"By the way, Brother Hu, about what I mentioned earlier about setting up more scouting sites along the mountain, could you arrange that after the New Year? This mountain is so big, I don't believe there aren't any mineral veins..."
After stepping out of the wooden house, Zhuang Rui looked at the mountains in front of him and stopped. He was now one of the major shareholders of this jade mine, so it was only natural for him to offer his suggestions.
"We've actually opened quite a few exploration sites in the past six months, but no mineral veins have been found yet. I'll make arrangements after the New Year..."
Hu Rong also leaned towards the idea that this jade mine was a rich mine. However, he had explored many locations before but had not found any veins. So he used the most laborious method: digging down from the mountaintop. Although it was laborious and time-consuming, once a vein was found, all the investment could be recovered.
"Brother Hu, you could try drilling some scouting points along the railroad route. As the saying goes, 'the darkest place is under the lamp,' perhaps there's a mineral vein in the area you walk in every day..."
Zhuang Rui smiled and walked to the helicopter, while Hu Rong stood there stunned, recalling Zhuang Rui's words, "I seem to have really overlooked the section of the mountain with the railcar."
It wasn't until the sound of the helicopter's rotors spinning that Hu Rong snapped out of his daze. He waved repeatedly at the helicopter that had already taken off, but he had already made up his mind.
Taking advantage of the miners' holiday break, when they wouldn't need to travel to and from the mine by railcar, Hu Rong decided to arrange for people to drive several exploratory tunnels along the railcar route over the next few days to see if any mineral veins were found. ...
Leaving aside Hu Rong's plans to explore for mineral veins, after Zhuang Rui and his group crossed the border by helicopter and arrived at the place where the helicopter had left, it was already completely dark. Night had enveloped the earth, making it exceptionally quiet.
Zhuang Rui first had Peng Fei and the others take several backpacks containing jewelry boxes and tiger skins to the car they had come in. Then he sat alone at the helicopter door, took out his phone, and made a call.
"Brother Lei, the three tons of gold are all in the cabin. Let's get someone to come and take them over..."
"Yes, someone will be here soon. Just hand the things over to them and you don't need to worry about it..."
Ouyang Lei paused for a moment on the phone, then continued, "A transport plane is coming to Beijing tonight. I'll give you guys a ride on the way..."
"Hehe, thanks, Brother Lei..."
Zhuang Rui chuckled when he heard the call had ended. He knew Ouyang Jun was looking out for him, saving him the risk of taking the jewelry and tiger skin on the plane.
About twenty minutes later, two headlights pierced the darkness and shone directly on the helicopter. Two people got out of the car. In addition to the captain who was handed over to Zhuang Rui, there was also a soldier with the rank of senior colonel.
After handing the helicopter over to the captain, Zhuang Rui got into his own container truck and followed the colonel's vehicle to a military airport. The group then squeezed into the cargo hold of the transport plane, which was piled high with goods. As for the container truck that Peng Fei had rented at a high price, someone naturally took it back.
Although it wasn't midnight yet after they returned to Beijing—meaning the Lunar New Year wasn't over—Zhuang Rui and the others were already exhausted, like dead dogs, and went straight to their rooms to sleep.
"Mom, what time is it? You woke me up..."
Zhuang Rui glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. It was only a little past 9 a.m., and he thought his mother was coming to give him a lesson. He quickly shrank his head further under the covers. Wasn't there Liu Chuan, his godson? Why was she coming to him first?
"You child, you're so old and still lying in bed! Someone's looking for you outside, get up now..."
Ouyang Wan patted Zhuang Rui's head in an annoyed tone, then said, "Xiao Rui, you're about to get engaged, you can't be flirting with other women outside, Mom won't allow it..."
Chapter 517 The Lobbier
"Mom, what are you talking about? When did I ever cheat on you with other women?"
Zhuang Rui poked his head out from the warm bed and asked, puzzled, "Besides Qin Xuanbing, I haven't had any contact with any other women, except for my mother and niece, of course."
"That's good, otherwise Mom wouldn't have let you off the hook. Get up quickly, someone's waiting for you outside..."
