When Charlie saw the excited look on Yolden’s face, he hurriedly explained, “Sorry, Professor Hart, but I am not a Stanford University graduate.”Yolden asked puzzledly, “Then how did you know that the redwood tree that I painted is the one in the Stanford University’s emblem? If you did not have a deep understanding of Stanford University, you probably would not be able to remember the Stanford University emblem, right?”Charlie did not hide the truth, and he simply replied truthfully, “My mother studied at Stanford University back then. When I was a child, I was fortunate enough to have followed her to pay a visit to Stanford University.”“So, that is the case!” Yolden nodded slightly before he said, “You look like you are only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old this year. So, your mother’s age should be similar to mine, right?”Charlie nodded as he said, “I am twenty-six years old, so my mother should be fifty-four years old this year.”Yolden thought for a moment before he
“That’s right!” Yolden nodded as he said emotionally, “The both of us have been classmates for several years, and we also have a very close relationship and friendship. In truth, when I was pursuing my wife back then, your mother was the one who helped me hand the love letter over to her!”Charlie asked curiously, “Professor Hart, could you tell me more about my mother? I do not know anything about my mother’s life experience before she married my father.”Yolden sighed as he said, “Your mother was very popular and famous at Stanford University back then! She was not only the best top Oskian female student in the whole of Stanford University’s history, but she was also the president of the Stanford Oskian Alumni Association and a sponsor of the Stanford Internet Venture Capital Fund. Many of the top high-tech companies that are now in full swing in Silicon Valley started slowly building up their businesses step by step using the funds sponsored by your mother…”As he spoke, Yolden c
As Yolden spoke, he could not help but lament, “Sometimes, the adult world is like this. Everyone unmistakably has a very good relationship with one another, but because of the great distance and because everyone has to live their own lives, it might even be difficult for us to meet up every three to five years.”Immediately afterward, Yolden had a very serious expression on his face as he said, “Although my wife and I rarely had the opportunity to meet up with your mother later, we still shared a very deep and close friendship. When your mother was still alive, my wife and I have always regarded her as our close friend. It is indeed a pity that she had to die young when she was such a good and outstanding person…”Charlie could not help but feel extremely sad deep down in his heart when he heard this.The people around his parents spoke very highly of them, but unfortunately, he personally knew very little about his parents’ deeds.In fact, Charlie was merely a kid who had just en
Yolden suddenly came to a realization, and he blurted out, “Is that the reason why you want to venture into the ocean shipping business?”“Yes.” Charlie nodded and said, “I do not know how much you know about the Schulz family, but back then, the Schulz family and my father did not get along very well. The Schulz family even set up the Anti-Wade Alliance, and they colluded with many other families to deal with and go against my father. Therefore, in my eyes, the Schulz family is also my enemy. Since the Schulz family’s ocean shipping business has been completely halted at the moment, I think that it is the perfect time for me to take advantage of this opportunity and step into the ocean shipping industry. That is how this idea came to me.”As he spoke, Charlie said, “I was originally planning for Doris to help me start up this business. However, she told me that if she were to venture into this business, she would have to possess a very thorough understanding of international trade,
When Yolden said these words, Charlie already knew very well in his heart that it would simply be impossible for him to persuade Yolden to collaborate and work together with him.Moreover, he also understood a principle stating that ‘A gentleman would never force a person to do something against their own will’.Therefore, Charlie did not continue making any further efforts, and he said earnestly, “Professor Hart, I understand what you mean. I am sorry for being too reckless and hasty.”Yolden hurriedly waved his hand and said, “This is not your fault. This is just an issue that is weighing heavily on my mind. Since I have already made a promise to my deceased wife, I will have to keep my promise and not be ambiguous on this issue. So, I hope that you will not hold it against me.”Charlie hurriedly replied, “Why would I? Professor Hart, I truly understand your decision.”Yolden smiled happily. At this time, it seemed as though he suddenly recalled something, and he said, “Charlie,
“Google, Apple, Yahoo, Cisco, Oracle, Tesla, and many other top high-tech companies emerged and established themselves, step by step, from Silicon Valley.”“Their market value has already increased tens of thousands of times, and their growth and incremental space are extremely huge!”“If any stockholder bought Apple’s shares twenty years ago, he would have made a profit of more than three hundred or four hundred times.”“Did you know that your mother invested in Apple with the venture capital fund that she had set up even before you were born?!”“At that time, Steve Jobs treated her as the most distinguished guest, and when Apple’s market value was only worth a few billion dollars back then, she paid up hundreds of millions of dollars in exchange for 10% of Apple’s shares!”“Apple’s market value at the moment is currently worth more than two trillion US dollars, and that is equivalent to more than fifteen trillion Oskia dollars!”“After many rounds of dilution and reduction, the
At this time, Yolden sighed as he said emotionally, “It is simply impossible for me to be able to finish talking about all of your mother’s successful investment and cases back then. If you have the opportunity to head to Silicon Valley one day, and if you look for any of the bosses of any top global group and tell him that your mother’s name is Ashley Layna Acker, they will certainly use their highest standard of etiquette to receive you and treat you as their most distinguished guest…”Charlie sighed as he said, “If I had not met you, I would have never have known all these things about my mother…”Yolden looked at Charlie before he smiled slightly and said, “Your mother’s vision and long-term strategy and planning are far beyond any of our reach.”“Truthfully, back then, many of us did not even understand your mother’s investment strategies or operations. This was because many of the companies that she invested in did not seem like it would have any developmental prospects to us.
