236: Chapter 236 Reverse Introduction

Shenzhen Bay.

Chen Jingming's private clubhouse, Li Xin was invited over.

A three-story building stood by the bay. Vines covered the outer walls. There was no sign at the entrance, just a lit brass wall lamp.

Li Xin went up to the second floor, where Chen Jingming was already waiting. Wearing a light blue casual suit, he was leaning against the floor-to-ceiling window watching the night view of the sea. His cup of tea was already more than half finished.

Chen Jingming turned around at the sound, glanced at the wall clock, and chuckled: "Mr. Li, you're early. It's still twenty minutes until seven; I thought I'd have to wait a while longer."

"Just happened to be no traffic on the way."

Li Xin sat on the sofa, looked at the tea set, and smiled: "This place of yours is really hard to find."

"Haha, it is. GPS can't find it directly; usually, you need someone familiar to bring you here."

Chen Jingming also sat over and poured a cup of tea for Li Xin.

"There is another guest coming later, a European named Alexander. His Family left behind a castle in France, passed down for many generations."

Li Xin took a sip from his teacup: "A castle?"

"Yes, a proper medieval stone castle. Complete property rights; even the deed was signed during the reign of Louis XIV."

Chen Jingming put down the teapot: "He wants to sell it recently, but buyers in the circle either think the maintenance costs are too high or feel the location is too remote. I figured you might be interested."

"Oh? What's the specific situation?"

Li Xin placed his teacup on the table and leaned back into the sofa, looking out the window. The lights of the office buildings across the bay were mostly lit, reflecting on the water and shattering into pieces.

Chen Jingming nodded and continued: "His Family had glory in the past, but now only a hollow name remains. The castle costs hundreds of thousands of Euros a year to maintain. He really can't hold on anymore and plans to transfer it. There are also quite a few decent collections in the castle."

"That sounds reasonable. I'm just curious, how do you know him, Mr. Chen?"

Chen Jingming tapped his fingertips on the table and spoke slowly: "Met him by chance at an auction in Europe last year. We chatted well and exchanged contact information when we left."

After a slight pause, he looked up at the other party: "Recently, he entrusted me to help him find a buyer in the domestic circle. After thinking it over, you are the most suitable candidate."

Li Xin smiled and nodded calmly: "Haha, thank you, Mr. Chen, for thinking of me first."

Chen Jingming smiled knowingly, then stood up and walked to the window. He looked downstairs, his tone soft: "The car is here."

A dark gray Mercedes slowly entered the alley. The car's lines were steady and restrained, the model minimalist and low-key. Stripped of the ostentation of luxury cars, if you didn't look closely, it was easy to mistake it for an ordinary business car, hiding a texture that didn't reveal its edge.

He stood downstairs for a few seconds, looked up at the window of this building, then lowered his head and walked inside.

Chen Jingming went downstairs to receive him; Li Xin didn't move, just sat on the sofa waiting. Within two minutes, footsteps came from the stairs. Chen Jingming walked in front, followed by the gray-haired man.

"Mr. Li, this is Mr. Alexander."

Chen Jingming stepped aside: "Mr. Alexander, this is Li Xin, Mr. Li."

Alexander reached out: "Mr. Li, I've heard much about you."

His Chinese wasn't fluent, but his pronunciation was accurate, with a slight accent.

Li Xin stood up and shook his hand: "Welcome, please sit."

The three sat around the coffee table. Chen Jingming reboiled the water and changed the tea. After some pleasantries, they got to the main topic.

"Mr. Chen said Mr. Li is interested in ancient architecture."

Alexander spoke first, his speaking speed not fast, as if weighing every word.

"My Family has a castle in the Loire Valley, built in the 13th century. The main structure is still intact."

"Not counting the later expansions, the main castle alone is over seven hundred years old."

"Seven hundred years." Li Xin repeated, "That is indeed rare."

"Yes."

Alexander picked up the teacup, looked at it, then put it down without drinking.

"My grandfather's generation still kept complete Family archives, including maintenance records, renovation blueprints, and even a few original deeds from the 17th century."

"The deed is still there?" Li Xin asked, his tone very normal, as if asking about the weather.

"All there." There was a hint of subtle pride in Alexander's expression.

"My ancestors for several generations valued document preservation. Every year's maintenance records, receipts for Materials, and labor cost accounts were all archived."

"May I take a look?"

Alexander was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Of course."

"No rush." Li Xin picked up the teapot and refilled his cup, "Let's talk about the current situation of the castle first."

Alexander thanked him and began to talk about the structure. Three floors in the main building, two towers in the east and west. The west tower is about seven meters higher than the east tower, used for observation back then.

The basement is a wine cellar, with passages connected to the kitchen and storage room. There is an attached estate on the east side, covering about four hectares, used to grow grapes, now mostly abandoned, only a few old olive trees are still alive.

He spoke in great detail, which wall was repaired in which month, which window glass was original, which beam was replaced later. When mentioning specific years, he would pause to think, then report accurately.

