Chapter 23 (1/2)
Translator: Shunraiki
Editor: Naeda
Read this at Shunraikitranslations.home.blog, or you are gonna work with Liang
Chapter 23: Really have a predestined relations.h.i.+p.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Lu Chengyu's work in Huading was getting easier.
Because Yan Mu was a good boss, Lu Chengyu worked hard and even gave him some investment advice that was in accordance to his own views, as well as a few things he knew from his previous life.
Knowing that Huading was going to partic.i.p.ate in the land bidding meeting in M County, Lu Chengyu suddenly recalled that there were several ghost cities in M County, which were famous all around the country.
After the development plan was put forward in that area, many businessmen came and invested in the construction, but, later on, they were unable to sell the desired amount of houses. However, due to cost reasons, investors couldn't reduce the prices. In the end, a lot of newly developed residential areas in M County became ghost cities with no living inhabitants. Many investors became trapped.
”The land of M County?” Lu Chengyu was in the president's office. After listening to Yan Mu's conversation with Cao Jingshen, he hesitated and asked, ”Is it the area near the North District?”
Cao Jingshen nodded doubtfully. He didn't understand why Lu Chengyu asked such a strange question. Looking at Yan Mu, he found that the other was listening attentively. ”What's wrong with the North District?”
”I heard that M County has a small population. Will other companies investing in real estate there affect the housing market?” Lu Chengyu arrived at Yan Mu's desk and leaned in front of the computer. He brought out some information and news about M County. ”In these residential areas, those who can afford it don't have the desire to buy houses, while those who with the desires don't have strong enough economic strength to do so.”
”However, in the next two years, this place would be vigorously developed. Now that the price of M County is low, if we can get some of its land, it will be a rare opportunity,” Cao Jingshen frowned. ”Our market should not only consider the people of M County but also the foreign investments and migrant workers.”
”But the development plan would not necessarily be successful. If it fails, the money invested cannot be earned back in a short period of time.” Lu Chengyu remembered that M County did developed that year, but because the actual operation was too difficult, the plan was held back for a year. At that time, he didn't know how many developers were trapped, but there were a few that even jumped off of buildings. It caused a lot of sensation, triggering some societal reflection of housing markets.
After □□ years, housing prices tend to stabilize, and there are some places with prices lowered. Therefore, even if M County's real estate can recover after he died in his past life, it would not make much of a profit. On the other hand, if these funds were instead used to invest in other industries, although he didn't know by how much, there would still be more profit.
In Lu Chengyu's previous life, he didn't know whether or not Huading had invested in this place. However, he should advise Yan Mu and carry out his responsibilities.
Cao Jingshen listened to those words and fell into deep thought. He just thought that the price of land was cheap but didn't think of the development issues. Lu Chengyu's words were like a wake-up call.
”You're not optimistic in M County's market?” Yan Mu looked at Lu Chengyu, as if trying to search for something in his expression.
”I'm just giving a suggestion,” Lu Chengyu shook his head. ”But personally, I really don't like this place very much.”
Yan Mu nodded, then he closed the tender in his hands before handing it to Lu Chengyu. ”I see,” he paused in thought. ”Tomorrow, I'm going to the bidding meeting in M County. You're coming with me.”
Lu Chengyu looked at the tender and nodded.
”Make a new tender. Although we don't want to win the bid, we still have to go through it.” Yan Mu agreed with Chengyu and said, ”M County is not really an easy place to develop. What you said is correct.”
Beside him, Cao Jingshen sighed. When he talked about it before, his boss doubted the success of the M County development project. Unexpectedly, Lu Chengyu doubted this, too.
These days, he felt that Lu Chengyu was really a one-in-thousand, hard to come by a.s.sistant. No wonder the boss paid more and more attention to him.
”I'm going to book a plane ticket to M County this evening.” Cao Jingshen withdrew from the office and immediately made a phone call to book the flight tickets and hotel rooms.
When Lu Chengyu returned to his office, he changed the tender once more and checked the recent temperature of M County. Besides the sun being quite intense and the weather being quite hot, there was nothing special to pay attention to. So, Chengyu rushed home early in the afternoon, packed his bags, and headed straight to the airport to join Yan Mu and Cao Jingshen.
Chengyu also brought a pack of cond*m, in case suddenly Yan Mu wants to make out.
After boarding the plane, Lu Chengyu discovered that Cao Jingshen bought business cla.s.s tickets, which were much more comfortable and s.p.a.cious than economy cla.s.s. As soon as he laid down on his cozy seat, he heard Cao Jingshen explaining to Yan Mu, ”This flight only has two cla.s.s options. Although it's not comparable to international flights, it's still good.”
Before he reincarnated, Lu Chengyu was reluctant to buy even an economy cla.s.s ticket. How could he, someone who would rather squeeze in crowded trains if he could save a bit of money, endure this display of wealth?
”En,” Yan Mu nodded and looked at Lu Chengyu, who was sitting beside him without saying a word. ”If you feel bored later, sleep for a while.”
Lu Chengyu smiled at Yan Mu. ”Okay.” How could a man like Yan Mu–wealthy, good-looking, great at cooking–not find a wife after nine years? For all my female friends, you are all guilty of this heinous crime: wasting resources.
”I didn't expect to meet Mr. Lu here. It's really fate.” An annoying voice that was somewhat familiar to Chengyu sounded behind him. As Lu Chengyu looked up, he saw a man he didn't want to meet–Liang family's young master, Liang Deyou.
Liang Deyou was followed Chen Jin, who was dressed as an elite, with two bodyguards behind them. Chen Jin apparently saw him too, but looked down and pretended not to see him.
”This is the so-called ‘though born a thousand li[1] apart, souls that are one shall meet [2]'. Mr. Liang was able to fly in the same plane with me at a height of thousands of miles. Indeed, we really have a lifetime predestined relations.h.i.+p.” Lu Chengyu smiled at Liang Deyou, ”It's a surprise, ah.”
[1] Li: a unit of measurement in China that is equal to about a third of a mile, or about 547 yards or 500 meters.
[2] 有缘千里来相会 [yǒu yuán qiān lǐ lái xiāng huì]: Describe two people who were fated, no matter how far apart they will meet.
Liang Deyou was disgusted by Lu Chengyu's happy-because-we're-thousands-of-li-apart-but-still-able-to-meet expression. He turned around and sat with Chen Jin on the other side of the aisle, then said to Lu Chengyu, ”I heard that Mr. Lu is a person from this city and rarely travel out of town. Is Mr. Lu not use to being on a plane?”
”It's not that bad.” Lu Chengyu heard that the other side was trying to ridicule him for not being on a flight before. Instead of getting angry, he smiled, ”I can't open the window, it's quite stuffy.”
Liang Deyou sneered. He felt that the man before his eyes was unbearably vulgar. How did Chen Jin like him before? And who was the man sitting with Lu Chengyu? His eyes didn't seem that friendly.
Liang Deyou didn't remember Yan Mu, but Chen Jin still had an impression on him, recognizing him as the man with Lu Chengyu during graduation day. He didn't know why, but subconsciously, he didn't like this seemingly difficult person. Maybe it was because of the other's momentum?
Yan Mu glanced at them and pursed his lips. Remembering Liang Deyou's mockery of Lu Chengyu just now, he felt embarra.s.sed because the former heard what he said moments before about Lu Chengyu's first time flying on a plane. It was as if Liang Deyou was ridiculing him.