Chapter 133: 133. Buy, buy, buy!
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Arriving by carriage at Li Pei's residence, she personally greeted me at the front door, her smile somewhat strained.
Leading Lu Yao to the study, Li Pei sat down gracefully with her legs together and slanted to one side, exuding an innate aristocratic elegance and the demeanor of the Royal Family.
"Young Master Lu, please enjoy the tea."
About to issue polite pleasantries and steer the conversation, Lu Yao got straight to the point, "Commandery Princess, if there's something you need, just say it. I'll certainly not refuse to help if I can!"
Facing Lu Yao's straightforward words, Li Pei coughed and then spoke up confidently,
"Young Master Lu, I want to ask you to donate another million catties of grain, just like last time!"
After saying this, she clasped her hands together and deeply bowed. Grain was currently a strategic material; while other families were desperately hoarding it, she was asking someone else to donate it. This was an extremely rude and enormous request.
Upon hearing her words, Lu Yao actually breathed a sigh of relief, "Is that all? No problem."
He had thought it was some tremendous issue, but it turned out to be just a request for some grain.
Grain was the least of Xia Country's concerns, and he was currently carrying hundreds of millions in cash, with tens of millions more in his bank accounts. A million catties of rice, even ten million, were mere trifles to him.
Li Pei was stunned on the spot, all the numerous benefits she had prepared to exchange, all the earnest words, stuck in her throat!
Why had he agreed so easily? She had anticipated needing to beg repeatedly for a donation so large as a million catties of grain, expecting to have to offer something substantial in exchange...
She said subconsciously, "Young Master, this is a million catties of grai..."
"I know, I'll get it ready for you right away. Wait for my news," Lu Yao interrupted her.
Observing his casual demeanor, Li Pei said with mixed feelings, "Many... many thanks, Young Master Lu, for your righteous generosity."
"Alright, if there's nothing else, I'll go get ready," Lu Yao replied.
As Lu Yao stood up to leave, Li Pei quickly intervened, "Wait! Young Master Lu~ I have to explain the purpose of this grain to you. It is to support the Gukou Battery Garrison!"
"Support the Gukou Battery Garrison?"
"That's right," Li Pei nodded and said:
"Foreigners are threatening us, and there is no unified opinion in the Imperial Court. Some advocate for war, while others oppose it! I am firmly in favor of war, and it just so happens that the 'Governor of Zhili, Lord Shi,' has reported—the enemy is extremely arrogant, convinced we don't dare to start a war, parading within the range of our fort's guns!"
Li Pei's breathing grew rapid:
"I've discussed with Lord Shi, we must strike first and inflict heavy damage on them! But the most important thing is—to make sure this comes to pass, to eliminate any possibility of negotiations, we absolutely cannot allow the Imperial Court to sign a treaty supplying the Demon Beasts with a blood food!"
"However, the Peace Faction has already anticipated this, and they've cut off the front-line soldiers' rations ahead of time. Therefore, Young Master's rice is extremely important! With it, we can fight this battle!"
After finishing her speech, Li Pei once again deeply bowed.
Lu Yao quickly held her hands to support her, "Commandery Princess, there's no need for such formalities; this is a matter of justice, and I am bound by duty to help!"
The skin of a Blood-Exchange woman was incredibly fine to the touch, smooth and full of a surging vitality.
Li Pei, much more conservative than her outward appearance suggested, was startled by the male touch, her whole body trembling; she quickly and discreetly withdrew her hand.
Lu Yao said earnestly, "Commandery Princess, wait for good news from me, I'll get going now."
At that moment, he suddenly thought: The original plan to ambush a small group of foreign troops and obtain a Blood Core was very dangerous, but if the Imperial Court's troops took the lead, his task would be much easier—this was a mutually beneficial situation!
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Returning to the martial arts school, the two sisters practicing "The Spiritual Cat Stance" came over and asked in sweet voices, "What did the Commandery Princess want with you?"
"She needs grain, just a small matter," Lu Yao replied.
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He briefly explained and then instructed, "I'll be going back to my hometown for a bit; you two keep practicing 'The Spiritual Cat Stance' and wait for my return. Then we can also get involved!"
The sisters looked at each other with joy, and Liao Qe said with pride, "See, I told you Lu Yao wouldn't just stand by."
After speaking, she linked arms with her beloved, looking up at him with adoration.
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Liao Ya looked at this scene with a mix of envy and melancholy.
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Returning to Blue Star, Lu Yao was bombarded with countless messages as soon as he turned on his phone.
First was a call from Shen Lin at Sotheby's Auction House. The aunt's usual sharp and efficient tone was gone, replaced by something bordering on hysteria:
"Mr. Lu, your gem sold for 15 million. We really couldn't contact you during the auction, but you can check the auction video for details. Also, about the tax avoidance issues..."
Shen Lin was resigned; she and her team had been run ragged by this "Grand Auction," and the gentleman himself simply tossed her the responsibility and became unreachable.
But since he was related to Elder Master Qi, she still had to do her best. Fortunately, everything went fairly smoothly.
Lu Yao said, "Thank you for your trouble… okay, okay… goodbye!"
It was good news right on his return—an auspicious start, indeed. All this money would be invested in the laboratory for drug extraction research.
He then made a call to Li Lei, talking briefly and arranging to pick her up at the airport the next day for a proper catch-up.
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Lu Yao took the earliest flight back to his country. While waiting for his flight, he didn't idle away the time and started to order various supplies online.
That way, by the time he got back, the goods would be delivered to his door, saving time.
First, he bought an expensive drone—the DJI Geoway.
This drone could be used for surveying and exploration among other professional fields, priced at a hefty 120,000 with personalized delivery by the manufacturer's salesperson to his doorstep.
It would serve as the eyes for his plans!
Next was the food supply requested by Li Pei.
This time, instead of rice, he found something more convenient!
Lu Yao casually chose a flour factory in his city and bought 500 tons of egg noodles.
Noodles, easier to cook than rice and containing eggs and salt, provided higher calories, more satiety, and were tastier, making them perfect for an army during combat operations.
After all, they were going to fight the foreigners; they might as well eat better. With bulk packaging, the price was even lower at 2 yuan per half-kilogram.
Last was the silver purchase, buying half a ton (ten thousand taels), along with countless silver beads and wires for jewelry making.
All these miscellaneous items cost less than 5 million in total, barely making a dent in the 25 million-plus balance in his account.
After he took care of all these matters, Lu Yao boarded his flight just in time.
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By the time he breathed in his hometown air, it was already noon the next day.
Li Lei was there to greet him, still dressed in her professional suit and stockings, clicking towards him in cheerful high heels.
The two were well acquainted by now, and the girl came over and hugged him directly.
"Busy man, did you have fun in the Star Alliance Country?"
"Not bad, a long-held wish fulfilled overnight, with abundant gains." After getting into the car, Lu Yao removed his sunglasses and handed over a piece of bezoar.
This was an important item for the girl to maintain good relations with the major pharmaceutical groups, which he always brought back with him whenever he returned.
Looking at the man's strong body and bright eyes in front of her, Li Lei unconsciously swallowed and clenched her legs tightly, stepping on the gas with an eager look.
Feeling the strong pushback, Lu Yao laughed and said, "Take it slow; I'm not in a hurry."
Li Lei felt somewhat embarrassed, but for some reason, as soon as she saw Lu Yao, a mysterious desire inside her blazed up!
It was an instinctual yearning for extraordinary gifts buried deep within her genes.