The assistant shook his head. “I have already called to ask but it is Deputy Chairman Qin’s assistant who keeps answering the phone. He is giving me random responses without saying anything conclusive.”

“I see,” acknowledged Chairman Wang softly.

Chairman Wang’s phone rang as it sat on the table. The assistant leaned forward for a glance. Deputy Chairman Qin had called just when they were talking about him.

Chairman Wang paused slightly and then answered the phone. Before he was able to say something, Deputy Chairman Qin spoke first.

“Chairman Wang, do you know where the Chinese herb farmer lives?”

Deputy Chairman Qin was at the Chinese herb farm. As he spoke, he looked at the plant with leaves resembling bamboo leaves in the yard.

“He hails from a village in the South. I didn’t ask him in detail. Why are you suddenly asking this?” enquired Chairman Wang quizzically.

He knew Deputy Chairman Qin’s personality well. He was not the sort to ask about a mere Chinese herb farmer for no reason.

Deputy Chairman Qin sat down at the stone table. He did not reply to Chairman Wang’s question. Instead, he asked. “Since the client refuses to give us an extension, what should we do?”

Chairman Wang paused briefly before he said, “Have you heard from them?”

“I spoke to the client’s secretary privately to understand the situation,” replied Deputy Chairman Qin hesitantly.

Since Deputy Chairman Qin was in charge of the deal, Chairman Wang did not take it to heart when the former contacted the secretary privately. He said, “We are unable to make up for the difference immediately. If the client refuses to give us more time, we will have to compensate them somehow.”

Deputy Chairman Qin said solemnly, “A compensation sounds fair, but I am more worried about the association’s reputation. It took us a long time to earn credibility, so we have to do our best to make the client happy.”

Chairman Wang pressed his forehead. “In your opinion, what can we do about it?”

Deputy Chairman Qin raised his brow. He was waiting for Chairman Wang to say this. “We can find out if they are willing to accept some other Chinese herb instead.”

Chairman Wang shook his head. “It won’t do. I already made the suggestion to the client, but he refused to accept it.”

“He said no because you didn’t have what he wanted.” Deputy Chairman Qin rapped his fingers gently on the stone table as he spoke.

Chairman Wang narrowed his eyes. “What are you driving at?”

“The client’s secretary told me the client is looking for a rare Chinese herb. If we offer it to the client, our problems will be solved,” explained Deputy Chairman Qin.

“What herb does he want?” asked Chairman Wang.

“I don’t know what it’s called either, but the secretary did send me some pictures. I’m sending them to you now.”

Chairman Wang acknowledged him and hung up the phone.

Half a minute later, Chairman Wang received a picture on his phone. The moment he tapped on the image, he saw the image of an unknown Chinese herb. For some reason, it looked very familiar.

The herb’s leaves resembled bamboo leaves and looked very familiar to him.

His assistant took a glance at it. He was not a Chinese medicine expert, so he did not recognize it.

Before long, Chairman Wang recalled where he had seen it before. When he was at Mi Wei’s quarters, he had seen this Chinese herb. He had even asked Mi Wei what it was called.

However, Mi Wei never mentioned it to him.

Chairman Wang snapped out of his thoughts. No wonder Deputy Chairman Qin suddenly asked about Mi Wei.

He called Deputy Chairman Qin and asked bluntly. “Have you been to Mr. Mi’s quarters?”