Chapter 6

Although it was a huge investment, Qi Ping was no longer the petty person he used to be; he didn't like dragging things out either. He really liked this forest, so there was no need to hesitate any longer. If the price was reasonable, he would take it.

The transaction price of $3.8 million greatly relieved Qi Ping. This way, he still had over $1.2 million in liquid funds, so he didn't need to take out a bank loan.

He hired a lawyer to carefully examine the documents. This lawyer, named Paul, charged a high fee, over $2,000 per hour, but he was an excellent lawyer. It was worth it, as he meticulously checked the contract and pointed out any ambiguous areas. Although Qi Ping had studied law, this was America, and the deal was too big, so he needed a more professional person to review it.

Now that he had signed the contract and transferred the funds, the forest was completely his. This forest, called Fairyland Forest, now belonged to Qi Ping!

"Alright, everything is done. The contract and everything else are fine. When the summer vacation starts, call the boss and his wife to bring Benben over. We can stay here for a while. I just got the forest, and it's all empty, so I need some time to organize it." Suppressing his excitement, Qi Ping called home to report the situation.

"I know, I won't act rashly. I spent a lot of money on this forest, but it will always be in the Qi family and can be passed down. This isn't a waste of money; land is a good investment." Qi Ping understood his family's concerns. Over $3 million was a huge investment, worth tens of millions of RMB. But it was a sound investment; land is a good asset to pass down to future generations.

It takes about two hours to drive from Ramona to Los Angeles and less than an hour to San Diego, which is only about 40 miles away. This was quite convenient. Although Qi Ping now lived in the mountains, he wasn't isolated from the world; he just enjoyed a bit of peace and quiet.

With the investment settled, he quickly obtained a green card. The reason was simple: it was a huge investment that would create jobs, and the U.S. government welcomed it.

Qi Ping was still a Chinese citizen, and it would take a long time to become a U.S. citizen. But that didn't matter; he could now enjoy most of the rights of a U.S. citizen. This made him feel completely at ease, ready to make a big move and enjoy his life here.

"I'll come over in a few days, maybe on the weekend. You should first tidy up your place; it probably needs some work." He had stayed at Luo Yi's place for about ten days and now had his own home. Luo Yi saw Qi Ping off at the airport, deciding to wait a few more days before coming over.

"I do need to clean up. The house is empty, and it will take a few days to get everything ready. I also need to get a driver's license, but since I can drive, I should get it quickly. When you come to San Diego, give me a call, and I'll pick you up. I'll show you the charm of Fairyland Forest!" Slinging his travel bag over his shoulder, Qi Ping set off confidently to inspect his new territory.

At the San Diego airport, he watched the people coming and going. Most were tourists, as San Diego was a great tourist destination. But Qi Ping wasn't there for a vacation; he was there to develop and make a big impact. The forest was just the beginning.

The taxi driver was a bit worried but didn't think much of it. The young Asian man looked friendly, even though he was going to a remote area. But it didn't matter as long as he got paid.

"This is my forest, I just bought it. There's nothing here yet, so I just came to check it out." Qi Ping was a bit boastful, but he was satisfied to see the taxi driver's envious look. Although the forest was empty now, it didn't matter.

"I think you'll need to buy a car soon, otherwise, it won't be convenient." Taxi drivers often chatted, no matter where they were.

"Actually, that's true. Do you have any recommendations?" Adjusting his posture, Qi Ping asked.

"Although there's a road, the way to your forest is a bit rough. I think a pickup truck or an SUV would be suitable." The taxi driver's advice was correct. The road to the forest wasn't very smooth, so a pickup truck or an SUV was more suitable. A low-slung sports car might not be the best choice.

For now, Qi Ping stayed in a hotel because his forest wasn't habitable. He spent his days furnishing his new home, from the bed to the curtains, from the table to the kitchen utensils—everything was essential. Qi Ping wasn't particularly picky; the items weren't expensive but were practical.

His pocket wasn't particularly full, and he had many plans to implement, so he couldn't spend money recklessly.

"Be careful!" Qi Ping directed the furniture store workers to move the furniture into the house. Now it no longer looked empty; it was finally livable, though not everything was in place.

Lying comfortably on the soft, large bed, Qi Ping felt like it was all a dream. It still seemed unreal to him that he now owned a beautiful forest. He pinched himself hard; it hurt, so it wasn't a dream—it was real!

He shouted out loud, not worrying about scaring anyone. He was the only one there, and the nearest residents were far away, so he had nothing to worry about.

"In a few days, I'll get my driver's license and buy a car. Then I'll buy some other tools. I'll start a small vegetable garden and build a grand entrance for the forest!" Qi Ping happily planned and made his own arrangements.

The air in the mountains was fresh, and the temperature was just right. After a busy day, Qi Ping took a shower. Since he was now living there, he needed to set up water and electricity, which he had already done.

Humming a tune, Qi Ping turned on the stereo, listening to music while making dinner. He cooked beef with potatoes, scrambled eggs with leeks, and a bowl of tomato and egg soup. The dinner was quite rich, and Qi Ping was a good cook; simple home-cooked dishes were easy for him.

"Wow, Qi Ping, you've really made it! I heard you went to the U.S. to buy a forest. How about sharing some pictures to show us the life of a tycoon?" As soon as he logged into his QQ, the group chat started buzzing.

"Luo Yi, that big mouth, can't be trusted. I just moved in, and he's already spreading the news. I don't have any pictures now, but I'll take some in a few days and share them with you!" The proud Qi Ping couldn't resist a bit of boasting. Although his college classmates had varying relationships, they generally got along well, especially the boys who hung out together.

"It's not my fault. A few days ago, I mentioned to a girl that you stayed at my place for two days to ensure I wasn't hiding anything. Then everyone in the group found out and kept asking me for confirmation. Why didn't you go online for days?" Luo Yi also joined the chat, though he usually preferred to lurk and watch others chat.

Chatting with his college classmates, Qi Ping briefly described his forest. He didn't mention how he suddenly had the money to buy it or why he came to the U.S. His mood was great, and because of the time difference, he and Luo Yi were enjoying a leisurely evening while their classmates were at work, taking breaks to chat.

It was a wonderful day, lying in his own bed in his own home. The fact that this was his forest made his mood even better. He had a good dream, dreaming of many things and many beautiful things, all so wonderful and full of promise.