Chapter 1510: Three Billion Money

If the Liu family were to take an interest in Hanqing Tower, then...

Fan Shuang understood Lord Mi's implication: a family of minor officials like the Fan family was unworthy of appearing on that public list and would inevitably become a target of public scrutiny.

"The two young men from the Liu family are not as reasonable as Lord Wang. If they get involved, it will be quite troublesome," Lord Mi said earnestly. "How about this, I will raise the price to thirty-seven thousand taels on behalf of Lord Wang, as a show of sincerity."

Fan Shuang suddenly replied, "Very well, we cannot disappoint Lord Wang's generosity."

He took the golden plaque from his sleeve, ran his fingers over the characters "Hanqing" inscribed on it, and placed it on the table. "Tomorrow morning," he declared, "I will go to the government office to complete the transfer of ownership. This building plaque will then belong to Lord Wang."

Lord Mi stroked his beard contentedly. "Excellent, a decisive move! Brother Fan, you're not as clear-headed as this young man."

Father Fan was startled, but since Fan Shuang had already agreed, he found it inconvenient to say anything further.

Lord Mi raised a hand, and a servant behind him presented a brocade box with both hands. Inside lay a neat stack of silver notes. "You may count them in person," he offered, "thirty-seven thousand taels, not a single coin less."

"No need, no need," Fan Shuang said with a smile, taking the box and immediately handing it to his father. "Please convey our regards to Lord Mi, and congratulate Lord Wang on acquiring a fine residence!"

"Naturally," Lord Mi said, standing up. "It's getting late. You've both had a busy day; please get some rest."

The father and son escorted Lord Mi out of the mansion. As he left, Lord Mi offered a remark laden with meaning:

"In recent days, Island Master He has become a legendary figure in Tianshui City. All who are connected with him have gained prominence. Fan Shuang, you must apply yourself diligently."

"Yes, sir."

Watching him depart in his carriage, Father Fan finally sighed to his son, "You were truly willing to let it go."

"It's hard to part with, but there was no other choice."

Upon hearing Lord Mi's request, He Lingchuan's words echoed in Fan Shuang's mind:

"When it's time to act, act."

At the time, he hadn't understood, but now he seemed to grasp it dimly. Was He Xiao hinting that he should transfer the property when the time was right, rather than clinging to it stubbornly?

Father Fan was merely a petty official, holding a low position with minor duties and limited influence. The two fiercely battling factions in the Royal Court, neither King Yao nor Qingyang, cared about his allegiance.

For his family to insist on holding onto a Lakeside Villa, honestly, there was no real necessity.

Furthermore, they likely wouldn't be able to keep it. It was far better to sell it, acquiring both money and avoiding potential trouble.

Noticing his father's unease, Fan Shuang advised him, "Tonight's Red Fortress auction saw the most expensive residence in the last row fetch forty-one thousand taels. While you might still regret it, Father, Lord Wang's offer was truly generous; he didn't take advantage of us."

Thirty-seven thousand taels for a small suburban residence was an exorbitant price!

Father Fan then grasped the situation. "You're right," he conceded. "Considering Island Master He's influence, his offer was truly generous."

This young man had truly come into his own, earning more in one transaction than he could have in several lifetimes.

As for why Lord Wang was so generous, it was undoubtedly because He Xiao's influence was currently at its peak.

Otherwise, he could have simply given the Fan family a few thousand taels and still acquired Hanqing Tower.

Fan Shuang exhaled, muttering, "Brother He is truly remarkable."

A residence purchased for two thousand taels had its value multiply more than tenfold in just a few days. This was pure, unadulterated profiteering!

He had been by He Xiao's side throughout, yet he couldn't fathom how the entire operation had been so successful.

And He Xiao, even knowing the true value of the Lakeside Villa, had been willing to offer him one at an incredibly low friendship price.

Not only insightful and brilliant, but also loyal and kind — where could one find such a good friend?

