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Chapter 656: Chapter 560: Su Yu’s Conditions (Subscription Requested!) _1
Dusk.
Tang Qing and Li Kai, these two RMB players, have already defeated all their competitors. Their names are now splashed in red at the top of the villain list.
Seeing there was no more fun left, they turned off the game. This is one of the benefits of playing on a private server. Just pay some money, you can instantly hit the level cap and gain exclusive benefits such as access to enhanced equipment.
From an efficiency perspective, the purpose of a private server is to quickly become powerful, get bored quickly, and stop playing quickly.
If it’s like the ’Legend’ game by Shengda, where leveling up is painstakingly slow, with many players and hard-to-get equipment, anything you do could make you die of anger, simply wasting your life. Of course, if people have too much time and don’t know how to spend it, they could try it out.
At this moment.
Several ladies have finished their workout, taken their showers, and changed their clothes.
These essentials are all prepared in the villa. No matter if you are a man or a woman, there are a variety of changeable clothes of different sizes provided in the guest room. It’s very convenient. The only thing is, they are all products of the Sheng Tang Group.
Three of the somewhat tired ladies were lounging on the sofa, watching an idol drama from Taiwan. However, it must be said, compared to Tang Qing, the so-called ’handsome’ male protagonist seemed strikingly plain. Even Wei Yiyi, who used to be very interested in the drama, found it boring now.
Li Kai had no choice but to put on a long face and keep them company, meanwhile, peeling melon seeds for his wife.
Tang Qing rested his head on his hand, lost in thought, while Lin Jiaxue was peeling grapes for him on his side and feeding him one by one. Li Kai was so jealous. Why was there such a big disparity between the ways people were treated?
Under normal circumstances, seeing someone else doing everything for their wife and doing nothing themselves would make one feel inferior. But for Tang Qing and Lin Jiaxue, they didn’t need to show off to others. It would be best if such activities were done for themselves.
Lin Jiaxue knew that Tang Qing’s mind was busy all day, so she wouldn’t cling to him all the time. But no matter how busy he was, he would always find the time to accompany her. This was enough. Feeding grapes she had peeled to Tang Qing, Lin Jiaxue felt this was the only thing she could do to help him at the moment.
"Oh, right, Jiaxue, I found an art tutor for you when I went out. They will come tomorrow morning." While eating the grapes peeled by Lin Jiaxue, Tang Qing remembered this.
Lin Jiaxue looked up and asked in confusion, "Why do I need to find an art tutor?"
"This tutor is of a very solid foundation, a graduate from Beijing Academy of Fine Arts, not like me – a half-learned person. You should have also noticed that I have no talent in teaching students. Also, the person has a rather unfortunate background and I thought I could help her out." Tang Qing explained.
Upon hearing this, Li Kai on the side was taken aback for a second. How did Tang Qing know about Yunxin’s unfortunate background since they didn’t seem to know each other? However, this thought only flashed in his mind briefly. Perhaps Tang Qing made up this story to make it easier for Lin Jiaxue to accept.
"Okay, then." Lin Jiaxue was a bit disappointed. Although what Tang Qing said is true, she found it very difficult to learn from such an incredibly talented individual as Tang Qing. However, she hoped Tang Qing would continue to teach her, but didn’t say anything more.
Tang Qing is her man - whatever he decides to do, unless it’s morally wrong, she would just execute it. She decided to learn from this tutor earnestly and not let Tang Qing down.
Speaking of painting, Wei Yiyi became interested and said, "Tang Qing, your sketching is at a master level, can you please draw one for me? Just one." Thinking about the sketches plastered all over the art studio walls, Wei Yiyi was almost worshipping him. Because she too was proficient in sketching, she understood the level of skill required.
This multi-talented, gentle, young, affluent, almost perfect man, no wonder Wang Yan was acting like that. If she had known him before, she would have definitely sent countless love letters to him by now.
It’s a pity.
Tang Qing was taken.
Tang Qing nodded and agreed, "Sure, no problem."
Then, Tang Qing asked a fighter to bring down the tools.
An easel was set up in the living room.
Dozens of pencils had been sharpened by the fighters, displayed neatly in different thicknesses. It seemed excessive, but it depends on the drawing. Small sketches usually need a few pencils, but for a giant sketch, a few would not be enough.
Wei Yiyi quickly assumed a solemn pose, her posture ladylike, smiling, showing what she thought was her most beautiful side.
Tang Qing stared at Wei Yiyi for about ten seconds, causing Wei Yiyi to feel a bit awkward. Meanwhile, Tang Qing’s brain was rapidly recording Wei Yiyi’s features. After about ten seconds, Tang Qing narrowed his eyes - he got everything memorized.
Those who knew him were not surprised, this was just how Tang Qing painted people or landscapes, with no need for the model to hold a pose for long.
"You can relax now, no need to hold your pose."
"What? It’s done?" Wei Yi Yi was puzzled.
Lin Jiaxue explained from the side, "Tangtang only needs to glance at the subject a few times before he starts painting. He can remember it all in his mind, so those being painted don’t have to maintain their pose all the time." Saying this, Lin Jiaxue moved behind Tang Qing. Every time Tang Qing painted, as long as she was there, she would quietly watch from behind.
"That’s amazing, let me see." Wei Yiyi exclaimed in surprise, marveling at Tang Qing’s exceptional visual memory.
Weiyiyi also rushed over to Tang Qing’s back, followed by the others who were all intrigued. Aside from Wang Yan and Lin Jiaxue, the rest had never seen Tang Qing paint before, so they were very curious.
