The Billion-Value Lands Are Just For Farming

C578 – Who’s Calling?

While it’s true that hard work can compensate for a lack of skill, this adage is meant for those on an equal footing at the starting line. Yet, there are those in the world blessed with high intelligence. They seem to play and cause chaos effortlessly, and ultimately, their achievements far surpass those of ordinary people who toil their entire lives. To put it another way, a person’s effort can raise their lower limit, but their innate talent sets their upper limit. Talent, indeed, is something one cannot help but envy.

​”Is Su Ming still in Eastsea? Where exactly is he? I need to meet him. Goodness, to think Eastsea is home to such an influential figure—I can’t let this chance slip by!” Song Jianguo murmured as he stealthily pocketed the seal.

​”I honestly have no idea where Su Ming is at the moment, but he’s likely still around Eastsea. Why don’t we… Hey, what are you doing? Give me back that seal!”

“No!”

“Soong, we’ve been friends for years. It’s not decent of you to take my things!”

“Hmm!”

“If you don’t return it, I won’t hesitate to take it back by force!”

“Come on, Old Lee, let’s not resort to that. Let’s talk it over. I could offer you a Tang Bohu painting…”

“No!”

“How about a piece by Wang Xizhi?”

“No!”

“Or Qi Baishi?”

“No!”

“I have a prized possession here, something used by the Wu Emperor during the Eastern Han Dynasty…”

“I want it even less!”

“Then I’m not giving it back!”

“Watch it, or I’ll shave your head clean!”

“I’ve been sporting a bald look since I was a kid; you can’t threaten me with that!”

“Damn you!”

“Damn you!”

The two old men stood in the room, puffing up with anger and glaring at each other. They exchanged heated words, invoking the memory of each other’s late parents in a less than reverent manner.

​Song Jianguo, a senior official at the imperial court, was usually surrounded by a retinue of secretaries, aides, and several bodyguards. These attendants, upon hearing the explosive exchange between the two men, couldn’t help but facepalm before silently turning to leave.

​”Carry on, gentlemen. Do as you please. There’s plenty of time for quarreling; the night is still young.”

​The two old men in the room nearly came to blows, but ultimately, nothing came of it.

With a glare, he grudgingly produced the seal.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“Tsk! When I meet Mr. Su, I’ll have him carve one for me too. You old guys will be green with envy!”

“Hehe! Soong, you can’t get under my skin. Even if Mr. Su carved the Great Wall for you, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid. Let me tell you, this is Mr. Su’s very first piece!”

“What?! His first work?! Damn! Had I known, I’d never have given it back to you!”

“Not a chance!”

Suddenly, the living room erupted into chaos.

After some time, two old men emerged, panting and disheveled, their faces flushed—a sight that could easily be misconstrued.

One had a black eye, the other a handprint on his cheek.

They glared at each other intently.

The surrounding security guards looked the other way.

These two old men had been friends since childhood, growing up together like brothers. This wasn’t their first altercation, but this time, they had really gone at it!

“Little Sun!”

Song Jianguo noticed a young woman nearby, a pretty girl who was his personal secretary.

Her husband was Song Jianguo’s driver, and the couple had traveled extensively with him, meeting many people and gaining a wealth of experience.

“Uncle Song.”

Secretary Sun quickly approached.

“Go find Mr. Su at once. Let me know the moment you find him, but do it discreetly—don’t let this old man catch wind of it!”

“Humph!”

Lee Wangyang overheard and let out a cold snort.

You think you have the upper hand because you’re a government official with more resources? But it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack for you, while I can take a shortcut!

A shortcut!

I’ll outsmart you yet!

Lee Wangyang mused, then pulled out his phone and texted his disciple, Gao Yunfan.

“Do you know Ann Chuxia’s phone number?”

Gao Yunfan responded immediately.

“Yes, 1XXXX…”

“Out of options, old man? Come, beg me. Once I get the scoop on Mr. Su, I might just deign to take you to him. Of course, the price will be that seal…”

“Hmph! Don’t get too smug, old man. It’s not certain we’ll find it first!”

“Ha! I’ve changed my mind. Even if you begged me now, I wouldn’t take you!”

“As if! Me, beg you? Not in a million years!”

The two elderly gentlemen resumed their glaring match, much to the amusement of onlookers who couldn’t help but compare them to a couple constantly bickering during their honeymoon phase.

“Apprentice, I’m relying on you today. Call Ann Chuxia right away and find out where Mr. Su is. If you manage to get that information for me, you’ll be handsomely rewarded!”

“Got it!”

Gao Yunfan, having been with Lee Wangyang for quite some time, had never seen his master this worked up. There was no time to waste.

He dialed the number immediately.

Su Ming and Ann Chuxia were dining when Ann’s phone rang out of the blue. She hesitated, thinking, “Maybe it’s Uncle Liu telling me to come back after taking so long.”

But when Ann saw the unfamiliar number on her screen, she paused.

“Who could this be?”

Ann blinked, not overly concerned. As a celebrity, it wasn’t unusual for her to receive calls from people seeking her attention.

“Hello?”

Ann answered the call with her usual courtesy.

“Miss Ann, hello. This is Gao Yunfan. Please don’t rush to hang up. I sincerely apologize for any previous offense. I just need to ask you one thing. Is Mr. Su with you right now…”

“Um…”

Ann was taken aback. What in the world was this about?

She wondered how many people would kill to have her number, and here was someone who, having finally obtained it, was asking about Su Ming instead.

Why not just ask him directly? Why bother calling me?

Yet Ann was a straightforward person, and she could sense that Gao Yunfan genuinely needed help. Despite his rough demeanor at their first meeting, he didn’t seem to be a bad person, just a bit hot-headed. “Yes, he’s right here.”

“Yesss! I knew it!”

Gao Yunfan’s subdued cheer left Ann Chuxia feeling puzzled once more.

What was he getting at?

He calls me all business-like, and then he’s overjoyed to hear Su Ming is with me. What’s going on with him…

Really?

“Who’s calling?”

Noticing Ann Chuxia’s puzzled look, Su Ming couldn’t help but ask with curiosity.

“Um…”

Feeling a bit off, Ann Chuxia handed the phone to Su Ming: “It’s for you.”

“For me?”

Su Ming was taken aback. “They called you to reach me?”

Still in disbelief, Su Ming double-checked the caller.

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