Chapter 37: Tiger Roar in the Forest Painting

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Tiger Roar in the Forest Painting

Zhongjiang International Villa District.

Unlike Luhu Villa District, there was no massive man-made lake or yachts here.

Instead, it featured a more European architectural style.

From the outside, it looked relatively simple.

It had a European grandeur but with a more monolithic and subdued aesthetic.

Once their car entered, however, it was a completely different story. The view was filled with a dazzling array of items rich with historical and cultural flavor.

Some retro vehicles, or antiques from the last century, were arranged throughout the grounds as part of the vintage decor.

Every homeowner here had their own independent villa area, separated by about five or six hundred meters, making them more like manor-style estates.

It was quite impressive.

After parking, Yin Ruxue took a gift from the trunk and handed it to Jiang Fan.

"What’s this?"

"A painting by Tang Bohu—the Tiger Roar in the Forest Painting."

"Isn’t this thing worth hundreds of millions?"

"You know its value?" Yin Ruxue was clearly surprised.

"My major was archaeology. I’ve done a little research on antiques and jade artifacts."

"You studied archaeology? And you know about jade?"

"That’s good. I was worried you’d slip up if someone asked you about this stuff later. It seems my fears were unfounded."

"Just a little," Jiang Fan said, feigning modesty.

Yin Ruxue clicked her tongue. "This painting cost three hundred million."

"Normally, I would never buy something like this, but today, I had no choice."

Jiang Fan glanced at the sky. He had a feeling it was going to thunder and rain today.

That wasn’t a good omen.

’This woman is probably hiding something else from me.’

Inside the villa.

Today was the 80th birthday of the Yin Family’s patriarch, Yin Mountain. A red carpet stretched all the way to the inner hall.

A large "Longevity" character hung high on the wall, adding to the festive and lively atmosphere.

Many guests had arrived, all of them renowned business tycoons from Yang City.

"Jiang Haifu, presenting ten pieces of sky-blue porcelain, valued at three million."

"Xu Longxiang, presenting three catties of Wuyi Da Hong Pao tea, valued at four million."

"Yi Feng, presenting a pair of bracelets made from the finest ice-type Ink Jade."

.....

Mr. Yin was delighted. Passing the 80-year mark meant he had officially reached a venerable old age.

Although Yin Mountain was eighty and looked a bit gaunt, he still walked with the majestic stride of a dragon and the prowl of a tiger, full of vigor.

After chatting with some of the guests for a moment, he returned to the inner hall.

The birthday banquet hadn’t officially started yet.

Mr. Yin announced that the guests should feel free to mingle.

Just as he finished speaking, a gaunt-looking old man came forward with a congratulatory gift.

Then, an announcement came over the speakers: "The Jiangchuan Chen Family."

"Presenting ten jade shops on Jade Lotus Mountain and three hundred jade artifacts, with a total value of thirty million."

The guests exchanged knowing smiles. "The Chen Family’s old patriarch is a notorious penny-pincher."

"In the business world, they call him ’Stingy Chen’."

"Why is he being so generous today?"

"He even brought his grandson."

"I bet his grandson has his eyes on the Yin Family’s second miss."

"She’s a real beauty, through and through."

"Seriously, you couldn’t find many like her in all of Yang City."

"No wonder the kid has targeted her."

A group of the older generation started gossiping.

In the back hall.

Yin Mountain poured a cup of tea for Chen Feng personally.

"Old Feng, what made a tightwad like you willing to bleed a little today?" Yin Mountain chuckled.

Chen Feng didn’t get angry at being called a tightwad.

He and Yin Mountain had become sworn brothers when they were young. Both were self-made men.

They had supported each other all the way to get to where they were today.

Their bond couldn’t be summed up in just a few words.

Chen Feng took a sip of tea and chuckled. "Heh, isn’t it for that matter we discussed last time?"

With that, he looked at the young man behind him and pulled him forward. "This is my grandson, Chen Xuan."

"Right now, Xuan is in the jewelry business. He’s already built his own brand and supply chain. His overall profits are decent, around five or six hundred million a year, net."

"Promising young man, very promising," Yin Mountain praised effusively.

Chen Xuan smiled. "Mr. Yin, you’re too kind. My achievements are nothing compared to Xue’Er’s."

"Xue just graduated from college and has already started her own company and scaled it up. Her company is currently valued at nearly two billion. She’s the truly impressive one."

Yin Mountain waved his hand and said seriously, "No matter how capable Xue is, she is still just a woman."

"She’ll have to get married eventually."

"We can’t just let her keep struggling on her own forever."

The Chen Family’s patriarch, Chen Feng, smiled. "That’s exactly why I’m here today."

"Old Mountain, you see, Xue isn’t getting any younger."

"Like my grandson, she’s young and accomplished."

"If they get together, it would be a union of powers. In the future, when we two are old, our families will surely prosper even more."

"It is indeed something to consider." Yin Mountain was an old hand at this; he neither agreed nor refused.

A classic case of not loosing the falcon until he sees the hare.

Even sworn brothers must keep clear accounts.

If they wanted a marriage alliance, they had to show some real sincerity.

The thirty million from just now, given the Yin Family’s standing, was not nearly enough.

"How about this? My Chen Family is in the Jade Mine and real estate industries."

"If Xuan and Xue get married, I will give the Yin Family two of the ten major Jade Mines operated by the Chen Family—the ones at Lin Mountain in the southeast district and at Zhao Hushan—as a betrothal gift. They’re valued at two billion."

"Furthermore, we recently acquired a plot of land in the southeastern suburbs worth three billion."

"We can develop it together."

"I’m sure you’ve already received reliable information about this."

"Yang City is now a quasi-prefecture-level city, and its economic center will gradually shift towards the suburbs."

"That three billion will inevitably turn into thirty billion within ten years, at most. We’ll split the profits fifty-fifty."

"If we develop it together, perhaps in ten years, both our families can enter the ranks of Yang City’s great Noble Families."

Yin Mountain clearly hadn’t expected this tightwad, Chen Feng, to be willing to put so much on the line.

The previous thirty million was just a drop in the bucket for the Chen Family.

But this time, the two mines the Chen Family offered as a betrothal gift had an estimated value of *at least* two billion.

Yet he had only said two billion, which showed their sincerity.

As for the suburban land, the Chen Family had already paid the three billion for it.

After the marriage alliance, the Yin Family could start development immediately, which was equivalent to saving one and a half billion in costs.

And with an even split of the profits... that was a potential fifteen billion.

Yin Mountain was swayed.

Chen Feng was right. For businessmen like them to break into the ranks of the Noble Families, they needed a union of powers.

Otherwise, no matter how big your business became, if you touched upon the interests of certain people, you would be swallowed up sooner or later.

Only by being powerful yourself could you be considered truly powerful.

After weighing his options for a moment, Yin Mountain took a sip of water, looked at Chen Xuan, and said, "This matter isn’t for me to decide."

"After all, many men are pursuing Xue, and quite a few of them are here today."

"Whether or not you can seize this opportunity is up to you."

Chen Xuan’s heart leaped with joy. This meant Yin Mountain had tacitly approved of the marriage alliance.