Chapter 808: Buying is a skill, but taking control completely is true ability!
At this moment, Liu Rulan had the surreal feeling that someone close to her had gotten rich behind her back.
Seeing Xiao He's still-calm expression, Liu Rulan really didn't know what to say.
"Jinhe Prince Mansion belongs to the core protection zone of Beijing's old city. It's surrounded by hutongs and old courtyards, within the key protection area of cultural relic protection units. High-rise buildings are not allowed around it, so the overall architectural style remains traditional. Many native Beijingers came from this area."
Liu Rulan continued, "Take Director Zhuang, Zhuang Hongyi, for example. It's said that his family's old residence is also over there. It represents the Zhuang family's heritage in Beijing for many years. But if you trace it back, it can only be considered the mansion of a wealthy merchant family. Although it's precious to have survived until today, it's far from comparable to your prince mansion."
Moreover, that was Beijing!
In a place where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, there was actually such a plot of vacant land left for decades. Now, after so long, it had finally been bought by Xiao He through an overseas auction house. This kind of event was simply like a dream!
"If those people in Beijing found out about this, your life would be even less peaceful."
Liu Rulan murmured.
Xiao He was silent for a moment, thought about it, and then said, "Maybe some of them already know, but they're keeping it quiet for now, watching my attitude."
If such a property fell into someone else's hands, those in the upper echelons of Beijing would have surely received the news early on.
"And do you remember Bao Xingsheng's attitude when he saw me last time?"
Xiao He narrowed his eyes. "No matter how much he believes in numerology and metaphysics, it's impossible for him to truly treat me differently just because of a master's words. People like them, even if they know I have the 'value' they want, would never look up to me. Being able to get an invitation into my hands was already a very solemn invitation in their eyes."
Yet, during that meeting, Bao Xingsheng had very seriously and personally invited him to participate.
Thinking about it now, he had probably already heard rumors from Beijing by then.
And the ridiculous thing was that he, the owner of this property, only found out about the situation now.
Thinking of this, Xiao He couldn't help but want to curse the paparazzi who had secretly photographed him last time.
He really caused a delay in major matters! If he had been able to receive the call in advance, he wouldn't have had to accept the facts with a dazed face only after someone came to his door, and many things wouldn't still be kept in the dark!
"That's true." Liu Rulan was also a smart person and understood immediately. "Having the property in hand isn't important; what's important is whether you have the ability to truly secure it."
If picking it up at the auction was Xiao He's luck, then whether he could truly take over this property was his real skill.
After all, to put a prince mansion that had been abandoned for decades back into use, the renovation and refurbishment costs would be astronomical. Moreover, given the size of Jinhe Prince Mansion, it was basically equivalent to building a scenic spot to restore the mansion's original appearance.
This naturally included labor costs, material costs, subsequent long-term maintenance, and so on. None of these were things an ordinary person could afford; it was completely burning money.
And because of the protection zone, they couldn't even tear it down and renovate it into other buildings; it had to be rebuilt and restored.
So under such constraints, if Xiao He were just an ordinary actor, he should have immediately found a way to flip it when he luckily got this property.
After all, for him, such a property was meaningless and would instead become a hot potato.
"What a pity—"
Xiao He couldn't help but curl his lips.
Those people would never imagine that he had a System.
A hundred points was no small amount. Even for Xiao He, it took a long time to save up. The System couldn't possibly give him a mess to deal with, so not only the source of the property but also the subsequent restoration and long-term maintenance would be fully handled by the System without Xiao He needing to pay extra.
So those who were watching were going to be disappointed; he was definitely going to take good care of this property. Even if he didn't live in it later and really used it as a scenic spot, it would still earn him a lot of money.
The only thing that made Xiao He a bit worried was that this "Criminal Base" was, after all, a "Criminal Base." He wondered if there were dangerous items hidden inside that no one knew about, just like the previous property—
The best way was for him to go back to Beijing to take a look and confirm the safety of the property.
"So you still haven't said how you got your hands on this property."
Liu Rulan looked at Xiao He suspiciously. "Or is it that your family really has some hidden family background behind my back?"
She thought for a moment and then said very seriously, "For example, a hidden family training an heir, but your parents' generation didn't pass successfully, so they finally decided to set their sights on you."
Xiao He: "...Sister Liu, this is the first time I've found you to be so imaginative. It's truly a waste of talent for you not to be a screenwriter."
Liu Rulan: "Don't mention it, don't mention it. Just a basic operation."
Xiao He: "..."
He turned around and stiffly changed the subject: "I'm hungry, let me eat breakfast first! Also, I have to attend the gala the day after tomorrow. Do I need to try on the clothes I'll be wearing? Oh, right, are Shu Han and the others also landing in Hong Kong today? When are we picking him up? Let's call Brother Tong then. After all, they are Sister Liu's former and current artists. It's rare for everyone to gather so completely this time; we should celebrate properly..."
Liu Rulan squinted at Xiao He and twitched the corner of her mouth.
Hehe, what a deliberate change of subject!
Looking at the young man who had already turned his back to her and abruptly ended the conversation, Liu Rulan couldn't help but complain softly, "Does this guy even know what he's acquired?"
—
In the afternoon, Xiao He and his group went to the airport in person to pick up Shu Han.
Coincidentally, the others from the Travelogue of Mountains and Rivers Program Group were also there. Especially Director Hu Pei, whose eyes lit up the moment he saw Xiao He.
It was him, it was him, it was that man!
The man who had ascended to godhood in one fell swoop by operating a drone, becoming the legendary scene of the peak viewership in the history of their Travelogue of Mountains and Rivers!
Hu Pei almost rushed in front of Xiao He in a flash and "affectionately" grabbed Xiao He's hand, his voice full of expectation: "Ah, it's Teacher Xiao! It's been a long time! I've missed you to death!"
Xiao He was startled, then his hand was caught off guard, and he met those eyes full of affection.
Xiao He: "...Director Hu, long time no see. You're still so enthusiastic."
It was just that the enthusiasm was a bit too much for him to handle.
"Ahem, right, Teacher Xiao, are you going to the cruise gala in Hong Kong the day after tomorrow?"
Hu Pei coughed lightly, as if he hadn't understood Xiao He's hint, and continued to hold Xiao He's hand, asking with great expectation.
Xiao He: "I'll be going, but—"
"Teacher Xiao!"
Hearing the affirmative answer, Hu Pei felt as if he had seen a deity descend to earth. Just as he was about to let out a howl and start pulling Xiao He to "continue their past connection," Xiao He was already bumped aside by Liu Rulan.
The woman reclaimed Xiao He's previous position and proactively stuffed her hand into Hu Pei's, shaking it firmly with a smile on her face, not looking crude at all: "Director Hu, long time no see! How have you been lately? I haven't congratulated you on Travelogue of Mountains and Rivers becoming a massive hit yet!"
Then, without waiting for Hu Pei to react, she had already pulled him away with extreme efficiency.
Hu Pei was shocked.
How could this Agent's strength be so great!
Oh no, Teacher Xiao, my future money tree—