Chapter 622 - 9: Billionaire (Part 2)
However, as of today, Chen Zhou feels that whether he still qualifies as the species "human" has already become a matter of debate.
Enhancing physical capabilities and conducting deeper tests, including finding sports of interest, have been scheduled by Chen Zhou.
...
He remained busy until October 2025 and only hurried back to his hometown in Balin Town from another province during the National Day holiday.
Since Chen Zhou never disclosed to his parents what he had been doing recently, nor mentioned anything related to his challenges, the two at home did not know what kind of job he had found, only aware that he was always on business trips, too busy to keep his feet on the ground.
The new job, although busy, brought a considerable rise in income, shooting directly from over four thousand at the cement factory to sixteen thousand a month.
For Father Chen and Mrs. Chen, who have spent half their lives in the small town, this is indeed a considerable income.
People in the 21st century like to "look towards money," so the increased income not only relieved the burden on Father Chen and Mrs. Chen but also brought them face-saving dignity.
At least when chatting with relatives and friends, Chen Zhou is no longer overshadowed by the children of other families, instead becoming a role model for many relatives in educating their children.
Of course, these matters are quite significant in the eyes of Father Chen and Mrs. Chen, but for Chen Zhou, they are inconsequential.
Chen Zhou, with a psychological age already surpassing his parents, now finds it difficult to face his biological parents as he once did; he still deeply loves his family, but sometimes feels a peculiar sense of contradiction when he sees his parents—
This contradiction stems not only from the 28 years of experience brought by the challenges but also from the many unspeakable secrets he carries.
Chen Zhou does not know whether he should fear everything the challenges have brought him or calmly accept all these abnormal occurrences.
He only hopes his changes will not affect his family, bringing them misfortune and unforeseen troubles.
...
As the National Day holiday is coming to an end, Chen Zhou is about to leave his home in the small town and head to his villa in the north to continue his research on the body—
In the eyes of his parents, Chen Zhou is considered rather mature now, with a successful career, good looks, a degree, and a respectable height; although his family background is not affluent, they can still manage some savings.
At this stage in life, marrying and having children seems a natural progression.
While staying at home, Father Chen and Mrs. Chen keep reminding Chen Zhou to get someone to find him a partner, or urging him to quickly find a girlfriend, or subtly hinting their desire for grandchildren, which made Chen Zhou feel quite exasperated.
Originally, Father Chen and Mrs. Chen were not that urgent in their urging; it was not until October 1st, after Chen Zhou took them out for a meal during the holiday, and Father Chen won fifty thousand after buying two lottery tickets as they passed a lottery shop after the meal, that their confidence was boosted with money in their pockets, and their voices grew louder.
Acquiring this unexpected fortune, the parents did not consider it for their retirement but planned to use it as a down payment, then to buy Chen Zhou a decent car, and continue helping to repay his mortgage; once he marries and has children, they imagine helping take care of the children would be enough.
Despite the growing distance from his parents, even suspecting that his body might have been swapped.
Yet regardless of the angle, Father Chen and Mrs. Chen remain Chen Zhou’s closest kin.
The lottery ticket Father Chen won was specifically bought at a high price by Chen Zhou, a gift to his parents in hopes that the money would make their lives less burdensome and allow them to enjoy peace in their old age at home.
Even with money in hand, his parents, who have worked hard all their lives, still do not think of enjoying themselves, only wanting their son to live better.
Parents within Huaxia Civilization always hold this mindset of sacrificing themselves for the prosperity of future generations, which leaves Chen Zhou somewhat awkward—
He has never contemplated marriage, at least not now, as there are many important things awaiting him beyond marriage.
...
The travel arrangements were already made, tickets booked, ready for immediate departure.
Right before setting off, Feng Yingxuan, who hadn’t contacted Chen Zhou for a long time, gave him a call.
Chen Zhou thought Feng Yingxuan had news on Yellow Jade Seed Material, ready to make an offer to purchase—
With his account balance reaching nine figures now, he is confident in spending whatever it takes to acquire rare jade materials.
