"Niannian, where is this?" Xia Xiang asked, looking at the well-equipped security guards at the gate. "You didn't secretly become successful behind your sister's back, did you? That's so unfair."

"The villa on the hilltop belongs to the chairman," Rex said, pointing Xia Xiang toward the magnificent, gleaming golden building.

Xia Xiang pointed to the mountaintop, a hint of regret creeping into her heart. "Hmm? I was a bit too reserved when I refused earlier. I wonder if the president will still take us in."

"That boy who mistook someone else for someone else completely humiliated the president, don't you think?" Rex said as he drove.

"Sigh, it's all fate," Xia Xiang sighed, gripping the seatbelt.

"Wealth and honor are not destined for me in this life, but I will surely be blessed by the heavens in the next. I will bear the hardships of this life alone, but it has only burdened my dear brother."

"Stop acting, we're here." Rex stopped in front of a somewhat desolate thatched hut.

"Huh?" Xia Xiang was somewhat surprised.

"Isn't the area down the mountain all fenced off? This whole road is lined with glittering courtyards and villas, yet there's this incredibly simple place? Is this some kind of dilapidated hut reserved for these big shots to reminisce about the past?"

“No, this is a really stubborn holdout,” Rex said.

"The original owner's father was an official in the entire school alliance, and he was always honest and upright. Later, the family fell into decline, and his son inherited his father's integrity. He always looked down on these officials and refused to move when this area was being developed, no amount of money could change that, so it ended up like this."

"Then why should I sell it to you?" Xia Xiang asked.

“It’s being sold to us,” Rex corrected.

“These officials and their families are very good at scheming against people. This brother has persisted for more than ten years and has been surviving tenaciously, but now he is sick and has no money for treatment. In addition, the transportation here is not designed to be convenient for him, so he plans to sell the land.”

"The big shots around here are driving the price down very low. Even if we lower it even lower than them, this guy will still sell to us."

“But little Niannian, we’ve essentially bought a hot potato,” Xia Xiang said, glancing at him sideways with some disapproval.

"Little Xiangxiang, you need to look at things from all angles," Rex said, pulling her to the backyard of the dilapidated house. "Look..."

"Cao?!" Xia Xiang pointed to a place not far away that seemed to be a training ground, where flags were planted.

"That brother's scholarly pride has kept him and these people together for so long, how could he easily ask for favors? Those powerful and wealthy people have always been untainted by worldly affairs, and the fact that they didn't wait until he died to wrap him up in a straw mat and throw him out is already a sign of their concern for their own reputation."

Rex said, "But we are different. We are a third party outside their conflict, so we are naturally more easily accepted. Moreover, Chairman Cao comes from a prominent family and there are always some political enemies watching him. In order to avoid giving them a handle to use against him, we still had a little headache."

"So, this is a mutually beneficial situation for both of us," Xia Xiang really wanted to praise Rex. "Niannian, you're amazing."

"That gentleman's scholarly integrity is truly admirable. Let's give him an extra hundred yuan later," Xia Xiang remarked.

“Hey,” Rex scratched his forehead, “There’s no need for that. This piece of land is worth two million yuan. If you change it to the local name, it’ll be worth two million.”

"We should take care of ourselves first. Do you even have that much precious metal?"

Xia Xiang pressed her hands to her temples. "What did I just say? I suddenly lost my memory. I gave a millionaire an extra hundred yuan? Am I crazy?!"

"Sis, do you think this land is too expensive?" Rex asked cautiously.

In his mind, two million was nothing at all; it wasn't even as expensive as one of his carpets.

But now that the two of them are so strapped for cash, and he has no money, will Xia Xiang have any?

Or perhaps we should start with Cao Cao...

"Little brother, trust your sister," Xia Xiang said, patting Rex's shoulder as she saw his cautious manner.

"Besides precious metals, I also have some useless gems to sell, which is more than enough. We don't have to live such a stifling life anymore."

"How could I have stayed in such a shabby hotel before?" Rex complained, he had never suffered like this in his life.

"It was the hotel's exterior decoration that fooled me. Besides, when you're out in the world, you don't flaunt your wealth, you know?" Xia Xiang said, hands on her hips.