Chapter 24: There Are Great Scholars to Debate the Scriptures for Me

Huang Zhenhua frequently appears on television and in online news, so some property owners recognized him immediately. They rushed forward to tearfully recount their miserable plights, and as soon as others heard that Mayor Huang had arrived, they also scrambled over, begging him to intervene and make things right.

Huang Zhenhua took a megaphone and shouted, "Everyone, please calm down and listen to me. We know it hasn't been easy for any of you to buy a home, and we have been actively seeking a solution. Let me introduce you: to my left is Ms. Huo Qiuyan, Chairperson of Baoli Real Estate, and to my right is Mr. Yu Hongliang, Chairperson of Wangke Real Estate. The two chairpersons have traveled all the way from Shenzhen to talk with us, and both companies are preparing to jointly acquire the Weicheng Chen-One project. I have brought them here today for a site inspection, so please behave yourselves and don't scare them off. Can we do that?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s eyes fell upon Yang Chen, who was sitting on a cardboard box.

The elderly man who had just been crying about his daughter-in-law leaving exclaimed excitedly, "Young man, you must have had insider information! Haha!"

Yang Chen waved his hands hurriedly. "Sir, you can't just say things like that. I don't have any insider information. I’m purely here to lose money; I never imagined big companies would come to acquire this place. What I said earlier was just to help Chairman Li trick you all into stopping the commotion. I really don't have any inside scoops."

The old man blinked his wise eyes and smiled. "Do you believe what you're saying yourself?"

"I believe it! Whether you believe it or not, that’s the answer I’m giving," Yang Chen said with a haughty air.

Huang Zhenhua followed the crowd's gaze to Yang Chen. He smiled and said, "Chairman Yang, you're here too? You bought property here as well?"

Yang Chen patted the cardboard box he was sitting on and the others nearby. "Yes! I came here early this morning and bought seven buildings. I hadn't even left yet when you arrived to announce the acquisition—it caught me completely off guard. This gentleman even suspects I have insider information; isn't that sullying my innocence?"

"Wait, you bought seven buildings?" Huang Zhenhua asked, stunned. He hurriedly handed the megaphone to someone nearby and walked quickly toward Yang Chen.

Huo Qiuyan, the Chairperson of Baoli Real Estate, whispered, "Did you leak the news?"

Yu Hongliang, Chairman of Wangke Group, replied hastily, "No! I thought you were the one who leaked it."

Both chairpersons were bewildered. The plan for the joint acquisition of Weicheng Chen-One had been discussed exclusively between the two of them; after reaching an agreement, they had come to Jiangcheng together to speak with the municipal government, followed by Mayor Huang bringing them to the site. It was impossible for the news to have leaked. Had Yang Chen really just guessed right?

Not far away, the six beauties were looking at each other in shock and confusion. Now, they finally understood why Yang Chen had insisted on buying these unfinished properties.

"I just don't get it. Is he really that lucky? He turned the property market into a game of high-low, and the moment he bet on 'high,' the dealer landed on 'high'," Bai Zhi said, perplexed.

Zhao Jing added, "He must have received insider information in advance. Otherwise, how could he have bought it so perfectly? Just as he finished buying, the heads of the two companies showed up to acquire it."

"Could he be colluding with the two chairpersons?" Huang Wei asked.

Gao Ya quickly replied, "Impossible! If it were you, would you tell someone else to buy at the bottom in advance?"

The others nodded; that reasoning made sense.

Chen Xi smiled and said, "Don't guess anymore. It must just be that Chairman Yang is lucky."

But surely it couldn't be luck every single time? That would be too defies the heavens.

***

Huang Zhenhua reached Yang Chen and asked in a low voice, "Chairman Yang, did you receive word of this beforehand?"

Yang Chen shook his head. "No. I came here first thing in the morning and only just finished signing. What kind of news could I have received?"

Huang Zhenhua didn't believe him. He turned and whispered to the two chairpersons who had walked up, "Did you two tell Chairman Yang in advance?"

Huo Qiuyan and Yu Hongliang both shook their heads to deny it.

Yang Chen gestured toward his five investment consultants and said to Huang Zhenhua and the others, "Those banks insisted on giving me a billion to invest and even sent these so-called investment consultants to monitor me anytime, anywhere. They’ve already moved into my villa; they even stand guard outside while I’m taking a shower. You tell me, can a young man in his early twenties not have a temper? I was already furious about being saddled with three trillion in debt for no reason, and now they pull this stunt. So I decided to just let it all burn. If they give me money, I buy stocks that have hit the limit down and are at risk of delisting, and for the rest, I come here to buy unfinished properties. Oh, I never imagined that the stocks I bought because they were at risk of delisting would actually hit the limit up, and the unfinished property I bought would be targeted for a buyout by Baoli and Wangke. Why is it so hard to just fail and lose money? Isn't that right, Mr. Zhou?"

