Chapter Six: Striking It Rich!

Page 1 of 3

“Buy and sell, magic…” As soon as his habitual catchphrase slipped out, Gu Feng realized something. “Hey! Didn’t I tell you not to bother me until your system upgrades?”

Timber shrugged. “Gu, take a look at what level I’m at now!”

“D rank?” Gu Feng was astonished. “Did you take some miracle pill? Damn, you went up two levels in just half a day!”

Timber grinned, “Just lucky, that’s all.”

Gu Feng was speechless, nearly in tears. “Back then, it took me two whole years to rise from the lowest level to E. You really are a freak.”

Timber’s system had advanced two levels in just half a day, making Gu Feng incredibly envious. He kept pressing for details. Out of gratitude for Gu Feng’s early help, Timber told him the whole story.

“So, you mean you sold goods that didn’t belong to you for a high price!” Gu Feng nodded approvingly, “I never would’ve guessed! You’ve got the makings of a real wheeler-dealer!”

Timber could only laugh wryly. “Gu, I remember someone once promised that if I leveled up, I’d get a maid!”

“Oh! Wahahaha…” Gu Feng let out a wicked laugh. “Good man, I knew you’d remember that! A real man, indeed! So, what kind do you want? Gentle, sexy, or do you have special preferences?”

Now Timber was the one surprised. “You’re not serious, are you? Does the Plane System even allow… trading in maids?”

“Trade? No way! What do you take us for—traffickers?” Gu Feng struck a pose of righteous indignation. “Brother, I was just trying to motivate you! Making a noble sacrifice!”

Timber quickly waved his hands. “I really couldn’t accept that… Besides, isn’t your plane still in the slave-society era?”

“What slave society?” Gu Feng didn’t understand the Earth term. “Wherever there are people, there are classes. As far as I know, every plane has rulers and the ruled. The names might change, but it’s common for the lowest to become the slaves of the high. In fact, being a high-ranking slave means losing only your status, but you survive much better. It’s quite normal!”

This was a theory Timber, raised under the red flag in New China, had never heard before. But it wasn’t his place to judge other planes. Embarrassed, he smiled. “Honestly, I’m broke. Even if you gave me a maid, I couldn’t afford to keep one. Actually, I wanted to ask something else—do you have any gold? I’d like to exchange some energy points for it.”

Gu Feng was puzzled. “Gold? What’s that?”

Timber then remembered that, being from a magic plane, Gu Feng might not even know what gold was.

“It’s a hard currency, kind of like a universal medium of exchange—just like we use energy points for trading.” Timber explained simply.

Now Gu Feng understood. “Oh, that! We don’t have that here. Our plane uses crystal coins. But let me think, Baldy’s plane uses gold as its main currency.”

Page 2 of 3

With that, Gu Feng connected to Baldy. “Hey, Baldy, isn’t gold your main currency?”

“That’s right. Why do you ask?”

“Well, Timber needs some! And look at his level now!”

Baldy checked and his eyes nearly popped out. “Did your system glitch?” he exclaimed.

Timber hurriedly explained. Baldy sighed, “Silicon-based plane? We’ve never had contact with them. Their life forms are nothing like ours. Maybe some sci-fi plane agents have, though. Your luck is extraordinary!”

Gu Feng chimed in, “Every plane has its unique resources. Only by understanding each one can you truly maximize profits. Luck was really on your side this time!”

Timber smiled wryly. “I get it. Baldy, I’d like to use energy points to buy some gold from you. What’s the exchange rate?”

Baldy replied cheerfully, “Energy points for gold? You’re really something. Gold can’t compare to energy points! Never mind, I’ll send you some.” With that, he activated the item transfer system and sent over a hundred gold bars.

For Baldy, whose transaction system was already at A rank, a hundred bars of gold was nothing. But for Timber, this was his most precious first pot of gold.

Timber wanted to thank him, but Baldy cut him off, “No need for thanks. I’m interested in that silicon-based plane’s technology. If you find anything good over there, let me know. I can trade energy crystals or items for it!”