Tang Qing took a deep breath.
He closed his eyes, revisiting the details of Wei Yiyi, choosing a suitable background, deciding on the proportions. About twenty seconds later, he opened his eyes.
Tang Qing’s hand started moving.
The pencil danced like an elf on paper, Tang Qing’s hand moved continuously, forming almost an afterimage on the paper, starting with the outline, hair, facial features... From large to small, a figure was drawn at an unbelievable speed.
Slowly,
He made fine adjustments.
Filling in the background.
Beautifying the expressions.
In just ten minutes, a perfectly sketched human body leapt onto the paper. People who hadn’t seen it before opened their eyes wide, looking at Tang Qing like they were looking at a monster. At last, he signed the artwork, finishing it.
"Anything you want me to change?" Tang Qing asked Wei Yiyi.
Wei Yiyi shook her head as if she were a bobblehead doll, exclaiming, "No, you’re just amazing, it’s incredible." The picture of her had no unnecessary lines, especially the human expressions, which were so clear under Tang Qing’s hand.
If the human expressions in a pencil sketch are poorly done, the work can remind people of a memorial portrait.
However, in the drawing, Wei Yiyi’s eyes were full of emotion, she was full of the shyness and liveliness of a young girl. It was very in line with Wei Yiyi’s usual image, there was no way Wei Yiyi would utter a word of criticism.
"That’s good." Tang Qing handed the picture to a soldier to get it framed and put in a box, to prevent it from getting crumpled.
"Old Tang, can you draw one for my wife too?" Li Kai stepped forward.
"I want one too." Wang Yan also chimed in excitedly.
"Sure." Inspired, Tang Qing saw no harm in drawing more. Creating art was fun in and of itself. He started with Chu Lan, then Wang Yan, and finally, Li Kai also requested a picture, asking Tang Qing to make him look handsome.
When Li Kai’s picture was finished.
"This doesn’t look like you." Tang Qing shook his head and sighed.
"No, this is me." Li Kai looked at the beautified version of himself in the picture with satisfaction. The most important aspect was the background. He was wearing an ancient general’s uniform, gripping a blood-dripping sword. The cliff behind him projected a sense of heroic and domineering, yet a feeling of a hero’s twilight years.
"It’s not." Tang Qing continued shaking his head.
"It is..."
"Alright, let’s just say it’s you."
"Hehe, I’ll hang it up when I get back. Speaking of Old Tang, when are you going to be famous? I can sell it then." Li Kai carefully handed the drawing to a soldier.
"You’re going to sell your own portrait?"
"If it can make money, why not sell it? I can just get you to draw another one." Li Kai grinned as though this was to be expected.
"...Just go away." Tang Qing knew Li Kai was joking.
That night.
After Lin Jiaxue had fallen asleep from exhaustion, Tang Qing left the room. Seeing how worn out Lin Jiaxue was, he wondered whether he should take it a bit easier. At this rate, Lin Jiaxue would not be able to keep up.
Of course, there’s another solution, which is to find a way to enhance Lin Jiaxue’s physical fitness. Regrettably, there’s nothing in the system’s black tech at the moment that can help enhance others’ physical condition and spirit. He can only wait until the system gets upgraded a few more times.
The next upgrade.
Don’t even think about it happening within the next couple of months.
So distant, Tang Qing couldn’t help shaking his head. He also felt frustrated. The available tasks that could provide him with experience points were limited, and he couldn’t rush through them. There was no place to ’grind’ for levels. All he could do was to grit his teeth and endure.
Two minutes later.
In the command room.
"Tang Yi, how are the negotiations with Su Yu going?" Tang Qing had been worried about this matter, not because he feared problems - everything was under control. The sooner it was completed, the sooner he could be at ease.
"Reporting to the commander, Su Yu’s people gave us a satellite phone number. Ling had already spoken to Su Yu in the afternoon. He laid out our conditions for him. Su Yu has three conditions.
First, to form a strategic alliance with us to jointly defend against Myanmar. They can provide all the manpower, but we must provide the funds, necessary equipment, and materials, as well as ensure stability in the rear.
Secondly, loans provided by the Myanmar Bank to sell them basic equipment and construction materials, help them build highways and factories, train workers, and use their raw materials.
Thirdly, we are not allowed to station soldiers on their territory. All trade will be handled through a border trade center, responsible for trade transit. Exports of all products will be duty-free."
"Did he agree to our conditions?" Tang Qing then asked. Su Yu’s conditions weren’t too demanding. They were just being cautious with him. But what did that matter? The machinations of the command room were beyond Su Yu’s small calculations.
Tang Yi immediately replied, "There’s no big issue with the other ones, but Su Yu is hesitating about using the Asia Dollar as the internal settlement currency. He wants us to use the US dollar or other national currencies. However, Ling firmly rejected this suggestion. He told Su Yu that this was not negotiable."
"Hehe, Su Yu is indeed good at calculations. However, he does not hold any bargaining chips anymore. Let him think it over for a few days, I believe... he will agree." Tang Qing chuckled.
Negotiations.
It was always like this. Both sides would always raise seemingly unreasonable conditions and demands, but these are not important. The key is to understand the bottom line of the other party while sticking to one’s objectives.
What comes next.
Is the time for everyone to negotiate.
Su Yu is a smart man, and his wife is even ’smarter’. They won’t refuse.
PS: A new week is upon us, and I’m begging for votes as always. Please don’t ask me why I keep asking for votes, I won’t answer.
