Chapter 191: Mr. Zhou, My Fault, All My Fault
Zhou You’s group went from the first floor up to the fourth, where they found seats and sat down. The first and second floors were mainly for reception. The third floor was mostly showrooms, adapted from the community’s unit layouts, with four model units built. The fourth floor was a bit more private, with several offices and a small meeting room. Everything was basically already renovated and ready to use. Aside from the first floor, where they’d need to tear out unnecessary stuff, the third and fourth floors were just right. The third floor could serve as employee dormitories—being showrooms, it saved time and effort, sparing them from having to move.
The more Zhou You looked, the more satisfied he became. He said to Manager Zhao, “Alright, give me a rough price. How much?”
Seeing Zhou You’s attitude, Manager Zhao knew the deal was eight-tenths done; it all came down to the negotiation now. “Mr. Zhou, our total area is 5,000 square meters, and it’s already renovated. Based on market rates, that’s 30 million,” Manager Zhao said to Zhou You. The higher the total price, the bigger his commission. Headquarters had already given him a floor price, so anything he negotiated above that was his to keep.
Zhou You’s face immediately darkened. He stood up and started to leave. Sure, 6,000 per square meter wasn’t expensive, but that wasn’t how you calculated it. Retail and wholesale couldn’t be the same price. Besides, this building’s practicality was too limited. If it were street-front shops, you couldn’t get them for under 10,000 per square meter. He wasn’t dead set on this place; he just wanted convenience. They were treating him like a sucker to be fleeced. If he wanted safety, he could buy several more units in the neighboring community for them to live in—wouldn’t that be better? Asking for 30 million—30 million was enough to buy him 40 units next door, almost six buildings, nearly half a neighborhood. Why would he buy this junk?
This time, Zhou You was genuinely pissed off. Li Houliang also stood up and followed behind Zhou You. Manager Zhao was dumbfounded, feeling like he’d overplayed his hand. From their previous interactions, he’d thought Zhou You wasn’t like this—pretty easygoing, generous when buying villas and houses. Now this reaction was hard to swallow. How could he just lose his temper like that? He quickly stood up to grab Zhou You, but Li Houliang blocked him with an outstretched arm.
Manager Zhao froze. It took him a moment to realize: he’d initially thought Li Houliang was Zhou You’s friend tagging along, but from the way he moved, it clicked—he was a bodyguard. Damn, were rich people this low-key these days? Anyone who could afford a bodyguard wasn’t an easy mark. He couldn’t get past him, and seeing Zhou You already at the elevator, he shouted, “Mr. Zhou, Mr. Zhou, I was wrong, I was wrong! There’s more I didn’t finish. That was the market price. Headquarters’ bottom line is 23 million. If you pay in full upfront, we can do even better.”
Only then did Zhou You stop and turn around with a smile. “Manager Zhao, do I look like a sucker to you?”
Manager Zhao’s face went pale. “Mr. Zhou, my fault, all my fault. I shouldn’t have paused like that. It’s a sales habit—building up suspense before the reveal. I didn’t expect to start too high!”
Zhou You walked back slowly, still smiling. “In sales, you have to tailor your approach to the customer. Different customers, different strategies. Using that tactic on me—guess that’s my fault.”
Manager Zhao couldn’t help but grumble internally: *Isn’t it your fault? Coming so many times, being so low-key, giving me the wrong impression. What era is this, still playing the wolf in sheep’s clothing? That’s not how you show off.* But what could he do? The other guy was the boss, and he still wanted to close this deal. Making money—nothing shameful about it! Knowing when to bow your head and when to back down—that was a salesperson’s basic rule. “Ah, I was blind. Rest assured, I’ll give you the best deal now. If I can’t swing it, I’ll report to headquarters.”
Zhou You did have other ideas, or he wouldn’t have put on this act. “23 million is still too high. You know the nature of this land and its location—it’s awkward, with very limited use. Too small for a commercial complex, can’t be street-front shops. Small companies can’t afford it, big ones don’t want it. You’ve probably contacted plenty of buyers already, but no one’s biting. I’m not buying it for profit either. It’s mainly because it’s close to home—I want a leisure and entertainment spot for my own use.”
Hearing this, Manager Zhao was stunned. Spending tens of millions on a place just to play around? He’d heard of people spending tens of millions on planes, sports teams, or yachts, but this was the first time he’d heard of someone dropping tens of millions just to have a spot near home for fun. He could only say he didn’t understand the rich. Now he realized why Zhou You wanted this building—and that he wasn’t desperate for it. So he couldn’t screw this up.
Seeing Manager Zhao standing there in a daze, Zhou You asked, “When does your sales office close out? How many units are left unsold?”
Manager Zhao snapped out of it and quickly replied, “About a dozen or so. We should wrap up this month, and then we can hand over.”
“Here’s the deal: sell me those dozen or so units as a package. Clear them out as soon as possible,” Zhou You said, thinking he’d buy them all up and hold onto a dozen or so. He could use them later as rewards or to win people over. That’s how it’s always been, from ancient times to now. Bestowing titles, marrying off daughters, granting rewards—all to build a community of shared interests, to secure one’s position and benefits. A lone wolf couldn’t go far. Why do people work? To make money. Why do people go into the underworld? Also to make money. Whether on the straight or crooked path, everyone’s starting point was the same. There was a book, *The Law of Blood Payment*, that put it well: life has a price; it just depends on whether the offer’s high enough. Throughout history, rebels, bandits, thieves, and other trades all followed this rule. Winners are kings, losers are villains—that was never an empty saying. It was the price of life.
Manager Zhao felt like his heart couldn’t take much more today—it was working overtime nonstop. First from fear, now from joy. This was what they meant by fortune and misfortune intertwined! “No problem, Mr. Zhou. I’ll apply for the maximum discount from headquarters right now. I’ll make sure you’re satisfied, absolutely!” Manager Zhao said firmly. After all, for those last few units, with all the manpower costs involved, the sooner they sold, the better—a bulk clearance.
Once Manager Zhao left, Zhou You asked Li Houliang, “Brother Liang, when are you planning to get married?”
“Probably around National Day, but it’s not set in stone yet,” Li Houliang said, a bit embarrassed. “It was thanks to the money you gave me, bro, that I bought the house and the car. I worked for years, but all my money went into the sanda gym, and it never turned a profit.” He was being honest.
Zhou You chuckled. “That’s nothing. The good times are still ahead!”
Li Houliang smiled and nodded. “Yeah, now the brothers are following you, bro, and we’ve all got a bright future.”
“On your wedding day, I’ll give you a big gift,” Zhou You said lazily, leaning back on the sofa with his eyes closed.