HLM – Chapter 75 Cooperation

If Wang Bo decided to use the Pastoral Hermit Construction Company to build the road, he’d definitely stay and attend the party. After all, Potter was clearly a man of status, and the people in his social circle would likely be of similar caliber. Blending into that circle would be a great help in expanding his own network.

But for now, he was just inquiring about prices. He made a point not to take advantage of the Potters’ hospitality. There’s an old saying—“Don’t eat someone’s food for free, or you’ll lose your tongue”—and Wang Bo believed there was wisdom in that.

After leaving the Potters’ villa, they visited the second construction company in Oamaru: Steve’s Professional Construction Co. Ltd. The owner, a stern-looking white man named Carter Steve, left a poor impression. The meeting ended on a sour note—Carter was a racist. When discussing the price, he demanded a 60% deposit upfront and insisted the remaining balance be paid immediately upon road completion.

Wang Bo had also discussed deposit terms with Sharnie, but she had proposed a 4-by-25 payment model: 25% upon signing the contract, 25% mid-construction, another 25% at the end of construction, and the final 25% after everything had been inspected and confirmed satisfactory.

Charlie mentioned the Pastoral Hermit’s offer, and Carter responded, “To be honest, I don’t trust Asians. But if it were you, sir, I’d be fine using the 4-by-25 model.”

Wang Bo sneered, “Idiot. As if I trust you?”

“Well then, that’s a pity,” Carter said without a hint of regret.

Wang Bo shook his head and replied, “Here’s a saying for you: A woman who flaunts her body and a man who flaunts his race are like two neighbors—you can tell their relationship from their shared sense of self-importance.”

Carter’s face turned livid with rage.

Compared to Steve’s company, Pastoral Hermit Construction was far more reliable. The Potters were extremely efficient—by the next day, they had already sent a team to conduct soil analysis and start preliminary work.

A week later, the Potters arrived in person.

Wang Bo received their call just as they reached his gate. He welcomed them enthusiastically, arms wide: “Ha! Potter, Sharnie, welcome!”

Potter, panting, said, “Buddy, to be honest, getting here was rough. You really need a road.”

Wang Bo laughed, “That’s why I’m waiting for you guys to build it!”

Sharnie was also breathless. It wasn’t so much the climb up the mountain that was tiring—it was the walking. Their car had stalled halfway up, so they had to hike the rest of the way.

But once they entered the castle, their exhaustion vanished. Looking at the towering, ancient structure, their faces filled with awe.

“Good Lord, so this is the legendary Dominion of the Sun Castle? It’s magnificent!”

“Absolutely stunning! I never imagined it would be like this!”

Wang Bo snapped his fingers, and the parrot on his shoulder—Commander—peeked out. “Go tell Juan we’ve got guests. Get some juice and spring water ready.”

Commander immediately flew off. A moment later, they heard its voice from inside the living room: “Ah, handsome guy! Ah, juice! Ah, spring water!”

Sharnie gasped in surprise. “Wow, God, what a clever little parrot!”

Potter had originally intended to sit down and rest, but once he got inside and saw the grand interior, he was too mesmerized. He wandered through the main hall, completely enraptured.

“God, I’m so jealous of you, Wang! I’ve never been this jealous in my life. This castle is incredible! I swear I need a castle too!”

But then his tone changed. “Wang, you haven’t used this place properly. You need to decorate it. Look—why aren’t the stairs painted gold? And those walls? You should hang oil paintings!”

Wang Bo gestured for him to sit, but Sharnie just smiled and said, “Don’t mind him. Potter’s a romantic at heart. He loves this kind of stuff. Come on, Wang, let’s get down to business. I brought the geological and design reports.”

The blueprints were kept in a briefcase—more than a dozen pages. Some explained the geology, others the environment, and some laid out the project concept. Everything was highly detailed.

Wang Bo was impressed by the professionalism and diligence of the Potter company. Though he couldn’t understand the documents fully, he trusted their reputation. Since there were no issues, it was time to begin.

Sharnie said, “In that case, let’s pick a date to sign the contract. I’ll arrange for the engineers and construction crew to move in.”

“The road needs to be built fast!” Wang Bo emphasized.

Sharnie smiled. “Of course. I understand how you feel completely.”

They were both genuinely exhausted after hiking to the castle.

Once the deal was made, Wang Bo treated them to lunch and then escorted them back down the mountain.

He didn’t need to personally attend the contract signing. His attorney, Mueller, took care of everything with just one call. Wang Bo only needed to transfer the initial payment.

But construction didn’t go smoothly. Starting in mid-January, the weather turned bad, and the site was hit by a full week of rain.

Clear rainwater dripped from the eaves and drummed against the slate tiles, creating a picturesque scene.

Over the next few days, mist began to rise on the mountainside, partly due to the rain and the nearby Twin Lakes. The lingering fog hung low over the hills, adding a mystical atmosphere to the ancient castle.

The clouds surged like smoke, and the drizzle fell like silk threads.

The Mastiff pup, Zhuang Ding, was likely experiencing his first time playing outside in the rain. At five months old, the region had barely seen any rain in recent months due to an unusual drought.

Even during previous light rains, the dog had been locked in his kennel.

This time, from the moment the rain started, Zhuang Ding went wild with joy—running and rolling through the wet grass, soaked to the bone.

Commander, perched on Wang Bo’s shoulder, was grooming his feathers with his beak. Occasionally, he’d glance at Zhuang Ding, curl his beak in disdain, and mutter, “Ah, ah, idiot beyond saving!”

“Commander, can you not swear anymore? You’re representing the organization now.”

“Ah, Commander needs to go herd the sheep!” The moment this topic came up, the little parrot would fly off in a flash.

The Soul of the Land had brought great changes to Commander. He was becoming more intelligent by the day. Though not quite on par with humans in terms of intellect and awareness, he was already far beyond ordinary birds.

Under the overcast sky, Wang Bo stood at the doorway overlooking his domain. Whether it was hills or grasslands, everything was a dazzling, spotless green—so vibrant it almost hurt the eyes.

Looking to the northwest, he saw white sheep and black cattle grazing across the pasture, bringing a surge of life to the landscape.

Yawning, Bowen stepped out. “What’s for dinner tonight?”

Wang Bo said, “Chocolate and music. I heard rainy days go best with chocolate and music.”

“Is that a tradition from your country?”

“No. Our tradition is dumplings and music on rainy days. Okay—dumplings it is tonight!”