The God of Wealth starts with doing whatever you want

Xu Yun spent the entire morning looking around for a gift.

From the antique-style antique street in the south of the city to the luxurious yet understated private collections in the north of the city;
From jade ornaments and calligraphy and paintings by famous artists with exorbitant prices, to antique utensils and rare medicinal materials that claim to have "miraculous health benefits".

Xu Yun observed more and asked fewer questions, but his brows gradually furrowed.

The items in the antique market are a mix of genuine and fake. Even if there are a few old items, most of them are just for show. They are fine for playing with, but not enough to be a birthday gift for someone like Zhong Shichang.

The items in the private gallery are genuine, and the prices reflect the "heartfelt intentions." One example is a mid-Qing Dynasty white jade carving of a pine tree and crane symbolizing longevity. The jade is warm and lustrous, the carving is exquisite, and the meaning is auspicious.

The owner, observing the customer's expression, realized that a big spender had arrived and began to enthusiastically promote the product.

"...Look at the crane's posture and the pine tree's strength; these are all auspicious signs of longevity."

It would be perfect to give it to elders; placing it in the study or living room would not only show good taste but also bring good fortune.

The price is 18 million, but we can discuss it if you're really interested..."

Xu Yun simply shook his head.

The items are good, but what hasn't Grandpa Zhong seen before?

Such an item, once accepted, would likely just be left unused and gather dust along with other similar congratulatory gifts.

What he wants to give cannot be merely "objects".

As for those beautifully packaged health products that claim to have miraculous effects, Xu Yun would just glance at them and walk past.

The healthcare team around Mr. Zhong is top-notch, and they must have already tried or rigorously verified some conventional and even unconventional healthcare methods.

Sending these things will only make people laugh.

It was nearly noon when Xu Yun returned empty-handed to his spacious but somewhat deserted penthouse.

"The Zhong family has plenty of what money can buy. But what the Zhong family lacks, money may not be able to buy... or rather, ordinary money cannot buy it."

He muttered to himself, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knees.

In his mind, the system interface that had been dormant for a long time quietly reappeared, as if sensing its owner's thoughts.

Since acquiring this mysterious "Godly Rich System," Xu Yun has mostly used it to obtain wealth, information, and even some technological fragments or obscure skills that are ahead of their time.

He hadn't actively explored the "Special Items" section deep within the system's shop.

Firstly, there wasn't much demand for it before, and secondly, it had never been unlocked and was completely unusable.

But at that moment, it suddenly unlocked.

Xu Yun immediately started browsing through the "Special Items" category.

Instantly, a dazzling array of entries flooded the screen like a waterfall.

The Lost Energy Core Blueprints of Atlantis (Fragment) - 50 billion points.

"Fragments of the Pre-Qin Qi Refining Techniques' Breathing Exercises" - 8000 million points.

"Introduction to Quantum Consciousness Anchoring" - 12 billion points.

"Basic Gene Optimization Fluid Formula" - 30 billion points

……

One point is actually equivalent to one dollar.

Every single one of these things is enough to drive outsiders crazy, yet it also carries a sense of unreality.

His gaze swept quickly across the list until it settled on a relatively "simple" entry.

"Detailed Explanation of the Eight Vajra Longevity Exercises" (with Breathing Guidance Diagram) - 2000 million points.

"This looks good." Xu Yun clicked on its details.

[Description: Originating from ancient Taoist health preservation methods, and systematically optimized and integrated.]

The external practice of the Eight Vajra Exercises stretches muscles and bones, harmonizing Qi and blood; the internal practice of specific breathing techniques calms the mind and nourishes the internal organs.

Long-term adherence can effectively improve physical condition, delay aging, and enhance vitality.

Note: This requires specific breathing techniques and daily practice. Consistency is key; it cannot be achieved overnight.

There was no exaggerated publicity about miraculous recovery, and no unrealistic promises of instant success.

It was precisely this relatively "realistic" description that stirred something in Xu Yun's heart.

He recalled the yoga he occasionally practiced by following videos in his later years, and the Tai Chi practiced by elderly people in the park in the morning.

The most fundamental aspect of health preservation is simply to follow nature and persevere.

What the system provides may be a more efficient and systematic method of "persistence".