Li Xin didn't interrupt much throughout, nodded occasionally, and occasionally picked up the teacup to take a sip.

Chen Jingming sat on the side, listening most of the time, occasionally adding a word during Alexander's pauses to warm the atmosphere.

He observed Li Xin's expression but couldn't see any obvious reaction—he didn't show special interest, nor did he feel bored.

After about forty minutes of chatting, Alexander's speaking speed gradually slowed down.

"Frankly speaking, Mr. Li."

He put the teacup back on the table, hands crossed on his knees, "I came this time, indeed hoping to find a suitable buyer. My Family has guarded this castle for seven generations, but by my generation, to be honest, my financial strength can't keep up."

When he said this, his tone didn't change, no deliberate emotional appeal, no complaining. Just stating a fact.

"Just the roof tile maintenance every year costs 50,000 Euros, not to mention the update of the heating System and the waterproofing treatment of the stone walls."

He paused slightly, "I calculated that if the entire castle is to be restored to an ideal maintenance state, it may require an investment of at least two million Euros in the next five years."

Li Xin was silent for two or three seconds after listening. Then said: "That is indeed a considerable number."

"So..."

Alexander looked at him, "If Mr. Li is willing to consider, we can negotiate the price. I don't necessarily have to make how much money, I just hope this castle can find someone who really wants to maintain it."

Chen Jingming spoke at the right time: "I have understood Alexander's offer, it is already very realistic among similar castles."

Li Xin didn't pick up this topic. He picked up the teapot, refilled tea for the three of them, and then spoke: "If it's convenient, let's look at the maintenance records and deeds you mentioned first?"

"Of course." Alexander opened his briefcase, pulled out a dark blue folder with a gold-stamped emblem outline on the cover.

"This is the maintenance records and financial ledgers for the past thirty years. I didn't bring the original deed with me, but here is a high-definition Scan."

He put the folder on the table and pushed it towards Li Xin.

Li Xin took it and opened it. The first page was a handwritten maintenance schedule, neat handwriting, using a fountain pen, the ink had faded a bit.

Flipping back were the lists of maintenance projects recorded year by year, with details for every expense, from replacing tiles to clearing drainage ditches, written clearly.

He didn't flip fast, but not slow either. He looked at every page, didn't stay on any page for too long.

When he flipped to a page in the middle, he stopped for a moment. That page was a copy of a loan agreement, with the logo of a local French bank at the top. The borrower was Alexander himself, and the collateral was written as "Blois Castle and Attached Estate".

The loan amount and repayment period were all on it. That page was tucked into the maintenance records, not categorized separately, as if it were put in casually.

His gaze stayed on that page for about two seconds, then he flipped past it.

He continued to flip through the pages until he reached the very end, then closed the folder and placed it back on the table.

"The records are very complete." There wasn't much emotion in his tone. "It's clear that your Family has been maintaining it with care for generations."

Alexander seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. "As long as Mr. Li understands the care put into it, I can rest easy."

"I'll consider it and give you an answer in a few days."

"Of course, of course. There's no rush."

The three of them sat for a while longer before Alexander rose to leave.

Chen Jingming saw him downstairs, and when he returned, Li Xin was standing by the window, looking out at the bay.

"What do you think?" Chen Jingming walked over and stood beside him.

"The castle itself should be fine."

"That's good. His asking price isn't high. If you think it's suitable..."

Li Xin interrupted him. "His asking price is indeed not high, but there's some trouble with his loan."

Chen Jingming turned his head to look at him.

Li Xin continued, "There is still a loan agreement on the castle, with the castle itself as collateral. There is less than a year left on the repayment term."

Chen Jingming was taken aback. "He showed you the loan contract?"

"It was tucked away in the pile of maintenance records; it was likely an oversight. But I happened to spot it, and now the situation is crystal clear. The bank is putting on the pressure, and he won't be able to hold out much longer if he keeps dragging this on."

Chen Jingming didn't say anything.

He stood by the window, watching the dark gray Mercedes downstairs reverse, turn around, and drive out of the alley.

"So let's wait a little longer. Let's wait until he loses his composure first."

Li Xin grinned. "Haha, I suppose it's just his bad luck that I happened to see it."

Chen Jingming didn't respond.

He turned and walked back to the sofa, sat down, and picked up the pot of tea that had gone cold.

He poured himself a cup, but didn't drink it; he just held it in his hand, swirled it, and set it back down.

"You are truly something."

He said that finally, then shook his head and said nothing more.

The next day, Li Xin sent an email to the Xinghong Holdings branch in Paris, instructing them to send a professional building assessment team to the Loire Valley for an on-site survey.

Meanwhile, Chen Hu arranged for security to accompany the team and ensure their safety.

A week later, the assessment report arrived.

It was over thirty pages long, filled with data and photographs.

The structure of the main building was indeed sound, with stone walls over six meters thick and a very solid foundation.

However, the renovation costs for the auxiliary estate were nearly double what Alexander had estimated.

Two of the three auxiliary buildings had damaged roofs, and rebuilding them would require custom-made, vintage-style wooden beams, which would be quite expensive.

