Huayu 02: The Days of Extreme Pulling and Rolling with the Fairy

Xie Jin looked eager to try. Was this old man really that capable? Paying 166 million to hire someone to sing?

"Think it through. 166 million? For just one morning, let alone singing, I could break a boulder in his chest without a problem. After the performance, we can head back to the capital, pack up, and go on a trip. Wouldn't that be great?"

Seeing Lao Gu wavering, Xie Jin added fuel to the fire, "Even a superstar singing at a wedding banquet only costs around 100 million now, and you're still being picky?"

Gu Renlong looked troubled: "If you go to sing at a wedding banquet now, I'm worried it will lower your status. A top-tier singer charges 100 million, but the problem is, no top-tier singers do wedding banquets. Even second-tier singers rarely do. It'll be a laughing stock."

"Am I not a superstar? It's their business whether others act high and mighty. I can't be arrogant if I'm not capable. I should only wear underwear that fit my backside, and it's not shameful to make money."

"Besides, this is a joyous occasion for them, and they're my fans. They're willing to pay so much more than the market price to treat me, so let's not take ourselves too seriously."

Seeing that Xie Jin had gone this far, Gu Renlong hesitated, "Go?"

"Go! Call Huang Boshan and Allen over, and have the three of them put on three festive performances for the boss. They haven't made much money this year, so let them earn some extra cash and have some fun."

"I think it's a good idea; it'll give them some motivation."

I just finished business at the furniture market, and before I knew it, I was on a red-eye flight to Baotou that evening.

Fortunately, the client was quite generous and followed the contract, which stipulated that the tickets should only include first class for the artist and their agent. However, the guy from Jinbei booked all first class tickets.

Xie Jin was exhausted, but Qiao Shan and the other two were only excited.

Allen let out a burp and looked at the flight attendant. "Sister, I...I want..."

The flight attendant blushed. This tall guy seemed quite reliable, and she figured she couldn't very well give him her phone number. She whispered, "What do you want? Just say it."

"...Could we have another airplane meal?"

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As the plane landed at Baotou Hailanpao Airport and taxied slowly, Qiao Shan was still a little confused: "Isn't our boss from northern Shanxi? Why are we in Baotou?"

Gu Renlong closed his eyes to rest: "The client is doing business in Baotou."

Xie Jin was from Shanxi Province, so he knew a little about it: "Northern Shanxi and Inner Mongolia have long been culturally and economically compatible. In the past, when there were wars, locust plagues, and droughts, people in northern Shanxi could no longer survive. So they left Shahu Pass and headed to Baotou to see if there was a way to make a living."

Huang Bo said in a low voice, "Isn't this the same idea as us from Shandong moving northeast?"

"right"

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Qiao Shan couldn't help but ask a question he couldn't hold back: "Teacher Gu, why didn't we bring any makeup artists? I heard you say you weren't bringing any women this time."

Gu Renlong glanced at Xie Jin, who was from Shanxi Province, and knew exactly what was going on.

"When we go to local commercial performances, we try to avoid bringing girls, especially good-looking ones, as it can cause a lot of trouble."

Allen still didn't quite understand: "What's the trouble?"

  

"To put it another way, even the Du family wouldn't dare mess with the people who can control the coal mines in the Northwest."

"These people all have mining protection teams in their mines, and they all have this," he said, holding up an eight.

"These people are usually in the mine. When we need them, it's not small-scale fighting; it's bloodshed. Understand?"

Da Sha Chun asked again, "They won't beat us up, will they?"

"No, it's a conflict of interest, not some crazy person attacking everyone they see. Just do your job well, be polite, and the people of Jinxi are quite the江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry)."

Allen nodded as if he understood, but he did know one thing: don't say anything carelessly and make sure the wedding banquet is a lively and joyous occasion.

Allen rubbed his eyes: "B-boss, do you see a car next to the plane...?"

I don't know if I'm seeing things, but when I looked out the window...

Five imported Toyota SUVs, four large convertibles... the license plates were so glaringly obvious you couldn't look directly at them...

