Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

After dropping off his parents and Tao Muyao at home, Zhou Feng didn't go upstairs. Instead, Tie Jianguo drove him and Bai Lang towards the airport.

The call I just received was from Zhou Ming, sent by Lin Su. He didn't say much about the specifics, just told me to go back to Beiping immediately.

Things like this…

Whenever Lin Su and Zhou Ming asked him something, it was always something related to the national level.

Therefore, Zhou Feng did not hesitate at all and decided to head to Beiping immediately.

On the way, Tie Jianguo glanced at Zhou Feng in the rearview mirror: "Has something happened with the leaders?"

"I don't know, it's probably related to finance."

Zhou Feng rubbed his temples. He had originally planned to stay home and spend a few more days with his parents, but unexpectedly, something else came up.

After getting off the plane, Zhou Ming was already waiting inside the airport. He immediately pulled him into a Hongqi car.

Tie Jianguo and Bai Lang, along with the other bodyguards, sat in the car behind.

I don't know about other places, but in Beiping, Zhou Feng's safety is absolutely guaranteed.

"Old Lin is waiting for you in the conference room. I'll give you a brief overview on the way, so you have a general idea."

Zhou Ming and Zhou Feng sat in the back seat together, and the car slowly started moving. Only then did he begin to tell Zhou Feng what had happened.

The reason is actually quite simple: in the world of Dream of Splendor, copper ore is constantly being produced from the portal, reaching an enormous scale.

According to calculations by experts from the State Reserve Bureau, based on the current volume of copper ore being transferred back, China's dependence on foreign copper concentrate can be significantly reduced, and may even reach zero after a certain period of time!

In other words, it can be self-sufficient without relying on imports.

Zhou Feng nodded, not interrupting him.

After all, that's a whole world over there, and the resources it produces are enough for China to be self-sufficient. Isn't that normal?

He feared that after another one or two worlds, the Dragon Kingdom alone would not be able to consume so many resources, and it might even attract the covetousness of other countries in the world.

"Someone in our organization has proposed a plan. Now that we have a stable, low-cost supply channel, we can gradually cut off the hundreds of billions of dollars worth of copper concentrate we import from abroad every year. And while cutting it off, we can also make some moves on the international stage."

"You want to short sell?"

Although Zhou Feng had never traded futures and didn't understand them very well, he was still clear about these most basic operations.

Zhou Ming nodded seriously: "You're right. The experts have already simulated it. If we stop purchasing copper concentrate from overseas for several months, the supply and demand expectations in the international market will fluctuate drastically. Those big mining companies and Wall Street funds are already watching us, their biggest buyer. Once they discover that our demand for copper has plummeted, copper prices will inevitably collapse. At that time, we can establish short positions in the futures market and make..."

Zhou Ming held up three fingers.

Zhou Feng swallowed hard, his throat tightening slightly. "No...it can't be hundreds of billions, can it?"

Although it is a question, it is actually an affirmative statement.

After all, a transaction worth tens or hundreds of billions wouldn't warrant such a large undertaking from the Dragon Kingdom.

"Not just hundreds of billions, but also US dollars."

Zhou Ming's expression also turned serious. This amount of money is not a small sum in any country.

"That's why we specifically called you back to confirm one thing. The biggest risk of this plan is whether the resource supply can remain stable. Once the plan starts and the resource supply is cut off, our short positions will become a double-edged sword, and the country's losses will be incalculable. We will all become culprits."

Zhou Feng was silent for a moment before nodding seriously: "As long as the elite soldiers we arranged don't cause any problems, there shouldn't be any issues. After all, the mines over there have already been occupied, and the other mines have been explored to a near-complete extent. I'll take some weapons back with me later, just in case anything goes wrong."

"Okay, that would be great."

After receiving a positive reply, Zhou Ming visibly relaxed, his lips trembling slightly: "When we arrive, explain the situation to Elder Lin in person. People from the Ministry of Finance and several experts from the National Reserve Bureau will also be there, but they don't know anything about the other world, so be careful not to let anything slip. If they ask any inappropriate questions, Elder Lin and I will interrupt them directly."

"it is good."

Zhou Feng still believed this.

Although listening devices were found in his home, Zhou Feng believed that these things had nothing to do with Old Lin, Zhou Ming, or the others.

