Chapter Fifty-Seven Buying a House

  Li Huan glanced at the time and smiled: "No need, let's chat. You know, I've always wanted to have a private conversation with you, but there was never an opportunity. Now is a good chance, if you feel comfortable, just listen to me say a few words, okay?"

  I knew Li Huanhuan had something to say to me, so I said: "You speak, I'm listening."

  Li Huan thought for a moment and said seriously: "First of all, I want to know who you like more among us?"

  I feel that this question is very difficult to answer, and I've thought about it for a long time without knowing how to respond. Li Huanhuan is my lifesaver, treats me well, and has even explicitly said she likes me. If I were to say I don't like her, I'd be deceiving myself. As for Dongfang Yu and Zhou Hui, I'm very clear about my feelings towards them - I just treat them as friends and family, the same way I do with Sun Heng and Xiao Lizi in my heart.

  But I myself think that I like Chen Jing more, not just because Chen Jing is beautiful, she also gives me a very special feeling, this feeling can't be described or explained, but it makes me very infatuated and dependent... It's just that the current Chen Jing doesn't like me, she has her own person she likes.

  So Li Huanhuan's question suddenly got me stuck, looking at Li Huanhuan, I didn't know how to answer her for a long time.

  Li Huanhuan didn't say a word either, she just looked at me with great anticipation, her eyes full of hope that I could answer her soon.

  I was at a loss for words and after a long while, I said: "This question I need to think carefully before answering you... Don't be angry, I'm also a bit confused myself, not sure what I really think."

  Li Huan nodded slowly and said in a low voice, "Then think it over and tell me, don't keep me waiting too long... I also want to know, what do you plan to do with that money of ours? Can't just leave it like that, can we?"

  I remembered the 12 million we took from the secret base of Wanlong Association, and suddenly felt embarrassed: "What do you think we should do? We just took so much money privately, isn't that bad?"

  Li Huanhuan looked at me with a dissatisfied face: "What's wrong? This is what we should get, don't think too much. I originally planned to buy you a car, but Chen Jing bought one for you in advance. Never mind, I'll ask your opinion first, if you want something, I'll go buy it for you."

  I smiled and said with a headache: "What to buy? I don't lack anything now... If I have to say what's lacking, then it's just a computer. It's very inconvenient without one..."

  Li Huanhuan also smiled: "That's easy to handle, when you're discharged from the hospital, we'll go to the provincial city to buy a computer. We'll choose the best one and buy it, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

  I hastily shook my head: "I don't want the best, that's too expensive! Besides, computers become outdated in just a few days, even the best ones are only current for now, there's no need to buy the best, as long as it works."

  Li Huanhuan reached out to pull the quilt up for me: "Then it's up to you. You can choose yourself when the time comes. Do you want to buy anything else? We'll go together."

  I thought for a moment and shook my head, saying: "There's nothing good to buy anyway. I'm in school now, what's the point of buying so many things?"

  Li Huanhuan smiled lightly and said, "Alright, wait until you think of what to buy and then tell me, I'll go buy it for you. But you'd better hurry up and think of a way to deal with that money, otherwise, if it's always left like this, I won't be at ease."

  I knew it was unsafe to keep a large amount of cash with us, but we couldn't deposit the money in a bank either, so we were in a bit of a dilemma. After some thought, I suggested: "Why don't we rent a safe deposit box at the bank and put the money in there?"

  Li Huan smiled and said: "Okay, how come I didn't think of that? But that requires your ID card. I'm still under government surveillance at the moment, so I can't use my ID card."

  I was originally going to agree, but suddenly changed my mind: "Forget it, let's not rent a safe deposit box from the bank, it's too much trouble. Why don't we just buy one ourselves and install it in Hui Jie's house, what do you think?"

  Li Huan immediately shook his head: "How can that be? If Sister Hui asks, what should I say? Besides, this money can't let too many people know. You have to remember, except for you and me, others can't know."

  I thought so too, and I felt a bit bewildered. Looking at Li Huanhuan, I frowned and said: "Then why don't we just buy our own house? There are many new buildings now, although the price is very expensive, but we have money now, and we can afford it."

  Li Huan thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement: "Let's do it this way. It's also more convenient for me and Yu'er not to always live at Hui Jie's house. I see that there are many nice houses around here. Why don't we go out and take a look after dawn? If we find a suitable one, we can buy it."

  "I find it troublesome," I said. "Then trouble you all, I'm now a wounded soldier and can only stay in the hospital to recover from my injuries, everything is up to you all."

  Li Huanhuan said with great joy: "Now that this is the case, I finally have my own house, hehe... I've always dreamed of having my own home, and now it's finally coming true. Jin Cang, thank you."

  I was taken aback for a moment, then I understood what she meant: "What are you thanking me for? The money belongs to both of us, you have the right to spend it."

  Li Huanhuan was taken aback, and then angrily said: "What are you talking about? The house I bought isn't just for me to live in alone, it's for all of us to live together. Don't get any wrong ideas!"

