Chapter 160 New Year’s Gift
"This one won't do. Self-built houses in rural areas outside the Fourth Ring Road are not called Siheyuan... This one is even worse. It has five courtyards and is 3,000 square meters. It takes less than five minutes to walk around the garden..."

Ten thousand meters above the sky, Xie Jingxing was lying on the soft big bed, choosing and selecting things on the TV screen.

With the help of money, the narrow-body Gulfstream 650 was barely converted into a separate bedroom with a double bed and shower, and additional sound insulation was installed.

It has a bar and meeting rooms, and although small it has everything, it has everything.

Later, the ejection escape function and anti-missile system can be modified under the bed, but the modification time will be a bit troublesome.

From Beijing to Hong Kong Island, Song Anli performed the role of an assistant and consecrated this mattress and won the first kill.

The plane had flown tens of thousands of kilometers in the past few days, and she and Xie Jingxing had also sweated in every corner of the plane, consuming tens of thousands of calories.

At this moment, she is wearing a suit and a pair of black-framed glasses, standing next to the screen with a remote control pen in her hand, constantly flipping through the pages of the courtyard house floor plan, which is very consistent with the image of a sales virgin.

If he wasn't about to go to New York, Xie Jingxing would have wanted to say something similar to Huangmao - Ms. Song, you don't want to be fired for not meeting your performance standards, do you?

There are still ten days before the Chinese New Year, so I booked a courtyard house in advance as a New Year gift for Yu Tong, which saves me both trouble and effort.

Zhou Fenglan doesn't need to worry about it, just give her a few barrels of wine.

The habit they developed since the year they first met was that Mr. Xie first gave his wife two-year-old Maotai, and later he changed to giving her sealed jars of rice wine brewed that year.

After she went to college, Xie Jingxing took over and sent her whole oak barrels of famous Bordeaux red wine. Last year, it was aged whiskey. Their relationship kept changing but they could not avoid wine.

"Okay, this is it."

Xie Jingxing, who was the tallest among the short ones, reluctantly picked out a courtyard house. He roughly checked the transaction authorization contract and found no problems. Yu Tong could just sign it and go back to China to handle the formalities.

Song Anli reminded inexplicably: "The total price of this courtyard house plus taxes and fees is 6.2 million."

"First, use the profit from the secondary market of grapefruit to pay." Xie Jingxing didn't care.

The return on investment of A-shares of Xiyou Capital in 13 finally reached 150%. Securities investment manager Wang Xueqing got his wish and was able to use his year-end bonus to pay off his mortgage in one lump sum.

After paying off the investments borrowed or raised from his good brother Yan Wenhua and others, he personally earned nearly 11 billion yuan in net profit, more than enough to buy a courtyard house.

After the Lunar New Year, when he gets his annual salary dividend from Taihe Pomelo, as well as various dividends and festival income that come from nowhere but gives him a headache, it should be enough to make up the funds.

After distinguishing between public and private accounts, he now has considerable personal income, so it will be necessary for him to operate independently in the future.

For example, this 11 billion investment in the secondary market will be used for high-leverage and violent short-term trading after the new year. Asset allocation work cannot stop and must always be dynamic.

"So will the acquisition of Madison Square Garden Sports (MSGS) be paid through Taihe?"

Song Anli reminded again that this was also his personal investment.

Xie Jingxing frowned and followed the bulk stock transaction process to acquire 3% of MSGS's equity, with a valuation of US$25 billion based on the negotiated wholesale price, with a maximum of US$3000 million.

After the transaction, the equity pledge loan was cashed out, and after a discount, the actual amount of funds paid was only US$3000 million, which of course was transferred from Taihe’s Singapore office.

Seeing Song Anli's serious expression as she waited for an answer, he waved and said, "Come here."

"what happened?"

"Put your hair up, turn your back to me, and go to the window."

"Student Song, let me ask you today, what is the difference between the height here and the height of the Ritz-Carlton Suite on the Bund?"

…………

It turns out that strenuous exercise above 10,000 meters can easily cause fear of heights. Song Anli got airsick and vomited all over the bed sheets.

Xie Jingxing remained calm and didn't vomit until the plane landed at the airport. He rarely showed strong self-control and held it in.

Song Anli felt more and more sad. After taking a shower, she showed up without even lipstick on. Her face was pale and she forced a smile, saying that she was feeling a little unwell.

Xie Jingxing knew very well that she was really feeling unwell, so he asked Li Yan to take her to the hotel to rest first, and then he went to visit Professor Joseph's home alone with bags of local specialties.

Golf clubs, two boxes of black tea, an Hermès scarf...

From the teacher and his wife to their son and his wife and even grandchildren, the full set of gifts prepared by Song Anli won him a warm welcome from the whole family.

"You're here too early. The minority shareholder of MSGS is still on Christmas vacation in Africa. If you're not in a hurry, you can wait until he comes back before making the formal transaction."

