Chapter 82: Chapter 42: Fortune and Promotion (Part 2)
"What about a Tier Four Sorcerer?" He Kao sounded like a curious child.
Qian Guran: "A Tier Four Cultivator possesses the ability to manipulate artifacts, can wield various magical treasures with limitless transformations, far beyond ordinary people’s comprehension — they truly can be called cultivators."
He Kao: "I’ve read a fantasy novel about wizards. Can I make this comparison: Tier One to Tier Three Sorcerers are equivalent to Level 1 to Level 3 Wizard Apprentices; a Tier Four Sorcerer is a full-fledged wizard..."
Old Qian couldn’t hold it anymore and glared: "Don’t just force comparisons and speak nonsense! A sorcerer is a sorcerer, and techniques are techniques... What are we doing here today?"
This conversation started with the appraisal of the paperweight, leading to so much idle chatter. Nowadays, He Kao instinctively seeks more knowledge about techniques but seldom finds opportunities to discuss it.
Meanwhile, the items taken from the bank were all laid out on the table, yet He Kao strangely felt like avoiding them.
He once desperately wanted to know what his father left behind; after obtaining the items, he felt uneasy and wanted Old Qian to help analyze them. Yet, when it came down to it, he felt timid.
He Kao: "You’ve seen everything, any discoveries? Or could you help me analyze; what is this all about?"
Qian Guran: "No other last words left?"
He Kao: "No, there’s nothing in the safe deposit box. None of our family, including grandparents and Uncle, knew of its existence, let alone its contents.
Especially this house; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been left there, never mentioned. Those two golden paperweights, who knows their origin?"
Qian Guran looked at He Kao, feeling somewhat surprised and deeply moved.
A pair of gold bars plus that property could be worth at least tens of millions, right? If suddenly receiving such a huge inheritance, many people’s reaction would probably be ecstatic?
There are many unfilial descendants in this world, wishing their parents hurry up and die when there’s such an inheritance, especially since Zhou Du has passed away twenty years ago; why not rejoice?
Yet today when He Kao left the bank, there was no joy, only surprise, confusion, and sadness. He eagerly yet fearfully wanted to know — what happened to his father back then.
As a Tier Three Zongheng Scholar, Qian Guran naturally sees that He Kao trusts him, eagerly anticipating him. However, some words should be cautiously spoken, and some truths may not be suitable to share with He Kao.
In fact, seeing the materials made Old Qian regret a recent decision. But it’s not suitable to explain too much. He asked: "What was the relationship between your father and Gu Yunteng?"
He Kao: "I’ve never heard of any relationship between them; my father was involved in construction, even did interior remodeling, so interacting with Bada Group was normal, likely taking projects from them."
Qian Guran said solemnly: "Let me give you advice, make sure to listen closely. This batch of incriminating materials is mostly outdated; even if you reveal them now, it would be difficult to affect Gu Yunteng.
Moreover, there’s no need — it’s just a piece of special history.
Here’s my suggestion: store it back in the bank, preferably at a different branch, without investigating further until you possess sufficient abilities to protect yourself — just consider it unseen..."
He Kao didn’t speak; he simply looked at Qian Guran, in deep thought. Qian Guran sighed again: "Do nothing; I’ll find a way to investigate for you and update you with any findings."
He Kao finally spoke: "I’m very confused now, just hoping you could help analyze the situation?"
Qian Guran: "We can make a hypothesis but only speculative. Excuse any disrespect towards your father. Let’s not discuss the gold bars; your father might have been the Hidden Moth, so notable possessions would be unsurprising.
But he might not be collecting Gu Yunteng’s dirt. Another possibility is that someone else gathered such material, and he helped Gu Yunteng get it back, preventing that person from threatening Gu Yunteng.
Regarding that house, it might just be Gu Yunteng’s reward or compensation, maybe even the gold bars."
He Kao: "But the materials are still in the deposit box; Gu Yunteng hasn’t taken them."
Qian Guran: "It’s common to keep a backup; situations like burning bridges occur. Your father didn’t rush to hand it over... Or maybe he simply didn’t have the chance.
Stored in a bank box, he could retrieve it anytime; he probably never imagined there’d be no such opportunity. There was no last word left for fear of implicating you."
He Kao: "How can we prove your hypothesis?"
Qian Guran: "It’s all ancient history now; your father’s long gone, no need for validation or urgency."
Seeing the look in He Kao’s eyes, Qian ultimately sighed: "If you want clarity, this property registration itself is a clue. Investigate how your father bought it, the payment method.
Cash is unlikely; if it’s a bank transfer, through which account? But many records could be lost over the years.
Another clue is to see if the house is currently empty. If occupied, how did the tenants move in?"
He Kao nodded: "You’re right, these are clues worth investigating."
He then went into his small bedroom, having not brought his laptop home but still having a desktop that offers better search functions than a phone.
He Kao, flustered with concern, wasn’t as meticulous today. But Old Qian gave guidance and he had his preferred method: gathering and analyzing information.
Even after two decades, Guanliu Mansion District remains, searchable for information. Surprisingly, he soon found an important clue.
Many details are publicly available; it’s all about insightful analysis.
Twenty years ago, real estate policies differed greatly from today. Now, many places stipulate principal buildings must be topped-off before sale, whereas back then many projects began presale upon securing land.
However, formal property titles could only be processed after building completion and inspections, often delaying extensively.
Online searches reveal the Guanliu Mansion project’s completion, delivery, and inspection news two weeks before this property title’s formal processing... According to experience, an ordinary buyer’s title wouldn’t be processed this quickly.
This likely indicates the developer processed it early!
Some might not grasp the situation, whereas Old Qian understood the nuance. The real estate market twenty years ago was different — very booming. Developers securing land implied profits, with surging property prices over the next fifteen years.
A simple PR tactic of developers was giving away houses, usually not directly to significant figures but designated recipients, potentially indirect relatives.
Zhou Du couldn’t quite be such a person, or there might’ve been hidden matters beyond He Kao’s knowledge. This suggests Old Qian’s earlier judgment might be correct: Gu Yunteng used this house to buy off Zhou Du or as compensation.
Seeing He Kao frowning silently at the computer, Old Qian comfortally patted his shoulder: "Don’t overthink. There’s another possibility.
Your father worked in engineering, sometimes developers offset payment by direct house allocation."
He Kao: "Poorly-sold houses are dealt with this way, right... Even then, why wasn’t it taken home?"
At this moment, knocking echoed outside as Huang Xiaopang shouted: "He Kao, when did you get home, not telling us... hurry and open the door!"
They stepped out, Qian rapidly stashing the materials and advised He Kao: "If anyone asks what’s in the box, firmly declare it’s gold bars and a property title, never mention the materials.
Not out of distrust but keeping others from being implicated..."
Opening the courtyard gate, Huang Xiaopang widened his eyes: "President Qian, why did you come here? You left early this afternoon; President E planned a farewell banquet on October 7th to celebrate your promotion to Vice President."
Now it was He Kao’s turn to be astonished: "What, Old Qian promoted to Vice President, since when?"
Huang Xiaopang: "Announced this afternoon while you were away. Old Qian said he had matters so left early. Now Old Qian is no longer the Old Qian of the morning but Vice President of Qi Yuan Branch — President Qian!"
**