First Transaction (Part 2)

At noon, Niu Jinxing arrived in the provincial capital with a group of people.

He met Gao Jing at the Yunshang Grand Hotel.

A total of seven people had come with Niu Jinxing this time.

Four of them were capable-looking men in black suits, nominally assistants but actually bodyguards.

This transaction involved tens of millions in funds.

As the saying went, the son of a wealthy family did not sit beneath a crumbling wall. It was perfectly normal for Niu Jinxing to bring so many bodyguards.

After all, the provincial capital was not Beiyang.

And everyone knew the story of the White Dragon Traveling in Fish Skin.

Besides the four bodyguards, there was also a gaunt middle-aged man, an ordinary-looking white-collar woman with shrewd eyes, and a pretty girl who clung closely to Niu Jinxing.

After they met, Niu Jinxing introduced them to Gao Jing.

The middle-aged man surnamed Chen was Fuli Group's chief appraiser, with profound expertise in antique woodenware, timber, and lumber.

The white-collar woman surnamed Zhang was a business manager in the group.

As for the one sticking to Niu Jinxing like sticky candy, she was his personal secretary, Wu Lingling.

She was probably the kind with nothing much to do.

But she had been blessed by heaven with a magnificent bosom, and clearly enjoyed the favor of Chairman Fat Ox.

These Beiyang people were all somewhat surprised when they saw Gao Jing.

They had not expected Gao Jing to come alone to discuss such a major deal.

They truly did not know whether Gao Jing was a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, or whether great skill had made him bold.

His confidence was simply too overwhelming!

And the confidence and composure Gao Jing displayed made them more willing to believe it was the latter.

"Big Ox..."

Gao Jing smiled and handed the menu to Niu Jinxing. "Last time, I was honored by your generous hospitality. It's rare for you to come to the provincial capital, so I'll be the host today. Order whatever you like, and don't stand on ceremony with me."

The Yunshang Grand Hotel was one of Cloud City's finest hotels.

The Yunshang Orchid Hall Gao Jing had reserved was a large private room with both a main table and an attendant table.

He sat at one table with Niu Jinxing and three others.

Niu Jinxing laughed heartily. "I never stand on ceremony with friends!"

He took the menu, selected several dishes with his thick fingers, then handed it back to Gao Jing.

It was a gesture of familiarity.

Gao Jing added several more signature dishes.

The Yunshang Grand Hotel was extremely expensive. This meal would more or less drain all of Gao Jing's remaining funds.

He still owed Boss Ma's family two hundred thousand!

Yet nobody present, including Niu Jinxing, could tell that Gao Jing's circumstances had reached such a straitened state.

Otherwise, they would certainly press the price down hard in the negotiations to come.

Personal ties were personal ties; business was business.

Niu Jinxing had not brought so many people just to eat and drink.

After asking the two women for their preferences, Gao Jing ordered some drinks and a fruit platter for them.

But he did not order any alcohol, instead instructing the waiter to serve the dishes.

Niu Jinxing found that somewhat strange.

Gao Jing did not seem like the sort of person stingy enough to refuse even a few bottles of liquor.

Especially when they were dining here.

Just as he was thinking that, he saw Gao Jing take a ceramic bottle from the paper bag he had brought with him.

He placed it on the table.

Everyone's expressions could not help but turn a little strange.

The ceramic bottle was very crudely made, its shape carried a primitive style, and the firing technique was poor as well.

It gave the impression of a defective product dug out of some earthen kiln!

Yet plugging its mouth was, astonishingly, a piece of purple sandalwood.

And it was Premium Full Golden-Star Grain material!

The contrast between the two was deeply jarring.

Niu Jinxing's mouth twitched as he stared at it, unable to resist asking, "Brother Gao, what is this?"

"This is wine brewed by my friend's family."

Gao Jing explained with a smile, "The production is very limited. I went through a lot to get a bottle. Today, I'll borrow flowers to offer Buddha."

Niu Jinxing suddenly understood. "Oh."

Automatically thinking of the person hidden behind Gao Jing, he immediately felt that the ceramic bottle before him was filled with artistic charm.

