Chapter 10: The Most Noble Under Heaven

In the end, Hao Baoli took his leave. As the executive chef of the State Guesthouse, this meal was already a rare privilege. Four dishes worthy of a state banquet left Zhuang Chen deeply rewarded and enriched.

Back in his room, Butler Hu brewed a pot of pre-rain Dragon Well tea. Zhuang Chen lounged comfortably on the sofa, digesting the meal in ease and contentment.

After two days of conversation, it was clear that Butler Hu was a consummate professional. Especially as someone from the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, his insight and discernment were far beyond the ordinary.

He remembered reading a news story once: a certain top foreign tycoon, surprisingly, owned no property at all, lived year-round in five-star hotels, had no family or children—a true eccentric. At the time, he’d fantasized that if he ever became wealthy, he’d jet around the world in pursuit of gourmet cuisine, buying villas wherever the food was best. Divide the year into twenty-four segments, move every half month, eternal spring, feasting to his heart’s content—now that was living!

As an orphan, owning a home that truly belonged to him had always been Zhuang Chen’s greatest dream. Coming to the capital, he felt the pulse of its prosperity and decided to buy his first home—settling at the foot of the throne, making a place for himself in the heart of the nation.

“You’d like to purchase property?” Butler Hu, having spent some time with this young guest, had grown quite fond of him. He found him calm, discreet, humble, and courteous. With his wealth of experience, Butler Hu could tell that Zhuang Chen was not from a prominent family—his bearing still a bit raw, protecting himself with distance.

True taste and refinement cannot be bought with money alone. In the capital, nouveau riche abound, but genuine aristocrats with cultivation are few and far between. A word, a gesture, even a glance—those with discernment can gauge the subtle differences in status. Especially here, in the State Guesthouse, where he had served countless dignitaries and elites: money, in Diaoyutai, scarcely makes an impression.

After a moment’s thought, Butler Hu advised, “If your finances are robust, I recommend buying the very best. First, for the quality, the attentive service, the privacy and security. Even if you decide to sell later, the potential for appreciation is significant. In the capital, every inch of land is worth its weight in gold—no investment is as secure as real estate.”

Zhuang Chen laughed heartily and invited him to sit and chat. Butler Hu continued, “When it comes to villas in the capital, the key factors are the Mountain, the Two Rivers, the Three Lines, and the Four Highways.”

“The Mountain refers to the Western Hills; the Two Rivers, to the Chaobai and Wenyu rivers; the Three Lines are the Litang, Jingshun, and Jingtong routes; and the Four Highways are the Jingchang, Jingshen, Jingkai, and Jingmi expressways.”

“Whether for convenience of transportation or for deeper reasons of feng shui and fortune, the best locations are essentially within these areas. If I were to recommend, it would be Pangu Plaza, Capital No.1 Courtyard, and, closest to us, Diaoyutai No.7 Courtyard.”

Zhuang Chen was taken aback. “Pangu Plaza? Isn’t that the building infamous for being the ‘ugliest in the CBD’?”

Butler Hu couldn’t help but laugh. “Ugly or not is a matter of taste. From a feng shui perspective, it’s actually a dragon—its main tower shaped as the dragon’s head, which is why it looks a bit odd.”

“The biggest selling point is the location—adjacent to the Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, and Olympic Park, with all the iconic landmarks in plain sight. Within a few hundred meters’ walk, you’re in the heart of the business district. Compared to current traffic conditions, you know how valuable that is…”

“It took seven years to complete. Each unit has a private, independent elevator recognition system and its own waiting lounge—excellent for privacy. There are also twelve courtyard residences on the rooftop, only available for lease, not for sale. I hear the annual rent is 120 million—about as high as it gets.”

“When it was built, there were fines of 3,000 per square meter for violations, but with 160,000 per square meter, that was negligible. The entire building, from start to finish, resembles a soaring dragon—symbolizing imperial nobility and auspiciousness. It’s a unique dragon-shaped structure in the capital.”

After a sip of tea, Butler Hu continued, “A previous guest bought a unit there—said the security was decent. The maintenance fee is 20 yuan per square meter, and each residence averages 600 square meters, so about 12,000 per month, which is quite reasonable for what you get.”

Zhuang Chen smiled silently. Goodness, just the monthly fees were more than most white-collar workers earn by working themselves to death. But Butler Hu spoke the truth: high-end residences are about exclusivity—prime locations and service. For the wealthy, the more ostentatious, the better.

