Richest Rag-picker

Fang Chenyi saw Vajra squeeze in as well, simply gave a helpless smile, and told Tie Dan to start driving.

But facing this big guy, Vajra, Billson’s calves started cramping involuntarily. Even though Vajra constantly wore a wide grin, it didn’t help matters.

The vehicle quickly started up. When Vajra saw Er Gouzi hiding beside Fang Chenyi, he immediately puckered his lips and whistled at the dog. Then, in a flash, he reached out and grabbed one of Er Gouzi’s legs.

Under everyone’s stunned gazes, the massive hand pulled, and in the next moment, a wailing Er Gouzi was once again cradled in Vajra’s arms.

Watching the pair of huge hands tirelessly groom Er Gouzi’s fur, the others in the vehicle couldn’t help but laugh.

As if realizing its fate was sealed, Er Gouzi slowly resigned itself. It squeezed its eyes shut and let Vajra do as he pleased.

The amphibious vehicle’s massive tonnage wasn’t just for show. While it couldn’t traverse the rugged mountain road as if it were flat ground, its progress was largely unaffected.

A journey that would have taken twenty minutes on foot took only about five minutes by vehicle to reach the mine.

Seeing that the mountaintop ahead had been completely flattened, Fang Chenyi couldn’t help but feel curious.

’This is completely different from my idea of a mine,’ he thought. ’I imagined there would be holes of all sizes everywhere. Or at the very least, a deep pit.’

But now, the place was a flat plain. A few old bulldozers were constantly pushing earth on the mountaintop, while hundreds, even thousands, of bare-chested workers in pairs were sifting the soil with small pans.

Seeing this, Fang Chenyi turned to Billson in surprise.

"This is how you mine?"

Seeing Fang Chenyi’s confusion, Billson sighed helplessly and explained,

"Sigh, we have no choice. Production and living standards here are just too backward. Plus, the local authorities absolutely forbid importing equipment from outside."

"See those three bulldozers? They’re Dongfanghong brand—I believe a product of your Huaxia. And they’re antiques from the seventies or eighties. Of course, they weren’t cheap. For just these three antiques, the local authorities charged us a price of five million US Dollars each."

’Ugh... what is this nonsense? Not allowing advanced equipment in? Are these people all idiots?’

However, after seeing the thousands of bare-chested locals, Fang Chenyi began to understand. He spoke, uncertainly,

"The people in power did this to bundle these workers into the deal for you?"

Billson nodded again.

"Yes, Boss. To put it bluntly, this place is still basically a slave society. The rich are extremely rich, and the poor are extremely poor—so poor they can’t even afford to eat. These people are the ones who can’t afford food."

Hearing this, Fang Chenyi understood completely. To put it bluntly, the people in power were selling the mining rights, stuffing a huge amount of money into their own pockets, and then looking for a way for these people to earn a living. Of course, they had no intention of paying for that living themselves.

He shook his head helplessly. There was nothing to be done. This wasn’t Huaxia; this was just how society was here.

The vehicle stopped outside a small, simple building, its perimeter guarded by heavily armed security personnel.

Seeing the new boss arrive, everyone snapped to attention.

The group got out of the vehicle. As they walked, Billson explained, "Boss, this is where we collect the diamonds."

Stepping inside, they saw more than a dozen small, pan-like boxes arranged on the floor.

In these small boxes were rough diamonds of various sizes.

Fang Chenyi walked over, casually grabbed a handful, and examined them in his palm. He found it strange that these rough diamonds weren’t dazzling like the sparkling rings in a jewelry store display case. Instead, they seemed quite dull.

’But on second thought, it makes sense,’ he mused. ’After all, a diamond is just a stone, its price hyped up by a bunch of capitalists.’

’Its real value? It’s really no different from any random stone you could pick up off the ground.’

Fang Chenyi didn’t pay much mind to the diamonds. He casually picked up the largest tray and said to Billson,

"I’m taking this tray. You can log it later."

Although the diamonds were just sitting here, every single stone and every tray was recorded, which was why Fang Chenyi had mentioned it to Billson.

After speaking, under everyone’s astonished gazes, he simply reached out and took out the woven bag he was carrying.

He gave the woven bag a little shake, preparing to pour all the diamonds in. But after a moment’s thought, he stopped, turned around, and handed a handful to Qi Xiaotian.

Qi Xiaotian subconsciously reached out and took them. He then heard Fang Chenyi say with a smile,

"The quality of this tray is excellent, and these are the biggest ones. Take these and split them with Yishou later. Then you won’t have to buy a diamond ring when you find a girlfriend. Oh, and also, when we leave, grab another tray. Give two to each of the brothers who came with us."

After he finished speaking, he saw Tie Dan standing dumbfounded to the side. Amused, he reached out again, grabbed a small handful of a dozen or so diamonds from the tray, and handed them to Tie Dan. Only then did he pour the remaining several hundred diamonds from the tray into his woven bag.

’Of course, Fang Chenyi wasn’t just putting them in the bag; he was mentally transferring them into the woven bag’s spatial storage. These things would make good gifts later on.’

Seeing this, Tie Dan, who was behind him, nearly jumped. He stared wide-eyed at the dozen or so diamonds in his hand. The first thing he did when he came to his senses was to quickly extend his hand back to Fang Chenyi, stammering that he couldn’t accept them.

Fang Chenyi paid him no mind. He just smiled, waved his hand, and said, "Just take them. Don’t give them to anyone else; these are just for you."

Qi Xiaotian was speechless. He knew Fang Chenyi’s temperament well. When Brother Fang said something, his word was his bond. Once he gave something away, there was absolutely no possibility of him taking it back.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Fang Chenyi beat him to it, looking at him with a smile.

"Alright, let’s not get sentimental between brothers. It’s just stuff grown in our own backyard. Nothing special about it. Take them."

Since Fang Chenyi had put it that way, Qi Xiaotian didn’t say anything more and simply stuffed the diamonds into his pocket. He then told Tie Dan behind him to put his away as well. Only then did Tie Dan hesitantly open a small zippered pouch on his tactical vest and carefully place the diamonds inside.