Yolden assumed that Charlie only had Emgrand Group and the ten billion dollars worth of cash in his hands. So, Charlie would only have a little over one hundred billion dollars if he were to add these two things together. The possibility of Charlie being able to compete against the Wade family or the Schulz family would basically be close to zero.Charlie smiled slightly at this time as he said, “Professor Hart, to tell you the truth, I still have more than tens of billions of dollars of funds in my hands. Moreover, I also own a pharmaceutical company that is running at a good momentum and is currently earning me an annual profit of ten billion dollars. In fact, the company’s profit might even exceed one hundred billion dollars next year. Therefore, I will certainly have the funds to continue any of my other projects.”Yolden asked in surprise, “You own a pharmaceutical company that is making an annual profit of more than ten billion dollars?! What is the name of your pharmaceutica
"Alright!" Trippy was at once fawning, tagging along behind Raymond like a little child.Around thirty people were waiting in front of Treasure Measure by now. The collectors came in twos or threes, and all ten numbers had since been taken.Before Raymond arrived, he had a brief look at the collectors' faces through the security cameras before walking over, and he was really relieved to see no familiar faces.Having traded Oskian antiques for years abroad, it was only natural that he was acquainted with some of the elite collectors in the country.He also knew that they were especially demanding with the quality of their collection and wanted almost flawless items. As such, the bronze sculpture which had been completely lost wouldn't interest them.Still, he was also a little concerned that amongst the elite collectors he knew, there might be some who were losing money and losing purchasing power in turn. If they happened to take an interest in the bronze sculpture on top of that,
Trippy grinned. "I mean, just look at my stall—ain't no way I'm getting any business here. Why not let me check out this item of yours? And see how interested they are? I'm really interested in learning and upping my game."Then, as if worried that Raymond would refuse, he quickly added, "Don't worry—I promise to stay in a corner and just watch."Still, Raymond could guess right then that someone must have sent Trippy to spy on him.It didn't matter whether it was Mick, Jacob, or Zachary either—they were all in this plot together, and one knowing meant all three knowing.Trippy was a gossiper in nature. If he was allowed to witness the whole process, everyone down Antique Street would definitely know before long.In fact, he could use someone like that right now, and Trippy had come straight to his doorstep.With that in mind, Raymond smiled, "Come join me if you're interested. It's not like there's anything to hide…"Pausing, he then warned Trippy, "But since you're going in my
After watching Mick's video, Jasmine's opinion of the man improved considerably.She was actually well aware that the decline of Vintage Deluxe was mostly due to Mick's incompetence.However, as Jasmine was now managing a billion-dollar company, she couldn't spare any time to ask many questions about Vintage Deluxe's performance. In her opinion, as long as Vintage Deluxe didn't lose too much money or ruin the reputation they had worked so hard to build, she wasn't interested in a regime change.It was the same mindset as Marianne Long, who begged her father to keep that lane full of food stalls in Hong Kong over sentiment.As such, seeing that Mick actually had some skill pleased her considerably.She couldn't resist checking out the comments of the video too.She saw that many were praising the manager of Vintage Deluxe for taking a tough stand against the scammer as well as how Vintage Deluxe's reputation was long-standing and without comparison.She soon noticed Jacob's comme
Soon, more collectors had gathered outside Treasure Measure even before Raymond showed up at Antique Street, with over ten of them gathered outside in no time at all.Since Raymond had only prepared ten slips, the rest left in disappointment seeing that they had no chance.Even so, the ten collectors who had gotten a number were nervous—save for the first man who had arrived.The details on the online sales post insisted that the price was fixed, and that first-come first-serve applies.If he bought the bronze sculpture, the other nine would have come all this way for nothing.However, if the seller decided to make it an auction, they would have a chance too, although their net profit would thin in turn. After all, they could have acquired the bronze sculpture for just 20 million, and that meant a solid 8 million in profit.An auction would at least raise the price to 27 million, and more would make it chicken feed.If they gave up at that point, it was a waste of a trip.If