This...this is an airport, right? Don't you want to check where you parked your car?

Σ(°ロ°) Are the local weapons and cannons really that powerful?

Xie Jin lowered her voice, "Renlong, are coal mine owners really that rich? Wow, they're incredibly powerful."

Gu Renlong rolled his eyes: "This year there's a nationwide power shortage, so once it's dug up, there's no worry about selling it. The current pithead price is 180 yuan per ton, with a profit of over 60 yuan per ton."

"Our client, Qingtan Mining, has three mine shafts, two coal washing plants, and a small section of its own railway and freight yard. Do you think this is a joke?"

"The three wells produce 3800 tons per day, and this one well alone generates 2.5 million yuan in annual output. I heard that they also rely on Baogang's production capacity to set up a secondary steel processing plant, and it seems they also do electrolytic aluminum, but I don't really understand."

...........

I used to think that 166 million was an exorbitant price for hiring someone, but now I realize it's just giving a well a day off...

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Xie Jin didn't rush to get off the plane, mainly because she felt it was too conspicuous. She waited a few minutes until all the other passengers had taken the shuttle bus before getting off herself.

Just before disembarking, a flight attendant stopped him for a photo. Da Sha Chun even whispered to Xie Jin why the flight attendant had scratched his palm...

"Hello, are you Mr. Xie and Mr. Gu?" A man with a buzz cut stood next to the car, speaking very politely. He was wearing a suit.

His eyes were very bright, his temples were bulging, and his smile was a little eerie. Judging from his age, he should be five or six years older than Xie Jin and a little younger than Gu Renlong.

Xie Jin and Hu Yang were in the lead car, and the rest of the people were in the cars behind.

Xie Jin was very enthusiastic. After exchanging a few words, they learned that Hu Yang was the boss's second secretary and also the boss's adopted son.

After eating military rations for a few years and studying for a few years, he came back to handle miscellaneous tasks and family affairs for his boss.

Xie Jin didn't know if the family matter he mentioned was only about family matters...

"Teacher Xie, our boss also watched your movie."

Xie Jin smiled: "What does the boss think...?"

The second secretary smiled and looked at Xie Jin, "I am indeed touched, but those who lend money are all small-time operators; they're not good enough for a banquet."

Xie Jin lowered her voice in surprise: "That's just small-scale stuff? I even spent a week at a micro-loan company to experience the role back then. They had Knives...it was pretty scary."

Hu Yang shook his head and smiled, then opened the armrest box: "Let me touch it."

Xie Jin was puzzled and reached into the armrest box to feel around.

My heart skipped a beat... Holy crap?

The coldness of metal...

You dare put this in your car?

"You're right, lending money is small-scale business, Brother Hu, this..."

Hu Yang curled his lip. "Making a fuss over nothing. Everyone around here has one."

Xie Jin now understands what "wild growth" truly means...

We arrived at the hotel shortly afterward. The other party had already booked the hotel and rehearsal room, so all we had to do was follow their arrangements.

"Then everyone please settle in and rest. This phone is for contacting the driver; he's downstairs on call 24/7."

"Our CEO Liu only has this one child, so we hope everyone will give it their best."

"After the wedding, you can stay here as long as you like. I can show you around the place."

After closing the door, Gu Renlong took out a handkerchief and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead: "What were you talking about with him in the car in front? I had a creepy feeling about him, like he was involved in something."

Xie Jin smiled wryly: "We didn't talk about much. You should ask what I touched." She then held up an eight-shaped hand gesture. "It was in the armrest box."

Gu Renlong's pupils contracted: "Should we retreat..."

"What are you talking about? Hu Yang is about the same age as us. He's just trying to make fun of me. They hired us to sing. Just do your job well, and the rest is none of our business."

........

After putting down her luggage, Xie Jin grabbed her instrument and immediately went to the rehearsal room. She dared not take this lightly, as she planned to compose another song specifically for wedding banquets.

Earn your money honestly!