novelraw Chapter 54 Increased Net Worth
Chapter 54 Increased Net Worth
In May, the daytime heat of Hong Kong was quietly dispelled by the sea breeze at night, and a cool breeze carrying a salty and damp scent swept through the streets. Lin Zhou's figure was like an arrow released from a bow, swiftly shuttling through the sparsely populated streets and alleys.
After passing through two once bustling commercial streets and avoiding several patrolling police teams, Lin Zhou finally returned to the apartment building. He bypassed the guard post, entered the building, and took the elevator to the sixteenth floor.
Lin Zhou continued walking, taking out his keys and opening his door. The moment he entered, he immediately checked the doors and windows, making sure all the latches were engaged, then abruptly pulled all the curtains shut, completely shutting out the night and lights outside. The room was instantly plunged into darkness, with only a faint sliver of moonlight seeping in through the gaps in the curtains, outlining the blurry shapes of the furniture.
After doing all this, Lin Zhou finally let out a long sigh of relief, leaning against the door to calm his rapid breathing. He could clearly feel his heart pounding in his chest, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead, soaking his collar. After a moment's rest, he focused his mind, and with a thought, the scene before him suddenly changed.
No longer a simply furnished apartment in Hong Kong, but a beautifully decorated, spacious, and bright three-bedroom house. Off-white wallpaper, light gray floors, and simple yet elegant furniture. This is the house he brought with him when he traveled through time, his personal space, and his most reliable haven in this unfamiliar era.
The air inside was fresh and dry, carrying a faint woody scent, a stark contrast to the humid heat of Hong Kong outside. Lin Zhou's tense nerves finally relaxed. He went straight to the bathroom, turned on the shower, and the warm water cascaded down, washing away the dust and fatigue from his body. The water flowed over his muscular arms, carrying away the sweat from his escape and washing away the traces of dirt he had picked up when sneaking into Boss Li's villa. He closed his eyes, letting the hot water pour over his head, but his mind involuntarily replayed the details of tonight, confirming that he hadn't left any flaws.
After showering for about twenty minutes, Lin Zhou turned off the shower, dried himself with a clean towel, and changed into a set of pure cotton loungewear. He had specially prepared this outfit before transmigrating; it was soft, comfortable, and felt exceptionally relaxed on him. At this moment, he finally let down his guard completely, and his whole body relaxed.
He didn't linger, turning to walk towards one of the bedrooms in the space—a temporary storage room he had converted specifically for storing the antique treasures he had "plundered" from the steel rolling mill in the interior. Pushing open the door, he saw several wooden shelves neatly arranged, filled with various porcelain, jade, and bronze artifacts, as well as numerous rare books and paintings. These were all items he had collected from Director Li and the steel rolling mill during that special period; each piece carried a profound historical significance.
Lin Zhou walked to a corner of the room, cleared a space, and moved a finely crafted mahogany eight-immortal table from the corner. The table had clear grain, a warm color, a smooth and flat surface, and exquisite lotus scroll patterns carved along the edges. He carefully placed the table on its surface, making sure it was not tilted at all.
Then, he carried several large bundles to the mahogany table. These were his "spoils of war" that he had brought from Boss Li's villa that evening, the heavy bundles piled together.
Lin Zhou crouched down and opened the bundles one by one. The first bundle contained more than a dozen paintings and calligraphies. He gently unfolded them and laid them flat on the mahogany table. Each piece was wrapped in brocade and was exquisitely crafted. There were landscape paintings with delicate brushstrokes and a profound artistic conception; there were paintings of flowers, birds, fish, and insects, with vibrant colors and lifelike detail. The birds on the branches seemed about to take flight at any moment, and the butterflies among the flowers seemed to be fluttering about; there were also several calligraphy works, with characters that were either vigorous and powerful or elegant and unrestrained, showing great skill in the flow of the brushstrokes. Although Lin Zhou was not a professional collector, he could tell that the artists of these paintings and calligraphies were no ordinary people.
As he admired the paintings and calligraphy, he carefully categorized and organized them, rolling each piece up individually, tying them with thin ribbons, and neatly arranging them on one side of the table. Next, he opened the second bundle, which contained antique ornaments—a warm, translucent Hetian jade bracelet, pure white in color and fine in texture, gleaming softly under the light; a uniquely shaped blue-and-white porcelain vase, decorated with a peony scroll pattern, its blue glaze rich and vibrant, its glaze even; and a simple yet elegant bronze incense burner, its body carved with exquisite animal patterns, its craftsmanship superb. Lin Zhou took out each ornament, carefully wiping away the dust, and then arranged them orderly on the mahogany table according to their material and size.
The third bundle contained some small pieces of gold and silver jewelry. Neatly stacked gold bars and silver ingots gleamed, radiating a dazzling light; there were also various styles of gold rings, necklaces, and earrings, inlaid with sparkling gemstones, dazzlingly beautiful. Lin Zhou found a camphor wood chest he had prepared beforehand and carefully placed the gold and silver jewelry inside, filling it completely. The aroma of camphor wood could repel moisture and insects, effectively protecting these valuables.
