Xiao Pang started working at the restaurant, and Ye Tiancheng went back to the fields to continue hoeing. He worked faster than usual today, finishing by noon. He didn't even eat lunch and hurried home to pack a bag.
Before he left, the landlady came to check on them. She was a curly-haired, middle-aged woman, clearly dressed in designer brands, giving off an aura of immense wealth.
"You haven't lived in this house for long, so I won't charge you rent. I'll also give you an additional two thousand yuan as compensation for the inconvenience."
It seemed the real estate agent hadn't lied. This was a truly formidable woman, speaking with an air of authority, as if money could solve any problem.
"Thank you very much."
As Ye Tiancheng was leaving, he intended to take the potted plant with him. After all, it had been nurtured by a magical stone and was no longer an ordinary flower, possessing extraordinary properties.
"Sell me this potted plant. Don't take it with you."
The well-traveled, middle-aged woman quickly recognized the peculiarity of the flower.
"I'm sorry, I'm not selling."
"Not even for a hundred thousand yuan?"
She was a bona fide landlady. The story about her son's wedding was just an excuse. She simply wanted to sell the properties in this area as she saw no further appreciation potential and wished to invest elsewhere. She had already made a fortune through real estate speculation.
These landladies were not to be trifled with. Her designer clothes alone were worth hundreds of thousands, and she carried a bag worth over a million. Ten thousand yuan was like pocket money to her.
"I'm not selling it for a hundred thousand yuan either. Don't underestimate this plant. As long as it's kept indoors, it can prevent many cardiovascular diseases and gradually improve one's health..."
Ye Tiancheng, with his silver tongue, harbored a grand ambition: to persuade this wealthy woman to part with more money. Earning too little was simply uninteresting.
"I see. Others may not have the same insight, but I've seen similar things before, and they fetched very high prices at auctions. How much do you want for it?"
"At least a million."
The rich woman smirked. "Young man, I suspect you've never seen that much money in your life. The entire house cost just over three hundred thousand. You're asking for a third of the house's price for this single plant. Are you serious?"
"I thought you were quite wealthy. Are you really unwilling to part with such a small sum? No matter how rich you are, wealth is external. What matters is health. If you can ensure your health, you'll have more opportunities to earn more money. You understand this principle, don't you?"
"I understand the principle, but the way you're trying to sell it now makes you seem like one of those salespeople who try to trick the elderly in the park. I can offer you eighty thousand at most. If you don't want it, then forget it. I'm not buying."
The rich woman spoke decisively, the ruby on her hand gleaming with an unusual brilliance. Ye Tiancheng realized that if he pushed for more, the eighty thousand would vanish.
Eighty thousand yuan could buy a two-bedroom apartment in a non-central area. With that money, he and Xiao Pang wouldn't have to rent anymore; they could move directly into a new home. This would be an extraordinary leap for them, and Ye Tiancheng eagerly anticipated it.
"Then eighty thousand it is. However, comparing me to those con artists in the park is unfair. I'm not a deceptive salesperson. The efficacy of this plant is even greater than I imagined. You should use it; it will undoubtedly benefit your health."
"Although I have money, I'm not foolish. It's precisely because I feel so good in this house that I'm willing to pay this price. Otherwise, I wouldn't waste my money."
This rich woman was clearly not foolish. In fact, it was unlikely she would have accumulated so much wealth if she were. These qualities were complementary; wisdom and courage were both essential for becoming a wealthy individual.
"Young man, I trust you. Give me your bank account number, and I'll have the funds transferred within two minutes. Then, you can leave the plant with me."
As expected, the rich woman was efficient. After a quick call to her secretary, a message soon came back: the money had been transferred.
Ye Tiancheng received the transfer notification almost simultaneously. Eighty thousand yuan! For most people, this was an immense sum. It instantly elevated Ye Tiancheng and Xiao Pang from barely making ends meet to a comfortable life.
After sincerely thanking the rich woman, Ye Tiancheng and Xiao Pang went to find a real estate agent. This time, however, they weren't looking to rent; they intended to buy.
The real estate agent, sensing an opportunity to earn a commission, was naturally very enthusiastic. He tirelessly showed Ye Tiancheng and Xiao Pang properties, even though it was getting late. He was truly a model of dedication.
"This apartment is good. It's on the second floor, so it won't be as noisy as the first. The floor is also low, which is convenient."
"It's more than just good! The surrounding area is very convenient, with hospitals, supermarkets, and a subway station. It only takes about ten minutes by subway to reach a shopping mall, and about an hour to reach the city center. This property is very rare and not expensive. The total price is only nine hundred thousand."
This was a second-hand apartment. Housing prices had recently seen a slight correction. The agent mentioned that this property had previously been listed for between 1.2 million and 1.3 million yuan. The current price of one million was due to the owner's urgent need for cash, which had led to a gradual decrease in price over two months.
