December 23, 2026, Jade Khanate
Madan slumped in his chair in frustration, his eyes blank, wondering what he was thinking. Camilla standing aside seemed at a loss and said:
"Mr. Madan, I'm really sorry that a box of caviar has caused you such trouble. I also took it through customs when I returned to Sailing City, and it was never fine. I'm so sorry for you!"
"I'm so unlucky that I can't blame you. Camilla, you mean well, I know." Madan spread his hands and continued:
"Anyway, thanks to you and your wife, thank you for bailing me out, otherwise I would have to spend the night in the detention center."
Bashir patted Madan on the shoulder and said:
"Bailing you is what we should do. You are our best friend. Besides, how could we ignore our most important partner?" Bashir continued:
"It's just that your passport has been withheld, and you are asked not to leave the Jade Khanate before the trial. Very sorry!"
"It's such a pity that you can't go back to Xiangmo City for Christmas. Have you contacted your family?" Camilla said.
"Yes, I just called my brother Alfonso and asked him to make up a reason for me. I don't want my mother to worry about me. My brother was very shocked that I was in the Jade Khanate and insisted on coming here. Look at me and say you want to hire a good lawyer for me.”
"When will he come? Does he have a Jade Khanate visa?" Camilla seemed not familiar with the Jade Khanate's entry visa regulations.
"My brother holds a passport from country F. From Schengen countries, you need a visa on arrival to the Jade Khanate. You only need to pay 50 US dollars. He said he would catch the earliest flight, otherwise he would not be able to spend Christmas with peace of mind." Madan replied.
In the evening, Alfonso came to Camila's farm with the Sinjar lawyer hired at a high price.
Camilla ushered the guests into the living room, and Madan rushed over to hug Alfonso aggrievedly.
After everyone introduced each other, Bashir and Kamila prepared to get up and avoid it. Madan said: "I have nothing to hide from you. I feel at ease when you are here."
The host and guests were seated, and Camilla was busy serving tea and watermelon to the guests.
The lawyer took out the tape recorder and, with Madan's consent, recorded the situation while carefully asking about the situation.
"According to the laws of the Jade Khanate, smuggling caviar is indeed a criminal offense. According to your situation, if you are convicted, you may be sentenced to up to three years in prison and fined." Lawyer Sinjar said.
Alfonso leaned forward and said, "Can we just try to get a fine and no prison sentence?"
"I will work hard. What is beneficial to us is that, first, although the amount of caviar is high, the quantity is very small. There is only a small box. It is obviously for personal use and not for the purpose of reselling for profit. This is different in nature. Much lighter; secondly, Mr. Madan is a citizen of Country F and a first-time offender, and the Jade Khanate is relatively friendly to Country F. Our goal is to obtain a fine and deportation."
Madan seemed to see hope and said, "When will the trial begin? Can this matter be settled as soon as possible?"
"In fact, the later the trial is held, the better it is for us. This is a small case after all, and it has no social harm. The longer the trial is delayed, the weaker the prosecutor's will to win."
After hearing this, brothers Alfonso and Madan breathed a sigh of relief. Bashir invited the guests to eat watermelon and comforted Madan:
"You really have met a good lawyer. Now that you have come, let's settle down. Regardless of whether there is a court session or not, we can study the water-retaining agent formula and technology together in the Jade Khanate, and we can also plan the construction of our water-retaining agent factory together."
After sending the lawyer away, the four of them returned to their seats. Alfonso seemingly unintentionally asked about Madan's relationship with the couple and their cooperation in opening a water-retaining agent factory.
Bashir followed Alfonso’s question and introduced:
"The mining, textile, manufacturing and construction industries of the Jade Khanate have all been sanctioned by the Liang Kingdom. Only agricultural production has not been sanctioned. The Jade Khanate has 18 million hectares of cultivated land, more than half of which are dry fields without irrigation facilities, and the output is relatively small. Low. Generally speaking, the Jade Khanate is an arid country, but it is rich in products and is a major exporter of agricultural products. After oil was embargoed by Liang and Europe, the export of agricultural products is very important to the Jade Khanate." Bashir continued explain:
"In the Jade Khanate, agricultural projects that focus on improving drought should be an excellent business. The developed cultivated land mentioned earlier is mainly concentrated in the plains along the Haiba Sea and Gubo Bay. The Jade Khanate is an area of arable land. In a very large country, there are still more than 30 million hectares of arable land that have not been developed, and the main reason is water shortage."
Camilla added: "We plan to build a joint venture with Yuhuaguo Biological Company, where Madan is located, to build a factory in the Jade Khanate to produce water-retaining agents and liquid fertilizers. High-water-absorbing water-retaining agents are mainly used for saffron, watermelon, and Coupo melon. Use in crop rotation to conserve water. Currently, 95% of the world's saffron is produced in the Jade Khanate, and the demand is strong. At the same time, the Jade Khanate is the second largest producer and largest exporter of watermelons in the world."
Alfonso seemed to be infected by this business plan and said: "What is the annual production scale of your water-retaining agent factory?"
Camila replied: "The plan is to produce 50,000 tons of oat starch water-retaining agent annually."
Alfonso nodded in affirmation and said: "The company I work for specializes in environmental equipment. As far as I know, starch products are most afraid of oxygen during the production and storage process, and spontaneous combustion and even explosion accidents often occur. If you need to adjust the air Environmental equipment, you can contact me.”
Bashir echoed: "You are really an expert! In addition to preventing accidents, Madan is helping us develop a water-retaining agent with a water absorption rate of 1 to 20 times. In order to improve the quality, we plan to adopt an oxygen-free preparation process, which also requires air conditioning. . I have heard from Madan that your company’s environmental control equipment is exactly what we need.”
It was getting late, Alfonso got up to leave and rushed to the hotel. Madan stubbornly invited Alfonso to stay with him tonight.
Alfonso hesitated, couldn't resist, and agreed. After everyone said good night to each other, Alfonso followed Madan back to his bedroom.
Alfonso looked around Madan's room seemingly aimlessly and said: "Madan, don't worry, I've already told my mother that you are busy with work and will not go home to spend Christmas with her this year. .When the time comes, don’t forget to call your mother.”
"Of course! However, I really hope that our family can spend Christmas Eve together. You are flying out early tomorrow morning, right?" Madan said.
"What other instructions do you have? Dear brother, is there anything else you need me to do?" Alfonso asked.
Madan hesitated for a moment and stopped talking. Madan walked to the low cabinet by the wall, opened the zipper of the black backpack on the cabinet, held a transparent lunch box in his hand, and said to Alfonso:
"One of my colleagues in Yuhua Country Company is from Haixi Country. His name is Tinike. He was born on the coast of Haima Sea. He has not been back there for many years. He asked me to pack him a box of Haima Sea air."
Madan seemed to shrug his shoulders in embarrassment and continued: "This is a really weird request. Can you take this lunch box back to Country F for me and give it to him? He is also celebrating Christmas in Xiangmo City."
Alfonso smiled and said, "It's quite interesting. Don't worry, I won't open this lunch box all the way, so as not to let the air out of his beloved seahorse."
Madan gave Tinique's contact information to Alfonso.
At the customs inspection station, the inspector inspected almost every daily necessities in Alfonso's opened suitcase, took out the transparent lunch box, looked at it, and put the lunch box back to its original place.
He raised his head and glanced at Alfonso up and down, stopped his gaze, stretched out his right hand and waved it toward the exit, and said in English:
"You can go now, have a nice trip!"
