Chapter 85: Buying a Factory Comes with a Wife

Tang Long drove to the Baofeng Jade Carving Factory, and when he saw Boss Yang again, he couldn’t help but be startled.

It had only been a few days, yet Boss Yang looked as if he had aged more than a decade—his once jet-black hair had turned completely white.

“Tang, my friend, we meet again!” Boss Yang forced a smile upon seeing Tang Long.

The last time he sold the Toyota Land Cruiser to Tang Long, Boss Yang still believed he had a chance to turn things around and wasn’t nearly as desperate as he was now.

But today, he no longer thought so.

With the family’s inherited carving skills, and the apprentices trained during his father’s time, Boss Yang had thrived in this trade after inheriting the family business. Not only in Taoyuan County but across the entire city of Jiangcheng, the Baofeng Jade Carving Factory was a unique presence.

Many orders came from Beijing, Shanghai, and those top domestic jade brands.

In terms of profit, Baofeng Jade Carving Factory was not lacking. Boss Yang’s net worth might not be the very highest in Taoyuan County, but he was certainly among the top.

Everything went wrong because of the two things a man should never indulge in: lust and gambling.

“Tang, would you dare take over Baofeng Carving Factory?” Boss Yang didn’t waste words and looked straight at Tang Long.

Tang Long asked curiously, “Such a large enterprise, Boss Yang, are you really willing to give it up?”

Boss Yang shook his head with a bitter smile. Willing? Only a fool would be willing, but he no longer had a choice.

“A flat price—five million. If you have the means, the Baofeng Carving Factory is yours!” He paused briefly, then continued, “Baofeng began with my great-grandfather. There was a period during the turmoil when it shut down, but my father picked it up again. The Yang family’s carving skills could hold their own even in Suzhou or Yangzhou. Take over Baofeng now, and you’ll have ready-made masters and apprentices—nearly a hundred people. Orders are lined up until year’s end. It won’t take long to earn back that five million!”

Tang Long wandered around the factory. It was sizable, with many workers and apprentices, both machine and hand-carving workshops.

He asked, puzzled, “If you really wanted to sell Baofeng, surely many from the trade would be interested. Forgive me for being blunt, but why did you come to me, an outsider?”

Boss Yang sighed. “Before my troubles, selling Baofeng wouldn’t have been difficult. And certainly not at this price—several times higher wouldn’t be out of the question. But now, nobody will buy it. As long as Baofeng is in Taoyuan County, few would dare touch it.”

Tang Long smiled. “If no one else dares, why do you think I would?”

Boss Yang looked at him. “Because you’re not afraid of that vixen, Liu Meijia!”

“What does selling Baofeng have to do with Liu Meijia?” Tang Long tilted his head, eyes flickering with curiosity.

Boss Yang began his story. After selling the car to Tang Long, he’d used the cash to pay off his gambling debts at Xiantao Villa. If he kept steady and didn’t gamble, in a year or so, he could have recovered. The problem was his mistress. In fact, it was his own fault—people at Xiantao Villa had already marked him as a fat sheep and wouldn’t let him escape so easily. The beautiful woman he’d met half a year ago was planted by Xiantao Villa precisely for him.

A man who loses money at gambling is naturally unwilling. A woman who truly cares would never encourage her man to keep gambling. But if she harbors ill intentions, that’s another matter.

Egged on by his mistress, Boss Yang returned to Xiantao Villa with hopes of winning it all back. This time, his luck ran dry—he lost everything. His family was ruined, and if no one took over Baofeng Carving Factory, death would soon follow.

“I’ll sell Baofeng to you, but you must send me out of Jiangcheng. That’s one of the conditions for the sale,” Boss Yang stated.

Sending Boss Yang away was no trouble for Tang Long, but to buy Baofeng for five million?

“This is my wife, Diao Yuniang,” Boss Yang said through clenched teeth, leading Tang Long to a woman.

Tang Long looked at Boss Yang in confusion, not understanding his intent. Yet Boss Yang’s wife was an attractive, mature woman in her early forties with an indescribable charm.

“My grandfather once saved her father’s life. Our family’s carving skills weren’t passed to me but to her. If you send me away, five million gets you both Baofeng Carving Factory and her!” Boss Yang announced.

Tang Long was dumbfounded by this, both amused and exasperated. “So you’re not just selling the factory, but your wife as well?”

Boss Yang could hear the mockery in Tang Long’s tone. He forced an awkward smile, gesturing at his head. “She has a problem—she’s never willing to leave Baofeng. Our home is inside the factory, and she only recognizes the factory’s master, the ‘Baofeng Seal.’ If you buy the factory, the Baofeng Seal becomes yours, and so does this foolish woman.”

It took Tang Long a moment to realize the so-called ‘Baofeng Seal’ was simply the factory’s official stamp.

“You’re the fool!” Diao Yuniang finally spoke, then turned and walked away.

Boss Yang looked a little forlorn, mocking himself, “I’m the fool, really. I had such a good woman but didn’t cherish her, insisting on chasing after outside trash.”

