Gao Xinhua perhaps had a few drinks, laughed and said, "Alright! I’ll go back and ask our Xiaobai."
Xu Jiaxuan said, "Better not ask, Xiaobai is such an outstanding girl, I know what my son is like, how could he be good enough for her."
Initially, Xu Jiaxuan was being modest, but Xu Chunliang found it a bit hard on the ears, feeling his old man was out of touch, and interjected, "Then why don’t you tell what I’m like?"
The scene instantly fell silent, Xu Jiaxuan chuckled and said, "Adults drinking is none of a kid’s business." He felt a bit uneasy, worried his son would embarrass him in public, but fortunately Xu Chunliang didn’t press further.
Xu Jiawen knew the father-son relationship wasn’t that harmonious, quickly tried to smooth things over, and changed the topic: "Chunliang, I heard from your sister that you’re going to college?"
Xu Chunliang nodded to indicate it was true.
Xu Changshan couldn’t help but ask, "College? Taking a break from work?"
Xu Chunliang laughed, "Not full-ti, to put it bluntly, it’s just paying for a state-recognized degree."
Xu Jiaxuan finally found an opportunity to appease his son: "Young people aspiring to improve themselves is a good thing, don’t worry about money, dad’s got the tuition covered!"
"Are you very rich?" Xu Chunliang asked deliberately.
Xu Jiaxuan laughed, "Not necessarily very rich, but isn’t it a parent’s duty to afford their child’s education? I even plan to buy you a house when I co back this ti, for you to use when you get married in the future." Xu Jiaxuan’s intent to appease his son was apparent to everyone.
Hua Zhuyue said, "Dongzhou’s housing prices have also gone up these past two years."
Xu Jiaxuan thought to himself, is this my future daughter-in-law? She seems quite wealthy, saying that as if hinting to , Xu Jiaxuan said, "Can housing prices be higher than in Manhattan? Chunliang, tell where you like, and I’ll buy it for you."
Xu Chunliang felt he was exaggerating a bit, so he posed a challenge. However, he seldom paid attention to the real estate market and didn’t know where in Dongzhou was the most expensive. He glanced at Lu Qi, "Brother Lu, haven’t you been looking at houses recently? Where’s nice?"
Lu Qi laughed, "I’m not like you, my dad only covers the down paynt, uncle pays in full."
Xu Jiaxuan nodded, "Naturally, it’s in full."
Gao Xinhua and Zheng Peian didn’t know much about Xu Jiaxuan’s current situation, how he was doing abroad. Dongzhou’s housing prices varied widely too, a good house could cost 30,000 per square ter, a regular condominium could be three or four million in total, and a good villa could exceed ten million. Neither wanted to join these young folks in pushing Xu Jiaxuan off a cliff, really setting him up and making it hard for him to step down later.
Hua Zhuyue, enjoying the spectacle, said, "Uncle Xu, do you want a condominium or a villa?"
Before Xu Jiaxuan could answer, Xu Chunliang said, "Of course a villa, my grandpa loves gardening and fishkeeping, he needs a yard."
Gao Xinhua sighed inwardly, today’s sons and daughters are really tough on their parents, as he watched, he thought of his own daughter, Gao Xiaobai. If she decided to buy a house in the Capital City, what then? They would have to sell everything to afford the down paynt, but from Xu Chunliang’s comnt, it showed the child was filial, first thinking of his grandfather.
Hua Zhuyue said, "Hidden Lake Villa is not bad."
Yu Li said, "That’s a luxury villa in our Dongzhou, more than 30,000 per square ter, no single villa is less than ten million."
Everyone’s eyes turned to Xu Jiaxuan. Xu Jiaxuan took a sip of his drink, "Dongzhou’s housing prices have also beco this steep?"
Xu Jiawen felt embarrassed for his older brother, having boasted earlier and now unable to follow through.
Despite everything, Xu Changshan felt for his son, laughed and said, "What’s with Hidden Lake Villa, spending ten million to buy a pile of cent bricks? I think a three-bedroom, one-living room would be fine."
Xu Jiaxuan said, "Buy it! Tomorrow we will go look at houses, as long as Chunliang likes it, we’ll settle it imdiately."
Even Xu Chunliang was starting to doubt. Could this father, who abandoned his wife and child, actually be a wealthy magnate?
Hua Zhuyue said, "I have so connections with those developers. If you decide to buy it, I can give their boss a call, the discount would definitely be the lowest."
Yu Li’s eyes were shining, truth be told, she also had her eye on the Hidden Lake Villa houses, though not the villas, the condominium area there was also 27,000 to 28,000 per square ter, costing at least three million per unit.
As the banquet ended, Hua Zhuyue had a driver co over to send people. She was very considerate, ensuring Xu Chunliang didn’t have to worry, and she would safely escort all the guests ho.
The father and son Xu Chunliang stood at the door seeing people off. After the guests left, Xu Jiaxuan said, "Your girlfriend’s not bad."
Xu Chunliang glanced at him, "What are you thinking, we’re just ordinary friends."
Xu Jiaxuan laughed, "Between n and won, where are there just ordinary friends."
Xu Chunliang said, "I think your thoughts are not very healthy, corrupt by Western capitalism."
Xu Jiaxuan said, "Chunliang, about the house..."
Xu Chunliang said, "Just talk about it, don’t force yourself. I don’t take it seriously, I can buy it myself."
