Chapter 40

Fulong Beach is a top-tier villa area specially developed in Shangpu, with no more than twenty households in total. It is said that those who can live here are at least billionaires and have a certain status in society.

According to the feng shui master, Fulong Beach resembles a divine dragon lying here, making it a true treasure land. If one lives here, the family will be blessed by the dragon's aura, and future generations will enjoy continuous wealth and prosperity.

Fulong Beach faces the sea and backs onto green mountains, a typical scenic spot with clear water and green mountains. A river called Fulong River runs through the middle of the villa area, with crystal-clear water and a gentle, deep current, making it an ideal place for fishing.

On Fulong Beach, there is also a thousand-year-old Dragon God Temple. It is unknown which dragon god is worshipped here, but the environment of the temple is excellent, with particularly prosperous incense offerings. Since ancient times, literati and poets have enjoyed coming here to escape the world and relax, finding joy in it.

Because Fulong Beach is not very large, it is impossible to build more houses. The twenty villas are just right. Motor vehicles are not allowed to enter; one can only ride a bicycle or have a rickshaw pulled by a hired driver, or be carried in a sedan chair. Those with cars park them outside Fulong Beach.

Therefore, once you arrive at Fulong Beach, the air here is excellent, absolutely refreshing and invigorating.

After Zhang Tianyuan and Xu Gang parked their car, they entered Fulong Beach. The management here is very strict; people entering must have an invitation or a work permit, otherwise, they are not allowed to enter.

The two showed their ID cards to the security guard and made a phone call to verify, before they were allowed to enter, feeling almost like going through customs.

Such strictness is understandable, after all, the twenty households here are all extremely wealthy. They do not steal, so this place can be left unlocked and unattended at night, with no one picking up lost items. However, outsiders are not so trustworthy, and without identity verification and registration, they will definitely not be allowed in.

The architectural style of Fulong Beach is also different from other places, especially in terms of aesthetics.

In today's society, there are too many people who admire Western architecture, considering Western things to be noble and elegant. Therefore, many villas are built in a Western style, almost identical. However, the villas in Fulong Beach are all different, but overall, they are in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The gardens are very large, with pavilions, terraces, artificial hills, and lakes, making visitors feel as if they have entered the Grand View Garden.

Zhang Tianyuan had been here once before, so he was not as surprised. However, Xu Gang was coming for the first time and kept chattering in his ear non-stop.

After entering Fulong Beach, the two called a sedan chair and got on. This sedan chair is exactly like those in TV shows, carried by four people, two in front and two in the back. There are also eight-person sedan chairs, but they are too expensive, so this one is just fine.

"Hehe, we are like officials for a moment," Xu Gang laughed, swaying in the sedan chair, feeling quite good.

"The rich really know how to enjoy life. Coming here feels like entering a utopia, as if one's heart has been cleansed," Zhang Tianyuan remarked.

"No matter how much you cleanse it, you can't wash away the stench of money. In my view, no matter how refined a person is, it all comes down to money. When we have money, we will definitely buy a place like this to live," Xu Gang said, clenching his teeth.

"Great minds think alike," Zhang Tianyuan said, having had this thought when he first brought Liu Mengxun back, and now it has become even stronger.

"Here we are, isn't it beautiful?" The two arrived at a garden gate, and Zhang Tianyuan pointed to the red wooden door, smiling.

"My goodness, if I didn't know I was awake, I would think we had traveled back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, to some prince's mansion," Xu Gang exclaimed.

The garden is very large, with no end in sight from left to right. Two stone-carved Pixiu at the gate look fierce, and the red door is ancient and elegant.

"Bro, I just thought of a poem!" Xu Gang suddenly said.

"You can think of a poem?"

"Don't underestimate me, I'm at least a high school student. Listen: 'The rich feast on wine and meat, while the poor freeze to death on the streets!'"

"Stop, stop, you are insulting people. Don't be so smug, let's go in. Your wife and Mengxun are probably waiting impatiently," Zhang Tianyuan patted Xu Gang and said.

"You know what's strange? This huge courtyard doesn't even have a gatekeeper. In TV shows, there are always servants standing at the gate," Xu Gang looked around, surprised.

"There's nothing strange about it. In the twenty years since Fulong Beach was built, there has never been a theft. Do you think it's necessary?" Zhang Tianyuan explained with a smile.

"That's quite exaggerated... but if you think about it, it makes sense. Who here would lack money?"

The two chatted as they wandered around and ended up getting lost.

"Embarrassing, this courtyard is really too large. Where are we?" Xu Gang looked around, seeing only clear lake water and quiet artificial hills and pavilions, with no one in sight.

"Let's call and ask. I didn't expect this place to be so large," Zhang Tianyuan took out his phone and called Liu Mengxun.

Soon, Liu Mengxun and Mou Ying appeared at the end of a long corridor, waving to Zhang Tianyuan and Xu Gang.

"Hehe, you two are really clumsy, getting lost. You should have called before coming in," Mou Ying said with a smile.

"Yingzi, stop laughing at us. This place is so large, who would have thought? The rich are really extravagant. It seems the two lines of poetry I recited were not wrong. There are many people in this world who can't afford their own homes," Xu Gang, being a straightforward person, often doesn't pay attention to the occasion.

Lin Yu kicked him in the buttocks and said to Liu Mengxun, "Don't listen to this guy's nonsense. I know your Liu Group has been doing charity work, donating millions every year."

"It's fine, what Gangzi said is true. Let's go, I've invited some experts to discuss the trip to Yunnan," Liu Mengxun smiled, showing no sign of displeasure.

Rich people can be very different. Those with good upbringing, like Liu Mengxun, are well-mannered and cultured. Those without, like Jia Zhengjing, are typical spoiled rich second-generation.

Following Liu Mengxun and Mou Ying around an artificial lake, Zhang Tianyuan and Xu Gang finally saw a group of ancient buildings. From the outside, these buildings are entirely in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, with carved beams and painted rafters as the best examples.

Entering the hall, the style is also old-fashioned. In front of the door hangs a calligraphy by Yan Zhenqing, which is undoubtedly an authentic piece. A family as wealthy as the Liu family would never display a fake, as it would be too embarrassing.

This is a poem called "Encouragement to Study."

"At the third watch of the night and the fifth watch of the morning, it is the time for men to study.

Black hair does not know the value of early study, white hair regrets the delay in learning."

It is said that the ancestors of the Liu family read very little and made a living by tomb robbing. Due to their lack of cultural knowledge, they suffered many setbacks, almost losing their lives once. Therefore, they strictly disciplined their descendants, particularly favoring Yan Zhenqing's "Encouragement to Study."

Below the authentic calligraphy by Yan Zhenqing is a square zitan wood table, with two Taishi chairs on either side, all made with great care.

Zhang Tianyuan used the "Character Identification Technique" to examine the calligraphy on the wall and the furniture below, all of which are old pieces, at least from the Republican era.

Upon entering, on the left wall is a long scroll depicting the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, and on the right is another long scroll depicting the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers. These two scrolls are vivid and unique in style, with appropriate brushwork. Although they are not ancient, they are works by contemporary masters and are likely more valuable than some authentic pieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties in terms of market price.