More importantly, this gift is "invisible".

It doesn't flaunt its abilities; it's just a method, a concept.

It doesn't involve any material wealth, but it directly addresses the core needs of Mr. Zhong at his age—health and longevity.

Moreover, he had already fabricated a "mysterious master" before, and by using this as a pretext, he could both explain the origin and add a touch of mystery and profundity.

After all, Zhong Yanyan had already laid the groundwork for Xu Yun's "mysterious master" in front of his father and grandfather, and now it was just the right time to use it.

Therefore, Xu Yun hardly hesitated.

"exchange."

There were no dazzling special effects, only an ordinary-looking, even somewhat old and yellowed, old-fashioned thread-bound booklet that appeared out of thin air on the coffee table in front of him.

The booklet cover was made of dark blue coarse cloth, without any words on it.

Turning to the inner pages, the paper feels soft and supple, and the key points of the technique are written in neat yet elegant small regular script.

It also includes ink line diagrams of human postures and meridian diagrams with detailed markings of the flow of Qi.

Rich in illustrations and text, it exudes a rustic charm.

Xu Yun quickly flipped through it.

The content is presented in a clear and accessible way, starting from the most basic standing meditation and breath regulation, to eight sets of guided movements that progress from simple to complex, and then to the more advanced meditation and breathing techniques, with distinct levels.

The system's optimized descriptions retain the classical charm while avoiding obscurity and abstruseness, allowing even those with no prior knowledge to get started by practicing with the illustrations.

He closed the booklet with satisfaction.

Now we have a gift.

At 10 a.m. the next morning, Zhong Yanyan's unassuming black sedan pulled up right in front of Xu Yun's apartment building.

Today she wore a well-tailored champagne-colored suit, her makeup was exquisite, and she looked less cold and sharp than usual, with more gentleness and... a hint of barely perceptible tension.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Xu Yun opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat, holding only a dark-colored paper file bag without any logo in his hand, which contained the book "Detailed Explanation of the Eight Vajra Longevity Exercises".

Zhong Yanyan glanced at the unassuming bag out of the corner of her eye, her eyes flickered slightly, but she didn't ask any further questions.

She just smiled and shook her head: "Just arrived. At Grandpa's... Today it's mainly family members, and some very close uncles and aunts. It's not a large-scale event, but it's still quite lively."

She paused, as if explaining, or perhaps reminding, "My younger brother, Zhong Lei, is also back from his leave from the army. He's very straightforward, so if he says anything... please don't take it personally."

Xu Yun understood.

Zhong Yanyan's younger brother, Zhong Lei, was someone she had mentioned a few times. He served in a special forces unit, had a fiery temper, and was a troublemaker.

Last time, on that yacht in international waters, this "Young Master Zhong" came looking for trouble in his plane, but I easily subdued him.

It is said that he was scolded quite severely by his grandfather when he returned home.

"fine."

Xu Yun smiled and looked at the street scene rushing past the car window.

The car drove away from the bustling city center and into a heavily guarded, tranquil area.

After passing through two gates guarded by sentries, we finally stopped in front of an old courtyard with a distinct Soviet architectural style, which was also very well repaired and maintained.

With its blue bricks and gray tiles, the courtyard is deep and secluded, with several tall sycamore trees peeking out from the top of the wall, their branches and leaves lush and verdant.

Just as Zhong Yanyan had said, there weren't many people in the courtyard, only about twenty or thirty, mostly middle-aged and elderly people, dressed appropriately, with a calm demeanor, chatting quietly in twos and threes.

The air was filled with the aroma of tea and the subtle sweetness of pastries, creating a relaxed atmosphere with an understated elegance.

Xu Yun and Zhong Yanyan immediately attracted most of the attention when they appeared.

Curious, scrutinizing, knowing, inquisitive... all sorts of gazes fell upon Xu Yun.

Zhong Yanyan remained calm, linked arm with Xu Yun, and greeted the elders who came to greet her with a smile.

"Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Aunt... This is Xu Yun." Zhong Yanyan introduced them with grace and poise, then turned to Xu Yun and pointed out their identities one by one.

Xu Yun maintained just the right amount of politeness and respect, nodding in greeting and addressing him appropriately.