He looked up at Tang Long, bloodshot eyes full of exhaustion. “I need to find a trustworthy man to look after Baofeng and this foolish woman. You’ve got a feud with Liu Meijia, you’re not afraid of her, and you’re a man of honor. Five million gets you the factory and Diao Yuniang—you won’t lose out!”

Tang Long rolled his eyes—Boss Yang was a scoundrel, but did he have to make it sound as if Tang Long were the same?

“Your family background isn’t bad. To sell the factory and your wife for five million—are you hiding something?” Tang Long wasn’t a fool; there are no windfalls falling from the sky.

Boss Yang forced a laugh, his eyes evasive.

So there was more to the story.

Tang Long shrugged. “Since you won’t speak, I won’t press you. As for your factory and your esteemed wife, better find someone else. I’m not sure I’m up for this bottomless pit.”

As Tang Long turned to leave, Boss Yang panicked. He’d already tried everyone else; otherwise, he wouldn’t have approached an outsider like Tang Long.

“I used a batch of jade entrusted by clients to pay off my gambling debts!” Boss Yang blurted.

Tang Long’s face darkened. There was indeed a massive pit here. “How much are those jades worth?”

“Thirty million…” Boss Yang deflated, his whole body filled with despair.

“Thirty million?” Tang Long was almost amused. “If I buy the factory for five million, that debt falls on me? This place isn’t worth five million—it’s thirty-five million, and a ruined reputation!”

He turned to leave. He had no intention of taking on this mess. As for Boss Yang—he was no worthy man, and Tang Long owed him nothing.

A man who’d try to trap another and even sell his wife—hardly deserving of pity.

“Wait!” Boss Yang’s wife, Diao Yuniang, returned.

She looked at Tang Long and said, “If you trust me, give him five million, send him away, and I, Diao Yuniang, will serve you loyally. I also have ways to solve the order crisis.”

Tang Long was taken aback, his gaze sharp on the woman.

Diao Yuniang said calmly, “If you don’t buy this place, not only will he die, but Baofeng will burn to ashes. The Yang family’s art will die with me. I’m not willing. I can’t accept that.”

With that, she dropped to one knee at Tang Long’s feet. “Diao Yuniang is willing to serve you as her master. If you buy Baofeng, this investment will bring you glory for the rest of your life!”

“Glory for the rest of my life?” Tang Long repeated, then suddenly laughed. “Interesting…”

This woman was interesting. Loyal and righteous, yet born into such circumstances—what a pity.

Tang Long turned to Boss Yang. “Let me ask again: are you truly willing to sell Baofeng Carving Factory and this woman for five million?”

Even the slightest hesitation, and Tang Long would walk away. He could handle Liu Meijia if needed.

“I am! As long as you pay five million and get me out of Jiangcheng, both the factory and the woman are yours. Don’t worry, she won’t run!” Boss Yang replied eagerly.

Tang Long felt a pang of disappointment for the kneeling woman—it was utterly unworthy.

“Fine, I agree. Five million for Baofeng Carving Factory, and I’ll send you out of Jiangcheng. But you must promise me one thing,” Tang Long said emotionlessly.

Boss Yang rubbed his hands and grinned obsequiously, “Anything you say, as long as I can manage it, even a hundred things are fine!”

“Never come back.”

With that, Tang Long walked outside. “Baofeng Carving Factory and this woman belong to me from now on.”

“No problem!” Boss Yang hurried after him, not sparing a single glance at the woman kneeling on the floor. A woman who lay in bed like a corpse, unable to respond or show affection, was nothing worth keeping. As long as he got the five million and left Jiangcheng, Boss Yang believed he’d have another chance to rise.

Watching the two men leave, Diao Yuniang got up expressionlessly, her fists clenched so tightly her nails pierced her palms, blood dripping unnoticed.

“Do you regret it?” Tang Long asked outside the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. Boss Yang smiled bitterly. “Regret? Of course I regret it. But what’s the use? We all walk our own paths.”

At the Bureau, Baofeng Carving Factory was transferred to Tang Long’s name. He was now the legal owner.

“Is there anything you want to say to that woman?” Tang Long asked.

Boss Yang snickered, lowering his voice to a tone only men would understand. “Women are like clothes—if you have money, you’ll never lack for clothes. To be honest, she looks good but being with her is as dull as chewing wax. You’ll see what I mean when you try her yourself. Anyway, I’ve had enough these years. But her carving skills are top-notch, and she works for free. When you’re bored and want to vent, she’s worth keeping around.”

A flash of anger crossed Tang Long’s eyes. For all his appearance of respectability, this man had no conscience at all. He deserved every bit of his misfortune.

He said nothing more. After today, the two would be strangers, unlikely to ever meet again. With this attitude, even with five million, Boss Yang would probably burn through it quickly. His ultimate fate was easy to imagine.

Pitiful people always had their hateful side.

“Anything else you need to do?” Tang Long asked before sending Boss Yang off.

Boss Yang shook his head. “The sooner you get me out of here, the better. I’m worried Liu Meijia’s people are watching me.”

Tang Long nodded and drove toward the highway entrance. On the way, he called Zhang Xiue to tell her he’d be out for a while and would return in the evening.

Zhang Xiue didn’t ask why, only reminded him to be careful on the road.