Back to 2008: I Helped My Dad Become the Richest Man

After successfully persuading her father, Luo Xiyuan's investment plan could officially begin.

Luo Xiyuan didn't immediately have her father open a stock account. She knew that things had to be done step by step; too much at once was too risky. Asking a pig farmer to immediately embrace something as trendy as stock trading was too risky.

Luo Xiyuan needed a transition period. It was an investment that her family could see and touch.

This investment product is a house.

In 2009, amid the aftermath of the global financial crisis, China introduced a series of policies to stimulate the economy. Among them, the four trillion yuan investment plan had a far-reaching impact. A large amount of funds poured into the market, a significant portion of which flowed into the real estate sector.

Luo Xiyuan clearly remembers that starting in the second half of 2009, housing prices across the country began a sustained rise that lasted for several years. This upward trend continued for nearly a decade.

Now is the perfect time to buy at the bottom.

That evening, after dinner, Luo Xiyuan gathered her family together again.

When Luo Xinde and Li Minxia saw their daughter's demeanor, their hearts sank. Li Minxia, ​​in particular, dreaded family meetings. Each meeting meant another large expense for the family.

"Xiyuan, what...what are you thinking now?" Li Minxia asked tentatively.

"Mom, it's good news." Luo Xiyuan smiled and reassured her mother, "Dad and I discussed it, and we're planning to buy a house in the county town."

"Buy a house?" Li Minxia was stunned. She glanced at her husband beside her. Luo Xinde just smoked and didn't say anything. Li Minxia knew that the father and daughter must have discussed it behind her back again.

"Why buy a house?!" Li Minxia raised her voice, leaning forward slightly. "We just moved into our new building; it's spacious and bright, and we're living perfectly well. Why do we need to buy a house in the county town? That would cost so much money! Besides, we don't have anyone in the county town; who would live there?"

"Mom, please sit down and let me explain." Luo Xiyuan pulled her mother to sit down. "I'm telling you, the main reason we bought the house is for my brother and me to go to school."

"go to school?"

"Yes." Luo Xiyuan nodded. "I'm in my final year of junior high now, and I'll be taking the high school entrance exam next year. My younger brother is in fourth grade, and he'll be transitioning to junior high in a couple of years. You know how the teaching quality is in our village's junior high and elementary school. I want to get into the county's top high school, and I also want my brother to be able to attend a top-ranked junior high in the county. But according to the current policy, we have rural household registration, and it's not cost-effective for us to go to school in the county and pay those exorbitant transfer fees. If we buy our own house in the county and transfer our household registration there, then it will be perfectly legitimate."

"Exam for the county's No. 1 High School?" Upon hearing this, Luo Xinde's fingers, which were holding a cigarette, suddenly stopped, and his gaze fixed on him.

The county's No. 1 High School is the top high school in the county, producing several students who are admitted to top universities every year. For decades, no one from Luo Family Village has ever been admitted to the county's No. 1 High School. If their daughter could get in, it would be a great honor for the entire family.

"Xiyuan, are you confident you can get into the county's No. 1 High School?" Luo Xinde leaned forward and asked in a trembling voice.

"As long as I work hard, there shouldn't be any problem." Luo Xiyuan raised her chin, her tone confident. Although Luo Xiyuan's family had fallen on hard times in her previous life, her academic performance had always been among the top in her grade, so getting into the county's top high school was a sure thing.

Upon hearing that it was for the child's schooling, Li Minxia's straight back relaxed slightly, and the resistance on her face lessened considerably.

Parents are willing to sell their possessions to get their children into a good school.

"But... how much is the tuition fee for transferring to another school?" Li Minxia rubbed the corner of her clothes and asked in a low voice.

"I've inquired about it," Luo Xiyuan said. "The tuition for one student attending a secondary school can be several thousand yuan a year. My brother and I will spend tens of thousands of yuan from junior high to high school. Not only that, but even if we pay the tuition, we're not guaranteed to get into the top classes. If we buy a house and become residents of the county, we won't have to pay the tuition and can still enjoy high-quality educational resources. Mom, do the math."

Li Minxia silently did the math in her mind. The tens of thousands of yuan in tuition fees were enough for a down payment. And with the house in her possession, its value would appreciate in the future.

