"This drug manufacturing plant definitely wouldn't withstand a thorough investigation; who knows how many people would be involved."
Lu Yao showed no surprise as he took a taxi to the airport, while contemplating:
"This is just a primary processing plant. The raw materials are sent to 'Hebin Port in He Kingdom' for refinement. It's just the time for me to head there once I advance to the Bone-Tempering Realm."
He took a flight back to his country. Before boarding the plane, he called Li Lei to come pick him up at the airport, putting this free labor to use.
~~~~~~~~~
Three hours later, the plane landed smoothly.
"Lu Yao, over here, over here~"
The diligent Comrade Li Lei had been waiting for a while, showing no impatience and even eagerly helping with the luggage.
Detecting the strong scent of medicinal materials in the suitcase, Li Lei immediately assumed: he must have been sourcing from abroad.
Lu Yao had brought precious medicinal materials bought from Otherworld, causing the girl to misunderstand.
After getting in the car, Lu Yao asked casually, "Li Lei, I'm looking to sell some gems and jadeite. Do you have any connections?"
"Ah? Are you developing a new product?"
Several small countries in the south were abundant in jade, so she thought Lu Yao had found a new source. She nodded and said:
"I do know a few people at the International Jewelry Trading Center."
"Then let's quickly finish here, and you can take me there."
Li Lei nodded in agreement and then took out a "handheld microscope" to verify the goods.
But as soon as she opened the suitcase, she was stunned: "Why is there so much!"
Lu Yao had never bought foodstuffs in such large quantities before. Fearing that he wouldn't have enough money, he had bought out all the high-end medicinal materials from the pharmacy, more than he had ever brought back before.
Li Lei, somewhat awkwardly finished verifying the goods, played with the calculator for a long time, repeatedly checked her balance, and finally said with a flushed face:
"The total is 1.3 million... but... um... um..."
With a red face, the girl clenched her teeth and exclaimed, "I don't have enough money, I only have 930,000. Can I owe you the rest!"
Lu Yao looked at her with a strange expression, as if to say, "You're actually short of money?"
Li Lei looked like a typical wealthy second generation, and it didn't make sense that she would be lacking funds.
Entering a heightened state of awareness, he sensed she was both bashful and anxious, her expression filled with exhaustion. It seemed she indeed had run into some trouble.
Lu Yao inquired, "If you don't mind, tell me what happened."
Qi Jun struggled to contain his excitement! A few years ago, he had bought a jadeite pendant worth a hundred thousand for a mere 5,000, and basked in glory within his family. He hadn't expected another windfall to drop into his lap!
These two seemed like novices in conversation, so taking advantage of familiarity should make them easy to sway.
Qi Jun composed himself and calmly said, "In the jadeite business, second-hand goods don't fetch much. Your bracelets are alright. I can offer 20,000. If that seems fair, leave them."
Lu Yao took back the bracelets and said bluntly, "I don't think that's appropriate. Goodbye."
After speaking, he pulled Li Lei away.
The moment he produced the bracelets, he sensed noticeable greed and malice from Qi Jun.
Qi Jun had not expected the other party to walk away without any negotiation and quickly chased after them trying to save face with a smile, "Mr. Lu, Li Lei and I have been friends since childhood, I can offer you more."
Lu Yao ignored him completely and had already left the shop.
Qi Jun's face lost its casual expression, and although he tried to stop Lu Yao several times, he couldn't make contact and could only follow behind, shouting:
"You can name your price, doing business means we should settle on the cash, don't rush off."
"No need, farewell."
Qi Jun's expression could only be described as twisted, truly experiencing the feeling of a "cooked duck flying away."
~~~~~~~
Once they were far away, Li Lei rejected several calls from Qi Jun and finally blacklisted him outright.
"I'm sorry, my relationship with him is just average; I didn't expect him to be that kind of person."
The young woman said apologetically, feeling as if she had lost all face for the day.
Lu Yao didn't mind at all, "No worries. There's no trade without guile; that's just how business is."
While they were chatting, Li Lei received another call, and this time she answered. A loud female voice came through:
["Girl~ what did you do to Qi Jun? He's been searching everywhere for you, almost to the point of going to your father's detention center."]
"Don't even mention it. I took a friend to sell some jadeite at his place, and he tried to scalp us."
["Jadeite? Come to me, let me take a look."]
Li Lei hesitated, "Are you sure?"
["Pshaw, don't look down on people! Hurry over!"]
After hanging up the phone, Li Lei said sheepishly, "I have another friend who wants to see it."