Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 231 Difficult to handle, but there is a way to handle it.

Upon hearing this, Ono Oda perked up again, his eyes darting around, and he said:
"The matter is difficult, but not impossible. After all, it was you, Cao Sang, who brought it up."

"For your sake, I have to help you out a bit, don't I?"

"By the way, I've heard that your country is quite famous for its antiques and calligraphy. I wonder if I would have the honor of appreciating some of them?"

Wow, is the sun rising in the west?
Ono Oda, that little devil, doesn't like real gold and silver, but instead pretentiously likes antiques and calligraphy?
Little did they know that Ono Oda had his own plans.

You can say he's greedy and lustful, but you absolutely cannot say he's brainless.

After all, he was highly educated and came from a good family, so he understood some principles that people from lower classes didn't.

He already has enough money, and he'll only have more in the future.

If this continues, a good thing might turn into a bad thing.

Rather than letting money keep expanding, it's better to exchange it for something that can enhance one's foundation.

Antique calligraphy and paintings are undoubtedly the best choice.

Those who know about the empire understand.

Other Western countries...tsk, they're not even as good as empires.

If we're talking about which country's antiques and calligraphy are the most popular, and which hold their value and even appreciate the most, then it's undoubtedly China.

In China, antique calligraphy and paintings, even if they are only contained in a small square box, can be worth thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, and there is never a shortage of buyers. They can be sold off at any time.

Isn't this better than those silver dollars and gold that are often sold by the box or by the ton?
Cao Wei Da had no idea what the other party was thinking, but that didn't matter; as long as the other party agreed, that was enough.

It's just an antique, we can arrange it. It's not like we're paying for it ourselves.

After leaving Ono Oda's office, he went straight back to his own office and called the Lou family.

"President Lou, this is Cao Weida. I have not failed you!"

"Yes, come pick me up at the police station entrance, and we can talk in detail when we meet."

About twenty minutes later, a black Chevrolet sedan pulled up near the police station entrance.

Lou Zhenhua then quickly got out of the car and personally opened the door for Cao Weida: "Mr. Cao, please."

"Mr. Lou, you're too kind. I can do it myself!"

That's what he said, but his body betrayed him as he lowered his head and got into the car. Not everyone would have the chance to experience Lou Bancheng personally opening the car door in the future.

"Mr. Lou, is it convenient for us to talk?"

Lou Zhenhua understood what he meant and quickly assured him, "Don't worry, Master Cao, the driver's name is Xu Wude. He's been with our family for many years and is reliable!"

Xu Wude?
Cao Weida looked at Xu Wude, who was driving, and Xu Wude turned around and gave him a humble smile.

He nodded slightly in response, but Cao Weida did not speak again.

Damn it, this is Xu Wude, Xu Damao's father!
This guy is an old silver coin, so let's not say anything, lest we accidentally say something we shouldn't. Who knows if this old silver coin will find an opportunity to retaliate against us after liberation?

Seeing that Cao Weida suddenly fell silent, Lou Zhenhua naturally realized that he did not trust his driver.

However, he didn't think too much about it. Putting himself in the other person's shoes, if he saw a stranger present, he wouldn't say certain things casually either.

It takes about twenty minutes to walk from the police station to the Lou residence, and it would be a bit awkward if no one spoke along the way.

Cao Weida was naturally too lazy to find topics to talk about. It was Lou Zhenhua who asked him for a favor, not the other way around.

Fortunately, Lou Zhenhua was, after all, the successor cultivated by Old Master Lou, and was quite adept at interpersonal relationships. He kept chatting with people along the way, so he didn't get bored.

About twenty minutes later, the car arrived at the entrance of a three-story villa in Dongjiaomin Lane, Dongcheng District.

Cao Weida got out of the car and looked around. The Western-style building blended European style with Chinese elements, and its exterior design was ingenious.

The walls of the Western-style building were painted in a light color, which, combined with the antique windows and porch, made it look dignified and elegant.

"Mr. Cao, I'm so sorry for not greeting you sooner!" A man who looked somewhat similar to Lou Zhenhua, but much older, walked up with a smile.

Lou Zhenhua then introduced, "Uncle Cao, this is my father, Lou Yaozu, the current chairman of Lou's Steel Rolling Mill."

"So it's Chairman Lou! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Cao Weida feigned surprise and replied with a smile.
"Chairman Lou is so dashing and has such an extraordinary presence. No wonder Lou's steel rolling mill has been thriving for so many years!"

"Haha, Mr. Cao, you flatter me too much. What do you mean by 'spirited and vigorous'? I'm practically halfway to my grave. You are the real young talent. To be able to hold such a high position at such a young age, I am deeply impressed!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lou Yaozu, beaming, gestured for them to come inside: "Mr. Cao, let's talk inside. Please come in."

