Chapter 56

"Bro, you should know that I can't possibly come up with a few million dollars at once to hand over to you. Of course, I also understand that you need to secure funding based on your research results; we need to see results." Holding the contract, Qi Ping's heart was bleeding.

"I know, there's no problem with that. But I hope the first installment of funding can be in place. We still need a lot of equipment to prepare." Bruce nodded, not because Qi Ping was stingy or because he understood Qi Ping; it was just the current situation. The amount of funding they could get actually depended on the research results.

"OK, I'll allocate the first batch of $300,000 to you, but I hope you can get ready immediately. Clearly, my forest needs more protection." Since it was an investment, it was necessary to show a proper attitude; money shouldn't be given away for nothing. Qi Ping also needed to protect his own interests.

"No problem, our research team will be in place soon. We need to transport some necessary equipment, and we also need some time to adapt and adjust. However, we can guarantee that we will start the research within a week." Bruce nodded, as the head of the research institute, he needed to justify Qi Ping's sponsorship.

For Qi Ping, having an excellent team of experts was a significant boost for the development of the forest. For Bruce, after completing some work in the forest, he could focus on his research and studies.

This was a win-win situation, and both were very satisfied and excited about this collaboration.

Actually, for Qi Ping, the establishment of the research institute was just the beginning. There were still no effective solutions for the pest problems in the forest. What Qi Ping was doing now was to continue searching for good management methods, currently using some advanced organic farm pest prevention techniques.

Since there were no better methods available, he had to resort to some less efficient methods. Although the costs would increase, and the results might not be the best, there was no other choice. He couldn't let the situation worsen, at least not until he found better methods. For now, he had to use these less efficient methods.

For Qi Ping, this was one thing taken care of. Although there were no specific good methods yet, and he was still searching for better ones, investing in the research institute was worth it. He was looking forward to it. As for Professor Bruce's capabilities, Qi Ping had a lot of trust in him and was sure he would see some results.

Heartache, he really had no money left. After allocating the first installment to Bruce, Qi Ping even had no reserve funds. He carefully checked his pockets; he still had over a thousand dollars, which was not a small amount. Plus, he had less than $50,000 in his account, which was all the money he had.

He just needed to wait for the vegetable payments. The current vegetable sales were doing well, and Qi Ping felt he didn't need to worry about anything. He had already spent money where it was needed, and he could earn a decent income every day. So there was no need to worry; it was just that he didn't have much cash on hand, a small issue.

As time went on, with the vegetables receiving more and more recognition, the biggest gain for Qi Ping was the money he could earn. He could gradually increase production, which would naturally mean more earnings. There was no need to worry; it was just a bit tight for a few days. Once Luo Yi and the others delivered the vegetable payments, Qi Ping would be back on his feet.

Qi Ping could receive over $100,000 in vegetable payments each week, which was not a small amount. This number was also steadily increasing, from initially having little fame to now receiving more recognition. From initially only producing lettuce to now producing celery, and soon tomatoes and green beans, these would significantly increase Qi Ping's income.

So for Qi Ping, it was time to enjoy the success; he just needed to keep a little money aside. Fundamentally, he wasn't short of money. Although the next phase of development required a lot of spending, and some significant expenses, it didn't matter. Qi Ping believed he could handle these things.

"Boss, help me keep an eye on some auction houses or other connections in the country. If there are any good jade pieces, let me know." Now that he had some capital, he could consider further development, which naturally required high-quality jade, at least for the key core elements.

"Aren't you the one who sold two pieces of jade? Now you're feeling the pinch?" Qi Lei laughed, knowing his brother was doing well, so he couldn't help but tease him. "Rich people are different; now you're into high-end, sophisticated things. Tell me, what are your standards for the jade you're looking for? There's still a gap in our understanding, and your standards seem quite high."

"About 5 million RMB, or $300,000 to $500,000 in US dollars. It doesn't have to be large, but the quality is key." Qi Ping stated his requirements, which were indeed high. Good jade was hard to come by, and although he didn't have much money now, if good jade appeared, he would have to make an effort.

"Your expectations are really high, but since it's your money, I'll keep an eye out for you. If you really like jade, auctions might not be the best option. Isn't it true that gambling on jade is quite popular? If you really like jade, you should check it out yourself; that way, you have a better chance of getting good jade." Qi Lei agreed to help, as they were brothers, but he also offered his opinion, as he didn't really understand jade.

Qi Ping was taken aback; he hadn't really thought about it before.

Good jade was hard to come by, and there was a certain chance of finding good jade at auctions. However, the amount of jade that actually ended up at auctions was very limited. Too many jewelry companies controlled these channels, and they wouldn't just put top-quality jade up for auction. They would turn the jade into jewelry to maximize profits, or store it, which was a sign of their strength.

For Qi Ping, buying jade jewelry or ornaments was not cost-effective; the prices were much higher, and the processing of the jade could cause a loss of spiritual energy. The raw jade was the best option for Qi Ping.

Qi Ping now had a keen eye on auctions, and he wouldn't miss any good opportunities. However, he needed to open a new channel, as he needed a significant amount of top-quality jade, and even some lower-quality jade.

So, he could consider looking into jade gambling, but not to gamble himself. That required a keen eye and experience, which was too risky for him. He would wait for someone to open a piece of jade worth his investment, which would at least provide another channel for collecting jade.

For Qi Ping, it was time to consider stockpiling more top-quality jade, as they would have significant uses. With some capital now, he could prepare in advance, which was something he should do.