Chapter 51: 40% Discount
They packed up the leftovers and paid the bill.
The group headed straight for the parking lot.
You could tell their financial situations just by looking at the cars they drove.
The eldest uncle, Wu Renqing, had a Hongqi H9, a high-spec model that cost around 400,000 on the road.
The youngest aunt, Wu Xiulan, had the best car: a Mercedes S350L, mid-range spec, which cost around a million when she bought it.
The second uncle, Wu Renguang, had a Passat, which cost under 200,000 on the road.
The second aunt, Wu Xiuhua, didn’t own a car.
Cheng Yuan’s family had a taxi.
Wu Xiulan, leveraging the fact that her car was the most expensive and her financial situation the best, suggested with a beaming smile, "My car is spacious. Let’s have the old man ride with me."
As the eldest and the one who held the most sway in the family, Wu Renqing naturally wouldn’t pass up such an opportunity.
"Xiulan, your car is more for business. Mine is more stately and fitting for the old man. Let him choose."
The old man glanced at the Mercedes, then at the Hongqi, and said with a grin, "This old fellow still prefers domestic cars. The Hongqi is more imposing. I’ll go with the Hongqi."
Wu Kun, quick-witted and eager to please, hurried to open the car door, placing a hand on the frame. "Grandpa, please watch your step."
Since the old man had chosen the Hongqi, Wu Xiulan didn’t argue. She turned to Wu Xiuhua. "Second Sister, your family doesn’t have a car, so you can ride with us! But there are three of us, so we can only take two more people at most."
Wu Xiuhua didn’t like her younger sister. She was too much of a show-off. Plus, she hadn’t helped Xiaoyuan when it mattered, causing him to lose his case and spend two years in prison.
Wu Xiuhua refused without a second thought. "We’ll just ride with our eldest brother-in-law."
With that, Wu Xiuhua ducked into Cheng Hongbing’s taxi.
"Second Sister, Eldest Sister’s family has three people too. Their brother-in-law’s taxi can only take two more at most, which still leaves one person. How about you let Qianqian ride with me?"
Wu Xiuhua instinctively wanted to refuse, but when she saw the look of hopeful envy in Liu Qian’s eyes, she finally gave a reluctant nod.
"Qianqian, go ahead and ride in your younger aunt’s car."
"Okay."
With the car arrangements settled, the Wu Family motorcade headed for Long Lake District.
Long Lake District was situated in the best part of the city center. It was one of Luocheng’s few central villa areas, a high-end residential community.
The sales hall for Long Lake District was incredibly luxurious. Wu Xiuhua and Wu Xiuli were stunned. ’No wonder the prices at Long Lake District are so high,’ they thought, ’this sales hall is so impressive!’
The property consultant was very professional. She didn’t show any disdain at the sight of the taxi and greeted them warmly.
"Hello everyone, I’m Song Jia, a property consultant for Long Lake Real Estate. Are you all here to look at properties?"
Wu Renqing nodded slightly. "Yes."
"Sir, are you interested in the villas or the large-flat apartments?"
"The large-flats. The old man has trouble getting around, so we’re looking to trade up to a place with an elevator."
"Are you looking for a move-in ready home or an off-plan property?"
"Move-in ready or nearly completed ones are both fine."
"Okay, this way, please."
Led by Song Jia, the group arrived at a large model and saw the overall layout of the community.
"This is the layout for our Long Lake community. We have extensive green spaces, as well as amenities like a gym, a soccer field, and a kindergarten. We have thirteen move-in ready units left, in Buildings 1, 7, and 9, mostly on the lower and upper floors. Our main promotion right now is for the newly completed buildings, 10 and 11. These two are located on the banks of Long Lake and are some of the very rare lake-view properties in Luocheng."
"What’s the price for the lake-view properties?"
"The lake-view properties are about one thousand yuan more expensive per square meter than the other buildings."
’Only a thousand??’
Wu Renqing and Wu Xiulan exchanged a glance, both tempted.
