Warehouse.
Watching three hundred tonnes of rice being stored, Lu Zheng was talking with Liu Zhenming at the entrance.
“Thanks, Mr. Liu. Without you, I wouldn’t have had the connections to meet the grain factory people.”
“Mr. Lu, you’re too polite. With your determination, you would have found a way. I should thank you for thinking of me in this deal,” Liu Zhenming laughed heartily.
Acting as a middleman and taking a cut, Lu Zheng naturally wouldn’t let Liu Zhenming help for free. Since he didn’t have a company under his name, purchasing grain from the storage point went through the accounts of a trading company under Liu Zhenming.
Liu Zhenming wasn’t worried. After all, Lu Zheng was buying grain, specifically old stock that the storage wanted to offload cheaply. There was no risk in the transaction, and he could make a profit.
As for how Lu Zheng made money buying grain at a high price, Liu Zhenming had no interest. That was Lu Zheng’s skill in reselling, and prying into a friend’s business channels was a big taboo in the market. Liu Zhenming knew the rules.
Seeing Lu Zheng’s calm and composed manner, Liu Zhenming couldn’t help but marvel. So young, yet with such deep connections abroad, truly a hero among the youth!
Bringing back antiques and rare Chinese herbs from abroad, and capturing a share of the market during foreign grain shortages, this Mr. Lu had some wild connections!
Lu Zheng smiled, “I might need to trouble you again in the future, Mr. Liu.”
Liu Zhenming laughed, “Mr. Lu, you’re too kind. I’m more than happy to help.”
…
After seeing Liu Zhenming off, Lu Zheng filled most of the remaining space in his storage gourd, then waited for another convoy.
This convoy was smaller, with just a few vehicles carrying woven bags of Chinese herbs.
“Hello, Mr. Xie, the convoy has arrived. I’ve checked the herbs, and the quality is excellent. Thank you!”
“Mr. Lu, you’re too polite. It’s just some common herbs, you’re making too much of it!” came a cheerful voice from the phone. “After getting such great goods from you, I’ve been thinking of how to thank you!”
Xie Feng, a shareholder of Huairentang in Nandu, was introduced to Lu Zheng through Liu Zhenming. He had previously bought rare century-old herbs from Lu Zheng at a high price.
This time, Lu Zheng needed a large quantity of high-quality common herbs, so he contacted Xie Feng.
Compared to hundreds of tonnes of grain, common herbs weren’t as sensitive, barely even considered restricted goods. Lu Zheng reached out to Xie Feng mainly for quality and convenience.
As expected, Huairentang in Nandu had a herb storage base in Haishi, and within half a day, they delivered the herbs Lu Zheng needed.
Bupleurum, skullcap, artemisia…
After handing out red envelopes and cigarettes to the drivers, they left happily.
Lu Zheng turned, entered the warehouse, and stored the herbs in his gourd.
Then he locked the door and left.
On the way home, Lu Zheng pondered whether he should set up a foreign trade company.
But…
“It feels like such a hassle. The problem is, if there’s only incoming stock and no outgoing, or if I fake the outgoing, wouldn’t it be easy to get caught?”
“What if an employee leaks something?”
“One misstep, and it’s a risk of exposure in minutes.”
“Forget it. It’s better to stick with Old Liu’s channel. He’s a seasoned player, operating within the grey area, with proper taxes and safety, handling things perfectly.”
“I’ll keep observing. As long as the profits are secured, it’s more convenient.”
…
Lu Zheng didn’t go home but headed straight to the Haicheng liaison office of Interpol to have dinner with Lin Wan.
During dinner, Lin Wan asked, “Looks like you’re not staying tonight either?”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow and nodded.
Lin Wan said softly, “You haven’t been in a great mood these past few days. If you’re too tired, you should rest.”
Lin Wan didn’t know Lu Zheng’s secrets but could sense his mood.
Recently, Lu Zheng hadn’t been home much, though he occasionally came to eat with her. Lin Wan could tell his mood was heavy.
Though she didn’t know why, and Lu Zheng didn’t say, she wouldn’t ask. Still, out of concern, she couldn’t help but advise, “The world has light and darkness, and plenty of pitiful things. Don’t let yourself get too caught up.”
Lin Wan guessed Lu Zheng was out playing a lone hero, saving lives.
Though it wasn’t in the news, with Lu Zheng’s abilities, quietly handling things was all too easy.
But since it might involve… well, Lu Zheng didn’t tell her, and Lin Wan didn’t ask.
Lu Zheng smiled, gently holding her hand, “Don’t worry, I’m a law-abiding citizen!”
“I believe you, my foot!” Lin Wan rolled her eyes at him.
He’d already led her astray, and he still called himself law-abiding?
Lu Zheng grinned, “At least in this country, I am.”
For now, anyway.
Lin Wan pursed her lips, nodded, and then Lu Zheng thought for a moment before asking quietly, “You’re not working late tonight, right?”
Lin Wan’s heart stirred, “No.”
“Then I’ll wait for you at home,” Lu Zheng smiled. “What do you want to eat?”
“Zha jiang noodles!”
Lu Zheng couldn’t help but ask, “I’ve already got the sauce prepared at home, and you eat it often. Why tonight too?”
Lin Wan smiled brightly, her face blooming, “Because I want to eat the noodles you make yourself.”
…
The next day, after Lin Wan left, Lu Zheng crossed back to ancient times.
Returning to the village, he saw Liu Qingyan and Du Yueyao treating patients, while Hua Yixing and others were setting up a tent to cook porridge. Nearby were two new figures, a man and a woman.
“Lu Lang!”
“Master Lu!”
Seeing Lu Zheng return, everyone greeted him.
Lu Zheng met the pair, both disciples of Tieshan Sect, practicing martial arts.
The man was Chu Zhen, the woman Yi Lingling.
They had chased a demonic crocodile all the way here, finally killing it and sharing its meat with the villagers.
“Haha, the people here are in for a treat,” Lu Zheng laughed, patting the gourd at his waist.
The next moment, a basket of herbs and several loads of grain flew out.
“Lu Lang, you really brought grain and herbs!” Liu Qingyan said, delighted.
“Small matter,” Lu Zheng nodded.
Seeing Lu Zheng with storage equipment, Chu Zhen and Yi Lingling were stunned.
They had thought themselves the group’s protectors, but there was such a big shot among them.
“Shame there’s no star anise grass or tong qi,” Lu Zheng said regretfully.
Liu Qingyan picked up the bupleurum, sniffed it, tasted it, and frowned slightly, “The quality’s not great. We’ll need thirty percent more.”
Lu Zheng shrugged. Perhaps due to the spiritual energy of this world, even common herbs here were more potent than modern ones. The batch he brought was already top-quality by modern standards.