Unexpectedly, Feng Yingxuan wanted to talk about something else—
One of her uncles, specializing in research on European currency and European artifacts, is recently collaborating with a British collector exhibiting in Jingbei; she had informed her relative in advance, allowing Chen Zhou to take his Gold Coins for appraisal.
Feng Yingxuan’s uncle is quite famous in the field of European currency research in the country, and his appraisals are highly credible.
The British collector is financially strong and has been friends with Feng Yingxuan’s uncle for many years, so if Chen Zhou’s Gold Coins are appraised as genuine and he is willing to sell, the collector can purchase them directly.
...
Though Chen Zhou no longer lacks money, he remains curious about whether the currency brought back from the 17th century would be identified as modern replicas or authentic antiques after professional appraisal.
Incidentally, he needs to transfer flights via Jingbei on his way to his villa.
Partly to answer his own doubts, partly to appreciate Feng Yingxuan’s goodwill as a friend, Chen Zhou brought along a handful of Gold Coins and two exquisite Inca Empire gold ornaments, directly heading to Jingbei.
...
The prosperity of the Capital surpasses Balin Town by a thousandfold.
Tall buildings rise, cars bustle, people hurry, faces from all over the world can be seen everywhere.
Among the throngs of business elite in suits, Chen Zhou stood out after leaving the plane, still dressed in simple attire—
He really isn’t accustomed to suits worth tens of thousands; it’s the sportswear costing a few hundred that he feels comfortable wearing.
Hailing a cab at the airport, he headed straight for Pan Garden Block Two.
This is the address provided by Feng Yingxuan, which surprised Chen Zhou while making perfect sense—
One was an expert in the antique world, the other a giant in the collection world, both finally gathered in Jingbei, a visit to the nationally renowned antique market seems perfectly reasonable.
By now, Pan Garden is no longer just a long street with antique stalls.
Supported by the government and sought after by the public, it has become a sprawling district, from antique furniture to modern collectibles, jade, paintings, porcelain, copper, purple clay utensils, seal stones...
All manner of cultural artifacts, ancient and modern, can be found in this vast district if sellers believe someone might be interested.
Besides stalls, Pan Garden also hosts official shops, restaurants, and drink houses for visitors.
Chen Zhou was heading to a teahouse near the northwest gate.
Visiting this nationally top-ranked antique market for the first time, entering from Huawei South Road, passing through the stone sculpture district and classical furniture hall, even without delving deeply into Pan Garden, Chen Zhou had his eyes opened.
Buyers speaking with various local accents, sellers fluent in Beijing dialect, even foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes, and shiny black Africans, all converged in this colossal market.
The noisy human voices disturbed Chen Zhou’s sensitive hearing—
By now he has roughly adapted to his enhanced senses; as long as he doesn’t concentrate entirely on receiving information, his brain can still cope.
Moving forward amidst the boiling clamour, no need to look at signs, merely listening to surrounding conversations guides Chen Zhou to the correct path.
Before long, he threaded through the crowd to the entrance of the tea house within the dining area.
Before entering, through the window, Chen Zhou spotted his target—
A middle-aged man dressed in a black Zhongshan suit.
However, unexpectedly, aside from a man with a hooked nose and distinct British features sitting with the middle-aged man, there was also a tall, white-haired old man.
The elderly man was thin, with sharp facial lines, a high bridge nose, and pale grey eyes, looking less like a noble collector from the United Kingdom, more like a Slavic person, most likely from Russia—
Chen Zhou’s vision is exceptional; despite the window and passing pedestrians obstructing, he can still capture the Cyrillic inscription on the gold ring on the elder’s left-hand little finger.
Having taught himself Russian on the island and translated numerous Russian materials, Chen Zhou can even deduce the full sentence from the partial Cyrillic visible.
Strictly speaking, it was not a sentence, but part of a name.
"Andreyevich."