The price of Plain Crown, Lotus Cauldron ranged between four and five million, yet Zhong Ping's offer of five million eight hundred thousand was obviously a bit high.

In fact, when it came to orchids, Zhong Ping had delved deeper and knew more than Wang Xiaoqiang.

Moreover, after Wang Xiaoqiang had called her, she had already looked up the price online, so she was well aware of how much Plain Crown, Lotus Cauldron cost and was not guessing blindly.

The reason she offered such a high price was twofold, first because she truly did not consider Wang Xiaoqiang an outsider.

After her early divorce, Zhong Ping had remained single as she focused on her career, never considering remarriage until now, at the age of forty. Both her parents and she herself hoped she could find a lifelong companion, but unfortunately, at her level, it wasn't easy to find a suitable candidate.

She quite liked Wang Xiaoqiang, but he wasn't suitable; he was too young—honestly, younger than her nephew, which made a relationship unlikely. Zhong Ping could only see him as a younger brother. Emotionally, she truly wished to have such a brother. Moreover, Wang Xiaoqiang was genuinely talented.

Not to mention how he, at such a young age, had started a business, he could also treat illnesses with Qigong. Such talent had even attracted the attentive regard of the Provincial Party Committee Secretary; wasn't he worth making a connection with?

The answer was definite.

A few million really meant nothing to her. It wasn't just about buying Wang Xiaoqiang's Plain Crown, Lotus Cauldron; even giving it to him for free, Zhong Ping was more than willing.

"Sister Ping, that's too much, five million is enough!" Wang Xiaoqiang certainly wasn't one to beat around the bush with Zhong Ping, and he spoke up directly.

"Ah... Sister wanted to offer a lucky number. If you truly don't consider me an outsider, then don't be shy about it!"

"Well, okay then!" Although Wang Xiaoqiang was rich now, his funds weren't really significant, like he couldn't even afford Zhong Ping's villa, so he naturally wouldn't forcefully refuse her kindness.

Seeing that Wang Xiaoqiang agreed, Zhong Ping smiled joyfully, immediately summoned Qili to her side, and instructed her to transfer the money to Wang Xiaoqiang right away, then she ordered the household nanny to prepare a meal.

After giving her instructions, Zhong Ping said to Wang Xiaoqiang, "Little Qiang, the food outside isn't clean. Let's eat at home today! In a bit, Sister will cook herself and make you the family's ancestral braised fish..."

"Sister Ping, if you're not feeling well, maybe you shouldn't cook!"

"It's okay, your treatment earlier made me feel energized, and my spirits have lifted! Plus, I'm feeling hungry..." Zhong Ping cheerfully said.

Truly donning an apron, Zhong Ping personally started cooking the braised fish. Wang Xiaoqiang, interested, walked to the doorway of the kitchen. Seeing Zhong Ping with an apron, her face adorned with a gentle, happy smile, transformed from a business tycoon to a housewife, he felt a warmth in his heart.

The meal was sumptuous, and Zhong Ping brought out a bottle of Wuliangye to treat Wang Xiaoqiang. He didn't drink a drop and didn't even let her open the bottle, stating he was worried the fumes might bother her, which moved Zhong Ping to tears. She truly wished she had such a considerate man by her side to care for and cherish her...

Such good men were hard to find indeed!

Sighing deeply, Zhong Ping felt a sudden pang of melancholy and swapped out the alcohol for juice to serve Wang Xiaoqiang.

At the dining table, Zhong Ping asked about the operation of Wang Xiaoqiang's chicken farm, and Wang Xiaoqiang answered truthfully. When he mentioned the prices he charged several major hotels in the provincial capital, Zhong Ping was taken aback and said, "Little Qiang, what's with those eggs selling at such a high price..."

Wang Xiaoqiang smiled proudly and said, "You've also tried the Mandarin Duck Double Flower Egg from Qingcheng Grand Hotel. How did it taste?"

"Not bad, really good! But..."

"Sister Ping, your chain supermarkets have never sold eggs at such a high price, right?"

"No, never. In Holiland Supermarket, seven or eight yuan each is already the top price..."

"Honestly, fifteen yuan each, I still find it too low, I'm planning to even raise the price to twenty yuan each..."

"Uh, Little Qiang, you're truly amazing. Sister was thinking about having your eggs stocked and sold at Holiland Chain Supermarket, but now it seems, Sister's idea was superfluous!"

