In response to Yang Bolin's inquiry, Ma Ning's expression did not change as he feigned ignorance:

"Ambush? I don't quite understand what you mean, Shopkeeper Yang?"

Yang Bolin looked at him deeply, took out a badge from his sleeve.

The badge looked somewhat peculiar; it appeared to be a rabbit, but its color and edges seemed to bear signs of damage.

According to Zhao Zhicai and Yang Bolin.

When he approached Shopkeeper Chu Feng of Chu's Commerce Association in the eastern city, he found Chu Feng, who felt cornered, angrily throwing the badge into a fire basin, intending to burn it in a fit of rage.

Fortunately, Zhao Zhicai declared his identity in time and forcibly retrieved the badge from the flames.

Though the badge could still be recognized when taken out, its exterior had some blackened scorches.

Yang Bolin played with the badge in his hand and slowly said:

"Shopkeeper Ma, you should recognize this little thing, right?"

The other party was quite direct, so Ma Ning also stopped playing coy, nodding candidly:

"That's right, this is one of the credentials from our commerce association, depicting an animal called a Little White Rabbit, a harmless creature."

Then Yang Bolin placed the badge on the table, took a ledger out of his spatial bag, and flipped to a certain page:

"Your commerce association boarded the flying ship with Wei Mansion's trading team in Linyuan City and entered Ziqiong City immediately upon arrival.

However, after entering the city, your group disappeared for three hours before arriving at the market entrance, with significantly fewer attendants.

According to the information we have, your commerce's missing personnel completed material stock-closing in the city's east zone.

If our estimates are correct, your party stock-closed about 23,000 to 28,000 kilograms of various demon beast materials this time and left this little thing at each location before leaving.

At the same time, to avoid drawing outside attention, you took care to transport these materials to the market in batches — yet curiously chose Yi Qi's carriage team under Purple Treasure Pavilion for delivery. Isn't that strange?

This method, even if it smoothly allows getting rid of the demon beast materials, makes it impossible to hide from Purple Treasure Pavilion's post-event reconciliation.

A commerce capable of predicting the rise in demon beast material prices and analyzing actionable zones in the city's east wouldn't make such a mistake.

So what's the purpose of these tactics? The answer is self-evident — naturally, it's to attract the attention of Purple Treasure Pavilion afterward."

Having said this, Yang Bolin spread his hands and solemnly looked at Ma Ning:

"Shopkeeper Ma, as you wished, I'm here, so please let's be open about it."

Ma Ning looked at Yang Bolin and suddenly laughed.

Just as Yang Bolin said.

The rabbits' stock-closing plan, from start to end, was essentially a scheme within a scheme.

The initial scheme didn't need explaining.

Which was for the rabbits to stock-close on demon beast materials, seize some opportunities amid price hikes, and fill their empty bellies.

The next advancement scheme...

Was to draw Purple Treasure Pavilion's attention.

After all, in the rabbits' initial plan, Ziqiong City was intended as a future trash disposal... cough, cough, trade partner.

This trade dumping strategy was drawn up as early as when Wei Qiangsheng proposed sending their offspring to join the army.

And to achieve this plan, connecting with Purple Treasure Pavilion was a necessary step.

Although the rabbits could rely on Wei Qiangsheng's connections for this step.

But first, Wei Qiangsheng's network wasn't developed by the rabbits themselves; such dependency was intolerable for rabbits who even wanted to make their own screws...

Not to mention a few days ahead going aboard Mars with the Zhurong Vehicle.

Other companies' aircraft would purchase and assemble about 50% of non-core external technology or get a patent and produce them via subcontracting factories.

But the rabbits wouldn't, making core chips and antenna connecting rings all in-house.

They even applied for over 300 patents, can you believe it?

There's no cure, the rabbits are control freaks in the late stage, beyond saving.

So the rabbits really didn't want to borrow Wei Qiangsheng's network, considering it'd leave them owing a favor.

This sort of thing would keep the rabbits up all night.

The second point is that for Purple Treasure Pavilion, Wei Mansion is just a regular partner, a standard ally among allies.

So even if connecting through this channel to Purple Treasure Pavilion, the position in their eyes wouldn't be high.

