bookcurios Chapter 203 China Southern Industrial Group
Chapter 203 China Southern Industrial Group
After a fierce bidding war, the precious calligraphy and painting finally ended up in Old Xu's possession. He was filled with pride, admiring it carefully again and again, his eyes gleaming with a light of delight, as if the calligraphy and painting were the treasure he had been searching for for a long time.
Nie Zhenyuan smiled and asked Li Zhen, "Young man, can you give me a price for this calligraphy and painting? I'll have Cao Hua transfer it to you later, or I can give you cash directly."
Beyond the elegant and antique world of antique calligraphy and paintings, the second young master of the Li family in Shanghai has a particular fondness for gold, preferring its dazzling and tangible brilliance. When the group gathered, Li Zhencong casually opened the trunk of his car, revealing a mountain of gold bars and ingots weighing over two hundred kilograms. At that moment, the eyes of those around him widened involuntarily, their astonishment evident.
After an afternoon of appreciating the treasures and going back and forth, soft lights were now lit in the courtyard outside the villa.
As the last rays of the setting sun gradually disappeared into the horizon, the warmth of dinner quietly unfolded in Nie Zhenyuan's home. Around the table, a heartfelt conversation, like a gentle spring breeze, subtly bridged the gap between Li Zhen and his friends. Old Xu, in particular, seemed to have endless topics to discuss with Li Zhen; the two frequently clinked glasses, the aroma of wine mingling with their deep affection, growing even more profound in the slightly tipsy atmosphere.
When Li Zhen accidentally learned that a man in Beijing known as "Young Master Tang" actually possessed secret channels to the southern industries, his heart couldn't help but tremble slightly. Compared to those secondhand goods that had passed through the hands of the Russians, he harbored an inexplicable preference for light weapons manufactured in China.
More importantly, these domestically produced goods were not only of superior quality but also exceptionally reasonably priced, saving him the inconvenience of traveling far and wide with the money. In this way, he no longer had to embark on a long and dangerous journey to exchange those cold weapons for potentially unsatisfactory goods.
Tang Shao stared at Li Zhen warily and asked, "Why are you buying weapons?"
Li Zhen remained calm and composed, speaking in a steady yet firm tone: "I have woven a web of commerce between several countries, and my favorite trade is exchanging our abundant resources for their gold and silver treasures. After all, in times of war, having a gun and being unarmed often mean the difference between life and death. The coins and gold that the people of those countries cherish become worthless, like waste paper, once war breaks out and the enemy forces are pressing in."
After thinking for a moment, Tang Shao said that he could sell some weapons and equipment to Li Zhen, but on the condition that these weapons not appear in the country, and that they not be pointed at our own people.
Today's trip was incredibly fruitful for Li Zhen. The various items in his car alone brought him a fortune of over 300 million yuan, a staggering amount. Before he even crossed the threshold, the bank's good news arrived like a spring breeze, delivering the joyous tidings to this lucky man about to step out the door.
As Li Zhen and Cao Hua stepped out of the elegantly decorated villa, night had already fallen. Cao Hua carefully supported the slightly unsteady Li Zhen, leading him slowly towards the car parked not far away. Along the way, their shadows were elongated under the soft streetlights, creating a warm yet slightly mysterious scene.
Once Li Zhen was settled into the car, Cao Hua naturally walked around to the driver's side and opened the door. A faint, slightly teasing smile played on his lips, as if at this moment he was willing to become Li Zhen's personal driver, adding a touch of warmth to their deep friendship. No words were needed; the tacit understanding between them transcended the realm of what language could express.
After finishing his various chores, Li Zhen drove straight to his hometown in the morning light of the next day. The moment he set foot on that familiar land, his gaze was immediately drawn to a scene in the yard—his beloved son was engaged in a unique "contest" with a large white goose. The battle was fierce, but upon closer inspection, it became clear that the snow-white goose had gained a slight advantage, its neck stretched out long, displaying an aggressive stance.
Beside them, two elderly people sat leisurely, gentle smiles on their lips, as if the playful interaction between the child and the goose was the most interesting sight in the world. They had no intention of interfering and let this clash between innocence and nature continue.
Taking advantage of a moment when his parents weren't looking, Li Zhen gently pulled Zhao Ji and Zhao Yingluo into the house. The door closed quietly, shutting out the outside world. Li Zhen lowered his voice, his tone tinged with mystery and reluctance: "This time I must travel back to the Song Dynasty to settle some unfinished business. You two stay here for now. Once I've taken care of my affairs, I will return to pick you up as soon as possible."
Emperor Huizong had no objections whatsoever. There was food and entertainment here, and Li Zhen's father was there to chat with. Who would want to go back?
Zhao Yingluo's every gesture revealed a tender and affectionate side. Back in the Song Dynasty, even when Li Zhen was often absent, their feelings seemed to transcend time and remain tightly connected. However, things are different now. What stands between them is not just the river of time, but the chasm of centuries, how could this not cause worry and unspoken longing?
After calming his family's worries and reluctance, Li Zhen, lightly equipped with a full load of supplies, embarked once again on his journey back to the Song Dynasty. The frequent time travel left him feeling slightly weary and empty, as if each return had taken away a subtle amount of his vitality. Therefore, Li Zhen secretly planned that once he returned to the ancient and elegant Song Dynasty, he would definitely try to find some high-quality ginseng, deer antler, and other nourishing substances to properly recuperate and restore his former vitality and spirit.
This time, Li Zhen's footsteps miraculously transcended the boundaries of time and space, landing directly on the ancient city of Handan. Tens of thousands of soldiers were gathered there, but their equipment was worryingly inadequate—they lacked both sharp weapons and sturdy protective gear. In this situation, they were merely a group of brave warriors with hearts full of courage, yet unable to truly don their armor; at best, they could only be considered untrained laborers.
Since it was nighttime, Li Zhen took advantage of the darkness to arrive at the empty warehouse and piled all the supplies and equipment he had brought inside. As for how to categorize and arrange them, that would naturally be handled by the guards the next day.
When the warehouse was finally overflowing, Li Zhen stopped what he was doing. At this point, he still had a huge amount of supplies in his mysterious space, but he also needed to put some in other places as well. Li Zhen's main idea was to "spread the rain evenly."