Prince Charlie was now truly at a loss; he really hadn't expected that South Africa would take such decisive action.
The construction of the international airport, plus infrastructure, and three Boeing 77 planes...
That already amounted to ten billion.
Charlie now truly regretted showing off earlier. What was the point of shouting slogans? Now everyone was watching him because he had declared that this airport project was a sure thing.
Charlie now felt trapped.
He couldn't back out, or everyone would laugh at him. But if he competed, it had already exceeded ten billion, and Arica was a democratic country.
He spent over ten billion to acquire just a few Pills. How would he face the taxpayers back ho...
"Prince Charlie, do you wish to increase your bid?" Wu Die asked at the perfect mont.
Wu Die had organized auctions in Longxi for many years and was skilled at reading the room.
Although this was a fair, it was practically no different from an auction.
Wu Die naturally saw that Charlie was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. As long as he pushed a little, the other side would walk directly to the slaughterhouse.
After Wu Die spoke, everyone present turned their eyes to Charlie.
Charlie had said before that he would secure this project.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Charlie slowly stood up.
Now, he could only swallow his pride and preserve his face, regardless of the cost.
Charlie acted as if nothing had happened. "In addition to South Africa's offer, we will gift two additional Boeing 77s!"
He was joking, of course. Since he had co this far, he might as well go all the way. South Africa had already increased their offer by gifting planes, and as the Prince of Arica, his pride couldn't be less.
Boom...
After Charlie finished speaking, everyone present gasped in shock.
Another two planes were added.
With those two additional planes, the price was now approaching fifteen billion!
There were only sixteen Pills in total, and now the price was really one billion per Pill.
Ding Fan watched this fool from afar.
There are fools every year, but there are particularly many this year...
When Charlie increased his bid, the South Africans didn't imdiately respond. They ca to express gratitude, not to compete. The opposing offer had exceeded their budget, so naturally, they couldn't continue bidding.
"Prince Charlie of Arica, first call for the international airport project! Prince Charlie of Arica, second call for the international airport project.
... Prince Charlie of Arica, third call for the international airport project!"
Thud!
After calling three tis, Wu Die struck the wooden mallet.
"Congratulations to Prince Charlie of Arica for successfully investing in the Yongfan Island International Airport project," Wu Die said with a floral smile.
Although Prince Charlie seed carefree, he was inwardly devastated, unsure of how he would explain this to taxpayers back ho.
However, he managed to save face and also got sixteen Pills.
At this mont, an emcee brought over the sixteen Pills.
Charlie's secretary hurried to collect the sixteen Pills.
These sixteen Pills were incredibly precious, with each one costing nearly one billion. How could they not handle them with care?
Just then, Wu Die seized the opportunity to announce, "We are now announcing the Yongfan Island railway project. Commorative rewards include five Heart-soothing Pills and five Revitalizing Pills."
As soon as Wu Die finished speaking, the South African who previously competed with Prince Charlie stood up again.
"Before investing, I have a few words to say to everyone present."
Everyone was puzzled, not understanding what the South African intended to say.
However, with so many dia present, out of politeness, no one interrupted the South African's speech.
"I want to tell everyone that we would like to invest in this project, but we won't demand a single Pill..."
Everyone present was bewildered by the South African's words. What was this about?
People ca here to attend this fair hoping to get so Pills in return for investnt, but now the South African was saying they didn't want any Pills.
What on earth did this an?
Prince Charlie of Arica was also puzzled. He quietly watched the South African, curious about his intentions.
The South African continued, "Many might think I'm crazy for investing so much money without demanding Pills... Let explain, and you'll understand."
The South African paused deliberately before revealing the story.
Previously, the South African president had cancer, in its late stages.
The president of South Africa, who established the Republic of South Africa, was deeply supported by the public. With the president suffering, everyone sought ways to treat him.
When the president was critically ill, South Africa contacted Yongfan Island as a last resort.
After learning the situation, Yongfan Island imdiately sent soone via helicopter to the neighboring country's border and, using a series of diplomatic maneuvers, delivered the Revitalizing Pill to South Africa in less than a day.
And the president of South Africa, after taking that Pill, quickly made a full recovery.
