Power and Wealth

In the mountains.

Dong Xuebing was still thinking about his money when Qu Yunxuan pulled him to a small slope and sat down.

“Xiao Bing, you are here at the right time. I want to discuss something with you.” Qu Yunxuan’s beige pants were already dirtied. She does not care about the dirt on the slope. “That Old Ye who rented the mine to us had approached me a few days ago. He wants to take back the mine and break the contract. He will compensate us.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “Fat hopes.”

Qu Yunxuan touched Dong Xuebing’s arm and replied. “You are right. I did not agree. Everyone can tell that this mine is located in a good location. Under normal circumstances, a mine that can produce a few million worths of stones in a year is great. We made a few million in less than 2 months. This is what I want to discuss with you. The production of this mine is very high. Should we use our money to lease a few more months? I know Old Ye will never agree. But I am thinking of spending more money to continue to lease it.”

Dong Xuebing rubbed his nose and thought for a while. “What if there are no more bloodstones in the mine?”

Qu Yunxuan laughed. “This should not be possible. Some professionals had dropped by our mine and said that our mine is located very near to the main vein. Our mine might be extending towards the main vein.”

“But......” Dong Xuebing had discovered the bloodstones by accident. Now, Qu Yunxuan had already extracted most of the stones he found. He is not sure if there are any more stones deeper in the mine. He only believes his own eyes and not those experts. The expert’s opinions are based on theories.

“Why? You don’t agree?”

“No...... But I am not very sure.”

“Oh, don’t you know how to look at mines? How about you go in to see for yourself?”

Dong Xuebing paused for a second and nodded. “Alright.” Dong Xuebing had accumulated about 20 BACKs. He should have enough time to blow up the mine.

After chatting for a while, Qu Yunxuan stood up. “Ok. You go and check out the mine while I go to the bathroom.”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “What bathroom? You are just going behind the bushes to pee. Ok. I will go with you.”

Qu Yunxuan turned around and gave him a stare. “There are toilets below. You don’t need to come with me.”

“Oh. Watch your steps and be careful. Don’t trip yourself.”

“Since when do I need you to remind me?”

Back at the mine, Dong Xuebing entered his own mine. He walked to the deepest part of the mine, and there were two workers drilling holes into the walls. The drills they were using were longer than regular drills.

Dong Xuebing saw one of the workers finishes drilling a hole, he said: “Please stop for a while.”

The two miners stopped the machine and look at Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing said: “That should be enough. There is no need to drill anymore. Bring me to the place where you all store the explosives.”

A worker asked: “We are going to blast the mine now? We still have not completed drilling the holes. We need at least two more holes. If not, the bloodstones will be damaged by the blast.”

Dong Xuebing nodded. “I know. Just prepare to detonate.”

Both miners knew this young man and Ms. Qu were close, and this mine belongs to him. They thought for a while, and one of them remained there to set up the detonation wires, and the other miner brought Dong Xuebing to the place where they kept the explosives. Their explosives were kept in an abandoned mine not far away.

Dong Xuebing told the miner. “You don’t need to separate the dynamites. Just carry everything over.”

The miner was stunned. “...... those are not our explosives. They belong to other mines.”

Dong Xuebing smiled: “I know. Just listen to my orders, alright?”

“Ok.”

Dong Xuebing and that miner carried a big crate of explosive and purposely avoided the other people at the mining area to the mine. The other miner who was setting up the detonation was shocked to see the crate of explosives. He quickly tells Dong Xuebing that they do not need so many explosives, but Dong Xuebing did not explain. He put on a straight face and orders them to set up the explosives. After that, they walked out of the mine with the detonator.

“Boss, this is against the regulations.”

“That’s right. That number of explosives will blow everything up. Even if there are Chicken Bloodstones inside......”

Dong Xuebing ignored them and points to the detonator. “Is this the button?”

“Yes. But......”

Dong Xuebing took a few steps back and pressed the button.

Boom!!!! It was an earth-shattering blast! The whole ground shook! Clouds of dust were billowing out of the mine!