Ouyang Wan rubbed her son's head, stood up and walked out of the room. She believed what her son said, but these days it's not uncommon for women to pursue men.
Although the girl kept calling him "Teacher Zhuang," Ouyang Wan could sense that the girl seemed to have other intentions.
Besides this girl, the girl she met at the airport when she came to Beijing last time also seemed to have some feelings for her son. Ouyang Wan herself had experienced her father interfering in her marriage, so she didn't want to get involved in Zhuang Rui's marriage. However, if Zhuang Rui was fickle, she couldn't ignore it.
"Who's going to ruin my reputation?"
Seeing his mother leave the room, Zhuang Rui was still completely confused. "Could it be Miao Feifei?"
Thinking of this fierce woman, Zhuang Rui felt a chill run down his spine. Although he felt that he and Miao Feifei were just buddies, he had kissed her and touched her breasts when he got drunk in Shanghai and his hands and feet wouldn't obey him. He had definitely taken advantage of the girl.
So for the past few months, apart from cooperating with Miao Feifei to participate in a black market auction, Zhuang Rui has avoided other things as much as possible, because with his wedding date approaching, he really doesn't know how to face Officer Miao.
"Damn it, I didn't rape any woman, what am I afraid of..."
After lingering in bed for a while, Zhuang Ruixiong got up with a haughty air, got dressed, washed up, and then went to the Central Court.
The front yard of this house is where Zhang Ma and Li Sao live. Originally, Zhuang Rui wanted Peng Fei to choose a suite in the middle yard, but the boy felt uncomfortable and ended up living in the front yard. However, there was also a suite with a bathroom in the front yard, which was given to Peng Fei.
Guests are usually received in the living room of the central courtyard, which is a converted three-room house. It is very spacious and the furniture inside is antique style.
Furthermore, Zhuang Rui purchased a considerable number of counterfeit ceramics and calligraphy and paintings by famous figures from Liulichang and Panjiayuan. These were displayed on the antique shelves in the hall, creating a scholarly atmosphere that was more than enough to fool laymen like Liu Chuan and Fatty Ma.
"Oh my, what a rare guest... a rare guest, Teacher Jin, what brings you here today?"
Zhuang Rui stepped into the living room of the central courtyard and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the two people inside. It turned out that the two were Jin Pangzi, a famous connoisseur of calligraphy and painting in Beijing, and Liu Jia, a popular TV host from Beijing.
"Brother Zhuang, I've been meaning to come visit you for a while, but I haven't had the time. Now that the New Year is almost here, I have some free time, but today I've been conscripted to be your persuader..."
Fatty Ma was wearing a festive bright yellow cotton jacket with two openings, and with his chubby round face, he really gave people the feeling that the New Year was just around the corner.
"A lobbyist?"
Zhuang Rui frowned slightly and focused his gaze on Liu, the host.
Today, Liu Jia's attire was completely different from the bulky look she wore during the exam. On the sofa next to her was a fur coat, clearly taken off after entering the room.
At this moment, Liu Jia was wearing a tight-fitting V-neck black sweater. Although the temperature outside was several degrees below zero, two fair and tender patches of skin were still exposed on her chest. She was also wearing a pair of black tight pants, which fully highlighted her graceful figure. Her high breasts, round buttocks, and long legs were so captivating.
Liu Jia is clearly a woman who knows how to showcase her strengths. Her all-black outfit makes her appear elegant and mysterious, yet also possesses a wildness that unconsciously inspires men to make their move beneath that black hue.
When Zhuang Rui saw Liu Jia's outfit, he was slightly taken aback. Not to mention him, even Jin Pangzi, a middle-aged man in his forties, avoided looking at the beautiful host with a somewhat wandering gaze. It seems that the saying that some celebrities can appeal to everyone from fifteen to eighty years old is quite applicable to Liu Jia.
When Liu Jia saw Zhuang Rui's gaze, she felt a little smug. Since her debut, Zhuang Rui was the first person to refuse when she invited others to her show, which made Liu Jia very resentful. So, after finding Fatty Jin, she begged and pleaded with him to take her to invite Zhuang Rui.
After arriving at Zhuang Rui's courtyard house, Liu Jia's thoughts became even more active. She knew that a house like this was something money couldn't buy these days, which further solidified her determination to win Zhuang Rui's heart.
