Starting Cultivation in Wasteland

When you encounter a bratty kid, there’s really no sense in reasoning.

Moreover, Qu Jianlei had to admit that Little Lake’s network monitoring was indeed very useful, providing significant assistance to the team.

However, he truly had no money. Even after pooling all his cash together, it was just over one billion, and not even all of it was on hand.

"Maybe we can make do for now, and buy a better one when we have the money."

"We can get a loan!" Little Lake suggested, and it was a rather sly idea.

"If things go south, we can skip town with the calculation unit and ditch the loan... After all, it’s a fake identity!"

"You’re just..." Qu Jianlei was at a loss for words, but upon thinking it over, this idea was actually feasible.

Previously, he had always been opposed to loans, even when he was on Blue Star. He hated the idea of borrowing from the future to meet current needs.

But now, Little Lake’s suggestion tempted him slightly—if worst comes to worst, they could just run?

However, he still felt this was a bit unethical, although there’s no harm exploiting banks.

"Forget it, let me ask if Ping’an could guarantee the loan."

Ping’an Trading Group has grown so big that it’s impossible for it to be without any original sin.

But as a partner, their cooperation had always been smooth, so he automatically ignored the original sin issues.

If the water is too clear, there’ll be no fish. Anyway, they haven’t wronged him yet, "I’ll have Flower Scorpion inquire."

Flower Scorpion didn’t directly ask for a loan, but inquired about how much could be mortgaged from their shares in the abandoned energy ore star body.

Duoduo immediately understood that they were short on the money to buy the calculation unit, but this was quite normal.

Not everyone carries billions of Silver Notes, and calculation units are indeed a money-consuming product.

Even though Ping’an has its own research institute, even with their strength, they couldn’t bear to spend billions on calculation units.

However, when the news reached Jilt, he decisively made a decision.

"No need for collateral, Ping’an will guarantee it, see how much down payment they are willing to offer!"

Their background was unclear, but he was indeed willing to guarantee it. If they skipped town, the shares in the energy ore would naturally be lost.

In the end, as long as he could bind them deeply, this risk was worth it.

Moreover, he believed that with their way of doing things, it was impossible they’d silently sell off shares and then skip town.

So, though the risk seemed substantial, in reality it was not that big when calculated.

Actually, not to mention anything else, the hundred square kilometers of land Ping’an had given away couldn’t be purchased for just two or three billion.

One must know, this wasn’t some Edge Star Realm, it’s a genuine Inner Circle, and Purple Pool ranks second among the habitable stars in the Star Realm.

Qu Jianlei heard this response and was still a bit hesitant. Ping’an reacted so swiftly, should he really go through with this?

But Little Lake couldn’t help it anymore, "Because with us backing them, Ping’an has already reclaimed tens of billions in market share!"

When a trading group grows large, it involves larger monetary amounts, and Qu Jianlei could rob billions from the Star Thieves.

Of course, market share doesn’t equate to net profit, but having market share at least keeps people afloat, right?

Qu Jianlei had no intention of asking about net profit, it’s a complex issue—a large trading group can’t be judged by gross profit alone.

For example, the salaries of numerous employees are deducted from the gross profit, which has considerable social significance, something money can’t measure?

As long as they could stay here for a few years, Ping’an could earn quite a bit, so it would more or less balance out.

In the worst case, they could throw the shares of the energy stone ore to Ping’an; after all, these can’t be taken away when they decide to skip town.

For instance, Niaoming Stream Manor, Rhine had given it to him, but when something happens at Celestial Handle Star, the Haiyin Clan would probably reclaim it as well.

——Not reclaiming it is impossible, or else it benefits outsiders for nothing.

But Qu Jianlei was also a bit skeptical, once they skipped town from Purple Pool Star again, can Ping’an withstand the ensuing turmoil?

After all, even though this trading group isn’t small, its ability to handle crises is far lesser than the Haiyin Clan’s.

However, those were concerns for later. If they didn’t intervene this time, how long Ping’an might last was uncertain...

Qu Jianlei did some serious psychological preparation and finally felt ready to "exploit" an ally once.

"Little Lake, let’s discuss which model to choose... You said ten billion is enough, right?"

"Not at all," Big Head Butterfly spun around again, "Ten billion is just the starting point!"

"Do you understand starting point? Not the Yuewen Group kind!"

"Once my computing power increases, I can monitor the network more effectively and help Ping’an eliminate risks, it’s worth it!"

Qu Jianlei rolled his eyes in exasperation, "But I can’t possibly explain this to Ping’an Trading Group."

After much deliberation between the two, and through Flower Scorpion and Duoduo’s mediation, they finally selected a model.

It was a set of extra-large calculation units worth sixteen billion, with a market price of about eighteen billion.

Ping’an negotiated the deal, cutting down the price by two billion, which showed their considerable influence.