"Moreover," Luo Xiyuan continued, "we've bought a house, so you and Dad can stay in the county town more often. Our shop and factory are on track now, so we don't have to keep an eye on them every day. You should enjoy yourselves. The county town is lively, with parks and shopping malls; it's much more interesting than our village."

These words, when they reached Li Minxia's ears, made the mother's eyes light up with anticipation. Li Minxia had never left the countryside in her life and had long harbored some curiosity about life in the city.

"Then...how much does a house in the county town cost?" Li Minxia asked softly.

"I've inquired," Luo Xinde finally spoke up, repeating exactly what his daughter had taught him. "The housing prices in the county town aren't outrageous yet. Old houses in the town center are about 2,000 yuan per square meter. The new development zone on the east side of the town looks a bit desolate now, but I heard the county government will move there in the future, and schools and even a hospital are planned for the area. Houses there are only 1,500 yuan per square meter now. If we buy a 100-square-meter apartment, it'll only cost 150,000 to 160,000 yuan. With a 30% down payment, 50,000 yuan will be enough."

"150,000 or 160,000?" Li Minxia frowned slightly and tapped her leg twice with her fingers.

"Mom, don't be fooled by the current price of 150,000 or 160,000. Let me tell you, this house is bound to appreciate in value!" Luo Xiyuan said firmly. "Think about it, everything is developing now, and there are more and more people in the city. Houses will become increasingly sought after. If we buy now, this house might be worth 300,000 in a few years! Buying it is a sure-fire investment!"

Li Minxia was now very familiar with the word "investment." She knew that the investments her daughter talked about would eventually turn into real money.

"Well... alright then." Li Minxia finally relented. "You two have already discussed it and come to a decision, so what else can I say? We'll do as you say."

"Great!" Rowan jumped up high, waving his arms and shouting, "We're going to live in an apartment building in the city too!"

Master Liu remained silent throughout. He looked at Luo Xiyuan and nodded slightly. Master Liu could see that this girl's vision had expanded beyond just raising pigs and selling meat. Luo Xiyuan had a much longer-term plan.

After finalizing the company-plus-farmer model and building a food factory, the Luo family naturally decided to purchase real estate.

The next day, Luo Xinde drove his family straight into the county town.

This was the first time Li Minxia and Luo Wen had officially visited the county town. Looking at the crisscrossing roads and shops on both sides of the street, the mother and son pressed their faces against the car window and looked around.

"The city is so nice, the roads are so smooth," Li Minxia exclaimed, looking outside.

Luo Wen pointed to the fried chicken shop sign outside and swallowed hard. "Sis! Look! Can we go eat there later?"

"Sure! After we finish our business, I'll take you out for a good meal!" Luo Xiyuan replied with a smile.

Following Luo Xiyuan's plan, the family first went to the newly developed area in the east of the city.

Just as Luo Xinde described, the area was dotted with construction sites and newly built buildings. The roads were relatively empty with few vehicles.

"This place...isn't it a bit remote?" Li Minxia looked out the window, somewhat worried. "Is it safe to go out at night?"

"Mom, look over there." Luo Xiyuan pointed to a construction site fenced off in the distance. "That's where the county government building is under construction. Once the new building is completed, the corresponding supporting facilities, such as schools and hospitals, will be built one after another. Then this will be a bustling area of ​​the county town. If we buy now, the cost will be very low."

The family entered the sales office of a real estate development called Sunshine Waterfront.

The sales office was bright and spacious, with a large model displayed in the center. Several salespeople in professional attire were introducing the property to a few scattered customers.

A young salesperson greeted the Luo family with a forced smile as they entered. He glanced at Luo Xinde and Li Minxia, ​​their shoes covered in mud and their simple clothing, before looking away. In his opinion, these people were probably just there to look around and had no intention of actually buying a house.

"Hello everyone, feel free to browse." The salesperson greeted them casually, then turned and stepped aside without saying anything more.

Luo Xinde frowned at the other party's attitude, but did not retaliate.

The family gathered around the model to look at it.

"Look, gentlemen, our community is located near the county's wetland park to the south, and the green area is quite impressive," another salesperson explained to a well-dressed couple.

Luo Xiyuan's gaze fell on a building at the edge of the model. The building faced the main gate of the residential area and was in a rather ordinary location, but a few small words were marked on the side of the building: "Community Kindergarten" and "Planned Nine-Year Compulsory Education School".

Luo Xiyuan nodded to herself, having made up her mind.