The following morning, Lord Wang's steward called upon them.

Fan Shuang produced the golden wooden plaque and accompanied Lord Wang's steward to the government office to finalize the resale procedures.

What wasn't truly his, could never be kept.

Fan Shuang then went to see He Lingchuan and recounted the affair. He Lingchuan burst out laughing, patting him on the shoulder as he said:

"Congratulations, Brother Fan, you're making a fortune daily."

The Fan family's original financial standing had been rather modest, but with thirty-seven thousand taels now in their coffers, they had become quite well-off.

Without unexpected windfall, one cannot truly become rich. How long would it take for him and his father to save so much money on their meager salaries?

Fan Shuang bowed deeply to him. "Brother He, you are truly my benefactor!"

Only after yesterday's events did he fully realize how extraordinary He Xiao was. He was determined to align himself with this powerful figure.

As he was leaving, Fan Shuang was calculating on his fingers. "The second-to-last villa in Lakeside Villa district is already twice as expensive as those in the very back row," he mused. "So what about the first and second rows, right on the lake?"

Wouldn't they fetch a truly astronomical price?

He Lingchuan smiled. "Don't be impatient; you'll find out when the time comes."

The following evening, the Red Fortress auction drew a crowd of influential figures and celebrities.

Due to the overwhelming number of high-ranking attendees, security at the Red Fortress was unprecedentedly strict, with commoners no longer permitted to approach.

Consequently, the waiting alleys outside the Red Fortress were noticeably quieter that night. Since there was no way to enter the venue anyway, most people simply returned home to rest, planning to catch up on the gossip the next morning.

Inside the auction hall, however, the atmosphere was tense, fervent, and highly competitive.

The very first residence auctioned, located in the fourth row, started with a bang, fetching ninety-three thousand taels!

When the Red Fortress auctioneer announced that figure, his voice trembled.

By the time the last residence in the fourth row was sold, the price had soared to one hundred twenty thousand taels!

Gu Xuan, who was present in the audience simply to observe, now couldn't stop smiling.

His family had purchased a residence in the second row, which was even closer to the lake than the fourth-row properties auctioned tonight, and it had cost them only just over twenty thousand taels. In just a few days, the price had increased by at least sixfold!

To buy was to profit—what other investment could yield such returns?

Value-for-money residences were becoming increasingly scarce. Those already sold would undoubtedly see their prices rise as well!

By then, how many influential families would be eager, just waiting for them?

That night, You Rongzhi hastened into the palace.

The moon had passed its zenith, yet the monarch was still toiling by lamplight.

As You Rongzhi entered, he happened to witness King Yao furiously snatching several sets of scrolls and flinging them to the ground, his face flushed with anger:

"Damnable! They are all wretched wretches who deceive their superiors and exploit their subordinates!"

Papers scattered everywhere, and the palace attendants quickly rushed to retrieve them.

You Rongzhi quickly interjected, "Your Majesty, please take care. Do not let anger harm your health."

The monarch's temper had been foul ever since his birthday celebration.

As the old pear tree, which had grown alongside him throughout his life, gradually faded, King Yao became exceptionally irritable, often erupting in anger without cause.

He slammed the scrolls on his desk, making them crackle. "The tax tributes collected mid-year are again a tenth less than before the year ended! These past seven or eight months have seen bountiful harvests and peace throughout the land, so why has the submitted revenue decreased instead?"

"Compared to four years ago, it's a full two-tenths less, hmph!" King Yao sneered. "If this continues, how much silver will the national treasury have in ten years? You, my esteemed minister, calculate it for me!"

You Rongzhi broke into a light sweat.

How could he possibly calculate such an account?

He cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, in recent years, various regions have undertaken extensive water conservancy projects and repaired city defenses. The resistance against Luodian in the north, in particular, has consumed a significant amount of funds."

King Yao gave him a cold glance. "You are quite unwilling to offend anyone, it seems."