"Chairman Lou, please."

Once inside, Cao Weida glanced around casually, inwardly praising the property. No wonder he was wealthy; the exterior of this small villa already exuded elegance and sophistication, and the interior was even more impressive.

First, there is a rather large courtyard, which is similar to the concept of a traditional courtyard house. However, this courtyard is more about planting various meticulously manicured lawns and colorful flowers, which is quite similar to the concept of villa courtyards in later generations.

Enter the house.

The house has a spacious and bright living room, furnished with sofas and coffee tables that look quite luxurious.

There were exquisite calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall, which he guessed must be a valuable antique.

The floor is terrazzo, simple yet elegant.

The terrazzo is inlaid with artistic patterns, making it look beautiful.

The walls are painted in light colors, and plaster floral decorations are installed on the ceiling, echoing the chandelier and creating a luxurious atmosphere.

The decor and its opulence are in no way inferior to, or even more luxurious than, the interiors of over 95% of the homes he lived in when he transmigrated.

'Tsk, if I didn't want to keep a low profile, I'd definitely like to own a little villa like this.'

Although the courtyard house was quite nice to live in, Cao Weida still preferred the small Western-style house.

In comparison, the courtyard house is more traditional and comfortable, fitting Chinese lifestyle habits.

Furthermore, courtyard houses often conform to the design principle of "harmony between man and nature," making them more suitable for the northern climate.

For example, in summer, the courtyard is shaded by trees and has a cool breeze, making it more breathable than a Western-style building.

With plenty of sunshine in winter, combined with a coal stove for heating, the warmth is not dry, making it more suitable for the needs of northern winters than Western-style houses that rely solely on fireplaces.

However, villas also have their advantages, such as more advanced functions and facilities, greater privacy, and a cleaner environment.

"After the Japanese surrender, it wouldn't be bad to find a small villa to live in, at least for a few years. After liberation, we can just register it under someone else's name."

"Mr. Cao, please have a seat."

"Ah, okay, thank you." Lou Yaozu's polite greeting brought Cao Weida back to his senses.

After sitting down, Lou Zhenhua arranged for some snacks, fruit, and tea to be served. The three of them then chatted casually to get to know each other better.

After a while, Lou Yaozu finally got to the point: "Mr. Cao, my son told me earlier that you have good news?"

"That's true. Otherwise, I wouldn't have dared to come and bother you."

"Oh, Mr. Cao, you're too kind. There's no need for such formality. We've already met, so we should keep in touch often."

Before Cao Weida lost power, the Lou family was very willing and hoped to maintain a good relationship with him.

If they can be on good terms, the Lou family will have far fewer troubles.

The other party was interested in making friends, but Cao Wei Da didn't seem to care.

He was certain that, at least before liberation, even if the Japanese surrendered and the Kuomintang took over Beiping, he would not lose his power, and might even have more power.

With power in his hands, only the Lou family has the right to curry favor with him!

As for after liberation
Putting aside the question of whether he would lose power in the future, even if he did, he didn't want to associate with the Lou family.

After all, those who know, know.

Of course, he couldn't show it on his face if he didn't care, so he nodded and smiled in agreement.

"Well, I won't beat around the bush with you, Chairman Lou. Commander Ono has already told me that although this matter is difficult, there is still room for negotiation for my sake. However..."

The Lou family father and son were not dissatisfied with the final "however" turn; on the contrary, they were very happy.

Because there is a "however", there is room for discussion!
Lou Yaozu asked, "I wonder what Ono-sama usually likes? Although I am not very wealthy, I still have some resources. As long as it is within our capabilities, we will definitely give Ono-sama a satisfactory answer."

Cao Weida understood the subtext of those words, but he didn't seem to care and simply chuckled:
"Commander Ono is from Japan, but he has always been very interested in the history of China. Because of this, he is already a semi-expert on China."

"Furthermore, he was quite interested in the history of China. Whenever he read about Chinese history, he was always captivated by it and hoped to have the opportunity to see the artifacts to reminisce."

"If he were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to see some things that are imbued with the historical atmosphere of China up close, I imagine he would be overjoyed."

Upon hearing this, the Lou family father and son immediately understood what it meant.
What other things can you find besides antiques that embody the historical spirit of China?
If it were something else, it would be hard to say, but when it comes to antiques, Beijing certainly has no shortage of them.

They definitely won't choose the common ones; if they're going to give a gift, it has to be something of value.

Although truly good things are not very common in Beiping, as long as you have money, you can always find some good stuff!
"Of course, of course. Please tell Mr. Cao that we will do our best to find something that will satisfy him!"

"Mr. Cao, please rest assured that we will never forget your kindness after the matter is settled."

(End of this chapter)