They might not even get to meet Yang Bolin, just having some manager sent to take care of it perfunctorily.

The discomfort of cooperation with unequal standing can be felt extensively, with countless examples domestically.

Only by showing strength — be it financial, military, or trading ability — can one attract the other's attention.

Any of the above three points would suffice, as it's merely the key to a level meeting.

Taking into account the low return on favors and connections with Wei Qiangsheng and low cost-effectiveness.

Thus, after thorough consideration at home base, the final decision was to use this demon beast material stock-closing to catch Purple Treasure Pavilion's attention.

However, attracting is one thing; the operation remains difficult.

It wouldn't do to foolishly lay everything out before them before the stock-closing, but waiting until afterward wouldn't guarantee them paying you any mind.

As Purple Treasure Pavilion was the primary planner for this stock-closing, they would undoubtedly conduct a review afterward and discover the rabbits' gain.

Except what the rabbits gained this time was too small, and given Purple Treasure Pavilion's grand consumption scale, it was negligible.

There'd be some interest — since their plan was missing a piece — but without further provocation, the most that would happen would be sending a manager to inquire a bit before ending it.

After all, who can say whether the other party planned it or just got really lucky?

Thus, to hook the big fish, Purple Treasure Pavilion, the rabbits deliberately left badges and carriages as backhands during the transaction.

Indeed, the rabbits left badges with a dozen commerce associations in the eastern city, aiming not at those shopkeepers but at Purple Treasure Pavilion's authorities.

These backhands wouldn't affect the rabbits' stock-closing but would further provoke Purple Treasure Pavilion's controllers afterward.

According to analyses from numerous behavior psychology experts in command, Purple Treasure Pavilion's controller would certainly take the bait upon discovering these clues.

Because these backhands bluntly informed him:

All our actions are planned and intentional; our business is quite big; do you want to come over and have a look?

The larger a commerce's shopkeeper, the more confident they are in their planning, and the stronger their control desire.

Facing an unexpected outlier beyond one's control, if one just ate then left immediately, it would still be tolerable, with maybe just a laugh and a nod to good luck.

But the opposite party left a bunch of hints, plus Taoshu Commerce Association isn't some dragon's lair.

How could Yang Bolin not come for a look?

And as he stepped into Taoshu Commerce Association, it represented a big fish being hooked.

After realizing the other party wanted a thorough discussion, Ma Ning naturally stopped playing coy.

First, he cupped his hands towards Yang Bolin as a gesture of apology, saying:

"This time, to presumptuously invite Shopkeeper Yang, it is indeed to discuss a significant business deal with your esteemed side.

Unfortunately, Wei Mansion's standing seemed insufficient to meet Shopkeeper Yang, compelling our boss to take this desperate measure; we ask for Shopkeeper Yang's understanding."

It must be mentioned here that Wei Niandong's translation capabilities really are something, precisely capturing Ma Ning's meaning and tone.

Ma Ning's response was expected by Yang Bolin; after all, the other party made such a significant commotion, mostly for an equal standing in a transaction.

Ma Ning was correct when he said it; Wei Qiangsheng's position indeed wasn't high in his mind, had the introduction gone through Wei Qiangsheng, it might have directly fallen to Zhao Zhicai to handle it.

Therefore, he bore no grudge, as the other's grandeur signaled significant business.

He lifted his hand in a very assenting gesture, with no hint of displeasure on his face:

"Ah, Shopkeeper Ma, you overstate it; we at Purple Treasure Pavilion are grateful for your business, nevermind being offended."

After going through the standard commercial flattery routine.

Yang Bolin pondered for a moment and slowly asked:

"Shopkeeper Ma, what business is your esteemed side looking to discuss this time?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Ning gave a mysterious smile, and from his pocket near his crotch... took out an oddly shaped stick:

"This is it, officially called the Spiritless Detonator Talisman, also known as the 67-Style Boom Boom Happiness Stick."

.....

Note:

The next chapter covers throwing the happiness stick.

The post-surgery wound bled again, so pirate readers who can, please consider supporting the official version on Qidian. Other things will be said in the author's note.

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