Chapter 391: 145. Xunyang House Speculator?

145. Xunyang House Speculator?

"Why does Daoist friend Lu ask this?"

Xie Lingjiang's tone was curious.

Ouyang Rong looked at the paralyzed-faced Daoist youth who had arrived suddenly, and then turned to look at the riverside restaurant not far outside the window.

He let go of his junior sister's hand, poured a cup of hot tea himself, handed it to Lu Ya to warm him up, and spoke slowly:

"A wealthy merchant from Yangzhou, seems to be a widow, with vast family wealth, the head and president of the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce in Xunyang City, suspected of starting by selling private salt.

"In the past two years, she has also been investing money everywhere, spending a fortune in Xunyang. Recently, this group of Yangzhou wealthy merchants led by Pei Thirteenth Lady has been keen on purchasing land in Xingzi Fang, with quite a lot of movement.

"However, Xingzi Fang has a long history, and the houses are old. Although the location is good, adjacent to the river view, the houses in the neighborhood are scattered, poorly planned, and crowded. The deeds are even more scattered among a large number of small landlords.

"Among these people, some use it as ancestral property, some live on rent, some are simply idle, and some are outside Xunyang... In short, property rights are scattered, historical entanglements, and there is a lot of wrangling."

Ouyang Rong shook his head and answered truthfully. Rather than telling Lu Ya, it was better to say it was explaining the ins and outs to his junior sister.

Lu Ya was paralyzed, listening attentively, unable to see his expression.

Xie Lingjiang picked up a butterfly-shaped phoenix tree red leaf, twisting and rotating it between her two fingertips, occasionally looking at her senior brother who was narrating calmly.

"So this Pei Thirteenth Lady has been trying to get on my line in various ways since the beginning of this year.

"These Yangzhou merchants who have come ashore from selling salt are indeed not short of money. Unfortunately, if you want to buy your favorite land, money is not enough. There are quite a few nail households in Xingzi Fang, and many landlords are not short of money, so why sell their family houses for no reason?

"When encountering this situation, they have money but nowhere to use it. Perhaps they can handle individual small landlords, but they can't solve all of them. There are too many small landlords, and they will always run into hard bones... As for the gray means when they were salt merchants, they couldn't be fully displayed in Xunyang City, so they thought of getting on the line of the government.

"It's different if the government comes forward to endorse it. As long as the Jiangzhou Hall comes forward to cooperate and issue corresponding orders, it can assist them in clearing obstacles and forcing those small landlords to obediently sell their houses at market price. This move is indeed feasible, and the calculation is not bad.

"This Pei Thirteenth Lady is the spokesperson pushed out by their group of interest groups. She is clever and versatile, with a sharp tongue. When she first found me at the beginning of the year, she used the excuse of repairing the low-lying sewers of Xingzi Fang, brought a pile of opinions from water conservancy experts, saying she was seeking welfare for the people of Xingzi Fang, and was willing to bear all the sewer repair projects. A small prerequisite was for the Jiangzhou Hall to cooperate with them in removing nail households, heh.

"Later, after the excavation of Shuangfeng Peak was completed, the Prince Xunyang outside the Xicheng Gate was diverted away, and Xingzi Fang, which had the lowest terrain, was no longer threatened by floods. She didn't mention the excuse of water conservancy experts much anymore, perhaps knowing I didn't like this set, and settled down a bit."

Ouyang Rong shook his head.

Xie Lingjiang lowered her eyelashes and smiled at the red leaf:

"What about the set of inviting Ru Shixiong to close the door and admire the pipa in the back courtyard of Xunyang Tower last time? Does Ru Shixiong really not like it?"

Ouyang Rong sat upright, first using a move to sacrifice the chariot to protect the commander:

"Yuan Huaimin likes it, I'm not interested. Speaking of which, it was listening to his strong recommendation that I accepted the invitation to take a look, but didn't expect, heh."

Xie Lingjiang's cheeks puffed up slightly, and she nodded: "It's best if Ru Shixiong really didn't expect it."

"If I expected it, why would I go?" Ouyang Rong glared at her.

His junior sister was increasingly fond of fishing for law enforcement and setting him up, as expected of a woman, heh.

Lu Ya didn't quite understand what the two were talking about. His eyes seemed to have digested Ouyang Rong's words, and he asked again:

"The dilapidated houses in Xingzi Fang, they collect so many at once, is there any huge profit in reselling them, so they have this idea?"

"Not quite sure, but it's nothing more than two kinds."

Ouyang Rong quietly pressed a soft piece of flesh on his waist that was being pinched, turned his head, and analyzed casually:

"Either they are bullish on the land and housing prices in the old city area of Xingzi Fang for the long term, and it's a sharp rise, preparing to buy low and sell high, making a big profit.

"Or they have too much idle money that needs to be laundered, or they are acting as white gloves for some high-ranking officials in the Jiang Nan Circuit. It's too troublesome to leave this silver idle, so it's better to use it to purchase stable assets.

"However, after experiencing the huge profits of gray salt selling, I guess ordinary thin-profit businesses can no longer satisfy their appetites. And this golden location adjacent to the Xunyang Ferry, which is at a low position, fits their appetites.

