Chapter 3

Outskirts of Linping City.

A Mercedes-Benz seven-seat business van led a convoy of trucks and cranes into the Nanqiao Logistics Warehouse Center, then came to a steady stop in front of a small warehouse.

Once the vehicles stopped, Su Jie and Liang Lianjun got out of the business van.

Several elite business professionals, including accountants and lawyers, followed behind. At a glance, it was clearly the setup for a major deal.

"The goods are inside."

Su Jie took out a key and opened the warehouse, which he had just rented by spending every last bit of his assets. He led the group inside.

The warehouse was not particularly large and looked extremely empty. Only a few bare trees had been placed in the corners.

"It really is rosewood."

Liang Lianjun's uneasy heart finally settled completely. Su Jie had not been playing games with him.

"Mr. Su, I'd like to inspect the quality of these raw materials first. You don't mind if we cut open a few spots to take a look, do you?"

Liang Lianjun took the tools down from the vehicle and spoke impatiently.

"We're all professionals here. Of course, that's fine."

Su Jie waved his hand, and Liang Lianjun hurried over to several rosewood trees.

"This guy's connections are incredible. He actually has so much."

The moment he saw the rosewood, Liang Lianjun determined that the trees were extremely old, seasoned antique material that had most likely been passed down through an ancestral line. They could be traded freely.

Liang Lianjun did not know that there was something in this world called spiritual power, which could easily make wood look aged.

"Approximately fifty-nine centimeters in diameter and about sixteen meters long, with an estimated weight of five to six tons. This one is sixty-three centimeters in diameter..."

After measuring the data of five rosewood trees, Liang Lianjun called one of the workers forward.

The man picked up a chainsaw and began cutting an opening into the bottom of one of the rosewood trees.

Bzzz!

Once a thin ring of wood had been cut away and the sawdust washed clean, the inner core was revealed.

Everyone except Su Jie widened their eyes.

Accompanied by a faint fragrance, the rosewood's grain gradually deepened in color, displaying an exquisite rippling pattern.

It looked like West Lake's painted scenery created by nature itself—dazzlingly beautiful.

"Perfect. Perfect-grade Golden Star Hairline Grain. This grain, this texture, this oil density... It's incredible."

As if caressing his dream lover, Liang Lianjun ran his palm over the astonishingly beautiful cut grain. He practically wished both his eyes could burrow into the wood.

That kind of obsession at the sight of something beloved was difficult for outsiders to understand.

Su Jie, for example, did not get it. He also thought it looked good, but not to the point of infatuation.

However, Su Jie did know one thing: he was going to make more money.

"Manager Liang, take a look at the other goods as well. There are four more."

After several minutes, Su Jie reminded Liang Lianjun, who was still lost in his intoxication.

"These trees definitely won't be inferior either. Master, bring the chainsaw over. Actually, I'll do it myself. I've never cut such top-grade rosewood before."

Liang Lianjun was exceptionally excited. He snatched the chainsaw and operated it himself.

Amid the chainsaw's buzzing, the rosewood trees were cut open one after another.

And every time another tree was cut open, the warehouse filled with the sound of people sucking in cold breaths.

"This is actually the finest Fish Scale Grain, evolved into Dragon Scale Grain. The grain is clear and imposing, full and smooth."

"Seriously? This level of Golden Star Burl Grain is simply perfect—too perfect."

"This one too."

Exclamations rang out through the warehouse.

These industry elites from Cold Lily Home Furnishings Company were now like clueless novices who had never seen the world, completely conquered by the rosewood's various beautiful grains.

After all the rosewood had been inspected, Liang Lianjun felt a little dizzy. This sudden, enormous surprise had his heart pounding. Even when he had first gotten a room with his girlfriend, he had never been this excited.

"How is it? The goods I have here didn't disappoint you, did they, Manager Liang?"

Su Jie asked with a smile. Seeing how excited Liang Lianjun was, it would be a waste of all his hard work deep in the mountains and old forests these past few days if he did not fleece him ruthlessly.

"Mr. Su, don't joke around. How could I possibly be disappointed? I can barely contain my satisfaction with raw materials like these."

Liang Lianjun barely managed to calm his excitement, then said solemnly, "Mr. Su, this batch of goods you have is truly top-grade. We've already weighed it. The five rosewood trees total thirty-one tons and two hundred kilograms. The current market price of rosewood is between 800,000 and 1.5 million yuan per ton. Cold Lily is willing to purchase it at the highest price—1.5 million yuan per ton for this batch of rosewood."

31.2 × 1,500,000 = 46,800,000

Su Jie quickly calculated the amount he would receive. Hearing that price sent tumultuous waves through his heart, and he was ecstatic, but his expression remained impassive.

"Manager Liang, are you joking? That price hardly shows any sincerity! Even cheap genuine rosewood bracelets on Taobao cost over a thousand yuan each, let alone my batch of exceptionally high-quality goods."

"Mr. Su, that's not how the price is calculated. There will be losses during the processing of the raw materials. We also have to cover the design and processing fees. You can't sell to our processing factory at the retail price."

As soon as he heard this, Manager Liang immediately began lamenting his difficulties.

"Then it seems Manager Liang doesn't want to do business with me. That's fine. I'll find another buyer. With goods this good, I'm not worried about finding someone willing to take them."

