Financial freedom starts with smiling at life

Fu Baoshi's "This Land So Rich in Beauty" is a miniature version of the Great Hall of the People. Jiangbei City spent 60 to 70 million yuan to buy it at the time, and originally intended to hang it as a decoration in the hall of a suburban villa.

Then, with another flourish, he couldn't resist snapping a picture of a masterpiece by the renowned Chinese painter Zhang Daqian.

"Imitation of Wang Ximeng's Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains"

That painting is far too expensive.

It's an astronomical figure in the eyes of ordinary people.

It's now hanging in the living room of a suburban villa as a decorative piece.

Rupert Hoogewerf was not shocked by the paintings, which were worth 60 to 70 million yuan; he had never seen such a high level of wealth.

He simply mentally summarized Mr. Jiang's hobbies: he liked playing with guns, enjoying afternoon tea, and appreciating calligraphy and painting...

These are all materials he uses to make videos.

After entering the hall and taking their seats, Jiang Beicheng called over a tea master to brew tea.

“When I visited Ding Lei’s estate in Beijing last time, he gave me half of a Longjing tea cake,” Jiang Beicheng said. “I haven’t served it to any guests yet.”

"President Jiang, you've gone to great lengths." Rupert Hoogewerf picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"The Longjing tea from the mother tree, worth 500,000 yuan per cake," Jiang Beicheng added.

Rupert Hoogewerf was taken aback.

How should I drink this cup of tea?
I've never had such expensive tea before.

Not only is it expensive, but it's also a special-supply tea, not something that ordinary people, or even ordinary wealthy people, can have access to taste.

Ding Lei of NetEase is worth 200 billion yuan, and his social status in Hangzhou is self-evident; he deserves it.

He hasn't visited the bigwigs of several major internet companies yet.

However, these bigwigs don't seem to like appearing in this way that documents the lives of the wealthy.

I was lucky enough to drink a whole cake of Longjing tea from the mother tree in Jiangbei City, which cost 500,000 yuan.

Seeing that he was being somewhat cautious, Jiang Beicheng joked, "Just treat it as your daily sustenance and tea."

The estate also has Lao Ban Zhang cakes worth 700,000 each.

Rupert Hoogewerf was taken aback again.

Of all the wealthy entrepreneurs I've visited, Mr. Jiang is the most straightforward and honest.

I can't help but think of the entrepreneur I visited last time, Mr. Chen from Libai Group.

I thought the "pin-for-villa" event would end with Mr. Chen, but he taught me a lesson.

In the first three rounds, a ten-yuan phone stand was directly exchanged for a jade stone valued at 500,000 yuan.

When he took 500,000 yuan worth of jade to exchange for a book, Mr. Chen gave him the money instead.

An autobiography.

Rupert Hoogewerf was stunned.

Five hundred thousand for a book?

Perhaps in the eyes of many entrepreneurs, Mr. Chen's experience at Libai Group is worth more than 500,000 yuan.

But in his eyes, it was just a few sheets of paper.

Not only did he lose 500,000 yuan worth of jade, but after the episode aired, this foreigner became a laughing stock online.

Based on our current interactions, Jiang Beicheng is very generous.

They probably won't do that to him.

I wonder what kind of items Mr. Chen can exchange this book for in Jiangbei City?

"Mr. Jiang, may I visit your estate?" Rupert Hoogewerf heard the word "estate" in the Jiangbei dialect.

It is speculated that that place is the true luxury residence in Jiangbei City.

This is just a place to live.

But this residence is already a heavenly palace that countless people cannot reach.

Jiang Beicheng glanced at the time. "OK, after we finish our tea, let's go have dinner."

I had my secretary arrange it.

Rupert Hoogewerf smiled and nodded, continuing to savor the daily tea cake that cost 500,000 yuan.

This cup costs over a thousand yuan.

You should savor it carefully.

I chatted with Jiang Beicheng over tea until the afternoon, and we became more familiar with each other, which made it easier to talk about the next topic.

Because the topic of wealth is very explicit and direct.

First, follow Jiang Beicheng on a business helicopter worth over 100 million yuan to his private estate.

Shortly after the helicopter took off, Rupert Hoogewerf spotted a house built among the mountains.

