Chapter 27: Dominating the Skies

“President Lin, business is like a battlefield—circumstances change in the blink of an eye, and we must respond with equal agility.”

Just as the atmosphere grew subtly tense, Lin Wanting’s phone suddenly rang. She glanced at the caller ID, her brows arching slightly, then turned to Wen Bin.

“Mr. Wen, if you’ll excuse me for a moment, I need to take this call.”

Lin Wanting rose and walked to the window, answering in a low voice.

Qin Feng noticed that as the conversation went on, her expression grew increasingly grave. When she finally ended the call, she turned back to Wen Bin. “I’m afraid we’ll need to pause our discussion, Mr. Wen. There’s an urgent matter that requires my attention. Let’s reconvene another day.”

Though Wen Bin was clearly displeased, he could only nod his assent. Before leaving, he shot a meaningful glance at Qin Feng.

Once Wen Bin had gone, Qin Feng immediately asked, “What happened?”

Lin Wanting rubbed her temples, her frustration mixed with anger. “Those fair-weather friends—The Liu family has bribed the raw stone dealers, preventing them from supplying Jade Pavilion.”

As soon as her words fell, the atmosphere in the office froze.

Qin Feng’s brow knitted tightly, a flash of sharpness in his gaze. The lifeblood of any jewelry business is the supply of raw stones—if that’s cut off, it’s as if the company’s throat is being squeezed.

“That’s a ruthless move,” Qin Feng said in a low voice. He stood and moved beside Lin Wanting, his tone gentle. “But, Wanting, don’t worry too much. We’ll find a way.”

She nodded lightly, but worry still clouded her eyes. “I know, but most of those stone dealers have been our partners for years. For them to change sides so suddenly, there must be greater forces at play. I fear this is only the beginning of the Liu family’s campaign against us.”

Qin Feng’s mind raced.

“Don’t panic yet, Wanting. Let me investigate further,” he said, pulling his phone from his pocket and dialing Master Yan’s number.

A steady voice soon answered, “Hello, Xiaofeng. What’s the matter?”

“Master, I need your advice. Jade Pavilion’s supply chain is in trouble—the Liu family has bought off our raw stone suppliers and cut off our sources. You have deep experience in this industry. Do you have any suggestions or resources you could share?” Qin Feng’s voice was tinged with urgency.

Master Yan was silent for a moment, clearly deep in thought.

“Xiaofeng, that’s a tough predicament. In the jade business, especially when it comes to high-end raw stones, resources are king. For the Liu family to make such a move means they’ve been planning this for some time. But don’t be too discouraged. The world of jade is far from simple—they can’t monopolize everything.”

“Do you have any concrete suggestions, Master?” Qin Feng pressed.

“First, try reaching out to the small and medium-sized suppliers you have good relations with. Even if their supply isn’t huge, every little bit helps in a crisis,” Master Yan advised. “Second, consider expanding to international channels—sourcing from foreign dealers. It will raise costs, with shipping and tariffs, but it will diversify your risk and free you from dependence on a single market.”

Qin Feng listened, nodding, a plan beginning to take shape in his mind. “Thank you, Master. I’ll leave it there for now.”

When the call ended, Qin Feng took careful note of Master Yan’s advice. In this world, there are no permanent enemies or eternal allies—only interests that must align. If one turns a blind eye when the other is in trouble, it can only mean one thing: that party is not to be relied upon.

“What did Master Yan say?” Lin Wanting asked when she saw Qin Feng lost in thought.

“He suggested we contact our existing suppliers,” Qin Feng replied, then added, “But I think we may need to go further—directly connect with the raw stone dealers in Myanmar.”

“To Myanmar?” Lin Wanting frowned, hesitated for a long moment, then shook her head. “No, the trade channels there are chaotic, and the place is crawling with gamblers. If we went over there recklessly and something happened…”

Qin Feng sensed the risk as well. He knew no one in Myanmar, and charging in blindly would be courting disaster. Jade is a high-stakes business—if the wrong people set their sights on you, the consequences could be dire.

Qin Feng sighed, scratching his head in frustration. “So what do we do? We can’t just sit here and wait for doom.”

“For now, help me keep Jade Pavilion running. I’ll try reaching out, see if I can establish a foreign supply channel,” Lin Wanting said, clearly at a loss herself.

Qin Feng nodded, the weight of the situation settling heavily on him.

Three hours later, in the countryside outside Nanyang, a private estate blazed with light and festive banners. This was the Liu Group’s newly developed resort, focused on leisure and entertainment. The manor was packed with guests—wine poured freely, laughter rang out, and the Liu family patriarch and his son were surrounded by admirers.

At the banquet table, glasses clinked amid a tide of merriment. Liu Yuanhang’s father, Liu Jun, raised his cup and looked around with a hearty laugh. “Thank you, colleagues, for your hard work. Tonight, let’s enjoy ourselves to the fullest!”

The crowd replied with cheers that echoed through the hall.

At that moment, a waiter in a tailcoat and white gloves entered, bowing respectfully to Liu Jun as he made his rounds. “Director Liu, there are two guests downstairs.”

“Oh?” Liu Jun set down his glass, puzzled. His banquets were exclusive—entry was by invitation only. After a moment’s thought, he gestured for the waiter to bring the guests up.

Soon, a tall woman in professional attire and a young man entered the hall together—none other than Wen Bin and his striking secretary. Their arrival drew many eyes, Wen Bin’s cultured demeanor standing out.

“Young Master Wen, welcome!” Liu Jun stood to greet them warmly. Though surprised by their presence, he maintained the composure of a seasoned businessman.

“Uncle Liu, forgive the intrusion,” Wen Bin responded politely. As a current business partner of the Liu family, he kept his tone modest.

“Nonsense! Your father and I are old friends. I’m delighted to have you,” Liu Jun replied with a hearty laugh, inviting Wen Bin to sit. His secretary took the seat beside him.