Chapter 51: Grandfather, Striving for the Rise of Magical Plants

Li Shuyun came to see Qian Qi regarding the matter of the Fire Qilian.

Originally, she should have asked about it yesterday, but because Qian Qi was busy with her dueling match, she had no choice but to wait until today.

After a brief pause, Li Shuyun probed tentatively, "Junior, do you remember, a week ago you mentioned considering selling the cultivation method of the Fire Qilian to me?"

"Oh, right!"

Qian Qi slapped her forehead, remembering the matter. "I've thought about it. Ten million, and I can sell you the cultivation method for the Fire Qilian."

This price could practically be considered a gift. After all, once someone mastered the cultivation method for the Fire Qilian, that amount of money could be earned back in no time.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this price, Li Shuyun's expression turned somewhat troubled.

Ten million was a significant burden for both the Magical Plant Research Institute and the Li family. The Magical Plant Research Institute had not received funding for many years, and the Li family had been funding it out of their own pockets. Because of this matter, her parents and grandfather had already quarreled quite a bit.

However, she also knew that once the Fire Qilian could be mass-produced, all this money could be recouped.

She just hoped her grandfather could borrow some money from friends and relatives first to tide things over.

Li Shuyun lowered her head and said to Qian Qi, "Junior, this amount is a bit high. Please give me one night, and I'll have my family prepare the funds."

"Alright~" Qian Qi was not in a hurry either. She waved her hand and went into the dormitory.

Li Shuyun stayed in place for a moment. After snapping back to her senses, she went downstairs to a quiet, deserted spot, opened her optical computer, and dialed a video call to her grandfather.

"Hello? Yunyun, how did the price discussion go?" On the other end, Li Hongsheng, who had been waiting for his granddaughter's call, asked excitedly. Clearly, this past week had been extremely agonizing for him.

Li Shuyun gave a light cough and slowly began, "Grandpa, the other party said ten million..."

Before she even finished, Li Hongsheng's eyes widened so much that the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were almost smoothed out. "Ten million? So expensive, why doesn't she just go rob someone? Even if you sold me, it wouldn't add up to ten million!"

Li Shuyun: ......The problem is that you aren't worth that much either......

"Didn't you tell her that you are the granddaughter of the director of the Magical Plant Research Institute?! And the granddaughter of the dean of the Magical Plant Department!" Li Hongsheng couldn't help asking.

Li Shuyun: "Well... she should know, everyone in our academy knows..."

No, perhaps Qian Qi really didn't know. After all, she used to be extremely unsociable, wandering around all day doing goodness knows what; she probably wouldn't pay attention to who she was.

"Then didn't you mention that I am the one who wants to buy her cultivation method?" Li Hongsheng paced back and forth anxiously on the spot. "Ten million, where on earth am I supposed to find ten million? My research institute is practically on the verge of bankruptcy..."

Li Shuyun was also helpless. "I didn't say it... I felt that... even if I brought up your status, it wouldn't work."

A person like Qian Qi did not look like someone who would bow to authority. She could swindle the principal every which way, let alone her grandfather, whose head was entirely filled with "striving for the rise of magical plants."

She felt that if her grandfather came to the school, he would be swindled into bankruptcy by Qian Qi...

"No! I'm going back to the school tomorrow to see this Qian Qi in person!" Li Hongsheng made his decision on the spot and told Li Shuyun, "You arrange the time for me. I must see her tomorrow morning!"

"I think..." Li Shuyun wanted to persuade him otherwise, but unexpectedly, Li Hongsheng had already hung up the phone and was preparing to set off for the school.

Li Shuyun silently wiped her face.

This old man was still as stubborn as ever. Forget it, she might as well get a new towel ready for her grandfather tonight.

She just hoped he wouldn't be aggrieved enough to cry tomorrow.

Before that... Li Shuyun carefully weighed her words and sent Qian Qi a message.

Soon, she received Qian Qi's reply agreeing to meet and talk.

Li Shuyun couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. It seemed Junior Qian Qi was quite easy to talk to; as long as it involved money, she would fulfill her duties diligently.

This was a conclusion Li Shuyun had reached through observation. After all, Qian Qi charging first-year magical plant students to sign contracts for teaching them how to cultivate magical plants was something they, as sophomores, had also heard whispers about. Quite a few classmates had even been eager to try, only to be politely declined by the busy Qian Qi.

However, Li Shuyun soon began to worry about tomorrow's negotiations again.

