I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 144 Equipment
The snow had just stopped, and the aroma of chili peppers and cured meat drying in the courtyard was strong.

The moment Xue Yi pushed open the hall door, Xue's mother was just about to play a red dragon.

The mother and son looked into each other's eyes, and in an instant, Xue's mother's eyes reddened.

She was stunned for a moment, then burst into tears. Xue Yi knelt down and was about to kowtow when his mother hugged him tightly, and the mother and son cried together.

After venting her emotions for a while, Xue's mother remembered that Song Tingfang was still there, so she quickly composed herself, washed her face, and reorganized the card game.

All night long, Xue Yi sat next to her mother, watching her play cards.

The game was not dissolved until midnight.

Song Tingfang seemed to have a beginner's protection period, with extremely good luck in the game, dominating everyone.

If Xue Xiang hadn't forcibly ended the game because it was too late, judging from her attitude, she would have played all night long.

As the event was about to end, Song Tingfang mentioned that he was afraid of the dark when walking alone at night, which nearly made Xue Xiang fall over.

She had heard Liu Zhiwei say that Song Tingfang had reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment three years ago, but she didn't know what his current cultivation level was.

Xue Xiang knew how powerful Song Tingfang was, and was happy that Liu Zhiwei was getting close to her.

The last days of the twelfth lunar month are always filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

As Lunar New Year's Eve approaches, the festive atmosphere grows stronger.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the Xue family was at home making New Year's cake.

After dinner, the whole family went to the street to pick up lanterns, buy red paper, and collect all kinds of firecrackers.

On the morning of the 31st, the little guy woke Xue Xiang up.

Xue Xiang looked out the window and saw the courtyard covered in silver. Liu Zhiwei and Song Tingfang had already cut the red paper and were about to start writing.

It seems that the dignified Lord Song likes, no, he's practically addicted to this kind of atmosphere.

After the mahjong game ended that night, Xue Xiang didn't need to call out to him at all. Every day, he and Liu Zhiwei would come early and play mahjong until the game ended, and then he would ask Liu Zhiwei to go home with him.

Xue Xiang naturally welcomed such a powerful and influential guest with open arms.

At noon, my uncle Song Yuan and his family arrived with smiles on their faces, carrying fruit boxes, pickles, and various gift boxes.

While Xue Xiang was hanging around in Suiyang Town, Song Yuan's popularity in Yunmeng City soared.

Now, Xue Xiang has also made a name for himself in Canaan County, and Song Yuan's popularity in Yunmeng City is on the rise.

Even Guo Dongsheng, the newly appointed magistrate of Yunmeng City, once invited Song Yuan to have tea.

Song Yuan never dreamed that his life could reach such a peak.

Therefore, he disregarded his maternal uncle's dignity and took the initiative to come to Yong'an to have the New Year's Eve dinner with the Xue family.

Zhang was extremely willing to accept this.

Now, she wishes she could put Xue Xiang's name on a name sticker on her forehead.

After all, thanks to her adopted nephew, she gained a great sense of superiority in Yunmeng City.

As for Song Zijie and Song Yuan...

The former was doing very well in Suiyang Town, while the latter found a job at the Yunmeng Newspaper and was doing it very well.

As evening approached, the Xue residence was adorned with red lanterns, and the table was laden with steaming dishes, their aroma mingling with laughter.

After the meal, they would gather promptly at the mahjong table.

Xue Yi sat next to his mother and watched the battle.

Liu Zhiwei was being dragged along by Song Tingfang, almost like a hand warmer, accompanying her in her fierce battles inside and outside the Great Wall.

Fan Youyi sat calmly on the table, his handsome face flushed, ready to bravely go to the Third Sister's son-teaching session.

Xiao Wan, Xiao Shi, and Song Yuan sat around the stove, cracking melon seeds and eating tea and snacks.

Song Zijie had a wide circle of friends. Even though he was in Yong'an, he still had a gathering and flirted with someone after dinner.

