Trillionaire's Slice of Life

Chu Mo waved his hand. He knew that Elder Lu had a fondness for antiques and cherished items; those things were treasures close to Elder Lu's heart. Chu Mo's goal wasn't the antiques but Elder Lu's friendship, or rather, it was Elder Lu's vast connections that he valued, not the collectibles. Therefore, Chu Mo, slightly shaking his head, said directly:

"Elder Lu, I really can't take these items. Just tell me how much money you need, I don't have an excess, but a few tens of billions are still manageable."

As Chu Mo's words fell, the elderly man responded with uncharacteristic solemnity:

"Even among blood brothers, accounts need to be settled clearly. The rightful share must not be lessened by a single penny. If you don't take it, I won't feel at ease with this money. Chu Mo, since you trust me, I'll throw out a number. Over the decades, I've amassed a collection of 170 treasures, spending a total of 63 billion RMB.

These items all have hundreds or even thousands of years of history, and even if auctioned off, by my estimates, they could fetch at least 70 billion.

I'll quote you 60 billion for the 170 treasures. Additionally, our Lu family has been a prominent clan with centuries of history, and we do have some substance. There are quite a few heirloom treasures passed down from our ancestors, one of which is the piece of jade that girl just wore around her neck, one of many. Of course, since I've given that stone to the girl, it naturally won't be included.

I'll let you in on a secret: the heirlooms left by the Lu family ancestors total 37 items. Excluding that piece of jade, there are still 36 pieces, with a combined valuation of 125 billion. Adding the previous 60 billion, that makes a total of 185 billion... So, Chu Mo, can you handle it?"

Chu Mo's expression remained unchanged, but he felt a touch of emotion internally. Indeed, the Lu family, being one of the four great families, had a depth that ordinary clans couldn't compare to. The fact was that these treasures alone were enough for countless people to strive for in their lifetimes.

Even if the Lu family went bankrupt, having these treasures would ensure that several generations wouldn't have to worry about basic needs.

Of course, given Elder Lu's status and vision, compared to these antiques, he placed much more importance on the reputation of the Lu family. These antiques were things that could be sold and replaced; as long as the Lu family didn't fall, they could always acquire whatever they wanted.

However, if the Lu family's facade collapsed, then the possibility of rebuilding the Lu family in the magic city was almost nonexistent.

Chu Mo's thoughts turned. 185 billion wasn't a significant amount to him; he could easily spend six or seven hundred billion on purchasing an island. Compared to an island, this amount of money was trivial.

However, nearly 200 billion for a large number of antiques—he didn't even know where to put them. They weren't his to deal with. If they were his own, like the paintings and calligraphy he had bought for 5 billion last time, he could casually place them in any corner of his bedroom without having to constantly worry.

But with hundreds of items from Elder Lu, if they were really damaged, where would he go to compensate?

Seeing that Chu Mo remained silent, the old man on the other side thought Chu Mo was hesitating and didn't press him. After a moment of silence, the old man said in a grave voice:

"Chu Mo, are you facing some difficulty? How about this, I'll give you a discount on these items, and just charge you..."
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As the old man considered how much would be appropriate, Chu Mo suddenly waved his hand and said:

"Elder Lu, it's not about how much the cost is. Two hundred billion—I don't even blink an eye at that amount. It's just that these items are your prized treasures, and if I were to damage or even scratch them... I couldn't explain myself to you."

Hearing this, Elder Lu burst into a hearty laugh, his face beaming with a smile:

"Haha... I thought it was something serious. In the past, these treasures might have been more valuable to me than my own life. However, now, after this family crisis, I've come to deeply understand that without a family, no matter how many treasures I have, they are useless and can't even be protected.

Speaking frankly, I've spent decades indulging in leisure and rarely involved myself in the family business affairs, which led to our current predicament. In these many years, I've eaten my fill and had my fun; what is there left to cling to? Now, I just want to manage our family well, so that when I pass on, I can leave my descendants with a solid Lu family, not one that is riddled with holes.

These antiques and heirlooms, once you pay for them, they are yours. Chu Mo, even if you throw them away or smash them, I won't have a single word of complaint."

The old man smiled genuinely, without a trace of reluctance or pretense.

Seeing this, Chu Mo could tell that the family crisis had made Elder Lu let go of much. Otherwise, with his revered status, he wouldn't have approached someone of a younger generation like himself to discuss this matter.

Since it was like this, Chu Mo no longer had any worries. A nod of his head would suffice; 185 billion was just a matter of lifting a finger for him. Yet these nearly 200 billion worth of antiques were truly timeless treasures. Someday, long after he was gone, leaving these items to his descendants would be meaningful.

With the system and an unlimited bank card, future crises of the Chu family could potentially be navigated using these antiques.

With this thought, Chu Mo nodded decisively and sincerely said:

"Elder Lu, I won't take advantage of you. I'll make it a round number—200 billion. These antiques and paintings will carry the Chu surname from now on."

As Chu Mo spoke, the old man on the opposite side took on a slightly grave expression. He understood that this time Chu Mo intended to fully own these antiques, not just to keep them temporarily as he had done before.

The old man closed his eyes for a moment, feeling honestly reluctant. After all, many of those antiques were heirlooms passed down by his ancestors. Having them come to ruin under his watch, he truly felt a deep sense of guilt.