The man in the middle said to her, "Shopkeeper, we need you to give your name before we can retrieve your belongings left on the island."
Xie Lanzhi immediately replied, "My surname is Lan."
"So it's Manager Lan," the middleman said. "Please show me your fingerprints."
The other party brought over a sheet of Xuan paper and a piece of inkpad. Xie Lanzhi hesitated for a moment, but still stamped it on.
The middleman said, "You are the distinguished Black Gold, please go to Big Brother Island on the right."
So Ce was left on Wulin Island.
Chapter 182 The Arrogant and Overbearing Xie Lanzhi
Ce was somewhat surprised; this wasn't part of his plan. It seemed he couldn't protect her personally, since outsiders weren't allowed on Twin Islands, not even guards or servants.
Xie Lanzhi paid no attention. Her hands were unconsciously clasped behind her back, and she strolled leisurely with an air of extraordinary elegance. The middleman, seeing this, had no doubt about her identity. Anyone who could spend a million taels on the island was either royalty or a nobleman. They were almost always of such high status.
No one doubted her identity.
The middleman, fearing she might forget the rules of Twin Islands, repeated: "Manager Lan, although the name of Big Brother Island is a bit common, the island lives up to its name; it is indeed only for Black Gold and White Gold. Only Manager Gold can enter."
"It is also the island owner's residence, and the island owner personally looks after your belongings on the island."
Xie Lanzhi grew increasingly astonished as she listened. It turned out that this Twin Islands also ran a banking business, helping people store their assets. However, it was a black market bank.
Xie Lanzhi was invited to a better-equipped tile-roofed house. The surrounding area consisted of low-lying thatched huts supported by wood, with the sea flowing beneath them.
She sat inside, looking at the complete set of furniture and the precious Persian carpets of this era.
A moment later, someone came from the doorway. The person was wearing a buttoned-up mandarin jacket, which looked out of place in this era.
The other person was from another race, and he asked her, "How much money do you want to exchange, Manager Lan?"
"Take them all," Xie Lanzhi said without hesitation.
The foreigner was immediately astonished: "Are you sure?"
"Okay, hurry up and arrange it." Xie Lanzhi said impatiently.
The foreigner's expression instantly turned panicked, probably because she had taken too much money. He couldn't stand it. Therefore, she could deduce that this foreigner was likely a teller.
Finally, the foreigner bowed and said, "I will go and consult the island lord immediately. Please allow me two more days."
"This is a huge sum of money, after all."
Xie Lanzhi nodded. After the foreigner left the tiled house, he immediately went to the steward and told him that Hei Jin wanted to take all the silver.
The manager's expression immediately changed: "This is our very important guest, leaving just like that? Are you afraid we can't defend Twin Islands?"
"The shopkeeper didn't explain why," the alien said. "She seems to have lost faith in Twin Islands."
The steward listened with a serious expression. After thinking for a moment, he decided to contact the island owner.
Just then, Yang Gao led his men out, because his camp had been bombed. Now he could only find a place to stay on Twin Islands, but the neighbors were all people he couldn't afford to offend. As a newcomer, he was being watched everywhere he went.
Even the elderly stayed in an open-air rocking bed for a few days.
The old man said, "If the chieftain wants to settle down on the island, he must secure a big business deal to gain status."
"Twin Islands has always been money-oriented, not people-oriented. Only if you attract big clients will the people here respect you."
Yang Gao was in a bad mood; there was no need for such a large guest.
Just then, the foreigners lingered at the entrance of the tiled house, looking very nervous.
The foreigner greeted Yang Gao upon seeing him. Recognizing him as an acquaintance, Yang Gao exclaimed, "Afanti, what are you doing here?"
"It's Mr. Yang." The foreigner bowed to the familiar face and then asked, "What brings you to Twin Islands?"
Yang Gao then told Afanti about his territory being bombed.
Afanti expressed his regret: "This is not your territory. If anything happens, you must be more patient."
"As long as the island lord comes out of seclusion, he will definitely stand up for you."
Yang Gao was getting a little impatient: "When will the island lord come out?"
“I think it will be soon.” Afanti’s expression suddenly turned serious: “Because the Black Gold Manager on our island suddenly wants to take away a large amount of treasure. We ordinary managers are not authorized to open the counter, so the island lord has to come out in person to negotiate with the Black Gold Manager.”
"Black Gold Manager?" The old man's eyes lit up: "Chief Yang, your chance to stay on the island has come. You might even be able to secure a place here."
"What?" Yang Gao seemed not to have reacted yet.
The foreigner understood the old man's meaning, but he wasn't optimistic; he had just gone in to advise him. Manager Lan insisted on taking the money and leaving, his attitude extremely firm.
"If Mr. Yang can keep the person here, the island owner will definitely treat you well in the future."
Yang Gao frowned and said, "If you can't handle it, how can I?"
"Go and try it first," the old man said. "I will help you."
With the old man's guarantee, Yang Gao decided to give it a try. The two entered one after the other and soon saw a woman. Her long legs were crossed, her jade-like body leaning against a rattan chair, her feet on a Persian carpet. Her expression was languid, as if she couldn't muster any energy. Yet, she possessed an undeniable air of heroism.
