49 Investment Opportunities

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Xiao Yao's phone chimed. He glanced at the screen—it was a bank notification; payment for all three jadeite pieces had been received.

"Miss Cheng, the money has arrived, so our transaction is now settled," Xiao Yao said. He had taken quite a liking to Miss Cheng and added, "In addition to my extensive collection of jewelry, I also possess a number of fine oil paintings and traditional Chinese paintings. If you ever wish to study or appreciate them, you’re welcome to visit any time."

Though she adored jewelry as any woman might, Cheng Mo was even more passionate about painting and calligraphy. The works of renowned artists through the ages held a particular fascination for her. She was certain that Xiao Yao’s collection would be extraordinary, and regular study would surely enhance her own artistic skills.

Cheng Mo did not turn down Xiao Yao’s kind offer. With a gracious smile, she replied, "Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Xiao. However, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline for now. I’ve already made arrangements to travel out of town for some landscape painting. Once I return, I’ll come by to trouble you for your guidance."

"That’s a pity," Xiao Yao remarked. "I’ll be returning to Hanzhou in a couple of days myself, though I’m not sure when I’ll be back. Next time I come to the capital, I’ll be sure to get in touch with you."

"Let’s keep in touch then. You still have guests, so I won’t take up any more of your time." With that, Cheng Mo rose to take her leave.

"Would you like me to have a couple of security guards escort you?"

"No need, there are two security personnel waiting in the car outside."

Once Cheng Mo had departed, Tang Tianhao grinned mischievously. "Brother Xiao, you really have a way with women. Miss Cheng is not only beautiful, but also quite reserved—she rarely mingles with people in our circles. Plenty of men have tried to pursue her, but none even get the chance. But I can tell she treats you differently. She wasn’t at all distant or aloof; I think she might be interested. You should seize the opportunity."

"Let’s take it slow," Xiao Yao replied. "No need to rush and scare her off." Even after inheriting three thousand years of knowledge and culture from Pan Wu, Xiao Yao was still a man of simple tastes, and his fondness for beautiful women hadn’t changed. He certainly had feelings for a woman as stunning as Cheng Mo. Whatever the outcome, any chance to spend time with such a beauty was bound to lift his spirits.

"That’s true enough. Miss Cheng sets the bar high; it wouldn’t do to come on too strong," Tang Tianhao agreed. Taking the opportunity, he shared a few stories from his own romantic adventures, and the conversation brought the two men closer together.

After some casual chatter, Tang Tianhao apologized, "Brother Xiao, it’ll probably take me at least three to five days to pull together the money. If you need it urgently, I’ll have to ask my father for help."

"I’m not in any hurry," Xiao Yao explained. "I haven’t settled on an investment project yet. My master put all his money in stocks, but I’m still young—I should have my own enterprise. That’s why I wanted to gather some funds first, so I’ll be ready to invest if a good opportunity arises."

"If you settle on a project and the funds aren’t quite enough, you can always borrow from me, or I can help you secure a low-interest loan," Tang Tianhao offered sincerely. "The jadeite pieces you’ve just sold are truly rare; it’s a shame to let them go so easily."

"My master’s only flaw is his stinginess—he never sells his best treasures. The jadeite I sold today isn’t even the finest in my collection. I still have quite a few similar pieces. Although the prices of top-grade jadeite have been rising in recent years, they’re now at their peak. For a major collector like me, it’s the perfect time to sell high," Xiao Yao explained further, hoping to open more channels for selling his collection through Tang Tianhao. "I have too many pieces. I’m not looking to part with them all—just a portion that isn’t quite the best. I’ll keep the true masterpieces, sell the rest, and invest the proceeds elsewhere."

"In that case, if anyone in our circle is looking for top-tier jewelry, I’ll make sure they contact you first. It’s a win-win," said Tang Tianhao.

"We’ll see. Not everyone is fit to own my collection. Only those I deem worthy," Xiao Yao replied. He wasn’t desperate for cash, and the projects he was interested in were still up in the air. Whether or not he sold his treasures would depend entirely on his mood.

"Brother Xiao, aside from jadeite, do you have many top-grade diamonds? Young people these days prefer diamonds," Tang Tianhao asked.

"I collect all kinds of top-tier jewelry and raw materials. And my collection isn’t limited to jewelry—I also have antiques and art from both home and abroad. If I have duplicate pieces, I’d consider selling those, too," Xiao Yao replied. The number of antiques and artworks in the Sacred Soul Ring was beyond counting, and he didn’t want to limit his sales to just jewelry.

Tang Tianhao looked genuinely surprised. "Brother Xiao, this could be a huge help for our circle. Many of our elders are fond of antiques and paintings, each with their own preferences. Genuine masterpieces are nearly all spoken for, and it’s hard to find anything that would satisfy them. Your collection must be full of treasures. I can’t speak for others, but if I ever need something, you mustn’t be stingy with me!"

"Of course. If you need anything, just let me know. I’m sure I can help," Xiao Yao readily agreed.

Eager to strengthen their friendship, Tang Tianhao made himself useful after unloading the truck, volunteering to help Steward Lu sort and catalog the items. He spent the entire morning at it, all for the sake of sharing a meal with Xiao Yao.

After lunch, just before leaving, Tang Tianhao said, "Tianhui Group has quite a few quality investment projects, but I don’t have the final say. I’ll mention it to my father when I get back—we should be able to pick out a few suitable ones. If you’re interested, Brother Xiao, you should consider it."

Getting a stake in one of Tianhui Group’s prime projects was no ordinary opportunity; this was clearly a means for the Tang family to repay a debt of gratitude.

Xiao Yao was no ordinary man, and a truckload of Moutai liquor was hardly sufficient compensation for saving Tang Tianhao’s life. The liquor was simply a pretext to build a closer relationship; the Tang family certainly intended to do more.

Since this was a matter of repaying a favor, it was best to offer something the recipient truly wanted. Now that Tang Tianhao knew Xiao Yao was looking to invest and build his own business, inviting him to take a stake in Tianhui Group’s prime projects was a most fitting gesture.