Volume One, Chapter 10: Expelling These Worthless Elements
The manager sneered coldly and added, “Mr. Chen, in Jingzhou, strength rules above all. A nobody like the Zhou family has no right to buy a house in Ding Sheng Garden.”
Chen Hao nodded and turned to the Zhao family, saying, “It seems you’ve chosen the wrong ally.”
The Zhao family exchanged glances, filled with regret.
The manager instructed the security, “Get these nobodies out of here.”
“Move,” the security captain ordered. The guards immediately sprang into action, brusquely pushing the Zhao family and Zhou Chengzhong outside.
Chen Hao watched them leave, a faint cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He then turned to the manager and said, “Manager, I’d like to ask you something.”
The manager replied politely, “It’s my greatest honor to serve you, Mr. Chen. Please, ask away.”
“How much do you know about the Bay Area New District?” Chen Hao inquired.
The manager was momentarily taken aback, but seeing Chen Hao’s serious demeanor, he quickly answered, “We’re all in this business, so we know the Bay Area New District inside and out.”
Chen Hao’s interest piqued. “Tell me everything you know.”
The manager was puzzled—why would a big shot like Chen Hao be interested in the Bay Area New District?
He proceeded to explain the basics.
The Bay Area New District is a state-level economic and technological development zone, spearheaded by the government. Several investors had gotten wind of this early and bought large tracts of land at low prices to develop.
It was planned as a high-end residential area in the heart of Jingzhou’s CBD, with investments reaching into the hundreds of billions.
But after three years of attempts, the application for national economic and technological development zone status was rejected. The Bay Area New District plummeted from heaven to hell overnight, becoming a scam-ridden zone.
It’s located quite far from the city center; without the national development zone status, the Bay Area New District became worthless. Houses there simply wouldn’t sell.
Developers either hung themselves, jumped off buildings, or fled. Eventually, three banks involved had to step in and take over.
Those banks were also in deep trouble—houses wouldn’t sell, and they had to cover maintenance costs out of pocket.
Chen Hao frowned, his voice grave. “It seems the Bay Area New District is indeed a hot potato.”
The manager nodded in agreement. “Exactly. If you’re considering investing, you should think twice.”
He continued, “Those investors held on after construction, waiting for official approval, believing the Bay Area New District’s value would skyrocket. But all they got was the government’s rejection of Jingzhou’s application. They fell into an abyss of no return. A feng shui master even claimed the Bay Area New District would never be developed. The three banks involved are deeply entangled and can’t extricate themselves.”
Chen Hao felt a surge of joy in his heart. This was exactly what he wanted. If there were more places like this, his hundred-billion fund would be well spent.
A glint flashed in Chen Hao’s eyes. He quietly asked, “What’s the current situation of those three banks?”
The manager sighed, “They’re drowning in debt, desperate to offload the assets. They’d sell for cash immediately, but it’s been almost a year with no buyers.”
He added, “Jingzhou has applied again, nearly two years ago, but there’s been no news. Probably the higher-ups don’t even bother looking. There’s no future here.”
After bidding farewell to the sales manager, Chen Hao stepped outside and saw the Zhao family and Zhou Chengzhong admiring his Rolls-Royce.
He took out the keys and pressed the unlock button.
A “beep” sounded, the hazard lights flashed, and the iconic golden hood ornament slowly rose.
The Zhao family and Zhou Chengzhong recoiled a few steps in shock.
Chen Hao stepped forward and asked, “Had your fill of looking?”
Only then did they realize Chen Hao had come out.
Zhou Chengzhong pointed at the Rolls-Royce. “Is this your car?”
“Isn’t that obvious? If it’s not mine, whose would it be?” Chen Hao said as he opened the door, turning to see Zhenzhen gazing at him with admiration.
An idea struck Chen Hao.
That ungrateful Zhao Haizhou called him “brother-in-law” so sweetly when he wanted money, yet after all Chen Hao had done for him, this thankless wretch turned his back like an animal.
Isn’t Zhenzhen his pride? Chen Hao decided to teach him a lesson.
He waved to Zhenzhen. “Hey, kid, let’s go for a spin.”
“Okay, big brother!” she responded, running over to sit in the passenger seat.
“Bye-bye now.”
Chen Hao waved at the Zhao family and sped off in his Rolls-Royce.
The Zhao family stood there, stunned.
Zhao Yali was the first to regain composure. “Where on earth did Chen Hao get so much money all of a sudden? Buying a villa at Jingding No.1, a Rolls-Royce? It feels like I’m dreaming.”
Zhao Haizhou’s face darkened, shouting, “That bastard kidnapped Zhenzhen! I’m going to kill him!”
Zhao Yali snorted coldly. “What use is all that yelling? If you’re so capable, why don’t you buy a Rolls-Royce yourself?”
Zhao Haizhou was too angry to reply, just glaring silently. He couldn’t even afford a bicycle, let alone a Rolls-Royce.
Wang Su said, “Yali, did we really make a mistake? But this is too strange. We all knew what kind of idiot he was before. Now, after just two days, it’s like he’s a different person. Could someone be guiding him from behind the scenes? Or did he win the lottery? But there’s no news of a big lottery winner in Jingzhou.”
Zhou Chengzhong calmly interjected, “Auntie, even if he won the lottery, it wouldn’t be this much. You’ve been fooled.”
“Fooled?” Wang Su was bewildered. “What do you mean, Zhou Shao?”
Zhou Chengzhong smiled wryly. “That black Dragon Bank card with a trillion-dollar balance, the Jingding No.1 villa, the Rolls-Royce—do you really believe all that?”
Wang Su was stunned. Seeing is believing, how could it be fake?
“Zhou Shao, we saw it all with our own eyes. Could it be fake? Did he hire actors to put on a show for us?”
Zhou Chengzhong shook his head. “The Dragon Bank card, the villa, and the Rolls-Royce are all real, but Chen Hao’s identity is fake.”
Zhao Yali was confused. “Zhou Shao, what do you mean by Chen Hao’s identity is fake?”
Zhou Chengzhong explained, “Chen Hao is just a poor man who recently lost his job. Do you believe he suddenly has a trillion in the bank after just two days? And for decades, he and his foster mother lived in a slum. Yali said his family’s place isn’t even as good as a doghouse. He said he bought the Jingding No.1 villa just for fun, that he can’t live there—do you really believe that?”
The Zhao family grew more bewildered.
Wang Su hurriedly asked, “Zhou Shao, then what’s really going on?”
Zhou Chengzhong put on a serious face. “The Dragon Bank card, the villa, and the Rolls-Royce are real, but they aren’t Chen Hao’s.”
Zhao Yali asked, “Then whose are they?”
Zhou Chengzhong shook his head. “That shameless Chen Hao is just a lackey working for a boss. He’s driving his boss’s Rolls-Royce to buy the Jingding No.1 villa for him. For the sake of his pathetic pride, he’s been pretending in front of us that all this belongs to him. How shameless can he be?”