No wonder, it turns out they ran into the developer!
Chen Xu and Gao Xiaojie exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh. These days, everyone says that developers are incredibly arrogant, but judging from this guy's appearance, although he looks glamorous, his tone suggests that he's not having an easy time.
"So it's Mr. Wang, my apologies for not recognizing you sooner." Chen Xu said with a smile, "Mr. Wang, you're up quite early."
"Heh, my house is nearby. It's not exactly early now, but I'm used to getting up at seven o'clock because the air here is really nice... Heh, I'm not bragging as a developer, but the air here is definitely much better than in the city."
Gao Xiaojie smiled and nodded: "We sensed it too, so we wanted to come and see the houses here. We were all feeling sorry that there was no one here just now. You know, when it comes to buying things, for buyers, once the opportunity is gone, it's gone forever."
Mr. Wang smiled somewhat awkwardly: "Indeed, it was our mistake. Since you two are interested, why don't you come with me? Although I am the developer, I am also the first homeowner in this community. Moreover, I bought this villa here for retirement, and the rooms are fully furnished."
Chen Xu and Gao Xiaojie exchanged a glance, and Chen Xu smiled and said, "Then, Mr. Wang, get in the car. Shall we take you to see your house?"
"It's an honor to have you two distinguished guests." Mr. Wang opened the car door. "Heh, how about we have lunch at my house today? To be honest, I used to be a chef. I made my first fortune after the reform and opening up. Although I made a little money later, due to years of habit and my picky eating habits, I usually cook at home by myself. Why don't you two try my cooking?"
"Ah, it's an honor."
After getting in the car, Chen Xu drove towards the villa as directed by Boss Wang, while Boss Wang sat in the back, curiously observing the two young people who looked like students.
The biggest reason why houses here are hard to sell isn't because they're in a remote location, but because they're expensive.
Mr. Wang has been in the real estate business for more than just a year or two. Since Hexie City is his hometown, he planned to return and settle there in his later years, so he made a fortune there. He has developed quite a few properties in Beijing and Shanghai, and his reputation is excellent. Therefore, he has truly seen countless people looking to buy houses.
In the past two years, China's real estate market has experienced a bubble-like surge, with prices changing almost daily. For ordinary people, when they come to buy a house, the conversation inevitably turns to price after just a few questions… After all, a house isn't like pork; it's not a matter of a small amount of money.
But these two young people seem to really treat the house like pork... without even asking the price.
Besides, Mr. Wang is such a shrewd person. Some people feel a little embarrassed to ask the price, but they keep it to themselves. You can tell that. But from the faces of these two young men, he really couldn't tell anything.
It wasn't that he couldn't recognize him at all; the more Mr. Wang looked at him, the more familiar he seemed. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Sir, are you surnamed Chen?"
Chen Xu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Chen Xu."
"It really is you!" Mr. Wang exclaimed excitedly, slapping his thigh. "You're the young man who found the Imperial Seal of the State, a national treasure, and donated it to the Palace Museum for free, right? Oh, right, you're studying at Hexie University! I'm getting senile, I completely forgot... I'm so grateful to you!"
Mr. Wang excitedly reached out to shake hands with Chen Xu, but Chen Xu smiled wryly, explaining that he was driving. Gao Xiaojie came to his rescue, chuckling, "Mr. Wang, please don't get excited. Chen Xu is driving."
Mr. Wang quickly withdrew his hand and laughed awkwardly, "Sorry, I got too excited. Oh, you don't know, I was among the first batch, besides you, I was among the first batch to see the Imperial Seal of the State when the Palace Museum officially opened to the public! Oh my, the scene was incredible, three whole companies of armed police surrounded the Palace Museum so tightly that not even a fly could get in! Tens of thousands of people were waiting outside, some even queuing overnight, just to catch a glimpse of the Imperial Seal!"
Chen Xu chuckled: "Is it really that exaggerated?"
"You didn't know?" Boss Wang was very surprised. How could he know that Chen Xu went to the Oriental Divine Sword Brigade for special training after the jade seal handover ceremony?
Mr. Wang exclaimed, "Well, that's a national treasure after all, and this place is a national treasure!" He gave a thumbs up. "Just because you found the national treasure, if you like this house and want it, I'll give it to you for 6,000 yuan instead of the market price of 7,500 yuan per square meter. Plus, the lawn in front and the garage are free."
"Oh, how could I possibly accept that?!"
Looking at Chen Xu's expression, Boss Wang was even more certain that this young man who had found the Imperial Seal of the State must be extremely wealthy.