After lunch, the master and the apprentice went to the study to discuss business. Professor Joseph suggested, "He will hold a transaction party and introduce you to some friends."

“Maybe I won’t have time until Grapefruit America launches its second fund raising in May.”

Xie Jingxing thought for a while and said that there was a very impressive project in the United States in May waiting for him to lead personally.

"why not?"

Professor Joseph raised his eyebrows: "Wall Street bankers will grow old, but their US dollars will not decay. Grapefruit America needs to raise a fund on Wall Street. Investing in MSGS is a good fundraising and marketing opportunity."

"Of course, that's exactly what I want." Xie Jingxing agreed after careful consideration.

Professor Joseph nodded with satisfaction and emphasized: "You are a Columbia College kid. Wall Street likes you more than Silicon Valley."

"Venture capital in Silicon Valley, listing on Wall Street, to be honest, there is no difference between them in our hearts." Xie Jingxing shrugged to express his attitude.

Professor Joseph did not comment. He said that he was closer to the government in the academic circle and had nothing to do with the conflicts between the East and West Coast consortiums.

In the future, as Xiyou gradually expands his network of interests in the United States, someone will come to his good apprentice to lobby him. Today, he is just trying to pave the way for his friend out of help.

For the working poor who wash dishes, whether they are yellow monkeys, niggers or white pigs, America is the brightest beacon of human civilization.

As for Xie Jingxing, if he wants to realize the American dream here, he must choose to dance with the wolves or pee with the hyenas among the wild beasts.

There is no way to avoid it, the fundraising for Grapefruit’s second US fund is considered a preliminary interview.

"How much money are you considering raising?" Professor Joseph took out a cigar and cut it open to light it.

Xie Jingxing waved his hand to indicate that he would not draw: "The more the better, the expected amount is 5 million US dollars. The Chinese market will usher in a relatively large upward cycle this year."

"I watched the video of your lecture with Jim Goetz at a certain university. It is similar to the mainstream view on Wall Street. The détente period of Sino-US international relations is still continuing."

Professor Joseph puffed out praises, "The WhatsApp acquisition case has a symbolic significance, and I heard that many heavyweight Chinese companies will come to the United States to go public this year, and capital is willing to invest in you."

"I hope so, but compared to the issue of fundraising, I would like to hear you talk about virtual currency now." Xie Jingxing brought up the old matter again.

This year, more than a dozen Internet companies including Alibaba, JD.com, and Weibo have listed on the US stock market. US dollar capital is almost driven crazy by the stimulus, and it is foreseeable that there will be no problems in fundraising.

On the other hand, the founder of the dark web in the virtual currency market was arrested a few years ago, and the price of Bitcoin soared to a record high of $1238.

Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. In December, relevant domestic departments jointly issued a document denying the currency attributes of Bitcoin.

Having lost the support of the domestic market, the price of Bitcoin immediately turned downward and began to plummet.

That’s not all. The next month, the largest trading platform ‘MT.Gox’, which accounts for 70% of the Bitcoin trading market, was hacked and a total of 65 Bitcoins of its customers disappeared.

Where the hell did our money go?! ——Just as customers were blocking the company’s door with banners in protest, MT.Gox simply deleted the database and ran away, filing for bankruptcy protection in Neon Tokyo.

After this incident, the Bitcoin market went into a downturn in 2014. It is a perfect time to invest in bargain hunting and establish a virtual currency trading platform.

"I don't know how you plan to start and what you want to do?" Professor Joseph did not refuse decisively this time.

Xie Jingxing was well prepared: "Invest in a virtual currency trading platform, and then try to promote the improvement of relevant policies and regulations. I really want to do something for American finance."

"Are you serious?" Professor Joseph's face wrinkled.

"Of course! Like you said, I'm a Columbia College kid, and I love Wall Street."

Xie Jingxing's eyes revealed the persistence of an idealist, and he said firmly: "A hundred years ago, Mr. Morgan took on the responsibility of this country's central bank as an individual. A hundred years later, I hope to have the honor of repeating such a feat."

"…This joke is not funny at all." Professor Joseph shook his head seriously.

Xie Jingxing laughed and said, “I know this is difficult, so let’s start with a small first step. I would be very grateful if you could write an article about the moral risk of Bitcoin.”

The future of virtual currency is not in ten or twenty years. It will not change due to technological development, but the nature of currency. Perhaps it will require a war or a change in social form in some sense.

He couldn't do much, so he might as well try to build rules for a wild market that would reach a trillion-dollar scale in a decade.

…………

Xie Jingxing left Professor Joseph's house and headed to his residence in Midtown.

Columbia University had just started its semester this month and Zhou Fenglan was busy working at school. I waited in the apartment lobby for a long time before she came back.

"The New Year's gift I brought for you is not easy to deliver to school." Xie Jingxing's opening remarks sounded a bit stiff.

