Banquet of the Wealthy Tycoon

The next day, when Qin Huali paid a visit, Xiao Yao did not make things difficult for him and promptly handed him the finished protective talisman. With the talisman in hand, Qin Huali wasted no time and immediately arranged for someone to deliver it to his eldest grandson.

After giving the talisman to Qin Huali, Xiao Yao stopped paying attention to the matter. Three days later, Qin Huali visited again.

Once seated, Qin Huali, filled with gratitude, said, “Mr. Xiao, I’ve come specifically to thank you. If it weren’t for your help, my grandson Qin Heming would have surely been doomed, with no chance of survival.”

“It seems the matter has been resolved. Heming is alright, I presume?” Xiao Yao asked with concern.

“Just a scare, but thanks to the talisman, he didn’t suffer a single scratch. He escaped death this time,” Qin Huali replied, his tone full of thanks. He then recounted the events in detail.

With Xiao Yao’s warning, the Qin family had been extremely cautious about Qin Heming’s safety. For several days, they restricted his movements, insisting he stay at home regardless of circumstances.

But fate is capricious. Qin Heming’s newly confirmed girlfriend suddenly returned from abroad and insisted on a phone call that he pick her up from the airport.

Having been confined for days, Qin Heming was restless and did not fully heed the family’s warning. The matters concerning Elder Zhao and Xiao Yao were only known to a few elders in the Qin family; the younger generation was unaware. Qin Heming, raised in modern education, found these superstitious notions difficult to accept, only refraining from objection out of respect for his elders, though he did not believe a word.

After receiving his girlfriend’s call, Qin Heming took several bodyguards and headed straight to the airport.

The trip there was uneventful, but disaster struck on the way back—a traffic accident.

The driver and Qin Heming’s girlfriend died instantly. Qin Heming himself, protected by the talisman, survived without harm.

His life was spared, proving the extraordinary power of the talisman created by Xiao Yao, and further attesting to Xiao Yao’s remarkable skills in divination.

From then on, the Qin family harbored no doubts about Xiao Yao’s abilities, regarding him on par with Elder Zhao.

“It’s good that he’s safe. Now that this is behind you, you must find a way to resolve it completely. Otherwise, you can guard against danger day and night, but there will always be moments you can’t foresee,” Xiao Yao cautioned.

“It’s basically settled now. This incident caused quite a stir, and our Qin family isn’t one to be bullied. After contacting a few connections, the other side has essentially conceded.” In the past few days, Qin Huali had been flying all over, busy and exhausted, but now that the matter was resolved, his mood was much improved.

“With the Qin family’s influence, given time, any problem can be solved. To settle it so quickly, you truly move with the decisiveness and vigor of a seasoned leader,” Xiao Yao praised.

“I dare not claim credit. Without your help and the talisman you made, all my efforts would have been in vain.”

Taking the opportunity, Qin Huali said, “I’ve brought all the documents for the transfer of the Yuanhang Building on Financial Street in the capital and the shares of Lujin Capital. If it’s convenient for you, just sign your name.”

This was what Xiao Yao deserved, so he did not hesitate. He called in Lawyer Xie and signed all the documents. From that moment, the Yuanhang Building on Financial Street belonged to him, along with 8% of Lujin Capital’s shares, now under his investment company.

Both the Yuanhang Building and the Lujin Capital shares were premium assets. With the addition of these two major enterprises, Xiao Yao also incurred two substantial debts.

The debt for the Yuanhang Building, seventy-five hundred million yuan, was manageable, with a three-year repayment period—plenty of time to handle it slowly. If managed well, the building could bring in up to one and a half billion yuan in annual rent, making the debt hardly a burden.

But the debt for the 8% Lujin Capital shares had to be paid within three months, which was a considerable challenge for Xiao Yao.

He needed to raise seven hundred and twenty million dollars in three months, which required some serious thought.

What he could quickly convert to cash were bearer stocks and gold, but both were in a downturn, and now was not the ideal time to sell.

After much deliberation, he decided that selling some top-tier jewelry or high-end antique artworks would be the most suitable approach from an investment perspective.

He still had three months, so there was no need to rush. Gathering seven hundred and twenty million dollars was well within his confidence.

After the transfer procedures were completed, Qin Huali proved his sincerity, feeling closer to Xiao Yao, and proposed another request. “Mr. Xiao, the talisman I obtained last time has already shattered. I’m still uneasy about Heming’s safety and would like to request another talisman from you, if possible?”

“It’s possible, but it may take longer. I need to recover before I can make the next one—at the earliest, about a month.” Someone of Qin Huali’s stature couldn’t simply be turned away, but Xiao Yao couldn’t grant his request too lightly.

“I’m in no hurry this time. You can handle the timing, sooner or later, it doesn’t matter.” Qin Huali dared not press too much, afraid he might not be able to bear the consequences. “I have these assets in the country. I wonder if the shares in Qiandu Corporation or Hanguang Group interest you?”

“I don’t need shares in those companies. There’s still time; there’s no rush to arrange an exchange.” Xiao Yao already had plenty of debt and was not eager to invest further. He still needed to consider what he might acquire from Qin Huali.

Having received such great help from Xiao Yao, Qin Huali insisted on formally inviting him to a banquet in thanks.

“Mr. Xiao, are you free tomorrow evening? I’d like to treat you to dinner and introduce you to a few friends of mine here in Hanzhou,” Qin Huali invited.

“I’m just a man of leisure, free at any time,” Xiao Yao replied.

Qin Huali smiled, delighted. “It’s settled, then. Tomorrow night, I’ll invite a few friends from Hanzhou. They’re all quite influential locally. While they may not be able to offer much help, if you ever need someone to stand up for you, they’ll be more than willing.”