Only Xue Xiang and Song Yuan were chatting by the fire.

Of course, it was mainly Song Yuan who spoke, and Xue Xiang who listened.

As usual, the newly appointed captain of the patrol team, Song, earnestly instructed his nephew, imparting his wisdom on how to be an official.

Once New Year's Eve passed, Xue Xiang was like a wound-up spring.

Despite the fact that he couldn't go to many places by himself and could only send gifts through intermediaries, such as Xie Haiya in the prefecture, Feng Jing, his mentor, and Dong Jiacun in Yunmeng, he was still extremely busy.

Even he himself didn't know how so many people knew where he lived, or how so many people he had never seen before would come to visit him for the New Year.

It was three quarters past noon when he saw off the last group of guests, feeling even more exhausted than after a fierce battle with the Two-Winged Ghost-Faced Monkey King.

At 1:15 PM, Xue Xiang left in front of Wei Yang's residence.

In the main hall, Wei Yangming secretly sabotaged the relationship, and the two had already broken off relations.

However, Wei Yang was his mentor, and Xue Xiang, as a Confucian scholar, had to uphold the dignity of the teacher's authority no matter what.

Even if he disliked Wei Yang, he still had to go and pay his respects.

Fortunately, Wei Yang didn't seem to want to see him either. He had the doorman accept his gift and then sent him away.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Xue and his family went to pay their respects to his uncle, Song Yuan.

It seems that the carriage transporting Xue Xiang's family was the starting gun.

As soon as the carriage came to a stop, all sides moved in unison, and the threshold of the Song Yuan family's house was almost trampled flat by the various groups of people.

Among those who came were colleagues from Jiufenshan, old acquaintances from Suiyang Town, and classmates from Zhaoyewu who had been studying there…

Xue Xiang didn't even get a chance to say a few words to his staunch confidant, Fu Xun Sizhou.

By evening, Meng De, Zhou Mengyu, Wei Wendao, and other classmates also arrived.

After causing a ruckus in Yunmeng for several days, Xue Xiang finally managed to escape.

Once the seventh day of the Lunar New Year had passed, Leng Cuifeng officially opened his office, but the bloated and sluggish machinery of the office always had a rather long prelude before it could get going.

In the battle of Zheng Yi Hall, from top to bottom, apart from Xue Xiang, there were only two vice deans left in the Ninth Hall who had not gotten involved in the mess.

From Wang Bodang onwards, all officials who possessed talismans were stripped of their official documents and their academic achievements due to forging testimonies.

Fortunately, the spiritual property clearing room is currently the busiest place in the Ninth Hall. Although no one has been sent to fill the vacancy in time, it does not affect the operation of the Ninth Hall.

On the ninth day, Xue Yi could no longer stay at home and tearfully bid farewell to his mother.

On the eleventh day, Song Tingfang came to see me and informed me of two things.

First, regarding the troublesome matter Xue Xiang requested, she had already made arrangements and assigned someone to be on standby.

Second, she is about to leave Yong'an and return to Canglan City, and hopes to take Liu Zhiwei with her, and then send her back after she successfully establishes her foundation.

Xue Xiang would never hinder Liu Zhiwei's future, so he naturally agreed.

After finishing their business, Song Tingfang took his leave. Before leaving, he told Xue Xiang that Liu Zhiwei might be gone for a while, and that if he had anything to give her, he should do so as soon as possible.

Xue Xiang verbally agreed, but he really didn't know what he was going to give Liu Zhiwei.

Suddenly, he remembered the novel about Huang Rong that he had seen at Song Tingfang's house.

Could it be that Master Song really stole Sister Zhiwei's book?
Xue Xiang thought about it carefully and felt extremely frightened.

………………

Before the winter snow melted, the fire in the stove in the watchtower south of Yong'an City was burning brightly.

White deerskin blankets hung on the four walls, and heavy curtains kept out the cold wind from outside, leaving only the faint scent of sandalwood incense in the room.

