Chapter 3591 — A Failed Swap
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Seeing Brother Kubi squeeze his way over, Meng Jueming glanced at him in surprise. Over the years he had grown used to the other's meek and submissive manner, and had never seen such a resolute expression on Kubi's face—he even sensed a faint air of authority about him.
This spineless good-for-nothing actually had an air of authority about him? Meng Jueming was amused by the bizarre thought that sprang into his mind. He curled his lip and said, "Brother Kubi, what is it you think you're doing?"
Unexpectedly, Brother Kubi did not answer with his usual deference—did not even glance at him—but addressed Dai Wuchang directly: "Senior Brother Dai, please give me a contract for Mine No. 7!"
"Oh? Does Brother Kubi mean to go down the mine and dig for jade himself? Have the rules of the Welcome Pavilion changed—are you stewards now allowed to take on private work?" Dai Wuchang looked at Brother Kubi with a puzzled expression.
To prevent these steward brothers from neglecting their proper duties and letting the instruction of newcomers fall into ruin, the Welcome Pavilion had explicitly decreed that they were forbidden to take any private work—after all, they already drew a substantial monthly stipend, more than enough for their daily cultivation needs. Going down the mine merely to supervise and maintain order among the Qingyun Pavilion newcomers was permissible, but if they wished to dig for jade with their own hands, that would not do.
"No—I'm requesting this contract on behalf of Junior Brother Lin. According to the rules, any steward brother has the authority to arrange contracts for newcomers. There should be no problem with my doing this."
Under Meng Jueming's glaring gaze from the side, Brother Kubi finally forced out these words through sheer nerve. This was the first time in years he had so openly defied Meng Jueming's wishes.
"Oh? That's true enough as far as it goes, but..." Dai Wuchang was taken aback, then turned to look at Meng Jueming's dark, sullen face. In theory Kubi did indeed have that authority, but for all these years it had always been Meng Jueming alone who decided matters. Where was there room for Kubi to have a say?
"As for the arrangement for Wei Zhao, I already decided it earlier—that contract for Mine No. 10 was prepared for him. Brother Kubi, there's no need for you to make a fuss over nothing." Meng Jueming regarded Brother Kubi coldly. Though inwardly furious, the man was, after all, a steward brother of the same rank as himself—he could not simply fly into a rage as he would with a newcomer.
"Mine No. 10 is acknowledged to be a dead mine. As a steward—steward brother of the Welcome Pavilion, I must take responsibility for the newcomers' cultivation. I—I believe this will be detrimental to Junior Brother Lin's cultivation in the days to come!" Brother Kubi stammered.
Facing the authority Meng Jueming had built up over many years, Brother Kubi stood up to him openly for the first time, and in his heart he was still somewhat unnerved—so much so that his words came out haltingly.
Meng Jueming ground his teeth in hatred. Though he would have loved nothing more than to give this eternal coward a good thrashing, with so many eyes upon them he could only force his anger down. Kubi's words, after all, were not without reason; at this moment he dared not raise a hand—even a single ill-chosen half-sentence, once spread abroad, would become evidence that he was deliberately suppressing a newcomer, and for a steward brother that was a fatal stain.
Meng Jueming shot Dai Wuchang a look, and Dai Wuchang nodded in understanding. With a cold face he cut in, "Brother Kubi, that's not right of you. True, your Welcome Pavilion has its Welcome Pavilion rules, but our Spirit Jade Hall has our Spirit Jade Hall arrangements. What—is Mine No. 10 not a mine? Does it not need people to work it?"