In truth, both monarch and minister understood the situation perfectly well. Xue Zongwu, for instance, was a prime example of the problem.

Why was he so afraid of Qingyang, the regent, sending auditors to the tribute lands under his management? Was it not because he habitually embezzled funds and falsified accounts?

Why did officials fear Qingyang like a tiger when he supervised investigations and impeached officials a while ago?

Because every investigation yielded precise results, and every case was handled definitively.

"So many parasites," King Yao sneered coldly, "clinging to the nation's body, sucking its lifeblood! They grow fat and bloated, hmph! Yet when it comes to buying outrageously expensive residences, they don't bat an eyelid."

He had also heard what prices the Lakeside Villas had commanded in recent days.

A small suburban building, even if only a blueprint with no physical structure yet, could fetch prices in the tens of thousands.

*Hmph*, his loyal subjects certainly are wealthy.

You Rongzhi quickly interjected, "Everyone is merely expressing their heartfelt sentiments."

If it weren't for their loyalty to King Yao, if it weren't for seeking the monarch's grace, who would pay astronomical prices for a theoretical residence, a blueprint building in the remote suburbs, far from any village or shop?

Who would be so foolish?

Who has so much money to burn?

When the officials threw away vast sums, were they truly buying a few tiles or a humble dwelling? Tens of thousands of taels could easily purchase several grand estates!

Of course, You Rongzhi knew King Yao's proud and sensitive nature, so he could only keep these thoughts to himself.

King Yao gave a disdainful laugh. "Sentiments?"

The officials' intentions were directed at him, yet the money had first flowed into He Xiao's hands.

But even he couldn't bring himself to utter this aloud. He merely looked at You Rongzhi and said, "You reserved a lakeside residence in the second phase of Lakeside Villa quite early. It seems that was a shrewd move."

If even the back-row residences of the second phase could sell for eighty-three thousand taels, how much more would the lakeside residences command?

At the time, You Rongzhi had grandly spent fifty thousand taels in one go, a sum that many found unbelievable. Now, it appeared he too had made a profit.

You Rongzhi could only manage an embarrassed smile.

Should he say that it was all thanks to his colleagues for making him look so good by comparison?

"Enough of that. Tell me about tonight's auction," King Yao said. This was the task he had assigned You Rongzhi.

"Yes, Your Majesty." You Rongzhi then recounted the evening's grand event meticulously, without adding any embellishments.

Yet, even without embellishment, the more King Yao listened, the more alarmed he became.

"How much?" he interrupted You Rongzhi. "How much did the final property go for tonight?!"

"The first one, ninety-three thousand taels," You Rongzhi articulated clearly. "...The last one, one hundred twenty thousand taels!"

One hundred twenty thousand taels! A single residence for one hundred twenty thousand taels!

"Good, good," King Yao said slowly. "Even in Lingxu City, properties rarely sell for such a high price! My subjects truly are wealthy."

You Rongzhi dared not respond.

Over a hundred million in currency for a single residence — this figure was indeed somewhat exaggerated. However, he had been pondering on his way there and had gained some insights.

Purchasing a Lakeside Villa residence at this price was no longer merely an act of loyalty to the monarch.

Something that could be bought and immediately yield profit was no longer purely a dwelling.

This was likely the reason for King Yao's displeasure, wasn't it?

The monarch's mind was as unfathomable as an abyss.

King Yao then asked him, "Since Lakeside Villa is selling so well, calculate how much money He Xiao has earned from it."

"The prices for the first phase are not transparent, and some figures are still unknown," You Rongzhi replied, having anticipated this question. "Based on the numbers currently compiled, the amount he has collected should be close to three million taels."

"Three billion in currency, indeed," King Yao chuckled, his eyelids drooping. "He arrived in Tianshui City alone, and in less than a month, he's earned three billion. This young man certainly possesses some extraordinary abilities; no wonder National Master Shuangye employs him."

Such an enormous sum of money, an ordinary person couldn't earn it in ten lifetimes.