"Bold men get rich, timid men starve.
Now that such a good opportunity is presented, wouldn't it be a shame if we didn't seize it?" Wan Hui explained.
"So, Mr. Wan, your intention is to bet your entire fortune on buying houses?" Liu Kaichen asked.
Wan Hui took a sip of white wine and then said, "It's not about betting everything, it's just that this opportunity is truly rare. So I plan to invest three to five million."
Hearing that Wan Hui intended to spend so much money on houses there, Liu Yifeng felt it was a bit too risky.
The old district was not only dilapidated, but there was also a large landfill several kilometers away from residential buildings.
Every summer, the pungent smell would spread everywhere, as if living in a septic tank.
Most residents there didn't want to live there themselves.
Some people, unable to bear the smell, would even pay to rent houses elsewhere.
Only those with extremely poor conditions had no choice but to live there, which was still better than sleeping under a bridge or in a hole in the ground.
If they spent so much money to buy houses there, and if the demolition didn't happen, their money would become dead capital.
Although they could rent them out, with only three hundred yuan in rent per month, how much cost could they possibly recover?
Wealthy people in general wouldn't take such a risk; they would more likely use that money to invest in other businesses.
Even if the houses were eventually demolished, they would only receive demolition fees.
But those who were truly capable had already earned back the demolition fees long ago.
"Brother Liu, I'm not forcing you to buy houses with me. I just feel this opportunity is once in a lifetime, and who knows when the next one will come if we miss this.
If you feel it's too risky, you can play it safe and focus on your agriculture. You can still make a lot of money." Wan Hui saw Liu Yifeng's silence and probably guessed his thoughts.
However, he wasn't angry. After all, everyone had different choices; some were bold, others were cautious.
Being cautious wasn't necessarily bad; at least it meant not taking risks.
"Yifeng, I think we can give it a try. That old district is already so run-down, if it's not demolished soon, it will turn into a slum," Liu Kaichen said.
"Since demolition is scheduled for three months from now, I'll need to think about this!" Liu Yifeng still didn't give a clear answer.
Because he felt that such confidential information shouldn't be leaked so easily.
As an official in a government unit, it would be very unprofessional to leak such confidential information due to drinking.
After hearing Liu Yifeng's words, Wan Hui said nothing. "Then Brother Liu, please consider it carefully. Call me if you change your mind."
After dinner, Liu Yifeng and Kaichen went to his place.
"Yifeng, about what Mr. Wan said, I don't think there's much to consider. We should just buy.
After all, the houses there will be demolished sooner or later, and as long as they are demolished, there will be profit to be made." Back home, Liu Kaichen was still trying to persuade Liu Yifeng.
Liu Yifeng said, "I always feel this matter isn't very reliable. Although the houses in the old district are not far from the city center, there's a large landfill just a few kilometers away. All the garbage from the entire city is piled up there.
Only after the landfill issue is resolved will there be any point in demolishing the houses there. Otherwise, no matter what is built after demolition, no one will be interested."
"Hmm, what you said makes some sense. If they don't find a new location for the landfill and demolish the old district's houses together.
The smell from the landfill is unbearable for anyone. Even if they built the Forbidden City, no one would buy a ticket to enter," Liu Kaichen realized he had oversimplified things after calming down.
"Then what should we do? Mr. Wan told us such confidential information, hoping we could all make money together.
If we don't buy any houses, wouldn't that be disrespecting him too much?"
Liu Yifeng sighed, "This is what troubles me. Mr. Wan seems convinced that demolition is certain, but we, as outsiders, feel the possibility of demolition is very slim.
If we buy, the money will likely be lost.
If we don't buy, our relationship with Mr. Wan will inevitably become distant.
How about this, let me think about it for a few days. Don't be in a hurry to buy either, okay? You still need this money to get married!"
"Is getting married more important than a career? Once I become a truly wealthy man, what kind of woman can't I find?" Liu Kaichen wasn't worried about his marital status.
Although he would be approaching thirty in three years, he had a career. And with an annual income reaching a million, women who wanted to marry him would form a line stretching all the way back to his hometown.
