Heated discussion erupted out on the scene, noise filled the wooden building on the central island. Many of the notable people in attendance were thrown for a loop and began speculating avidly.
Taufeeq's uptight expression relaxed instantly. He smiled, looking towards Cadmus' direction and waved. "Mr. Chai, looks like we will win this year's civil battle."
Cadmus narrowed his eyes at Taufeeq and then shook his head. He snickered in reply, saying, "Mr. Moo, it won't necessarily be your victory this time, right? It's far too early for you to say that for sure!"
"Really?" Taufeeq shrugged it off. He thought that it was nothing more than an egoistic bluff by Cadmus, so he smiled and replied, "In that case, I'll wait for a few more minutes to convey my consolations to the Chai family."
"You consoling us? That's not for sure!" Cadmus scoffed.
Taufeeq shook his head with a broad smile. He did not intend to continue the bickering with Cadmus. After all, the results of the civil battle had been decided. He had managed to get the support of Salman Zheng, a bigshot and most definitely a powerful weapon. The Chai family would definitely lose. Cadmus was just stubborn and denying reality.
However, just as Taufeeq was reveling in his smugness, Clara suddenly tugged on her father's sleeve and pointed at the Moo family's boat. She said anxiously, "Dad, look. Over there, on our boat"
"What's wrong?" Taufeeq looked towards the boat in confusion. What he saw caused his heart to skip a beat. A sense of foreboding welled up inside him.
At that moment, Salman was already on the Moo family's boat. As per the original plan, he should have handed the lantern in his hand to the Moo family members on the boat. Then, he would give a few cursory words of congratulations and support to set the Moo family's victory in stone.
Salman had arrived on the boat, lantern in hand. As he faced the Moo family members who were supposed to accept the lantern from him, Salman did not hand it over. Instead, he looked in the direction of the wooden building and bellowed, "Taufeeq, I have a few words for you. Keith will convey it to you. As for the fate of this lantern, let's deal with that after you've heard what I have to say."
As soon as everyone heard that, chattering broke out again, after it had just began to calm down from the shock of Salman's presence.
Taufeeq's face fell in an instant.
At the present moment, a smiling Keith went to Taufeeq with a proud look on his face. He sniggered and said, "Mr. Moo, my father has a few words for me to pass to you."
"Go ahead, Keith!" Taufeeq tried his best to suppress the anxiety in his heart and forced a smile.
Keith replied, "Mr. Moo, according to my father, as long as you agree to what he said before, he will immediately pass the lantern to the Moo family, and then everything will go as planned."
"What?!" Taufeeq glowered when he heard that. He gritted his teeth and exclaimed, "That's impossible!"
"Mr. Moo, if that is your reply, my father may not pass the lantern to the Moo family," Keith said in a threatening tone.
Taufeeq's expression darkened. He ground his teeth, glaring at Keith and Salman with resentment. Then, he asked, "How could Salman do this?"
Keith smiled and answered, "Mr. Moo, you're going about it all wrong. You and my father are both
businessmen. Business is business, and it will be handled as such. If the Moo family joins our Chamber of Commerce, my father will lend his support to you in the lantern festival. Fair exchange of interests is a basic business principle."
"Fair? That condition is a total insult to justice." Taufeeq was furious.
Clara and the other members of the Moo family looked at him, puzzled. Clara asked, "Dad, what does he want?"
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