Chapter 466: Overseeing Three Thousand Concubines

This marriage isn't just about buying a house—Fang Hong must also buy Liu Tianxian a ring, a necklace, and other jewelry; these are mandatory, unavoidable conventions.

Additionally, they need to book a hotel and rent a venue; wedding dresses, formal wear, and all that stuff aren't cheap at all—just a few hundred million could vanish easily.

Huang Jiaozhu spent two hundred million on his wedding; how could Fang Hong let his own ceremony be less impressive than Huang Jiaozhu's?

At the very least, they need two planes to make a show of it.

Altogether, the bare minimum budget would be three hundred million—though this is only Fang Hong's personal estimate, not anyone else's, since they haven't discussed it yet.

But weddings involve countless messy details and will inevitably drain a fortune; ordinary people empty six wallets, so how much more for him?

Whether the villa is mortgaged or paid in full won't be visible to others, but the wedding's opulence and prestige are immediately apparent—no discounts allowed.

If it's too plain, where does the Principal's face go? Where does Liu Tianxian's face go?

Anyway, she just sold a house—she has money.

"Oh, you're exaggerating too much—it doesn't have to be extravagantly lavish, we can keep it simple; I just want a proper ceremony, what do you think, Xiao Hong?" Liu Tianxian asked for Fang Hong's opinion.

She had almost said "Auntie," but still wasn't used to it.

Their money is better kept by them; when they need it, they can just ask their daughter.

Since they're talking so lavishly, she wouldn't say anything further—she'd just go along with their plans.

The loan is in one person's name, but the house belongs to both.

The three found Liu Tianxian and Xu Liyun, who were strolling and chatting in the leisure courtyard.

"No problem, Mr. Fang, this is my duty." The manager tucked the documents away into her bag. "Can you keep this information confidential?" This was what Fang Hong worried about.

This was a deal worth hundreds of millions—he stood to earn over a million in commission; it was rare to encounter two such big clients.

"I like a traditional Chinese wedding—the Three Letters and Six Rites, the three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts, the eight-men palanquin, the ten-mile red bridal procession, the phoenix crown and xiapi—only then is there true ceremony." Liu Tianxian grew enthusiastic speaking of this.

"The hat is this expensive?" Fang Hong stared, glancing at Liu Tianxian.

It was at a very authentic roast duck restaurant.

"Exactly, if you can mortgage it, don't pay in full," Fang Hong said as if it were obvious.

"I brought it." The manager pulled out the documents from her bag.

The group found a glass round table and chairs, and everyone sat around it.

"."

"Of course we have to do it right! Can't be too shabby." Fang Hong couldn't back down—he'd already bragged, how could he retract it?

This was from the Jade Rabbit dividend—Fang Hong had received half, roughly 170 million, and the down payment alone would wipe out fifty million, not even counting taxes.

"I won't even mention the dragon-and-phoenix motifs, red lanterns, auspicious clouds, glazed-tile decorations—just the phoenix crown she wears on her head isn't cheap; some cost millions, others tens of millions, with no upper limit." Liu Xiaoli had done her research and knew clearly.

"Then let's just process the paperwork." Fang Hong was direct. He asked the manager: "Did you bring the materials?"

"Then please help us run the errands and handle it," Fang Hong said.

"What about you? What do you think?" Liu Tianxian asked in return.

"Swipe my card!" Fang Hong pulled out a bank card.

"You think so? Cheap ones exist—thousands or tens of thousands—but you can't make Xixi wear a fake on her head, would that be embarrassing? It has to be custom-made!"

"Your mother and I found a wedding planning company and showed Xixi several proposals, but she wasn't satisfied with any of them." Liu Xiaoli smoothed the napkin in front of her.

"First, fill out the mortgage application, then the property purchase contract—if it's two people, list both names." The manager handed over a folder of documents.

"Huh? Really?" Fang Hong didn't know much about this.

