"In any case, don't let this matter spread out," Tang You stammered for a long time before finally squeezing out a response.
As the daughter of a coal boss, Tang You wasn't particularly afraid of things like kidnapping. In Potou and E City, there were lots of second-generation coal heirs.
However.
After making money, Tang You's father shut down several of the original mines. He kept sighing, regretting the desertification of part of the grasslands due to the reckless mining in the past.
Back then, there was no environmental concept of green hills and clear waters as gold and silver mountains. Everyone was struggling just to eat, so being a bit wild in the name of profit seemed reasonable.
Even though efforts have been made later to compensate by restoring the devastated land and undertaking afforestation, Tang You has always felt a little guilty deep inside.
The current sandstorms are all caused by desertification from reckless pasturing by Outer people.
Those damned sandstorms even reached Lingren's hometown.
But over a decade ago...…
Besides natural factors, her family was actually partly to blame for the sandstorms that plagued the Imperial Capital and the four provinces.
Her family was indeed very wealthy, but Tang You felt embarrassed to admit it. She chose to study environmental science not only because of her dad's suggestion but mainly due to his influence, ultimately opting for the Environmental Resources Department at the Agricultural Research Institute.
Returning to revitalize one's hometown isn't a bad thing.
Watching one's hometown transform step by step—from an occasional storm-struck desert to today's fairy-tale town, where any casual photo will be criticized for oversaturation—brings some satisfaction.
......
After lunch in the scenic area, they hurried back due to wealthy merchants arriving to purchase cattle and sheep.
Tang You's grandparents, being elderly and having high blood pressure due to the high-salt, high-fat Northern Region diet, were unable to go out in the heat of the day and needed a constant temperature environment to feel comfortable.
Originally, Tang Lian should have handled the reception, but his phone had been unreachable, so Tang You's grandfather had no choice but to call her to meet with the businessman.
"Oh? Sister Lin?"
Arriving at the hotel in Potou City, Ah Qing immediately spotted Lin Bingyun smiling amidst the crowd, gracefully dealing with the people around her.
With wide eyes, Ah Qing called out to her.
Lin Bingyun.
Ah Qing had met her several times. In the early morning, at the small farmer's market, Lin Bingyun occasionally appeared.
However, real acquaintance came through an introduction by Lin Ying. Previously, they had merely exchanged glances due to living two doors apart.
"It's been a while, Miss Yu," Lin Bingyun smiled when she saw Ah Qing, nodding slightly to her and Mr. Foxy.
"Hey, that's too formal..." Ah Qing waved her hands awkwardly at Lin Bingyun, "Just call me Ah Qing, using 'Miss' makes it feel weird."
"Alright."
Lin Bingyun smiled and said, "It's quite a coincidence. One reason I came to the Northern Region today is your livestream, and I ended up meeting you in person here."
"Me?" Ah Qing was surprised, not understanding the reason.
"Yes, during your previous live stream for the Home of Strays, my young mistress happened to view it from start to finish. And with the upcoming National Day, she sent me to the Northern Region to purchase a batch of holiday gifts for the little ones to be donated."
"Home of Strays, while being a charitable endeavor, also helps to eliminate hidden threats in the city, thus we should not betray people's goodwill."
Smiling, Lin Bingyun explained the reason, praising her mistress's kindness, and using a grand justification to cover some minor trivialities.
Even though buying fresh lamb for pets involves spending one's own money, it inevitably carries an air of extravagance.
Nominally, it doesn't sound flattering.
But stray cats and dogs huddling in the city actually pose significant danger.
Just like a pack of wolves if dogs assemble.
And the existence of the Home of Strays eliminated such threats, contributing to stability, whether for people or dogs.
"Huh? Auntie, why are you here?" Tang You noticed a sensual beauty amidst the crowd and inquired, surprised.
"Uh...."
Luo Liwen was also surprised to see Tang You, as if not expecting this homebody to be outdoors: "I'm here for business. What brings you here? Shouldn't you be home, curling up like a caterpillar?"
"I'm here for business too. My grandpa said a businessman with the last name Lin wanted to buy beef and lamb," Tang You replied to her aunt.
"A businessman named Lin?" Luo Liwen turned, instinctively looking towards Lin Bingyun, with a somewhat subtle expression:
"Are you talking about Lin Bingyun?"
"I think so... Do you know her, Auntie?" Tang You took out her phone to check a WeChat message from her grandfather, which had the businessman's name and number.
"......." The corner of Luo Liwen's mouth twitched.
Know her?
Of course, the wind power project in our family was invested by this big donor.
I was even thinking that business is doing well, so I'd bring the report to try and attract more investment.
......
Lin Bingyun could accurately locate Mr. Foxy not just because she enlisted the help of the Security Bureau, but primarily by leveraging her connections at Lin Group Holding Company to pinpoint his precise location.
Otherwise.
With Mr. Foxy's habit of not carrying a phone or wearing a tracking band when going out, how could anyone find the fox?
Lin Group has investments in wind power and mining in the Northern Region, which gives them some influence. However, Lin Bingyun was not there for business but for Mr. Foxy.
Seeing Mr. Foxy, Lin Bingyun's separation anxiety was greatly relieved.
Together with Ah Qing and others, she went to the ranch of Tang You's family for an on-field investigation and discussed the quantity of cattle and sheep to be ordered.
Initially, Lin Bingyun planned for 4,000 sheep and 300 cattle.
However, the cattle and sheep wouldn't be delivered all at once but spread over three months, with some parts requiring processing.
Lin Bingyun's requirements weren't complicated; she wanted the beef made into jerky and the cow bones dried, to which Tang You readily agreed.
Although her family didn't own that many sheep, other families in the village did!
In total, the village had over ten thousand cattle and sheep, multiplying like cell division.
"Baa baa baa——"
Uninterested in business, Ansheng hid in the shepherd's quarters in the sheep pen, legs spread wide, enjoying the air-conditioning.
However, it wasn't long before cries of sheep could be heard from the entrance.
'Mr. Foxy….. Brother Knife is about to be cut, hurry, the black-skinned rabbit.'
A clever sheep who saw Mr. Foxy repeatedly rammed against the wooden door of the residence, asking him to come to the rescue, as Knife-sheep was currently facing off with the rabbit, but the rabbit had brought reinforcements, and both sides were intensely heated.
Brother Knife's sheep head was about to be turned into a dog's head.
"Hmm?"
"Who dares to act recklessly in Lord An's territory?"
Upon hearing there was a Spirit Beast battling nearby, Ansheng's interest was piqued as he switched from his previously relaxed state to business mode.
Standing up, Mr. Foxy surveyed the room, preparing to find a handy weapon.
However, after scanning the room, there was nothing heavy enough except for the sofa, the air conditioner, and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner.
Mr. Foxy thought for a bit, then sneakily moved to a collapsed sheep pen, hooked a little paw under a fallen wooden support beam.
The beam slowly and silently disappeared.
Mr. Foxy hoisted the beam onto his shoulder, while his tiny fox paw hooked onto the sheep's horn, and with one exertion, he lifted the sheep upside down.
"Don't waste words, show Lord An the way quickly!"
"Baa???"
With all four legs flailing in terror, the sheep experienced for the first time the sensation of lightning-fast speed.