"It's decent and presentable, can rise steadily for a long time, the profit ratio is not low, and the volume is large, can serve as a reservoir for idle money...

"Heh, looking at their posture before, they are playing quite big. This plate is not just one or two streets, but more than half of Xingzi Fang, all taken down, connected into one piece, renovated and improved, like the luxurious private residences of dignitaries in Xiushui Fang and Xunyang Fang, to earn money from the wealthy in Jiang Nan."

Ouyang Rong tucked his hands into his sleeves, his words sharp, watching coldly.

Lu Ya held his peach wood sword on his knees, his eyes lost in thought.

Xie Lingjiang put down the bamboo basket of red leaves and asked curiously:

"The situation in Xingzi Ward is so complex and difficult to solve, and there are historical legacy problems, a big mess. Jiangzhou Hall has welcomed and sent away I don't know how many Inspectors and Senior Secretaries, even the current senior brother is the same. If you have a clear head, you won't move it randomly. You only have a few years of tenure, and it's thankless. Why bother? These Yangzhou merchants spent so much effort, do they want to hold it for a long time? Are they so confident that after clearing the mess, the land price in Xingzi Ward can rise sharply?"

Ouyang Rong nodded and shook his head:

"Regardless of long or short term, as long as they buy it, they won't lose money no matter what.

"Anyone with eyes can see that the location is there. North to the Xunyang River, west to the City Gate, east to the Xunyang Ferry, a more advantageous location than Xunyang Fang, not to mention the construction of the Donglin Great Buddha Grotto at Shuangfeng Peak outside the Xicheng Gate, which is also the closest. As for Xiushui Fang, you can't even see the river water, so don't compare it.

"Xingzi Ward, in terms of location alone, can be said to be the best in Xunyang, but the most expensive section in Xunyang City is not it, and it even ranks at the bottom. It has been in disrepair for years and has become a low-rent housing for ordinary people in the marketplace and migrant workers."

"In the city, the land prices in Xunyang Fang and Xiushui Fang are the most expensive and remain high. The former is expensive, the latter is rich. Xunyang Fang is home to the Jiangzhou Hall and many private residences of officials, making it convenient for commuting. Xiushui Fang, backed by Mount Kuanglu, has deep and beautiful scenery, and is home to private residences of dignitaries and famous scholars."

He curled his lips: "So looking at it in the short term, it won't lose money. Looking at it in the long term, it will definitely rise. As for rising sharply, it was uncertain before, but now..."

"What about now?" Xie Lingjiang was curious and changed the question: "Why is it certain now?"

Ouyang Rong suddenly said:

"Thirteenth Lady Pei and the others must be thinking day and night that the expedition army of Qin Bo this time can win a great victory, and quickly solve the Kuangfu Army of Li Zhengyan in the Southwest, and don't have the repetition like Zhu Lingxu before."

"Why is this?"

He nodded: "Of course, it's because of love for our Great Zhou. Merchants don't forget to worry about national affairs."

"Speak seriously." Xie Lingjiang chided.

"Okay."

He said seriously:

"Because the current chief official of Jiangzhou is your senior brother. Once they see this, they naturally have full confidence in the land prices of Xunyang, betting all their family wealth..."

"..." Xie Lingjiang.

"Speaking of which, should I collect their money? It's really cheap for them. But I can't just be tied up and do nothing because I'm worried about making it cheap for them." Ouyang Rong sighed.

Xie Lingjiang was half-believing: "Is this really the reason? Why does it feel like Ru Shixiong is secretly praising himself."

"Remove the feeling."

Ouyang Rong smiled, then his expression returned to some seriousness, and he said softly:

"This time the war in the southwest happened not to affect Jiangzhou. It was a close call, truly luck. And the neighboring Hongzhou was not so lucky. Not only did it change hands repeatedly and fall into the thief's camp, but the war also affected people's livelihood, all industries, and shipping..."

"In the peaceful days of the past, Jiangzhou and Hongzhou were both in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and they were close to each other, vaguely in a competitive relationship. When Hongzhou was founded, a Governor's Mansion was established, which was half a level higher than Jiangzhou. All along, it has also suppressed Jiangzhou in all matters and siphoned resources from the middle reaches of the Yangtze River."

"Now that there is war, Hongzhou has fallen. Jiangzhou, as far as it is currently concerned, not only has not been affected and has held the last line, but has also become the largest transit station for the entire southeast to transport logistics resources to the front line."

"Jiangzhou not only has tasted the dividends of the wartime economy now, but after Qin Bo's expedition army pacifies Li Zhengyan's Restoration Army in the future and the war ends, the dividends when the entire southwest region's prefectures and counties are repaired and rested, the intact Jiangzhou will still be close to the water and get the moon first."

The high-level, novel perspective made Xie Lingjiang's eyes light up.

"By then, the wealthy people in the southwest will all run to Jiangzhou and the southeast. The prosperity of Xunyang Ferry will go up another level. Xunyang City doesn't have much vacant land, and the city area is crowded. Little junior sister, do you think the brand-new luxury houses in Xingzi Fang will rise or not?"