After organizing these treasures, Lin Zhou straightened up and stretched his somewhat stiff back. Looking at the dazzling array of priceless antique paintings, calligraphy, and ornaments on the table, as well as the glittering gold and silver jewelry in the camphor wood chest, a satisfied smile spread across his face. These were not only symbols of wealth but also testaments to this era; each piece possessed immeasurable value.
However, he didn't dwell on his immediate gains. Instead, his gaze fell on the corner of the room—where stood a safe taller than a person, the very "big guy" he had painstakingly carried out of Boss Li's study that evening. The safe was made entirely of thick steel plates, its smooth, cold surface gleaming with a metallic sheen. The edges were reinforced very firmly, making it appear exceptionally sturdy. The safe's door was made of heavy alloy, fitted with a complex combination lock and mechanical lock, the lock cylinder deeply recessed, suggesting excellent security.
Lin Zhou walked to the safe, reached out and patted the door, producing a dull thud. In his previous life, faced with such a sturdy safe, he would have had no choice but to call a professional locksmith. But things were different now. Having transmigrated, his body had been subtly enhanced by his personal space, making his strength, speed, and endurance far surpass those of ordinary people. He could even barely budge ordinary steel plates.
He turned and walked out of the room into the dining room of the space, where he rummaged through a storage cabinet and pulled out a manual cutting machine. He had bought this cutting machine when he renovated his house in his previous life to cut tiles and small amounts of metal. Unexpectedly, it had been brought into the space during his transmigration, and now it came in handy. The cutting machine was made of iron and was somewhat heavy, with a round cutting disc on it, the edges of which were extremely sharp.
Lin Zhou carried the cutting machine back to the storage room, placed it on the ground in front of the safe, adjusted the angle so that it was aligned with the gap in the safe door. He took a deep breath, gripped the handle of the cutting machine tightly with both hands, and pressed the switch hard. "Buzz buzz buzz—" The cutting machine immediately emitted a piercing roar, and the cutting blade spun at high speed, carrying a powerful killing force.
He carefully placed the cutting blade close to the gap in the safe door. Sparks flew instantly, and dazzling sparks scattered like shooting stars, crackling as they hit the ground. The pungent smell of metal being cut filled the air, making Lin Zhou wince. He endured the discomfort, steadily controlling the cutting machine with both hands, slowly cutting through the safe door.
The steel plate of the safe was thicker than he had imagined, and the high temperature generated by the friction between the cutting blade and the metal made the surrounding air feel scorching. Before long, the first cutting blade became dull, and the cutting speed noticeably slowed down. Lin Zhou had to stop what he was doing, replace it with a spare cutting blade, and continue cutting.
Time ticked by, and the only sounds in the storage room were the ear-piercing roar of the cutting machine and the sparks from the metal scraping together. Sweat beaded on Lin Zhou's forehead again, and his arms ached from the prolonged exertion, but he had no intention of giving up. He knew that this safe must contain Boss Li's most valuable assets and secrets, and he had to open it no matter what.
After changing three cutting blades, a crisp "snap" rang out, and a long crack was finally cut into the safe door. Lin Zhou turned off the cutting machine, the roaring sound abruptly stopped, and the storage room instantly returned to silence, with only his heavy breathing remaining. He rested for a moment, stretched his aching arms, and then reached out and forcefully pried open the safe door.
The moment the cabinet door opened, a faint musty smell mixed with the scent of paper wafted out. Lin Zhou composed himself and peered into the safe by the light in the room, instantly stunned by what he saw inside.
The safe was divided into several compartments, with stacks of banknotes neatly arranged on the top shelf, mostly pounds and dollars, with a small amount of Hong Kong dollars. These banknotes were bundled up neatly, piled high, almost filling the entire compartment, and exuding an enticing metallic ink scent. Lin Zhou casually picked up a stack of pounds; it felt thick, the paper had a fine texture, and it was clearly genuine.
Below the banknotes lay a dozen or so property ownership certificates and land use certificates. The covers were yellowed, but the writing was still clearly legible. Lin Zhou picked one up and opened it. It bore the name of Boss Li, and the addresses were mostly in prime locations in Hong Kong, including shops, residences, and a few plots of land in the New Territories. He hadn't expected Boss Li to own so much property; he was indeed a man of considerable wealth.
Besides banknotes and property deeds, the safe also contained numerous ledgers and company contracts. The ledgers were bound in thread, filled with meticulous records of various income and expenditure details, written in neat handwriting and clearly organized, indicating careful record-keeping. The company contracts, mostly signed with overseas companies, covered multiple areas such as trade and investment, bearing bright red seals and detailed clauses, clearly possessing legal force.
Lin Zhou didn't find the deposit slips and checkbook in the safe. They must have been on Boss Li's person or somewhere else. He regretted not searching him. What a pity!