Free Web NovelChapter 2392: Chapter 2384: Terms
He Huiqing was feeling irritated, but he couldn’t ignore the request, so he answered the call impatiently, saying, "What is it this time?"
"Uncle Hui Qing, I have some good news for you," He’s expression on the communication wristband was both excited and anxious, "Here’s the situation..."
Upon hearing it was good news, He Huiqing relaxed a bit, but as he continued to listen, his expression grew solemn.
Once his nephew finished speaking, a moment passed before he frowned and said, "Do you think...we He family might not know about such a broker on this planet?"
He Runxian became anxious upon hearing this. He didn’t want his uncle to veto the deal, "Maybe they’re from another place, if they can deliver energy stones, bringing a few people is nothing. Uncle, we’re really running low on energy stones."
"Aren’t there still almost two thousand tons?" He Huiqing replied with a frown, "I keep suspecting it’s a trap."
"Who would use energy stones as a trap at this point," He Runxian quickly countered, "and I even demanded another two thousand tons as a deposit, we’ll know within half an hour. I think we should proceed with this deal."
"If you feel it’s worth doing, then go ahead," He Huiqing remarked nonchalantly, "Just be cautious with these people and don’t break the rules... Our He family isn’t afraid of trouble, but we don’t go looking for it either."
Hesheng’s rise hasn’t been smooth sailing and for quite a while, it navigated through murky waters. Though now the business has grown, it’s not to be taken lightly.
"I understand," He Runxian nodded, originally considering some probing measures but dismissed the idea after his uncle’s warning, "About the headquarters, should you notify them?"
"Notify..." He Huiqing pondered and shook his head, "Let’s first see how the delivery of these three units goes, we can discuss other things later."
"We can’t wait, uncle," He Runxian became anxious, "No one knows how many energy stones they have, if we contact them too late and they’ve used them all, we’ll be in trouble."
He Huiqing calmly responded, "This isn’t something to rush. The more critical the situation, the more you need to stay composed... Even when you see the light, you need to remain calm."
"The problem is, they didn’t say for sure that they’d place more orders after thirteen units," He Runxian nearly shouted in urgency, "they’re also worried about whether we’re trustworthy internally."
"We’re worried about them too," He Huiqing shook his head dismissively, then helplessly said, "Fine, I’ll check the stock at each division and base, you just focus on production."
Half an hour later, He Runxian’s communication request came back, "Uncle Hui Qing, we have another two thousand tons of energy stones."
With this two thousand five hundred tons as a deposit, the production base could finally operate at full capacity, but considering the secrecy required, the assembly of the mining equipment was done by the most trusted members of the group.
Thanks to everyone’s hard work, assembling the three units took only two and a half days, then they were packed and transported under the cover of night.
Unfortunately, during transportation, they encountered a patrol team. Although Hesheng Production Base had good local standing, the team still checked the cargo.
Fortunately, there were no experts in the patrol team who could discern what kind of mine these devices were for. As far as they could tell, it did look like mining equipment, which was enough.
However, the inspection forced the convoy to take a detour before reaching the spot to extract the stones.
Feng Jun monitored everything with his divine sense the entire time. Once the cargo was unloaded, he found a large open space to extract energy stones. This time, he took thirty thousand tons, adding to the deposit made it thirty thousand two hundred fifty tons.
At midnight, Feng Jun took the cargo and contacted He Runxian again, "I’ve taken the goods, and placed the energy stones, even covered them with a shielding tarp for you."
"Wait a minute," He Runxian perked up at the mention of ’shielding tarp,’ knowing the other side had been watching closely, he said, "Isn’t it twenty-seven thousand five hundred tons for the balance, plus ten thousand for the deposit?"
"No," Feng Jun replied with certainty, "It’s just thirty thousand. The extra two thousand five hundred you can consider as a deposit and continue production... or not, as far as I’m concerned. I’m going to take your equipment for testing anyway."
"Testing is indeed necessary," He Runxian agreed without hesitation, "I really can consider the two thousand five hundred as a deposit to rush your ten units, but I have a small request."
"Speak," Feng Jun’s voice carried no emotion.
He Runxian took a deep breath, "Can you help me convert the remaining seven thousand five hundred tons of deposit all into food, vegetables, and medicine?"
"Oh?" Feng Jun was slightly surprised, "You’re using me quite conveniently."
He Runsheng sighed heavily, "Sir, I’m truly out of options, Xingzheng Star has been under lockdown for more than half a year."
