HLM – Chapter 48 Old Wang’s Special Skill

Unable to reach an agreement, Lister and his group chose to leave rather than linger. Before departing, Lister handed Wang Bo a gilded business card with a smile and said, “Mayor, call me when you change your mind.”

Old Wang accepted the card solemnly. “Likewise, Mr. General Manager, if you change your mind, feel free to call me. I’ll be staying in Omarama for the time being.”

“And your business card?”

Charlie knew Wang Bo didn’t have a business card, so he stepped forward to explain and save him from embarrassment.

But to his surprise, Old Wang pulled out a small notebook from his pocket and scribbled his contact information in flamboyant handwriting before handing it over to Lister.

The smile on Lister’s face turned increasingly strained—this was probably the most unique business card he’d received all year.

Their group had come in three off-road vehicles, all golden Toyota Land Cruisers with thick tires and rugged exteriors—visibly imposing.

Old Wang looked at his own shabby motorcycle and sighed—he was clearly outclassed in style.

Worse still, that battered bike wasn’t even his.

Lister had noticed. He whispered a few words to a middle-aged man beside him, who then walked over with a smile and handed Wang Bo a car key. “Mr. Mayor, our general manager would like to lend you a vehicle.”

Looking at the key fob, Wang Bo swallowed hard and said, “No need. My ride’s pretty solid—panoramic sunroof, rear engine, fully automatic transmission, in-car karaoke, and built-in human-powered horn. It’s really not bad.”

He couldn’t keep up the bluff.

The middle-aged man replied, “Don’t overthink it. Our general manager means no offense. It’s just that your town is still quite untouched by development. We thought our vehicle might suit the terrain better.”

This was obviously a bribe. Wang Bo sneered inwardly—You think I’m someone who can be bought with petty perks? Well then, let me take your bribe and make you lose more in the end!

Since they insisted on lending the vehicle, Wang Bo no longer refused. However, he did warn, “When you leave Queenstown, be sure to let me know so I can return the vehicle to you.”

They parted amicably. Two of the Land Cruisers drove off, and once they were out of sight, Wang Bo tossed the keys to Charlie. “What are you standing there for? Drive!”

Charlie frowned. “You do know this counts as bribery, right?”

Wang Bo replied matter-of-factly, “How is this bribery? Since when can’t a mayor borrow a car?”

“And then what?”

“What then? Just like I said—when they leave, I’ll return the car.” He shrugged, clearly not dumb enough to be bought with a vehicle.

They did need a car now. It wasn’t practical to take the helicopter everywhere—especially since there was no local refueling point. Every time they needed fuel, Charlie had to fly to Cromwell. With a car, those headaches would vanish.

Charlie asked, “If that’s the case, why not just buy a car?”

Wang Bo replied, “Why would I buy one when I have free access to a helicopter?”

Charlie: “……”

The real reason Wang Bo didn’t buy a car came down to two things: one, he had to spend his money wisely; and two, he didn’t have a driver’s license. Even if he bought a car, who’d drive it?

Now that he had the SUV, travel became much easier. Looking at the pale green pasture zone on the sandbox and checking his wallet, Wang Bo decided to buy some cattle and sheep to start farming.

When he made the announcement, Charlie just shook his head and called him impulsive.

But that really wasn’t fair. Old Wang had thought this through. Only he understood how powerful the Heart of the Pasture was. With its boost, his ranch was bound to be a huge moneymaker!

Modern animal husbandry in New Zealand was highly developed, holding a vital position in the national economy. The country ranked first in the world for per capita supply of meat, wool, and dairy products.

Wang Bo checked agricultural data: in the past year, animal husbandry and related industries contributed over 50% to New Zealand’s GDP and employed over 40% of the population, spanning across both tertiary and industrial sectors.

When he first acquired his territory, he’d already drafted a development plan. Charlie hoped he’d seriously develop the town. A typical town would sell or lease land, and Sunset Town had 1,000 square kilometers of top-quality grassland. That could be converted into 1,000 square kilometers of excellent ranches and farms, creating a massive GDP.

But that wasn’t Wang Bo’s vision. He wanted to personally develop the land. There would be grasslands, ranches, farms, and forests—all under his ownership.

Especially now, having realized the sheer power of the Heart of the Lord, he had full confidence in managing his territory.

How much could you really earn from leasing or selling land? But if you developed top-tier farms and ranches with the Heart of the Lord, imagine the profits!

The Chinese have a unique love for land, and Wang Bo, having grown up in rural China, felt that passion even more deeply.

Charlie didn’t quite get it. He said, “You should know—New Zealand already has over 70,000 farms and ranches, occupying more than 60% of the country’s land area. The competition is brutal…”

“So what? I’ll be at the top for sure!” Old Wang interrupted firmly, eyes sharp as steel.

Charlie read the determination in his gaze and simply shrugged. “Then I wish you luck.”

But he had a problem: a lack of funds. He might appear to have over a million, but that money couldn’t be touched. According to what he told Charlie, the money from selling the red box was meant to repay a loan shark—Charlie didn’t know the debt had already been repaid, and Wang Bo had no intention of revealing it, or he’d have to explain the source of the 500,000.

As for the 550,000 NZD grant from the government? Sorry, that couldn’t be used for personal expenses—not even borrowed. Under New Zealand’s legal system, those funds could only be used for public works like roads, infrastructure, or salaries.

Charlie spotted this gap and grinned mischievously. “You still got money for cattle and sheep? This won’t just be ten or twenty grand—we’re talking serious cash. I know you’re gonna mention Bay Hymns, but you won’t see any royalties until next month, right?”

Wang Bo gave him a sly grin in return. “Did you forget what I’m best at?”

“Flipping houses?”

“Flipping rice bowls is more like it! I’m talking about making money with borrowed capital!”

“You want a loan? I thought you didn’t like using land as collateral?”

Wang Bo shrugged. “No, not a loan. I’m talking about borrowing money.”

The golden Land Cruiser sped toward Omarama. On the way, Wang Bo enthusiastically called Lister. “Hi, Mr. General Manager, I’d like to visit you. Is now a good time?”

“Of course! You’re very welcome,” Lister replied with a smile.

After hanging up, his expression turned triumphant. One of his subordinates asked, “Boss, did the mayor agree to our investment?”

Lister answered smugly, “Not yet. But soon. No one escapes my hook—especially greedy Asians. He accepted the car, and that’s the same as taking the bait. Think he can get away now?”

He ended with a cold, dismissive snort.