intently throughout, their expressions shifting from initial skepticism to astonishment, and finally to deep thought and shock. Tang Bingyuan's narrative was clear and logical, with solid evidence, especially his swift visa processing. His description of the cotton's quality, coming from the "Textile King," carried considerable weight.

That's all I have to say.

Li Yaozu and Zheng Yizhi exchanged a glance, both seeing the same resolve in each other's eyes.

"Thank you for your frankness, Brother Tang!" Li Yaozu stood up abruptly, his face no longer showing any doubt, but instead displaying the decisiveness of a businessman. "I'll go back and get the documents right away and apply for the visa!"

Zheng Yizhi also stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Brother Bingyuan, see you in New York!"

The two business tycoons arrived suddenly and left just as quickly. The Tang family living room soon returned to tranquility, but a fire ignited by a few young people in New York had already spread back to Hong Kong and was about to become a raging inferno due to the decisive involvement of their parents.

Tang Liuqian received a telegram from his father-in-law in Hong Kong at his father-in-law's house, informing him that his parents would soon be traveling to the United States together. His mood instantly brightened, like the clear autumn sky over New York. He immediately shared this good news with his father-in-law, Gu Weijun, and his wife.

"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, my parents have obtained their visas and will be coming to New York soon." Tang Liuqian's tone was filled with undisguised joy. "On the one hand, it's to discuss cooperation with Xiaoyan in detail, and on the other hand, it's also to formally discuss my marriage with Xi'en with you two."

Upon hearing this, Gu Weijun clapped his hands and smiled, his eyes full of satisfaction: "That's wonderful! The fact that Brother Bingyuan and Jinmei have come in person shows how much they value this matter and your marriage. This is a double celebration!" Yan Youyun also nodded repeatedly, her face beaming with smiles, full of anticipation for the arrival of her future in-laws.

After sharing his joy with his in-laws, Tang Liuqian immediately grabbed Yang Xi'en and drove to Lin Yan's Upper East Side villa. He wanted to personally tell the project's "chief designer" the good news.

Meanwhile, jubilation reigned at Lin Yan's villa. Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming had each received an overseas phone call from their fathers in Hong Kong the previous night. On the calls, Li Yaozu and Zheng Yizhi, their initial skepticism replaced by encouragement and support, clearly stated they would come to the US as soon as possible and told them to go for it, assuring them the family would handle the funding. This reassured the two men, leaving them so excited they barely slept a wink.

At this moment, the group gathered in Lin Yan's living room. Li Wenbin was gesturing wildly, imitating the surprise in his father's tone on the phone. Although Zheng Jiaming was more composed, his eyes and brows were also filled with relaxation and joy.

The arrival of Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en brought the joyful atmosphere to a climax.

"Xiao Yan! Wen Bin, Jia Ming! Good news!" Tang Liu's voice preceded his arrival as he strode into the living room. "My parents have obtained their visas and will be coming to New York soon!"

"Wow! That's great!" Li Wenbin was the first to jump up. "My dad and Uncle Zheng are coming too! Now everyone's here!"

Zheng Jiaming smiled and chimed in, "It seems our plan is really about to officially begin."

Looking at this group of friends before him, so closely united by a common goal and with the strong support of their families, Lin Yan felt a surge of emotion and satisfaction. He waved his hand and smiled at Charles, who stood beside him, "Charles, today is a good day! Have the kitchen prepare a sumptuous feast, and fetch a barrel of red wine from the cellar! We must celebrate!"

"Yes, young master!" Charles smiled and bowed in response, then immediately went to make the arrangements.

The following time was filled with laughter and toasts. Wang Yuling once again showcased her exceptional culinary skills, serving dish after dish, paired with fine aged red wine, ensuring a pleasant experience for all. The young people gathered together, discussing future plans and brainstorming ideas for their brand, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Amidst this peaceful and lively atmosphere, Lin Yi's report echoed in Lin Yan's mind.

"Young Master, Mr. Tang Bingyuan has personally inspected the cotton samples and his intention to cooperate is clear. He is ready to leave for the United States. There are no urgent matters in Hong Kong at the moment, so I plan to temporarily hand over the daily management work to Lin Er and come to New York in person to report on the recent work to you and participate in the subsequent negotiations with the Tang family."

Lin Yi's tone remained calm as always, but Lin Yan detected a subtle hint of weariness in it. He was indeed enjoying an easy time being the "hands-off manager," but Hong Kong, as an information hub and important base, relied entirely on Lin Yi and Lin Er with those 98 Foundation Establishment cultivators, so the pressure on them was unimaginable.

