Chapter 2280 - 2183: Borrowing the Knife
Huo Sining felt a bit embarrassed; she naturally knew that Gu Xu had been very tolerant and accommodating after being with her, but having an outsider point it out was somewhat awkward.
However, Yan Xuesong was expressing concern as an elder. Huo Sining wasn’t ungrateful, so she chuckled awkwardly a few times and then made a joke to brush it off.
After hanging up Yan Xuesong’s call, Huo Sining called Yue Shuwen over.
Regarding the trip to Xishuangbanna, Huo Sining truly didn’t want to rely on others, but given the current special circumstances, she indeed couldn’t go in person, so she had to choose someone trustworthy and capable to handle it.
The most suitable person for this task was Yue Shuwen.
Because what they needed to find this time was Orchid Grass, and the rarer, the better. Generally, people don’t recognize Orchid Grass, and even if they do, it’s very difficult to find an exceptional one. However, Yue Shuwen was different; she possessed the Spiritual Pearl and had a wood attribute, making it very easy for her to find a couple of extraordinary Orchid Grasses in the jungle.
Upon hearing Huo Sining’s proposal to invite her to Xishuangbanna, Yue Shuwen hesitated for a moment but quickly agreed.
"No problem, let me handle this, I guarantee I’ll get it done properly."
Huo Sining nodded but still felt uneasy: "Let Yingzi accompany you. She’s skilled and has a background as a scout, definitely experienced in jungle warfare. If you encounter any danger in the jungle, her presence will ensure your safety."
Yue Shuwen looked at Huo Sining’s belly and couldn’t help but frown: "But your belly..."
Huo Sining smiled and said, "I won’t be making appearances for a while, it’s fine. The place you’re going to is the deep mountains and jungles, and you’re bringing two old professors. I fear any accidents. With Yingzi following, I feel more assured."
Yue Shuwen hesitated for a moment but didn’t decline further.
Early the next morning, Yue Shuwen took Yingzi to Magic Capital to meet Yan Xuesong and Chen Qiankun. Meanwhile, Huo Sining also contacted Yan Xuesong. Yan Xuesong and Chen Qiankun arranged for a skilled retired special forces soldier to accompany them to Xishuangbanna. This made Huo Sining feel more at ease, knowing with these arrangements, they shouldn’t encounter any danger.
Not long after Yue Shuwen left, a call came from Liao Song, and it turned out that Zhong Zifan and Liao Song had somehow schemed together, and Zhong Yuejin was truly fooled.
Coaxed by several Henan traders, Zhong Yuejin genuinely believed these traders had a large plantation of walnut trees, and he kept this in mind. Once back in Fuzhou, he passed this information to Wang Zhongwei’s ears.
Wang Zhongwei and Ma Liwen were feeling quite frustrated over a batch of walnuts in the Imperial Capital that had been ruined by hail. Upon hearing that Zhong Yuejin knew people who held a batch of walnut trees, they instantly became interested.
Like a pillow sent to a sleepy person, Wang Zhongwei did have some doubts about the authenticity of the matter. However, Zhong Yuejin assured him, saying these Henan traders were people he knew from the rough jade business, having known them for many years, and they were absolutely reliable. Moreover, since Zhong Yuejin and his nephew Zhong Zifan were in a hostile relationship, the two could not possibly conspire against him, which lowered Wang Zhongwei’s guard, making him focus on these walnut trees.
Compared to Wang Zhongwei, Ma Liwen remained more alert. He found it very dubious that such an opportunity arose so timely. After Zhong Yuejin helped contact those Henan folks, Ma Liwen felt it necessary to conduct an on-site investigation for peace of mind.
Thus, Wang Zhongwei and Ma Liwen, led by Zhong Yuejin, headed straight to a rural area in Henan and successfully viewed the entire walnut grove.
Seeing the physical trees put Wang Zhongwei and Ma Liwen at ease.
Zhong Yuejin was also full of pride: "See, I told you I didn’t deceive you. These bosses are all old friends of mine, Zhong Yuejin. Their work is absolutely reliable, so you can rest assured; there will definitely be no problems!"
Zhong Yuejin guaranteed there were no issues with these walnut trees, and Ma Liwen also carefully observed the entire walnut grove, discovering that these were indeed old walnut trees, likely planted in the same year, being around twenty years old.
Walnuts from such old trees are certainly of good quality.
After being ostracized by the Imperial Capital’s collectors’ circle, Ma Liwen eagerly wanted to make his mark in the Fuzhou Market to prove himself. The batch of walnuts he had pre-ordered in Fangshan had little hope now, so encountering such a bargain, Ma Liwen had no hesitation and immediately decided to settle on it.
Wang Zhongwei was also brimming with excitement, secretly laughing, thinking, what does it mean to search high and low only to find it effortlessly? With this batch of goods, even if Liao Song had other sources, what did he have to fear? This walnut grove contained at least over fifty trees. If he could secure these goods, he could suppress Liao Song to the point where he couldn’t breathe, and he could forget about competing for the market, perhaps in another life!
Dark thoughts flitted through Wang Zhongwei’s mind. After negotiating with those Henan merchants, both Ma Liwen and Wang Zhongwei each paid half of the deposit, totaling eight million in advance payments.
After signing the contract, the hearts of Ma Liwen and Wang Zhongwei, which had been on edge, finally found peace. Returning to Fuzhou with Zhong Yuejin, they began covertly seeking buyers.
Although Ma Liwen wasn’t much in terms of character, he had indeed been in the antique circle for many years and had built some connections. Upon learning he started dealing in walnuts, some people, out of respect for him, brought in some business.
Since the walnuts in his hands had not yet arrived, Ma Liwen and Wang Zhongwei only accepted pre-orders and couldn’t provide physical samples. Still, within a short half-month period, they received quite a few orders.
Upon hearing Liao Song’s report, Huo Sining was somewhat astonished: "Ma Liwen’s been alive for so many years; you’d think he wouldn’t be so careless. Didn’t they even suspect why this matter would be so coincidental?"
Liao Song couldn’t help but laugh: "Partly because Zhong Yuejin’s involvement relaxed their vigilance, and partly because the materials I prepared were really authentic, absolutely flawless. They even saw the physical trees and naturally took it for real. They were eager to secure a batch of goods, and when such an opportunity arose, they feared someone else might snap it up first, so they didn’t bother verifying the authenticity of those materials and signed the contract. I bet they’re still thinking about how to outdo me now?"
Huo Sining could imagine Wang Zhongwei and Ma Liwen’s expressions once they realized that, despite receiving so many orders, they wouldn’t be able to fulfill any, unable to provide the goods.