Gone for two days, and the company could be established just like that?

This was an unexpected joy!

When Mao Kangshan asked about the company name, Xia Xiaolan had pondered it countless times in her mind and blurted out:

“Master, how about Setting Sail Real Estate?”

Setting Sail?

Hoisting sails and setting off?

Mao Kangshan considered it, “Your career ambition is crystal clear from this name.”

He wanted to say ‘ambition’ but since she was his apprentice, he couldn’t be too harsh.

While Mao Kangshan didn’t evaluate whether the name was good, Xia Xiaolan felt it was negotiable and didn’t need to be decided urgently. She was more interested in who Mao Kangshan said would be coming to Shenzhen in a few days – she still didn’t know which organization the company would be affiliated with.

“Master, who did you say is coming in a few days?”

“I know you’re anxious, so I won’t keep you guessing – it’s someone from the Guangdong Construction Engineering Group. They were established in 1953, originally as the Guangdong Construction Engineering Bureau, only converting to an enterprise in ’83. They have all the qualifications, but they’re not completely trusting and want to meet you in person.”

Guangdong Construction Engineering?

Joy spread across Xia Xiaolan’s face.

Had she chosen a good master or what?

You couldn’t find better even with a lantern!

Guangdong Construction Engineering really had every qualification – originally a provincial-level construction bureau, after converting to an enterprise, there was almost nothing they couldn’t build. They handled national projects, including roads, bridges, water conservancy, and hydropower – building construction was their most basic qualification.

“Master, is the person coming easy to talk to?”

Mao Kangshan snorted: “Not easy to talk to, but he’ll help you.”

My, the old man was being tsundere, turning back to his room.

Xia Xiaolan could only look at Mao Guosheng, who was extremely frustrated:

“The person coming is Zhou Maotong, one of the old man’s former students. He used to work at the Guangdong Construction Engineering Bureau, and when it converted to an enterprise, he became a corporate leader!”

Xia Xiaolan’s eyes lit up, “So he’s Senior Brother Zhou.”

She had luck with people surnamed Zhou – her boyfriend was a Zhou, and now a Senior Brother Zhou appeared who could help at a crucial moment.

If she could affiliate her company with Guangdong Construction Engineering, what qualifications would she need to worry about?

Mao Guosheng was displeased.

Yes, Senior Brother Zhou.

He remembered this Senior Brother Zhou, who used to visit frequently and was one of the old man’s favorite disciples.

Zhou was capable too, already a cadre at the Guangdong Construction Bureau, and when it converted to an enterprise, he naturally became a leader at Guangdong Construction Engineering – not just any minor leader, but an important one whose words carried weight.

Previously, Zhou Maotong had invited the old man to be an advisor for Guangdong Construction Engineering.

The old man had ignored him.

This time the old man sought him out personally – he’d be an advisor, but Zhou Maotong needed to help with something.

Zhou Maotong agreed without even asking what the favor was:

“Teacher, just tell me what you need – this isn’t a trade. Even if you don’t become an advisor, one word from you and I’ll do whatever I can.”

Mao Guosheng was standing right there and could see how excited Zhou Maotong was.

As if helping the old man was some great honor for Zhou Maotong.

If Mao Guosheng had any heart condition, he would have had an attack right there.

It was too much – his father wasn’t unwilling to ask favors, he just wouldn’t ask them for him, letting him rot away at the Zhejiang Design Institute. Mao Guosheng had major grievances, so upon seeing Xia Xiaolan after returning from Guangzhou, his first words were sarcastic.

Xia Xiaolan saw through his thoughts but wouldn’t stoop to the level of the petty Mao Guosheng.

Mao Guosheng would never understand that you have to speak up and fight for what you want.

Just nursing grievances internally – if she were Master Mao, she’d teach Mao Guosheng a lesson too, see how long he could hold it in!

While Mao Guosheng felt unbalanced, Xia Xiaolan thought Mao Kangshan deserved better.

They say dragons beget dragons and phoenixes beget phoenixes, but how could someone with Master Mao’s temperament produce such a hesitant person as Mao Guosheng? Xia Xiaolan found it bizarre.

“This is my first time meeting Senior Brother Zhou, I should have a good talk with him. Brother Mao, what does Senior Brother Zhou like?”

Mao Guosheng was furious to the point of physical pain.

“I don’t know, I don’t like kissing up to people!”

Xia Xiaolan’s expression cooled slightly, “Brother Mao, when fellow disciples want to help me, it shows care for a junior sister and respect for our teacher. If you think I’m kissing up, you need to change your mindset… I’m not joking, I know what you’re thinking. Why Master Mao won’t help you change jobs – that’s something for you to figure out yourself.”

What job change? With his people skills that offended others at every turn, even having Mao Kangshan as his father wouldn’t help.

Even if Mao Kangshan could get him a new job, could he look after him forever?

Xia Xiaolan felt that those without sufficient ability shouldn’t aspire to high positions – the Ji family was a cautionary tale.

How prestigious Ji Huian used to be, leaving behind many connections, hoping they would look after the Ji family. The idea wasn’t wrong, but how far could the Ji family go? Could Ji Huian manage it from his grave?

Xia Xiaolan had met quite a few important figures.

Inside the system, like Tang Hongen and Zhou Cheng’s father Zhou Guobin – weren’t they in high positions? They were always cautious in words and actions, rarely showing emotions.

Unlike Ji Lin, who worked in the Foreign Ministry for years but couldn’t hide his contempt for Xia Xiaolan at their first meeting.

When Xia Xiaolan met Zhou Guobin, though the Zhou family’s attitude toward her was unclear, Zhou Guobin showed no peculiarity.

Far superior to Ji Lin’s level.

And Ji Lin, even living off past glory, was seasoned by the Foreign Ministry – as long as Ji Ya wasn’t dragging him down, his words and actions stayed appropriate.

Ji Lin’s level was also higher than Mao Guosheng’s.

Mao Guosheng truly had low emotional intelligence.

Putting him in a prominent position would be useless – after Mao Kangshan passed away, he’d be eaten alive with nothing left!

If Xia Xiaolan wasn’t truly grateful to Mao Kangshan, she wouldn’t bother interfering. Bringing Mao Guosheng from Hangzhou was meant to help him improve since Shenzhen’s environment was very different from Hangzhou.

Who knew Mao Guosheng’s only ‘improvement’ would be daring to confront Xia Xiaolan?

This was something – Xia Xiaolan wasn’t one to endure insults, and immediately showed Mao Guosheng what it meant to flip faster than turning a page! Exposing Mao Guosheng’s true thoughts made his face turn red, his hands trembling as he pointed at Xia Xiaolan, stuttering “you, you, you” for a long time without forming a complete word.

Just a wall away, Madam Song was paying attention to the commotion. She hadn’t expected the good-tempered Little Xia to suddenly lose her temper during their conversation.

But Mao Kangshan snorted:

“Leave it be. Guosheng is already this age – can you and I still teach him how to speak and act? Let Xiaolan deal with him. Don’t you know why Xiaolan brought him to Shenzhen? She’s thinking of us. Anyway, Xiaolan won’t harm him, let her handle it – hmph, at his age he can’t match up to Xiaolan yet dares to be jealous, absolutely shameful!”