After all, if they wanted to monitor him, they wouldn't need to go to his parents' place.

The car quickly drove into the compound on Fuxing Road. After passing through security, the two entered the conference room one after the other.

At this moment, five or six people were already seated around the conference table. Lin Su sat in the main seat, with a middle-aged man wearing glasses on his right and an elderly man with gray hair on his left.

When Zhou Feng entered, all eyes were on him.

"Comrade Xiao Zhou is here, please have a seat."

Lin Su smiled gently, gestured with his hand, and then got down to business: "Comrade Zhou Ming should have already told you about the situation on the way, so we need you to confirm one thing: how long can the copper mine maintain a stable supply? And what will the volume be?"

Zhou Feng pulled out a chair and sat down, facing the others at the table without any awkwardness.

To be honest, although these people also hold high positions, their aura may not be as impressive as Xiao Qinyan's in the Dream of Splendor world.

Even Zhou Feng didn't care about that guy, and could even outmaneuver him, let alone the people in front of him now.

Moreover, having experienced so much and even witnessed numerous bloody scenes, this faint aura was practically nonexistent to him.

Seeing Zhou Feng's performance, Lin Su raised his eyebrows, not expecting this young comrade to have changed so much.

When they first met, Zhou Feng was still a bit green and immature. In fact, the other person would feel uneasy if Zhou Feng frowned. He was nothing like the composed person he is now.

Sitting in that ordinary chair, he exuded an aura of authority without being angry.

Experiences really do nurture a person!

Zhou Feng placed his hands on the table, looking directly at Lin Su: "Based on the quantities we can confirm right now, we can stably supply the country for at least 3 to 5 years without any pressure. We've even discovered other mineral veins, and based on the current mining volume, the amount we can supply domestically in the future will only be more."

There was a moment of silence in the conference room. The two people next to Lin Su exchanged a glance, wanting to say something, but held back.

Before they arrived, their superiors had given them a gag order: they could discuss the plan, but were absolutely forbidden from investigating the source of the mineral resources.

The old man took off his glasses and wiped them, but didn't say anything. The middle-aged man to Lin Su's left coughed and took over the conversation: "Comrade Zhou Feng, I'm from the Ministry of Finance. To be honest, if we follow the scale you just mentioned, our country can save at least 300 to 400 billion US dollars in foreign exchange every year. Whatever we do with that money, the efficiency will be much higher."

Zhou Feng nodded.

"But now the most important link is with you."

The middle-aged man then changed the subject: "The key to the whole plan lies in shorting in the futures market. If the short positions are established and the copper price doesn't fall as expected, our losses will be astronomical. Therefore, we must be 100% certain that there will be no disruption to your supply chain."

"I can assure you that the supply will not be interrupted."

The meeting room was quiet for a few seconds. The man looked at Lin Su, and Lin Su nodded back.

Currently, no one in the entire Dragon Kingdom understands Zhou Feng better than him. He even knows a little about Liu Xiaohai's progress on the Japanese island.

With access to the mineral resources of the entire island of Japan, he naturally had confidence in Zhou Feng.

Now that the most important matter had been decided, the two of them didn't say anything more. After reporting to Lin Su, they got up and left the conference room.

Lin Su then walked over to Zhou Feng and patted him on the shoulder: "Comrade Zhou, it's not that we're making a mountain out of a molehill, but this matter is of utmost importance. We've finally managed to get you back, and everyone wants to hear it from you personally before we can be at ease. We hope you can understand the trouble this has caused you."

Zhou Feng nodded without saying anything.

Lin Su knew what he was thinking and said seriously, "Comrade Zhou Feng, the highest order has been issued. The incident of the bugging device in your home will be treated as a leak of a top-level state secret. No matter who did this, there will be no leniency and they must be severely punished. There is no limit to the number of people who will be punished."

This is also a guarantee that Dragon Kingdom gave to Zhou Feng, because he is more important than before!

After offering Zhou Feng a few words of comfort, Lin Su turned and walked outside.

Getting Zhou Feng's assurance was just the most basic thing; there would be more meetings to be held and more details to be discussed later.

Zhou Feng sat alone in the conference room, while Zhou Ming busied himself serving him.

