"Zhao Ye wants to buy a house and settle down in Shanghai? That's great! We must support him!" Liu Hai smiled happily. If Zhao Ye settles down in Shanghai, then his future investment focus will naturally be on Shanghai.
Liu Hai gave the instructions.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
That same day, Liu Yinyin, the secretary, received a phone call informing her that the Moller Villa could be sold to her boss at a low price of only 500,000 RMB, a very cheap price.
Currently, the price of housing in Shanghai is over 200 yuan per square meter, and the price of villas is even higher.
The Moller Villa is located at the corner of Yan'an Middle Road and Shaanxi South Road in the Ja District of Shanghai. Completed in 1936, it covers an area of more than 5,000 square meters, with a garden area of nearly 2,000 square meters. It is a garden villa with more than 80 years of history and a strong Nordic style. It is one of the iconic garden villas in Shanghai and is known as "a castle like an Andersen fairy tale".
"Boss, the municipal government has agreed to sell Mahle to you, and the price is only 500,000 RMB," Liu Yinyin said softly as she approached Zhao Ye.
"Oh, so cheap!" Zhao Ye smiled upon hearing this, a hint of surprise on his face. But upon closer reflection, he didn't think much of it. If he could stay, the municipal government would even give him a villa for free.
A few days later, the Communist Youth League of Shanghai Municipality moved out of the Moller Villa, and Zhao Ye went to the municipal government to sign a house purchase agreement. Immediately afterwards, he had his driver take him to the Moller Villa to see it in person.
Before long, Zhao Ye and his group arrived at the Moller Villa.
Looking around, a uniquely styled Western garden castle stands quietly in the bustling city.
"The garden at the Moller Villa is very beautiful and quite large!" Zhao Ye looked at the garden and couldn't help but be overjoyed, imagining the wonderful life he would enjoy in the garden in the future, such as taking walks, playing badminton, or sunbathing.
"Boss, the Moller Villa boasts a nearly 2,000-square-meter Chinese-style garden. The garden features not only flowing streams and bridges, but also abundant flowers and fruits. At the garden entrance stands a petrified ancient apricot tree, symbolizing 'billions of years of happiness and ever-improving life.' Besides the ancient trees and unique rocks, the garden also features pomegranate trees, orange trees, and brocade trees, among other precious species, each with its own auspicious meaning..." Liu Yinyin explained.
“Hmm, not bad, let’s go take a look at the villa!” Zhao Ye said, taking the lead and walking over.
The three facades of Villa Moller each have a distinct style. The east facade, located at the main entrance, resembles a miniature European castle, with its unique three-tiered mosaic of bricks that is particularly eye-catching. The small doors, small windows, and the green glazed columns on the railings that resemble childhood building blocks instantly transport one to a fairytale.
Stepping into the garden and looking up at the south facade of the villa, it presents a typical Scandinavian style. This design style originates from the homeland of its builder, Eric Mahler—Nordic Europe. The three-story extended balconies can maximize the amount of sunlight and resist the cold.
Upon arriving at the north side of the villa, the Gothic architectural style is on full display. Unlike the soaring spires of traditional European castles, the six spires of the Moller Villa are steep and upturned, some covered with scale-like metallic aluminum tiles, others with stained glass roofs, all with beautiful shapes and varying heights.
The interior design reflects the owner's profession (Eric Mahler was in the shipping business). The villa features typical English teak wainscoting, and the entire structure resembles a cruise ship. On the first and a half floors, staircases extend to the east and west wings, one leading to the "fore" and the other to the "stern." The windows in the passageways resemble the ship's gunwales. The two large rooms on the second floor both have semi-circular windows resembling those of a bridge, as if one could look up and see the vast ocean. Throughout the interior, nautical elements abound, such as navigation charts, rudders, and decorations depicting waves and seaweed, all revealing Mahler's passion for the maritime industry.
However, the Moller Villa is old and has many problems, including peeling interior and exterior wall decorations and termite infestation on the floors, so it needs repair.
Half an hour later, the group walked out of the villa. Zhao Ye said to the people around him, "The Moller Villa is nice, but it is a bit old and not suitable for living now. Please ask maintenance experts to repair it. However, the restoration should be based on the architectural style of the time and place, reflecting the regional characteristics, unifying the architectural style, and preserving the historical, artistic and cultural value of the building to the greatest extent possible!"
"Yes!" Everyone nodded.
After visiting the Moller Villa, Zhao Ye went straight back to Loongson Design Company.
The renovation of the Moller Villa was handled by a dedicated person, needless to say.
...
End of February 1986.
The Shanghai Wujiang factory, located in Lujiazui, was completed in about 5 months.
The factory buildings are all steel structures and only one story high, so the construction speed is naturally very fast.
Shanghai Wujiang Factory mainly produces TV game consoles, handheld game consoles, game cartridges, controllers, toys, etc.
The production equipment had been prepared in advance, and as soon as the factory was completed, they were immediately moved in.
At 10:00 AM on February 28th, Wujiang Group held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its factory, which was a very lively event.
"Congratulations, Mr. Zhao! The factory is now complete, and we'll soon be able to produce game consoles. If you need any help, just let us know, and the municipal government will definitely provide you with full support!" Liu Hai said to Zhao Ye with a smile.
Zhao Ye replied with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, leader. The factory is currently short of workers. I see that many electronics factories in Shanghai are not doing well. Why not transfer some workers to Wujiang Factory?"
After a pause, Zhao Ye added, "Our company plans to recruit 3,000 factory workers to solve the employment problem for 3,000 families for the government!"
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