Chapter 2776

Anqi Hutong!

Zhou Andong raised his wine cup and lightly tapped it against Ma Hong's, then steered the conversation toward tomb-robbing: "Ma Lao, did the four major tomb-robbing sects really exist in history?"

"They did!" Ma Hong gently set down his wine cup: "The Touch-Gold, Detach-Ridge, Excavate-Hill, and Move-Mountain sects—if we're talking about technical sophistication, each has its own strengths."

Zhou Andong asked curiously: "Ma Lao, which sect does your family belong to?"

Ma Lao smiled but did not answer Zhou Andong: "I won't say that; let me tell you the stories my grandfather told me when I was young."

Ma Lao began telling tomb-robbing stories; Old Cricket and the others also knew a bit about tomb-robbing and would occasionally interject, sharing what they knew as stories for Zhou Andong to hear. Meanwhile, Zhou Andong had someone fetch a recorder and recorded everything.

The drinking lasted until past eight o'clock. Ma Hong checked the time and said: "Zhou Dong, let's call it a night for today. If you still want to keep listening, we'll find another time."

"Sure!" Zhou Andong and Comrade Lao Zhou escorted the several old gentlemen to the gate: "Gentlemen, if you ever have anything good in the future, feel free to bring it to me—I'll definitely not shortchange you."

Zhao Chang laughed and said: "Zhou Dong, you're the most generous buyer I've ever met—not only do you not haggle, you even pay above market. Just today's transaction, the price you gave us is twenty percent above market rate.

If calculated at the actual transaction price, what you paid us is another fifty percent higher. That's nearly three million yuan—you gave it to us without hesitation, absolutely the most generous buyer I've ever encountered in my life.

This is three million, not three hundred. Even if we old-timers have some savings, it's ancestral inheritance; if we had to earn it ourselves, we couldn't make it in several lifetimes.

Zhao Chang laughed again: "With such a generous buyer like you, we'll definitely send any good stuff your way."

"Good!" Zhou Andong clasped his hands and said: "Thank you for the trust of the several gentlemen. Even if you have nothing to sell me, you can still come over for tea and a chat."

Zhou Andong's expression turned serious: "Gentlemen, I'm not being polite—I mean it sincerely. Whenever you have time, just come over. If I'm not home, my father can keep you company for tea and chat."

"Exactly!" Comrade Lao Zhou said from the side: "Gentlemen, I'm bored at home every day. If you have time, you can come to my place and sit awhile."

"Good!" Wang Yu Bo laughed heartily: "Since Zhou Younger Brother and Zhou Dong said that, we won't stand on ceremony. From now on, when we old-timers gather, we'll come to your place."

The several old gentlemen rode away on their tricycles. Zhou Andong went to help Lao Zhou back, but Lao Zhou shoved him away, dissatisfied, saying: "I can walk now—I don't need your help."

Zhou Andong laughed: "Fine, you can walk on your own—I won't help."

Lao Zhou snorted arrogantly, turned, and slowly stepped over the threshold into the courtyard. Zhou Andong followed behind, worried Lao Zhou might fall. Only after seeing Lao Zhou safely to the rear annex building did he return to the three-courtyard house, then enter the study. It was already twenty past nine.

As work was ending, he paged Shen Mingsheng and arranged to call the home study at nine-thirty tonight. With a little time left, he picked up his pen and wrote three characters on the draft paper: Ghost Blows the Lamp!

He had read the book, the movie, and the web drama—remembered the main plot but forgot many details. And for a novel, success or failure hinges on the details.

The Excavate-Hill Seal, the Touch-Gold Talisman, the Move-Mountain Detach-Ridge Dragon-Seeking Formula.

Humans light candles, ghosts blow lamps, geomancy overturns the dipper to seek the star peak.

Mercury plague, nourish the spirit objects, dragon towers and treasure palaces—gone without trace.

Seal the submerged coffin, bronze outer coffin, don't approach if the eight characters aren't firm.

Vertical burial pit, coffin chamber, Move-Mountain Detach-Ridge winding around.

Red-clad fiend, smiling corpse, ghost laughter—nothing like listening to ghosts weep.

Zhou Andong did not write a summary of the original book; instead, he wrote out the proverbs from the book, then the preface, the introduction!

