SMVB Chapter 57

Translator: Cheese

Chance to make a fortune

Seeing the man who barged his way into the house, Xi Yun felt unhappy in his heart. What was supposed to be his private time with his jiejie and Auntie was interrupted by this person.

But Ji Shaoheng was the person helping him, so even if he was not happy, he couldn’t show it. He silently sat next to him, absentmindedly completing his homework.

He Qingwan poured hot water for the three of them to warm themselves up.

Ji Shaoheng glanced around the little home. The decorations were warm and cozy, making one want to lean back and fall asleep on the soft sofa.

Involuntarily, he began to imagine–when they lived together in the future, He Qingwan would decorate the room to be inviting¹.

Now that they were home, they could discuss more personal topics.

After chatting for a while, He Qingwan asked, “Chief Ji, you’ve just come from Didu. Have you heard about how the Zhang family are doing?”

As soon as Zhang Yingni’s mother had woken up, she had given a call to express her thanks. He Qingwan had been afraid of touching the other person’s sore spot, so she didn’t ask for many details. After so long, she’d actually kept it in her mind.

Su Tian, who was sitting with Xi Yun reading a book, also looked over.

Su Tian had also kept the Zhang family’s matters in mind. Although her relationship with Zhang Yingni wasn’t good, they had, after all, known each other since childhood. She also hoped things would go smoothly for Zhang Yingni. Of course, it’d be even better if she didn’t come to snatch her things in the future.

Ji Shaoheng took a sip of hot tea and answered:

“The situation’s not too good. Mrs. Zhang and her daughter are selling their assets. It’s just that everyone in the business circle knows about the big matter of the Zhang family and are throwing stones down the well², joining together to drive down prices. The Zhang family is insisting on not selling at a low price, but the bank has been pressing them for the money. I estimate they won’t last long.”

He Qingwan looked worried. “Then what can be done? Can I help?”

Ji Shaoheng smiled and reassured, “You don’t need to worry too much. The police are already dealing with the person who ran off with the Zhang family’s money. A large amount of capital flowing out of the country is definitely undesirable. Once the money’s recovered, the Zhang family will be able to rest easy.”

He Qingwan’s eyes lit up with stars.

Ji Shaoheng coughed, pressing down the corners of his mouth, and continued, “If you have disposable income, you could use some to invest. Many of the Zhang family’s assets have potential for appreciation. If you buy it at the reserve price, you can temporarily relieve the Zhang family’s urgent needs.

He Qingwan: “I have some, but not much. Does Chief Ji have any suggestions?”

Ji Shaoheng had guessed that He Qingwan would ask for news of the Zhang family and had done his homework long before. He Qingwan’s question was just what he was waiting for, but he still pretended to ponder for a while before saying:

“I remember that when the university city was first being planned, the Zhang family bought half a street. Soon, Tiantian will be going to college, and you won’t be able to stay in Luocheng; your store will need to be moved to Didu. A store in the university city is a very good choice.”

Su Tian heard herself being mentioned and shot the two a sweet smile. Then she silently retracted her gaze and continued to read.

This man really knew how to play tricks, tch.

He Qingwan was moved by these words. When Tiantian went to college, she would need to return to Didu. A store in the university city really was an excellent choice.

She silently wrote it down. Tomorrow, she would ask Zhang jie. If it was acceptable, buying it wasn’t impossible.

“There’s also another project you can consider. Did you know that the Zhang family has an amusement park in the suburbs?”

Now even Xi Yun couldn’t resist the temptation to look over.

An amusement park! It was his and jiejie’s dream to open the biggest, funnest amusement park in the world.

He Qingwan nodded. “I know. Tiantian often went to play when she was young.”

Ji Shaoheng smiled. “It’s far from the city, so the land price is very cheap, but the government is going to develop and build a new commercial district there. The documents will be released as early as after the end of the year, and no later than the end of next year.”

The Su family dealt with finance. He Qingwan had stayed in the Su family for many years, and she immediately understood what Ji Shaoheng’s words meant.

Commercial districts often had most expensive land prices in the city. Soon, schools, hospitals, residential areas, and other related facilities would emerge. By then, she feared the amusement park’s land price would only double and double again.

The value of this news was astonishing.

For a moment, He Qingwan couldn’t react. She stammered out, “You… you just said it out like this, is that okay?”

Ji Shaoheng smiled. “No problem. Actually, some people have already heard the news. If you’re interested, you’ll need to be as quick as possible.”

He Qingwan nodded blankly.

Ji Shaoheng sat for a while before getting up to leave. One big and two small sent him out the door, obediently bidding him farewell. Seeing this, Chief Ji’s heart felt great comfort.

As he came downstairs, he spotted the little brat holding an umbrella, silently standing in the autumn rain.

Ji Shaoheng was startled by him and nearly gave him a kick. “Little brat, what are you doing here?!”

In the night rain, the youth’s voice seemed to carry a bone-piercing chill:

“Came down?”

Ji Shaoheng couldn’t help bragging, “I also drank a cup of tea.”

Young man: “Ha ha.”

Ji Shaoheng came over, upset. “Such an eccentric mood. Why didn’t you go back, what are you waiting for me for?”

The youth didn’t bother to pay him any mind. He looked up at the warm light upstairs. In such a cold autumn rain, that yellowish light really did look very warm.

A certain someone whose warmth on his body hadn’t yet dissipated followed the youth’s line of sight and reassured, “Don’t worry, my wife is beautiful and kind. She won’t mind a little brat like you.”

The young man gave a “haha” and said, “Go back and transfer my household registration for me.”