Shen Heng sat upright at the head of the table, his eyes half-lowered, his fingers lightly tapping the rosewood table.

Ning Li was dressed in a plain-colored long robe, his eyebrows and eyes were indifferent, but he had a sharp edge hidden in his expression.

They were about the same age and were both outstanding members of their respective families' second generation.

After Xue Xiang caused a scene at Zhengyi Hall, all the powerful families in Canaan County were thoroughly humiliated.

The anti-Xue Xiang alliance, led by the Shen family, stopped organizing large-scale operations against Xue Xiang, but they couldn't swallow their anger.

The Shen family sent Shen Heng, and the Ning family sent Ning Li.

The two of them took the lead, traveling among various powerful families to coordinate and prepare to gather forces to deliver a fatal blow to Xue Xianglai.

Ning Li slowly raised his eyes, the candlelight reflecting a trace of weariness in them. "Brother Shen, have you ever thought that Xue Xiang, who is only a young man in his late twenties and whose cultivation is not even close to the Foundation Establishment stage, has failed to be taken down by our combined forces? Isn't that a strange thing?"
To be honest, even if a Core Formation expert were to launch an attack, our families wouldn't be in such a sorry state.

Shen Heng held the teacup, gently stroking the rim with his fingers, his expression as calm as ever.

Brother Ning, you are unaware of this.

He spoke calmly and unhurriedly, “Our struggle with Xue Xiang, though seemingly grand, was doomed to failure from the very beginning.”

Xue Xiang wielded the system's sharp knife, stabbing us repeatedly in our vital areas, leaving us no room to resist.

Ning Li raised her eyes. "So, according to this logic, any official can control us? Isn't that a joke?"

"Then they also need to learn from Xue Xiang."

Shen Heng said, "I've looked through this guy's file. He's someone who doesn't follow the usual path."

In Suiyang Town, this guy did the same thing with great boldness and ruthlessness, causing a huge uproar.

This guy doesn't know the meaning of being low-key.

Perhaps, being high-profile is his best form of camouflage.

In short, this is an opponent who is capable, powerful, and intelligent.

We must be extremely vigilant and handle this with utmost care.

"The opportunity has arrived."

Ning Li nodded, "The second trial for the county students will begin, and the Demonic Land will be open to the public again."

During the last trial, no one brought any supplies or equipment. Xue Xiang, thanks to his top score in the written test, was able to exchange for powerful equipment at the Martial Arts Hall.

This time, students can bring their own equipment when entering the trial area.

The man surnamed Xue is said to be from the Xue family of Jiangzuo, but he is actually from a poor family. What kind of equipment could he possibly get?
This time, if we go in again, we'll make that Xue fellow lose face.

Shen Heng shook his head, "Brother Ning, I'm afraid you're oversimplifying things."

Ning Li frowned. "What do you mean?"

Shen Heng held up one finger. "As far as I know, his base is in Suiyang Town, where he has built a joint trading company that is now quite large, especially in that barren beach area of ​​Suiyang Ferry."

What was originally a wasteland was transformed into a magnificent and prosperous place by him.

Even if he can't afford the best equipment, it shouldn't be too bad.

Furthermore, he now holds immense power and is colluding with that vile woman Zhao Huanhuan, manipulating the order in which spiritual assets are disposed of.

Ning Li gasped. "So, this kid's become quite cunning, and we can't handle him?"

Shen Heng smiled mysteriously, and Ning Li scoffed, "Brother Shen, just say what you have to say, why are you keeping me in suspense?"

We may be walking on two legs, but we're working towards the same goal, so you can't hide anything from us.

Shen Heng smiled and said, "Tell me about your side first. How's the specific details of the trial in the Demonic Land coming along?"

Ning Li said, "This time, the central government cannot afford to try to achieve everything at once."

As we all know, the Demonic Land is where the cultural lineage has collapsed, and it is formed by combining with foul air.