The workers nearby were shocked. This was not a normal explosion. Every one start running out to see what was happening. Was it a mine collapse?

“What is happening? What was that explosion?”

“Who is it? Did that person use too many explosives?”

Dong Xuebing ignored everyone. Every second count for him. He waited until the dust settles, and after making sure the mine will not collapse, he ran in with a touch light. The two miners also entered the mine, followed by workers from other mines. The sight they saw in the mine was horrific. Everyone was shocked by what they saw!

“Who used so many explosives? The amount used is ridiculous!”

“Let’s not talk about that first. Look at the walls!”

“Huh?! What happened? This is impossible!”

“This mine had produced so many bloodstones! Why...... Why is there no more bloodstones?”

Yes. The walls of the mines were all gray in color. It is full of wax stones, and the bits and pieces of stones on the ground do not have the slightest hint of red color! They walked around the mine and discovered a small portion of the mine’s wall had a small number of Chicken Bloodstones!

Wasn’t this supposed to be the main vein? No. It might also be the main vein. This had happened before in the past, where a section of the main vein does not have Chicken Bloodstones. But...... this section is too big. There was only a small amount of bloodstone near the eye of the explosion. Other areas are empty! This mine will become a depleted mine?!

Dong Xuebing also did not expect this to happen. He was glad that he did not ask Aunt Xuan to lease the mine further.

Ok! BACK!

Dong Xuebing estimate that 5 minutes had passed since the explosion. He was about to say BACK 5 times when he suddenly had remembered something. If he says BACK continuously, there will be a slight delay between the BACKs. It will be a waste, and he will also get dizzy. If it was 5 or 6 minutes, it was still okay. But if he wants to return back to 20 minutes or 30 minutes ago, he has to say BACK 20 to 30 times? The delay between the BACK will be more significant!

That’s right. Let me try and see if it will work!

Dong Xuebing focuses and mumbled in his heart: “BACK 5 minutes!”

......

Dong Xuebing felt the scene in front of him flashed! Time had returned!

What Dong Xuebing saw next was the detonator in his hand. He looked to his left and right. The two miners were trying to stop him.

“Boss, this is against the regulations.”

“That’s right. That number of explosives will blow everything up. Even if there are Chicken Bloodstones inside......”

This was exactly 5 minutes ago!

Success! This is a success!

Dong Xuebing was only trying his luck, and it was successful. This way, he will have better control over his power!

“Boss!”

Dong Xuebing laughed and said to the two workers. “I am only joking. Alright. Help me carry the explosives back.”

The two miners were relieved. One of them starts to remove the detonation wires, and the other carried the explosives back to the storage area. After doing that, the miners returned to the mine to continue their work.

Dong Xuebing thought for a while and stopped them. “Ok. It’s enough for today. You all can stop work today.”

One of the miners was surprised: “But Ms. Qu said......”

Dong Xuebing interrupts him: “I will speak to her. You all can stop for the day.” Since there are no more Bloodstones in the mine, it will be meaningless to continue. He will be wasting money on manpower and resources.

After a while, Qu Yunxuan returned from the toilet. “Xiao Bing, you asked them to stop work? What’s wrong?”

Dong Xuebing nodded and whispered to Aunt Xuan. “I have checked the mine. The situation is not good for us. There should not be any more bloodstones inside.”

Qu Yunxuan said disbelievingly. “Cannot be. We had mined so many bloodstones, and everyone said that......”

Dong Xuebing laughed. “They also said that this is a useless mine before we take over it. Aunt Xuan, trust me. I am absolutely right.”

Qu Yunxuan smiled and hit Dong Xuebing on his head lightly. “What should we do now? We still have 2 weeks left on the lease. It will be a waste if there are no more Chicken Bloodstones. Just the rental of machinery and workers’ wages will cost us more than 10,000.”

Dong Xuebing had already thought of the solution. “Then, we will stop mining. Old Ye wants to take back the mine?”