As the saying goes, it's easy for a man to pursue a woman, but easy for a woman to pursue a man. Liu Jia just didn't believe that there were men in this world who were indifferent to women.
"Cough cough..."
Jin Pangzi coughed twice to draw Zhuang Rui's attention, then said, "Brother Zhuang, I'm here today as a lobbyist. Miss Liu has been transferred to CCTV and is organizing a Spring Festival treasure appraisal event. How about you join the guest panel? I'm the group leader..."
“Teacher Jin, if it were any other time, I would have agreed, but I really don’t have time during the Spring Festival. I just got back from abroad yesterday, and I have to leave Beijing again on the second day of the Lunar New Year. I really don’t have the time. It’s not that I’m trying to refuse you…”
Zhuang Rui smiled wryly. Fatty Jin was a well-connected man and quite influential in the antique circle. Just as Zhuang Rui said, if it were any other time, he would have agreed to it. It was just a TV appraisal show; it wasn't his first time participating.
"Brother, this year CCTV is promoting folk treasure appraisal programs as the main program for the Spring Festival. It will play a very positive role in letting the Chinese people understand collecting and promoting traditional culture. You can't let us down..."
It's unclear what benefits Liu Jia promised Fatty Jin. When Fatty Jin heard Zhuang Rui refuse, he immediately accused him of something serious, implying that if Zhuang Rui didn't agree, it would mean he wasn't cooperating with the organization.
"Could these two be having an affair?"
Upon hearing what Fatty Jin said, Zhuang Rui's gaze couldn't help but dart between Fatty Jin and Liu Jia a few times.
There was no affair between the two of them... not really. It's not that Liu Jia was particularly aloof, it's just that she didn't think much of Fatty Jin. Even if a leading lady from Beijing TV wanted to find someone to be her lover, it had to be a good match of wealth and beauty.
However, Liu Jia really put in some effort to persuade Fatty Jin. Cultured people have always been fond of romance, and countless stories about it have been passed down through the ages. Haven't you seen that crosstalk performer also dabbling in the world of romance? It's just that Fatty Jin was unlucky and happened to be caught up in the crackdown on prostitution.
Fatty Jin is into calligraphy and painting, and considers himself a romantic... Of course, he's only romantic; the word "dashing" doesn't apply to him at all.
After his divorce a few years ago, Fatty Jin even called himself the most eligible bachelor in Beijing's antique world, and many of his romantic affairs have been reported.
Liu Jia introduced a female college student who had just been assigned to the Beijing TV station to Jin. Coincidentally, the college student was a graduate in Classical Chinese, and she and Fatty Jin had a lot in common. One was successful in his career and had some assets, while the other was young and beautiful, which suited his tastes.
After several encounters, Fatty Jin and the college student established a purely platonic friendship. Well, it was perfectly innocent in public, but only the two of them knew what happened in private. In any case, Fatty Jin's Audi had become the college student's personal car for commuting to and from get off work.
What? Too big an age gap? These days, female celebrities dating younger men can be twenty or thirty years older than them. Even the talented Jin Yong and the college student were only twenty-something years apart. I've never heard of love transcending borders and age.
As the saying goes, "He who takes a bribe is bound to be obliged," and when Fatty Jin and the college students were doing morning exercises and radio calisthenics, they often thought of the great host Liu's kindness. Of course, they also often fantasized about the person beneath them being the beautiful host in front of them.
So when Liu Jia came to him for help, even though Fatty Jin knew Zhuang Rui had a powerful background, he still gritted his teeth and came to act as an intermediary.
"Hey bro, I'm just trying to be helpful. Once you're on this show, your expert title is practically guaranteed. It'll be easier for you to find bargains on Taobao in the future, won't it?"
Just now he was reasoning with him, but now he's trying to entice him with benefits. However, what Fatty Jin said made Zhuang Rui both laugh and cry. This expert can easily detect leaks? He probably would have quoted 500 to you, but if he sees that you're an expert and want to buy, he can immediately quote you 5000.