The old man was ruthless in judging people. He noticed that Xie Lanzhi had calluses on her hands and her wrists had even and well-defined muscles. She was not rough, but rather had a kind of graceful beauty.
This person is skilled in martial arts, and seems to be quite good at it.
Yang Gao came in and clasped his hands in a fist salute to her. He was about to speak.
Xie Lanzhi pointed at him and said, "Get out, you're hurting my eyes."
Yang Gao: ? ? ?
The old man smiled politely and said, "This must be Manager Lan."
Xie Lanzhi glanced at him without saying a word.
The old man sensed an arrogance in her superior air, something he often saw in someone else.
He said, "This is Chief Yang. His camp was just wiped out by the government. He is now homeless."
"What does it have to do with me?" Xie Lanzhi said indifferently.
The old man said, "It is indeed unrelated to you, but your loss of trust in Twin Islands is for the same reason as Chief Yang's departure."
"The government is eyeing Twin Islands covetously because the second young master, Si Hong, was killed by bandits."
Before Yang Gao could react, several dark figures suddenly appeared before him, and one of them kicked him in the chest, sending him flying out of the roof.
Xie Lanzhi withdrew her leg and said coldly, "Bastard!"
Yang Gao collapsed on the beach, completely bewildered. He had just gotten up and was thinking of retaliating when two soldiers from Twin Islands instantly pointed their firearms at his head. They had no doubt that the people inside had struck first.
Yang Gao was even hit by the butt of one of the firearmsmen.
Seeing this, Afanti dared not stop him and instead said, "Sir, I'll go ask the distinguished guest inside why he is dissatisfied with Mr. Yang?"
"What complaints? I didn't say anything and she just kicked me out?" Yang Gao immediately looked aggrieved: "I'm innocent! I didn't do anything to her!"
The two gunners ignored him completely and raised their rifle butts to smash him again.
The old man outside stepped forward to explain, "This matter has nothing to do with Chief Yang, nor with Manager Lan."
"What do you mean it's unrelated? She was the one who kicked me!" Yang Gao shouted immediately. He was determined to get justice today.
Afanti quickly stopped him and reminded him: "This is the Black Gold Manager. If she is even slightly dissatisfied, she has the power of life and death over anyone here."
"Her words are the island lord's orders."
"What?" Yang Gao thought to himself, what kind of ridiculous rule is this?
Afanti felt that the black-gold shopkeeper in the room was difficult to serve. He frowned and said, "Everything on the island is based on honored guests. This is above everyone else, except the island lord."
After listening, the old man turned and walked into the tiled house, bowed to Xie Lanzhi and said, "I suppose the shopkeeper is angry because the bandits brought the government troops here, which has made you uneasy about the island."
Xie Lanzhi finally looked him over: "It seems you understand the situation very well. Continue."
She turned and sat down in the wicker chair.
The old man said, "Your kick was correct, but you didn't know the inside story."
"The inside story?" Xie Lanzhi said, "It seems you know very well."
"How could it be just a little bit?" the old man said. "This whole affair started because of the Second Young Master Si Hong."
Xie Lanzhi said dismissively, "He's just a dead man. Why would I take it out on him?"
The old man said, "What if the second young master is still alive?"
Xie Lanzhi immediately stood up, and with a slap of her right palm, the sandalwood round table instantly shattered into two pieces, collapsing to the ground.
"You scoundrel! A member of the royal family shouldn't be staying in Weidu. Instead, you're ruining my good time here!"
The old man's eyes lit up.
Xie Lanzhi walked up to him, pointed at him, and asked, "Where is this person now?"
The old man immediately stopped talking and gestured for Afanti to come over.
Afanti immediately stepped forward and bowed: "What are your orders, Manager Lan?"
"Where is that Second Young Master?" Xie Lanzhi asked.
Afanti immediately glanced at the old man; it was this old man who had started the trouble.
He immediately said to Xie Lanzhi, "The Second Young Master is a distinguished guest. If you wish to deal with him, the island lord must give the order personally."
Xie Lanzhi crossed her arms and said with dissatisfaction, "I thought Black Gold could do whatever it wanted. It seems he's nothing special."
Upon hearing this, the two firearmsmen hesitated.
She immediately pointed at the gunners: "Your island is a sieve that sees through every crack. With this level of security, you think you can keep me here?"
The gunner immediately looked up and asked, "What are your orders?"
"Bring that Second Young Master here." Xie Lanzhi raised her chin, displaying the arrogance and privilege of the Black Gold Shopkeeper to the fullest, and said, "Bring him here and give him a good beating in front of me. Once I've calmed down, maybe I'll mention it less."
"For example, reduce the amount by 200,000 from the original amount of one million."
Upon hearing this, everyone except the old man was astonished by the figure of one million taels.
The old man sized Xie Lanzhi up. She was dressed in ordinary silk, except for her boots embroidered with flying clouds. He couldn't see any nobility in her, but her temperament was definitely something that came from a large family.
The two gunners immediately turned around to take the man away.