CHAPTER 35: CHAPTER 35: A ONE-OF-A-KIND MEMENTO

This is really something.

Chen Yiyang thought that the warehouse of the shop he was planning to buy was holding a set for him to collect.

He originally worried that it might be difficult to monetize the item once he got it.

Now the opportunity presented itself.

Sun Xingguo’s find wasn’t a wasted effort; finally, the profits are coming.

Chen Yiyang’s face remained unchanged, but his hands were already chaotic.

The tile he had just drawn was immediately discarded.

Then, once he calmed down and looked carefully.

He realized he had discarded the single tile needed to win.

"I have a friend whose family has a collection, carved in ivory, probably from the Qing Dynasty."

Chen Yiyang replied to Liu Zhaodi.

"I’ve always wanted to buy a set, but could only find Republic-era antique bamboo-and-hemp sets, not ivory mahjong."

Liu Zhaodi’s face remained unchanged as well.

With wealthy individuals of this level, even if they really want something, their facial expressions won’t betray their thoughts for others to see.

"Mainly because it’s banned from trade; no one wants to get into trouble," Chen Yiyang continued, "But this set my friend has was acquired before the ban. It’s fine if kept for personal collection."

Neither of them discussed the price.

Mainly because it wasn’t feasible.

They just met for the first time, not even close to friends. If they mentioned a price and got recorded, it might just send them to hard labor.

So they continued playing mahjong as they tentatively chatted around this topic.

Sun Xingguo and Liu Zhaodi’s secretary wisely kept their mouths shut, only playing mahjong without speaking.

"Can I call you Little Chen?"

"Of course."

"Little Chen, how old are you? Married? Anything you are looking to do recently?"

Liu Zhaodi started asking Chen Yiyang a series of questions.

Chen Yiyang answered the ones he could.

After two rounds of questioning.

Liu Zhaodi also gained some insight, and so she spoke, "Actually, I used to have a younger brother. But he passed away when he was three or four."

So my mother changed my name to Liu Zhaodi, hoping she could have another son."

"I remember your name wasn’t this, it changed later?"

"It wasn’t changed later; when it was time to register for the household, my grandmother took me to register, and the sister at the registry changed it to what it is now. My family made a fuss several times over it."

After telling the story, Liu Zhaodi continued on the topic, "Since graduating, I haven’t returned home, nor do I know if my family had another brother."

But I see you, Little Chen, you look like me, almost like my brother. We seem to have some fate. You said earlier you still don’t have a house at your age."

Coincidentally, I have a 100 square meter apartment in Jin City Center. Would you like it as a gift for your wedding?"

A 100 square meter apartment in Jin City Center?

Chen Yiyang considered this.

Due to property issues, the price of apartments is typically 30% to 40% lower than regular residential houses.

For a 100 square meter residential house near Jin City Center, the normal price is about three million; for an apartment, it’s worth about two million.

This deal—no, this gift—is absolutely worthwhile.

Thinking of this, Chen Yiyang said directly.

"Thank you, Sister Liu. But let’s wait on transferring the house. Isn’t Mid-Autumn Festival coming up in a few days? I’m not going home, so let us gather again for mahjong."

"I’m too busy on Mid-Autumn Festival." Liu Zhaodi pointed to Sun Xingguo, "But if you want to give me any gift, you can hand it over to him for me.

As for the house, it’s no big deal. Tomorrow I’ll have the secretary prepare the contract for you to sign and transfer the property. You can move in anytime. That apartment is fully furnished, ready for immediate move-in."

Liu Zhaodi is indeed a wealthy woman.

She’s not worried at all about being deceived in a multi-million-dollar transaction.

But for safety’s sake, she pulled Sun Xingguo in as a middleman between her and Chen Yiyang.

This way, it’s safer for both.

Chen Yiyang listened and didn’t say much more.

The four continued to play mahjong until late into the night before dispersing.

After driving home, Chen Yiyang checked today’s intelligence.

Today’s intelligence, a commemorative unique item: A safe lies at the bottom of Quicksand Lake in Fushui Village, Jin City, containing a China Merchants Steam Navigation Company stock issued in 1872.

The detailed location map of the safe is attached on the second page; please review carefully.

1872, that must be the Qing Dynasty.

After searching online, Chen Yiyang understood that today’s find was no ordinary bargain.

The stock issued by China Merchants Steam Navigation Company in 1872 was the first stock in China, of great commemorative significance.

What’s more, the actual sample or used voucher has never appeared, only its design can be seen in books.

If the intelligence isn’t mistaken, the stock lying in Quicksand Lake is the only surviving piece!

This price, Chen Yiyang couldn’t even fathom.

This intelligence provided a big find!

After reading the intelligence, Chen Yiyang had only one thought in his mind.

The shop needs to be bought quickly.

For such a large transaction, I must have a legitimate shop under my name to cover it up.

