Chapter 404 The Castle is a Trap
Although Xiao Peng was very tempted by Chen Zetao's proposal, he was still very hesitant.
After all, he had just been involved in a terrorist attack, and going to a country that was considered a Muslim country was still a source of unease for Xiao Peng. If he had to choose, he would rather go to Spain.
The unique characteristics of the Muslims make them the most difficult group to assimilate. There's a saying in the West: once Muslim, always Muslim. Historically, few countries have managed to assimilate Muslims, but Spain did.
Spain was ruled by the Arabs for over 700 years, but after they defeated the Moorish Arabs, they marginalized the Muslims to this day. The Kingdoms of Aragon and Castile fought against the Muslims for centuries, and after driving out the Arabs, the Inquisition made a significant contribution to the de-Arabization of the Muslims.
Those were extremely bloody times.
However, this also led to Spain's success in conquering the Arabs.
Xiao Peng had no problem with the Dashi religion. Everyone should have their own beliefs. The Chinese also had beliefs, but their beliefs were not in illusory gods but in family and money...
Chen Zetao didn't rush for Xiao Peng's answer. Instead, he said, "Brother Xiao, you'd better be prepared for both situations. After all, this isn't our home. Europe... we can't handle everything. With something like this happening, what are your plans for the future?"
"Plans?" Xiao Peng smiled inscrutablely. "Brother Chen, I've always been too cautious. After all, my wealth came too quickly, and I haven't yet transitioned to the right identity."
"What do you mean?" Chen Zetao asked in confusion.
A trace of sadness shone in Xiao Peng's eyes. "My parents died young, and I always considered myself someone who had seen life and death, but now that Hengheng has passed away so suddenly, I'm thinking a lot. My grandfather is old, and to be frank, I don't know when he will pass away. Even though I'm young and strong now, there's no telling when I'll die. I could be hit on the head by a tortoise falling from the sky, just like what happened to Aeschylus."
Aeschylus was a famous tragic poet in ancient Greece, known as the 'Father of Tragedy.' His death was even more tragic than his poetry—he was killed by a tortoise that fell from the sky.
When an eagle hunts a tortoise, it will catch the tortoise high in the air and throw it onto a rock to smash the shell before eating it. Perhaps the eagle treated Aeschylus's head as a rock.
But the Eagle Head's aim was quite accurate, comparable to Luke Skywalker dropping a nuclear bomb on an Imperial spaceship.
Chen Zetao said disdainfully: "I'm old enough not to talk about life and death, and you're so young and talking about this?"
Xiao Peng took out a cigarette and handed it to Chen Zetao, lighting one for himself. He then poured each of them a glass of champagne before saying, "No, no, no, what I'm saying is that I've always been the same: keep a low profile. Don't look for trouble. Now I'm realizing that's not working! I'm a billionaire now, so I have to live like a billionaire! From now on, I'll be eating braised pork and daughter's red wine every day!"
"Pfft!" Chen Zetao laughed.
Xiao Peng also laughed, but his face suddenly turned stern. "I used to be used to running away, but I'm only in my twenties. Young people of this age should live their lives. I spend my free time in the library every day, which is not the life of people my age at all. I don't understand what the point of making money is if this is the case! Isn't it said that a man is useless before the age of thirty, and if he is still crazy after the age of thirty, he is also useless? I want to do something crazy right now!"
"Oh? What crazy thing do you want to do? Tell me!" Chen Zetao asked with a smile.
This question stumped Xiao Peng. After thinking for a long time, he said, "How about buying a big house first? One like yours?"
Chen Zetao couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. "Oh my god, Brother Xiao, are you trying to make me laugh to death? I thought you were going to buy a battleship or a fighter jet, but after all this talk, you're just thinking about buying a house? You should have bought a house a long time ago. No one would believe a billionaire staying at a friend's house! And after all this talk, isn't this just a normal way of thinking? Buy a house first if you have money."
"Huh?" Xiao Peng felt like he was being mocked. "Am I buying an ordinary house? I'm planning on buying a house like yours!"
Chen Zetao laughed even harder after hearing this: "How can my house be worthy of your status? A billionaire like you should at least buy a castle, right?"
He was really joking, but Xiao Peng's expression after hearing it told Chen Zetao: he was serious!
Chen Zetao also noticed this and quickly waved his hand, saying, "Brother Xiao, stop it, I was just joking! Buying a castle is a trap!"
Castles are everywhere in Europe, with tens of thousands in France alone. Once a symbol of status and prestige, European aristocrats were so terrified of losing their reputations that they wouldn't sell them even if they fell into decline. Now, aside from those popular tourist destinations, most castles are for sale. And the prices are incredibly low. It's not uncommon to buy a castle for just one euro, or even for free.
European countries have formulated policies and regulations related to castles. Take France for example. Unless the building is listed as a historical heritage site, the rest must pay inheritance tax, which is as high as 45%!
In addition, land tax and housing tax must be paid. Although the tax rates in different cities are different, the same thing is: they are shockingly high!
Moreover, these castles are hundreds of years old and require constant maintenance, renovation, and regular inspections. Repairs are also very demanding, using materials that are as close to the original as possible. Furthermore, these castles are protected by the government. Not a single wall, carving, or even a tree or stone can be moved. Any changes require an application from the French historical preservation department. Applying for air conditioning in the summer? Maybe your grandchildren will have that!
So this castle thing is really not to be touched. It’s not that Xiao Peng can’t afford it, but it’s really impossible to live in it!
Think about it: a stone castle is damp and dark, and it’s cold all year round, but there’s not even a heater installed. Is this a place for people to live?
Many Chinese people have been fooled by this and went to Europe to invest in castles, only to find that they could not afford to maintain them. They wanted to develop them into tourism projects, but found that the castles were not allowed to be renovated, and they all suffered huge losses.
After listening to Chen Zetao's statement, Xiao Peng said, "How about I buy some land and build a castle myself?"
"Puff!" Chen Zetao snorted, "Brother Xiao, I suggest you consider the situation in Algeria."
Xiao Peng frowned and said, "Algeria is nice, but I'm afraid Pascal and Fabian won't be able to handle it."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
