The anti-Qing movement began with the looting of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

"how many?"

“Two hundred boxes!” Luo Zhongchun said in a low voice.

Damn! I thought it would be more! This is it!

"That's all? You didn't try your best! Didn't I say I'd take as much as you have?" Shen Lian shook his head and said.

"I was just worried you wouldn't have that many! I'll try to contact them again and see if I can get a little more! Hehe!"

Luo Zhong finally breathed a sigh of relief! He had even mortgaged his house to stockpile those two hundred cartons of cigarettes. Thankfully, Shen Lian returned, otherwise he would have almost given up.

"No problem, just be careful." Shen Lian said a few words and then hung up the phone.

The experts inside had finished their inspection, and Shen Lian signed the contract. The group then left with the antiques.

Peng Laifu also called over a few of his men, who brought an electronic scale. There was no way to count all the copper coins at this point.

Fortunately, the weights were all about the same, so the weighing results were roughly accurate.

"Brother Shen, that's roughly the amount. I'll give you the detailed figure after I go back and count it. I currently have 26 million on hand, so I'll transfer it to you first. I'll definitely transfer the money back to your account promptly after the sale."

"Alright! I'll listen to you. There's no need to rush, let's take it slow!" Shen Lian knew that it would take time to sell so many copper coins.

"Thank you! Brother Shen, you can rely on me from now on!" Peng Laifu expressed his gratitude again before leading his men to transport all the copper coins away.

Now that he had the money and the antique issue was resolved, it was time to buy pearls. He took out his phone and called Wang Xiaoyuan.

"Hello, Brother Shen!" A pleasant female voice came from the phone, and Wang Xiaoyuan called out in surprise.

"Xiaoyuan, have you missed me? Hehe!" Shen Lian said with a mischievous grin.

"Hmph, you disappeared as soon as you left, and you didn't even reply to my messages. I don't miss you at all!" Wang Xiaoyuan said, though she didn't mean it.

"Oh, I see! Sigh! I thought... Looks like I was overthinking it!" Shen Lian said, feigning sadness.

"Brother Shen, I..." Wang Xiaoyuan was in a state of confusion, wanting to say something but unable to get the words out.

"Haha! Just kidding. I just got back today. Tell your dad and the others that I won't be going this time. Have them send the pearls to Shanghai for me."

"Brother Shen, you're so naughty!" Wang Xiaoyuan said coquettishly, feeling a sense of relief. But then a slight sense of disappointment followed.

"Brother Shen, how many pearls are you planning to take this time? My dad and the others have collected quite a few over the past few months!"

"Don't worry! Your brother Shen has a big appetite! I'll take as many as they have."

Shen Lian chatted with Wang Xiaoyuan for a while longer, then told them to send the pearls over tomorrow before hanging up.

Then Shen Lian called Lao Liu again, asking him to have Guan Tianming prepare 100,000 sets of lighter parts and come over tomorrow. He also had a big business deal to discuss.

Seeing that he still had some free time, Shen Lian called his mother again to let her know he was safe. He told her that he was now doing foreign trade with someone and had made a lot of money. Not only had he paid off his loans, but he also had several hundred thousand yuan left.

Li Rumei was overjoyed to receive her son's call. She kept telling him to be careful while traveling abroad and hoped that Shen Lian could come home for the New Year!

There was definitely no time to go home for the Chinese New Year, so Shen Lian could only say that he had a big business deal coming up and needed to go to Africa, and that he needed to appease his mother. He also said he would send her 200,000 yuan so they could buy some things for themselves.

“Young man! Why are you sending me money? I don’t need the money. You can keep it for yourself! Save any extra money so we can buy a house and find a wife later,” Li Rumei said hurriedly.

"Mom! Don't worry! Our company is thriving now, and we won't be short of money in the future. After this order is completed, I'll get at least one or two million in commission."

"You and Dad shouldn't be so frugal; spend what you need. If you have time, travel around. Don't always stay home. I probably won't be able to come home for Chinese New Year, so please give my regards to Grandpa and Grandma. Buy them some clothes and give them some pocket money..."

After hanging up the phone, Shen Lian sighed a few times and then opened the website. His father's novel had actually reached 800,000 words! It seemed he had been working very hard lately! Judging from his stats, he was making two or three hundred yuan a day, which wasn't bad.

Shen Lian directly tipped the old man 50,000 yuan. I wonder what the old man's reaction will be when he sees it! Hehe!

Shen Lian had a buffet lunch at the hotel and then walked out. Luo Zhongchun and his team were delivering cigarettes that evening, but this time the quantity was too large to deliver to his rented apartment; he needed to find a warehouse.

Shen Lian walked a short distance after leaving the hotel and went into a real estate agency he saw by the roadside.

"Welcome! Ah! It's you, brother." A young man in a black suit ran up quickly.

What a coincidence! Shen Lian actually ran into that young man from back then. If it weren't for trying to persuade him, he wouldn't have fallen into the river, nor would he have gained the ability to travel through time. It's hard to say whether to call it lucky or unlucky.

I never expected that this kid would actually go back to his old job. What a coincidence!

"Brother, how did you get up back then? I couldn't find you, so I called the police. The police searched for a long time but couldn't find you. There were no surveillance cameras in that area, and they thought I made a false report!" The young man said excitedly, grabbing Shen Lian's hand.

"Ha! What a coincidence! I didn't expect to run into you again. You work here?" Shen Lian patted the other man on the shoulder, telling him not to get so excited.

"Yes! Brother, you still haven't told me how you got up? During that time, I searched by the river day and night, just afraid that you... I..." The young man still grabbed Shen Lian's hand and said incoherently.

"Li Xiao, don't get excited! Sir, you are Li Xiao's savior! We've heard him say this many times, and we thought he was just bragging! We didn't expect it to be true. Come and sit down!" The store manager stood up and greeted the two.

"Hey! Why are you so agitated! I'm perfectly fine! Hurry up and wipe your tears." Shen Lian saw that Li Xiao was so agitated that tears were streaming down his face, and realized he was a genuinely honest young man. He picked up a tissue from the coffee table and handed it to him.

"Big brother, I really, I..." Li Xiao said, tears streaming down his face.

"My name is Shen Lian!" Shen Lian pulled Li Xiao to sit down on the sofa. The manager also poured them both a glass of hot water.

“I grew up by the river, and I’m a great swimmer! When I fell in, the current swept me a distance downstream, and I made it to shore. I was in a hurry to get back and change my clothes, so I forgot to come and say hello. I’m sorry for making you worry!” Shen Lian patted Li Xiao’s hand apologetically.

"I'm fine! Brother Shen, I'm so glad you're safe!" Li Xiao wiped away his tears and smiled.

"Mr. Shen, you didn't come here to see Li Xiao. You must have something to discuss with us!" The manager asked, seeing that the two had calmed down.