Chapter 325 - 237: Old Tom’s Wisdom
Old Tom might have said that, but this was no small matter. If he was going to commit, he would go all in and invest his life’s savings!
He wasn’t some refugee or vagrant, forced to come to Westwood Laine just to survive because he couldn’t make a living elsewhere.
It was a former student who had told him about the situation here—that they were in desperate need of literate people who could read and write, and that there was a chance for a meteoric rise.
There was nothing wrong with teaching children in an elementary school, but becoming a civil servant... well, the sky was the limit.
After careful consideration, Old Tom decided to entrust the family’s entire fortune to Little Tom.
He was all in!
He trusted Little Tom’s vision and judgment, and he saw his son’s potential and his plans for the future. Just as his son had said, this was a golden opportunity, a rare chance. If they could seize it, their family’s future would be much brighter.
Little Tom’s heart pounded with excitement he could barely contain. He immediately set off for the property sales office to buy more real estate.
Time waits for no one, and neither do opportunities.
Everyone knew that the wise and martial Count Henry was no fool, nor could all the officials around him be fools. Sooner or later, they would impose purchasing restrictions on housing.
And that day could come very soon!
Although there would always be loopholes to exploit no matter how strict the rules, exploiting them was certainly not as comfortable or reassuring as making a legitimate purchase.
Little Tom arrived at the property sales office of the Civil Affairs Department. A small crowd had already gathered, with everyone discussing future housing price trends and their purchasing plans.
There was no shortage of sharp-minded people, mostly shop owners, Civil Servants from various departments, and the like.
Little Tom didn’t hesitate. He went straight to a staff member, stated his intentions, and requested to purchase multiple properties.
He inquired in detail about the properties’ locations, prices, and sizes. He also carefully reviewed the property deeds. After confirming everything was in order, Little Tom paid without a second thought.
Using his family’s entire fortune, he bought fourteen units in multi-story buildings located in the central district of Westwood Laine.
To be clear, this didn’t mean Little Tom bought an entire building; rather, each "unit" was a single household apartment within one.
Currently, the multi-story buildings in Westwood Laine were four stories high, with three households per floor. The higher the floor, the cheaper the unit, because access, as well as disposing of trash and waste, was more difficult.
No one here dared to dump trash from their windows. If caught, the punishment was beheading or being enslaved as a serf and sent to the mines.
These fourteen units, combined with the three Little Tom had bought previously, brought his total to seventeen!
Not only were these buildings in a prime location, but their construction quality was also excellent, making them perfect for future rental or resale.
As Westwood Laine continued to develop and prosper, the value of these properties would only rise.
As long as he and his father could maintain their steady progress and keep working hard, their future was sure to be even better.
Most of the shop owners and Civil Servants buying properties in bulk at the sales office knew him. Some were former students of Little Tom’s father, while others were colleagues he had met while working in the tax department.
There was an unspoken understanding among them all. They exchanged smiles and nods, but no one spoke openly about their specific purchasing plans or the number of units they were buying.
These shop owners and Civil Servants were the backbone of Westwood Laine. They had a clear understanding and sharp judgment regarding the city’s future.
They were the sharpest, most clever people in the Earl’s Domain. By analyzing data on finances, population, trade, and so on, they could spot business opportunities far earlier than anyone else.
One after another, they poured their savings into real estate, hoping for greater returns in the future.
However, they would never reveal this information or the idea that this was a surefire bet—and a massively profitable one at that.
Some money was meant only for a select group to earn.
If word got out and caused a flood of people to enter the housing market, it wouldn’t just drive up prices and reduce their profits, but it could also lead to unnecessary trouble.
Therefore, one should never trust any "insider tips," "special channels," or other such pie-in-the-sky opportunities.
Before doing anything, first ask yourself: ’Am I in a position to earn this money? Can I handle it?’ Losing money is one thing, but losing the rest of your life or your life itself would be a catastrophic loss.
Little Tom stepped out of the property sales office and strolled down the streets of Westwood Laine. The sun was bright, the weather was perfect, and a gentle breeze carried a wave of fresh air, making him feel refreshed and full of life.
He looked up at the sky, where a few white clouds drifted across the azure canvas, as if painting a picture of his current mood.
’The world is so beautiful! Ah, this feeling of being fabulously wealthy is incredible!’ Little Tom marveled to himself.
He could already picture it: the value of his family’s properties soaring, rental income pouring in, their quality of life steadily improving. His descendants would receive better educations, marry into good families with great fanfare, and the family’s status in Westwood Laine would become more and more secure.
He even began to fantasize that perhaps one day, by accumulating wealth, his family could join the ranks of the nobility and enjoy even greater honor and power.
Just as Little Tom was lost in his wonderful fantasies, a patrol of garrison soldiers and Militia passed by him.
The garrison soldiers were clad in matching uniforms, carrying spears and marching in neat steps. Their expressions were stern as they stared straight ahead, paying no mind to Little Tom.