Chapter 1970 — The Argument
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Well said!" Old Master Han nodded in approval. "Xiaopo did not go out for nothing this trip. To hold the family's interests in his heart at every hour — that is what every member of the Hidden Han family ought to learn from. At this Summit of the Reclusive Families we had no hope at all to begin with. If Xiaopo can bring this man in, then for our Han family it may yet salvage some face, and we need not lose so miserably! Old Jiu, you have looked into this man's identity and background, have you not? Tell us, and we shall see how he might be persuaded to come!"
"Yes!" Uncle Jiu nodded and set before them all the results of his earlier investigation.
"Xiaopo, what do you think? The idea was yours — so what terms do you think we should offer to have this man race for us?" Old Master Han looked toward Han Xiaohu.
"Grandfather, since this man belongs to the Mystery Investigation Bureau, I doubt ordinary benefits would catch his eye. I say that if only we can secure him, then even giving him the treasures we win would be no more than proper..." Han Xiaohu said.
"Elder Brother, have you taken leave of your senses? The treasures we win? Those are hardly treasures put up by our Han family alone — every family that enters the race stakes a treasure, and when the time comes he would be carrying off the treasures of every family. Do you not think those terms are a little too generous?" Han Xiaochun cut in coldly before Han Xiaohu could finish. "Or is it that you mean to collude with an outsider and swallow up our Han family's interests?"
"Swallow up the Han family's interests?" Han Xiaohu looked at Han Xiaochun with a half-smile. "You should know that if we do not bring him in, we are bound to lose this race. With the little foundation our family has, we are not even worth watching."
"He is a student, nothing more. Even if he has ties to the Mystery Investigation Bureau, our Hidden Han family asking his help is already doing him honor — toss him any one of our Han family's treasures and will he not come running to help?" Han Xiaochun gave a cold snort. "We of the Hidden Han family may not rank among the top families of the reclusive world, but I will say this much: even the Mystery Investigation Bureau must give us face!"
"On this matter, Xiaochun has the right of it. If we gave him every treasure, our Han family would be losing far too much. Giving him a single treasure is already more than remarkable..." Old Master Han nodded, siding with Han Xiaochun.
"Grandfather, if we cannot show a little sincerity, then I cannot promise to bring him in..." Han Xiaohu sighed and put the unpleasant truth first. For some reason he simply felt that the man in the Grand Cherokee was not the sort to be reasoned with easily, nor one to be fetched by a casual invitation.
"Elder Brother, if you feel your abilities are limited, then leave the matter to me. I will go and invite him — I guarantee I will get it done!" Han Xiaochun thumped his chest in assurance.