Tomb-robbing is not about entertaining guests with food, not writing essays, not painting or embroidery—it cannot be so refined, so leisurely, so cultured and graceful, so gentle, respectful, frugal, and yielding. Tomb-robbing is a technique, a technique of destructive undertaking……

"Ding ling……"

Zhou Andong was writing with deep focus; time passed quickly—over twenty minutes later, the phone rang just in time. He lifted his head and glanced at the phone: all the home phones had been replaced with caller-ID models. Seeing the number was from Jiangzhou, he knew it was Shen Mingsheng.

"Shen Zong!" Zhou Andong picked up the phone, smiling: "Right on time."

From the receiver came Shen Mingsheng's laughter: "I wouldn't dare delay the time you set, Zhou Dong."

Because it was getting late, Zhou Andong didn't waste words and said directly: "I want to find a sales partner to cooperate with, so I thought of you.

After all, we're friends and brothers, also partners—such huge profits definitely can't be given to others. If you're willing, let's go back to the capital to discuss. If not, I'll find someone else."

"Of course I'm willing!"

Shen Mingsheng isn't a fool—this is clearly him being sent money; how could he refuse? Besides, these are smuggled cars—Qiong Province will issue proper procedures there, and import tariffs can be fully waived. It's absolutely profit per vehicle sold; if it's a 3.0-liter or larger vehicle, it's profit of one and a half vehicles.

Of course, the profit from tariffs alone is the big chunk—Zhou Andong couldn't possibly give it all to him, nor would it be realistic. But as long as he can get twenty percent—no, even if only ten percent—on over a hundred thousand vehicles, that's tens to hundreds of billions. And now, because he's invested in automobile R&D projects, his financial pressure is huge; with this money, he could relax enormously.

"Zhou Dong!" Shen Mingsheng said eagerly: "I'll drive back now—I should reach the capital around four or five a. m., then tomorrow morning I'll go to the wool factory to find you."

Zhou Andong said: "This matter isn't urgent—driving at night isn't safe; better to come back tomorrow."

"No way!" Shen Mingsheng said: "The site for the auto city has already been decided—perfect timing to go back and find people to design the office building and factory."

Zhou Andong asked: "Where was it decided?"

Shen Mingsheng laughed: "Yushan Town!"

Zhou Andong startled: "How could it be decided on Yushan Town, not the development zone?"

Shen Mingsheng said: "Mayor Deng also asked me why I didn't choose the development zone—I told him Yushan Town is your hometown."

Zhou Andong fell silent for a moment, then softly said: "Thank you!"

Shen Mingsheng laughed: "The address is at the junction of Tanghezhi Village and Ding Mountain Village—we've been allocated eight hundred mu."

"Not enough!" Zhou Andong pondered and said: "Too little—we need at least another thousand mu."

Shen Mingsheng exclaimed in disbelief: "One thousand eight hundred mu?"

"Exactly!" Zhou Andong took a deep breath and said: "Even one thousand eight hundred mu might not be enough."

He didn't know how much land other major auto factories occupy, but he knows Great Wall's. Because he visited Baoding and toured Great Wall Motors' headquarters, he's very clear: Great Wall's headquarters covers over two thousand mu.

Shen Mingsheng pondered and said: "Eight hundred mu—Phase One construction should definitely be enough."

"Phase One construction is indeed enough." Zhou Andong didn't object: "But we must definitely reserve land for future development."

"Good!" Shen Mingsheng said: "I'll give the order shortly—tomorrow I'll go to the city to discuss this."

The two chatted a while longer, then Zhou Andong hung up and resumed writing.

Time passed bit by bit; looking up, it was nearly eleven. The study door was gently pushed open, and Jian Qiu entered softly, stepping lightly, then stood behind Zhou Andong and lowered her head to glance.

"What are you writing?"

Zhou Andong was so absorbed in his writing that he didn't notice his wife entering at all. Her sudden voice beside his ear startled him into a violent jerk—his pen shot out of his hand, he snapped his head back, saw it was his wife, and said unhappily:

"Wife, do you walk without making a sound? You nearly scared me to death."

Jian Qiu burst out laughing, then saw Zhou Andong's face growing darker and darker, immediately stopped laughing, wrapped Zhou Andong's head in his arms, and comforted him by saying.

"Husband, don't be afraid, don't be afraid."

This woman was comforting with her mouth, but the smile on her face just wouldn't stop, only holding back hard without letting out a laugh.