Mavi's approach, to put it bluntly, was an unconventional strategy. He could only pull this off because the domestic real estate market had not yet been fully developed.
Once luxury properties became more common, his competitive edge would no longer be as pronounced. Take for example, Tomson Riviera, COFCO Seaview No.1, or Tan Palace—the most expensive villa in Shanghai. Once these prestigious luxury properties were completed, Mavi wouldn't be able to dominate the market so effortlessly…
---
After setting the basic purchase restrictions, Mavi's "Ziyuan No.1" riverside luxury residence officially launched its sales.
On the first day of the opening, a wealthy businessman drove up in a Mercedes-Benz S600, eager to view the property. However, he was immediately turned away by a female sales associate at the reception desk.
"Apologies, sir, but your personal assets do not meet the minimum requirement of 500 million RMB. Therefore, you are not eligible to purchase a unit in Ziyuan No.1," she said politely.
The businessman, still holding his Mercedes-Benz keys, was momentarily stunned. He stared at the sales associate in disbelief.
"Five… 500 million RMB in assets? If I don't have that, I can't buy a unit here?"
"That's correct, sir. This is a policy set by our chairman. We apologize for the inconvenience."
Although the sales associate remained extremely courteous, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. In the past, she had always bent over backward to cater to customers, but now, the tables had turned. She was no longer a service worker—she was in control.
"Unbelievable!" the businessman grumbled as he drove off, feeling irritated. He had never encountered a real estate company that sold properties like this. It was truly a first for him.
Not long after, another potential buyer arrived—this time, a refined, well-dressed woman driving a BMW 740i. She parked in front of the sales center, stepped out of the car, and casually led her pet dog on a leash, clearly intending to bring it inside while she toured the property.
"Apologies, ma'am, but pets are not allowed inside," a male sales associate quickly stepped forward to inform her.
The woman shot him a disdainful glance. "Not allowed? Do you even know how expensive this dog is?"
"No matter the price, company policy states that pets are not permitted inside. If that's an issue, you are welcome to take your business elsewhere."
With the chairman's full backing and generous bonuses on the line, the male sales associate spoke with complete confidence. If this had been before, he would have been apologizing profusely to such a wealthy customer. He wouldn't have dared to stop her in the first place.
The woman's expression darkened before she let out a bitter laugh. In all her years of luxury shopping, she had never encountered such an audacious sales team.
"Do you even know who I am? How dare you speak to me like that? Get your manager out here!" she demanded furiously. She had never been humiliated like this before.
However, when the sales center's manager finally appeared, the outcome remained unchanged—rules were rules.
"Apologies, ma'am, but pets are strictly prohibited. It doesn't matter who you are—even if the President of the United States were here, the policy would still apply," the manager stated firmly.
Hearing this, the woman's face turned green with rage. "Fine! Just you wait!"
Fuming, she pulled out her phone to call her well-connected husband, determined to have him use his influence to restore her dignity.
However…
The moment her husband heard that the dispute involved "Ziyuan No.1," he immediately urged her to drop the matter. "It's not worth the trouble," he advised, suggesting she either leave the dog in the car or simply walk away. He warned her not to escalate the conflict.
---
After a series of incidents where unqualified buyers were turned away, the news of "Ziyuan No.1" spread rapidly online.
One particularly sensational story involved a coal tycoon from Shanxi, who was willing to pay 10 million RMB for a unit but was ultimately rejected due to his lack of refinement and manners.
Similar stories circulated widely on the internet, earning "Ziyuan No.1" the reputation of being a breath of fresh air in the domestic real estate industry.
"Wow! Ziyuan No.1 is absolutely insane! This is the first time I've seen a property where even having money isn't enough to buy in."
"Haha! If your personal assets don't reach 500 million RMB, you can't buy a unit? Only Ziyuan No.1 would dare to enforce such a policy. Respect!"
"Rejecting the coal tycoon because of his low-class behavior? The owner of Ziyuan No.1 is truly something else. A real game-changer in the industry!"
---
After reading the online discussions, Mavi silently closed his laptop and walked to the window, gazing at the riverfront view below.
He was currently standing in the penthouse of Ziyuan No.1—a stark contrast to the unfinished units still on the market. His penthouse had been custom-designed by an architect to fit his exact specifications, with every material meticulously selected to exude sheer luxury.
Beyond that, Mavi's bathroom housed a $2 million natural amethyst bathtub, crafted from raw amethyst mined in Brazil. He had personally commissioned artisans to carve and polish the raw stone into a seamless, breathtaking masterpiece. The energy emitted by the amethyst, he believed, would enhance his personal well-being, improving his magnetic field and boosting his health.
Just as Mavi stood at the window, admiring the panoramic view of the Huangpu River, his butler, Ivan, knocked on the door, holding a satellite phone.
Knock! Knock!
"Young Master, there's a call from Japan. They want to discuss a potential strategic oil supply deal. It seems they're willing to offer a high price," Ivan reported.
Japan, being a major oil consumer, had long coveted the vast reserves beneath Mavi's two oil fields. Naturally, they wanted a piece of the action and were eager to negotiate a partnership.
"Tell them to forget it. I have no interest in working with them," Mavi replied coolly. He had never held much affection for Japan or South Korea, and he certainly wasn't in the business of selling oil to the highest bidder—he had more than enough wealth already.
"Yes, Young Master. Understood," Ivan acknowledged before turning to deliver the rejection.
"Apologies, but my master has no interest in your proposal," Ivan said bluntly over the phone.
Speaking in English, the Japanese oil executive on the other end of the line stammered in broken English, "Why is Ma V Energy willing to cooperate with China but not consider our offer? Is our price not high enough? Name your number—we'll pay whatever it takes!"
(End of Chapter)