Both used their fingers to dab ink on the signature lines, pressing their fingerprints down—this felt genuinely ceremonial.

"Then why pay in installments? Just buy it outright," Liu Tianxian said.

Liu Tianxian wanted to say more, but Liu Xiaoli raised her hand to stop her, signaling to hold back and give Fang Hong some face.

Still, thinking he could marry such a daughter-in-law brought him some comfort, though he felt guilty for not being able to help his own son.

"He can keep this confidential—I've bought and sold houses through him before." Liu Tianxian also tucked the purchase contract into her bag; it was her first time taking out a mortgage.

Ordinary people experience things like pull-ring rings, living in cold old houses, and mortgaging homes—she'd experienced them all with this man.

"These days? You think you're an empress? Should we arrange a ceremonial procession for you, give you a golden scroll and a jade seal, and put you in charge of three thousand concubines?" Liu Xiaoli mocked her daughter without mercy.

He'd assumed the Principal was a wealthy tycoon, but he probably didn't even have as much cash on hand as Liu Tianxian.

Talking about this here made the man lose all face, especially with outsiders present.

Liu Xiaoli took it—her son-in-law's words sounded pleasant; who wouldn't want their daughter to have a glorious wedding? It reflected well on the mother-in-law too.

If any issues or disagreements arose, communication with both sides could proceed without obstruction.

"If you don't care about this, just pay in full—why pay in installments?" Liu Tianxian was still traditional, unwilling to owe anyone money, even the bank.

Liu Tianxian's face glowed with eagerness.

Liu Tianxian glanced at Fang Hong, wanting to say something, but signed her name anyway.

It could be as low-key as renting a traditional red wedding robe and decorating the venue with red silk.

But their wedding couldn't be ordinary—they were celebrities, their status was clear; if it was plain, people would laugh, and Fang Hong's face would be lost.

Fang Hong listened—he realized such a setup might cost more than a single plane, probably even more than one.

"Xixi, take it!" Liu Xiaoli handed the card to her daughter.

Liu Tianxian smiled too, warmly—buying a house was something women deeply cared about, equivalent to gaining a stable home. "No problem, I don't care about this," Fang Hong said; what he cared about was time—he'd delay it as long as possible.

The manager pulled out a dedicated POS machine—this one was different from the ordinary ones, specially designated.

He couldn't help imagining the scene: Liu Tianxian in her phoenix crown and xiapi, walking through a hall of crimson brocade, carved dragons and phoenixes, palace corridors, magnificently ornate—as if golden bricks paved the ground!

This couldn't be avoided—it was only one wedding, and Liu Tianxian had this one wish: to marry out in glory. It had to be fulfilled.

"How did you like it?" Fang Hong approached.

After everything was done, the property purchase contract was made in triplicate—one copy for Fang Hong's group, one for the real estate company, and one for the bank.

Fang Hong felt nothing—money spent could always be earned again.

Still, Liu Tianxian ordered the dishes—several home-style staples: roast duck, cumin lamb ribs, stir-fried liver, and so on.

"Over a hundred million. The password is Xixi's birthday. Spend it freely—if you need more, just tell me. Don't skimp at all." Fang Hong was extravagantly generous.

So you can save where no one sees, but where people can see, you mustn't cut corners—same as always: appearances matter! A person only gets married once in their life.

Liu Tianxian didn't refuse; she took the card and put it away. She was best suited to manage the wedding expenses—she was Fang Hong's wife and her mother's daughter, able to smooth things over.

Fang Hong remained calm, finished filling out the loan application, then continued with the property purchase contract—which now required two names.

Xu Liyun became alert, thinking she was being called.

Liu Tianxian, warmed by her own words, turned to Fang Hong: "Right?"

After finishing her order, she leaned close to Fang Hong: "Are you short on money?"

Personal income taxes were already withheld by Yutu Company at the time of dividend distribution—no additional tax payment needed.

