CHAPTER 994: CHAPTER 991: THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

"Lin Tian, two bottles of Shaoyang Pill are worth millions, doesn’t it hurt you at all?" Xiao Manxuan blinked and asked.

"It depends on whom it’s given to. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to give them to Miss and Second Miss. If it’s not enough, take all of them here; I don’t need them anyway," Lin Tian said generously.

"Hmph, you sure know how to sweet talk. How many girls have you fooled with such honeyed words? Isn’t it your usual method to hit on girls?" Xiao Manxuan teased, though her eyes brimmed with sweet affection despite her words.

Lin Tian touched his nose, thinking: I do want to hit on you, but you’re too young; you need to grow up more, and besides, Miss doesn’t agree either, you were just a high school student recently.

"Second Miss really knows how to joke. I’m an honest guy, actually not very good at coaxing girls. Otherwise, why am I still single now?" Lin Tian said earnestly.

"Cough, cough..." Miss coughed twice, interrupting Lin Tian’s pretense of seriousness, and said, "Alright, Lin Tian, tidy up the elixir, it’d be a pity if they fell and broke."

Lin Tian was shameless, not embarrassed at being seen through by Miss, but he still casually put the remaining eight bottles of elixir into the drawer without even locking it. Miss watched helplessly; only Lin Tian, this Ancient Martial Artist, could treat elixirs so nonchalantly.

After putting away the elixirs, Lin Tian remembered to ask Miss’s purpose; last time Rossi hadn’t been very detailed: "Miss, your trip to Jinghua City, business or personal?"

"Of course business, the association holds two meetings a year, semi-annual and year-end meetings. It’s June now, the time for the semi-annual meeting," Miss replied.

Such associations have existed since ancient times, groups formed by merchants with interests as links to achieve optimal resource allocation, the most famous association in history being Jin Shang.

Associations are usually membership-based, members help and support each other. Since they are interest-linked groups, there is inevitably open and covert competition.

From seeing Xiao Group struggling in recent years, it seemed the association hadn’t provided practical benefits, perhaps there were even people secretly pushing them down.

Therefore, from the start, Lin Tian wasn’t keen on this so-called association; he casually asked, "I’ve heard of Jiangnan Association, Taishan Association, what’s the name of the association Miss belongs to?"

"Yunhua Association. The Yun Family ancestors were among the founders, hence the association’s name includes ’Yun’, and ’Hua’ is another founder’s surname, but that founder’s family has declined long ago, yet the name is still used," Miss explained.

Even one of the association founders fell into decline; it can be seen membership is not necessarily secure. When the Yun Family faced the eldest son’s disappearance, Yun Hongxi injured and disabled, they suffered a calamity.

At that time, other association members probably stood by, or even considered dividing up the Yun Family, but thankfully they persisted, otherwise, "Yunhua Association" would be nominal only.

"Who is the current president of the association?" Lin Tian asked curiously.

"Yun Haoyu is the current president; visiting the Yun Family today counts as a visit. However, Yun Haoyu’s term ends this year, so an important agenda for this meeting is electing the next president," Miss replied.

"The Yunhua Association elects the president via recommendations and elections, meaning the outgoing president recommends and the members vote. Specifically, if a candidate gets recommended by the outgoing president, they only need forty percent of the votes to pass. Without recommendation, they need sixty percent votes to succeed."

Miss explained the association’s presidential election method in detail to Lin Tian for unknown reasons.

Lin Tian was indifferent, saying, "Joining the association hasn’t provided much help for Xiao Group over the years; I think this president is useless, just symbolic, an unthanked position."

"You can’t say that. Xiao Group would be even more difficult outside the association. Some business fields are dominated by major companies or families within the association, being a member is an entry ticket; without it, your hand can’t reach into those fields."

"And the association president is the major player entry ticket, having some rights in benefit and resource allocation, so the presidency is coveted, everyone wants to vie for it," Miss countered Lin Tian’s viewpoint.

"What you say makes some sense; competition and mutual benefit coexisting must be the association’s status," Lin Tian nodded in understanding.

Miss’s expression turned serious, saying, "Exactly, struggle and mutual benefit coexist; the Xiao Family has always wanted to expand business to Jinghua City, but they’ve been too insignificant within the association to succeed. Instead, the Bai Family benefits from allocation and developed well in Jinghua City."

"Is the Bai Family also a member of the association?" Lin Tian asked in surprise.

"Of course, associations have some regional nature, with the Yun Family present, the Bai Family naturally is too. Though the Bai Family’s overall strength isn’t stronger than Xiao Family, they’ve always worked in the jade field, considered an old name, achieving much, this is their forte," Miss objectively stated, not simply belittling due to conflicts with the Bai Family.

Miss is the deputy head of Xiao Group; if she disliked the Bai Family and only belittled them, she wouldn’t be clear-headed, unable to discern advantage and disadvantage, leading herself to suffer.

Lin Tian suddenly smiled, mysteriously saying, "Miss, didn’t you say the Xiao Family wants to expand business to Jinghua City? If you become Yunhua Association’s president, I think that wish can be fulfilled."

Miss shook her head, solemnly saying, "The Xiao Family has two development directions; one is Zhonghai City, already successful with your help, with stores opened there recently and broader cooperation with the Ou family and Wan Gaoyuan. It’s all your credit, as Mr. and Mrs. Wan Gaoyuan and Ou Qinglan were convinced by you."

"The other direction is Jinghua City; being elected association president would realize the goal, but I dare not consider the presidency. Aside from the Yun family, other major families can’t be compared with Xiao Family, for example, the Ning Family," Miss said regretfully.

Ning Family? Lin Tian paused, wondering if Ning Family was Ning Luoxi Family; could it really be such a coincidence?

"Lin Tian, what are you thinking?" Miss saw Lin Tian distracted and asked puzzled.

Lin Tian rubbed his brow, put aside his question, and said, "I was thinking, Miss might as well run for association president; maybe there’ll be a surprise."