Weicheng Vice President Zhou Wenchang nodded. "Yes, that is what Chairman Yang said. He said he was only buying our property because he wanted to lose all his money."

"Sigh... Chairperson Huo, Chairperson Yu, can you please not acquire Weicheng Chen-One? I really want to lose money. Can you satisfy that for me?" Yang Chen said with a sincere expression.

Huo Qiuyan laughed. "We don't want to acquire it either, but the unfinished status of this project is affecting our own properties. If things continue like this, our properties won't sell either."

Yu Hongliang added, "Chairman Yang, you are truly lucky. You can't even lose money if you try."

Yang Chen waved his hand with a smile. "No, no, it’s thanks to the cooperation of you two, otherwise I wouldn't have such good luck."

At this point, Weicheng Chairman Li Changqing could no longer stand it. He immediately requested to return the money to Yang Chen and void the contracts. After all, Yang Chen’s main goal was to throw his money away. Now, not only would the money not be lost, but it would also double in profit—didn't that go directly against his goal?

Could Yang Chen agree to that? He had gotten up early just to make this money; how could he cancel it now? Some things were just said for show—this fool actually took it seriously.

Before Yang Chen could speak, Huang Zhenhua immediately interjected, "Hey, Chairman Li, we must conduct business with integrity. The contracts are signed and the money is paid; how can you renege? Do you want to show a lack of respect for contractual spirit in front of Chairperson Huo and Chairperson Yu? Jiangcheng is a place that respects the law. If you dare to disrespect contract law, the municipal government will not go easy on you."

Li Changqing was instantly silenced. After holding his breath for a few seconds, he slapped himself in the face and sighed, "Bad luck!"

Haha...

Yang Chen didn't even need to speak. In matters like this, there were always "great scholars" to debate the scriptures for him.

"Mayor Huang, why don't we just let it go? I never intended to make money in the first place," Yang Chen said.

Huang Zhenhua immediately countered, "How can we let it go? Regardless of your original intent, the fact is you bought seven buildings at half price. How you invest the money given to you is your business. But if you make money, you must accept it. There are so many creditors waiting; is it appropriate for you to refuse the profit?"

***

Yang Chen sighed. "Sigh... I suppose you're right... Chairman Li, I'm sorry, I have to listen to the government."

Li Changqing looked like he was about to cry, the corners of his mouth twitching incessantly.

Huang Zhenhua let out a long breath and smiled. "Chairman Yang, if you have nothing else, you may leave. Leave these contracts with me; I will handle the follow-up matters. The funds will be deposited into the account you are currently using."

"Fine. Then I’ll trouble you, Mayor Huang. Chairperson Huo, Chairperson Yu, you two carry on; I won't disturb you further. Once I’ve finished 'putting the old landscape in order,' let’s have a meal together," Yang Chen said with a smile.

Huo Qiuyan and Yu Hongliang nodded with a smile, and Yang Chen turned and walked away with his head held high.

The six beauties immediately stepped forward to welcome him, showering him with praise.

"Chairman Yang, you are truly something. Your good luck even extends to the property market. From a professional standpoint, I am not convinced at all. But from an emotional standpoint, I am convinced. All things considered, I’m half-convinced," Zhao Jing said.

"Chairman Yang, are you sure you didn't receive insider information in advance?" Huang Wei asked.

Yang Chen smiled. "Why don't you all sleep on the floor in my room tonight to see if I ask anyone about insider information?"

"Pervert!" Bai Zhi said.

"What pervert? I said I’m lucky, and since you suspect I’m asking around for insider information, I can only let you watch me 24 hours a day to prove my innocence. After all, insider trading is illegal, and I don't want to be burdened with such a false accusation," Yang Chen explained.

At this moment, Chen Xi proposed an idea.

"Actually, it wouldn't be hard to verify whether Chairman Yang is just lucky or if he’s getting insider information."

Gao Ya quickly asked, "What method do you have? Please don't say watching him 24 hours a day."

Chen Xi replied with a smile, "How could that be? How would Chairman Yang get any rest?"

What a good secretary—even at a time like this, she was concerned about whether Yang Chen could get a good rest. It went to show that she was a good choice for a secretary.

Yang Chen smiled and asked, "Then how would you verify it?"

Chen Xi smiled and replied, "Chairman Yang could buy stocks from the Eagle Country in front of us, and he’s not allowed to buy Chinese concept stocks; he must buy pure foreign stocks. He would have to follow his previous operation—buy whichever one is falling the hardest. If the stocks rise significantly after Chairman Yang buys them, it would prove that his luck is truly heaven-defying and there is no insider information. If the stock prices don't rise significantly or continue to fall after he buys them, it would mean his luck has run out, or that there indeed was insider information. Do you all think this method is feasible?"