Su Jie deliberately put on an unhappy expression, and Liang Lianjun's face changed dramatically.

Just as Su Jie had said, goods of this quality were not difficult to sell at all.

Once the news got out, companies from outside would surely swarm over. By then, Cold Lily might not necessarily be able to obtain this batch of goods.

"Don't, don't, Mr. Su. Cold Lily is very sincere. How about this—you name a price first."

Liang Lianjun put on an entirely different face and spoke with extreme eagerness.

"I'll set the price at 1,000 yuan per kilogram. If you agree, we'll make the deal right here. If not, I'll find another buyer."

Su Jie raised one finger and gave his asking price.

That price amounted to 2 million yuan per ton of rosewood, one-third higher than Liang Lianjun's previous offer.

"That price is too high. Mr. Su, we'll have to discuss it on our side. Please wait a moment."

Liang Lianjun had originally intended to bargain further, but seeing Su Jie's expression, he feared the young man would really turn around and leave. The words at the tip of his tongue became a request to discuss it instead.

"Make it quick."

Su Jie nodded and sat down on a rosewood tree, looking utterly unconcerned. That only strengthened Liang Lianjun's resolve to complete the deal.

That attitude meant he had confidence. If Cold Lily missed this opportunity, there would be no second chance.

A group of business elites hurried out of the warehouse for a private discussion and did not return until more than ten minutes later.

Su Jie took the opportunity to turn off the short video of the young woman dancing and looked across at them.

"Well? Have you reached a decision?"

"Mr. Su, we'll go with your price. Cold Lily is willing to purchase this batch of raw materials at 1,000 yuan per kilogram. Sigh, we won't make any money on this deal. We're mainly doing it to make a friend of you, Mr. Su."

Liang Lianjun wore an expression that said they had suffered a huge loss. What he truly thought was anyone's guess. In any case, not a single word from a merchant could be trusted.

Although he had been mentally prepared, actually hearing that he could sell it for such an astronomical price made his emotions surge like a kettle of water that had just boiled over. He was so excited he felt ready to burst.

This price meant the batch of rosewood could be sold for the huge sum of 62.4 million yuan, and Su Jie was about to become a multimillionaire.

"Mr. Su, there's no time to lose. Let's sign the contract now. We'll transfer the money to you immediately. We'll issue the invoice first, then coordinate with the accounting department. Oh, and Mr. Su, remember that you'll need to pay taxes."

Liang Lianjun summoned the accountants and legal staff and produced the transaction contract template they had prepared beforehand. In fact, if they were ruthless, they would not even need to issue an invoice, allowing them to avoid reporting the taxes as well.

After all, once wood like this was turned into furniture, there would basically be no evidence left to trace. That was why Liang Lianjun had not pressed Su Jie about the exact origin of the timber. Everyone tacitly understood the gray areas.

Su Jie flipped through the contracts and was not afraid that the other side would play any tricks.

He simply did not want to commit a crime. That did not mean he lacked the ability to do so.

If they really dared to play word games in the contract, Su Jie would not mind showing them what a truly high-level business battle looked like—yes, the kind involving the destruction of evidence.

The names were signed, and the seals stamped.

After both sides confirmed that everything was in order, the shell company Su Jie had registered received the payment as well. The money entered the company account.

[Ding! At 12:21 on October 23, 62,400,000.00 yuan was deposited into account 1248 of your organization, Hengyuan Company, via ICBC Bank. The remitter was Cold Lily Home Furnishings Company. Current account balance: 62,400,419.00 yuan.]

The string of numbers covered the originally pitiful balance, and Su Jie was overjoyed at the sight of it. Even after paying some taxes later, this fortune would still be astonishing.

"Manager Liang, it was a pleasure doing business with you."

Su Jie took a deep breath and extended his hand. He could not afford to lose his nerve at the final moment.

"Likewise, Mr. Su. If you have any more good goods in the future, be sure to contact me. Cold Lily's demand for raw materials like these is endless."

Liang Lianjun extended his hand as well, satisfied with the transaction. In fact, he had already noticed that there was more to this batch of timber than a simple family inheritance. There would most likely be more transactions in the future, and Liang Lianjun only wanted to secure this major client.

"Of course, of course. Next time for sure."

Su Jie replied with a smile. Liang Lianjun did not need to remind him. With such a simple and safe way to make money, Su Jie naturally would not let it go.

He could easily put more than sixty million yuan into his account today. If he went back and felled some more precious trees, earning a small fortune would be as easy as taking candy from a baby.

After politely declining Liang Lianjun's invitation to dinner and drinks, Su Jie watched as the other party loaded the five rosewood trees onto trucks and drove out of the warehouse. The smile on his face instantly became impossible to contain.

"Sixty million, sixty million! How am I ever going to spend all this money?"

Su Jie repeatedly checked the bank messages on his phone. Having become rich overnight, he found it impossible to suppress his excitement.

After all, from childhood to adulthood, the most money he had ever handled had been only a few tens of thousands of yuan.

The enormous sum of sixty million was a number Su Jie had never even dared to imagine before transmigrating.

And now that he had this fortune, he could finally put his earlier plan to use resources from Blue Star to assist his cultivation on the agenda.