Thinking of this, Chen Yiyang was making a phone call to Zhou Jianjun to instruct him on some matters.

While he began calculating the cash and resources he currently had at his disposal.

Early the next morning, Chen Yiyang headed straight to Chang Yuning’s house.

"It’s early in the morning, can’t hold it, huh." Chang Yuning complained right after opening the door.

"Haven’t found a roommate yet?" Chen Yiyang glanced at the guest room.

No one had moved in yet.

"Come on, it’s not easy to find someone to share rent nowadays. At the very least, I’ve to find a girl, with a good personality and cleanliness."

Chang Yuning rambled on to Chen Yiyang for a while before asking him, "Why are you here? If you’re really itching for company, I wouldn’t mind selling you a pair of stockings to take care of it in the guest room."

"For that sort of need, I have to look for you?" Chen Yiyang immediately replied, "I can go to a massage place, spend some money, and it’s much more convenient!"

"Tsk tsk, then keep your distance from me, I don’t want to catch anything." Chang Yuning looked at Chen Yiyang with disdain before reaching out to pinch his cheek.

"Not bad looking, why haven’t you got a girlfriend yet?"

"That’s not why I’m here today, to flirt with you." Chen Yiyang reached out to Chang Yuning, "Let me borrow your house deed."

"What do you want it for?" Chang Yuning looked at Chen Yiyang suspiciously.

"Just as a credit guarantee. I’ll return it in a while, how about crediting you the ten thousand you owe me."

"Not interested; I don’t trust you. I’ve been unlucky enough; having bought an incomplete apartment, I can’t let myself be fooled into taking out a second mortgage."

"What are you thinking?" Chen Yiyang continued, "You owe me seventy thousand in total, let me borrow the house deed to credit fifteen thousand, how about it."

"Hold on." Chang Yuning stopped Chen Yiyang, then came over to observe his expression, before reaching out to touch his face.

Then.

She leaned in with her lips, and they exchanged oral bacteria.

"No staying up late, mental status normal, physiological reactions healthy. It doesn’t seem like what I thought."

Chen Yiyang was utterly bewildered at this moment.

What was this scene?

Was he taken advantage of?

What was the next step, if she pushes him, should he resist?

"Here you go, the house deed." Chang Yuning took out the deed and tossed it to Chen Yiyang.

"That’s it? Did the roles between us get swapped?" Chen Yiyang was confused.

If Chang Yuning came to borrow the deed from him, and he kissed her forcefully, wouldn’t that make more sense?

That’s usually how movies play it out.

"I was just worried you were either desperate from gambling or had been drugged. Now that you seem normal, you can borrow the deed, go ahead."

"Well, thanks. Should we sign a contract or something?" Chen Yiyang asked while putting away the deed.

"No need." Chang Yuning sat in front of Chen Yiyang, suddenly pulling his hand and said, "But remember, when you become successful, lend me a hand."

Chang Yuning lifted her head.

Chen Yiyang was looking down at her.

"I’ve been used to being alone since childhood. This is the first time I’m trusting someone, don’t deceive me."

Chen Yiyang said nothing, took the deed, and left.

Arriving at the pawnshop, he found the manager.

"Twenty-two thousand for the Yuan Datou coins, a hundred thousand in cash, this house deed is to be temporarily mortgaged here, consider the pawnshop loaning me a hundred thousand, and this car used as collateral here for fifty thousand."

"That’s still not enough." The manager shook his head.

"There’s more." Chen Yiyang brought out the previous contract he signed with Zhang Yuling, "Zhang Jiuqian owes me from a previous deal, he’s agreed to hold an art exhibition in Jin City. I’m leading this, you guys at the pawnshop handle it."

Chen Yiyang put everything on the table and said, "That’s all I have. Take it or leave it."

"Please hold on." The manager realized this was Chen Yiyang’s bottom line.

So he took out his phone and communicated with his boss.

Came back after ten minutes.

"Our boss said keeping the house deed is fine, take the car back. Also, the art exhibition by Zhang Jiuqian needs recent coordination."

"No problem." Chen Yiyang nodded, agreeing.

After signing a contract with a nominal price of only two hundred thousand at the pawnshop, Chen Yiyang successfully obtained the keys to the shop at 17 Mingyang Street.

Though there’s still a process to complete for the transfer.

But once the contract was signed, the shop already effectively belonged to Chen Yiyang.

Chen Yiyang left the pawnshop and drove directly to 17 Mingyang Street.

He opened the shop door and found the water and electricity had not been cut off here.

He closed the door, went directly to the warehouse on the second floor.

Spent more than an hour to find a box from a pile of clutter.

Opening the box, he found a mahjong set inside. The material felt excellent to the touch, with exquisite craftsmanship in the ivory carving technique; each piece had clearly visible patterns.

Closing the mahjong box again.

Chen Yiyang locked the shop door once more and drove directly to find Sun Xingguo.