That's 1,500 yuan per square meter! A villa is several hundred square meters, so how much is that? It's hundreds of thousands of yuan as a favor!
Ordinary people might be incredibly excited to suddenly save hundreds of thousands of yuan after buying a house, but their faces show no emotion whatsoever, as if those hundreds of thousands were no different from a few dozen yuan.
"Well, Mr. Chen, this is just a small token of my appreciation. After all, the value of the Imperial Seal of the State cannot be compensated by the small bonus and reward you receive from the government. As a Chinese, well, as a Chinese person, this small token of my appreciation is what I should do. Of course, there's also a bit of my own selfish motive involved. You see, the houses have been handed over for some time now, but only a few units have been sold. It's almost the end of the year, and it's time to pay back the bank. I'll probably have to lower the price of these houses in a few days to attract customers. Of course, I certainly won't lower it by more than a thousand yuan, but since we've finally found a customer like you with a high chance of buying, I have to seize the opportunity to recoup some funds first."
Chen Xu and Gao Xiaojie exchanged a smile. They both thought that this Mr. Wang was very good at talking.
They had actually thought of this long ago, but the way Mr. Wang said it in such a sincere tone made it feel different.
Chen Xu chuckled: "Then thank you in advance. Well, if you're satisfied with the houses, heh, I might even want two more."
Mr. Wang was overjoyed: "Then I should thank you!"
Actually, this is how it works nowadays. Those buying houses with loans need to go to a bank for a loan. And developers can't possibly build a building entirely out of their own pocket; they use collateral, pledging it to a bank and then borrowing money to build the project… So, when China's real estate boom was just starting, many developers were essentially using borrowed capital to generate more profit… To put it simply, first, you need enough cash and fixed assets. After pledging them to a bank, you quickly develop the project. Then you sell the project, or simply mortgage it back to the bank… The building itself is also a fixed asset! This way, you can get more money from the bank. Then you can continue developing new projects.
Back then, the interest was quite high. Every year, there was an interest settlement and a repayment of a certain amount.
That's why housing prices in China can't come down right now—because if real estate developers lose money and are unable to repay their loans, it's the banks that suffer the losses!
Chinese banks, even those like China Merchants Bank that are considered private banks, are essentially state assets. If the banks lose money, it means the country loses money… Hey, how could the local government be willing to accept that? Besides, they're counting on the huge profits from real estate to boost their GDP and performance… Of course, there's also the unspoken benefit of increasing their own wealth—everyone knows this, no need to elaborate.
So why do real estate developers lower prices at the end of the year? It's not because they're kind-hearted, but because at the end of the year, they need money for bank accounts, company accounts, and employee benefits. They desperately need cash to help them get through the difficult times. Otherwise, why would they be so kind as to lower prices?
They arrived at Mr. Wang's villa very quickly, in less than five minutes by car.
At the foot of a mountain covered in fiery red maple trees, a European-style villa stood alone. A stream flowed at the foot of the mountain, and the villa's construction was exquisite; the stream was not disturbed during the foundation excavation. A clear stream, about two meters wide, flowed along the side of the house, and walking beside it, one could hear the tinkling sound of the mountain spring, a truly elegant scene.
There are fewer than ten villas in this large development at the foot of the mountain. Building villas against the mountain is no easy task. The foundations need to be laid separately, and special care must be taken to avoid damaging the surrounding scenery.
Mr. Wang was very pleased with himself and said, "Isn't it great? A house like this is truly a luxury."
Chen Xu exclaimed sincerely, "It really is a great house, with picturesque scenery and far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. How could such a good house not sell? Although Hexie City may not have as many wealthy people as metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, and there are no nouveau riche mine owners, there are still quite a few wealthy people. How could this house not sell?"
Chen Xu had something on his mind that he didn't say: "Even if it's just being a rich man's mistress, that would be fine!"
"It's all Hai Zi's fault!" Boss Wang suddenly said this out of the blue.
"A child? Whose child?"
Gao Xiaojie playfully patted Chen Xu on the shoulder: "You're so uncultured. They're talking about Hai Zi, the poet Hai Zi."
"Oh! The one who committed suicide by lying on the train tracks?"
Gao Xiaojie rolled her eyes. Chen Xu wasn't wrong. How many poets don't commit suicide? Especially modern ones... or rather, what kind of poet doesn't commit suicide?
"What does Guan Haizi want?"
"Isn't it all because of that lousy poem he wrote?" Mr. Wang looked like he was about to cry. "I have a house facing the sea, where spring is warm and flowers bloom... Now everyone is rushing to buy sea-view villas, who cares about villas in the mountains anymore?!"