“But......” Qu Yunxuan hesitated and looks upset. She pulled Dong Xuebing back into the mine and looked at the interior of the mine. “Xiao Bing, shall we try blowing up this part? What if......”

“Huh? There is no what if.”

“You sure?”

“Very sure.”

“Ah......” Qu Yunxuan sighed. “Alright. Just do as you say. Sell the remaining days back to Old Ye.”

Dong Xuebing knew Aunt Xuan was reluctant to give up. “Just let it go. We have already doubled our investment in slightly more than a month. We should be satisfied. Rather than wasting money, we should sell the remaining days. Don’t you want to set up the Auction company?”

Qu Yunxuan looked at Dong Xuebing and playfully pinched his nose. “Since when do I need you to console me?”

Dong Xuebing pushes her hand away. “Aunt Xuan, can you stop bullying me like this? If you do this again, I will hit you!” He imitated Aunt Xuan.

Qu Yunxuan laughed and raised her hand: “Say it again? Who do you want to hit?”

Dong Xuebing looked at Qu Yunxuan and slapped her butt playfully. “Hit you.”

“You pervert! You really hit me?” Qu Yunxuan stared at Dong Xuebing and pinched him. “How dare you?! I will beat you to death!”

“Ah....... It’s only a joke. You are the one who started it.”

“Idiot! Stop there!”

After playing for a while, Dong Xuebing grabbed Qu Yunxuan’s hands to prevent her from pinching him. “Alright. I’m sorry. I apologize. Let’s settle the business first. Where is Old Ye?”

Qu Yunxuan hit Dong Xuebing’s thighs. “...... I saw him earlier. Let’s look for him.”

They walked towards another one of Old Ye’s mine. On the way, Qu Yunxuan told Dong Xuebing something. “Old Ye had approached me to try to take back the mine several times. But I did not agree. After that, some local thugs come back our mine every now and then to create trouble. Luckily, I had listened to you and hired some people. If not, we will be in trouble.”

Dong Xuebing’s face changed. “Really?”

“Yes. I was afraid that you will be worried and did not tell you.”

Motherf**ker! Dong Xuebing was furious. He hates those people who played dirty tricks behind others!

10 minutes later, both arrived at the entrance of a mine in the western part of the mountain and found Old Ye. Old Ye was giving instructions to his workers.

Qu Yunxuan said. “Go out for a while. We would like to talk to you about mine.”

Old Ye looked at her and thought she would want to extend the lease. The mine’s production is very high, and there is no way he will agree to extend the contract. Hmph! After walking out of the mine, Old Ye said: “Your lease will be up in about 2 weeks. You all should prepare to handover the mine back to me.”

Dong Xuebing glanced at him. “I heard you want to take back the mine? How much are you going to compensate us?”

Old Ye was surprised. “What do you mean?”

“If the price is right, we are willing to stop our lease now.”

Old Ye almost jump up in joy. He does not understand why Dong Xuebing and Qu Yunxuan want to give up the mine when the production is so high. But this is a piece of good news. Although it is only about half a month, the mine should still be able to produce 1 million worth of Bloodstones. “Alright. How much do you all want?”

Dong Xuebing gestured with his hand. “700,000 RMB.”

Old Ye shook his head. “I will only give you 550,000 RMB at most.”

If Old Ye had not to get the local thugs to create trouble at the mine, Dong Xuebing might agree. After all, whoever that takeover the mine will lose money. But now, Dong Xuebing was not willing to let him off. “700,000 RMB! Not a single cent less.” Seeing Old Ye still shaking his head, Dong Xuebing did not say anything and walk off with Aunt Xuan.

“Eh! Wait......! We can negotiate!”

“I already told you the price.”

Old Ye thought for a while. 700,000 RMB might be higher than half month rental, but he should be able to recoup it with the mine’s production. He gritted his teeth: “Fine! Deal!”

Dong Xuebing laughed to himself. You will regret this decision!

5.3 million RMB!

Dong Xuebing has 5.3 million RMB now!