"I just hope Junior Qian Qi won't beat up my aging, proud grandfather. He's old and can't take a beating..." Li Shuyun muttered to herself as she walked back to her dormitory.

Early in the morning, the moment Qian Qi stepped outside, she was intercepted at the doorway by a classmate from her class.

"Qian Qi! Save my magical plant!" The classmate looked anxious. "I don't know what happened to my Seven-Ribbed Ghost Flower, but white spots suddenly appeared on it. It's not some terminal illness, is it?"

Qian Qi gathered her coat and patted the other person's shoulder to signal him to calm down. "Don't panic, small problem. Wait until I get back, we'll talk about it then."

The classmate looked puzzled. "Where are you going?"

Qian Qi waved her hand. "Going to the office to handle some major business, negotiating a big partnership."

The classmate's mouth dropped open in astonishment.

Going to the city to handle business? And negotiating a big partnership? Having not seen her for a few days, Qian Qi had actually developed to such an impressive degree!

Meanwhile, Qian Qi, who was heading to the "office" to handle business, let out two long yawns and walked into the principal's office with sleepy, heavy eyes.

From the moment the door of the principal's office opened, Li Hongsheng, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately stood up, fixing all his attention on the student entering.

A child who could research the cultivation method of the Fire Qilian must be an excellent student with a great passion for learning. Her personality surely had to be gentle, polite, and modest; bargaining with her would definitely lower the price a bit, and if she gave it away for free, that would be even better.

However, the moment his eager, expectant gaze landed on Qian Qi, Li Hongsheng's heart sank with a heavy thud, and he felt like he was doomed.

The bird's-nest-haired punk in front of him was wearing an unclean, sleeveless white T-shirt. Below a pair of loose, baggy black shorts, a pair of flip-flops lazily dragged across the floor, making a long, dull scraping sound that made "him" look thoroughly slovenly and dragging.

While raising a hand to yawn, "he" squinted a pair of small, swollen eyes, picking at "his" ear with zero regard for image. At first glance, "he" looked nothing like a proper, good student.

In particular, upon seeing the principal, "he" unceremoniously gave a "yo" greeting, the tone as rguish as could be: "Yo~ Principal, you're up pretty early. Have you had breakfast yet?"

There was even a hint of a rustic accent in the words. The principal standing nearby silently covered his face and pulled at the stiff-bodied Li Hongsheng, wanting to make him sit down.

He had told him not to be too enthusiastic toward Qian Qi, or she would take a mile if given an inch!

"This is..."

Qian Qi looked at the elderly man in the white lab coat standing beside the principal. Recognizing him from his appearance, she immediately reached out both hands with great enthusiasm and grabbed Li Hongsheng's wrist.

"Oh my! So this is Senior Li's grandfather! You really look... um, quite spirited! I almost didn't dare recognize you!"

Li Hongsheng: ......

You couldn't find any words to compliment me, so you just had to say I look spirited, right?!

Li Hongsheng carefully looked Qian Qi up and down, and asked with somewhat strained difficulty, "You are Qian Qi?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Qian Qi nodded repeatedly, her small, weathered face blooming with a brilliant smile. "Is the ten million ready? Let's make it quick, I have classmates waiting for me to go back and answer their questions!"

With Qian Qi cutting straight to the point, Li Hongsheng was instantly forced into the passive position. As someone who frequently sought out investment, how could Li Hongsheng fail to notice that Qian Qi was attempting to seize control of the negotiation?

Unwilling to be outdone, he pointed to the chair opposite him and said, "There's no rush for that matter. Have a seat first."

Li Hongsheng having Qian Qi sit down was an invisible display of his status as the host in the principal's office, attempting to retake control of the business deal.

Unfortunately, Qian Qi had already thoroughly investigated Li Hongsheng's personal background and his notoriously impoverished gossip. How could she let him have his way?

Wanting to bargain? Impossible.

Wanting a freebie? Even less of a chance.

She waved her small hand and said with a breezy, careless tone, "No need! A matter that can be resolved in two minutes, why bother sitting down? If you're not in a hurry, just come find me whenever you actually are in a hurry!"

With that, she nonchalantly ignored Li Hongsheng, turned to the principal beside her, and asked, "Principal, do you have anything to eat here? I haven't had breakfast yet, I'm so hungry! If nothing else, just give me a glass of water!"

Principal: ...... "No!"

Watching Qian Qi ignore him and start chatting with the principal, Li Hongsheng instantly understood that he had run into a tough opponent.