23 Money money money
In her possession, Chi Lian had only adjustable three bats left. She was planning to give one to Jun Muyang, another to his grandfather whenever she met him and one for his father of course. She was planning to ingratiate herself into their good graces hard if Jun Muyang decided that she was the one for him.
However, at the moment what she needed most was money to build her empire and this beautiful daosi as he referred to himself was desperate and rich. Who was she to chase away the fat cow that was offering itself up for slaughter?
She asked T4 to search for his information immediately so that she could know how much to ask for.
"His name is Su Xinchiang, his family owns a large number of malls in the empire. They also own a racing track, racing team and a few luxury resorts. Individually, he owns a number of car stores dealing in the importation of sports and foreign cars mostly. He also has investments in real estate and some internet companies."
On the virtual screen, T4 included pictures of his family and their buildings that were available on the internet.
"How much is he worth individually? She asked.
"He is worth around one billion individually and more if you factor in family wealthy.
Armed with that information, she looked at the young man that was looking at her with a hopeful gaze and licked her lips like a wolf ready to eat a gazelle.
"Are you old enough to be making such a large purchase?"
"Sister, I am twenty two years old. My beautiful face is just overly pampered. I can prove it with my Identification card." He snapped his fingers and one of the body guards handed over his identification card.
Chi Lian pretended to seriously read his information. She looked at every side of the ID and handed it back.
"I am satisfied with your information. However, I am out of bats." She held her hands out.
The young man looked at her doubtfully. "No wise businessman will believe the words coming out of your mouth right now. I am sure you kept one or two for transactional purposes."
"And what makes you think that?" she raised her eyebrows.
"Because I have been doing business for a really long time, don't let my youth deceive you, I am wiser than most of my age mates. If the problem is price, we can come to an understanding. This beautiful daosi does not lack money."
Rather than answer, Chi Lian burst into laughter. "Why do you call yourself that?" She asked.
"If this was a cultivation world, I would be a handsome daoist master with unequalled power."
His eyes were shining as if he could actually see himself in that world and situation. "Sadly, we live in a normal world so the power I have is my looks and financial strength."
Chi Lian, who had a virtual pet system longed to tell him, that this world was not as normal as he thought.
"Well beautiful daosi, even if I have what you desire, you should know that it will come at a very expensive price because aside from the military, my family and around five friends, nobody else in the world has this item. Only twenty of them exist in this world."
He closed his eyes like a scared child and took a deep breath, when he opened them he said, "Give me a figure."
"Thirty million, and there is no room for negotiation."
"Deal."
The beautiful daosi asked for her account and wired the money immediately. He was afraid that she would change her mind if he gave her time to reconsider.
The three brothers, manager, sales girl and body guards looked on with shock on their faces.
The brothers were shocked because lately money just seemed to fall into their sister's laps randomly. Look at the current situation; she was planning to pay close to eight million for the cars. Any normal person would feel that dent financially but now she had made thirty million just like that.
Chi Lian looked at the cars in the store through the glass window in the manager's office. Her eyes were glued to the green off road range rover that she had not considered before. It would be the perfect car for her trips to the orphanages and rural areas in case there was a story to cover.
"Throw that car in as well." She said to the manager.
"You can have it free of charge if you promise to sell me whatever interesting thing you come up with next." The beautiful daosi blurted.
Chi Lian observed his face as if she could find the reason for his words on his fore head.
"What makes you think I will have something else?"
"I won't lie to you. The minister of state for security is my uncle. I heard him saying that you said you were looking forward to doing business with him again. In his words, you must have a secret laboratory from where you manufacture special technological items."
"Hmm.." she replied.
In her mind, she considered the benefits of having this young man in her pocket. He had connections which would be helpful on her journey up.
"I can tell you a secret. It will make you rich." He whispered to her. He went ahead to tell her what the secret was.
Chi Lian smiled and nodded. They shook hands and exchanged contacts.
The beautiful daosi walked away with a swagger in his steps.
"Let's finish up our business here." She said to the manager.
"Y-Yes ma'am," He answered nervously.
This was a big fish; he had to treat her respectfully. If he did a good job, his young master would be happy with him. As he worked on her order, he imagined the sweet rewards and promotion which would come his way.
Having tasted the sweetness of the easy money from selling alien technology, Chi Lian wanted more.
"T4," she asked, "Can I get some more bats?"
"No my lady, in fact, because of your actions, you have been denied access to the virtual storage space for two days."
"What? How could you not tell me this earlier?"
"I tried but you would not listen. You were just excited to be making money from selling the bats."
"But why is it forbidden?"
"Because, this kind of technology can have negative effects on your world if it's not managed well. You are allowed to research the products I provide and make your own but you cannot sell them directly. You are being warned because this is your first mistake."
"Thanks a lot for putting a dumper on my happy day." She sulked.
"It's time for my daily feeling host."
"Not now. "She closed the virtual screen.
As she did that, her brothers returned with the manager who had finished all the paper work.
"We can go home now sis. And we get to take the cars with us. Apparently that beautiful daosi has fast tracked everything for us." Chi Zimo announced loudly.
"In that case, everyone get into their car. The remaining two will be delivered by drivers the store provides."
She led the way and got into her Benz. Happily, they drove home to surprise their parents with a brand new car.
On the way, she asked T4 to help her search different employment agencies for a nanny and a driver. Her father's foot was injured so he could not drive. And her mother needed help around the house because she was doing all the house work on her own.
It was also time for her to hire more employees for Phoenix media. They needed an editor, camera man, producer, script writer, reporters and presenters.
She was spending a lot of time outside the office and so were her siblings. T4 could not do everything on his own. What would happen if he disappeared one day?
She also had a different plan in mind for Chi Wei now. He was a lover of technology so she should push him in that direction.
She was planning to let him tinker with some of those alien toys and see if he could make a knock off version .
If she could not sell the alien technology directly, she would make something similar to it and sell that.
All these plans needed money. And that she did not have much of at the moment.
"Money, money, money," she sighed. "Where can I get more of you from?"
"Do your job as a paparazzo and be patient." T4 chimed in on her thoughts.
"I guess we will have to go hunting tonight." She said.
"T4, can I at least get some toys like Mei-Mei,s rabbit as long I won't be selling them directly?"
T4 remained silent for a while and the screen read 'Response pending.'
Finally, T4 replied, " You are limited to only six animal toys so choose carefully. "
" Oh thank God!" She was relieved and the knot in her stomach loosened.
One could not wipe away the smile from the faces of the Chi siblings at the moment as they drove home to surprise their parents. What awaited them at home however, was a storm of unpleasantness.
