Zhou Xuan was overjoyed and immediately called his grandfather Fu Tianlai and Fu Ying together. The group then went to the study with Luo Ya for a detailed discussion.
After some investigation, Zhou Xuan finally understood that San Minota Island had been a disputed island in the past. Several political figures from different countries had made a series of investments, totaling about two billion euros, mainly in resources such as electricity and water. Its income relied entirely on tourism revenue, but the income was not ideal and there was a huge gap between the investment and the actual investment, which made these political figures consider withdrawing their investment.
However, the huge cash investment from the initial investment was impossible to recover, and there was considerable controversy surrounding it. As a result, the political leaders of several countries considered selling the island's usage rights to recoup a large sum of money. But this isolated island had no resources whatsoever. Apart from a small amount of tourism revenue, its geological resources were very depleted. Even its freshwater and electricity were transported from Italy, 90 kilometers away, via an undersea tunnel. In fact, most of the political leaders' investment had been wasted on this. Now, selling it would be very difficult. Some of the world's super-rich were interested, but the highest offer was only 500 million euros, which was too much for them to agree to due to the large gap.
When Zhou Xuan heard that the island was an empty island with excellent buildings, complete water and electricity facilities, and even a small to medium-sized airport in the southwest for entry and exit, and a seaport in the east for large cargo ships to enter and exit, and that the entire island covered an area of 66 square kilometers, how could he not be happy?
For other wealthy people, money might be a huge investment that they can't recoup, but for Zhou Xuan, it's just a pile of stones. Once he turns them into gold bars, he can have as much as he wants. If he weren't so rich and didn't want to disrupt the international gold market, Zhou Xuan could produce gold indefinitely.
In fact, the Fu family's wealth was sufficient to cover the costs even without manufacturing gold. They might not have been able to before, but after receiving a huge amount of gold support from Zhou Xuan, Fu Tianlai's team amassed astronomical wealth on Wall Street, making the Fu family the richest family in the world and giving them more spare cash.
No matter how much money Zhou Xuan had, he didn't want to throw it away excessively. He discussed it with Fu Tianlai in the study, and then asked Luo Ya to contact her friend and say that she would buy the island of San Minota for 6.5 billion euros.
No one had ever offered more than 500 million euros before. Zhou Xuan offered 6.5 billion euros at once, which showed his sincerity. Moreover, he proposed a precondition: he could put up a deposit of 1 billion euros before the business meeting. If the agreement was reached and signed on the spot, he would pay the remaining balance in one lump sum.
Zhou Xuan's words were quite insightful. In the current climate of financial crisis and global economic downturn, being able to suddenly produce 6.5 billion in cash is no easy feat. Even the wealthiest person would likely struggle to come up with that much cash, and even if they possessed far more wealth, it wouldn't be in liquid form.
Only Zhou Xuan would dare to say such a thing.
Under Roya's guidance, the other party probably discussed the matter for a while. The discussion didn't last long, and they proposed a price of 6.6 billion euros. Since the island's previous debt was 2.6 billion euros, and there were four countries that owned the island, they added 100 million euros. After paying off the debt, there would be 4 billion euros in cash left. Each of the four sovereigns could split 1 billion euros without any further discussion.
Zhou Xuan immediately agreed and then instructed Luo Ya to prepare some molds to produce some gold and 6.6 billion euros in cash, which he wanted to withdraw.
Three days later, Zhou Xuan, Fu Ying, Fu Tianlai, Luo Ya, and Wang Xin signed a purchase agreement with the political leaders of the four countries in Valletta, the capital of Malta. Zhou Xuan handed over a check for 6.6 billion euros in cash on the spot. At this moment, he truly possessed sovereignty over the 66 square kilometers of San Minota Island and became the king of the island.
In the following six months, Zhou Xuan intensified the construction of numerous buildings and facilities, as well as military equipment, including reserves of grain and oil. A year later, the project was largely completed. Only then did Zhou Xuan's forces gradually move to St. Minota Island. With Roya's connections, he also maintained close ties with neighboring countries. Zhou Xuan no longer needed to hide his abilities and revealed them to the political and military leaders of these countries, intimidating them and preventing them from taking any adverse actions against St. Minota Island.
The saying goes, "might makes right." Zhou Xuan's strength is beyond question. These military and political leaders wouldn't dare to do anything bad to him. Zhou Xuan's abilities are beyond their reach. Even if they used nuclear weapons and destroyed Zhou Xuan's family, relatives, and friends, they would never be able to destroy Zhou Xuan himself. If they couldn't destroy him, then they would have to wait for Zhou Xuan's revenge.
So no one had that thought. Besides, although Zhou Xuan was extremely capable, he had no ambition, unlike some politicians who, when they had such abilities, were determined to rule the entire earth.
