raknovel Chapter 57 Buying the Prince's Mansion
Chapter 57 Buying the Prince's Mansion
Chapter 57 Buying the Prince's Mansion
That evening, Quanjude.
Lin Dong, Han Sanping, and Jiang Wen ordered a duck, a few side dishes, and a bottle of Moutai.
The duck was sliced thinly, with crispy skin and tender meat. Jiang Wen rolled up a slice and stuffed it into his mouth, grimacing from the heat, but he didn't stop eating with his chopsticks.
Han Sanping would occasionally say a few words to Lin Dong, but most of the time he would let Lin Dong eat by himself.
After drinking about 70% of the wine and eating duck on a CD, no one talked about anything serious.
When the party ended, Han Sanping made arrangements with Lin Dong for tomorrow's plans: first, Zhang Heping would show him around Beijing, and then there would be a gathering in the evening at the Great Wall Hotel.
Lin Dong nodded in agreement, and they all dispersed.
The Great Wall Hotel was one of the first five-star hotels in Beijing. It opened in 1984 and hosted President Reagan.
Lin Dong booked the presidential suite on the top floor, which cost two thousand US dollars a night, equivalent to a little over 15,000 Hong Kong dollars. In Beijing, that's about the equivalent of more than two years' salary for an average person.
The next morning, when Lin Dong stepped out of the elevator, Han Sanping had already arrived.
There was a man standing next to me. He was about forty-five or forty-six years old, of medium height, wearing a white shirt and gray trousers, and his eyes behind his glasses were smiling.
He stood there calmly and patiently, like the kind of person who wouldn't rush you no matter how long you waited.
"President Lin, this is Zhang Heping. Have him show you around Beijing these next few days," Han Sanping said, gesturing for him to introduce them.
Zhang Heping stepped forward, extended his hand, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy, just right. "Mr. Lin, it's an honor to meet you. My name is Zhang Heping, and I currently work as a deliveryman at Forbidden City Film Studio."
Third Master instructed that I would accompany President Lin wherever he wished to go these next two days. If there's anything inconvenient or impossible, just let me know, and I'll find a solution.
He spoke in a humble yet assertive tone, without bowing or putting on airs. The words "errand runner" came out naturally, not as a self-deprecating remark, but to tell the other person that he was there to provide service.
Lin Dong grasped his hand, already understanding Han Sanping's plan.
Forbidden City Film Studio was just established last year and co-produced the first Lunar New Year film in mainland China, "The Dream Factory," with Beijing Film Studio.
Zhang Heping is the general manager of Forbidden City Film Industry. The fact that Han Sanping was able to call this person over to be his director shows that this level of importance is not just empty talk.
"You're too kind, Mr. Zhang. Thank you for your help these next few days."
"No trouble at all." Zhang Heping released his hand and took half a step back. The movement was very natural, neither making him seem distant, and giving the main seat to Han Sanping.
Han Sanping had other things to do, so he gave a few instructions about the arrangements for tonight's gathering—7 p.m., in the banquet hall on the second floor of the Great Wall Hotel, and that everyone coming would be from the industry—and then he left.
Zhang Heping watched Han Sanping exit through the revolving door before turning around, a perfectly timed smile on his face.
"Mr. Lin, Third Master specifically told me last night that since this is your first time in Beijing, you should take a good look around. I've been thinking about it—"
Coming to Beijing and not visiting the Forbidden City is practically the same as not having come at all. How about we go to the Forbidden City this morning, and then decide where you'd like to go in the afternoon? What do you think?
He spoke with his hands hanging naturally in front of him, his tone questioning, but his suggestions were clear and explicit. He's the kind of person who does the work before he speaks.
Lin Dong nodded. "Okay. I'll do as you say."
Chen Xinjian, who had rented a black Mercedes and a Crown in advance, set off from the Great Wall Hotel, heading north along the East Third Ring Road and turning onto Chang'an Avenue.
There were many tourists in front of the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City. Zhang Heping had made arrangements in advance, and the car drove directly into the Working People's Cultural Palace, entering through a side gate.
He walked to Lin Dong's left, half a step behind, and at each place he would ask questions at just the right time, such as when the Hall of Supreme Harmony was built and what the plaque in the Palace of Heavenly Purity meant. When they passed through the Imperial Garden, he pointed to a few ancient cypress trees and told them a few anecdotes.
He was neither verbose nor awkward; if Lin Dong didn't ask, he wouldn't say anything more; if Lin Dong stopped to look at him a few more times, he would add a comment at the right moment.
As Lin Dong passed through the Shenwu Gate, he paused and looked back at the central axis running north to south behind him.
The deep red palace walls stood silent in the afternoon sun, while the glazed tiles shimmered with subtle golden light.
"It was a worthwhile trip," he said, uttering four words.
Zhang Heping didn't reply, but simply nodded. He knew Lin Dong wasn't talking to him.
Once outside the Forbidden City, Lin Dong slowed his pace.
