Chapter 228 — Rejected Again

"What good opportunity?" Jeffs was utterly baffled by Li Shu; he still could not work out what on earth Li Shu was trying to say.

"I'm prepared to transfer the operating rights to the iron mine to you!" Li Shu tilted his head back as though announcing some tremendous piece of good fortune, and winked at Jeffs. "Of course, I can transfer my half-ownership of the gold mine to you as well. Well? Generous enough for you?"

"What? Transfer it to me?" Jeffs started, staring at Li Shu in astonishment.

"That's right. Well? Quite a surprise, isn't it? And at the original price!" Li Shu said, clapping Jeffs on the shoulder.

"The original price?" Looking at that beaming face, Jeffs suddenly recalled the rumor he had heard the night before—that Li Shu meant to transfer the operating rights of the gold mine to Bobby, and that Bobby had turned him down flat.

Yesterday, when he first heard it, Jeffs had not quite believed it; after all, with a thing like that, it was hard to say whether it was true or false. But today he believed it. Because Li Shu had come looking for him, Jeffs, wanting to transfer the iron mine and his ownership stake in the gold mine!

If Li Shu truly meant to transfer his holdings, then the ideal buyer for the gold mine was Bobby, since Bobby owned the other half. Yet Li Shu had come to him instead—which proved that yesterday's rumor was true!

Li Shu would only look for someone else after Bobby had refused; otherwise, why would he not transfer the gold mine to Bobby? That half-share of the gold mine's operating rights was worth the most to Bobby—only in Bobby's hands could the profit be maximized—while to anyone else it was plainly far less appealing.

So when Li Shu announced that he meant to transfer the operating rights of the half gold mine to him, Jeffs grasped the situation at once. If even Bobby dared not take it, how much nerve did he, Jeffs, have to accept it? Plainly, he did not.

"Yes, the original price. Well? That shouldn't be a problem for you, should it?" Seeing Jeffs's astonished expression, Li Shu thought nothing of it; he assumed the man was simply overwhelmed by the favor.

"That... the price is not really a problem for me." Jeffs might run only a small coal mine, but the profits in that line were beyond imagining, so even with just the one mine, his means were not thin. He could easily afford to buy out Li Shu's iron mine and the operating rights to half the gold mine.

But Jeffs dared not buy. Tempting as Li Shu's offer was, he was not a man who ignored the rules. To survive on this soil, one had to obey the rules of this soil.

A man whom even Bobby could not afford to offend—Jeffs did not even dare to think of crossing. He had no wish to offend some great personage for the sake of a momentary profit and end up unable even to run his coal mine.

So the only answer Jeffs could think of was refusal. Refuse he must.

"Since it's not a problem, then shall we discuss the details of the transfer?" Li Shu cut him off before Jeffs could finish.

"No, Mr. Li, hear me out first!" Jeffs raised a hand. "What I mean is, the price is not the problem—but I do not wish to buy the operating rights to your iron mine and gold mine."

"What!? You don't want to buy?" Li Shu's eyes went wide. "Jeffs, have you got this wrong? You don't want to buy? Didn't you tell me before that you wanted to own more mines?"

"Oh... yes, yes, but that was then, not now. I've changed my mind now. I'm content to run my little coal mine in peace—I'm satisfied. Yes, satisfied, that's it!" Jeffs spoke somewhat incoherently; after all, he and Li Shu had always gotten along well, and refusing him outright made him feel rather apologetic.

Still, he truly could do Li Shu no favor. At the same time, he felt a certain resentment toward Li Shu. The man had plainly offended some great personage and had to get rid of his mines quickly and leave this place—yet he insisted on playing the savior, as though he were bestowing some enormous favor. It disgusted Jeffs!

Jeffs did not believe for a moment that Li Shu was ignorant of all this. If he did not know he had offended someone, why would he sell off his operating rights? And at the original price, no less? Only if his brain had been pierced through!

After all, how hard-won were these mining rights! Even a transfer could not possibly be at the original price—yet Li Shu insisted on the original price. That alone was enough to set a man thinking!

Originally Jeffs had intended to tell Li Shu about the rumors circulating outside, but now Li Shu seemed to be taking him for a fool, and that Jeffs could not tolerate. So he decided not to tell Li Shu the rumors he had heard yesterday. Let the fellow stay in the dark.

"You... what on earth is going on? Jeffs, you're not joking, are you? Such favorable terms, and you're not tempted?" Seeing Jeffs refuse, Li Shu was at a loss. He had been so confident that, unless Jeffs was a fool, he would surely buy the iron mine and the operating rights to half the gold mine. But his hopes had crumbled once again!

It was just like the contrast before and after he went to see Bobby yesterday—his heart could scarcely bear it.

Jeffs sneered inwardly. Not tempted? That was a lie—but one had to have the means to be tempted! That sort of contest between great personages was not something a man at his level could join.

And Li Shu, the sacrificial lamb, could only be sacrificed as nature took its course.

"I truly am not tempted, and I have no interest," Jeffs said, assuming an air of cool indifference. He was beginning to loathe the sight of Li Shu's face.

"No interest? How is that possible?" Li Shu stared at Jeffs, unwilling to give up. "You can't be joking with me? It's not funny at all. Think about it—the chance is rare, and I came to you first. If you don't want it, there's a whole queue of people waiting to take it over. You know we two have always been on good terms—that's why I contacted you first! I don't want anyone else getting the bargain!"

Jeffs felt sick to his stomach. Looking at that face that lied without so much as a blush, he shook his head silently. "No. Let someone else have the bargain."

Came to him first, did he? Jeffs nearly laughed aloud on the spot. Then what was yesterday's visit to Bobby—the zeroth time? If one could count it that way...

A bargain? This was nothing short of a trap! Thank goodness his information was good and he had learned a few secret things; otherwise he might have foolishly bought up Li Shu's mines, and then—forget about his money going to waste—whether he could even keep his footing here would be in doubt!

Thank heaven Li Shu had not come to him first! Otherwise, Jeffs might well have fallen for it! A narrow escape indeed! Still, after all these years of dealing, Jeffs decided to drop Li Shu a hint before leaving. "Mr. Li, these two mines of yours—they're doing perfectly well. Why do you want to transfer them?"

"Uh... oh, it's like this. My business in Singapore is having some cash-flow trouble. I need to dispose of the iron mine and the operating rights to half the gold mine as quickly as possible, so I can use the money to cover the shortfall there!" Li Shu casually spun a lie.

Jeffs shook his head and gave up on his last attempt to hint Li Shu. This man was not worth his hints. Even now, he was still lying—which infuriated Jeffs.

He had paid the mining contract fee only yesterday, and today he was already desperate for money. Either his brain had flooded, or it was pure nonsense.

"Good luck to you. I truly have no interest in your iron mine or your half gold mine." Jeffs patted Li Shu on the shoulder and walked out of the room. The bowl of white congee set before him—he had not touched a single mouthful.