Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Buying Equipment

After Zhang Yi finished reading the introduction to the safehouse, he immediately selected his service options. First, full reinforcement of the entire house—replacing the materials of the whole structure. The walls, ceiling, and floor would all be made of 100mm-thick steel plates. The windows would be fitted with bulletproof plexiglass. Next, the ventilation system would be upgraded with air filtration systems, ensuring that no harmful gases could enter from the outside. Finally, a full surveillance system would be installed, providing comprehensive, 360-degree monitoring inside and outside the house. As for the doors, they would all be replaced with heavy metal doors made of the same materials used in bank vaults—so tough that even bombs would have a hard time breaking through. In short, Zhang Yi had only one requirement: to turn his house into an impenetrable fortress! After selecting these options, Zhang Yi handed the tablet to Wu Huairen. When Wu Huairen finished reviewing it, he couldn't help but widen his eyes. A house with only 120 square meters, yet transformed into something like an iron fortress. "If you add weapons, this is practically a large-scale fort," Wu Huairen muttered. Hearing this, Zhang Yi's eyes flickered. "Oh? You know about fortifications?" Wu Huairen chuckled. "I used to be a mercenary abroad, so I know a lot about military weapons and equipment." A light bulb went off in Zhang Yi's head. He lowered his voice and asked Wu Huairen, "Then, do you know how to get guns?" This question made Wu Huairen's expression turn serious. In China, private ownership of firearms was not allowed. "Mr. Zhang, you must understand that, in principle, such things are illegal for private individuals to own," Wu Huairen replied in a low voice. "Are you dealing with some dangerous enemies, which is why you're so afraid?" Zhang Yi played along. "Exactly, I've crossed some people in the underworld. They're ruthless, and they have guns." "I was thinking of getting some weapons for self-defense. Otherwise, I'd just be a sitting duck hiding in my house." Wu Huairen smiled faintly. "Mr. Zhang, I'm afraid I can't help you with that. We're a legitimate company." But from Wu Huairen's eyes, Zhang Yi could tell that he wasn't incapable of getting guns—he just didn't want to get involved in something risky. Zhang Yi took a deep breath. Then, he said to Wu Huairen, "I'm spending over 8 million on this safehouse project. If something happens to me later, it wouldn't reflect well on your company either." He stared at Wu Huairen and said slowly, "I just want something for self-defense. If you help me with this, I'll make sure it's worth your while." Wu Huairen didn't respond immediately, frowning as he weighed his options. He certainly had the connections. But he wasn't sure of Zhang Yi's background and was understandably cautious about making introductions. "Go home for now. Although I can't do this myself, I can ask around. If I hear anything, I'll contact you," Wu Huairen said, clearly undecided. Zhang Yi didn't push too hard either—guns were indeed something that required caution. He smiled and said, "Alright, I'll wait for your news." "By the way, I'm in a bit of a hurry. Please make sure the safehouse is built as soon as possible." Wu Huairen replied, "We can have it completed in no more than half a month." After finishing the discussion, Zhang Yi signed the contract on the spot. He also paid a deposit of 1 million yuan. As for the remaining balance? Well, he had no plans to ever pay that in this lifetime. After leaving the Zhanlong Security office, the housing issue was mostly solved. Next, Zhang Yi got back into his car and called an acquaintance, Liu Yang. Liu Yang ran a hunting ground in Tianhai City, leasing hundreds of acres of land in Xishan where harmless small animals roamed for people to hunt for fun. He had many bows, crossbows, and air guns, all obtained through legal channels. Zhang Yi had visited the hunting grounds a few times before, so he had Liu Yang's contact information. He called Liu Yang, asking him to help purchase a batch of these weapons and even offered to pay extra for them. Liu Yang, being a businessman and someone who occasionally sought favors from Zhang Yi, readily agreed to the request. "Brother Zhang, why are you buying so much equipment? These things are only for hunting or personal use—you can't use them to harm anyone!" Liu Yang laughed as he asked, but there was a hint of caution in his tone. After all, he was the one selling the weapons, and if Zhang Yi ended up hurting someone with them, Liu Yang could be in trouble too. Of course, anyone who could run a hunting ground in Tianhai City had some backing. But there was no need for him to take unnecessary risks for a casual friend like Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi laughed heartily. "You're overthinking it! I've arranged a hunting trip to an African safari with some friends soon, so I need some extra gear!" Liu Yang clicked his tongue. "Wow, Brother Zhang, you really know how to have fun! But be careful, Africa has plenty of lions and hyenas." "Yeah, thanks. So, when can you get the equipment ready?" "Oh, I've got them in stock. Just come by when you have time to pick them up." Not one to waste time, Zhang Yi immediately drove to the Xishan hunting ground and bought everything on the spot. Time was precious to him now, and he couldn't afford to waste a single minute. From Liu Yang, Zhang Yi purchased five steel crossbows, three high-grade compound bows, and 300 arrows for both the crossbows and the bows. Additionally, he bought two excellent hunting knives. These knives were made of Damascus steel, extremely durable and sharp—unless used for extensive chopping of hard objects, they were nearly indestructible. The equipment filled his car's trunk to the brim. Looking at the pile of gear, Zhang Yi felt a deep sense of security. He hauled everything back home. Since all of it had been legally purchased, and he had even gotten a hunting license for recreational purposes, he wasn't worried about being questioned by the police. By the time Zhang Yi got home, it was already evening. Afterward, he went out again and treated himself to a hearty meal at Haidilao Hot Pot. Knowing that he'd have to make his own hotpot in the future, he immediately ordered 10,000 packs of Haidilao hotpot base. The staff at Haidilao were shocked, thinking Zhang Yi might be from a rival business trying to cause trouble. Fortunately, Haidilao's customer service was excellent, so they didn't confront Zhang Yi directly. Later, the store manager came over and, after a conversation with Zhang Yi, accepted the order—on the condition of cash payment, to prevent any sabotage attempts from competitors. Zhang Yi, always the straightforward spender, immediately paid over 1 million yuan on the spot. His generous spending made the manager so happy that they threw in an extra 500 packs for free.