  I smiled: "I understand. Don't be angry! By the way, we now have 120 million, and I estimate that on this side, we can buy a dozen or so houses. What do you think? We take out some of the money to invest, buy existing houses, and then resell them to make a profit."

  Li Huanhuan said without thinking: "That's not going to work, the current real estate market is not good, and the investment risk is high, I don't dare to do that."

  I'm not very familiar with the current real estate market. After listening to Li Huanhuan, I immediately said: "In that case, let's just forget it and keep our money safe."

  Li Huanhuan shook her head and said, "It's not like that. I plan to give some money to Wei Jie's mother and let her help us invest in making money. You know Wei Jie's mother has four companies, one of which is involved in emerging energy. The market prospects for emerging energy are very good now, and I want to invest in this energy company. If you have no objections, I plan to invest 3 million yuan in the first phase, and then increase the investment amount after there are returns."

  "I thought for a moment: 'What kind of new energy is Hui's mother actually working on? Have you investigated it?'"

  Li Huan nodded and took out her mobile phone, handing it to me: "You see for yourself, this is all the data I got after spending money to hire someone to investigate. I think the new energy industry has a good future now, so I decided to give it a try."

  I looked at the survey data on my phone, very detailed, especially with some internal analysis data from their company, which made me think I could try: "I think it's worth a try, but I'm not very familiar with this. If you want to do it, it's best to talk to Hui first and see what she thinks. After all, we're friends, and I believe Hui won't cheat us."

  Li Huanhuan smiled and said: "I've already told Sister Hui about it, if not for Sister Hui giving me a peace pill to eat, where would I get the confidence to do this?"

  I only just found out that Li Huanhuan had planned to do this a long time ago, but waited until now when the conditions were ripe before telling me. So I simply said: "Then let's do it as you said."

  Li Huanhuan said excitedly, "I used to do business before and have some experience. However, those were not formal businesses and are very different from what I'm going to do now. I will work harder, just wait for me to make money and then I'll share it with you."

  I laughed: "That's great, if I can get money by doing nothing... that's just like a dream come true!"

  Li Huanhuan also laughed: "It's not a dream, how strange! Do you think you can do nothing? Let me tell you, you will be the CEO of our investment company, or the sole agent of our company, and the negotiations, contract signing, etc. between us and Sister Hui's mother's energy company, all require your presence."

  I suddenly made a bitter face: "I have to go to school, where did I get so much time to do these things? Huanhuan sister, can't you let me be lazy too?"

  "That's not okay, you're slacking off and I have to work much harder. That's not fair, no way!"

  I sighed quietly and said: "Then I'll go with you to deal with this matter after I'm done."

  Li Huanhuan clapped her hands excitedly, looked at me and smiled: "It's settled then. Sister Hui said you were badly injured this time, and might need to stay in the hospital for over ten days before being discharged, so just be obedient and stay here during this period."

  Li Huanhuan's words were finished, and then she heard Dongfang Yu's voice coming over: "Sister Huanhuan, my brother is awake?"

  Li Huanhuan looked at Dongfang Yu, who had just entered, and smiled: "Yes, I woke up for a while. How did you come so quickly? Didn't you say you were going to assist with a big surgery? Did it finish that soon?"

  Dongfang Yuxiao said, "I was worried about my brother, so I came out early. The operation is still going on, but it's no longer my concern." As she spoke, she suddenly appeared in front of me and hastily asked, "Brother, how are you feeling? Do you feel dizzy or unable to shake your head?"

  I glanced at Dongfang Yu's anxious face and said on purpose: "You were still smiling just now, didn't you care about my intention at all?"

  Dongfang Yu suddenly became anxious and said loudly: "How can I not care about you? Didn't we all come out to see you? Brother, you can't be so heartless!"

  I couldn't help but laugh: "Do I look like something's wrong? Don't worry, it'll be fine soon. Just relax!"

  Li Huanhuan also said: "Jin Cang is fine, just rest for a few days and he'll be okay. Yu'er, after it gets light later, I'll go buy some food for Jin Cang, you take care of him for a bit. After you get off work, we'll go out and look around to see if there's a suitable house. If possible, we can buy a house that's convenient for the three of us to live in."

  Dongfang Yu was taken aback and said in a low voice: "I don't have money, buying a house costs a lot of money, I don't dare to think about it now."

  Li Huan smiled and said: "As for the money, I'll think of a way. You just come with me to take a look, if it's suitable, just tell me."

  Dongfang Yu looked at Li Huanhuan with a strange expression, somewhat puzzled, and said: "Buying a house here, the minimum is tens of millions, do you have that much money, Huanhuan?"

  Li Huanhuan thought for a moment and nodded: "It's almost the same, anyway I can think of a way, you don't have to think too much."

  Dongfang Yu nodded, although she still didn't quite believe it, but she reluctantly accepted Li Huanhuan's proposal.

  I knew I had nothing to say and nothing to do, so I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep. Li Chang's stick caused me great harm, after talking for a while, I felt very tired and just wanted to rest for a while.

