Treasure Hunt Around the World

Chapter 5: Setting Off Firecrackers at Midnight

Something unusual must be going on.

At this moment, an unknown treasure hunter spoke up, "Little brother, how about selling me this car for 800,000? You don't need to worry about the taxes."

800,000 is the top-of-the-line X5; that's the price at the dealership.

Because Zhang Jing bought a smuggled car, he would need to pay taxes to drive it on the road. Based on the total price, the taxes would be around 200,000 to 300,000.

Now someone is offering 800,000, and he doesn't even need to pay the taxes himself. It seems like a good deal?

Zhang Jing shook his head and refused. He was just young, not an i***t. This car must have something special about it. 'Could there be other valuables in the car?' Zhang Jing wondered.

'This is a bulletproof X5,' the woman who first bid 50,000 for the timber stated succinctly. 'The official suggested retail price is 4.75 million, but the customer will likely get around 5-6 million.'

Zhang Jing: '...'

Everyone: '...'

'Congratulations, Mr. Zhang, on your successful bid,' Li Bai said, equally surprised. 'This sets a good precedent for the container auction, and I'm sure the viewers are eagerly anticipating the next part of the auction.'

Two cameras were broadcasting the entire auction live, leaving the few viewers watching speechless with astonishment.

An X5 worth a whopping 5 million?! Zhang Jing didn't participate in the subsequent auctions. He needed to keep a close eye on his bulletproof X5 to prevent it from being switched.

It seems absurd and like he was worrying unnecessarily; people with this kind of thinking are simply too naive and have never learned their lesson.

He remembered last October, when Zhang Jing found a piece of Hetian jade in the wild that wasn't of particularly good quality. When he tried to sell it, the buyer switched it with his own. Going to the police was useless; there was no evidence, and he was swindled out of it.

After suffering other losses, both big and small, Zhang Jing learned his lesson.

First, he went to the port office to get the auction certificate and payment certificate, then paid the import duties at the customs window inside the port.

Wow, 120,000 RMB!

Including other miscellaneous expenses, the total tax paid was 150,000 RMB. If Zhang Jing hadn't earned his first fortune in Xinjiang, he wouldn't even be able to pay his taxes.

Once that was settled, the car could leave the port. With all the payment receipts and documents, the next step was to go to the vehicle management office to choose a license plate.

Registering wasn't urgent. Zhang Jing was like a 4S dealership now; he could sell the car and register it for someone else.

He also had some pine wood that needed to be disposed of.

“Young man, sell me this timber.”

Just as Zhang Jing was about to call a truck to take the more than ten tons of timber to a nearby shared warehouse, the middle-aged woman who had first offered 50,000 yuan approached him.

“How much can you offer?” Zhang Jing asked.

“This is high-quality larch pine, worth around 100,000 yuan on the market. I'll give you 80,000, let me make 20,000.”

Zhang Jing nodded; he himself might not be able to sell it for 80,000 yuan. “Thank you,” the woman introduced herself. “My name is Wang Qianxue. My family is in the timber business. Add me on WeChat.”

After adding her as a friend, a bank transfer was made via mobile banking, and 80,000 yuan was received.

Finally, the total cost was calculated: 150,500 yuan for the container, 1.5 million yuan in taxes, 80,000 yuan from the timber, and the car, at a slightly lower price, was expected to sell for 4.5 million yuan.

The profit was approximately 2.93 million yuan.

Initially, Zhang Jing considered hiring a designated driver, but considering the potential problems of wealthy people, he called a tow truck to transport the bulletproof X5 back to the city, minimizing mileage.

He checked into the Donggang Hotel; a standard room was 300 yuan including breakfast, and underground parking was capped at 30 yuan per day.

In other words, Zhang Jing's hotel room cost 360 yuan per night.

Meanwhile, the auction video was circulating online, the most exciting part being Zhang Jing's amazing bargain.

Even Ding Jiaqi saw the video online, her mouth agape in disbelief, her eyes wide, and after a few seconds of hesitation, she dialed Zhang Jing's number.

"Hey, Brother Zhang, what are you up to?"

"I just checked into the Donggang Hotel," Zhang Jing said, swiping his card to open the hotel room door. "When are you on vacation? I'll treat you to dinner when you come back."

Ding Jiaqi was from Haibo, but he didn't know which district.

"Really? I'll be back tomorrow. I want to eat at the seafood buffet, is that too expensive?"

Zhang Jing's eyebrows twitched. Was this girl going too far?

She was actually coming back early just for a meal.

Guessing Zhang Jing's thoughts, Ding Jiaqi explained, "My grades aren't good, and my mom plans to send me abroad to study in September for a 'happy education,' so that neither she nor I will suffer."

Ding Jiaqi's explanation only confused Zhang Jing more. Was studying abroad really that cheap?

Curious but too embarrassed to ask directly, he chatted briefly before hanging up.

After a good night's rest, the next day at noon, an unknown number called.

"Hello," Zhang Jing greeted.

"Sell me that car you bought yesterday for two million."

Zhang Jing was slightly taken aback. The other person was arrogant, speaking like a street thug. He reminded him, "That bulletproof X5 is worth five or six million."

"Don't push your luck. Giving you two million is already doing you a favor. I know you stay in room 1608 of the Donggang Hotel!"

"Well, at least let me know who you are, where you work?" Zhang Jing asked.

"My name is Wang Dahu, from the Xibang Group."

"So you're President Wang," Zhang Jing asked, trying to get information out of him. "How did you know I stayed in room 1608 of the Donggang Hotel?"

"That's easy, just a phone call and I'd found out." Wang Dahu said smugly.

Zhang Jing reminded the other party, "Do you know this is extortion?"

"#%#@!" Wang Dahu cursed, "You think you're so great? Believe me or not, I'll make sure you're drowned tomorrow!"

Zhang Jing was secretly delighted. His phone was automatically recording audio; the other party was practically a money-giving gift.

Opportunities like this don't come every day; he had to seize this one!

Having made up his mind, Zhang Jing feigned weakness and said, "Mr. Wang, that's a bulletproof X5, worth six million. Could you give me a little more?"

"Do you believe I won't give you a single penny!" the other party threatened. "The deal is tomorrow, or you'll face the consequences!"

The other party hung up the phone.

Zhang Jing took the phone away from his ear; the recording ended.

Normally, when a phone calls, the caller asks whether to record; this is usually ignored.

Because of the nature of his work, Zhang Jing had set up automatic recording, recording as soon as a call connected.

First, he opened the system tools, found the recorder, and then entered the recorder, clicking the settings icon in the upper right corner. Here, he could set up automatic recording.

Worried about damaging his phone, Zhang Jing saved the recorded files to two separate email addresses.

After doing all this, Zhang Jing felt both happy and a little apprehensive.

Happy, like being punched by a stranger on the street—he wouldn't fight back, but if he called the police, the matter wouldn't be over without tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan.

Apprehensive, fearing he might run into a tough opponent.