Saying that, he ignored Ji Shaoheng and walked away, holding the umbrella.

Stunned for a moment, Ji Shaoheng hurriedly caught up, saying, “Tsk, you’re still angry? Wasn’t it just asking you to pretend not to know me? Once I’ve succeeded, I’ll definitely introduce you…”

“You’re noisy.” The youth interrupted his words.

Ji Shaoheng: “…”

This little brat, he really was getting more and more cheeky.

Two umbrellas and two figures gradually disappeared into the rainy night.

After sending away Ji Shaoheng, Xi Yun jogged over, asking expectantly, “Auntie, are we buying an amusement park?”

Su Tian also looked at He Qingwan with wide eyes. If what Ji Shaoheng said was true, buying it now was indeed a safe and huge profit.

The issue was whether their money they had was enough to buy such a large amusement park.

Su Tian had accepted the original Su Tian’s memories, and she knew that the amusement park covered a large area. Even if it was located in the suburbs, it was still worth a lot of money.

He Qingwan paused. She asked, “Do you really want to buy that amusement park?”

Xi Yun pursed his lips and said nothing. Although Auntie was very good to him, he also knew that he wasn’t Auntie’s son, and he didn’t have any right to ask for this or that.

Su Tian: “If the government really wants to develop there, buying it now will definitely make a profit.”

He Qingwan silently counted the money she had. She was somewhat distressed, “I also don’t know if the money is enough. Tomorrow, why don’t we ask Zhang jie how much it is.”

It was true that she wanted to make money, but it was mainly to help the Zhang family. After all, before she divorced, the relationship between her and Zhang jie was not bad.

Su Tian smiled. Intimately hugging He Qingwan, she assured, “It’s okay if the money’s not enough. We can look at other things and do our best.”

When He Qingwan was free, she gave Zhang Yingni’s mother a call.

After such an abrupt change in circumstances, Zhang jie could finally see the warmth and cold of human relationships. At this time, He Qingwan’s timely offer of help³ seemed especially precious. She had always been grateful, but she had been too busy recently and could only give a call to express her gratitude.

After receiving a call from He Qingwan and hearing her intentions, Zhang jie was stunned once again.

The bank was urging them for money, and friends in the business circle joined hands to drive down the price of her family’s assets. But at this time, He Qingwan was actually willing to pay market price.

Zhang jie couldn’t describe the scenery in her heart as she was nearly unable to control her tears.

“I definitely want to buy the shop in the university city. I also want to ask your family about the price of your amusement park…”

He Qingwan was a bit embarrassed. “The funds in my hands are limited, so I’m still not too sure.”

Zhang jie said a figure that was already almost 20% off the surrounding land prices. If she could, she was even willing to sell at half price, but the bank loan payment this month was due soon; the price really couldn’t go any lower.

When He Qingwan heard, she hesitated. What a coincidence, this number happened to match the amount of cash in her hand. If she bought the amusement park, she couldn’t afford the shop.

Zhang jie smiled bitterly. “Qingwan, I know you don’t have much money, but I really can’t delay with the bank any further…”

After a pause, she said, “How’s this, if you buy the amusement park, I’ll show you a few of the shop fronts in the university city, and you can choose whichever you want.”

Each of the shop fronts in the university city was worth a lot of money.

He Qingwan hurriedly declined, “No need no need, I only need one. I’ll owe you the money first, and I will pay you back later.”

She already felt that she’d taken advantage; she’d really be embarrassed to have the other person gift a shop.

Zhang jie was between laughter and tears. “Qingwan, you’re really… so silly⁴.”

There were too few of such people nowadays.

He Qingwan blushed and couldn’t help but explain, “If the land price in the suburbs rise in the future, you will lose money.”

Zhang jie was indifferent. “That land has been abandoned for a long time. It’s because Old Zhang thought it would appreciate in the future that he never sold it. But now, I can’t be thankful enough that you’re asking for it. No matter how it’s managed in the future, it still won’t appreciate.”

He Qingwan: “Does your family still have land there?”

Zhang jie: “There’s still one more area. It’s slightly smaller than the one you want.”

He Qingwan: “If you can, try to hold on to this piece of land. Don’t sell it.”

Zhang jie laughed, thinking that He Qingwan wanted to buy it in the future, and agreed.

He Qingwan could hear that she wasn’t taking her words too seriously, but she didn’t dare to speak too clearly. Otherwise, if the news leaked out, Ji Shaoheng would be implicated.

In the evening, when Su Tian and Xi Yun came back from school, He Qingwan told them the results.

The two of them immediately cheered.

Now, the dessert shop could open a branch in Didu, and the amusement park was also dealt with.

Su Tian could almost see a lot of banknotes flying into her pocket.

So happy.

[1] 眷恋: to miss, to long for

[2] 落井下石: to throw stones at someone who has fallen down a well; to hit someone when he’s down

[3] 雪中送炭: lit. sending charcoal in snowy weather; to provide help in someone’s hour of need. The opposite of footnote 2

[4] 傻乎乎: feeble-minded or dim-witted

Cheese: ahhhhhh long time no see yall! Apologies for the unannounced break. I was getting burnt out while also not feeling super happy with my translation quality, so i took a break from all my translation projects for like 2 weeks. I had a bit of a stockpile for my other two projects, but none for this after the 2-in-1 chapter from last time, unfortunately. But dw bc i have no intentions of dropping any of the projects i pick up! Once mstp finishes (eta late february?), i’ll be able to focus more on smvb, possibly bump up update frequency to once a week (yay). Thanks for all your patience, and enjoy the coming holiday break!

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