Timber readily agreed and looked to Gu Feng, who waved him off. “Forget it. I know nothing about technology. As an agent for a magic plane, I’m more comfortable with magical items.”

Timber smiled and didn’t insist. As noon passed, he wolfed down a quick meal, slung the gold over his back, and rode his noisy, clattering electric bike to the jewelry shop. His ramshackle ride always drew puzzled glances from passersby.

But Timber didn’t care. Why? Because it was safe! Only a bike that looked like this would be left untouched on the street. There was a time when insurance companies would cover bicycles, but with theft rates so high, they stopped. Even electric bikes weren’t insured anymore.

Having worked in antiques for a while, Timber knew of gold dealers, but for such a large amount, he couldn’t approach them directly. They all knew each other, and he couldn’t explain where the gold had come from. If anyone got suspicious, he’d be easy to find.

Luckily, he knew which jewelry stores bought gold and at what price—currently around 160 per gram. A hundred gold bars meant 1.6 million in cash! Timber had never seen so much money in his life.

To be safe, he didn’t sell all the gold in one place, but split it among four jewelry shops. To his surprise, the gold was certified as 99.9% pure, and the store owners were full of praise, eager to know its origin and proposing long-term cooperation. Timber only smiled in response.

With cash in hand, he went to a real estate agent to inquire about buying a house. He already had his eye on a villa in Wuhou Garden, near the river. Though the community was old and overgrown in places, and sparsely populated, it was the most secluded spot in the city—the very thing Timber wanted: a private space, free from prying eyes.

For a villa buyer, the agent was extremely enthusiastic and immediately found a property matching his criteria: three floors, a basement, and an owner eager to sell, who hurried back as soon as he heard a buyer was interested.

Page 3 of 3

Timber wandered the villa area, and within half an hour, the owner arrived. Seeing him drive a BMW, Timber guessed he was a true man of means, probably already owning a better villa.

The owner was momentarily stunned by Timber’s youth and the fact that he was alone—hardly the typical villa buyer. The agent quickly introduced them, and Timber learned the man was a well-known entrepreneur in Chengdu, named Yang Shoucheng. A seasoned businessman, Yang sized up Timber and, seeing someone bold enough to make an offer, figured he must have the means. Besides, he needed to sell, so what was the harm in showing the place?

Timber didn’t care much about the interior decoration—he just needed a place to live. The agent, meanwhile, went on and on about the tasteful décor, with all furnishings included in the deal.

After touring upstairs and down, Timber found the house spacious and quiet—just what he wanted. “Name your final price. If it’s fair, we’ll close the deal immediately.”

Yang Shoucheng was delighted. “You’re a straightforward man, brother! The property covers over three hundred thirty square meters. The riverside garden, basement, and garage are all included. I’ll let it go for four thousand per square meter, with all the furniture and appliances thrown in!”

The price was reasonable, but Timber asked, “Yang, I can see you invested a lot in this place. Why are you in such a hurry to sell?”

Yang replied ruefully, “I’m being forced to! I’ve got a project about to launch and need several million in start-up capital. I have no choice but to sell.”

Timber believed him. With the financial crisis, loans were hard to come by. “Let’s settle this right now and sign the agreement,” he said.

Yang replied, “Not a cent less!”

Timber responded coolly, “Yang, you’re a big boss—you won’t care about ten thousand. But I’m just a poor man. How about 1.22 million?”

Normally, Yang would bargain for hours, but pressed for cash, he gritted his teeth. “Not a cent less! If you agree, we sign now. If not, no deal!”

Seeing his resolve, Timber knew he’d reached the bottom line. “Alright, your price it is. But I want the keys now so I can move in immediately.”

Yang had no objections. They signed the contract, Timber paid the deposit, and Yang handed over the keys—the balance to be paid upon transfer of ownership.

Moving in was simple—Timber owned little more than a few changes of clothes. The only thing that puzzled the security staff was how someone rich enough to buy a villa could arrive on such a battered electric bike…