68: Happy cooperation

Xia Yunting was slightly stunned; a casual remark had actually received an active response.

Not only was there a response, but he could actually produce something.

The five hundred million in bridge financing hadn't been lent in vain.

He gently lifted a corner of the blue velvet; there was no dazzling jewelry, only a thread-bound ancient book.

The paper was yellowed and the edges slightly worn, but the binding was intact. The blue pages radiated a sense of history.

When the cover was fully revealed, the title "Modu County Annals" in upright and primitive Guange-style calligraphy struck him like a bolt from the blue.

Xia Yunting's eyes widened, and he stared at the book before him in utter shock.

The "Modu County Annals" was a foundational official record documenting the history, geography, and local customs of Shanghai before it opened its port.

Its historical, documentary, and cultural value simply could not be measured in money.

There were clear records that this book was one of the treasures destroyed at the Eastern Library.

Now, it had actually reappeared in the world and was right in front of him.

Xia Yunting dazed for a long time before muttering to himself, "Impossible, absolutely impossible... Wasn't this unique copy lost to the long river of history when the Eastern Library was burned down?"

Lu Fan spoke calmly, "Whether it is or not, won't you know once you take a look, Elder Xia?"

Xia Yunting held his breath, his hands trembling slightly as he picked up the volume.

He gently opened the cover; though the paper was old, the ink looked as fresh as new.

The title page was clearly engraved: Published by the Modu County Government in the third year of Jiajing, Ming Dynasty.

"Jiajing... 'Modu County Annals'..."

Xia Yunting's voice was nearly hoarse, his fingers hovering over the pages, his heart pounding incessantly.

He didn't even dare touch it again, for fear of damaging the volume.

After calming down a bit, he saw a seal stamped on the edge of the volume.

At a glance, Xia Yunting suddenly looked up and cried out in shock, "Eastern Library?!"

In the cultural and collecting circles of Shanghai, this name represented an indelible pain.

In 1937, during the Battle of Shanghai, the japanese launched a relentless bombardment, and the Eastern Library—the Far East's premier treasure trove of documents—was burned to the ground.

Countless rare editions and fine copies were turned to ash, causing immeasurable trauma to Shanghai's culture.

This was a permanent scar in the hearts of Shanghai's intellectuals and all book lovers.

"President Lu, where did you get this book?"

Xia Yunting's voice had completely changed pitch, filled with extreme shock and excitement as his eyes locked onto Lu Fan.

"Elder Xia, you should understand the rules of the trade: one doesn't ask about the source of the items!"

It was impossible to tell him. This thing came from 1937; if I dared to say it, would you dare to believe it?

"I understand, I understand..."

Instead of getting angry, Xia Yunting excitedly rubbed his hands and paced in circles. "Right, right, right... Don't ask what shouldn't be asked."

"Elder Xia, if this batch of books is correct, I'll find a way to bring them back."

Lu Fan immediately dropped another bombshell.

Hearing this, Xia Yunting could no longer sit still. "Bring them back, they must be brought back.

If you bring them back, it'll be a great achievement. Those five hundred million are just the deposit; if that's not enough, I'll give you another five."

"Elder Xia, it's not a matter of money. Things are a bit chaotic over there, and the items they need are difficult to procure."

Lu Fan felt bitter in his heart upon hearing this!

Right now, he didn't lack money; what he lacked were resources, like the materials for the bulletproof vests he urgently needed.

Even with money, he couldn't buy the finished products domestically.

Xia Yunting immediately understood what was going on. He waved his hand, signaling his assistant to leave the room.

Then, with a solemn expression, he asked, "Tell me, exactly what do you need?"

Lu Fan took a deep breath and composed himself. "I need to purchase aramid-carbon fiber fabric—the bulletproof kind."

After listening, the corners of Xia Yunting's mouth curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. "I thought it was something else. Just this?"

Lu Fan was stunned and repeated his request, "Elder Xia, I want the bulletproof kind."

Xia Yunting's smile didn't fade as he replied nonchalantly, "Mm... My family produces it, how could I not know?"

Lu Fan couldn't help but feel a surge of uncontrollable joy.

He had been worrying about how to obtain aramid-carbon fiber fabric, but he hadn't expected to run into the primary source right here.

For the upcoming Battle of Shanghai, he had already commissioned Lin Tianrong to purchase firearms in Eagle Sauce.

As for ammunition, he had the blueprints for an ammunition production line rewarded by the system, which he was already studying himself.

He had also already assigned the task of purchasing the necessary production parts.

Now, in terms of individual combat equipment, all that was missing were bulletproof vests.

Xia Yunting asked knowingly, "You can't eat it or wear it as clothes, so what do you want that stuff for?"

He could figure out even with his toes that Lu Fan was buying these things to produce bulletproof vests.

Under normal circumstances, he would never agree, but for the sake of that batch of ancient books, he was still taking a chance.

Just in case—if he could get a suitable excuse from Lu Fan's mouth.

Then he wouldn't mind pushing the boundaries a bit.

Lu Fan spread his hands and spoke as if nothing were wrong, "I don't want to know, and I don't dare to know. I'm only in charge of the procurement anyway.

As you said, one doesn't ask where things go, as long as the lost cultural relics are brought back."

"How much do you need?"

Xia Yunting pondered for a moment; in the end, his ultimate dream crushed everything else.

If he wanted to make the Modu Culture Museum a reality, he had to have impressive collections.

If he could secure the ancient books from the Eastern Library that were lost overseas, his dream of building the culture museum would be fully realized.

Lu Fan thought for a moment and answered honestly, "The other party didn't specify, so naturally, the more the better."

"Would slightly inferior Kevlar fabric work?"

Xia Yunting thought about it and offered an alternative.

The most advanced aramid-carbon fiber fabric was strategic material, and every bit was accounted for.

If he touched it, he'd be waiting to end up behind bars.

However, the lower-grade Kevlar fabric was different; there just happened to be plenty of stock in the warehouse.

Lu Fan didn't hesitate and immediately stated his position, "That works too, but the quantity can't be small."

Aiming high and getting the middle ground was still a decent result.

The bulletproof effect of Kevlar fabric was indeed slightly inferior to aramid-carbon fiber fabric.

But in 1937, as long as it was bulletproof, what more could one ask for?

Xia Yunting bypassed the sensitive topic and refocused on the books. "The Eastern Library's collection—how much do they have?"

Lu Fan shook his head and replied helplessly, "I don't know the specifics.

There are at least several crates of the county annals alone; I didn't look closely at the others."

Xia Yunting made a solemn request, "President Lu, there will be plenty of supplies, but I have one requirement.

As long as it's a book from the Eastern Library collection, you must bring it all back to me."

To find it after wearing out iron shoes, only to find it with no effort at all—how could he miss this opportunity?

Lu Fan patted his chest in guarantee, "Understood, just you wait! I'll haul their entire warehouse back."

This wasn't just empty talk; with his connections in 1937, while he couldn't guarantee other things...

Finding some books would be as easy as reaching into a bag.

At worst, he could just use the ones on his own bookshelf to make up the numbers.

Having received the guarantee, Xia Yunting could no longer hide his excitement. "President Lu, here's to a pleasant cooperation!"

"Elder Xia, a pleasure working together!"