Listen to My Instructions
Jonathan and Samuel King quickly came to their senses. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a name for themselves!
The King father and son immediately agreed to Lily Evans's proposal to become teachers, even patting their chests and promising to teach their ancestral porcelain craft to the students without holding back.
Lily Evans smiled at the two, clearly pleased with their sensible attitude.
She didn't like forcing people, especially when it came to good things like this. It should be a matter of mutual willingness—only then would people be truly motivated.
The King father and son were exactly the type who were interested in Lily's offer. They immediately adopted the mindset of 'one of us' and declared, "Lady Chancellor Evans, from now on, we'll follow you wholeheartedly! Whatever you need, just say the word—we'll obey without question!"
"Excellent!" Lily Evans beamed at Jonathan and Samuel King. "Now, I need to take action against the Qians' influence in Kingston, and I'll need your help. Come here and listen to my instructions..."
Jonathan and Samuel King hurried over to hear Lily Evans's whispered plan...
===
Ma Family
Martin Ma had just become the new town mayor, and he was feeling absolutely delighted.
"Dad, look, we really do have to follow the Qian Family's lead. See? As long as we do what they say, it's like magic—anything we want, we get!" Martin Ma strutted about in his new Mayor of Kingston robes, chin held high, absolutely reveling in his newfound power.
Mr. Ma beamed at his son, nodding enthusiastically, his smile stretching ear to ear.
The sight of those official robes was enough for the father and son to toss aside all the guilt from their broken promises—gone in a flash!
For fame and fortune, betraying Arthur Evans? Pfft—who cares!
Now, even if the Qians wanted the Ma Family to double-cross Arthur Evans ten more times, they'd be jumping for joy to do it.
"Dad, what's the story with this Mr. Evans anyway? The Qian Family is pulling out all the stops to make us go after him," Martin Ma said, curiosity and ambition gleaming in his eyes.
Mr. Ma stroked his beard, dismissive. "Why worry about that? We do whatever the Qians tell us. One thing’s for sure—we absolutely cannot let Arthur Evans buy his goods and leave Kingston!"
Just as Mr. Ma finished, a servant burst in, breathless and wild-eyed. "Master, Young Master, disaster! I was at the docks and saw Mr. Evans—out of nowhere, he got a whole batch of porcelain loaded onto a ship and it’s already gone!"
"What!" Martin Ma slammed the table and shot to his feet, face twisted with rage. "Who dares defy the Mayor of Kingston and secretly do business with that Evans fellow?!"
"It—it was Jonathan King and Samuel King!" the servant stammered, shaking like a leaf.
Martin Ma was still basking in his new mayoral glory, but he hadn’t expected Jonathan King and Samuel King to defy him so boldly. Fury burned in his eyes. "Come on! Bring the officers—this Mayor of Kingston will personally arrest Jonathan King and Samuel King and bring them to justice!"
"Son, I’m coming with you! Hmph, Jonathan King and Samuel King must have lions’ hearts and tigers’ guts to dare this!" Mr. Ma huffed.
The Ma father and son stormed out with twenty government soldiers, heading straight for the King family's shop. But when they arrived, Jonathan King and Samuel King were nowhere to be seen—just a terrified shop assistant cowering in the corner.
"Our boss went out to the brick kiln in the suburbs..." the assistant whimpered, eyes darting nervously.
Martin Ma was so furious he could barely think straight. He wanted Jonathan King and Samuel King caught at once. "Let’s go—block them at the brick kiln! And while we’re at it, smash their kiln to pieces!"
The assistant dove under the table, trembling. Only after Martin Ma and his men stormed out did his fear melt away. He dashed to the backyard, released a carrier pigeon, and sent it soaring into the sky...