Since he approached Zhou Feng and gained his trust, and then joined the group exploring the other world, his status within the entire family has undergone a dramatic change.

Originally, he was just an ordinary person enjoying the benefits of his ancestors' three generations. Although his grandfather's generation did hold high positions, his father's generation was already quite poor, and he was even inferior to many of his childhood friends who grew up in the same compound.

But things are different now. Because of Zhou Feng, he has gotten in touch with top figures like Lin Su, and has even had the privilege of speaking with high-ranking leaders.

In other words, as long as Zhou Feng doesn't cause any problems in the future, and he manages to find a powerful patron, he might even be able to develop his own lineage.

After leaving the conference room, Lin Su walked straight towards another small building, where the second meeting had already begun.

The senior expert from the State Reserve Bureau who had spoken with Zhou Feng earlier looked very serious: "The key to this matter is indeed in Comrade Zhou Feng's hands. He currently controls both the supply and transportation sides. From this perspective, we are at risk of being manipulated by him."

Lin Su, sitting opposite him, shook his head: "On this point, I have a different opinion. From the beginning of our cooperation with the country until now, Comrade Zhou Feng has never made any demands that exceed the reasonable scope. Everything he has done has been within his capabilities to cooperate with our direction as much as possible."

"To put it bluntly, the organization is currently in a stage of extracting from Comrade Zhou Feng, and has not provided him with many substantial rewards."

Indeed, Zhou Feng received a custom-made car, was equipped with bodyguards, and was even allowed to legally possess weapons in Beiping.

But these benefits are nothing compared to the gains Zhou Feng brought to the Dragon Kingdom!

The mineral resources transported back from just the two worlds without interruption have already reached a scale of hundreds of billions, not to mention that there will be more and more in the future.

If Zhou Feng could travel to a world that is more futuristic, he could even drive the development of technology in the Dragon Kingdom.

Therefore, Zhou Feng's potential is immeasurable.

The meeting room fell silent for a moment. The senior expert from the State Reserves Bureau picked up his teacup, took a sip, and sighed. "What the leader said makes sense, but I believe that regardless of Comrade Zhou Feng's personal wishes, this matter does indeed pose a risk from a systemic perspective. We've placed a high degree of concentration of key aspects of national resource security on individual capabilities. Therefore, I suggest that the management authority of these mineral resources be partially transferred to the State Reserves Bureau. We will not restrict Comrade Zhou Feng's actions; we will only play a supporting role."

Lin Su looked at the other man and sighed softly, "Old Wang, let's not talk about this anymore. The management rights over mineral resources must remain entirely in Comrade Zhou Feng's hands; there's no room for discussion. No one is allowed to communicate with Comrade Zhou Feng privately. If anyone is discovered, they will be dealt with severely, at the very least for leaking state secrets, understand?"

He knew, of course, that the expert had no ulterior motives; after all, he was already quite old and at most just wanted to increase the power of the State Reserve Bureau.

But this is something he has no say in!

Doesn't he know that Zhou Feng has control over all the resources that have been transferred from the other world?

What can we do?

Zhou Feng had the two doors firmly in his grasp. They couldn't control them, and having witnessed Zhou Feng travel through time so many times, which instrument could detect how he did it?

If you can't even find the door, how can you expect to control the right to open it? You're dreaming.

That's absolutely unbelievable!

Moreover, he was aware of the bad habits of some people within the system, so he gave Mr. Wang a heads-up in advance.

If some comrades from the State Reserve Bureau try to contact Zhou Feng privately to push this matter forward, he will only show them what it means to make a mess of things and what it means to be severely punished!

Noticing Lin Su's firm stance, Old Wang shook his head helplessly: "If power must be concentrated in this way, then I have reservations about this plan."

"Old Wang!"

Before Lin Su could speak, the people from the Finance Bureau couldn't sit still any longer.

"Rules are made by people. Comrade Zhou Feng was able to find these resources because of his ability. You have no right to impose so many restrictions on his abilities! Do you know how many years the international mining giants have monopolized copper mines? We send them tens of billions of dollars every year. Now that we finally have an opportunity to break the deadlock and even recoup a large amount of foreign exchange, you're going to give up just because of the 'hidden dangers of the system'? What's the difference between that and watching money flow away!"