Flirting on the Phone

New York.

Duncan Apartment.

late at night.

Adam had just returned from the Columbia University library, carrying with him borrowed medical books and videotapes, preparing to stay up all night.

He had previously bought many medical books and also received some videotapes from Leonard that he had watched carefully.

But that's not a systematic approach.

It also doesn't have the extensive and comprehensive collection of books and videotapes found in Columbia University University's library.

Therefore, Adam spent almost all his free time in the library, systematically reading medical books and watching various medical videotapes, working much harder than others.

What we accumulate today might save another life in the future.

If every day were like this, how many more lives would he save in the future, and how much longer would his Lifespan be extended?

Thinking about this, he worked even harder.

His stamina is at a level that Just You Show; his energy seems inexhaustible. This level of overworking is no burden for him at all.

But just the side of him that he shows to the public makes people think that he is simply a workaholic.

This also changed the opinions of his classmates who used to mock him as the number one king of F5.

A hard worker is always admirable.

If they knew that Adam stayed up until 2 or 3 a. m. every day after returning home, they would probably go crazy.

Back in his apartment, Adam put the books and videotapes in the study (he had converted one of the two bedrooms into a study), and casually picked up the phone to see if anyone was calling him.

Especially Heather's.

Before he left, he told Heather to call him that evening to let him know she was safe.

Adam glanced at the message and saw an unfamiliar number with a voicemail. He pressed the call button and, sure enough, it was Heather calling.

Adam dialed the number.

The phone rang a few times before being answered.

"Hi, Heather."

"Adam".

Heather's voice sounded somewhat strange.

"What's wrong?"

Adam knew Heather all too well and keenly noticed Heather unusual behavior, asking with concern, "Is something not going well?"

"No."

Heather smiled and said, "Things went very smoothly. My parents are indeed just my adoptive parents. The letter was from my biological grandmother. I've already booked my plane ticket and I'm heading to the airport soon. I should be able to figure out what really happened by tomorrow. However, I estimate I'll have to stay there a few more days until everything is settled before I can go back. I... I miss you a little..."

"Hehe."

Hearing this, Adam breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but tease, "Missing me? Missing where? Where did you miss me?"

On the other end of the phone, Heather couldn't help but chuckle to herself, and said something that made Adam feel a little strange.

The two chatted and laughed for a while before getting back to business.

"If your grandmother were still alive, how could she have let you be adopted by your adoptive parents?"

Adam asked, puzzled.

He remembered Heather saying that her adoptive parents hadn't treated her well.

"I'm not quite sure either."

In Hartford, inside the hotel, Heather's blush hadn't faded, but her smile was gone. Forcibly suppressing the urge to confide, she said, half-jokingly, "They won't tell me. I can only find out the truth by going to my hometown."

"That's all we can do."

Adam had a bad feeling, but he didn't mention it to Heather.

He naturally thought of the same problems that Heather could think of.

He never expected that this would happen, so he could only guess that Heather's adoptive parents might be kidnappers, or that she was adopted through some irregular channels.

"If you need money to take over the estate and farm, remember to call me."

Adam remembered something else and quickly reminded him.

In the United States, the idea that real estate and land belong to individuals forever and can be passed down through generations is a false proposition.

Because all properties in the United States are subject to property tax every year, and the tax rate varies depending on the location.

In remote and impoverished areas, property taxes are very low, perhaps only a few per thousand.

However, in prime locations, property taxes can once reach nearly 2%.

Multiplying this ratio is the value of the property, which fluctuates with market prices.

In other words, as housing prices increase, the property tax you have to pay will also increase accordingly.

This raises a question.

If it's your ancestral property, and the surrounding property prices have increased significantly, causing your property value and property tax rate to rise sharply, then besides selling it, this appreciation will only bring you burdens.

If it is sold and repurchased, how can the ancestral home be passed down from generation to generation?

People who can afford this kind of house don't care about a little property tax.

That's just empty talk.

A billionaire lives in a mansion worth tens of millions of US dollars and has to pay property taxes of up to two hundred thousand dollars every year.

Do billionaires really need 200,000 or so?

Sometimes we really do need them!

Because personal wealth and cash flow are completely different concepts, when faced with a tight cash flow situation, besides selling assets, sometimes you really can't even come up with 200,000 or so.

If you fail to pay property taxes, this house, which will always belong to you, will be forcibly taken away and then mortgaged and auctioned.

There's also the issue of inheritance.

The succession in the United States is also quite complicated.

That means you have to pay the inheritance tax first before you can receive the inheritance.

This inheritance tax is levied based on the amount of the estate, and the percentage can be as high as 50%.

Such a high inheritance tax has forced the wealthy to engage in charity work, and some even donate their entire fortunes.

Are there any saints in the world who donate all their wealth to charity?

Perhaps one or two people can do it, but most people absolutely cannot.

But why are they all so enthusiastic about doing this?

Because of charitable foundations, apart from a small portion of their annual profits that must be allocated to charity, the rest of the money remains at the discretion of the foundation's owners.

Compared to the enormous inheritance tax, this expense is negligible.

The wealthy often have a variety of family charitable foundations. By donating money to these foundations and then transferring control to their children, they minimize their tax burden.

Of course, such tax-avoidance charitable foundations are essentially tax evasion, and naturally not everyone can set them up; this is a capital game for the super-rich.

Someone with less capital wants to donate their entire fortune to charity?

Sorry, you're not qualified. You don't deserve it.

The estate and farm that Heather 'Heather grandmother left her most likely fall into the latter category, so inheritance tax will be a big problem.

If Heather hadn't been given a large sum of cash beforehand to help her pay the estate tax, then Heather would have faced numerous difficulties in successfully inheriting the estate.

If, after several years, you still simply can't afford to pay, then you'll have no choice but to hand it over to the government...

Of course, with Adam around, he wouldn't let Heather be like Captain America.

"Yes, I will."

Heather smiled again and replied sweetly.

P. S.: There will be more tonight.