"puff……"
Chapter 312 Organization (Part 1)
The houses here are really nice. At least Chen Xu and Gao Xiaojie exchanged opinions and felt that they were very satisfied with the scenery, the layout of the houses, and the surrounding environment.
Although it's a bit far from the city center and not very convenient for shopping, it's very quiet here... Isn't that what you're looking for when you buy a villa?
Gao Xiaojie excitedly envisioned the future: "After we buy this villa, we can raise a few big dogs. I've been envious of Zhong Ziyu's Samoyed for so long! If I were to raise one, a Samoyed, a Golden Retriever, a Husky, and a Scottish Collie, what do you think? Anyway, the yard is huge, and it would be so cute to have several big dogs running around in the yard!"
Gao Xiaojie is a girl with a strong personality and her own opinions.
A woman's crucial role in the family is to be frugal and manage the household well. If a man and woman have just established a relationship—or, to be frank, either slept together or, like them, entered into a purely platonic relationship—and the woman quickly adopts a "role" from the very next day, spending the man's money as if it were her own, and even spending far more than she would have… then gentlemen, beware! Don't let the infatuation of love cloud your judgment. Such a woman is either eyeing the man's wallet from the start, or she's exceptionally good at managing the household finances… If you encounter the latter, it's better; although married life might be tough with all your salary handed over, at least the money is spent on the household. But if it's the former, then you can expect to cry when your wallet is empty.
Gao Xiaojie's birth was actually quite ordinary. Her family wasn't poor, but they weren't well-off either. There was a time when she really wanted a piece of clothing as a child, but her family couldn't afford to buy it for her. Logically, a girl like that should be very frugal... Gao Xiaojie's monthly allowance at school was only 500 yuan, and she even had some left over. So why did she suddenly become so extravagant when she was with Chen Xu?
Chen Xu is currently deeply in love. He would buy a villa worth millions, let alone tens or hundreds of millions, without batting an eye. But Gao Xiaojie has a much clearer perspective.
First of all, Chen Xu is rich. Several million yuan might be more than she could earn in a lifetime, but for Chen Xu, who owns five percent of the Babel Tower Translator's shares, it's no different from a few hundred yuan.
A sensible woman should save money for her man, but she should also consider the circumstances. This amount of money is harmless, but if a woman insists on preventing Chen Xu from "spending money recklessly" and forbids him from buying this or that, then such a woman is overly frugal, and no man will like that.
Gao Xiaojie is very sensible in this regard.
Moreover, buying a house is not exactly a waste of money.
Housing prices are rising across the country, and although this particular development isn't in great shape, they're bound to appreciate in value given the current market conditions. Investing in a property as a small investment and waiting for prices to rise is better than just leaving your money in the bank. Money is meant to be spent; if it's just sitting in the bank, it's not real money—just a bunch of numbers.
Gao Xiaojie understood this very well. Therefore, she wasn't pretentious at all in this regard. Besides, she never intended to put her name on the property deed, even though she was now committed to Chen Xu. She didn't want her actions to create a misunderstanding for Chen Xu, making him think she was after his money… She knew Chen Xu wouldn't think that way, but a woman shouldn't take advantage of a man's perceived lack of interest. Understanding is mutual; men have their magnanimity, and women should also have their concessions.
To be frank and blunt, some women, or their families, nowadays have a requirement for men: when a man buys a house, the woman's name must be on the property certificate... so that the woman's family can feel at ease.
But don't you think this request is really excessive?
The man paid for all the money for the house, and you women want to put your names on it so you can feel at ease. But after you put your names on it, will the man feel at ease?
Will they suspect that you're only with me to swindle me out of half a house, and that once you sign the papers and then divorce me, I'll lose hundreds of thousands of yuan?
For an ordinary person, a house is equivalent to a lifetime's savings. To be honest, the woman and family who make such a request are not very understanding... The man originally bought the house for the purpose of getting married, but this situation might cause a rift in the otherwise good relationship between the man and woman.
Seeking safety and peace of mind is not the right approach. Mutual understanding is essential between men and women.
Mr. Wang's house is really nice; Chen Xu and Gao Xiaojie liked it at first sight.
Indeed, mountain villas have their advantages, and sea-view villas have theirs… Chen Xu really doesn't care right now. If he wants to buy a sea-view villa, he can just buy another one. He's not short of money, and he does indeed like the feeling Hai Zi described: "Having a big house, facing the sea, with spring flowers blooming." But liking sea-view villas doesn't affect Chen Xu's liking for this mountain villa. Most people in this world can only choose one at most, but Chen Xu could buy a castle without any problem.