Wu Xiulan looked at Song Jia with a reserved expression. "Miss Song, if we buy two units, is there a group discount?"
"Currently, our group discount is 5% off. If you sign today, I can apply for a 10% discount for you."
’A 10% discount would make it the same price as the other buildings, maybe even a little cheaper.’
However, as a businesswoman, Wu Xiulan wasn’t satisfied with 10% off.
"Miss Song, Great Xia’s birth rate is declining every year, and the housing market is in a slump. Give us a sincere price. How about 20% off?"
Song Jia shook her head with a wry smile. "Ma’am, the absolute lowest Long Lake Real Estate can go is 10% off. I really can’t do the 20% you’re asking for."
Seeing that Song Jia wasn’t joking, Wu Xiulan took a step back. "Alright, let’s not do 20% or 10%. Let’s meet in the middle. 15% off."
Song Jia still shook her head. "Ma’am, 10% off really is the lowest discount. If it were one of the other buildings, I could do 15% off, but these are the lake-view units. They sell themselves."
Wu Xiulan and Wu Renqing didn’t give up and haggled for a long time, but Song Jia wouldn’t budge, insisting that 10% off was the absolute minimum discount.
Song Jia, growing a little annoyed with the pestering, said, "Why don’t you two go home and think about it? You can come back when you’ve made a decision."
Just then, Mei Bin slowly walked into the sales office. The property consultants all rushed to greet him.
"Good day, Vice President Xiao Mei!"
"Vice President Xiao Mei, what brings you here today?"
Song Jia also greeted Mei Bin with great enthusiasm. This was the Crown Prince of Long Lake Real Estate. If she could catch his eye, she’d be set for life.
Unfortunately, Mei Bin wasn’t interested in any of the consultants and just gave a faint nod.
The eyes of the Wu family’s younger women lit up.
"Is that Vice President Xiao Mei from Long Lake Real Estate? He’s so handsome! Truly befitting of Luocheng’s top young master."
"It’s a shame. A rich heir of his caliber isn’t someone an ordinary girl like me could ever hope to reach."
Even Wu Xiulan’s daughter, Lian Shishi, felt a little insecure in Mei Bin’s presence.
After all, her family’s assets were in the tens of millions, while Vice President Xiao Mei’s family was worth several billion.
Mei Bin merely gave the girls a cursory glance, his eyes lingering on Lian Shishi’s face for less than a second.
But when Mei Bin saw Cheng Yuan standing next to Lian Shishi, he stopped short. The arrogant expression on his face instantly vanished, replaced by a warm, almost fawning smile as he strode toward them!
Lian Shishi’s heart pounded with excitement!
’Is Vice President Xiao Mei smiling at me?’
’Is Vice President Xiao Mei walking toward me?’
’Oh my god!’
’Vice President Xiao Mei is just too handsome!’
Under Lian Shishi’s excited and expectant gaze, Vice President Xiao Mei walked right past her and stopped in front of Cheng Yuan. "Brother Cheng, what a coincidence!"
As he spoke, Mei Bin firmly grabbed Cheng Yuan’s hand and shook it vigorously, all under the astonished gazes of everyone present.
Everyone was dumbfounded! They stared at the scene in utter disbelief!
Vice President Xiao Mei was one of the top five richest heirs in Luocheng, a young master at the pinnacle of the social pyramid, and he was being this friendly to Cheng Yuan?
Cheng Yuan, feeling a bit awkward, pulled his hand back and smiled. "It is a coincidence."
"Brother Cheng, what are you...?"
"Helping some relatives look for a house."
Mei Bin waved his hand magnanimously. "You there, Song Jia, right? Brother Cheng is my friend, which makes his relatives my relatives. Give them a 40% discount."
’Forty percent off??’
Wu Renqing and Wu Xiulan gasped!
A discount like that was unheard of!
No one could understand. Cheng Yuan was just an ex-convict fresh out of prison. How could he possibly know a top-tier rich heir like Vice President Xiao Mei?