When the South African spoke of this, his eyes were already a little red. "Dear friends, in such a situation back then, the whole nation was deeply saddened. We so wished to exchange our lives for the beloved president's life. And at that ti, it was the friends from Yongfan Island who extended their helping hand and assisted us. So, today I am here, not to obtain the Pill. I am here to express a bit of intention from South Africa. We just want to help Yongfan Island a little."
Upon hearing this, everyone present began to chatter again.
"Yongfan Island is indeed very humane."
"Yongfan Island is very considerate." ...
The South African looked around and said. "So, I thank everyone. Please don't compete with us and let us South Africans do sothing for the friends on Yongfan Island?"
After the South African finished speaking, it was unclear who started clapping first.
Soon, applause continued to ring out, and eventually, the entire venue was enveloped in it.
Ding Fan, at this ti, looked at Hu Jin next to him with full appreciation.
All these affairs were arranged by Hu Jin.
Back then, Ding Fan and Sun Qi were involved in Pill Concoction, and it was all organized by Hu Jin. If it weren't for Hu Jin's decisive actions, how could they have secured a brotherly nation like South Africa?
And just as everyone was applauding, Prince Charlie of Arica was so enraged he could barely stand it.
At this mont, he really wanted to run over and slap that South African, and then give himself a couple of hard slaps.
From the earlier speech, Charlie could understand.
The South African ca over precisely to invest in Yongfan Island. They ca over to give money to Yongfan Island.
And yet, he stupidly engaged in a hard-fought competition with them, and the saddest part was, he even won it.
But after this victory, not only did he not gain face and dignity, instead, he beca the laughingstock of everyone.
Charlie looked at that South African, he really wanted to go and kick him to death.
Couldn't you have refrained from saying these things? Now, he really had no face to continue staying here.
Originally, Charlie was thinking of finding Ye Ningbing to boast after the investnt summit was over, but now, what did he have to boast about?
Going to Ye Ningbing now would only provide the opportunity for ridicule, so without another word, he stood up directly, and with his secretary, left in a rush.
Ding Fan watched from a distance as Charlie left.
He just shook his head.
Sotis, there's truth in the saying.
If you don't court death, you won't die.
If Charlie hadn't been so overbearing, if he hadn't declared in front of everyone that the airport project was his, how could he have sunk so deep?
However, this also served as a lesson for Charlie...
Showing off leads to getting struck by lightning; it's best not to show off...
Now, because the South African expressed their stance, no one on-site competed with them anymore.
After all, there were still so many undeveloped and investnt-waiting areas on Yongfan Island. Letting the South Africans have this, to let them repay a debt of gratitude, also showed a certain magnanimity.
In the end, the South Africans secured the investnt for the railway network connecting the twelve towns of Yongfan Island and all the basic infrastructure contents.
As per regulations, the staff sent over five Revitalizing Pills and five Stabilizing Pills.
But the South Africans refused to accept them.
Ding Fan could see that they ca with sincerity. If they truly left with the Pills now, that sincerity would also be tainted.
So Ding Fan arranged for soone to retrieve the Pills directly.
At this mont, Ding Fan had already placed South Africa in his heart. From now on, South Africa would be a brotherly nation to Yongfan Island.
In fact, what South Africa didn't know was that, although they lost a few Pills, what they gained was even more than the Pills.
Later, when South Africa faced foreign invasion, the first country to stand up was Yongfan Island.
While other countries provided material support, Yongfan Island offered military support and force.
Of course, that's all for later. Let's leave it aside for now.
After South Africa won the competition for the twelve-town railway project, the next parts involved hospitals, schools, power, mountainous regions, etc., for investnt invites.
Everyone present started taking action, and within half a day's effort, they had already secured a dozen external investnt projects.
Wang Zhian and Xie Lingling were mainly in charge of urban planning.
When they brought in these investnt lists, they could hardly believe their eyes.
Knowing that if these projects all relied on their own efforts, it would take them at least several decades to complete them.
And now with investnts from these countries, Yongfan Island leaped ahead by at least fifty years!
Wang Zhian and Xie Lingling laughed.
Huang Can was also smiling from ear to ear.
After the mid-session break of the investnt summit, the State of Israel approached Hu Jin, expressing their willingness to donate two Heavy Destroyers, and willing to establish a long-term military sales relationship with Yongfan Island.
This was exactly what Yongfan Island lacked the most at the mont.
Although they had money now, they had no place to buy from, and now with Israel stepping up, they wouldn't have to worry about weapon acquisitions in the future...
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