Mr. Wang's villa is very large, a two-story duplex. The usable area of the first floor is more than 400 square meters, and it also has a garden of 70 or 80 square meters. The lawn in the garden is quite green and feels very comfortable underfoot. There are also small things like swings that girls love. Just imagine how pleasant it would be for a few people to sit on the chairs in the afternoon, make a cup of tea, and chat. It's no worse than being at the beach.
This house was fully furnished; the renovation and furniture alone cost over two million yuan.
Chen Xu wanted to buy a house for Dr. Li and his family to live in temporarily. Naturally, he couldn't go for one that wasn't furnished yet—that would be too much trouble. Besides, when he discussed it with Gao Xiaojie, she also agreed that if it was their own house, they should design and decorate it themselves. So, after thinking for a moment, Chen Xu said, "Mr. Wang, I really like your house. And to be honest, I was planning to buy a fully furnished one today. Why don't you sell this one to me? I'll pay whatever it costs. Also, I'll buy another one and decorate it myself later."
"Brother, you can't be serious, can you?" Boss Wang stroked his chin and smiled wryly, "Your arrival has left me homeless!"
Chen Xu and Gao Xiaojie chuckled. Of course they knew that Boss Wang was joking... He was just a developer. How could a developer be homeless?
And to be honest, if Chen Xu buys this house, it will definitely be a win for Boss Wang!
Does the developer need to give himself money?
If you include the renovation of this house, he would definitely make a huge profit at the original price, so Mr. Wang didn't seem to care much... House prices are getting higher and higher, while renovations are getting cheaper and cheaper, that's common sense.
Sure enough, Mr. Wang feigned a few complaints, then said, "Since you insist, then I have no choice but to part with it. Anyway, I'm used to being alone and don't need anyone to take care of me. I'm all alone in this house. Fine, let's get the paperwork done, and I'll pack my bags and leave!"
Chen Xu chuckled: "Then I'm sorry to trouble you."
Feeling wronged? What's wronged about him?!
Chen Xu bought two houses directly, and paid for them in full at once! Both houses are this big, and these detached villas are expensive to begin with. Chen Xu spent 15 million yuan on the two houses, and it was all in cash!
You see, with mortgages, even though the loan comes from a bank and the bank pays the developer the entire amount, the developer still owes the bank money! With all the handling fees and kickbacks, the developer also loses some of their profits. They prefer a system like Chen Xu's, where the money is directly handed over to them. A one-time payment of 15 million is enough for him to recoup his funds by the end of the year.
For large clients, buying a house isn't that complicated, because developers know that the wealthier the client, the more valuable their time is. Few are willing to run around to different departments to get various documents. So, these clients can't be neglected. Chen Xu signed the property certificate by the afternoon, completely unaware of the pain of buying a house.
They bought two houses and asked Gao Xiaojie to wait in the unfinished house. The girl couldn't wait and called Zhan Jing and Guan Yi over... After all, it was such a big house, so they didn't plan for just the two of them to live there. Moreover, Gao Xiaojie felt guilty, so how could she possibly take it all by herself?
As for Chen Xu, he brought over Dr. Li and the other eight special forces soldiers.
"This is all the data my teacher used to research drugs to improve human intelligence," Chen Xu gave Dr. Li, which was naturally a data report reflecting on and researching the end-of-the-century hoax, and Xiao Min had subtly removed any content that might reveal future information: "But Dr. Li, how will you conduct the corresponding experiments?"
"No problem, just take it directly from the lab. We don't need the large equipment for now, but you can move the smaller ones directly. A lot of the equipment there was bought from abroad by me. It's supposed to be loaned to the school, but the ownership still belongs to me, and Principal Zhang has no right to interfere." Dr. Li looked a bit old. He hadn't slept well all night because although Lü Xiang felt much better after Chen Xu's acupuncture and his headache was gone, he felt worse when he was unconscious.
The side effects of "smart drugs": decreased IQ!
In fact, it takes excessive and long-term use of smart drugs to cause a serious drop in IQ. But think about it, before that he was a superhuman with an extraordinary mind, able to remember everything he saw. He could take apart a TV, replace a few parts, and then put it back together just by looking at the blueprints.
But when he woke up, he found that he had lost this ability. He found that he was now incredibly stupid. How could such a stark contrast not drive him crazy?
Moreover, there is a strong dependence on drugs...
“I was wrong,” Dr. Li suddenly knelt down in front of Lü Xiang, “but don’t worry, I will definitely get you back to normal!”