“To be honest, this information is still classified. In fact, many people in the upper echelons of the Party and the State have begun to look for ways out. Many high-ranking government officials are buying properties and shops in the rear. It’s just that ordinary people don’t know. My teacher and his friends have already started to take action.” Ning Zhiheng found it difficult to convince them. In their eyes, he was just a young man, and his words had no credibility. So he simply brought up his teacher, He Feng.
"If you ask around carefully, you'll find that land prices in the cities behind the city are rising, and the rate of increase will only accelerate. That'll tell you whether I'm right or wrong!"
Ning Liangcai then took it seriously. His son was in the army, so his son's information network was definitely better than that of ordinary people like himself. Besides, judging from his tone, his teacher was certainly no ordinary person; otherwise, he wouldn't have been assigned to such an important department as the Military Intelligence Investigation Department.
He made a well-founded claim, and besides, it wouldn't be difficult for him to send someone to inquire about land prices in inland cities.
"Could there really be a war? Our Ning family has lived in Hangzhou for generations. Are we really going to have to leave our hometown, flee, and become refugees?" Ning Liangcai had spent his entire life in Hangzhou. He still couldn't accept leaving his homeland!
"It's not like we're fleeing; it's just like going away for a few years to relax. The war won't go on forever. We'll come back when the war is over."
As the saying goes, a wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall. With war breaking out, guns and cannons have no eyes, and I don't want any harm to my family.
"My teacher has already started making arrangements for his future in Chongqing, and I want to follow in his footsteps and prepare myself!" Ning Zhiheng earnestly advised.
"Even if Hangzhou is occupied by the Japanese, would they kill everyone? Ordinary people still have to live their lives," Ning Zhipeng murmured hesitantly.
Ning Zhiheng was so angry that his head hurt: "If we really stay, given the brutal nature of the Japanese, the civilians in the occupied areas will not be able to protect their lives, let alone their property. At that time, we will be the fish on the chopping block, and it will be too late to resist!"
Besides, the reason why others don't leave is because they have no way out and don't know where to run. If they end up as slaves of a conquered country, they'll just have to accept their bad luck!
"Our Ning family is preparing in advance and acquiring property. It's just a matter of moving once. Can't we even do that? Why do we have to risk staying here and becoming obedient subjects of the Japanese?" Ning Zhiheng felt that this person was sometimes incomprehensible. He had the ability to escape danger, but he just wasn't willing to do it.
"But such a large family business, with shops and restaurants, can we just give it up like that?" Father Ning Liangcai has worked hard here for half his life to build this family business. Even this mansion was built brick by brick by him. Everything here is the result of his hard work. How can he bear to part with it all at once?
“Father, these are all material possessions, they won’t be lost! People are the most important thing. Besides, we can sell them in advance to get money for protection, and then buy them back when we come back after the war!” Ning Zhiheng explained the pros and cons, believing that his father, with his shrewdness, would soon understand.
Ning Liangcai couldn't help but feel a little bewildered. There were too many things happening today, and the amount of information was too much for him to handle.
First, his son came home and told him that he had graduated from military academy. Then he brought back Xiao Wan. Next, he found his relatives and befriended the Chen Guangran family, bigwigs in Hangzhou. He also unexpectedly gained a piece of land and became rich overnight!
Before he could even finish celebrating, his son poured cold water on him, revealing news that war was about to break out. This sudden shift from joy to sorrow left him momentarily bewildered.
After much deliberation, he made a decision. If Ning Zhiheng's statement was true, the Ning family would have a year to prepare. He would first send someone to inquire about land prices in the rear cities to see if it was true. As for selling his own assets, he still couldn't make up his mind and would have to wait and see.
At the same time, we mobilized manpower and existing funds to Chongqing, and through the connections of Ning Zhiheng's teacher He Feng, we purchased some properties as a precaution. This way, even if the worst-case scenario occurred, the whole family would have a way out!
Ning Zhiheng was overjoyed to see that his father had finally made a wise decision. The purpose of his trip home had been achieved, and a weight had finally been lifted from his heart.
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