If it weren’t for Hall’s special reminder, Samuel Young really wouldn’t have known about this unspoken rule.

His English was quite good, and with Hall’s help, he quickly finished filling out the documents one by one.

Then there were even more documents to fill out.

Large-scale land transactions are a hassle in any country, especially since the South African government is notoriously slow and bureaucratic, making things even more troublesome.

During this time, Hall took a phone call. When he returned, he said, “Young, the detailed appraisal results for your eighteen diamonds are out. Our company’s precious metals and gemstones department colleagues have valued them at 3.38 million rand.”

3.38 million rand is about 1.19 million RMB. All eighteen diamonds are of very good quality, with the largest one close to four carats. Such a diamond could fetch 1.2 million in China’s luxury market.

But there’s no way around it—loose diamond transactions aren’t the same as selling luxury goods. Diamonds are all about the brand; without brand value, they’re not worth much.

Facing Hall’s questioning look, Samuel Young pondered for a moment and said, “The price your colleague gave is basically 3.4 million rand. He left me a margin of 20,000, right?”

Hall nodded. This trick might fool the black guys, but not the Chinese.

Samuel Young said, “Then I want 3.5 million rand. Help me negotiate with him. We’ll split the extra 100,000 rand—50,000 each.”

Hall readily replied, “Leave it to me. If we split anything above 3.4 million, I can get you 3.6 million.”

That’s reality.

After deducting Hall’s 100,000, out of the 3.6 million, 3.5 million belongs to Samuel Young, but this money is taxable.

Hall helped Samuel Young plan: “This money can be used for tax avoidance. You take 2 million to buy land in the reserve, then sign an investment and construction plan contract for the reserve with the Department of Agriculture and Land. Sign a contract for 2 million. According to the new policy, if all 3.5 million is invested in land, you don’t have to pay tax.”

“As for the 2 million contract, don’t worry about it. The Department of Agriculture and Land has a new policy to encourage investment in land and agriculture, allowing these contracts to be broken.”

“You’re a real talent.” Samuel Young gave him a thumbs up.

From the morning when he arrived at the Department of Agriculture and Land, Samuel Young had been constantly signing and submitting documents. Then, after a quick lunch of bread, they continued working, and it wasn’t until 4 p.m. that all the paperwork was finally submitted.

Once the documents were approved, Samuel Young took the temporary ID he got from the police station and went to Standard Bank South Africa to open a bank card. The 3.6 million in cash was quickly transferred into it.

Standard Bank South Africa is the largest bank in all of Africa, and it has a Chinese connection: in 2008, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China acquired a 20% strategic stake in the bank for $5.5 billion, becoming its largest shareholder.

So, when Samuel Young opened his bank card, everything went smoothly—his status as a Chinese international student was a big help.

The 3.6 million had barely warmed his pocket before 100,000 was transferred to Hall, 2 million was taken by the Department of Agriculture and Land, and he withdrew another 10,000 in cash for Hall to discreetly slip to a leader at the Pietermaritzburg Department of Agriculture and Land. In the end, he was left with only 1.49 million.

Making money is like constipation; spending money is like diarrhea.

The 10,000 rand was well spent—half an hour later, the land ownership certificate was ready. A plot of land totaling 404 hectares, or 1,000 acres, was now under his name.

Land in South Africa, like in Europe and America, comes with permanent ownership.

When he got the certificate, he felt a bit dazed. It all felt like a dream. Just yesterday morning, he was lying on a camp bed in the Cape Plant Reserve watching the rain, and now he was the owner of a large tract of land next to the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park…

“Life is unpredictable!” was all he could say.

It was a pity he didn’t have his phone with him, or else he would have had to post a flashy update on his Moments.

Ever since he got into grad school, he hadn’t had a chance to show off. When he first went abroad, he did show off a bit in his Moments, but once relatives and friends found out he was in Africa for an exchange program and not for travel, they started treating him like a fool.

In the past, villagers would tell their kids, “You have to study hard and take Elder Young as an example—go to university in Shanghai, then do graduate studies in Beijing, and get a secure government job in the future.”

Now, villagers tell their kids, “You have to be smart—don’t be like Elder Young, foolishly getting sold off to Africa like a piglet.”

Before, when he called home, his mom would always mention this aunt or that cousin wanting to set him up with some girl. Ever since he came to Africa, she hasn’t brought up matchmaking even once.

After everything was done, Hall checked his watch and said directly, “It’s past five now. We’ll be back at the resort town by 7:30—perfect timing. I’ll treat you to dinner to celebrate.”

Samuel Young chuckled awkwardly, “Are you sure you can drive back? Isn’t that too exhausting?”

He thought they could just stay in the city for the night.

Hall snapped his fingers easily and said, “SO EASY.”

There were fewer cars on the way back, so they drove even faster than when they came!

But this time, Samuel Young wasn’t worried—he fell asleep as soon as he got in the car.