Before the collapse of the cultural lineage, the Demonic Lands were places brimming with literary energy and where powerful beings resided.

Now, the central government, taking advantage of opening up the land of demonic obstacles, keeps releasing news, announcing from time to time that it has discovered the cave dwelling of some great power in a certain place.

What do you think this is supposed to be?

"It's nothing more than the tricks of a peddler; to sell, you have to exaggerate first."

"That's exactly what it means."

Ning Li said, "According to reliable sources, the central government is combining trials and sales this time."

The Demonic Land is divided into shallow, medium, and deep layers according to the density of the corrupting energy.

For the students, the middle and deep levels are too dangerous; only the shallow level is open to them.

The middle and deep layers are open to others.

Shen Heng immediately perked up, "Is this news true?"

"It's a done deal."

Ning Li nodded.

Shen Heng said, "If that's the case, then there's plenty of room for maneuver."

All we need to do is send one person through the shallow and middle layers of the protective array, kill Xue Xiang in the shallow layer, and everything will be fine.

Xue Xiang died in the Trial Realm, and no one bothered to investigate further.

Ning Li waved his hand, "You're overthinking it. The great formation set up by the Thousand Illusions Palace can't be broken through so easily."

Moreover, the students who entered the trial realm were carrying a document ring, which could be crushed to teleport them out of the trial realm.

Even if the people he sent managed to break through the protective formation and reach the shallower layers, Xue Xiang, seeing the situation was dire, could easily escape by crushing his magical ring.

Shen Heng frowned. "In that case, it's impossible to get him into the Trial Realm."

"That's not necessarily the case."

Ning Li said, "Those who achieve excellent results in the county student trials will be allowed to enter the intermediate level of the adventure."

The array formations inscribed in the talisman ring can only correspond to the shallow protective array.

Given Xue Xiang's abilities, it's hard for him not to achieve outstanding results.

Similarly, given Xue Xiang's ambition, he would never allow the opportunity to enter the middle and deep layers.

Then our opportunity will come.

Shen Heng's spirits lifted. "How do we get into that demonic land?"

Ning Li said, "The central government produced a large number of boundary markers, totaling tens of thousands, which were sold to the public."

Two hundred spirit stones each.

Shen Heng gasped, "The central government's behavior is too disgusting. With such a scheme, they can recoup nearly two million spirit stones."

Even if it contains the most wondrous ancient sage's abode, it's not worth two million. Besides, everyone entering must first eliminate the demons and monsters; the central hub is essentially using its labor for free to clear away the demonic obstacles.

This can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

Ning Li smiled and said, "Brother Shen, are you going to personally enter the Demonic Land and deal with Xue Xiang?"

"He's not worthy of my personal intervention."

A cold smile appeared on Shen Heng's lips. "I'm afraid he'll be finished before the Demon Realm opens."

"Ok?"

Ning Li's eyes lit up.

………………

The snow in Yong'an had only melted to a depth of half a foot when an official document from the governor's office arrived on Lengcui Peak.

The personnel changes in the Ninth Hall came first.

Wang Bodang was stripped of his high position and exiled to a distant place for three years for "giving false testimony and disrupting the official order."

The position of Hall Master, which had been vacant for over a month, was taken over by Qin Xiao, handpicked by the Governor. This man came from Chongwen Pavilion and was known as Cold Iron, with a temper even tougher than Wang Bodang's.

The vacant positions of deputy hall master and academy master were filled one by one, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

The newcomers included some trusted subordinates sent down from the prefecture, as well as capable officials selected from the county. The Ninth Hall had a completely new look.

At the same time, the reward given to Xue Xiang by the state was also implemented.

The imperial edict first praised his outstanding contributions to the spiritual property clearing room, and then commended him for playing an unparalleled exemplary role.

"...He is hereby awarded a wishing cake and appointed as the acting dean of the third courtyard of the ninth hall, and is awarded a major merit."

