Chapter 45: Show me the goods?

This Qin Penghai, despite his calm demeanor, still carried a streak of arrogance. His background information wasn’t exactly a state secret — Ming Leyao had already sent people in undercover before and, while the information they got wasn’t much, it was enough for her purposes. As long as she put on enough of a show to make Qin Penghai believe her identity, and then hinted at her true intentions, his arrogance would kick in and he’d take the bait.

“Miss Kang, let’s not beat around the bush. Just speak plainly,” Qin Penghai said.

Ming Leyao’s seductive peach-blossom eyes skimmed across the faces present, pausing for a mere 0.1 second on Fu Wencheng’s simple, honest-looking face before moving on.

“I want your goods.”

“Shouldn’t you have supply channels in Hong Kong? I don’t understand why you’ve traveled so far to get them from me,” Qin Penghai asked.

“Clearly, Qin-ge doesn’t understand how things work in Hong Kong. Over there, successors are chosen based on capability. My grandfather built his empire from nothing — doing exactly this kind of under-the-table trade. I’m sure you know what kind of people he dealt with: ruthless, with no regard for human life. Now that he’s gone, we’d have to pay a much steeper price for these goods. Instead of spending huge sums fighting for scraps, I’d rather find a new route. Don’t you agree, Qin-ge?”

Gotta admit, all those dramas she watched in her past life finally paid off. These tragic family power struggles rolled right off her tongue. To someone like Qin Penghai, who didn’t know the real inside story but thought he did, she came off as completely legit.

Qin Penghai was cautious by nature, yes — but his perspective was limited to Nanxing City. He was used to being a big fish in a small pond. Suddenly, here came this wealthy, well-connected, stunning woman, flaunting all kinds of things he’d never seen before. If he could really get in with such a powerful family… and if this Miss Kang succeeded in her power grab… wouldn’t he be set for life?

“Miss Kang is right. Those people really are capable of turning on you in an instant,” Qin Penghai agreed, recalling his own unpleasant experiences. He didn’t doubt her story for a second now.

“Let’s speak openly. I’ve got money. I’ve got grain. Price is negotiable. Show me the goods.”

“Well…” Just as the deal seemed within reach, Qin Penghai hesitated.

“Fine. Looks like you still have concerns. I won’t force you.” Ming Leyao stood. “The few tons of grain I brought today were meant as a gesture of good faith. But since you’re not interested, I guess I’ll just sell them elsewhere. Wan-laoda, think you can handle this deal?”

“I can! Of course I can!” Wan-laoda jumped in eagerly. “Miss Kang, I don’t know what kind of goods you were talking about with him, but I’ve got it all here too. You came here to do business, didn’t you? Otherwise, why come to my little place? How about—”

“Bring in the grain for Wan-laoda to take a look at.”

“Yes.”

Someone left and soon returned carrying a sack of snow-white fragrant rice.

This was long-grain jasmine rice from her previous life — something not yet available in the mainland. Ming Leyao presented it just to further support her fake identity. The better her “goods,” the more Qin Penghai would believe her story.

“This… this…” Wan-laoda stared dumbfounded at the open sack, at a complete loss for words.

What even was this stuff? Was it edible? Why was it so long and skinny?

He racked his brain and finally managed, “This… this rice… so white! Ha ha, really white!”

Qin Penghai, too, caught a glimpse of the rice and felt a storm surge within. Was all Hong Kong rice like this? And judging by Miss Kang’s attitude, this was just ordinary to her. What kind of life were people living in Hong Kong?

“Miss Kang, let’s check out the goods today. Right now. How about it?”

“Qin Penghai, what do you take me for? Someone to be ordered around?”

“I wouldn’t dare. But this is a big deal. Hesitating a bit is only natural, right?”

“Fine. You seem honest enough, so I’ll give you another chance. But remember, Qin Penghai — I have all the time in the world to find someone else to work with. It doesn’t have to be you. Once this deal goes through, I expect you and your men to keep your mouths shut. I don’t want any surprises.”

“You don’t need to say it, Miss Kang. We in this line of work know how to stay in the shadows.”

“Tch. The mainland is such a hassle. Not like Hong Kong — where this kind of business is practically everywhere. If the market weren’t so small and demand so high, I wouldn’t have bothered coming at all.”

She rose, exuding three parts disdain and seven parts arrogance. Her character was airtight.

Wan-laoda saw her turning to leave and figured it was his turn to add to the act. He quickly got an idea.

“Miss Kang, wait! You said we had a deal, and now you’re leaving? Huh?”

“Qin, you dare come onto my turf and steal my business? You dog — you’ve got some nerve!”

…Wan-laoda shouted dramatically from the back, but Qin Penghai paid him no mind, his attention still on Ming Leyao. She caught the moment and gave Wan-laoda a brief, approving glance.

Now that was acting.

Of course, Qin Penghai didn’t forget his brother. He had him dragged along as they led the way to his secret base.

Well — “secret base” was just a rundown factory with a hidden cellar beneath it. Inside were stacks of boxes, all filled with white powder — and in no small quantity.

Though Ming Leyao cursed this bastard in her heart, her expression remained calm.

“That’s it? After all the trouble I went through, this wouldn’t last me even half a month.”

“??????”

Qin Penghai was stunned. That amount of product would last him for ages — and she’s saying it’s barely two weeks’ worth?

These goods alone could net him a small fortune, yet to her they were nothing.

Frustrating, wasn’t it?

“Can you get more?”

“I need time.”

Blinded by greed, Qin Penghai could no longer think straight. All he wanted was to seize this opportunity and rise to the top.

“How long?”

“Two days…”

“Not good enough. I can’t stay in one place too long. My superiors gave me a tight window.”

“I’ll need to get permission.”

“Fine. You’ve got two hours. Is that enough?”

Qin Penghai looked back at the dazzling and icy Ming Leyao, gritted his teeth, and said, “It’s enough.”

“Then I’ll wait here for your good news.”

“Alright.”

Her wine-red dress hugged her slim waist as she swayed slightly, red lips curving into a faint smile. Ming Leyao was the first to step out of the cellar.

“It’s late. I’ll rest in the car. Be quick.”

“I’ll leave a few men here to ensure Miss Kang’s safety.”

“Heh. Fine.”

So dumb… but charmingly dumb.

Qin Penghai thought for a moment and finally decided to leave all the men he brought behind. Then, he ordered one of his brother’s goons to escort her back, while he went off alone.