  I slept for a long time, and when I woke up, it was already broad daylight. I was woken up by hunger, as I hadn't eaten for too long, and the hunger had left me feeling weak all over, with an uncomfortable stomach.

  Luckily, Li Huanhuan had already prepared food for me and placed it on the table beside my sickbed. So I hastily picked up the food and took a big bite, with only one thought in mind - to fill my stomach first.

  Li Huanhuan bought a lot of food, normally it would be hard for two people to finish eating. But now I ate all of it by myself, feeling very full.

  Li Huanhuan came in with a surprised face and couldn't help but say: "You ate it all? I prepared enough for two people..." Suddenly, she reached out and touched my belly, laughing: "Look at you, you're so full, you're almost like Zhu Bajie now."

  My face turned red involuntarily, and she actually touched my belly directly without any reserve. I also felt that I had eaten too much and was a bit embarrassed.

  Li Huanhuan didn't think that much and instead asked me: "Are you full? Do you want me to go buy some more food for you?"

  I waved my hand hastily: "I'm full, really full. Have you guys gone to see the house? Or are you planning to go later?"

  Li Huan smiled and said, "After hearing about it, Zhou Hui directly gave us a call and said that one of her friends was doing real estate and could give us a house at a cheap price. So we didn't go to look around anymore, and just went to see the house after work in the evening."

  I heard it was introduced by Zhou Hui, so I didn't ask any more questions. At this time, Zhou Hui happened to come over and give me an injection, and Li Huanhuan went out.

  Zhou Hui heard my conversation with Li Huanhuan, and while giving me an injection, she said: "The house was built ten years ago, right next to my family's. It's a three-story compound villa, fully furnished, you can move in immediately. There is a small garden, with a small fish pond inside, where you can go fishing when you have nothing to do. And there is a medium-sized swimming pool, plus an independent garage, very spacious. I'll take you guys to see it tonight, if you're satisfied, just buy it, I think it's a great deal."

  I couldn't help but smile wryly after hearing Zhou Hui's words: "How much money would that take? Such a house is not something we can afford."

  Zhou Hui smiled and said, "The owner of the house went abroad after the Wanlong Club raid, so he's selling this villa at a low price. Jin Cang, I'm introducing you to this because we're friends; otherwise, I would have bought it myself. Don't worry about the money; I'll buy the house with Huanhuan and you can just move in."

  I knew it wasn't right and quickly said, "That's not okay, how can I let you spend money to buy a house for us? If it's too expensive, we'll just find another house..."

  Zhou Hui insisted, "Things that have been agreed upon cannot be changed casually. My friend said the house owner only wants 2 million. I know Huanhuan Jie has 3 million, but she wants to invest in my mother's energy company. So, I'll temporarily pay this money for you, and when you make money later, you can return it to me."

  I was stunned, and in my heart I muttered: "How can you be so rich? Two million doesn't even make you blink...". But out loud I said: "That's not right either, you spending money to buy us a house, this...this is absurd."

  Zhou Hui glared at me, suddenly getting angry: "How can you be so muddle-headed? If you miss this opportunity, it won't be a matter of two million to buy such a house again. I'm just paying the deposit on your behalf first, you'll have to pay me back, what are you afraid of?"

  I wanted to decline, but Li Huanhuan had already come in and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Jin Cang, I'll return the money to Sister Hui."

  I had nothing more to say and could only silently watch Li Huanhuan, swallowing all the words I wanted to say into my belly.

  Li Huanhuan said to Zhou Hui, "Hui'er, take us to see the house tonight. If it's suitable, we'll buy it. You can lend me the money first, and I'll pay you back after investing in your mother's company and making a profit."

  Zhou Hui smiled: "What we've agreed on, of course, will be carried out. As for Jin Cang's opinion, we won't consider it. He's the child of a poor family and would definitely feel afraid of such an investment."

  I suddenly felt belittled, but didn't want to argue back. I'm indeed the child of a poor family, so spending hundreds of thousands is something I'm not used to and don't dare to get used to. Now Li Huanhuan and Zhou Hui have simply decided on a business deal worth over two million, which is fundamentally not something I can participate in.

  So I decided not to express any more opinions on this matter, and everything will be done according to their two ideas.

  I don't know what they thought after seeing the house at night, but Fang Zheng bought the house the next day. The transfer of ownership and payment were all completed within a week, just like our rural people buying a hoe, simple and quick, without any delay or fuss.

  As for Li Huanhuan and Zhou Hui's grandeur, I don't dare to learn from them, so I won't ask about it either. Anyway, I'll just wait until I'm discharged from the hospital and then go back to school.

  Dongfang Yu was also running around with Li Huanhuan, busy buying a house. So during this time, the person taking care of me turned out to be Du Yifei. Du Yifei was originally a rich young lady from a wealthy family, and her ability to take care of others wasn't very good, so I basically had to take care of myself during this period too.

  Xiao Li Zi knew I was injured and came to see me several times, bringing a new friend with him. He really didn't have anything to say to me. I also treated him as my good friend and brother, just like Sun Heng.