plumnovel Chapter 68 To strike a snake, strike its vital spot.
Chapter 68 To strike a snake, strike its vital spot.
The following afternoon, Finn walked into the study at Oak Bay Manor, grumbling and cursing.
"Sir, that Hancock has sent someone again." Finn plopped down in his chair, picked up the refreshing tea on the table, and gulped down a large mouthful.
"This time it wasn't the butler, it was a fucking lawyer! So arrogant, talking to me about 'business compromises' and 'long-term cooperation.' I almost punched him out of the bar!"
Li Wei was looking at a price list from a Rhodes Island blacksmith shop, without even looking up. "What did he say?"
"That guy said Mr. Hancock was willing to pay double the price to buy 30% of our 'Mutual Aid Society's' shares. On the condition that his ship could come and go freely without inspection."
"Hmph! Who does he think he is? A king?"
Li Wei finally put down the documents in his hand.
"He's not a king, but he wants to be one."
Li Wei tapped the table lightly with his knuckles. "Finn, you did a good job. It was right to refuse him. Our rules can't be broken for anyone. Once they are, they're worthless."
"So we're just going to keep stalling with him like this?" Finn asked impatiently. "That guy has a lot of influence in the city. I'm afraid he'll cause trouble."
"Let him try." A barely perceptible smile played on Li Wei's lips. "Not only will I let him trip me up, I'll force him to come to me."
He looked at Fiona beside him: "Fiona, send an anonymous letter of complaint to Lieutenant Hank at the Governor's Office."
Fiona took out paper and pen, and stared at Levi with her blue eyes.
"For example, recently a large number of undeclared arms have been smuggled into Boston from Nantucket Island by fishing boats and hidden in a textile warehouse in the south of the city owned by John Hancock."
Finn's one eye lit up: "Sir, that's ruthless! They're trying to kill Hancock!"
"No." Levi shook his head. "This is just a reminder that his past businesses were shady. It's also a way of telling the governor that I, this 'useful Oriental,' can not only help you collect taxes, but also help you catch traitors."
He paused, then continued, "But most importantly, Fiona, you must specify in the letter that the quantity of this batch of weapons is approximately fifty."
"Fifty cigarettes?" Finn was stunned. "As far as I know, Hancock smuggles at least five times that amount each time!"
"Yes, that's exactly fifty. That number is just enough to make the Governor's Office think the situation is serious and that they must seize it. But not enough to make the Governor decide to completely eliminate Hancock, one of the biggest taxpayers."
"This will only cause Hancock to lose a batch of goods and get into a lot of trouble, but it won't be a serious blow."
"I don't want his life, I want him to feel pain. Only when he feels pain will he understand who the dealer is in this new game."
Li Wei stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the calm sea in the distance.
"Moreover, I need him to do something for me. Something that only a 'patriot' like him can do."
Three days later, a group of British soldiers raided John Hancock's warehouse in the south of the city and found fifty-two brand-new French-made Xavier rifles and their ammunition under piles of cotton and linen.
The news sent shockwaves through Boston's upper class.
John Hancock was summoned by the governor's office and, after paying an exorbitant fine and using all his political connections, was barely exonerated from the charge of "treason" on the grounds of "negligence in warehouse management, which was exploited by criminals."
That evening, a magnificent carriage without any family crest silently pulled up in front of Oak Bay Estate under the cover of darkness.
John Hancock stepped down from the carriage himself, adjusted his expensive lace bow tie, glanced up at the manor that had quietly sprung up in Boston, and then said to the servant beside him:
"Go and announce that John Hancock has come to visit Mr. Levy."
……
The candlelight in the study cast the shadows of two people on the wall, one standing and one sitting, clearly separated.
John Hancock's arrival did not cause any ripples at Oak Bay Estate; the servants continued with their tasks as if he were just an ordinary visitor.
"Mr. Li, I think there might be some small misunderstanding between us."
Hancock's voice was gentle, with a perfectly appropriate aristocratic accent. He did not sit down, but chose to stand in front of Levi's desk, a condescending posture.
Li Wei did not get up, but simply raised his hand to indicate the chair opposite him, without saying a word, waiting for the other person to sit down.
For a time, the two sides remained deadlocked.
A few seconds later, Hancock could only sit gracefully in the leather chair before he received a response from Levi.
"Mr. Hancock, misunderstandings are the least efficient form of communication and the most useless excuse. I prefer open and honest communication."
Hancock's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal.
He took out a beautifully crafted invitation from his pocket, placed it on the table, and gently pushed it over with his fingertips.
"The Boston Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual dinner in three days. As a member of the local business community, I am honored to invite Mr. Li to attend. All the respectable businessmen in town will be there, and I believe this will be very helpful to Mr. Li's business."
Finn stood to the side, his thick fingers already reaching for the axe handle at his waist.
He sensed the threat in her words. This was no invitation; it was clearly an ultimatum, treating his husband like a nouveau riche from the countryside, about to be publicly humiliated in front of some big shot in the city.
"The Black Dragon Chamber of Commerce thanks Mr. Hancock for his kindness, and I will be there on time."
Having received a satisfactory answer, Hancock did not linger. He nodded slightly, turned and left, maintaining the demeanor of a victor throughout.
As soon as he sat in the carriage, Hancock took the Jamaican cigar offered by the butler and sneered, "What Mr. Li! In Boston, it's none of an Oriental's business to tell people what to do."
As soon as Hancock's carriage left, Finn couldn't hold back any longer.
"Sir! This guy clearly has ill intentions! Isn't he blatantly trying to intimidate us on his turf?"
"That's why we have to go even more. He's set up the stage and invited the whole city's audience. If I, the lead actor, don't appear, wouldn't that be too disappointing for him?"
"Fiona, prepare a dress for me. Not too extravagant, but something like that of an Eastern silk merchant, made of the finest fabric."
"Since Hancock wants to drag us into his rules and use his status and connections to crush us, then we'll walk into his rules and tell him that his rules are outdated."
"We Easterners have an old saying: 'To kill a snake, strike its vital spot!'"