"I an the house is decided, tomorrow morning we will go see houses."
Xu Chunliang looked at him in surprise, "I said, stop putting on a brave face, it’s more than ten million."
Xu Jiaxuan said, "I’ve planned it a long ti ago. Even if you’re buying a house in the Capital City, I will arrange it for you. Over the years, I owe you and your grandpa too much." He reached out, wanting to put his arms around his son’s shoulders.
Having seen through his intention, Xu Chunliang avoided it in advance, "Old Xu, you’ve had too much to drink, better go back and have so sobering soup."
"I’m not drunk!"
Xu Changshan handed the hangover soup he made himself to Xu Jiaxuan. Xu Jiaxuan received it with both hands, "Thank you, Dad!"
Xu Changshan said, "There’s no need for such formalities between father and son."
Xu Jiaxuan took a sip of the hangover soup and smiled at his father, who was noticeably aged.
"How are things over there?"
Xu Jiaxuan nodded.
"How old is my granddaughter?" Xu Changshan had never seen the daughter born after Xu Jiaxuan’s remarriage.
Xu Jiaxuan replied, "You an Fanny, she’s sixteen now."
Xu Changshan said, "If there’s a chance, bring her back to visit. After all, she has half of our Chinese blood in her."
Since Xu Jiaxuan remarried, he hadn’t brought his wife and child back, so that’s why Xu Changshan said this. His mixed-race granddaughter was soone he had only seen in videos.
Xu Jiaxuan said, "Okay."
Xu Changshan had long stopped hoping, seeing it as a polite perfunctory response. He took out a cigarette, lit it, took a puff, and said, "You don’t have to worry about the house. It’s not easy for you working alone out there. The living expenses you’ve sent all these years, I’ve saved them up, and together with the compensation money from the demolition, it’s enough to buy Chunliang a house."
Xu Jiaxuan said, "Dad, my financial situation is fine. I can afford it, you don’t need to worry about ."
"Go to bed early. Chunliang is sensible. Now that you’re back, spend more ti with him." He got up and went back to his room.
Xu Jiawen poured a cup of tea and brought it over. Xu Jiaxuan laughed, "Coming ho and being cared for like a child!"
Xu Jiawen said, "Dad cares about you the most."
Xu Jiaxuan said, "In his heart, we’re all the sa."
Xu Jiawen sat down beside him and laughed, "Brother, why has it taken you so long to co back?"
Xu Jiaxuan was silent for a while, then said, "Maybe I just didn’t want to face it here."
Xu Jiawen said, "I don’t know why, but I’ve been feeling hosick recently. Even without Dad’s situation, I was planning to co back this month."
Xu Jiaxuan already knew about her divorce, "Did you tell Dad about your situation?"
Xu Jiawen shook her head, "I didn’t say it directly, but I feel like he might have guessed it."
Xu Jiaxuan said, "Thinking about us three, we’re really unfilial, still making Dad worry when we’re this old."
Xu Jiawen said, "I often think, thank goodness Chunliang stayed by Dad’s side. In the past, I worried about Dad managing Huichun Hall and taking care of him, but now I realize he’s quite capable."
Xu Jiaxuan said, "I don’t know anything about him, I..." paused for a mont and then said, "Don’t laugh at , but I’m a bit afraid of him."
Xu Jiawen laughed, "Although I haven’t spent much ti with Chunliang, among the siblings, I think he might be the most capable. Last ti when we returned, Zhen Chun encountered so trouble, and it was Chunliang who solved it. Since then, Zhen Chun practically worships him. When she heard I was coming back, she insisted on coming too. If she didn’t have school, she probably would have co along."
Xu Jiaxuan didn’t know about this, so Xu Jiawen briefly explained it.
When Xu Jiaxuan went to his room to rest, it was already midnight. He saw his son sleeping on the sofa bed, leaving the big bed for him. He felt a little touched, standing quietly by the sofa bed, looking at his son.
Suddenly, Xu Chunliang opened his eyes, startling Xu Jiaxuan.
Xu Chunliang said, "What are you doing up in the middle of the night?"
Xu Jiaxuan said, "I was looking at you."
"Did you drink too much? Go to sleep!"
Xu Jiaxuan said, "I’ll go to sleep now." As he lay down, he realized, hey, I’m the dad here! Why is he lecturing ?
The next morning, under Xu Jiaxuan’s insistence, the family still went to Hidden Lake Villa to look at houses. When they arrived at the sales office, they ran into Ding Si, who was there to settle project paynt. Ding Si was very enthusiastic upon seeing Xu Chunliang, and when he heard they were there to buy a house, he offered to help find connections for a discount.
Ding Si was familiar with the quality of the houses in this developnt, and tagging along made looking at the houses easier.
Xu Changshan took a liking to a stack. The community had single houses, semi-detached, townhouses, and stacked houses. The stacked villas were the cheapest, and Xu Changshan still wanted to save money for his son.
Xu Jiaxuan believed that stacked houses were not real villas, at least a townhouse should be bought. Townhouses in North Arica are just row houses, which are common people’s hos.
Considering that the old man didn’t want the house to be too large while wanting a big yard, they finally chose a corner unit townhouse with a building area of three hundred. The total price was over nine million.
Xu Jiaxuan was satisfied with the location and layout of this unit and decided to purchase it.
Xu Chunliang noticed his father didn’t even raise an eyebrow at the house costing over nine million, now he believed this old man did have so money.
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