On the corridor outside Lengcui Peak, the clerks read out the proclamation word by word, and the echo reverberated between the mountain walls.

After the official left, Xue played with the wishing cake for a while before putting it back into the talisman.

He was quite satisfied with this reward.

Acting as the head of the Third Academy is the highest position he has reached in a short period of time.

After all, he had only been in office as vice president for less than two months, and his meteoric rise was in line with the usual practice in officialdom.

Xue Xiang valued this reward highly, as if it were a message from the state: they valued him.

At least, this signal has been sent.

As Xue Xiang was planning his next move, Meng De pushed open the door and entered, his expression somewhat solemn. "We have a guest."

Xue Xiang looked up. "Who?"

Meng De said, "It's from Yunmeng. It's an old man who claims to be surnamed Dong. He said that if you give his surname, you will see him."

Xue Xiang was startled. He closed the letter of appointment, straightened his clothes slightly, and headed towards the reception room.

Pushing open the door, one sees a roaring fire in the stove, filling the room with warmth.

A sprightly old man sat upright to one side of the main seat, his face as warm as jade, his brows bearing the composure of someone who had weathered many years of business ventures.

It is Dong Jiacun, the owner of Jiahe Trading Company and now the head of United Business Society.

"I am deeply sorry that I failed to properly welcome Elder Dong."

Xue Xiang strode forward, grasped Dong Jiacun's large hand, and prevented him from returning the gesture.

"It's been a long time since I last saw you, young friend Xue, you are even more charming than before, which makes me very happy."

Dong Jiacun smiled, his gaze falling on Xue Xiang, as if he were sizing him up, or perhaps confirming something.

He watched Xue Xiang grow up, and he personally witnessed every step Xue Xiang took.

He could hardly believe that in just two short years, this person had risen from humble beginnings to achieve great success.

Now, Xue Xiang is a powerful figure in Canaan County, his influence shaking the region.

Dong Jiacun felt that his move to align himself with Xue Xiang and join the United Business Association was a brilliant one.

He was even more grateful to Xue Xiang for voluntarily relinquishing the leadership position to him.

After catching up on their old friendship, the two got down to business.

Dong Jiacun picked up his teacup, took a sip, and amidst the fragrant tea, said in a deep and steady voice, "Between you and me, there's no need for formalities. I'll speak frankly."

I received confirmation that the Land of Demons will open in ten days.

I heard that many powerful beings' caves and central strongholds were discovered in this Demonic Land...

Xue Xiang had already obtained the information that Dong Jiacun possessed from Zhao Huanhuan.

"...In short, all forces are engaged in a fierce equipment competition for that demonic land. Elixirs, talismans, weapons, array plates—useful and useless, genuine and fake goods are all flooding the market. It's a rare opportunity."

Dong Jiacun lowered his voice, "We can't just stand by and watch, can we?"

"What does Elder Dong mean?"

"As you can see, Suiyang Ferry is now bustling with merchants and boats coming and going. It's like a small market every three days and a large market every five days. Since you made it so popular, Suiyang Ferry has become a major trading hub in Canaan County."

We have a prime location; we can't just sit idly by.

Dong Jia put down the teacup. "I've already sent out the news about the United Commercial Group's auction."

This kind of market opportunity is rare and precious. If you don't seize it now, you might have to wait another ten or eight years to find such a lucrative opportunity.

"what can I do?"

Xue Xiang believed that Dong Jiacun had not come to preach his grand plans.

Dong Jiacun gave a wry smile and raised his hand to stroke the white hair at his temples. "If we want to make this first move, we need a treasure that can hold the fort."

But what we've collected so far are all ordinary goods. Without a real gem, we can't build a solid reputation.

I asked around, hoping to find someone to exchange a few treasures for me to enhance the atmosphere, but no one agreed.

They've tightly controlled all the heavyweight resources.

My friend's network and connections are now far wider than mine.