Zhou Xuan had no such ambition at all. He only wanted to avoid being bullied or harassed by any person or country. And now, he did indeed have that ability. Those military and political officials were very eager to curry favor with him because if they were ostracized in their own countries and faced danger, coming to Zhou Xuan's St. Minota Island might be a good place to rely on. No matter how ruthless other countries were, they wouldn't dare to be ruthless to Zhou Xuan. They would have to give him face, even if they didn't respect him. As long as Zhou Xuan didn't object and could keep them to help him, there would be no danger.
Zhou Xuan completed the construction of his island, while Louis, Fass, and others, together with the Fu family's bodyguards, recruited a large number of homeless international mercenaries to build an army of about 500 people to protect the safety of everyone on St. Minota Island.
Of course, Zhou Xuan's abilities are the safest guarantee for St. Minota Island.
Meanwhile, Zhou Xuan's businesses around the world continued to operate normally, providing him with a steady stream of income and generating wealth, so he no longer needed to produce more gold to support his business.
Almost all of Zhou Xuan's family and friends who were willing to live on St. Minota Island came, including Li Wei, Zhou Ying, Zhou Tao, Li Li, Li Li's parents, Wang Xin's parents, and the relatives of the bodyguards and soldiers. Zhou Xuan accepted them all. On St. Minota Island, Zhou Xuan treated it as the headquarters of the Zhou's Global Consortium, without needing to conduct any business activities; it was simply a comfortable place to live.
One day, Zhou Xuan called Wei Haihong and invited him to the island for a relaxing trip. After the plane landed at the airport on the island, Zhou Xuan was stunned to see Wei Xiaoqing standing next to Wei Haihong among the people getting off the plane.
Wei Xiaoqing smiled and asked him, "Are you not happy to see me? Then take me back!"
Zhou Xuan looked embarrassed, but Fu Ying next to him laughed and said, "Xiao Qing, who cares? I welcome you. Come on, let me show you around!"
Little Si Zhou, standing next to Fu Ying, stared curiously at Wei Xiao Qing. At two and a half years old, Si Zhou could already speak two languages and was very clever. Looking at Wei Xiao Qing, he said with a mixture of affection and surprise, "Auntie, you're so beautiful! Just as beautiful as my mom!"
Looking at the adorable little Si Zhou, Wei Xiaoqing felt that his features resembled someone, but she couldn't remember who it was. She stroked his head and asked, "Little friend, what's your name? You're so cute!"
Xiao Sizhou replied, "Auntie, my name is Zhou Sizhou. I heard that my mother chose this name, but I didn't like it. Later, my mother gave me another name, Nianyu, which is a good name, so I used Wei Nianyu. And my little sister is named Siyu!"
Wei Xiaoqing was taken aback, and then suddenly remembered that Xiao Sizhou looked just like her.
In a daze, Wei Haihong, who was next to Wei Xiaoqing, took Xiao Sizhou from her and held him in his arms. He then kissed him on the cheek and said, "Alright, if you like the name Nianyu, then call me Nianyu. I'm your maternal great-uncle, call me that!"
Xiao Sizhou seemed to have never met this unfamiliar great-uncle before. His maternal grandparents lived in Europe and would bring him and his sister lots of fun and delicious things when they came back. Sometimes they would also take him and his sister to travel to many countries. But this great-uncle in front of him was really a stranger.
Fu Ying came over and taught Xiao Sizhou: "Nianyu, this is your maternal great-uncle, and this is your beautiful aunt. She is your aunt. You should treat your aunt as well as you treat your mother, understand?"
Little Sizhou didn't understand much, but after listening to Fu Ying's words, she nodded and said, "Mom, I will. I will be good to Auntie, and I will be good to Mom too!"
Wei Xiaoqing secretly learned the truth from Fu Ying and Zhou Xuan. Originally, Zhou Xuan wanted to keep it a secret from Xiao Sizhou for the rest of his life, but Fu Ying felt that it was too cruel. Xiao Sizhou should have the right to know. As long as the family has affection and love, that's enough. Let Xiao Sizhou know that even though he doesn't have a biological mother, Fu Ying is just like his biological mother!
Wei Xiaoqing couldn't help but burst into tears. She stood at the port, gazing at the vast sea, and it took her a long time before she turned back to look at Zhou Xuan and Fu Ying.
Fu Ying stepped forward, took Wei Xiaoqing's hand, and said gently, "Xiaoqing, don't think about anything anymore. Life is short and will pass in the blink of an eye. Don't do things you'll regret when you die. From now on, you'll live here. This house is your home too. We're all one family!"
Looking into Fu Ying's clear, watery eyes, and then at Wei Xiaoqing's yearning yet worried expression, Zhou Xuan couldn't help but sigh. He reached out, took one in each hand, pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly, refusing to let go!
(The End)