A wave of guilt washed over Lin Yan. He immediately responded through divine sense: "Lin Yi, you've worked hard. Come on over, it'll give you a few days of respite. Also..." He paused, then made a decision, "I plan to transfer another 500 Golden Core cultivators from my spatial storage to you and Lin Er, to bolster our manpower in Hong Kong. The burden on your shoulders is too heavy."

Lin Yi's response was tinged with surprise, but even more so with gratitude: "Young Master... thank you for your consideration!"

After ending his telepathic communication with Lin Yi, Lin Yan had already made up his mind. He made an excuse to temporarily leave the lively living room and returned alone to his study on the second floor.

After locking the door, Lin Yan entered the space with a thought.

He summoned all the Golden Core cultivators waiting in the space. Looking at the densely packed group of subordinates before him, their auras powerful and their eyes sharp, Lin Yan spoke directly: "I intend to select 500 people to go to Hong Kong to assist Lin Yi and Lin Er in handling the increasingly heavy workload. There is no spiritual energy outside, and the affairs are complex and require utmost dedication. Is there anyone willing to go?"

To his surprise, as soon as he finished speaking, almost all the Golden Core cultivators stepped forward, their eyes gleaming, and raised their hands to volunteer.

"Young master! I am willing to go!"

"Young Master, let me go! Staying in this space is stifling; my cultivation isn't improving at all. I'd rather go out and share your burdens!"

"Yes, young master, please give us a chance!"

It turned out that because Lin Yan's own cultivation was stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage, the cultivation of these Golden Core cultivators within the space had also stagnated. For them, who were used to constantly increasing their power, this state of idleness was simply torture. Being able to leave the space, go out and see the world, and manage that vast business and information network for their young master was undoubtedly a more challenging and fulfilling task.

After understanding everyone's thoughts, Lin Yan felt a sense of comprehension and was also somewhat moved. He quickly gathered the 1,900 Golden Core cultivators who had volunteered to go to the outside world and told them to prepare so that he could send them out that night.

Three o'clock in the morning.

New York, the city that never sleeps, has also fallen asleep. Lin Yan left the villa, his figure blending into the night, and arrived at the empty and quiet Central Park.

Alexander Winster was already waiting there.

"Young Master." Alexander bowed respectfully upon seeing Lin Yan.

Lin Yan nodded, saying nothing, and communicated with the spatial dimension through his divine sense. The next moment, blurry figures appeared silently like a tide in the park's open space, a total of 1,900 people. Instantly, a chilling pressure filled the air. These 1,900 Golden Core cultivators all turned their gazes to Lin Yan, awaiting his instructions.

Alexander looked at the more than a thousand colleagues before him, his heart pounding with excitement. He couldn't help but grin from ear to ear, his smile almost reaching the back of his head. He rubbed his hands together, preparing to step forward and begin selecting replacements for the Americas group.

However, before he could even take a step—

"call out--"

"call out--"

"call out--"

Three soft, almost indistinguishable sounds of air being cut through the night wind approached from afar. Under the cover of darkness, three figures swept past the treetops with astonishing speed, landing gracefully in front of Lin Yan almost simultaneously, kneeling on one knee with a respectful posture.

"Your subordinate, Albert von Hohenheim, head of the European team, greets you, young master!" This was a white man with short silver hair and azure eyes, elegant and aloof like an ancient nobleman. His Chinese had a slight German accent.

"My subordinate, Marcus Jabari, head of the Africa team, is at your service!" This was a black man with a towering, muscular build, dark, shiny skin, a bald head that gleamed in the moonlight, and eyes as sharp as a cheetah. His voice was deep and powerful.

"Your subordinate, James Cook, head of the Oceania group, reporting for duty, young master!" This was a man with bronze skin, a rugged face, and somewhat messy brown curly hair, whose eyes held the shrewdness and adventurous spirit unique to navigators.

These three Jin Dan leaders, who were respectively in charge of European, African, and Oceanian affairs, also gathered in New York's Central Park at this time!

Alexander froze, looking at the three uninvited guests with some surprise, then glanced resentfully at Lin Yan. Clearly, the young master had notified more than just him.

Lin Yan looked at the four powerful Golden Core cultivators before him, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "Excellent, everyone's here. This 'cake-sharing' meeting has quietly begun under the New York night sky." He gestured to the 1,900 Golden Core cultivators standing solemnly behind him and addressed the four leaders:

"Everyone's here. You four, discuss and divide them among yourselves. Prioritize replenishing weak links, ensuring a balance of power across continents, and meeting future strategic needs. Remember to leave 500 people for Hong Kong."

As his words fell, the air in this quiet corner of Central Park instantly became subtly intense. The four leaders looked at the group of Golden Core cultivators with eyes full of unwavering determination. A silent "talent war" was quietly unfolding in New York's Central Park at three in the morning.