Another detail was that there were slight structural cracks at the top of the castle's west tower.

While it wouldn't affect safety in the short term, it would become a major issue within ten years if left untreated.

The last page of the report contained the comprehensive valuation.

Based on the market transaction prices of similar castles in the area and the list of renovation costs, the suggested acquisition price was nearly forty percent lower than Alexander's initial asking price.

After reading the report, Li Xin had Chen Hu forward the results to Alexander with a note attached: "The assessment report is ready. The overall situation is more complex than anticipated. If you are open to it, we can renegotiate the price."

Alexander's reply came very quickly; he emailed back that same evening.

His wording was polite, but one could sense his nervousness: "Mr. Li, could we perhaps have a phone call to discuss this in detail?"

The call went through the following afternoon.

Li Xin sat in his study with his phone on speaker on the desk.

Alexander's voice came through the receiver, speaking much faster than he had when they met.

"Mr. Li, I have received the assessment report. There are indeed some discrepancies between the data and what I was aware of, but I understand the general gist of it."

Li Xin said calmly, "The renovation costs for the auxiliary estate are indeed higher than I had initially anticipated."

Alexander was silent for a few seconds.

There was the sound of paper rustling on the other end of the line, as if he were flipping through something.

"I know where the issue lies. It's primarily the roofs of those two auxiliary buildings, which I hadn't factored into my initial quote."

"And the cracks in the west tower," Li Xin added.

Alexander was silent for a moment again before saying, "I'm aware of the cracks in the west tower, but in my judgment, they won't cause any substantial structural impact within the next five to eight years."

Li Xin didn't argue.

He picked up a pen, wrote a number on a notepad, and pushed it toward Chen Hu.

Chen Hu glanced at it, then spoke into the phone: "Mr. Alexander, after a comprehensive assessment, the reasonable acquisition price we can offer is seventy percent of your initial asking price. This figure was calculated by taking into account the renovation costs, structural concerns, and current market conditions."

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

Then, Alexander's voice came through, sounding lower than before.

"At seventy percent, I would indeed face some difficulties."

Li Xin said, "I understand. The castle itself is a fine asset, but if I have to invest an additional amount near the original purchase price just for renovations, I must consider the overall return on investment period."

Another silence followed.

Li Xin didn't rush him; he simply waited.

His fingers rested on the edge of the table, and he could feel the coolness of the surface.

After about half a minute, Alexander's voice came through again: "I'll make a concession. Seventy-five percent—that is the absolute minimum I can accept."

Li Xin didn't answer immediately.

He glanced at Chen Hu, who gave a slight shake of his head.

"Seventy percent."

Li Xin's tone remained unchanged.

"This figure is based on a professional assessment, and it is the best I can do."

"...I need some time to consider."

"Of course. You can contact me at any time."

After the call ended, Chen Hu stood by the desk and said, "He will agree."

Li Xin folded the notepad paper and tossed it into the trash.

"He knows we aren't lowballing him; we're just presenting the reality of the situation."

On the evening of the third day, Alexander's email arrived.

It contained only one line: "Seventy percent. Deal."

Chen Jingming didn't find out until three days after the news of the deal broke.

That day, he called Li Xin, saying he was in the area and wanted to drop by.

When he arrived, Li Xin was in the yard watering the flowers, the water from the hose splashing against the stone pavement.

"I heard the deal for the castle went through," Chen Jingming said, sitting down on a nearby stone stool.

"Yes, the formal documents were signed yesterday."

"How much did you get it for?"

Li Xin turned off the tap, coiled the hose, and hung it on the wall hook.

"I got it for seventy percent of his initial asking price."

Chen Jingming was taken aback.

"The line he gave me at the beginning was that he would only budge by ten percent at most."

"That must have been his initial stance."

Li Xin sat on another stone stool, picked up the teapot from the stone table, and poured two cups of tea, pushing one toward Chen Jingming.

"It's mainly because the loan under his name is about to expire. There's less than six months left on the repayment term, and the castle itself is the collateral. If he didn't sell the castle before the loan matured, he would have been in serious trouble with the bank."

Chen Jingming chuckled.

"That's good. You managed to pick up a bargain."

"This castle is of great value."

Li Xin picked up the teapot and refilled his cup.

"If it weren't for you, I never would have been able to get in touch with him."

Chen Jingming took a sip of tea and didn't pursue the topic further.

He sat for a while longer before rising to leave.

As he reached the gate of the courtyard, he turned back and asked, "What do you plan to do with the castle after the handover?"

"I'm going to convert it into an art exchange center."

Chen Jingming stood at the gate, stunned.

"An art center?"

"Yes. It's going to be sitting empty anyway, and I happen to have some partner art institutions over there, so I'll let them use the space."

Chen Jingming stood at the gate without moving, just looking at him.

After several seconds, he nodded.

"Alright. I'll come take a look when it opens."

"Sounds good."

After the gate closed, the courtyard fell silent.

Li Xin poured the two cups of cold tea into the flower bed, then walked back into the house with the empty cups.