The next day.
An early-rising Li Luo sat down to another nourishing feast by Ox Biaobiao. This one was enough to raise a wave of heat up his nostrils. He tapped them gingerly, checking for a nosebleed.
After breakfast, Li Luo followed Jiang Qing'e to the Suncreek Villa's headquarters. And as an important member of the Suncreek Villa and the House Luolan management, of course Cai Wei was there too.
They sat comfortably in the spacious carriage, the fragrance of the three women mingling sweetly in the air within.
"Qing'e, although Hanzhi didn't lift a finger when he was president, Pang Qianchi was a bit more circumspect with him around. Now that Hanzhi is gone, he'll run rampant for sure," Yan Lingqing said worriedly, fussing with her silver-rimmed spectacles.
"The Suncreek Villa's headquarters is in shambles. We have to quickly appoint a new president to calm things down and get production underway, or the losses will continue to escalate," Cai Wei fretted.
"Probably Pang Qianchi's goal..."
Jiang Qing'e nodded. "Given Pang Qianchi's reputation and artificer skill, there's no one who can compare to him. He'll definitely be the favorite in the running for president. Even the moderate majority would choose him."
"But if we make him president, there's going to be trouble. Pei Hao will be able to step all over us. It's a one-way ticket down to our doom," Cai Wei said.
"Urgh," Yan Lingqing hissed. While she might be competent enough to hold her own in the Tianshu Province, her skills were insufficient here at the Suncreek Villa's headquarters. Her appointment would have to be forced through, and it would incite dissatisfaction. The stubborn old geezers in the Suncreek Villa would be first on the protest line.
"It's not as though we don't have other candidates though," Jiang Qing'e said with a light laugh.
Yan Lingqing and Cai Wei looked at her, astonished.
She nodded forwards, gesturing with her dainty, little chin. Yan Lingqing and Cai Wei turned to look at Li Luo.
"Me?" Li Luo was startled at the sudden nomination by Jiang Qing'e.
"Although I'm a resonance artificer, I'm only a second-grade... That's definitely not enough to become the Suncreek Villa's president, right?"
Jiang Qing'e smiled. "Ability-wise, perhaps. But you have another advantage—your status.
"You are the young lord of House Luolan. Even the old geezers at the Suncreek Villa would have no reason to refuse your support at headquarters. Besides, you're not without your own accolades. The Tianshu Province's Suncreek Villa flourished under Lingqing and your care. You should be proud.
"You might not even have noticed it yourself, but you are the best person to take up the role of president."
There was a spark in Yan Lingqing and Cai Wei's eyes as they saw the merits of Jiang Qing'e's idea.
Li Luo mulled it over. "I guess I could take up the president role temporarily. But look at the state of the Suncreek Villa's headquarters! Resonance artificers leaving in droves and internal strife aplenty. If the Suncreek Villa wants to get its future back on track and compete against top villas like the Bigswamp Villa, there must be changes."
"I already spoke to Sister Qing'e last night about them."
Jiang Qing'e fell silent for a moment too and then finally nodded seriously.
"You are the rightful young lord of House Luolan. If you think it is possible, I will support you."
"Then my early thanks to Sister Qing'e for your support." Li Luo grinned.
Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing looked back and forth curiously, in the dark regarding this exchange.
......
The Suncreek Villa's headquarters were at the south of Xia City, in the same region as the headquarters of House Luolan. However, the sluggish city traffic and complex road systems meant that more than an hour passed before they arrived. Xia City was much bigger than the City of Southwind.
Compared to the City of Southwind's branch office, the headquarters here were much grander as well.
There were stone lions flanking the main doors, and flights of steps that elevated the dignity and grandeur of the place. Through the main doors, towering buildings loomed within.
There was a constant flow of people both ways. Occasionally, they would stop and gesture at the headquarters, laughing among themselves.
Evidently, news of the resonance artificer migration to the Bigswamp Villa had spread far and wide across Xia City.
As their coach rolled to a stop, their arrival was immediately noticed by the bystanders.
"That silver-haired kid, is that the young lord of House Luolan, Li Luo?"
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