"Marriage is a lifelong event. If the woman is only with you for your money, I suggest you don't marry her," Liu Yifeng advised in an elder's tone.
Liu Kaichen nodded, "I know. I'll definitely find someone from a compatible background."
"It's not about compatible background, but about having similar values and the woman genuinely caring for you," Liu Yifeng never believed that a woman without money was unworthy of him. What he valued most was character.
"Why are you suddenly talking about my marriage? We haven't even gotten to the girlfriend stage yet!
You should really think about this matter. After all, the opportunity comes only once!
I'm feeling a bit tired, so I'm going back to my room to sleep. If you're tired too, you can rest in the guest room. The bedding is clean," Liu Kaichen yawned and then got up and went into his room.
At four in the afternoon, Liu Yifeng was woken up by his alarm.
He got out of bed and washed his face with clear water, instantly feeling much more awake.
The white wine at noon had a strong aftereffect.
He hadn't felt it at the time, but then he fell into a deep sleep on the bed. Fortunately, he had set his alarm in advance, otherwise, he would have been late to pick up Tongtong from school on his first day, and he would have been a very irresponsible father.
He walked to Liu Kaichen's room and saw that he was still snoring loudly, so he didn't wake him up and turned to leave.
He walked out of the residential complex and took a taxi to Kaichen's company, as his van was still parked outside his company.
After retrieving his car, he arrived at the kindergarten at 4:30 PM, which was the time for dismissal.
The parking spaces at the kindergarten entrance were filled with all sorts of luxury cars. Liu Yifeng's van stood out in contrast.
However, most wealthy people were well-behaved and didn't mock him for driving a shabby van.
After all, anyone who could afford to send their child to this kindergarten had some financial backing.
The kindergarten teacher, holding a microphone, stood at the entrance and called out each child's name as she saw a parent.
Except for the children who were attending school for the first time today, she didn't recognize all the parents yet.
Liu Yifeng walked over and said, "Teacher, I am Liu Tongtong's father from the little class!"
Tongtong soon came out, but the teacher didn't let him go directly. Instead, she asked Tongtong if he recognized Liu Yifeng.
Only after Tongtong said this was his father did the teacher allow Liu Yifeng to take him away.
Liu Yifeng was not angry that the teacher questioned his identity.
On the contrary, he was relieved that the teacher was so cautious. This way, he wouldn't have to worry about anyone being able to pick up his child simply by stating the child's name.
"Tongtong, what did the teacher teach you at kindergarten today?" Liu Yifeng asked, carrying Tongtong's backpack in one hand and holding his hand as they walked towards his van.
"Today the teacher taught us about identifying objects and drawing, but it was all so simple!" Tongtong replied earnestly.
Hearing Tongtong say it was simple, Liu Yifeng wasn't surprised. After all, his son was a genius, and his cognitive abilities even surpassed those of adults.
The knowledge taught by the teacher to the children in the little class was indeed very simple for him.
But the teacher couldn't raise the difficulty of the lessons just for him, as other children wouldn't be able to keep up.
"No matter what the teacher teaches, you must learn it diligently, understand?
The ancients said, 'Reviewing the old allows one to learn the new.' Even if you know something, you will forget it if you don't encounter it for a long time." Liu Yifeng opened the passenger door, placed Tongtong on the seat, and fastened his seatbelt.
Tongtong nodded, "Daddy, I understand."
Then Liu Yifeng returned to the driver's seat, ready to drive home.
Liu Kaichen's call came: "Yifeng, where are you? I don't see you."
"I'm picking up Tongtong from school and getting ready to go home."
"Didn't I ask you to sleep over at my place tonight? We have plenty of rooms.
You drank quite a bit of wine at noon. If the alcohol hasn't dissipated and you get caught by traffic police, you're finished." Liu Kaichen said.
Liu Yifeng chuckled, "It's okay. I didn't drink that much at noon, and the alcohol in my blood has already dissipated."
"Alright then, drive slowly on your way back. Don't forget to think about what Mr. Wan said. I think he's determined to buy."
"I know. I'll hang up now, I'm driving!"