Stay in Shangjing
Twenty yuan per pound? Wang Jianguo's eyes widened suddenly, thinking he had misheard.
Last time, everyone thought the price was too expensive, but compared with the sky-high price of 200 yuan that Lao Li said, it was basically a giveaway!
He quickly said, "This, this is great! I'll go tell everyone right away! They're sure to be vying for it!"
Zhong Ling nodded and said, "You organize it. Just give me the money directly after you receive it. It's only for those who have helped us before." She added, not wanting to make things too complicated.
Wang Jianguo readily agreed, then turned and trotted off to make arrangements. As the news spread, the entire Yunxi Village was once again in an uproar.
When the villagers who had helped, paid money or contributed manpower before heard the news, they were surprised and delighted, and rushed to Zhong Ling's house with baskets and bags.
They couldn’t even imagine eating dishes that cost two hundred yuan, but this “magic dish” that costs twenty yuan per pound is really cheap!
For a moment, a long line formed in front of Zhong Ling's house. Everyone lined up quietly and no one dared to make loud noises.
Zhong Ling sat on a stone bench and watched Wang Jianguo and several village cadres help with weighing and collecting money. The process was very smooth.
In less than an hour, all the vegetables in the garden were picked. Wang Jianguo put the cash he had collected into a cloth bag and handed it to Zhong Ling.
After collecting the money, Zhong Ling looked at Wang Jianguo and said, "Village Chief, I have something else to trouble you with."
"You say, you say! As long as I can do it, I will definitely do it!" Wang Jianguo patted his chest and promised.
"After I leave, I'd like you to help look after this old house," Zhong Ling said. "You don't have to take special care of it, just make sure no one comes in and damages it. As a thank you, I'll send you five kilograms of vegetables every month."
"Five catties?!" Wang Jianguo was shocked again. He had personally experienced the benefits of this dish. Five catties, that's a lot of value!
This wasn't a thank you, it was like pie in the sky! He nodded hurriedly: "No problem! No problem! Go ahead and relax. I promise to keep this yard safe for you! No one is allowed to touch it!"
"That's good." Zhong Ling nodded with satisfaction and handed him the key to the courtyard gate. "Call me if you need anything."
After explaining everything, Zhong Ling returned to the house.
Two days later, on the morning of the third day after reaching an agreement with the old man, Zhong Ling left at dawn, carrying a simple backpack, locking the door, and not taking the pot of flowers from the attic.
Before Zhong Ling left, she set up a chain formation throughout the old house, combining offense and defense.
After that, she left the old house without disturbing anyone or saying goodbye to Wang Jianguo.
She took the earliest bus to the city, then transferred to the high-speed rail and headed straight to Beijing.
In the evening, the high-speed train stopped at Shangjing South Station.
Zhong Ling followed the crowd out of the station. Bustling, noisy, and fast-paced, this was her first impression of this megacity.
She took out her cell phone and dialed a number according to the contact information Qiao Jianmin had given her.
"Hello." The call was quickly connected, and a calm and capable male voice came.
"I'm Zhong Ling."
"Hello, Ms. Zhong! I'm Xiao Zhao, and I'm responsible for picking you up. Which exit are you at now?" The other party's tone was very polite.
Zhong Ling announced her location. Less than five minutes later, a tall, ordinary-looking young man in a dark jacket trotted over, his gaze fixed squarely on her. "Ms. Zhong?" he confirmed.
Zhong Ling nodded.
"Please follow me, the car is over there." Xiao Zhao made a gesture to lead the way and naturally took Zhong Ling's backpack.
The two walked one after the other through the bustling crowd and arrived at the parking lot.
A black Hongqi sedan was parked there quietly. Xiao Zhao walked forward and opened the back door.
"Ms. Zhong, please get in the car," Xiao Zhao said. "We'll go directly to the accommodation we've arranged for you."
Zhong Ling bent down and got into the car. The space inside the car was spacious and the sound insulation was excellent, instantly isolating her from the outside noise.
The car started smoothly and headed for the destination.
Outside the car window, the bustling street scene with tall buildings passed by quickly, forming a sharp contrast with Yunxi Village.
Zhong Ling leaned back in the back seat, closed her eyes and rested, not showing much interest in the scene outside the window.
Xiao Zhao glanced at her in the rearview mirror and saw that she looked calm, so he also remained silent and concentrated on driving.
About half an hour later, the vehicle entered a noticeably different area.
The vehicle passed several checkpoints and finally stopped in front of an independent courtyard surrounded by green trees.
"Ms. Zhong, we're here." Xiao Zhao got out of the car and opened the door.
Zhong Ling stepped out of the car and looked around. It was a two-story, single-family building with a fairly large yard.
The walls were high, and evergreen trees outside blocked most of the view. The architectural style was simple, which she liked.
"This will be your residence from now on." Xiao Zhao led her into the courtyard. "The interior has been decorated to your specifications in the simplest possible way. It's fully equipped with basic living facilities, and you can add whatever you need at any time."
Zhong Ling walked into the house. It was just as Xiao Zhao had described. The decor was simple, even a bit empty, but it was spotlessly clean. The living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom were all well-planned and well-lit.
"I'm your driver. Feel free to contact me if you need any travel assistance." Xiao Zhao handed Zhong Ling an envelope. "Inside this is your ID, access card, an encrypted phone, and the first payment card pre-allocated by Director Qiao."
Zhong Ling took the envelope and nodded.
"If you have no other instructions, I'll take my leave. My contact information is saved in my phone." Xiao Zhao bowed slightly and left the yard.
Zhong Ling was the only one left in the room. She casually threw her backpack on the sofa and walked around the room to get familiar with the environment.
This place was indeed more spacious and modern than the old house in Yunxi Village. Most importantly, according to the agreement, it would be a completely private space. The heavy guards outside the perimeter actually became the best barrier.
She walked to the second-floor window and looked out at the courtyard. The whole area was very quiet. She knew that the people who could live here must be from higher up.
On the morning of the second day after settling in, Zhong Ling was in the yard getting acquainted with her new surroundings when her encrypted phone rang. It was Qiao Jianmin.
"Good morning, Ms. Zhong. I hope I didn't disturb your rest." Qiao Jianmin's voice was filled with just the right amount of enthusiasm and respect.
"No, is there something Director Qiao needs?" Zhong Ling asked in a flat tone.
"Well, the breeding base prepared for you is all ready. Would it be convenient for you to come over and take a look this afternoon or tomorrow?"
"This afternoon will be enough." Zhong Ling answered simply.
"Okay, then I'll pick you up now?"
"Um."
Half an hour later, Qiao Jianmin drove to the gate of the courtyard himself, without anyone else. Zhong Ling got in the car, and the car drove towards the suburbs.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