As I listened to their stories, it became clear that these relatives and friends of the Zhong family were indeed in key positions across various industries, just as Zhong Yanyan had said.

Although his specific position was not explicitly stated, the aura he exuded in his words and actions was extraordinary.

"Sister!" a loud voice interrupted.

The crowd parted, and a young man, whose tall and straight figure was still evident even in casual clothes, strode forward.

With a buzz cut, slightly dark skin, and sharp, eagle-like eyes, it was Zhong Lei.

He first grinned at Zhong Yanyan, then his gaze fell on Xu Yun, and the sharpness in his eyes instantly turned into a kind of enthusiasm mixed with awe, admiration and a little awkwardness.

Without saying a word, he stepped forward and gave Xu Yun a tight hug, so strong that Xu Yun raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Brother Xu! You've finally arrived!"

Zhong Lei released his grip, took a half step back, and smiled broadly.

Then, amidst the slightly surprised gazes of the elders around him, he added loudly and without hesitation, "Brother-in-law!"

The shout of "Brother-in-law" was delivered with great force, and a brief silence fell over the courtyard.

Several older members of the Zhong family exchanged meaningful glances.

A faint blush rose on Zhong Yanyan's face. She glared at her younger brother but did not deny it.

Zhong Lei didn't care at all, and chuckled as he said to Xu Yun, "Last time on the boat, I was blind and didn't recognize your greatness, so I offended you."

When I got back, my dad and grandpa gave me a good beating! But I was totally convinced! Seriously!

He gave a thumbs up and said sincerely, "The old man was still talking about you today, which shows how much he likes you."

Xu Yun was somewhat pleased with his straightforwardness and said with a faint smile, "Young Master Lei, you're too kind. It was a misunderstanding at the time."

"Don't call me Young Master Lei, just call me Xiao Lei or Zhong Lei!"

Zhong Lei waved his hand, affectionately put his arm around Xu Yun's shoulder, and said with a smile, "Come on, brother-in-law, I'll take you to see my dad. He was just asking about you."

Zhong Jianguo was having tea with two elegant elderly men under the grape trellis in the corner of the courtyard.

Seeing Zhong Lei leading Xu Yun over, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and a warm smile appeared on his face.

"Uncle Zhong," Xu Yun greeted him.

"Xiao Xu is here, please have a seat."

Zhong Jianguo pointed to the empty rattan chair next to him and introduced it to the two old men: "Li Shu, Zhao Shu, this is Xu Yun, a remarkable young man, and a good friend of Yan Yan."

He then said to Xu Yun, "These two are Uncle Li and Uncle Zhao, both elders who watched me grow up."

Xu Yun greeted him respectfully once again.

The two elderly men nodded with smiles, their gazes lingering on Xu Yun for a moment, carrying the gentleness of elders looking at a younger generation, yet also a subtle scrutiny.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two elderly men tactfully excused themselves to go check on the chess game and got up to leave.

Only Zhong Jianguo and Xu Yun remained under the grape trellis; Zhong Lei was also distracted by Zhong Jianguo's glances to attend to the other guests.

"Yan Yan already told you, today is a family dinner, so don't be shy." Zhong Jianguo poured Xu Yun a cup of tea, his tone casual, but the air of someone who had long held a high position was naturally revealed.

"Yes, Yan Yan told me that it is my honor to be able to come and celebrate Elder Zhong's birthday."

Zhong Jianguo nodded, and the topic naturally turned to business. He said, "Our cooperation with Huawei is progressing very smoothly. The framework has been set up, and the factory site and core technical personnel are being finalized."

The key issues are upstream equipment and some special materials. There are still some obstacles, and we are coordinating through multiple channels.

Yes, chips are a big deal and a difficult thing. It's not easy to take this step.

You have made a great contribution to our country!

Zhong Jianguo took a sip of tea and said with a deep gaze, "If you need my help in the future, or if you encounter any insurmountable obstacles, you can let Yan Yan talk to me."

Of course, it must be within the rules.

This is already a fairly clear signal of support.

Xu Yun understood immediately and said, "Thank you, Uncle Zhong. I will definitely ask you for advice if I need anything."

