"Of course, we'll sign the contract first, and then I'll transfer 100 million RMB to you. When can you send it to me?" Jiang Hai said seriously, looking at Wang Yang.
375 million RMB is roughly equivalent to 57.9 million USD.
Jiang Hai has that much cash on hand, and the best part is that this is going to help him upgrade faster. Not only is he willing to spend over 300 million RMB, but even if it cost 3 billion, he would spend it without hesitation! After all, this is the foundation of his survival in this world.
"I can send it in about a month," Wang Yang replied, almost stunned by Jiang Hai's words.
Earlier, he had just invited Jiang Hai over for a casual visit, never imagining that they would be discussing a transaction worth hundreds of millions.
Though Fatty Wang's business is not small, his yearly turnover as a middleman barely exceeds 10 million RMB. The store may make a few million, but by the end of the year, much of it is given away.
While Jiang Hai has to spend a large sum on this deal, he's still making over 100 million RMB from it. This amount is comparable to what Wang Yang has earned after ten years of hard work. Most importantly, this money can help him do even more in the future—he's truly becoming rich.
"Alright, one month is fine. Please send these items to the address I gave you," Jiang Hai said with a smile after hearing Wang Yang's response. He then asked Penelope to go next door to print the contract.
Wang Yang immediately sought out his lawyer. Initially, his lawyer had been rather arrogant, given his relatively large business. But when he learned this contract was worth hundreds of millions, he was stunned. Upon seeing Penelope's American lawyer's license, he was even more taken aback. He couldn't believe that Wang Yang, of all people, was handling such a large international deal. The project is worth around 400 million RMB, which is astronomical for common folk.
After confirming that there were no issues with the contract, both Jiang Hai and Wang Yang signed it. Jiang Hai then transferred the 100 million RMB to Wang Yang's account. While Wang Yang could have run off with the money, the assets in China—such as the goods, houses, and shops—were worth almost 100 million RMB, so Jiang Hai was confident that he would get what was owed.
Once everything was finalized, Wang Yang insisted on treating Jiang Hai to dinner. However, Jiang Hai had other plans, so they postponed it until the next day. After confirming all the details, Jiang Hai and his group left Wang Yang's store.
Before they left, Wang Yang gifted each of them something small. Although these "small things" were still worth tens of thousands of RMB, the gifts were quite meaningful. Qi Li received a pair of diamond earrings, Penelope a ruby necklace, Darlene and Marianne each received a Hetian jade zodiac amulet, Azarina a jade bracelet, and Feng Yunchen and Ai Xiaoxi initially wanted rings. However, since the gifts were from someone else, they didn't feel comfortable accepting rings from another man. So they both chose bracelets instead. Jiang Hai casually took a jade plaque.
As for Minister Qin, being a construction worker, he didn't take any of the gifts as he didn't care for them.
In any case, everyone was happy, and Wang Yang saw them off with great enthusiasm before rushing back to his store to continue his work. He was determined not to let go of this lucrative business and kept wondering if Jiang Hai, being so wealthy, might someday want more items like these.
After leaving Wang Yang's store, Jiang Hai and his group were clearly in a good mood.
Initially, Qi Li felt a little upset because Jiang Hai had spent hundreds of millions on what she considered "useless things." But seeing Jiang Hai so happy, she didn't voice her concerns. After all, there's a saying: money can't buy happiness.
Next, they visited Panjiayuan, where they browsed the stalls. Though they didn't find anything truly valuable, Jiang Hai and his group still ended up spending over 2,000 RMB on various small items.
Seeing everyone so happy, Minister Qin began to think. As Jiang Hai suspected, Minister Qin likely had some personal ties to him. After all, it wasn't everyday that a deputy minister accompanied someone like Jiang Hai. If he were trying to flaunt his importance, he could have sent a section chief or a director instead.
After their visit to Panjiayuan, it was noon. Everyone climbed back into the car, and at Minister Qin's request, they headed to the Imperial Capital Hotel, where they were going to have Tan's dishes for lunch. Tan's dishes are one of the most famous official cuisines in China, originating from the family of Tan Zongjun, a late Qing Dynasty bureaucrat. Only the Imperial Capital Hotel serves Tan's dishes, and they cannot be ordered just on a whim.
Under normal circumstances, Jiang Hai and his friends would never have been able to dine here without a reservation. But since Minister Qin was a prominent figure, there was no need for reservations.
When Jiang Hai opened the menu, he was left speechless. The prices were eye-watering: braised wings for 1,688 RMB, black dragon outing for 1,688 RMB, imperial red-topped bird's nest for 1,688 RMB... Seeing these prices, Jiang Hai realized just how naïve he had been.
Though the ingredients were decent, they weren't particularly high-end. There was no premium nine-day wings or double-headed abalone, yet everything was priced at 1,688 RMB. It was a clear case of overcharging foreigners—Jiang Hai couldn't help but laugh. In his mind, he calculated that if everyone ate enough to fill up, they'd easily spend 30,000 or 50,000 RMB, and that was a conservative estimate.
Fortunately, Minister Qin was paying, so Jiang Hai didn't hold back and ordered a lot of food. Minister Qin, ever calm, didn't mind. Special matters required special handling, and since Jiang Hai had helped the government with a major issue, there was no reason to worry about public funds.
Soon, the dishes arrived, and Jiang Hai, along with his friends, was pleasantly surprised. Not only was this their first time eating here, but they also marveled at how extravagant the meal was. Usually, a meal at a typical seafood restaurant would cost tens of thousands of RMB, but here, the prices were astronomical. The lobsters, abalones, and sea cucumbers were all top-tier, yet the prices were inflated to the point of absurdity.
Despite this, the food was fantastic. Every dish had a distinct flavor that perfectly matched Jiang Hai's taste buds. The freshness and quality of the ingredients, combined with the chef's skill, made the meal worth the hefty price tag.
The flavors were so exquisite that Jiang Hai couldn't help but think, "If these ingredients were just a fraction of the cost, the chef's craftsmanship would still be worth every penny."
As much as Jiang Hai enjoyed the meal, his personality meant he likely wouldn't return unless invited again.
After finishing their lunch, everyone returned to the car, and this time, they were heading to the suburbs.
"Where are we going? The Great Wall? We've been there before," Jiang Hai asked, looking at the road ahead.
Minister Qin smiled and reassured him, "Don't worry, you'll like it there. Didn't you say you wanted to bring some top-quality ingredients from our country to the United States? You can choose whatever you like this time."
At the mention of high-quality ingredients, Jiang Hai's interest piqued. It had always been frustrating for him in the United States, where he couldn't find the authentic flavors of his hometown. Although Xiaoya had visited recently, even the best chefs can't cook without the right ingredients.
As he thought about the upcoming visit, he eagerly anticipated what might be in store.