Furthermore, Zhuang Rui is no longer very enthusiastic about leak detection. He went to Panjiayuan several times before, but didn't find anything good, only fakes and counterfeit goods.
The swindlers there were far more skilled at cheating and deceiving than Da Xiong and his accomplice in their old duo in Pengcheng. Even Zhuang Rui once took a fancy to a fan by Tang Bohu, and if he hadn't glanced at it during the transaction, he would have been tricked.
"Teacher Jin, I really don't have time during the Spring Festival. Let's skip it this time. There are so many experts in Beijing. One more or one less won't make a difference. I, Zhuang Rui, will remember your kindness, okay?"
Zhuang Rui just shook his head. No matter how nicely you speak, I'm just too busy.
Seeing that even Jin Pangzi couldn't handle Zhuang Rui, Liu Jia spoke up, "Teacher Zhuang, although this program will air from the first day of the Lunar New Year to the eighth, it's pre-recorded. Recording will begin tomorrow and end on the 28th, and each day will only be half a day, so it won't affect your New Year's plans at all..."
As Liu Jia spoke, she shifted her body and sat down on the sofa directly opposite Zhuang Rui, clasping her hands together in front of her chest and bowing to him.
Due to the pressure from the arm, Liu Jia's already exceptionally full breasts instantly developed a deep cleavage, which was presented to Zhuang Rui's eyes.
Chapter 518 Awkwardness
Zhuang Rui wasn't blind; he immediately noticed Liu Jia's alluring gesture. Moreover, the distance between the two sofas wasn't far, and Zhuang Rui could even smell a faint scent of a woman's body.
To be honest, Zhuang Rui's morning erection had just subsided when he saw this scene, and he was really overwhelmed. He felt a surge of heat in his lower abdomen, and if he hadn't been sitting on the sofa, he probably would have gotten an erection.
"This woman... she really will stop at nothing..."
Zhuang Rui shook his head slightly in his heart. During his previous trip to Jinan, he had some goodwill towards Liu Jia, after all, she had once helped him out of a predicament. But now, that goodwill had completely disappeared.
Zhuang Rui was taught from a young age that if you want others to respect you, you must first respect yourself. He has never had a good impression of people who do not respect themselves.
As for women, Liu Jia is not bad, but she's far inferior to Qin Xuanbing, not to mention the rosy-cheeked fat man beside her.
The thought that Fatty Jin might have once used his fat to squeeze Liu Jia's fair body made Zhuang Rui feel even more nauseous.
If he really wanted women, all the Russian girls in Baifeng Villa would be a hundred times cleaner than the beautiful female host in front of him.
Now Zhuang Rui understands why Ouyang Jun could act so nonchalantly around Bai Feng. It turns out that Ouyang Jun is used to women throwing themselves at him, but he's just picky and rarely goes after such women.
In fact, it's an open secret in the entertainment industry that people use their bodies as capital to get roles or opportunities to rise to the top. Although Liu Jia is more appropriately categorized as a news media personality, it's all pretty much the same. The position of the top female host at Beijing TV requires a combination of strengths.
Putting everything else aside, Ouyang Jun's club is frequented by the wealthy and powerful, which attracts many second- and third-tier celebrities looking for opportunities. As long as you have money, it's easy to keep a minor celebrity there. Of course, platonic friendships are not allowed in the club.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Liu. I have a lot of things to take care of these past few days, I really haven't had the time..."
Actually, if there were only three days for filming, and all of them were in the morning, Zhuang Rui would have had the time. However, Liu Jia's actions annoyed him, so he immediately refused.
As Zhuang Rui spoke, he picked up the teacup in front of him, which Li Sao had poured for them earlier. After picking up the covered bowl, Zhuang Rui opened the lid but did not bring it to his lips, his eyes fixed on Liu Jia and Fatty Jin.
"Teacher Zhuang..."
"Brother Zhuang, how about you give me this much face?"
Before Liu Jia could speak again, she was interrupted by Fatty Jin.
Ancient Chinese etiquette was numerous and complex. One such etiquette was tea drinking. In a host's home, after serving tea to guests, the host, no matter how thirsty, could not pick up the tea in front of them to drink, because that would signify that the guest was being seen off. This was the so-called "serving tea to see guests off."