As you walk along Beichizi Street, gray walls and gray tiles line both sides of the street, and some courtyard gates are ajar, allowing you to glimpse the old locust trees behind the screen walls inside.
He stopped at a corner, looked around, and suddenly asked a question.
"Mr. Zhang, are there any decent courtyard houses available for purchase in this area? I'd like to settle down in Beijing."
Zhang Heping's mind worked extremely fast.
From the moment Lin Dong asked "Do you have it?" to the moment he finished processing the sentence in his mind, it took no more than two seconds.
Lin Dong was referring to "buying a place to live," not investing or hoarding land; it was for his own residence.
But given Lin Dong's wealth and manners, what he wants is definitely not just an ordinary courtyard.
"Is Mr. Lin planning to stay in Beijing for an extended period?" Zhang Heping didn't answer directly, but asked first.
This explores the completely different requirements for a courtyard between those who need to stay long-term and those who only stop occasionally.
"We'll gradually shift our focus to the inland areas. We need a decent place in Beijing."
Zhang Heping nodded, memorizing those words. Only then did he begin to answer Lin Dong's question.
"Mr. Lin, there aren't many courtyard houses on the market in Beijing now, and even fewer good ones. A significant portion of the large courtyard houses remaining in Beijing are privately owned; the owners hold them but don't put them on the market. Those that can be traded," he paused, mentally reviewing his database, "are mainly concentrated in the Dongcheng and Xicheng districts. The Dongcheng district has more, with many houses from the Republican era in areas like Jiaodaokou, Dongsi, and Nanluoguxiang. The courtyard houses in the Xicheng district are closer to the Forbidden City, but they are mostly privately owned and not readily available for sale."
"What about large courtyards with four or more courtyards? Are there any former residences of princes or nobles?"
Zhang Heping's eyes twitched. He had guessed the specifications Lin Dong wanted, but the fact that the other party was talking about a four-courtyard mansion and a prince's residence still made his heart skip a beat.
Courtyards of this size are extremely rare to find in the entire capital.
"President Lin, to be honest, there aren't many places that can currently meet the requirements of a four-courtyard mansion or a princely residence."
When he said this, his tone was not somber, but rather very calm, as if he were stating a fact rather than making excuses.
This is crucial; he didn't close the door, but was simply illustrating the difficulty.
"Most of these properties are public housing or military property, and the ownership is quite complicated. A few private properties, such as some old mansions of princes in the Houhai area, were divided among several families after the founding of the People's Republic of China, making the ownership even more difficult to clarify."
He paused for a moment, looked at Lin Dong, and said, "So this matter will take time, but more importantly, it depends on fate."
"What's the approximate price?" Lin Dong asked.
Zhang Heping quickly did the mental calculations. He knew all too well the Beijing housing market in 1998: a typical one-courtyard house in a slightly out-of-the-way location could be bought for 200,000 to 300,000 yuan. Two- or three-courtyard houses in good locations ranged from 500,000 to 2 million yuan.
But Lin Dong wanted a four-courtyard mansion, or even a royal residence, which were rare finds.
"If it's a four-courtyard compound, in a good location, and well-preserved, it's worth at least three to four million RMB. If it's a prince's mansion or a prince's residence..."
He paused for a moment, then said, "It depends on luck. These kinds of properties can't be acquired just by having money; you also have to find the right person and have a good connection with the homeowner."
He spoke the words "find the right person" very softly, but with perfect precision.
Lin Dong understood that someone who could own this type of property was no ordinary person.
If you want to buy, don't go to the real estate agent to negotiate the price; go knock on their door, have a drink of their tea, and make the homeowner feel that you are worthy of this house.
"Keep an eye out for me. It would be great if there's something suitable, but it's okay if not."
Zhang Heping nodded with a smile.
But beneath his smile, a professional sensitivity taut like a taut string—Lin Dong's "It's okay" was just polite talk.
Han Sanping personally arranged for him to receive him and held a gathering at the Great Wall Hotel. He had already explained the whole story very clearly.
Who is Lin Dong? He's a Hong Kong tycoon with a net worth of two billion US dollars. In just a few months, he's invested hundreds of millions in movies in Hong Kong, spending even more than Li Ka-shing.
When this kind of person says "please keep an eye out," it means "it must be done."
He had already marked this matter as top priority in his mind. The first thing he did when he got back to his office was to flip through his phone book and go through all the friends in the Siheyuan community he could find.
Zhang Heping led Lin Dong on a tour of Beijing's old city all day, from Beichizi Street all the way to Jingshan Back Street and then back to Shichahai.
When it was almost time, Zhang Heping saw that the sky was getting dark and then reminded him.
"Mr. Lin, it's almost 6:30. Tonight, Third Master is hosting a welcome dinner for you at the Great Wall Hotel. Directors and other guests from the industry..."
Producers, actors—anyone who can come will come. Shall we turn back now?
"Let's go then. We can go another day."
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