Traditional Chinese weddings emphasize ceremony most of all; they can be as luxurious as you want, with no upper limit. Think of imperial weddings in ancient times—grand and solemn.

"Money kept in your own hands is more flexible. We could do other things. No need to pour it all into this house—it's not worth it." Fang Hong stuck to his usual line.

"How could you pay? You can't pay." Fang Hong took the application form and filled in the details.

"Not short? When have I ever been short on money?" Fang Hong looked at her in confusion, as if to say, How could you even ask such a question?

Liu Tianxian watched Fang Hong swipe his card but said nothing—she'd address it privately later. After securing the house, finalizing the purchase contract, and paying the down payment, Fang Hong and the others went out to eat.

"Alright."

She even pulled out a seal ink pad for fingerprinting! "You want to pay in installments?" Liu Tianxian stared at her husband in surprise.

"You really think so? Xiao Fang, let me tell you—it's not cheap. All that red brocade, the phoenix crown and xiapi—it's far more elaborate and expensive than a wedding dress," Liu Xiaoli said.

Hearing this, Fang Hong felt reassured and asked again: "How long will it take to process the loan?"

He'd said that earlier just to consider their interests.

Xu Liyun wanted to say something but stayed silent instead—she was worried: such an expensive house—how much would they have to borrow?

"Mr. Fang, Miss Liu, please place your fingerprints on every signature line," the manager said politely.

"I explained—I put money where it matters. For the wedding, I want an ultra-luxurious one."

Liu Xiaoli pointed to her head: "If it's custom-made, gold, silver, and jewels are a must. A phoenix crown needs at least a thousand pearls, and requires master craftsmen to inlay and carve them."

"How much money is in here?" Liu Xiaoli asked.

After signing his name, he gestured to Liu Tianxian: "Write your name."

No choice—married to a person like this!

"Yes, go all the way to the most expensive. You only get married once—can't be half-hearted or careless. There must be ceremony." Fang Hong was extravagantly generous.

He just felt his own money wasn't enough. He stood up, took out the card, and handed it to Liu Xiaoli: "Mom, take this card. Buy whatever you need."

"The interest is very high," Liu Tianxian said.

With installments, the interest is like buying another house outright—she knew that well.

The manager kept smiling, pretending not to hear—but he understood clearly: the Principal truly had no money; if he did, he'd pay in full.

"Better not take a loan—I'll cover the rest myself," Liu Tianxian disliked loans.

"One or two weeks—we'll notify you once it's done." The manager glanced at them and asked tentatively: "What about the down payment?"

Fang Hong turned to Liu Xiaoli: "Mom, how's the wedding preparation going?"

"I'm fine, so of course you're fine too," Fang Hong laughed.

"Hey, I'm not an empress, but I only get married once in my life—I want to experience the treatment of an empress marrying into the palace. I want to walk down the aisle in splendor, making everyone envious. Is that too much? Didn't all traditional marriages used to be like this?"

Xu Liyun watched as her son's hundred million was taken by that mother-daughter pair—she was heartbroken.

Xu Liyun didn't know what to say. She had no money, no confidence to speak up.

Liu Xiaoli was speechless again—this again; Xu Liyun, however, was deeply concerned, leaning forward to listen to their conversation.

Traditional Chinese weddings shouldn't be too expensive—no need for airplanes, right? How expensive could a Chinese wedding get compared to an airplane?

The entire meal revolved around wedding planning—how to organize it, what plan to choose, how to execute it—all discussed by that mother-daughter duo, especially Liu Tianxian, who grew more and more enthusiastic.

They only settled on broad ideas; the details still needed a professional wedding company to handle.

After dinner, they went to the city's high-end furniture market to browse—selecting what kind of furniture to buy. The villa's furniture definitely needed replacing; new couple, new bed, new bedding—everything had to be new.

Another substantial expense! But these items were paid for by Liu Xiaoli—effectively part of the dowry.

(End of Chapter)