People often said that housing prices were a bubble economy, but in reality, very few people could truly afford to buy a house. Even if they could afford the down payment, they were reluctant to spend their lives working for the bank to repay loans, which sometimes amounted to almost the same price as the house itself. It was indeed quite exaggerated.
"Then let's buy it with cash. Let's pool all our savings. Once we have a house, we'll finally have a place to call our own. I think this is very important."
Ye Tiancheng made the decision on the spot. The crucial factor was the eighty thousand yuan he had unexpectedly received; otherwise, he wouldn't have had the courage to sign the contract with the agent and pay the property fee that day. That evening, Ye Tiancheng and Xiao Pang moved into their new home.
"Brother Ye, you see, it's so much easier when you have money. I thought it would be much harder, but it was resolved so easily. We really need to earn more money."
"This time was purely an accident. Although that stone was quite rude, I still have to thank it. Without that stone, we wouldn't have had the means to buy a house, and we'd probably still be renting."
Xiao Pang's words were quite pragmatic, and this seemed to be their destiny. Coincidentally, the landlady wanted to sell that property, and they were now able to buy a house. This indicated that the two of them were born with good fortune. It would indeed be a waste of their potential to live in a rented apartment.
"It's all fate, I suppose. But we still have to thank that little stone. Ever since it entered my storage space, it hasn't said a word. I guess it's focused on cultivating inside."
"Whatever. As long as it doesn't cause trouble. A stone that created eighty thousand yuan for us is a rare and good stone. When it appears again, I'll praise it properly."
"Okay."
The two were overjoyed. Although they didn't have anyone else to celebrate with, moving into a new home was an occasion that couldn't be overlooked. They had to celebrate.
Xiao Pang personally cooked, while Ye Tiancheng went to the supermarket to buy plenty of vegetables and meat. Xiao Pang quickly stir-fried three or four dishes. The two of them drank and ate, sharing many reflections.
After all, they had slowly climbed up from humble beginnings.
Their relationship, forged through shared hardships, was filled with mutual appreciation and was certainly different from that of ordinary people.
"Thank you, Big Brother. Following Brother Ye, I knew that even if I was poor, it wouldn't last long."
Xiao Pang was the happiest person that day. He finally had his own little home, and Ye Tiancheng insisted on putting Xiao Pang's name on the deed, essentially gifting the house to him.
This act made Xiao Pang even more devoted to Ye Tiancheng. Back when Ye Tiancheng had billions, he casually gave a newlywed gift of a villa worth tens of millions, but he wasn't as touched then as he was now.
After all, Ye Tiancheng had nothing, yet he dared to give the best to Xiao Pang, demonstrating a loyalty to his brother that was beyond reproach. Such a person was extremely rare.
"This is just the beginning. We need to work harder to earn money in the future. You'll also need to retake your driving test. Everything will get better. Even if you made mistakes in the past, I believe they will be corrected over time."
"Okay, Brother Ye. I'll do whatever you say. As long as I follow Brother Ye, I'll have good things. I know that much."
Xiao Pang flattered him profusely. Although Ye Tiancheng outwardly told Xiao Pang not to say such mushy things, he was actually quite pleased.
The next day, Ye Tiancheng went to the fields as usual. However, news had somehow spread about him selling a potted plant for eighty thousand yuan. Even the village chief of Dashan Village came to see him.
"Young man, you're not only good at farming but also capable of cultivating such valuable flowers. You're truly remarkable. You seem to be a rare talent. It's a shame your flower has already been sold, otherwise, I would have loved to see it. I heard it was vibrant and lush. I wonder if it's as magical as the legends say."
Ye Tiancheng was resting. If it weren't for the fact that he was the village chief of Dashan Village, he wouldn't have wasted his time chatting with him about these trivial matters. His task for the day was nearing completion, and Ye Tiancheng wanted to finish early and go home.
"You flatter me."
"How about this? We could cooperate. I can turn Dashan Village into a stage for you to do as you please. If you can cultivate such valuable plants, I believe Dashan Village will prosper along with you."
After speaking, the village chief had his subordinates bring over a withered flower, hoping Ye Tiancheng would work his magic.
"That was a fluke. If you think I can revive a withered flower and make it vibrant again, you're overestimating me. I don't have that ability."
Village Chief Liu, hearing Ye Tiancheng's words, realized he wasn't interested in cooperating. He shook his head in disappointment but didn't seem overly concerned. He then made small talk with Ye Tiancheng for a while, excused himself to use the restroom, and left.
Ye Tiancheng looked at the withered flower. He knew that if the little stone didn't intervene, he could only revive the flower using his true qi; he couldn't imbue it with magical properties.
Not long after, Village Chief Liu returned. Ye Tiancheng had just received his four hundred yuan wages. Seeing Village Chief Liu again, he was startled. He sensed that the village chief might have ulterior motives and remained wary of this outwardly respectable but potentially deceitful village chief.