"It's okay, I'll have other products coming out in the future, and who knows, one day I might need to ride on your business aircraft carrier, Sister Ping?"

"No problem, just say the word when you need it. I won't hesitate," Zhong Ping said, and then continued, "Little Qiang, your eggs are so good, you could really go for the boutique route. Don't distribute too much in one place, as it loses its value when overly abundant. Focus on developing some high-end clients. Also, when I get the chance, I can introduce you to some Western restaurant owners.

They might offer a higher price and also owners of foreign catering and sales industries..."

"Thank you so much, Sister Ping," Wang Xiaoqiang was excited as Zhong Ping was helping him to break into the international market.

"Between us siblings, let's not talk about thanks anymore," Zhong Ping said as she put a piece of fish into Wang Xiaoqiang's bowl.

The maid and Qili did not join them at the table, and the two of them chatted, drank juice, and enjoyed delicious dishes, making the meal very warm and cozy.

After having his fill of food and drink, Wang Xiaoqiang left and drove home.

He first went to the Old Village Committee Courtyard to check on the Plain Crown, Lotus Cauldron.

Spending four or five million on a flower definitely deserved his diligent care. As he opened the door to the room on the second floor of the Old Village Committee building, Wang Xiaoqiang noticed that the buds of the Plain Crown, Lotus Cauldron had also bloomed.

The flowers were pure white and elegant, delicate and peculiar, calm and quiet, like a gentle and tranquil woman, inspiring a protective affection in onlookers.

Damn, no wonder those rich people are willing to spend a lot of money on an orchid. It turns out that these orchids bring them spiritual pleasure!

Wang Xiaoqiang muttered to himself, injecting some Water Element Spiritual Qi and Wood Element Spiritual Qi into the Plain Crown, Lotus Cauldron. He hadn't sold this one to Zhong Ping because he hoped, like the Golden Sand Tree Chrysanthemum, it would stay and reproduce.

After locking the door, he went out to the courtyard and found the four puppies had grown a bit taller. Seeing Wang Xiaoqiang, they were not at all shy, all running out from beside the Big Spotted Dog, surrounding him, wagging their tails.

The two with yellow fur were particularly mischievous, joyfully hopping around and even nuzzling Wang Xiaoqiang's feet with their snouts, while the Big Spotted Dog watched its children with tender eyes.

Time flies, and with the sound of "wheat straw stacks" from a bird, the wheat in the fields ripened, a golden stretch, piece by piece like yellow brocade, and the green oilseed rape fields also matured, the brilliant rape flowers densely packed like a fire.

Wang Xiaoqiang's yam field had also matured this season, full of large, long fruits protruding over a foot from the soil, thick and typically over two feet long.

People began to hurry to harvest the wheat. Now, the harvesting of wheat didn't have the fervor of the past because it was all done by large combine harvesters which could cover a field in one pass.

So in just two or three days, the field's wheat was completely harvested, and people were free again.

Wang Xiaoqiang's yam field, however, couldn't be harvested so quickly. Forty acres of yams were too much for one person to handle, and he wasn't willing to do manual labor anymore, so he had to pay people to help him harvest.

Fortunately, there were idle hands in the village at that time.

That day, Wang Xiaoqiang went to the New Village Committee building, used the village's loudspeaker to make an announcement, explaining that he needed forty workers, offering a hundred yuan a day, with payment at the end of the day.

Because Wang Xiaoqiang was known for generous and prompt payment, as soon as he made the announcement, a large crowd of people swarmed to his house.

Xia Sanwa was the first to run over, saying that Wang Xiaoqiang's matters were his own, so he naturally responded actively and even stated that he didn't want any wages.

Though he asked for forty people, forty-three came, so Wang Xiaoqiang kindly persuaded the older two to go back, citing the hot weather and heavy workload might cause harm, for which he would feel responsible.

The remaining forty-one people, including Xia Sanwa, were organized by Wang Xiaoqiang, who paired them up, two per two-acre plot, trying to mix men and women because, as the saying goes, mixed-gender work teams tire less—actually, this was the most logical arrangement. The men would dig, and the women would gather and stack the harvest.

In the end, Wang Xiaoqiang appointed Xia Sanwa to act as the leader and supervisor.

Xia Sanwa, finally having a chance to be a "leader," immediately puffed up with pride, unintentionally placing his hands behind his back and strutting, even speaking officiously like some mandarin, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.