"Do you have a way to get a few bottles of something decent, even if it's not extremely rare?"

"Can you pay in cash?"

Xue Xiang asked with a smile.

Dong Jiacun raised his long eyebrows. "Right now, we're short of goods but not of money. If there are good products, people are snapping them up everywhere."

"Can you take a look at this and see if it's alright?"

Xue Xiang smiled slightly, and with a flick of his sleeve, a delicate jade bottle appeared in his palm. "This is the Rejuvenation Pill."

He uncorked the bottle, and the aroma of the medicine immediately surged out like a tide, so rich that it seemed to condense into a layer of mist in the air.

Dong Jiacun's nostrils twitched slightly, and he almost sat up straight abruptly, his eyes wide as if he had seen a living dragon.

"A Rejuvenation Pill?! This is a life-saving pill for replenishing spiritual energy! Where...where did you get it?"

Xue Xiang did not answer, but instead took out a second jade bottle from his sleeve.

The bottle has a warm luster, and even before it is opened, a serene fragrance emanates from it, as if it refreshes the mind.

"Changchun Dan" (a traditional Chinese medicine formula).

Xue Xiang said calmly, "When someone's life is hanging by a thread, being able to sustain them for a while can also have a miraculous nourishing effect."

Dong Jiacun gasped, almost reaching out to snatch them, "Where...where did all this come from? Even a Core Formation expert would be envious of these treasures."

Seeing his expression, Xue Xiang smiled even more.

He reached out and flipped the third jade bottle onto the table. As soon as the lid was opened, a milky white medicinal fragrance poured out like sweet dew, its warm and cool aroma penetrating straight to the heart and lungs.

"White Jade Pill".

Xue Xiang spoke casually, as if he were talking about a bowl of herbal tea, "A staple item for Core Formation cultivators before they go into seclusion, to stabilize their cultivation level and nourish their dantian."

Dong Jiacun was no longer able to speak.

Any one of these three items, taken out alone, would be enough to draw a full house at the auction.

Now, however, they are presented to him by Xue Xiang in no time, just like radishes and cabbages.

Dong Jiacun was speechless and gave up.

He had considered taking a large stake in the United Trading Company before.

Looking at it now, I realize that my level of understanding is still too low, far too low.

"I just need it, I want cash."

Xue Xiang said with a smile.

The pills he took out were given to him by Ni Quanwen and other Core Formation experts when he was impersonating the Lord of Mingde Dongxuan.

Xue Xiang has a considerable amount of inventory, which he can't use up in the short term. It's the perfect time to exchange a batch for Dong Jiacun and establish the United Commercial Group's auction house.

Besides, he was planning to get equipment and was short of money.

Dong Jiacun isn't coming; he still wants to sell off a batch of his stock.

"Cash, of course."

Dong Jiacun was so excited that he paced around the room, exclaiming, "With these, not only Guangfeng Auction House, but Feiyu Auction House will be envious!"

Xue Xiang picked up his teacup, slowly blew away the foam, and asked casually, "Guangfeng Auction House hasn't made a single move? They are the largest auction house in Canaan."

Dong Jiacun snorted, a hint of sourness flashing in his eyes. "How could there not be? Guangfeng is making a lot of noise and even wants to expand to Suiyangdu, but I, along with the people from Zhangyin Temple, blocked them."

Dong Jia put down his teacup, his tone tinged with resentment, "Guangfeng Auction House is backed by several powerful families."

With its profound foundation, Guangfeng is a hurdle that the United Trading Company must overcome if it wants to achieve significant success.

Inside the meeting room, the fire in the stove gradually grew stronger, and the water in the copper kettle gurgled.

Xue Xiang held his teacup, speaking slowly and deliberately: "The Land of Demonic Imperfection is about to open, and I need to get some handy equipment. It looks like I'll have to make a trip to Guangfeng Trading Company."

"How can this be done?"

Dong Jiacun jumped up. "Isn't this aiding the enemy? What do you need? Make a list and I'll get it for you."

