Ning Yanfan agreed to modify the design.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t naive.

Trusting Tang Hongen didn’t mean trusting Huo Chenzhou.

Someone so young in such a high position was never easy to deal with.

“Manager Huo, how about this – I need to return to Beijing this afternoon. After I consult with Old Master Ning, we can discuss the cooperation between Yuanhui and Dongfeng in detail. In the current situation, we can’t make a proper judgment.”

Being honest wasn’t shameful.

Saving face only to become a scapegoat later would be truly shameful.

Xia Xiaolan believed that having reverence for industry seniors and leaders was appropriate.

Entering an industry, achieving some success, getting a few compliments, then floating on air thinking you could step on the giants – that wasn’t ambition, that was stupidity! Being stupid and feeling accomplished as someone else’s tool, was that impressive? Without the foundation laid by predecessors, China’s architecture wouldn’t have developed to where it is today. Sometimes, the basic principles of doing business were the same as those of being a person!

If Xia Xiaolan didn’t agree, naturally Liu Yong would also delay.

As for Gong Yang, he only followed his two superiors; he had no right to speak.

Huo Chenzhou hadn’t expected that while offering money, Yuanhui wouldn’t immediately agree. He had to take this small company seriously – small scale, shallow qualifications, no major projects except the current Pengcheng Municipal Government Guesthouse – but their reputation was genuinely good, possibly stemming from their caution.

A project worth over 4 million, with potential profits up to 20% – just nodding would bring in 700-800 thousand. Most people wouldn’t care about the future; modifying Ning Yanfan’s design was nothing – if they could earn 700-800 thousand, they’d even steal designs from Ning Yanfan!

“No matter, Yuanhui’s cautious approach makes me more confident about our future cooperation. Let’s eat first.”

Huo Chenzhou showed great composure, interrupting whatever his middle-aged companion was thinking.

Eating was good – negotiating business on an empty stomach might lead to heated tempers, while over drinks and food, both parties could relax. For this meal, Liu Yong insisted on paying, but the guesthouse server smiled:

“Manager Huo has already settled the bill.”

Xia Xiaolan was worried. Logically, Yuanhui should be the one courting Dongfeng Holdings’ manager – what was Huo Chenzhou planning?

Liu Yong had some drinks but remained clear-headed, “Manager Huo, you’re being too polite. Today’s meal must be my treat!”

Huo Chenzhou smiled, “If we cooperate, Boss Liu will have plenty of chances to treat. Next time, I’ll let Boss Liu treat.”

Since Huo Chenzhou was staying at the guesthouse, he saw the three of them off.

“General Manager, we don’t necessarily have to cooperate with Yuanhui. The hotel opens next year, and Hong Kong is very dissatisfied with the renovation progress. Yuanhui can’t even make this decision…”

A small company – could Dongfeng Holdings be trying to deceive them?

Even putting pressure on Yuanhui wouldn’t squeeze out much; they still needed to consider things, truly delaying the project’s progress!

“You think I value a young girl’s design talent? Modifying Ning Yanfan’s design isn’t the issue – from start to finish, this wasn’t about design problems. Meihua wants to force out Dongfeng Holdings; we need strong support.”

Huo Chenzhou sneered.

While Liu Yong was Yuanhui’s nominal boss, major decisions still needed a female college student’s approval – Huo Chenzhou found it absurd.

He’d seen this student on TV last night, first place in the National College English Competition. With limited energy, Huo Chenzhou doubted that Xia Xiaolan could be both collecting awards at Tsinghua and a business prodigy.

But he had no choice – to gain Mayor Tang’s support, he had to actively cooperate with Yuanhui.

This was uncomfortable for Huo Chenzhou too.

Being young yet holding a high position in a state-owned enterprise, Xia Xiaolan guessed correctly – Huo Chenzhou naturally had backing. Such people had a common problem: usually others sought them out, and when things didn’t go as planned, Huo Chenzhou would feel extremely uncomfortable!

…

Just as the car left the guesthouse, Liu Yong wiped the sweat from his forehead, “Xiaolan, what do you think this Huo fellow means?”

In the rearview mirror, Xia Xiaolan could still see Huo Chenzhou standing there – young but meticulous in his work.

“Whatever he means, we can’t let him lead us by the nose. We need to move at our own pace.”

Liu Yong nodded vigorously, “That Master Ning taught you, we can’t treat his design carelessly. The more talented people are, the more pride they have. Fortunately, you asked that extra question – if we’d agreed to cooperate with Dongfeng Holdings and found out later, you’d be in a difficult position!”

Making money was certainly important.

Profits of several hundred thousand – who wouldn’t be tempted?

Money could be earned gradually. Liu Yong felt Xia Xiaolan was more important; getting into Tsinghua University was the Liu family’s greatest glory.

Ten thousand yuan households were rare in Anqing, but in Yangcheng and Pengcheng, they were common! But families with children at Tsinghua were rare. To Liu Yong, his niece’s education was naturally more important. Even Liu Yong, with his limited education, knew Ning Yanfan’s reputation. If Xiaolan accidentally offended Ning Yanfan, her future in architectural circles might be difficult.

This was more terrifying than earning less money.

The exclusion by architectural industry leaders would be devastating for an architecture student!

Liu Yong repeatedly instructed Xiaolan to clarify everything carefully and mind her approach when asking Old Master Ning.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t impatient, “Uncle, I’ll handle it. If Master Ning agrees and Dongfeng Holdings gains the upper hand, getting the hotel shareholders to approve the modified design means Yuanhui will participate in the Nanhai Hotel’s renovation. Have you thought about how to raise the advance funds? For Huo Chenzhou’s promised 4 million worth of work, we need to advance at least 1.5-2 million… In two months, I can raise about 500,000 from my side, but there’s still a large funding gap.”

For other projects, they could leverage the 4 million project through the building materials store’s supply, delaying payments to manufacturers.

But Nanhai Hotel’s renovation might have higher material requirements, possibly requiring imported materials – ‘Anjia Building Materials’ couldn’t handle this.

Xia Xiaolan had already planned that if she and Gong Yang modified the design, they’d try to use materials available through ‘Anjia Building Materials’.

Even if they could defer some material payments, ‘Yuanhui’ would still need at least 1 million.

Liu Yong simply couldn’t raise 1 million.

Getting another bank loan like before wouldn’t be as easy as with the Municipal Guesthouse.

Before meeting Dongfeng Holdings’ people, Xia Xiaolan thought buying an 80,000-yuan Citroën CX20 was a great deal, now she somewhat regretted it – that was 80,000 yuan!

Before going, even Xia Xiaolan hadn’t expected Dongfeng Holdings would be willing to give one-fourth of the project to Yuanhui.

Liu Yong was already excited: “You can raise 500,000?!”