Chapter 25: A Big Order

Ruan Tang noticed this and couldn't help but arch an eyebrow, tapping the table with her fingers. "I'm asking you a question."

The man turned back, his eyes filled with apology. "My apologies, Miss. I was distracted just now."

He then pulled a stack of contracts and documents from his briefcase and handed them to Ruan Tang. "This is our company's offer and the development materials for the project. Please, take a look."

Ruan Tang raised an eyebrow, took the papers, and scanned them carefully. A realization dawned on her—so it was this moment in time.

In the original plot, Song Yu's close friend went bankrupt after failing to acquire the land, leaving him burdened with massive debts. At that time, Song Yu was unemployed and broke, unable to help him. In the end, to pay off his debts, the friend sold himself into a criminal gang, became addicted to drugs, and eventually died a tragic death. Song Yu had been deeply haunted by this regret for many years.

So, this was the moment of the land acquisition?

Ruan Tang couldn't help but glance up at the man. It seemed he was Shen Heng, Song Yu's loyal friend.

Recalling how the man, a person of true integrity and patriotism in the story, had been betrayed and killed, Ruan Tang shook her head. A talent like him should not be buried like this.

Since she had the power to change things, she would do so. It was, after all, only a matter of lifting a finger.

She closed the folder and said with absolute calm, "I accept this price."

It was slightly higher than what she had paid to acquire the land, so she wasn't losing anything. She had only bought the land for the sake of her mission anyway. Honestly, she would have preferred it if he had bought it all, but that was not possible.

Mayor Yang, standing to the side, looked at her skeptically. "Are you really going to sign?"

He felt the project seemed unreliable. The money was all borrowed; what if it failed? That was a lot of money!

Ruan Tang looked at the mayor, her expression unreadable. "I'll take responsibility for it, will that suffice?"

The look in her eyes sent a chill down Mayor Yang’s spine, and he immediately fell silent. He felt this young woman was not to be trifled with, so he decided it was better to keep his mouth shut.

Shen Heng, bundled up tightly, let out a sigh of relief. His voice carried a smile, and his azure eyes were filled with solemnity. "On behalf of my company, I would like to thank you for your contribution, comrade."

Ruan Tang waved her hand dismissively. "Pen."

Shen Heng handed one over immediately.

Ruan Tang gave the contract a cursory glance, and once she was sure everything was in order, she signed her name with a flourish and pressed her thumbprint. She turned to Mayor Yang and raised an eyebrow. "The ticket."

Mayor Yang gulped, looking somewhat cowardly. He quickly fished out the color television voucher he had been saving as a souvenir and handed it to her. "Here, take it."

He watched with reluctance as the ticket slipped into Ruan Tang's hand, his lips moving as if he wanted to say more.

Ruan Tang glanced at him and patted his shoulder. "We'll have plenty of opportunities to work together in the future."

Mayor Yang’s eyes lit up. Did that mean she wanted to collaborate again? That was fantastic! She was practically a god of wealth!

As he watched Ruan Tang leave with a swagger, Mayor Yang couldn't help but bite his handkerchief and wave a tearful goodbye.

Shen Heng, having finished his business, saw the mayor’s behavior and found it quite bizarre. These two were definitely a bit strange.

Shaking his head, Shen Heng placed the contract and documents into a kraft paper envelope, handed it to the mayor for safekeeping, and departed as well.

Mayor Yang happily tucked the envelope into his cabinet, already looking forward to the next time he would work with Ruan Tang.

On the other side, Ruan Tang pressed forward with the ticket in hand. With only a few minutes left before the hour was up, she spent the two thousand yuan and secured the freshly minted color television.

[Mission accomplished. The corresponding reward has been deposited into your system wallet.]
[Current balance: 8,230 yuan.]

Directing the workers to load the television onto the dedicated delivery tractor, Ruan Tang and Huo Qingqing climbed in. One of the workers leaned out and said with a grin, "Hold on tight, we're pulling out!"

Ruan Tang smiled and hugged Huo Qingqing close. "Got it!"

The tractor roared to life, and as they pulled away, the onlookers watched with a mix of curiosity and envy.

Ruan Tang pinched the cheek of the wide-eyed Huo Qingqing, her voice doting. "How about that? Never ridden in one before, have you?"

Huo Qingqing shook her head. "Qingqing has ridden in a tractor before."

It was when she and her father were returning to town from the big city.

She didn't finish the thought. Thinking of the time she spent with Huo Yanshu in the city made her feel a little down.

Ruan Tang noticed and leaned in, asking with concern, "Are you not feeling well, Qingqing?"

The six-year-old’s brow was filled with sorrow, and it pained Ruan Tang just to look at her.

Huo Qingqing shook her head and remained silent. Ruan Tang didn't press her, opting instead to gently stroke her back to soothe her.

The mother and daughter didn't speak the rest of the way. Meanwhile, in a nearby restaurant, Huo Yanshu and Ye Yifan, friends who hadn't seen each other for years, were having a meal.

Ye Yifan caught a glimpse out the window and remarked teasingly, "Life is getting better and better these days. Every household can afford a big color TV now. Look at that tractor outside, it's really something."

Huo Yanshu took a bite of chicken and glanced at him. "Since when did you become so sentimental?"

Ye Yifan grinned, clinked his glass against Huo Yanshu's, took a sip, and laughed, "Isn't that what I learned from you? All that scholarly, pretentious stuff. You used to love being so moody and poetic."

Huo Yanshu chuckled, not denying it.

Ye Yifan followed up with curious eyes, "I heard you got married? What does your wife look like? Is she pretty?"

He pondered for a moment, pointed out the window, and tilted his head. "Compared to her, who is prettier?"

Huo Yanshu’s eyes, marked by a small tear mole at the corner, flickered with a sudden intuition. He turned his head, his calm, peach-blossom eyes following the direction Ye Yifan pointed. The sight made him freeze instantly.

Seeing him stunned, Ye Yifan laughed, "What? Is she even prettier than your wife? You look completely mesmerized—"

Huo Yanshu’s fingers tightened. A wave of emotion surged within him as he stared unblinkingly at the mother and daughter as they moved further away, until they finally disappeared from his sight.

He remained silent for a long time before answering, "She is just as beautiful."

More than just "as beautiful"—that was his wife and his daughter.

He felt a bit frustrated. Why had Ruan Tang kept the television purchase a secret from him? Even Qingqing hadn't told him. It left him feeling quite hurt, as if he were being isolated from his own family.

With a heavy heart, Huo Yanshu began drinking in silence.

Ye Yifan blinked, reached out to stop him, placed the bottle aside, and looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Something on your mind? It wouldn't be out of line for me to listen, would it?"

Could it be that Brother Yanshu had a falling out with his wife?

Ye Yifan stroked his chin. Remembering how Huo Yanshu’s expression had changed the moment he looked at that woman out the window, could it be—

Was Brother Yanshu suffering from unrequited love, forced to marry another, and now that he’d seen her again, he had to pretend she was a stranger while his heart broke in silence?

Ye Yifan blinked, a complex expression crossing his face.

That would be too dramatic.

Who would have thought Brother Yanshu would take such a tumble in matters of the heart? Scholars truly are overly sentimental!