"Girl, where did you hear that from? I've never sold vegetables before."
Father Li didn't ask Reiko what kind of vegetable she was talking about. He usually only grew vegetables for his own family to eat and never sold them.
"I was referring to the lettuce in your yard. It looks like it's growing very well, and I imagine it will taste good, so I'd like to buy some."
Father Li glanced at her several more times, feeling as if she had only come for the food.
"I can't make that decision myself; I need to call and ask."
Father Li didn't immediately agree, after all, these were grown by his son, and he had begged him for several days before letting him come and oversee them. Although he didn't know how valuable these vegetables were, he knew that whether or not they were sold ultimately depended on Li Xingkong's decision.
"I really want one, how about we get one of these for 100?"
Reiko offered a price that she believed the other party wouldn't refuse.
Indeed, it's already an astronomical price for ordinary vegetables to sell for that much.
In her view, for farmers like this, the other party was already unable to hold back at this price.
Father Li was indeed a little tempted; one fruit cost 100 yuan, which was Earthly Capital.
"Daughter, it's not that I don't want to sell it to you, but my son has to agree."
"I'll give him a call and have him talk to you."
After finishing his sentence, Father Li turned around and walked to the eaves. He wore the same set of farm gear as when he worked in the fields, and his cell phone and other belongings were placed there.
Father Li pulled the phone out of the pile of clothes and dialed Li Xingkong.
"Hello, Dad? What's wrong?"
Li Xingkong was still flying in the sky. Although he was flying with the wind, the wind was still quite loud in his ears because he was going so fast.
On Father Li's end, all he could hear on the phone was the whistling wind.
"Son, what are you doing? Are you starving? Going out to starve? Why is the wind so strong?"
Li Xingkong could hear it, of course. With his current hearing, he could distinguish even the faintest human voice amidst the strong winds. However, if he wanted to make a proper phone call, he would have to wait until he landed, otherwise the wind interference would be too severe.
Having dispelled his Magic Power, Li Xingkong landed lightly on the ground, and only then was he able to reconnect with his father.
"Son, several people have come over and say they want to buy your vegetables, specifically the lettuce from your garden."
Father Li explained the current situation directly to Li Xingkong.
"Strange, besides Uncle Ximen's family, who else knows about my Body Tempering Grass?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xingkong couldn't help but start making connections in his mind.
This means that his recipe must have been leaked somewhere, most likely through Uncle Ximen's son.
It's very simple. Granny Caidun is surrounded by villagers, and few of them know anything about antiques. Uncle Ximen has never seen the actual item either. The only possible source of the information is Uncle Ximen's son.
Being in university, there are plenty of people with keen observation skills.
"Dad, let them answer the phone. I'll talk to them directly."
Li Xingkong couldn't teleport back right now, so he could only communicate by phone for the time being. Fortunately, the person who came to his door was polite enough not to resort to underhanded tactics right away.
If they really resort to these tricks, losing the vegetables is a small matter, but it's not worth it if your family gets hurt.
After a few quick answers, Father Li handed the phone to Reiko was still waiting on the side.
"These vegetables were grown by my son. You two can discuss what's going on."
"OK"
Reiko answered the phone, determined to get what she wanted.
Not only should we take the food back, but we should take the people with us too.
No one in this world can refuse the invitation of capital; even if someone does, it's just because they haven't been paid enough.
"Hello, Mr. Li, we are from Cherry Blossom Wind Group. We are very interested in your planting techniques and the plants you have cultivated. We were wondering if you have any intention of changing jobs?"
The approach to dealing with young people is quite different from that to the elderly. When dealing with the elderly, you can try to fool them if you can, but when dealing with young people, you naturally have to be much more restrained, since young people are online and not as easy to fool as the elderly.
I can't just say I'm Qin Shihuang and expect people to give me money.
"I have no interest in finding myself a boss."
Li Xingkong naturally disliked having an extra boss for no reason; anyone would like that.
"Okay, if you're interested anytime, we welcome you to join us. Now, what do you think of the other thing we discussed? We're also willing to pay a high price to buy the plants you've cultivated, but we want an exclusive contract."
Since she couldn't recruit people, Reiko had to settle for second best: if people wouldn't come, plants would do.
"I'm sorry, I have no plans to make a move right now, and I won't be anytime soon."
Are you kidding? We don't even have enough Body Tempering Grass for ourselves right now, why would we sell it to them? And we want an exclusive supply.
Li Xingkong is not short of money. If he wanted money, he would have a million ways to get it. There was absolutely no need for him to use Body Tempering Grass to exchange for benefits. Moreover, the Cherry Blossom Wind Group is not even a native of Divine Land; it is an outsider.
Although Li Xingkong agrees with equality for all, the premise of equality for all is that he must be Divine Land People.
He is not a racist, nor does he look down on foreign countries. However, he cannot accept foreign power. The main reason is that Divine Land People, at least when they do not completely break off relations, have a moral bottom line and are guided by propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame.
Foreigners are different; they don't really have any bottom-line morality. Their sense of contract is good, and it would be even better if capitalists could actually abide by it.
Putting aside other issues, even warfare requires cultural integration; foreigners, on the other hand, would simply be subject to genocide.
The nature of their civilizations is quite different, so Li Xingkong naturally didn't want to play with them.
"Don't be so dismissive, Mr. Li. There's plenty of time in the future; we can get to know each other better."
Reiko was naturally prepared for Li Xingkong's rejection. If it didn't work out the first time, she would try again. If the investors lost patience, she would just take drastic measures.
Patience is something you only do with prey of equal strength. For these insignificant figures, who are like snacks before a meal, with little power and little capital, the patience of capital is naturally limited.
"That's it, I won't make a move."
Li Xingkong's words were concise and to the point.
"Don't rush, Mr. Li, I think you'll change your mind in a few days."
Reiko slowed her voice and said something slowly, her tone ambiguous, whether it was a threat or advice.
"I'd also like to see how I change my mind."
After Li Xingkong finished speaking, he hung up the phone. Since the other party was still communicating with him, it meant that they were still willing to abide by the rules of the game. Li Xingkong certainly wouldn't be the first to overturn the table; only those who had run out of options would recklessly overturn the table.
The first person to overturn the table is usually not a big shot; they're often just a nobody.