Chapter 120: A One-Hundred-Million Buyout!

Jiang Xiuzhi’s meeting with Tang Long and Zhang Xiu’e was both expected and unexpected. When she spoke with Wen Nuanchun on the phone last night, Wen had already predicted that Tang Long would visit the Huayutou Resort within the next two days. As for the topic of conversation, Wen couldn't guess—it could be a boon, or it could be a "catastrophic disaster."

When Wen Nuanchun used the phrase "catastrophic disaster," Jiang Xiuzhi had been stunned. Why would such an extreme term even come up? Wen had simply laughed and told her to wait and see.

Sure enough, Tang Long and Zhang Xiu’e arrived together today, a little earlier than she had anticipated, but that was fine.

"Sister Xiu’e, Boss Tang!" Jiang Xiuzhi greeted them with a smile. After the cryptic and confusing conversation they’d had with Tang Long the previous night, she still hadn't fully recovered her bearings.

"I heard Fish Head Village has closed its gates?" Jiang Xiuzhi asked curiously after inviting them into the reception room and seating them.

Tang Long nodded. "That's right, we've closed the village."

Jiang Xiuzhi frowned, puzzled. "May I ask why? This should be the most profitable time for Fish Head Village. Once the hype surrounding the Ghost King Cave, the young lady, and the village itself dies down on the internet, it will be hard to maintain this level of foot traffic, won't it?"

"Gains come from sacrifices. You know about the strange occurrences in the village last night. Whether you believe them or not, they are real," Tang Long said, looking at Jiang Xiuzhi with great seriousness.

Jiang Xiuzhi couldn't help but offer a wry smile. "You are referring to that 'Ancestor'?"

Tang Long nodded. "Yes, the Ancestor has emerged, so we have decided to close the village for the time being."

He paused, not giving her a chance to respond, and asked bluntly, "If Fish Head Village is willing to pay a sum of money to acquire the Huayutou Resort, what is your opinion, Manager Jiang?"

Jiang Xiuzhi was dumbfounded. The phrase "catastrophic disaster" flashed through her mind. Was this what Wen Nuanchun meant?

Regaining her composure, Jiang Xiuzhi asked, "Boss Tang, what makes Fish Head Village want to acquire our resort? If I may be blunt, we have already invested thirty million just in the land, not to mention the massive resources and labor costs, including the prepayments already made to the construction firms. By that calculation, an acquisition would be incredibly expensive!"

Summed up, she was asking: Does Fish Head Village even have the money?

Tang Long turned to look at Zhang Xiu’e. After they exchanged a glance, Zhang Xiu’e smiled and spoke: "Manager Jiang, please rest assured, we will handle the funding. A flat price of fifty million for a total buyout—how does that sound?"

Fifty million?

Jiang Xiuzhi took a deep breath. To be fair, this offer from Fish Head Village was very sincere. In less than a month, Wen Nuanchun would make a profit of over ten million. But setting aside the question of why the village had suddenly become so flush with cash, where was it coming from? This place used to be a desolate, poverty-stricken mountain valley. Had they struck gold?

"I'm sorry, Sister Xiu’e, Boss Tang. Our Manager Wen is very optimistic about the tourism resources in Taoyuan County and our resort here. The total projected investment is no less than one hundred million..."

Tang Long interrupted her. "If fifty million won't do, then one hundred million. Is that a deal?"

Jiang Xiuzhi nearly choked. One hundred million?

To be honest, even fifty million was tempting. Making over ten million in less than a month was faster than robbery. She hesitated, stood up, and said, "I apologize, excuse me for a moment. I need to consult with Manager Wen."

She walked out in a hurry. Left alone in the room, Zhang Xiu’e looked at Tang Long and whispered curiously, "Do you think she’ll agree?"

At a price of one hundred million, anyone would be tempted; it was a double return on investment.

Tang Long shook his head. "Hard to say. If she agrees, it's a win-win. If she doesn't, we’ll have to be doubly cautious of the Wen family from now on."

If one hundred million couldn't move them, Fish Head Village wouldn't be able to offer any more.

Outside the room, Jiang Xiuzhi hurriedly called Wen Nuanchun and relayed the intent of Tang Long and Zhang Xiu’e. Wen Nuanchun didn't seem surprised. She laughed and said, "What did I tell you? What’s happening in Fish Head Village could be a surprise, or it could be a 'catastrophic disaster.' And now, the disaster is here!"

Offering one hundred million to buy the resort was essentially trying to "annihilate" it.

"So, do we sell or not?" Jiang Xiuzhi asked, confused.