The view from above is rather blurry; all that can be determined is that the area is quite large.

As the helicopter descended in altitude.

The house is becoming increasingly clear.

Shock slowly crept into Rupert Hoogewerf's eyes.

This is the kind of residence that a wealthy person like Mr. Jiang should have.

It's not just a secluded paradise, but also extremely luxurious. The fact that such a large plot of land was granted speaks volumes about Jiangbei City's status in the area.

The concept of the ultra-rich has been made concrete.

For him, wealth is merely a foundation.

Social status is what makes a rich person proud.

The helicopter landed smoothly.

"President Jiang, welcome home."

The manor's butler, accompanied by several attractive female concierges, arrived at the airport to greet them.

These are basic rules.

The manor not only has concierges, but also a traditional Chinese dance troupe.

The dancers are all graduates of well-known art colleges in China, and some are even dancers from famous dance troupes.

They were willing to come here to serve President Jiang for a simple reason: President Jiang gave them too much.

Jiang Beicheng enjoys appreciating art and occasionally needs an artistic touch when entertaining guests.

Rupert Hoogewerf asked Jiang Beicheng again, "Mr. Jiang, is this... safe to film?"

"up to you."

Jiangbei City still holds the same opinion.

Just like lending this manor to Wu Wen for a banquet, they never worried about being exposed to the public eye.

Rupert Hoogewerf nodded to his team, instructing them to take good notes.

"Mr. Jiang has a special fondness for pine trees. Is it because he admires their qualities?"

Rupert Hoogewerf glanced at the greenery of the estate.

Jiang Beicheng smiled and nodded: "You could say that."

The small town has Japanese white pine, Italian stone pine, and North American yellow pine over there.

Actually, my favorite is the five-needle pine from the Dabie Mountains in our country, but unfortunately, you know how it is.

He shrugged.

Hu Run nodded, understanding Jiang Beicheng's meaning: the five-needle pine of the Dabie Mountains is an endangered species, and its trade is prohibited by law.

Even if Jiang Beicheng has the ability and channels to obtain it, he won't let others have anything to say about it.

However, even a small five-needle pine is a luxury, as the older the tree, the more valuable it is.

Those that are over a hundred years old can fetch prices exceeding one million US dollars.

These two trees, Mr. Jiang's, are estimated to be several decades old, and are certainly worth several million.

Italian stone pine and North American yellow pine are both high-priced species, costing tens of thousands of US dollars or more.

Moreover, the maintenance costs are extremely high.

The cost of importing and transplanting pine trees for this estate alone is estimated to be over 20 to 30 million.

There are also some expensive plants, and the cost of landscaping them must be astronomical.

However, this amount of money is not enough to make people marvel at the wealth of Jiangbei City.

When Rupert Hoogewerf stepped through the gate of the Song family courtyard and entered the living room, he saw the painting by Zhang Daqian.

I was stunned.

This is the replica that was purchased by a mysterious tycoon at Sotheby's auction house in Hong Kong.

That's right.

The painting is titled "Zhang Daqian's Imitation of Wang Ximeng's 'A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains'".

The painting "A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains" is a well-known and priceless treasure throughout history.

The original is now treasured in the Palace Museum, and it is permanently sealed away.

Because it is too precious, it will not be exhibited.

Aside from online information, the only other way to learn about this painting is through the copy of "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" by the master of traditional Chinese painting, Zhang Daqian.

The artistry of this replica is also at its peak.

It is Zhang Daqian's masterpiece.

In the history of calligraphy and painting auctions, only this replica has fetched an astonishing price.

Rupert Hoogewerf recognized the painting and looked at Jiangbei City with a look of surprise and suspicion.

The implication is, are you, the reclusive tycoon in Jiangbei City?
Jiang Beicheng smiled and nodded in response.

Rupert Hoogewerf paused for a moment.

I never expected to see this landscape painting, which sold for HK$3.2 million, in Mr. Jiang's mansion.

Including commission, the painting cost a total of 3.7 million yuan to acquire at the time.

Mr. Jiang is still creating surprises for him.

Before he even had a chance to discuss wealth with President Jiang, the things he saw with his own eyes as soon as he stepped through the door were worth more than a billion yuan.

(End of this chapter)