Two barrels of wine, a few cans of plastic-sealed sauerkraut, and even Northeastern pig blood sausage.

Zhou Fenglan looked at the pile of local specialties on the ground and shrugged helplessly: "It can be delivered by express."

"It's better to give New Year's gifts personally." Xie Jingxing said with a smile.

Zhou Fenglan raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "Let's go upstairs first. We have to move to Long Island tomorrow."

She owns a villa on Long Island Beach, which she bought at a bargain price after the financial crisis in 08. She is Yu Tong's neighbor.

"I'm going to Washington tomorrow."

Xie Jingxing pressed the elevator button and blocked the door, like a standard doorman.

There was a property manager present to help with moving things. Zhou Fenglan said nothing, but he unconsciously suppressed the smile on his face.

So it would be better to deliver the so-called New Year's gift personally, to inform her that this would not violate his promise not to contact Yu Tong within two years, and that he would be going to Georgetown University tomorrow.

The local specialties occupied a large area, and Xie Jingxing stood quietly in the corner.

The silent space frees the ears and allows the nose and eyes to focus more. One can smell the light smoky scent of agarwood, mixed with a slightly plum-flavored fruity sweetness.

It matches her outfit today very well. The plain black long coat is embellished with a peacock tail-shaped brooch on the chest, and she is wearing a classic Fendi brown printed scarf, which makes her look particularly cool and intellectual.

Her long hair is tied up with a hairpin, and the naturally falling hair on her forehead makes her fair face look delicate. She inexplicably resembles Akina Nakamori at the peak of her beauty after being hurt by love, and is full of delicate texture.

"Making dumplings?" Xie Jingxing said when he got home.

Zhou Fenglan put his hands in his pockets: "No more flour."

"Do you have yeast? The one I bought before should not be expired yet." Xie Jingxing took off his coat and threw it on the sofa.

Zhou Fenglan frowned: "I have a dinner date with a friend tonight."

"I will go to Washington tomorrow and then return to China. The day after tomorrow, I will go back to Northeast China to attend the Yunshan Annual Meeting."

Xie Jing Xing rolled up his sleeves and went to wash his hands: "I'll put the dumplings in the refrigerator after I wrap them, you can eat them whenever you want."

"There is no flour at home." Zhou Fenglan chased to the bathroom door and repeated.

Xie Jing Xing said impatiently: "I'm very tired recently, please don't bother me."

Zhou Fenglan's parents and close relatives were unable to go abroad, and it was also difficult for Yu Tong's parents to go abroad, so the three of them spent the New Year together during the years they were studying.

It is more practical to expect them to take a firefighting certificate exam than to expect them to cook, so Xie Jingxing practiced the cooking skills of making dumplings with his left hand and rice balls with his right hand.

It has become a habit or a ritual. Even the most virtuous woman will shed tears sometimes, and she will have the energy to cry only after she has a full stomach.

This year, the subtle changes in the relationship among the three make it unsuitable to celebrate the New Year together, but we still have to eat dumplings.

“There’s really no flour at home.”

Zhou Fenglan was silent for a few seconds and then said, "And your kitchen utensils have all been given away."

Xie Jingxing stared at her for a long time, then turned off the faucet with a snap, rushed out of the bathroom and walked into the kitchen.

If the refrigerator and microwave are not counted as kitchen utensils, the empty kitchen only has a jar of oatmeal nuts on the counter.

"By the way, the chopping board you carried over is in the upper cabinet."

Zhou Fenglan suddenly remembered something, leaned lazily against the door frame, raised his chin and added.

Xie Jingxing sighed: "Is it interesting?"

"I thought you weren't coming back. You know I can't cook." Zhou Fenglan said seriously with a restrained expression.

Xie Jing Xing turned his head away from his gaze and walked towards the living room: "I'm going to buy flour."

"I actually have a dinner date with some friends tonight, and I still have three hours."

Zhou Fenglan raised his wrist to indicate the time: "But I don't have class tomorrow."

"So?" Xie Jingxing stopped.

Zhou Fenglan lifted the strands of hair on her forehead and said, "So you still want to buy flour?"

Anyway, I have been spoiled by two evil women for so many years, there is no need to be shameless. Only an idiot would go to buy flour at this time!

Yu Tong used to come to Manhattan to celebrate the New Year. I wonder if there is a Chinese supermarket in that tiny little town of Washington. It would be best if I could buy some tomorrow morning and bring them over...

As Xie Jingxing thought about this, he rolled onto the bed, holding the hot and sweet body in his arms.

The electric curtains slowly opened to block out the light. The two shadows came close and then separated, repeating over and over again in a long and lingering cycle.

Gradually, the rhythm lost its balance and became intense. The distance became closer and farther, the boundaries began to blur, and finally they embraced each other tightly.

"What do you think our relationship is now?" Zhou Fenglan murmured softly.

(End of this chapter)