Xue Xiang waved his hand, "I'm just going over to join in the fun, I don't even know what I'll want."

"That won't do either. We've been in the business world for so many years, we can't let people laugh at us."

Dong Jiacun slowly pulled something out of his sleeve and pushed it in front of Xue Xiang.

An invitation card, made of fine paper with gold leaf at the edges, its subtle glow flowing through the patterns. Four characters are written on it in a flowing, elegant style: Flying Feather Trading Company.

Xue Xiang's heart stirred, and he gently rubbed the surface of the calligraphy with his fingertips, as if a cold light was emanating from it.

Feiyu Trading Company ranks among the top three in Canglan Prefecture, with its goods sourced from several prefectures, including many rare and priceless treasures.

Their auctions have always been membership-based; without an invitation, even a mountain of gold and silver won't get you a foothold.

If we can make a trip to the Flying Fish Merchant Guild, the chances of success in this operation will increase considerably.

………………

Inside the peony pavilion, a warm and deep fragrance pervades.

Zhao Huanhuan leaned against the carved sandalwood couch, her clothes loose, a jade-colored light gauze half-covering her delicate shoulders, so thin that the fine luster of her skin could almost be seen.

She turned slightly to the side, bending over to turn the pages of a book. The curve of her waist was as supple as spring water under the lamplight, and the full curve of her chest pushed up the thin gauze, almost squeezing the knot open.

As Xue Xiang stepped across the threshold, the instant his gaze met hers, it felt as if a wave of heat washed over him, even forcing back the chill of the snowflakes in the air.

Zhao Huanhuan slowly put down the book, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the sandalwood table, causing her ample bosom to tremble slightly, as if intentionally trying to stir his heart.

"Vice President Xue."

She called to him sweetly, the last syllable lingering like a gentle spring rain, "So you finally remembered me? You're so heartless, making me busy for you during the New Year."

"This woman is incredibly seductive."

Xue Xiang was secretly alarmed, but smiled and said, "How could I forget Sect Leader Zhao? My mother dried some sausages, so I got you two. Don't think it's too little."

Zhao Huanhuan was stunned; she had never received such a gift before.

The gift was very light, yet it conveyed an unspoken sense of intimacy.

She withdrew her seductive spell, stood up, composed herself, took the gift with both hands, and gently sniffed it. Her eyes actually reddened.

"What are you up to now?"

"It reminds me of my mother. When she was alive, the cured sausages tasted just like this."

"All mothers taste the same, a warm taste."

Xue Xiang quickly changed the subject, "How's the money collection going?"

Zhao Huanhuan smiled slightly, "You scholars are really good at this. Over the years, I've handled many jobs like this, but I've never seen anyone as capable as you."

Charity sale, what an idea! A few paintings and calligraphy pieces sold for astronomical prices, and nobody could say anything about it.

By the way, who painted that picture? Could you please put a little more effort into it? Make it look decent, maybe even give it an aged look.

Otherwise, a single painting could easily sell for hundreds of spirit stones; even robbery wouldn't be this fast.

"It was drawn by my younger sister. She's only ten years old, but she's been practicing drawing for several years."

"what!"

Zhao Huanhuan was taken aback, then burst into laughter, her breasts heaving. "Let's have dinner together. I just got a jar of Daughter's Red wine. Wine is the matchmaker, so let's have a couple of drinks so our conversation won't be so dry."

As she spoke, she straightened her breasts.

"Another day."

Xue Xiangzhen couldn't resist Zhao Huanhuan's seductive charm. It was always "wine that facilitated lust," but Zhao Huanhuan changed one word, making the ambiguity in the air even more obvious.

Without waiting for Zhao Huanhuan's response, Xue Xiang turned and left.

"The money is in the United Commercial Group's account. Don't touch it for now. We'll talk about it after things calm down."

Zhao Huan's laughter was like a wind chime under the eaves.

(End of this chapter)