"Understood, truly a bunch of human spirits." Xie Lingjiang sighed.

"Indeed." Lu Ya nodded heavily.

"Indeed?" Xie Lingjiang sized him up, her eyes suspicious: "Daoist friend Lu usually doesn't care about worldly affairs, can you understand these things so early?"

She swallowed a sentence: How can you, an outsider who just arrived, understand better than her? Could it be that Ru Shixiong was right, and she is really a fool? No, absolutely impossible...

"Didn't understand early." Lu Ya shook his head: "And I actually didn't quite understand the principles Ouyang Young Master just analyzed."

"..." Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang.

The paralyzed-faced Daoist youth's tone was a bit embarrassed: "However, I heard a simple principle — merchants pursue profit, to such an extent. That's enough."

Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang looked at each other, about to speak, but Lu Ya suddenly changed the subject.

"Does Ouyang Young Master know the situation of the restaurant you are going to now?"

"What does Daoist Lu mean?"

Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang looked together toward the riverside high-rise building in the distance outside the window in the direction Lu Ya pointed.

Immediately, Lu Ya, with an expressionless face, briefly introduced the bustle on the Xunyang Tower side now.

Xie Lingjiang suddenly discovered that the arc of the smile that Ru Shixiong often hung on the corners of his mouth since they met just now slowly disappeared, and the comfortable expression near mealtime also calmed down.

Her eyebrows furrowed, and she patted the back of his hand:

"Let's not go, turn around and go home."

After speaking, Xie Lingjiang reached out to lift the carriage curtain, about to order the coachman.

"Wait."

Xie Lingjiang felt her hand being grabbed, and it was gripped with considerable force. She turned her head to look, it was him stopping her.

Ouyang Rong held Xie Lingjiang's soft hand, looked out the window, and was silent for a while:

"Let's go take a look. Since we're here, we can't let everyone wait in vain. Among them, there might be many who don't know the reason and are simply here for the reputation. Others can be impolite, but we cannot be impolite, although... heh, the face of a Jiangzhou Changshi is truly valuable, such a big scene just to eat a meal."

"But..."

Ouyang Rong withdrew his gaze, turned his head, and said to Xie Lingjiang word by word:

"Little junior sister, Ru Shixiong has been showing off teaching you every day, but this time I taught a counter-example, truly ashamed."

"Looking at the trend now, it seems my way of helping people this time is also not quite right... Throughout history, helping people has indeed been a difficult problem. One more point, or one less point, this degree is hard to grasp. If it's not good, it might be enmity in an instant, better not to help... You must take it as a warning."

"I won't avoid this problem, so let's go take a look, it can be considered a lesson learned, past experience is a guide for the future."

Xie Lingjiang shook her head, stubbornly saying:

"Ru Shixiong, don't be disappointed. Your approach is not wrong, your original intention is not wrong, this is what is most rare and valuable."

"In this world, what is wrong has never been kindness, but human nature that is easily swayed by power and interests. It is that someone is using kindness."

"And possessing kindness is by no means a weakness. In this matter, no one can blame Ru Shixiong. Even, I think Ru Shixiong is very good, truly very, very good..."

The beauty's eyes were unusually gentle. Ouyang Rong didn't speak. A short while later, he faced Lu Ya and thanked him sincerely:

"Thank you, Daoist Lu, for the reminder."

Lu Ya shook his head: "No need to thank. Ouyang Young Master's words also enlightened me. So... that's how it is."

When the carriage approached the Xunyang Tower, Lu Ya suddenly said goodbye and left.

Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang looked at each other and didn't ask much.

A short while later, the carriage arrived at the entrance of the Xunyang Tower. Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang lifted the carriage curtain, and the noise rushed toward them, along with fiery gazes.

Everything in front of them was indeed as Lu Ya had said.

Ouyang Rong got off the carriage calmly, and Pei Thirteenth Lady welcomed him and Xie Lingjiang with a smiling face.

The two were enthusiastically welcomed into the building.

During this time, Pei Thirteenth Lady, who had long thought of an excuse for flattery, glanced at the expression of the young man in the felt hat without a trace, and found that there was no expression of dissatisfaction or majesty on his handsome face, not even a single question, and he entered the building quietly.

The noble lady who "accidentally" made a huge scene was surprised and strange in her heart for a while. Of course, the smile on her face remained unchanged...

Just as the protagonist arrived and the grand luncheon at the Xunyang Tower today was about to begin.

On the third floor, in the Narcissus private room, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

The Huang family father and daughter inside, who were laughing and looking forward to a beautiful life, were startled. They turned their heads to look and saw a familiar yet strange Daoist youth figure walk into the private room and sit down unceremoniously in front of them.

The father and daughter reacted, their expressions vigilant.

"Why is it you bull-nose again, how did you get in." Huang Feihong stood up in surprise, habitually rolling up his sleeves.

Lu Ya didn't look at him, his expression paralyzed, and he asked the little girl who had put on a brand-new dress for the first time today:

"Huang Xuan, don't you wonder what business that Mrs. Pei who invited you here, and those wealthy merchants outside, are doing?"

Huang Xuan's little face froze. ===== CHAPTER 392 =====