Wen Nuanchun didn't answer directly, instead asking, "Are you curious about what happened in the village?"

For her, selling or not selling was profitable. If she sold, she made money and indirectly resolved the rift between the Wen family and Tang Long. If she didn't, the potential gains might be even greater. From last night’s strange events to the sudden closure of the village and this urgent acquisition attempt, everything reeked of something fishy.

Jiang Xiuzhi thought for a moment and replied honestly, "I am curious."

Wen Nuanchun smiled. "Exactly. You are curious, and so am I. Reject them. We aren't selling the resort!"

Not selling? That was a massive profit!

"Are you sure?" Jiang Xiuzhi asked again.

"Yes, we aren't selling," Wen confirmed.

After hanging up, Jiang Xiuzhi returned to the room and gave them an apologetic look. "Our Manager Wen says the resort is not for sale at this time."

Not selling? Zhang Xiu’e looked at Tang Long, shocked. That woman from the Wen family had resisted the temptation!

"Good!" Tang Long laughed, looking relaxed. "If the deal doesn't go through, there's no harm done. Since Manager Wen chooses not to sell, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact in the future. We haven't spent enough time with you yet, Manager Jiang!"

*As if,* Jiang Xiuzhi thought, rolling her eyes internally. This guy was a master of nonsense; she’d have to be on guard against him. Compared to him, Zhang Xiu’e seemed much more grounded.

Tang Long changed the subject. "Fish Head Village wants to take this time during the closure to improve our infrastructure. The road we share also needs repairs. How about we split the cost? Three million from us, two million from the resort?"

Jiang Xiuzhi didn't haggle. "Fine. Fixing the road is our responsibility, too. If Fish Head Village puts in three million, we will match it with three million."

"Generous!" Tang Long smiled, then sighed. "We’re poor right now, with all these repairs. I was wondering if we could borrow a sum of funds from the resort to bridge the gap?"

*Crying poverty to borrow money?* Jiang Xiuzhi was almost amused. A moment ago he was talking about a hundred-million-dollar acquisition, and now he was broke?

"If it's a few million, I can make that call..."

Tang Long shook his head. "I’m looking for a base of one billion. This is something you can't decide, Manager Jiang; you'll have to ask Manager Wen." He stopped smiling. "Here is a top-secret file. Please pass it to her. She can decide whether or not to lend us the money after she sees it."

"What kind of top-secret file?" Jiang Xiuzhi asked, incredulous. What could be worth a billion?

Tang Long beckoned her over. He pulled out his phone and showed her the photo of the Black-Scaled Jiao he had taken at noon.

"What is this?"

It was a massive snake. Was it a screenshot from a sci-fi movie? Jiang Xiuzhi looked at Tang Long, hoping for an explanation.

"The Black Dragon. Our 'Ancestor' living in the Ghost King Cave. It is now our village’s guardian beast. I took this photo at noon," Tang Long said calmly.

Jiang Xiuzhi frowned. Her first thought was that this guy was full of it. If they had actually encountered such a terrifying creature, how could they have returned alive?

Zhang Xiu’e added, "It’s true. We were all there. The Ancestor in the Ghost King Cave is indeed a Black Dragon King."

Zhang Xiu’e handed over her phone. "I took some photos too. They should prove it."

Her photos showed Tang Long standing right next to the beast. Jiang Xiuzhi was stunned. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't believe it—but the photos were compelling.

After seeing them off, Jiang Xiuzhi immediately contacted Wen Nuanchun.

"A giant snake?" Wen Nuanchun fell silent.

"Yes. It's dozens of meters long, with a head like a train engine. It matches the description Tang Long gave us last night," Jiang Xiuzhi said.

Wen Nuanchun asked for the photos.

After they left, Tang Long and Zhang Xiu’e drove toward the county seat.

"Do you think she’ll believe us?" Zhang Xiu’e asked. Even with the photos, she had seen the doubt in Jiang Xiuzhi’s eyes.

Tang Long smiled. "Whether she believes it isn't the point. Wen Nuanchun is a smart woman. Once she sees those photos, even if there’s only a one-in-ten-thousand chance of it being real, she will come here immediately."

"You mean she’ll come herself?"

"A billion is not a small sum, and Jiang Xiuzhi can't make that call," Tang Long said firmly. "If she comes and confirms the creature is real, and we show we have the ability to control it, she would move mountains to come up with that billion. Don't you agree?"

Zhang Xiu’e didn't answer. She didn't want to bet against him, but a billion... that was an astronomical sum.