He expressed his helplessness, "Even nutritional supplements are now rationed... mainly because we don’t have official orders and are barely maintaining the minimum standard of living. We greatly appreciate the energy stones, but workers can’t work on energy stones alone."
"No need to say, I already know," Feng Jun expressed impatiently. It’s not that he lacks compassion, but he also doesn’t have a good idea, "I don’t have the channels to procure food and medicine on a large scale."
He Runxian was at a loss for words, thinking to himself, you can mine the Energy Stone Mine, but you can’t buy food and medicine?
The Federation does indeed have controls on food and medicine, but the intensity of control is much lower, and there are only a few thousand people at the production base here. One year’s food is just equivalent to what tens of thousands eat in a month. Does this tiny amount need channels?
In He Runxian’s mind, he had already defined Feng Jun as a person who could handle both legal and illegal matters. For such a person, as long as it’s not large-scale smuggling of grain, other things shouldn’t be a problem.
But since the person has already said it like this, he can only express, "Then how about this, I’ll have Headquarters prepare a batch of food and medicine, and trouble you to use your... channels to help transport them?"
So many issues? Feng Jun grimaced in annoyance, "Can’t you make nutrition agents now that you have Energy Stones?"
Nutrition agents can indeed be artificially synthesized, but they are not only unpleasant to eat but also affect health over long-term use.
But it’s wartime now; surviving is good enough, do you still care about taste?
He Runxian knew this situation but couldn’t say "Hesheng’s employee benefits have always been high," so he could only express frustration, "I know, but medicine is also in short supply. If you could help transport some medicine, then while you’re at it..."
He was embarrassed to continue, so he said, "Things like transportation fees are no issue, just name your price."
Feng Jun was also a little helpless; his "transportation" role is indeed becoming increasingly powerful. After thinking it over, he asked again, "I heard food safety can still be guaranteed."
"That’s just hearsay," He Runxian replied with a wry smile, "With few Energy Stones, there won’t be too many nutrition agents, and crops on both planting stars were destroyed. Besides frontline warriors, ordinary people rarely get to eat grain. It’s hard to feel full."
"All the wineries are closed now; the Official Government says food isn’t a problem, just not to cause excessive panic."
Feng Jun remained silent, only responding after a while, "If your headquarters has mining equipment, I can visit incidentally. The problem won’t be very big, but let me put it upfront: if an uncontrollable situation arises due to your side, you bear the consequences!"
"You can rest assured on that," He Runxian was confident, "How long will it take you to inspect the goods?"
"You don’t need to worry about how long," Feng Jun responded casually, "If we come to an agreement, try to locate the transport site closer to this star system. It’ll save you money."
After all, he’s trying to act as if he doesn’t start early without profit, and the fundamental reason is that he wants more mining equipment—want to eat better? Fine, but I won’t help for free.
He responded, and after He Runxian’s team retrieved thirty thousand tons of Energy Stones, he contacted He Huiqing again.
He Huiqing has been paying close attention to this matter, but without understanding Feng Jun’s background, he dared not get involved recklessly to avoid huge losses for the He family—some middlemen are even scarier than the Insect Race.
Upon receiving He Runxian’s notification, he was pleased, and actually, the suggestion for food and medicine came from him.
With tens of thousands of tons of Energy Stones in hand, the production base’s Energy Stone crisis is temporarily resolved.
Even with the addition needed for combat, as long as it’s not particularly intense, supporting for seventy to eighty days won’t be a problem.
The basic conditions for satisfying needs are met. He Huiqing hopes to improve life. This is not only the demand of the production base’s workers and their families but also his need.
He originally had a substantial reserve of food and drinks before the war, but he has many people to support himself—nanny, driver, bodyguard, gardener, cleaner, etc., and after the war started, his expenses increased significantly.
His residence, garden, and so on also need defense, though there’s local defense military assistance. So, how can he get more patrols near his home?
Initially, he gave some high-end gifts to make contacts; later on, the opposite party stopped accepting gifts and didn’t even want money—everyone had money but couldn’t spend it, "If you can provide some food, that would be best."
As Hesheng’s chairman on this planet, He Huiqing can feel the food shortage, and others even more so.
And He Runxian supports his suggestion: other factories’ workers eat nutrition agents; Hesheng’s workers can eat grain and vegetables. It’s also a matter of pride, isn’t it?
Knowing the balance payment was received and symbolically also the deposit for the second order, he exhaled a sigh of relief, "Alright then, I’ll contact headquarters now. These mining equipment... there should be fifty to sixty idle units currently."
To prevent eavesdropping, he didn’t specify which kind of mining equipment.
(First update of December, asking for a baseline monthly vote this month.)