He did not understand it, but it felt impressive!

He also liked Gao Jing's phrase, "borrowing flowers to offer Buddha."

But how could Niu Jinxing have known that there was not only no big shot behind Gao Jing.

Even this ceramic bottle had been made by Gao Jing himself.

It was the work of a complete beginner.

Yet what it contained was something far from ordinary.

If it had not been for this major deal, Gao Jing truly would have been reluctant to take it out and share it with them!

Gao Jing reached out and opened the purple sandalwood stopper.

A rich fruity fragrance immediately drifted out, slipping into the noses of everyone at the table.

"Hm?"

Niu Jinxing's eyes lit up. "This wine is interesting!"

Gao Jing smiled. "You'll know once you taste it."

What filled the ceramic bottle was the Mountain Ape Wine Gao Jing had drunk earlier at the Mountain Tribe's tribal gathering.

It was said that during the season when fruit ripened, mountain apes gathered mountain fruits and stored them in stone hollows deep within caves.

Then, under the soaking of spring water, vast quantities of different mountain fruits eventually fermented into sweet and delicious fruit wine.

Although mountain apes were not carnivorous desolate beasts, even tigers and leopards did not dare provoke them lightly. They lived in groups, their individual combat strength was not weak, and they were even more formidable in a brawl.

That was why this Mountain Ape Wine was so precious.

After drinking it once, Gao Jing had found its aftertaste endless, so he asked Shan Yan, the old shaman, for some.

For the giants, an amount of wine sufficient to drown Gao Jing was not even enough for them to take a few mouthfuls.

This amount was nothing at all.

Afterward, Gao Jing bottled it himself and brought it back to the Main World.

The bottle of Mountain Ape Wine he took out now had been filtered, with the froth and sediment removed.

Poured into porcelain-white wine cups, its jade-green color looked even more pure and clear!

After pouring Niu Jinxing a cup first, Gao Jing kindly reminded him, "This wine is very strong. One cup is about enough."

What?

Niu Jinxing, whose mouth was watering from the wine's aroma, froze for a moment.

He felt as if Gao Jing had underestimated him!

Although the last time he drank with Gao Jing, he had been beaten miserably three against one.

His alcohol tolerance was still among the best of ordinary people!

Even if the cup before him were filled to the brim with high-proof vodka, Niu Jinxing was confident it would not make him blush.

Holding back his breath, he raised the cup and drained it in one gulp!

Brother Fat Ox's temper flared up.

He simply refused to believe it!

But after a moment, Niu Jinxing's expression changed.

The wine was absolutely genuine fine wine—crisp and sweet, rich with fruit flavors, a wonderful taste he had never experienced before.

As the liquor went down his throat and into his stomach, threads of warmth rapidly spread through his limbs and bones, making him feel as though he were floating.

It was extraordinarily comfortable and refreshing.

Yet the liquor soon rushed to his head, turning his round face bright red!

This was bad!

Niu Jinxing, tempered by alcohol, immediately realized that he had drunk too fast.

This wine was simply too potent!

He tried his best to remain sober, then silently gave Gao Jing a thumbs-up.

Truly awesome!

Gao Jing said with a chuckle, "It's fine. Have some tea first to suppress it. Later, eat more dishes."

Niu Jinxing took the wet towel handed over by his little secretary and viciously wiped his face.

He had no choice but to admit it. "It really is potent!"

Gao Jing said, "If you like it, Big Ox, I'll give you this bottle."

"Oh, that would be too embarrassing."

Though he said that, Brother Fat Ox truly could not bring himself to refuse.

Such peerless fine wine might not be purchasable even with money.

Brother Gao was truly a thoughtful man!

Manager Zhang, seated beside them, watched Niu Jinxing warmly call Gao Jing brother after brother, and could not help sighing inwardly.

When you eat from someone else's mouth, your mouth goes soft; when you take something from someone else's hand, your hand grows short.

At this rate, they were practically about to swear brotherhood. How were they supposed to negotiate the deal afterward?