Chapter 88

  Gao Yang walked out of the dressing room wearing only a shirt. He tossed the sweater to Stock and said lightly, "Let's go." Then he turned around and headed towards the door.

  Stoke stepped forward to clear the way for Gao Yang, with bodyguards following closely behind and a life assistant settling the bill at the counter. Just as they were about to exit the VIP passage, they bumped into several people head-on.

  The path forward was blocked, and Gao Yang slightly furrowed his brow as he looked at the group of people in front of him. Among them was a young man in his early 20s, with fair skin, short hair, and a handsome face adorned with a pair of slightly small eyes. He was a dashing young master, currently sizing Gao Yang up and down.

  A young man had his arm around a beautiful woman with a delicate face, wearing a pale pink dress and a curvy figure. The people behind them were all bodyguards.

  "Huh?" Gao Yang's eyes scanned the beautiful woman, and he was slightly surprised. When he was in Korea, he had watched some Korean variety shows and commercials during his free time. He had seen this beauty on TV before - she was a relatively well-known actress.

  At this time, several bodyguards behind the young man saw Gao Yang and his group blocking the way, hummed slightly, and were about to make a statement. The young man in the middle suddenly let go of the beauty in his arms, straightened his clothes, and bowed slightly towards Gao Yang, saying "Mr. Gao, hello!"

  "Huh?" Gao Yang was really surprised this time, "Do we know each other?"

  A young man with a stylish air smiled lightly and said, "Mr. Gao, my name is Cui Ruzhen, and my father is Cui Junxi, the director of Modern Steel Company. At the welcoming party held for you some time ago, I had the pleasure of meeting you." His gentle words gave people a feeling as warm as spring breeze.

  "Oh." Gao Yang thought for a moment and had an impression of Cui Junxi. As for Cui Ru, he had no idea! "Do you have something to say?" Gao Yang asked calmly.

  "Sorry to disturb you, please go ahead!" Cui Ru then pulled the beautiful woman aside and stood with her back to the side, clearing the way. His several bodyguards also quickly stuck to the wall and stood with their heads slightly lowered, not daring to look at Gao Yang.

  "Ah, help me greet your father." Gao Yang smiled slightly and said softly. "Yes, thank you for your concern!" Cui Ru bowed his head in response.

  After Gao Yang and his group left, Cui Ru looked at the beauty who was still staring at Gao Yang's back and smiled saying "Don't look anymore, you don't have a chance, he won't take a liking to you!"

  The beauty turned around and rushed into Cui Ruzhen's arms, shouting "Oppa!"

  Chui Ruzhen smiled and hugged the beauty, but his eyes turned to Gao Yang's back.

  He was also present at the welcome party that day, and he and Jin Xinyang, who was beaten by Gao Yang, were good friends in the same rich kid circle.

  At that time, Cui Ruzhen, who had witnessed the whole process on the spot, did not pay attention to Gao Yang's terrifying skills in single-handedly taking on dozens of bodyguards. What really caught his attention was that after the incident, Jin Xiangyang's father, Jin Shouzhang, personally apologized to Gao Yang in public!

  Choi Yu-jeon immediately understood that Go Yang was an absolute big shot who couldn't be messed with when he saw the gold society leader, on the same level as his own father, apologize to him in front of everyone.

  As a seasoned rich kid, Cui Ruzhen quickly severed his friendship with Jin Xinyang. And it's said that Jin Xinyang has already been sent to the army by his father!

  Chui Ruzhen had also asked his father about Gao Yang's identity, and Chui Lizhi only gave him a simple warning: "Don't mess with him!"

  Very aware of the big fish eating small fish rule in this circle, Cui Ruzhen immediately put himself in a very low position when he saw Gao Yang and paid his respects. He didn't mean to fawn or curry favor with Gao Yang, but simply didn't want to look for trouble for himself!

  Watching Gao Yang leave, Cui Ru touched his hair and thought to himself "Zheng Xiujing has caught a big fish this time!"

  On the way to Stoke to select a villa, Gao Yang sat quietly in the car and looked at the scenery outside the window. "What are you thinking?" Yuandian asked in his mind.

  Rubbed his forehead and replied faintly "Thinking of money!"

  The origin asked in surprise, "Are you still short of money? With an income of at least hundreds of millions of dollars each month, is it not enough?"

  "The military expenditure is never enough, my strength is not enough and I still need to recruit more soldiers. Now every month giving salaries to these hundreds of thousands of troops is a huge sum of money! Not to mention the cost of weapons and equipment and daily training maintenance. The output of Jinling Arsenal is too small! And we have to spend a lot of money to buy!" Gao Yang complained.

  "The army's expenses are still relatively small, but soon there will be a large fleet. The navy, that's the real bottomless pit!"

  "It would cost at least 4 million RMB to buy a ton of silver in today's market! To make one Yuan Datou coin with 89% silver content, it takes at least 24 grams, and even if we can make 41,666 coins out of a ton, that's all! Not to mention the cost of copper, machinery, labor, and other expenses. I alone spend over 100 million yuan datou coins just on military salaries every month! Most importantly, I also cannot produce silver coins without any restrictions!" Gao Yang said helplessly, rubbing his temples with both hands.