Qu Jianlei didn’t take the money from selling the starship, and even added another 1.5 billion in cash to barely make a six billion down payment.

The 1.5 billion was all he had earned from Ping’an so far.

Now, everything was handed out, not to mention, an additional ten billion in foreign debt.

The loan term is twenty years, with an annual repayment of over eighty million including principal and interest, which isn’t high but definitely not low either.

Qu Jianlei and his team receive fifty million annually from Ping’an as Guardian Fee, so there’s only a shortfall of thirty million, which isn’t too big of a pressure.

If the energy stone ore can be extracted quickly, this shortfall wouldn’t be a big deal; if not, they’ll have to make up the deficit elsewhere.

However, the computer group’s production company responded quickly; after receiving the down payment, they started working immediately, promising delivery in two months.

This efficiency... can’t be said to be slow.

Although Celestial River is already an Inner Circle Star Realm, the demand for such goods is very low, and the price extremely high, who would have them in stock?

In just over two months, a lavishly decorated small starship landed on Yuanwang Star.

Yuanwang, the central star of the Celestial River Star Realm, is not unfamiliar with similar luxurious private starships.

From the starship descended a dozen individuals, each exceptionally vigorous.

Though they didn’t make any obvious gestures, they subtly exhibited noticeable vigilance in all directions.

Just by their aura, you could tell they were well-trained elites, among them even two A-levels.

Yet these individuals didn’t cause any disturbance; ordinary people seldom sense them.

At this moment, the internal dispatch at the star port was already clamoring on the internal channel, "Miss Pianpian’s exclusive starship has landed!"

The next moment, a heavily cloaked fat person emerged from the starship.

Indeed, it was a fat person, considered fat even from an Imperial perspective.

Standing no more than around 168 centimeters tall, weighing at least 168 pounds.

Knowing that according to Imperial standards, at this height, a woman’s weight should be around 140 pounds.

Yet the fat person’s movements were graceful, seemingly defying gravity.

Amidst the entourage, the fat person boarded an oversized bulletproof SUV at the star port.

With four cars ahead and behind, a convoy of five rolled onward.

The convoy stopped at the most luxurious "Bridgehead Hotel" on Yuanwang Star, and the fat person entered the room directly via a private elevator.

The "Bridgehead" name sounds a bit mundane but carries significant commemoration.

When the Empire initially developed this star realm, it faced great challenges, and the pivotal battle was named Bridgehead.

In short, within the Celestial River Star Realm, "Bridgehead" is a prestigious term, not casually used by just anyone.

Outside the Bridgehead Hotel, a large crowd had gathered, numbering four to five thousand people.

Most of them held various banners with assorted content, all containing the word "Pianpian."

"Welcome, Sister Pianpian, to Celestial River!"

"Sweetheart Pianpian, do you know how much I miss you?"

"Pianpian dear, I have your baby diaper; do you want to smell the scent of your youthful days?"

Essentially, it’s a grand fan greeting event, with more people continuously arriving from afar.

Pianpian is one of the most popular female singers in the Empire, said to possess a "once-in-two-hundred-years unparalleled voice."

Additionally, she has a sweet face and graceful dance moves; although according to Imperial standards her body is a tad too slim, everything else is perfect.

Moreover, Pianpian’s fans are not like those of Blue Star; despite being in the digital age, her followers are genuinely not self-purchased traffic fans.

There’s much to say, but judging by the luxury cars below, numerous ones exceed a million, not fewer than twenty vehicles.

In comparison, Xiao Qin’s car when welcoming Qu Jianlei to Central City was decent, valued only at three thousand.

And that was on Garbage Star, where SUVs are considered luxury items.

Even more astonishingly, several of these luxury cars exceeded thirty million in value.

This amount could buy a decent second-hand small attack ship, couldn’t it?

In the luxurious suite, the fat person removed the helmet, revealing a stunning face, surprisingly a Wood Attribute A-level.

Without glancing outside, she frowned, her thin cherry lips parting slightly, "Notify Taiping’s people to see me."

Soon someone arrived, an ordinary person with unremarkable aura.

However, this person held electronic credentials, verifiable by check, and had corresponding secret phrases.

Secret phrases are quite fascinating, seemingly ancient artifacts, appearing incongruously in high-tech systems.

Yet, in reality, it’s one of the most reliable validation methods.

As long as communication exists, the threat of interception exists; however, secret phrases are hard to intercept unless through soul search.

Aside from that, iris, brainwave, and gene verification also validate identities, seeming more reliable than secret phrases.

But what if... your system gets hacked? Technology comes with conveniences, naturally with drawbacks as well.

Simply put, human capabilities, albeit simplistic, have areas machines cannot reach.

At this moment, Pianpian had already removed her entire disguise attire, wearing only loose sportswear.

Yet, even so, one could still discern the incredibly graceful figure, slim yet not losing enchantment.

This physique is highly aligned with Blue Star’s aesthetic standards.