“I heard Pangu Seven-Star Mansion will be up for judicial auction at the end of the month—valued at 8 billion!” Butler Hu lowered his voice. “That includes forty-one residences and nineteen office properties; one of them is around 120 million. If you’re interested in investing, it’s worth considering.”

“There’s an old saying: the wall of Wanliu, the jar of Xichen, the roof of Xiaoba, the lake of Sunac, the trees of Zichen, and whose courtyard in Beiping Mansion?”

“In the circles of the wealthy, it’s basically those few—Zhonghe's Wanliu Academy, Sunac's No.1 Courtyard, Taihe's Golden Mansion, China Resources’ Beiping Mansion, and Jindi’s Central Aristocrat.”

“In my view, when choosing a house, first is location, then feng shui. This has been passed down for thousands of years—you can’t help but believe!”

Butler Hu’s expression grew serious. “Pangu Plaza borrows the shape for power, but No.1 Courtyard sits at the city’s ‘dragon eye’—right by the Agricultural Exhibition Center on the East Third Ring, no question about it.”

“It’s designed as a crystal palace, with glass curtain walls and a fifty-thousand-square-meter lake reflecting the sunrise and sunset—meant to nurture the dragon’s spirit. ‘A mountain is famed if it has an immortal; water is spiritual if it harbors a dragon.’”

“As you know, living by a lake in the capital is no easy feat. The best sites are absolutely not just a matter of money!”

Zhuang Chen nodded in full agreement. Butler Hu seemed to recall something, then shook his head and laughed at himself. “Ah, it’s all just talk. On my salary, in a few lifetimes I could only dream and savor the thought.”

“But if I could choose, I’d buy in Diaoyutai No.7 Courtyard. Having worked half a lifetime at the State Guesthouse, to retire nearby—even dying there would be worthwhile!”

Zhuang Chen’s interest was piqued. “Diaoyutai No.7 Courtyard? Does it have anything to do with…”

“No, please, don’t misunderstand!” Butler Hu quickly explained, “No.7 Courtyard has nothing to do with the State Guesthouse, except that both are near Yuyuantan Park, so…”

Zhuang Chen waved it off, smiling without a word. To secure land at the lakeside and name it Diaoyutai—who would believe there wasn’t some powerful backing?

Butler Hu sighed and dropped the subject. “The environment at No.7 Courtyard is unmatched in the capital. It’s only eighty meters from Yuyuantan Lake, with a view of Diaoyutai’s four-hundred-thousand-square-meter imperial gardens, and to the west, Asia’s largest cherry blossom park.”

“Wide waters, lush forests, birdsong, willows along the embankment, stone bridges for scenery, pavilions among the shade and flowers—the classical charm and lakeside beauty are all within view, tranquil and elegant.”

“There are four cultural buildings, a hundred deluxe residences from three to six hundred square meters, all facing south toward the lake in a straight line from east to west. The overall silhouette echoes the mountains, harmonizing perfectly with the southern waters of Yuyuantan—mountains at the back, water at the front, an ideal match.”

“Ceilings are 3.4 meters high, living rooms twelve meters wide, with 270-degree panoramic views. There are duplexes on the first floor and expansive flats on the top—the finishes are absolutely…”

He was in the midst of his passionate description when he noticed Zhuang Chen’s amused expression and realized, “Sorry, I sound like a sales agent, don’t I?”

“I’ve visited twice myself—I truly love it, but it’s so expensive!” Butler Hu added helplessly, “The lowest price is at least 160,000 per square meter; the highest, in Building Three, reaches 300,000 per square—the highest in the capital. The cheapest unit is over 12,000 per square, with the smallest at three hundred square meters. After taxes, forget it unless you have fifty million to spare. Ah…”

Zhuang Chen smiled faintly. Fifty million was astronomical for the average person, but to the truly wealthy, it was nothing. He was very pleased with the scenery at Diaoyutai, and since it wasn’t far, he decided to take a look in the next couple of days.

Butler Hu stood, collecting himself with a smile. “Forgive my rambling. Most of what I know about luxury homes is hearsay—I’ve seen few with my own eyes. Take it as just a chat; I’m no expert.”

Zhuang Chen’s mind flashed with inspiration, and he blurted out, “What about bodyguards?”