Volume One: Qin Yang of the Northern Sea Chapter 32: Buying a House

Bincheng, Yokohama Avenue, Alley 293—this place preserves a cluster of ancient buildings, a cultural treasure carefully protected by the city. The house for sale this time stood right here.

Looking at the house before even stepping inside, he already felt satisfied. It was a classic courtyard residence, thoughtfully designed with foresight. A parking garage had been constructed underground. Within the courtyard, a grape trellis shaded a corner, beside which stood an ancient pavilion. Inside the pavilion, a square stone table exuded traditional elegance.

The yard was spacious—over two hundred square meters. Including the house and the underground garage, the total area approached eight hundred square meters.

Wang Hao gazed around, his face tinged with nostalgia, for this place held many cherished memories: "Qin Yang, what do you think?"

"Wang, I'm very satisfied. I just wonder about the price," Qin Yang nodded, asking.

"Money is easy to talk about. We'll go by the market rate—after all, I'm selling my uncle's house. How about this, one hundred million? What's your opinion?" Wang Hao looked at Qin Yang, smiling broadly.

Qin Yang's eyes widened in disbelief. Damn, he'd just thrown a hundred million to Wu Yaoyao, and now he didn't even have enough to buy a house. There was only ten million left in his account.

Seeing Qin Yang's expression, Wang Hao was puzzled. "Qin, what's wrong? I'm not asking for a penny more. Last year, it was already this price—I haven't raised it. Plus, all the furniture here are my uncle's antique collections, worth at least a million or two."

Qin Yang could only smile bitterly. "Wang, the price is fair, but could I pay you a bit later?"

"Qin, didn't you make more than a hundred million last time selling jade?"

"I spent it."

"Uh!" Wang Hao was speechless—a hundred million gone just like that.

"Wang, how about this: I'll pay a deposit of ten million now, and within a month I'll gather the rest. What do you think?" After some thought, he was quite satisfied with the house. In this area, the price was what it was.

"Qin, don't worry about the money. I'll cover it first. Whenever you have it, just pay me back—no rush." Wang Hao placed the keys in his hand and discussed the transfer arrangements.

But he said the transfer would only proceed once all the money was ready.

No matter how close he was to Wang Hao, he couldn't owe such a big favor, especially since the house belonged to Wang Hao's uncle, not him.

After parting ways with Wang Hao, Qin Yang began to ponder how to make money.

Jin Yu dragged him to a driving school, where he stayed for two hours and left—he'd already learned the basics. He put down ten thousand yuan, tossed it to the instructor, asking him to help get his license later.

As night fell, he suddenly remembered he had a class reunion.

Junhao Grand Hotel

A gentle breeze stirred as Qin Yang, dropped off by Jin Yu, told him to head back. He walked in alone, and before even entering, saw the lobby crowded with people, chatting and laughing, lively and bustling.

Among them, he recognized some faces, while others were unfamiliar. Looking closely, he was surprised to find so many high school classmates had come to Bincheng to build their lives.

He remained as low-key as he had been at school, so his arrival caused no stir.

He found an empty table, took out a pack of cigarettes, and began to smoke.

Just as boredom was setting in, a voice suddenly broke the monotony: "Yang!"

"Ma Bo!"

Ma Bo was his closest friend, practically a brother in high school. They'd lost contact after graduation, and he thought they'd never meet again—yet here they were in Bincheng.

Ma Bo was visibly excited, his face bright with joy. "Yang, I saw your silhouette just now and didn't dare believe it was you. I thought you were in Beihai—what brings you to Bincheng?"

"Ah, don't mention it. They say Bincheng is paved with gold; I'm here to pick up some."

"What about you, Ma Bo?"

Hearing this, Ma Bo looked embarrassed. "Yang, don't ask. I didn't get into college, so I came to Bincheng to work. Now I make just over two thousand a month. If they hadn't told me about the reunion, and if my company weren't nearby, I wouldn't have come."

"Good thing you did, or I wouldn't have seen you."

As the two chatted, three people approached from afar. Seeing them, Ma Bo's expression soured.

Sun Tao, their former senior class monitor, was a strong-willed character whose family, rumor had it, had some money.

"Well, isn't this Qin Yang?" Sun Tao sneered, his face full of contempt. "So, where did you get rich, Yang?"

With that shout, everyone turned to look. In high school, Qin Yang had been a little tyrant—no one dared cross him.

"Sun Tao, have you forgotten what pain feels like? Remember when I beat you?"

Sun Tao's smile faded, and he snorted coldly. "Hmph, we were young then, didn't know any better. Now things are different. We're in society, and it's all about money. Who fights anymore? That's kid's stuff."

"Oh, is that so?"

Sun Tao looked at Ma Bo and called out, "Ma Bo, what are you doing over there? Get over here, or you'll lose your job."

"If I lose it, so be it. I never wanted that job anyway. Trying to make me submit? Not a chance." Ma Bo glared angrily at Sun Tao, muttering curses.

Sun Tao was nearly speechless—Ma Bo, once timid, seemed to have grown bold in Qin Yang's presence.

"Fine, very well. I hope you don't regret it."

Just as the commotion settled, a woman walked in from outside. She wore a white gown, smiling radiantly, like a princess from a fairy tale.

She'd appeared on the covers of fashion magazines many times; she was Zhang Mengqi, CEO of Carnival Corporation.

Clearly, everyone recognized Zhang Mengqi, their faces full of anticipation.

As the crowd flocked to greet her, Qin Yang and Ma Bo continued smoking, ignoring them all.

Zhang Mengqi spotted Qin Yang in the distance, her eyes brightening as she began to walk over. But Sun Tao seized the moment, stepping forward.

"Mengqi, I'm Sun Tao. I run a food processing company, and I—"

A faint fragrance drifted past as Zhang Mengqi walked right by him, not stopping for a moment. Sun Tao's face turned grim, his words halted.

Many, delighted by the spectacle, watched Sun Tao, adding to his embarrassment.

"Qin Yang, when did you arrive?" Zhang Mengqi, undeterred by the smoke, sat across from them. Ma Bo grinned mischievously, "Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"

"Ma Bo, don't talk nonsense." Zhang Mengqi, ready to feel secretly pleased, had her mood dashed by Qin Yang's interruption, leaving her frustrated.

"Mengqi, Qin Yang is just a laborer now—he's not good enough for you."