The two then discussed the current state and future trends of the industry. Zhong Jianguo asked detailed questions, while Xu Yun answered cautiously and to the point.

During the conversation, Zhong Jianguo's impression of Xu Yun seemed to improve even further.

This young man is courageous, resourceful, and possesses a maturity and shrewdness beyond his years.

No wonder my daughter...

Just then, a slightly noisy greeting came from the direction of the main house.

Grandpa Zhong, Zhong Shichang, came down from his study on the second floor, surrounded by his family.

The old man was wearing a perfectly pressed Zhongshan suit without a single wrinkle, his full head of silver hair was neatly combed, his back was straight, and his face had the usual sternness that commanded respect without anger.

But today, a subtle hint of gentleness and joy lingered in his eyes.

As soon as he appeared, the guests and family members who were originally scattered in the courtyard quieted down and spontaneously gathered around to express their birthday wishes to the old man.

Zhong Jianguo also stood up, gestured to Xu Yun, and the two walked over together.

The process of presenting birthday gifts was quite simple, without any extravagant displays, but the care put into each gift was evident.

Some gifts included calligraphy and paintings by famous artists, others carefully selected rare and ancient books, and still others were handwritten longevity paintings or embroidered pine and crane motifs by younger generations...

Mr. Zhong mostly just nodded, handed the items to the staff around him, and said "Thank you for your trouble," his attitude gentle but distant.

When it was Xu Yun's turn, many eyes were once again focused on him.

What will this young man, personally picked up by the eldest daughter of the Zhong family and addressed as "brother-in-law" by the Zhong family's "troublemaker," give as a gift?
Xu Yun stepped forward and took out a dark blue, undecorated, thread-bound booklet from the plain paper file folder.

The booklet looked quite old, with even slight wear on the corners.

"Mr. Zhong, may you live a long and healthy life, like evergreen pines and cypresses."

Xu Yun handed over the booklet with both hands, saying in a steady voice, "This was left to me by my master in his early years. He said it was an ancient method of health preservation, involving external movement and internal stillness, combined with breathing. If you persist in it for a long time, it will have some benefits for harmonizing your body and mind."

I think it's perfect for you to stretch your muscles and maintain your energy in your spare time.

As soon as he said that, the surroundings became quiet for a moment.

Ancient methods of health preservation?
book?

Was it given to you by your "master"?
The people present were all wealthy, influential, and knowledgeable.

The gifts they gave were either very valuable, had profound meaning, or were the result of painstaking effort.

But what about a tattered-looking booklet with vague and unsubstantiated content about "ancient methods of health preservation"?
This... seems rather shabby, even a bit childish, doesn't it?

Several younger members of the Zhong family's collateral branches couldn't help but exchange glances, a hint of amusement creeping onto their lips.

Even Zhong Yanyan, though she believed that Xu Yun must have a deeper meaning in doing this, couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Zhong Jianguo frowned almost imperceptibly.

However, Zhong Shichang, who was in the center of attention, reacted quite differently.

His eyes, which had seen the world's affairs, narrowed slightly the moment Xu Yun took out the booklet.

When he heard the word "Master," a glint of light flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Others may not know, but he had learned bits and pieces of information about the "mysterious master" behind Xu Yun from his granddaughter.

The pieces of information, when pieced together, point to an entity that may possess comprehension abilities and resources beyond those of ordinary people.

Xu Yun's sudden rise to prominence can be attributed to the looming presence of his "master" behind him.

For an elderly man like Zhong Shichang, who has witnessed the true secrets of the top echelons, he knows that there are indeed fields and people in this world that science cannot explain for the time being, or that are difficult for ordinary people to access.

The value of a "health preservation method" left by such a person is far beyond what can be measured by the yellowed pages on the surface!
What others see as a "tattered book" may be a real treasure in Zhong Shichang's eyes!

Zhong Shichang almost immediately stepped forward and extended his hands, which were covered with age spots.

His arm looked rather ordinary, but at this moment it carried a sense of solemnity.

His eyes lit up, and with a wry smile, he took the booklet and carefully tucked it into his pocket.

The people around looked at the old man with strange eyes, and were startled.

Is this booklet really that valuable? (End of Chapter)