Chapter 35 (1/2)

The incident pa.s.sed quietly. Huang Qunsheng got up early the next morning, and after having woken Huang Xuan up, he started packing. He would go to Sao Paulo University as a visiting scholar. For the sake of safety, Huang Xuan had to follow his father.

Xihuang Industrial Company found them a small villa, which was about 300 square meters, less than two km away from the university. If they got up early in the morning, they could even walk there. Huang Qunsheng loved the surroundings and took it readily. Huang Xuan didn't have much say in this kind of issue. He would have to audit cla.s.ses at Foreign Language Academy of Sao Paulo University and spend three hours per day learning from a tutor, whose name was Da Silva, Huang Qunsheng's interpreter offered by Xihuang Industrial Company before a better candidate appeared. Da Silva was over 30, a person of mixed blood between Chinese and Brazilian, who spoke bad Chinese but interpreted Portuguese correctly.

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese. However, because it is geographically far from Portugal and because of years of political and cultural influence, Portuguese dictionaries aren't of much use here. Brazilians usually could speak basic Spanish but didn't speak English well. Certainly, even if every Brazilian could speak English fluently, it wouldn't help Hung Xuan much. Rolin could be the interpreter, but considering the distance, he was too cheap to speak. According to him, ”Saving energy is superior to communicating.” Huang Xuan's father could only speak English and a little Latin, and often had difficulty talking with Brazilians. Luckily, the staff of Sao Paulo University spoke good English and could communicate with Huang Qunsheng freely.

Regarding the language, Zhang Xinyi couldn't do much either but hoped that Huang Qunsheng could spend some time educating Huang Xuan. As to the result, the past 15 years spoke for themselves.

Rolin was working hard to translate materials, but since his energy supply totally depended on Huang Xuan, the domestic supply couldn't meet the base's increasing needs anymore. To transmit energy to the base from Brazil, the base had to be moved. Whether or not it was worth it was a major question.

Brazil's nuclear power was developed, but it was state-owned. On the other hand, it was the world's biggest bioenergy producer, mainly in biodiesel and ethanol fuel. It produced 2.1 billion L of ethanol fuel every year. When this number was translated, Huang Xuan seemed to have heard Rolin swallow his saliva.

”Actually, I do not only consume electricity,” said Rolin.

Huang Xuan was tempted by the number too, but it was like at home right now. His mom had told him to watch more and talk less. He looked at the materials on the computer and couldn't make his decision. ”Rolin, what about me buying out another energy-consuming enterprise like an aluminum factory?” he pried.

”It'll do.” Rolin didn't show much enthusiasm. ”In one week or so, the base will have enough energy to be upgraded to level 21. Then it will daily consume 500,000 kWh of energy, which requires not only a steady energy channel but also an adequate supply. Otherwise, it won't be necessary to move the base.”

”How can it be unnecessary? I need your help,” Huang Xuan thought. However, according to the industrial electricity cost at home, 500,000 kWh would cost ¥300,000, which meant nine million per month. Although he had 200 million dollars right now, the operating rights belonged to his parents. All he could dispose of was just about one million.

Thinking this, he sighed. Half a month ago, he had had ten million, but now he had been demoted by one grade. He was afraid that he would be in debt in a few days.

”Rolin, the auction of ancient books is in the next few days, isn't it?” Thinking of what he had got at the last auction, Huang Xuan felt his needs for the auction had become a lot stronger.

”In three days.”

”Then contact Liu Ziqing for me. Even if I can't be on the spot, I want to hear about it.”

”OK.” Rolin had become more and more civil as Huang Xuan gave him more and more energy. The mention of killing never happened again. Privately, Huang Xuan thought it was not only related to authority but also due to priority. Of course, he was just guessing.

Soon, Liu Ziqing was on the phone. Huang Xuan skipped the courtesy and asked directly, ”Mr. Liu, how's the preparation for the auction going?”

”We've invited about 150 customers. Most of them are wealthy enough to vie for your articles.” He then congratulated him by saying, ”I've heard that you have gone to Brazil to study. Will you come back for the auction?”

Naturally, going to Brazil to study was just an excuse. Huang Xuan could at most be called a visitor. He smiled and replied, ”I won't, but I need a favor.”

”Sure. Go ahead, please.”