"What's with the 'you'? Don't project your limited vision onto us. Mr. Xue is looking for Tie Fei Mu, right? Is that something that looks like wood on the outside but is as hard and heavy as iron on the inside? My home has a bed made from it. If Mr. Xue wants it, I'll gladly give it to him later."
Zhang Liunian didn't have any particular ill will towards this Mr. Xue. He also knew that the Tie Mu tribe believed in karma and wouldn't easily kill. They were a righteous primitive tribe.
Although he didn't know if Mr. Xue was one of them, he was willing to gamble.
"Really?" Mr. Xue, hearing Zhang Liunian's accurate description, was overjoyed.
So, he really had the item.
Wait, a bed? That would require a lot of material to make a bed.
Were the two hundred pieces of lumber enough? Should he give him something else?
"Of course, it's true. We can go get it after the banquet," Zhang Liunian said, his eyes fixed on Zhu Laosan. He naturally noticed Zhu Laosan's extremely unnatural expression.
It seemed he was also after that bed. However, as an outsider, he shouldn't have known about this.
Unless he had dealings with the Tang family and learned about it from them. Thinking of it that way, it made sense.
It was a pity, though, that he made the mistake of thinking Zhang Liunian wouldn't recognize the bed's material.
But honestly, if his knife hadn't landed on it, he wouldn't have noticed anything unusual about the bed.
From the outside, there was truly nothing special to see.
"How could you possibly know?" Zhu Laosan got up from the ground, his face full of disbelief.
Zhang Liunian glanced at him but didn't answer.
"Alright, after the banquet, I'll go with you." Mr. Xue, at this moment, didn't even look at Zhu Laosan, staying close to Zhang Liunian and his wife, waiting to leave and collect the item.
Zhang Liunian raised an eyebrow, glancing sideways at Zhu Laosan. Seeing his face turn from green to black, he felt a surge of satisfaction.
Killing with a borrowed knife. Now that the knife was in his hands, let's see how he would borrow it.
Sitting back beside his wife, Zhang Liunian picked up the food on the table and continued eating.
Mr. Xue, seeing this, brought his people and sat down.
However, a banquet wasn't just about eating; the most important part was everyone's interaction.
As soon as they sat down, some people gathered around, using the current domestic situation as a topic for discussion.
"Speaking of the national situation, we might not have the right to speak, as we haven't traveled much.
But Mr. Xue should be experienced and knowledgeable, perhaps he can tell us about it."
Seeing everyone ask him to comment on the national situation, Mr. Xue had to organize his thoughts and begin his speech.
"I came from Hong Kong. Along the way, I've seen the changes in the country. For example, there's a noticeable increase in street stalls and shops. But the biggest change is in Pengcheng, across from us. Tall buildings have sprung up there, and the foot traffic has exploded..."
Hearing about the changes in Pengcheng, everyone felt a considerable shock.
"I wonder what our Nancheng will be like in the future," someone in the crowd sighed.
Zhang Liunian blurted out, "In twenty years, the streets of our Nancheng will be bustling with people, lined with skyscrapers, planes will land right at your doorstep, and you'll be able to contact relatives and friends thousands of miles away from home."
His words immediately drew objections from everyone.
They simply couldn't believe that Nancheng would be like Zhang Liunian described in twenty years.
"It's impossible for the streets to be bustling with people. Nancheng's total population is only a few hundred thousand. Where would so many people come from?"
"It's also impossible to contact friends thousands of miles away while sitting at home. This joke isn't funny."
"Planes landing at our doorstep, you really dare to imagine. The planes in our country can be counted on one hand."
"..."
No one believed Zhang Liunian's prediction of the future. Zhu Laosan, among the crowd, gloated, "You're the best at bragging."
Before he finished speaking, Mr. Xue was the first to express his support. "I believe what you said. Nancheng in the future might not be able to become what you describe. Anything is possible."
Zhang Liunian looked surprised and gave Mr. Xue several glances.
"I've heard Mr. Fu say similar things. He said that the country's future won't be worse than Hong Kong's." It wasn't so much that he believed Zhang Liunian as he believed Mr. Fu more.
However, the fact that Zhang Liunian, at such a young age, could envision the same future as Mr. Fu was enough to earn his admiration.
When he returned, he would definitely tell Mr. Fu about this. Mr. Fu would surely want to befriend Zhang Liunian.
"Who is Mr. Fu?" someone in the crowd asked.
Mr. Xue didn't answer, but his gaze was fixed on Zhang Liunian, wanting him to elaborate on the future.
The future was truly the most captivating thing.
Zhang Liunian naturally wouldn't refuse. These things, to those who hadn't experienced the future, were like fairy tales. But to him, who had seen the prosperity of the future, they were easy to recount.
"The current muddy gravel paths will soon disappear from Nancheng's streets, replaced by clean cement roads. The bicycles of today will also be replaced by ubiquitous cars..."
Having experienced it, Zhang Liunian spoke with great immersion. Everyone listened as if they were truly in that prosperous era, their excitement and passion irrepressible.
Jiang Qingqing, sitting beside Zhang Liunian, watched her husband animatedly talk about the future as if he had personally experienced it. She felt that her husband was truly a unique and handsome man.
Resting her elbow on her chin, her big eyes fixed on Zhang Liunian as he spoke eloquently, Jiang Qingqing giggled foolishly, as if she possessed the most dazzling thing in the world.
As the minutes ticked by, everyone at the banquet was captivated by Zhang Liunian. They couldn't believe that the young Zhang Liunian could imagine the future so vividly.
Unknowingly, many people developed immense respect for Zhang Liunian and were determined to cultivate a deep friendship with him.
As for Jiang Qingqing, being Zhang Liunian's wife, she later became very popular among the affluent ladies of Nancheng, but that's a story for another time.
Returning to the present, Jiang Qingqing listened to her husband's endless talk. She wanted to go to the restroom and come back.
But Zhang Liunian and the others were in the midst of a lively discussion, and she felt awkward interrupting. So, she got up to leave on her own.
Her departure attracted Zhu Laosan's attention from the crowd. Zhang Liunian, who was speaking, stopped when he saw his wife get up and asked, "Qingqing, where are you going?"
Jiang Qingqing paused, turned around, and smiled, "I'm just going to wash my hands and I'll be right back. You don't need to accompany me, I'll be back soon."
Zhang Liunian nodded and continued his animated conversation.
Seeing this, Zhu Laosan immediately got up to follow.
Zhang Liunian didn't notice this, engrossed in a deep discussion with these business talents.
From strangers to acquaintances, and finally to Zhang Liunian becoming the most far-sighted person among them, it only took two hours.
"Communication, transportation, food, clothing, housing, and transportation all have great room for development." As Zhang Liunian said this, he suddenly realized that his wife had been gone for too long.