Trippy naturally wasn't going to tell Mick everything word-for-word, so he said vaguely, "Uh, they were just being stubborn and refused to listen to anything I said. They kept saying that they wouldn't know until they saw the actual item."Mick got out of bed, staring at his phone as he mused to himself.This was getting a little ridiculous, was it not? A fool who was scammed, actually able to scam someone else? But if he really could sell it, wouldn't all their work be for nothing?With that in mind, he promptly called Zachary, who wasn't even up yet.Ever since he had started working for Don Albert, his daily routine was no longer the same as the days when he was a humble stall owner working on Antique Street, but a man of importance who slept late and woke up late.In the evening, he would be spending his time patrolling Don Albert's night entertainment properties as well as holding meetings with subordinates to decide on management policies and the like. That was why he wo
Seeing that Mick had a favor to ask, Trippy was naturally eager to seize the opportunity to get in his good graces."Don't worry, Mr. Crane!" He promptly replied. "Just leave it to me!"Returning to Treasure Measure, he went up to the first man who had come and said, "Hey, brother… Did you come to buy the bronze sculpture from Mr. Cole?"The man asked warily, "You know about the bronze sculpture?""Of course!" Trippy grinned. "I know all too well—it's actually famous here in Aurous Hill."Whipping out his phone, he played the short video that Mick had spent five grand promoting, saying, "Here—check this out!"Curious, the man took the phone and watched the video solemnly.The other latecomer soon hurried over as well and stared fixedly at the screen too.They watched as Bill entered a room with the bronze sculpture with Mick, the latter who checked it out and started commenting on it.The first man exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, it really is that bronze sculpture."The second ma
The other antique traders who were keeping tabs on the situation were left confused by Trippy's message.[Maybe even those out-of-towners know that Raymond is a sucker? So they traveled overnight just to see what happens?][I know Raymond is in trouble, but is it really worth traveling hundreds of miles just to watch?][Maybe they know he's a sucker, so they came to sell him more counterfeits?][Shit, that must be it! Suckers are rare these days, after all!][Damn straight! Just knowing that there's one in Aurous Hill, you'd be eager to come over.]Even Mick Crane who had just woken up and saw the message immediately sent a voice message: "Those conmen are just like flies flocking around shit as soon as they smell it.""Oh, but what they don't know is that Raymond has no more money! I heard he only had a few hundred thousand for the startup, and the bronze sculpture must have cost most of it. I'm afraid those people won't even get their gas money and toll costs back after travel
Trippy rolled his eyes as he texted back: [Hell no. I need to start my business instead of wasting my time. You morons can come get a number yourself if you like. Haha!]Still, Trippy had just sent his text when a trio arrived in a hurry outside Treasure Measure.Seeing that the doors were closed, the leader asked Trippy, "Excuse me, can I ask if this is Treasure Measure? Owned by a man named Mr. Cole?"Trippy was at once surprised. "You mean Raymond Cole?"The leader quickly said, "We don't know his first name, only that his last name is Cole, and his handle name was Treasure Measure's Mr. Cole."Trippy chuckled. "That'd be him. Has to be, since he hand wrote that shop sign."Pausing, he then asked in curiosity, "So, you've come to see him being a sucker?"The leader was naturally curious as to what Trippy was talking about. However, he was also reluctant to reveal why he had come since there was a killer bargain at stake. In fact, every other collector who was coming was k
Raymond also added that the 20 million price tag wouldn't be cut or increased. To put it simply, the bronze sculpture was right there in Aurous Hill and waiting—it was a race.Hence, many reputable collectors contacted expert appraisers throughout the night, some even booking night flights straight to Aurous Hill.The best amongst them was a fanatic collector of bronze items in Eastcliff.Following a brief exchange with Raymond online, he immediately called an expert who was also a close friend. As soon as his call was answered, he asked the other man if he had time to travel to Aurous Hill so that no one else would beat them to it—and they would drive out in the night if at all possible.After all, the earliest flight was at six in the morning, and it'd be eight by the time they made it to Aurous Hill Airport and nine by the time they got to Antique Street in a cab.Therefore, the ideal way to get there was by driving over six hundred miles at top speed, and that meant reaching A