  "Aren't you taxed? And don't you have a lot of deposits in Citibank? Can't you use them?" Yuandian asked strangely.

  "There was no industry to speak of in the first place, I've always been advocating for low tax rates and subsidies to encourage the development of the national economy. Fortunately, this time we managed to take down Shanghai, and with the commercial taxes collected from Shanghai, it barely covers the government's daily expenses. As for agricultural taxes..."

  "I never thought of snatching food from a peasant's bowl! Although I don't have the power to completely exempt farm taxes yet, the money collected from farm taxes must not be excessive! The remaining shortfall can only be made up by me."

  "When you bought the warship, didn't many people donate money to you? Is it not possible to let them donate again if the money is not enough?" Yuandian asked.

  "Cough!" Gao Yang suddenly let out a loud cough.

  "Sir, what's wrong?" Stock asked hastily with concern.

  Gaoyang waved his hand and said "I'm fine! How much longer can we get there?"

  "Only about ten minutes left before we arrive at the villa you've chosen, please wait."

  "Hmm." Gaoyang responded softly.

  He lit a cigarette and said to Yuan in his mind, "Aren't you always online? Haven't you seen what's called donation? I bought the warship because I did something that everyone wants to do but can't. Everyone donates voluntarily to express their excitement and gratitude. If I asked for donations just to pay the army's salary, wouldn't that be ridiculous? Besides, everyone isn't rich either."

  "Oh." Yuán diǎn lightly responded with a single word.

  Looking out of the car window at the scenery, Gaoyang thought silently "I have to think of a way to earn more money."

  He took out his mobile phone and dialed the number. The call was quickly answered. "Boss!" Fang Nanyu asked respectfully.

  "Yes, there's something I want you to take care of." Gao Yang said in a low voice "Help me buy 120 tons of silver."

  "Fang Nan Yu was taken aback for a moment, then thought for a bit before saying 'Boss, buying so much white silver at once...'"

  "I know! Don't buy from domestic, go to the international market to buy! Multiple times, small amounts, scattered purchases, understand? Try the water first, and then make a large purchase later, do things more secretly!" Gaoyang said with some impatience.

  "Yes, boss!" Fang Nan Yu hastily replied.

  "Hanging up the phone, Gao Yang said with a headache, 'The total amount of silver dollars in 1925 was not high to begin with. I don't dare to invest too much at once. Controlling prices is a very important thing! After all, it's because our industrial foundation is not enough and we have few industrial products!'"

  Some helplessly raised his legs, placing his hands on his thighs and tapping them meaninglessly. His eyes stared out the window at the scenery, lost in thought.

  "Damn it!" Gao Yang suddenly flung his hand, throwing away the cigarette butt that had burned his fingers. "Shit!" Gao Yang couldn't help but blurt out a curse as he frantically waved his hand.

  "Sir!" Stock asked anxiously.

  "I'm fine!" Gao Yang said with a hint of annoyance and frustration in his heart.

  "What's wrong? What are you thinking about?" Yuán diǎn asked somewhat strangely.

  Picking up the cigarette butt and putting it in the ashtray, Gao Yang responded somewhat irritably, "When I didn't meet you, I always thought about making a lot of money and living a luxurious life. Who would have thought..."

  He smiled slightly with a hint of self-mockery and continued, "After meeting you, I've indeed lived the life of a rich man. But the pressure has been growing day by day. In order to become rich, from selling oil in 1925 to modern times. However, the origin of the oil is unknown. To protect the secret and the safety of my family, energy points are needed to cover it up. And to obtain energy points, I can only expand my power in 1925!"

  *Sigh* With a complex mix of emotions, he continued, "After expanding my power and increasing my territory, I found that the fate of many people is now tied to mine. To get energy points, I need their help, and at the same time, I have to fulfill their desires, from food and clothing to warships and cannons! I find myself with more and more things to do! It's like a cycle, wanting more means having to pay more! Dammit! All I wanted was a life of abundance!!!"

  Rubbed his brow and continued, "You know? When I saw in the newspaper that they said I was the savior of the country, the hope for the nation's rise, I got scared, really scared. I'm just an ordinary person! I'm not some kind of transforming Meik star person! Can you understand what it feels like when countless people put all their hopes on your shoulders?"

  Turning his head to look out of the window at Taiping Mountain, Gaoyang murmured "It's really a mountain-like pressure!"

  "The origin was silent for a moment, and then said faintly, 'Do you need me to give you a sedative?'"

  Gao Yang's face stiffened "I was wrong, this topic ends here!"

  The car stopped at this time and had already arrived at the villa chosen by Stock!

  Stoke opened the car door for Gao Yang. After getting out of the car, Gao Yang looked up and glanced at the villa's doorplate "Shi Xun Dao Yi Luan 8th".

  I'm taking a break on Labour Day and spent the whole day on the train back home. First, I'd like to send you all a chapter. Wishing everyone a happy Labour Day holiday! Also, regarding the title issue, due to some unavoidable reasons, it won't be written for now, please understand. Thank you all for your support all along, thank you!