Hu Yongcai didn’t mention the later ravings of Xia Dajun.

Why embarrass Xia Xiaolan by bringing those up?

“Better not talk about it. Those two came asking me to arrange work. The woman called Little Fan somehow knew my wife and left some gifts at our house before running off. I tried to be nice and thought about arranging a kitchen position for her, but she wouldn’t even consider it – she only wanted to be a server! I definitely couldn’t make that decision, so I had to refuse outright.”

Only wanted to be a server?

Looking at those two, Fan Yu and Xia Dajun weren’t so poor they couldn’t afford food.

If Fan Yu wanted work, she shouldn’t be picky about positions.

Specifically coming to the Municipal Committee Guest House, wanting to be a server… Fan Yu must have tasted success through Fan Zhenchuan and wanted to hook another official.

For a moment, Xia Xiaolan almost felt sorry for Xia Dajun. Fan Yu’s ambitions were too wild – one could already foresee the green hat of infidelity hanging over Xia Dajun’s head. Life goes on, and the troubles never cease. Though Fan Yu was rejected by Hu Yongcai this time, she would surely find other ways later. But that was Xia Dajun’s crisis, not something Xia Xiaolan needed to worry about.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to focus on these two anymore.

It seemed her mother didn’t care either, so she cared even less.

Only divorced women who weren’t doing well would keep watching their ex-husbands. Those living fulfilling, happy lives wouldn’t waste time on people who no longer mattered.

Today was just a chance encounter; the probability of future interactions was minimal.

Xia Xiaolan caught up with Hu Yongcai. Zhou Cheng wasn’t there because Shao Limin had called for him again, and this time Zhou Cheng went alone.

When Zhou Cheng returned, he brought news for Xia Xiaolan:

“The city wants to talk with the Xu father and son. Uncle Shao agrees and wants us to mediate.”

“What do you think about it?”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to get involved. She had already delayed several days since returning to China, wanting to spend more time with Zhou Cheng, which was why she hadn’t mentioned returning to America. She only had a few days left of her school leave. The most sensible thing now would be to return to Pengcheng – she had originally arranged to meet Ye Xiaoqiong there, but because of Zhang Jiadong’s unexpected situation, Xia Xiaolan had already stood her up.

Standing up Ye Xiaoqiong wasn’t a big deal, but Xia Xiaolan felt obligated to warn Du Zhaohui.

Du Zhaoji’s investment in Pengcheng at this time didn’t make much sense.

“I told them I couldn’t decide and told Uncle Shao I needed to get your opinion first.”

Zhou Cheng answered straightforwardly, making Xia Xiaolan laugh: “Comrade Zhou Cheng, that’s enough! You might not care about face, but I don’t want everyone thinking I’m a tiger wife!”

Face?

Does a man who constantly shouts at his wife in public have any face?

The face is something couples give each other. The more he showed respect for Xiaolan by seeking her opinion on everything, the more others would understand her importance to him.

“You ungrateful one, how should I answer Uncle Shao? Tell him we don’t want to handle this?”

Xia Xiaolan felt a bit embarrassed. She was just taking advantage of Zhou Cheng’s indulgence. Only because Zhou Cheng allowed her to do so, Xia Xiaolan put away her smugness: “Then let’s stay in Shangdu one more day. I want to check on the small building Grandmother Yu gave me tomorrow. We can use this opportunity to resolve all historical issues at once.”

Zhou Cheng gave an affirmative sound.

Zhou Cheng had received a call from Beijing. His family knew Xiaolan was back in China and asked if she would return to Beijing.

Zhou Cheng didn’t want his wife to be too tired, so he refused directly without telling Xiaolan.

Xu Zhongyi didn’t want to deal with government officials – he wasn’t a foreign investor. However, the Xu father and son wanted to build a museum in Shangdu, and they had to negotiate with the government for approval procedures and such.

With investment involved, everything would be easier to discuss.

The next day, Xu Zhongyi took Xu Changle to the Shangdu Municipal Government, while Zhou Cheng and Xia Xiaolan returned to Erqi Square.

…

As they strolled around Erqi Square discussing how to handle the small building, they noticed another group of people circling ‘Blue Phoenix.’ Some had paper and pens, others measuring tapes and ropes, seemingly taking measurements and recording.

Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng exchanged glances and simply entered the Blue Phoenix store.

The staff were delighted, especially Ma Wei, whom Xia Xiaolan had hired before:

“Director Xia, you’re back in Shangdu!”

Xia Xiaolan waved her hand, “I’m not your boss anymore, no need to call me that.”

But how could that be?

Through all the ownership changes at Shangdu’s Blue Phoenix, Ma Wei still considered Xia Xiaolan the boss and admired her.

When Xia Xiaolan was here before, there were always so many promotional strategies, and Blue Phoenix’s business was booming, making a name in Shangdu. After Xia Xiaolan left for Beijing and Li Fengmei took over, business declined slightly. Now with new management… the business wasn’t improving, just coasting on past success.

Ma Wei had the opportunity to work in Beijing, but she couldn’t bear to leave her hometown, finding everything convenient in Shangdu.

But now her career development couldn’t compare to those store clerks in Beijing.

Ma Wei was excited, and Li Fengmei’s sister-in-law had just finished inventory.

Xia Xiaolan pointed at the people measuring outside, “Auntie, do you know what they’re doing?”

“They’ve come twice now, saying they’re going to build something. That’s just what I’ve heard, don’t know if it’s true.”

Building something?

Measuring her property for construction?

Xia Xiaolan was impressed by how casual this aunt was:

“Why didn’t you mention this before? Their measurements include the clothing store – if this land is taken, where will the store go?”

“What?!”

Li Fengmei’s sister-in-law was dumbfounded.

She was just a village woman brought to the city by Li Fengmei. Though she dressed more fashionably than before, her knowledge hadn’t increased much.

Li Fengmei told her to focus on managing the clothing store, so she devoted herself entirely to that.

She watched the staff closely, worried they might slack off.

The store maintained its old rules, she just managed inventory, and even the styles were handled by Li Fengmei in Yangcheng.

Beyond store matters, she understood nothing.

“Isn’t the store rented by Fengmei? I heard the lease was signed for ten years – can they make us move?”

Whoever rents it, owns it.

A simple way of thinking.

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “Auntie, forget about renting – even if you bought it, you still have to consider city planning. If it conflicts with city planning, you’ll have to move when required.”

In ’86, being a holdout wasn’t even worth considering.

Xia Xiaolan had no intention of being a holdout – she dealt with real estate in Pengcheng herself and knew how troublesome holdouts could be.

But this was a prime location – if the land was requisitioned for planning… even if they compensated Xia Xiaolan with several hundred thousand, she would still feel the pain, let alone the fact that they wouldn’t even give her that much!

Li Fengmei’s sister-in-law panicked. Xia Xiaolan left the store, and Zhou Cheng went over, shared some cigarettes, and struck up a conversation with the surveyors.

A while later, Zhou Cheng came back: “Found out they’re planning to build a shopping mall, that’s why they’re measuring the land.”

A shopping mall?

Xia Xiaolan almost forgot about this.

The small building Grandmother Yu gave her – wasn’t this the site of Shangdu’s Asia Mall in her previous life?