Indeed, by what right could Tang Hongen leak information to his stepdaughter?

This thought also crossed Song Zhicheng’s mind.

Perhaps after so many years, he’d grown accustomed to such treatment, silently consoling himself that compared to this incident, Tang Hongen’s meteoric rise in his official career bothered him more.

Leaking information was nothing—he wanted to ask why Tang Hongen could become Mayor of Pengcheng City in his forties.

The old master had shown favoritism too many times!

However, if Tang Hongen had truly leaked information to his stepdaughter, Song Zhicheng could have reported him to the old master. The thought of Tang Hongen getting scolded brought joy from deep within his heart.

“Never mind him! If he dares to leak information, the old master will deal with him. Let’s not make mistakes ourselves!”

“But—”

“Not these few days, the old master is still in meetings. Once this busy period passes, I’ll report Tang Hongen’s matter to him.”

Second Madam Song felt something wasn’t quite right.

But she’d also be happy to see Tang Hongen get into trouble.

The couple was easily satisfied, rejoicing over this for a while before Second Madam Song remembered the crucial point:

“But I already promised Xuan!”

After all this talk, they weren’t going to help Xuan.

Song Zhicheng brushed his sleeve and sneered, “I thought your cousin was quite clever before. Don’t let Zhu Suizhou deceive her with sweet talk.”

Second Madam Song reflexively defended:

“How could Xuan be so foolish!”

Song Zhicheng stared at her, “If she’s not foolish, then you are. You still treat her like a dear sister, but her heart has turned toward her current husband. She won’t even tell you, her cousin, the truth for Zhu Suizhou’s sake.”

Those words stung.

They pierced Second Madam Song so deeply she couldn’t recover for a long while.

Men and women were truly different.

Some men, even after decades of marriage, still considered their wives outsiders—only their parents, siblings, and children with blood ties were family.

But most women, once married with children, gradually came to see their husbands and children, along with themselves, as an unbreakable nuclear family. What were siblings then? Even parents could be pushed back several steps, becoming less intimate.

Sheng Xuan was pregnant, of course, she’d prioritize Zhu Suizhou’s interests—that was normal.

But did she have to mislead her cousin?

If she’d told the truth, wouldn’t Second Madam Song still try to help? Instead, she was vague, causing embarrassment in front of Song Zhicheng.

Second Madam Song felt uncomfortable. Sheng Xuan had made the situation sound dire, but really, would the couple starve without those few hundred mu of land?

One was Zhaoyang Real Estate’s boss, the other a mid-level bank executive—how could they be short of money?

Having calmed down, Second Madam Song realized the situation wasn’t as urgent as Sheng Xuan claimed, so she didn’t rush to reply.

After dragging it out until evening, when Sheng Xuan couldn’t help but call again, Second Madam Song finally said she couldn’t help. She didn’t blame Sheng Xuan but hinted:

“As soon as I mentioned it, your brother-in-law scolded me. The land in Coconut City isn’t going anywhere—why must it be these two days? If you want it, wait until the meetings in Beijing are over, and I’ll have your brother-in-law think of something—”

Sheng Xuan’s heart sank.

They needed to act before the Beijing meetings concluded! Once the news went public, what bargains would be left? Everyone would know Coconut City’s land prices would rise, surely rushing there en masse, and they’d never get such low prices again.

Moreover, wasn’t her cousin reproaching her with these words?

Sheng Xuan kept apologizing sweetly to Second Madam Song.

Second Madam Song reluctantly forgave her.

However, help was impossible now.

It was already the evening of April 12th.

Sheng Xuan relayed the bad news to Zhu Suizhou. Of course, she wouldn’t say Second Madam Song refused to help, only that the timing was too late and the Song family couldn’t interfere:

“Suizhou, my brother-in-law says it’s too conspicuous, especially since the news will be announced in these few days. Once Hainan’s provincial status is announced and Coconut City loosens restrictions, they’ll ensure you’re the first to buy land.”

After two days of running around, from being full of hope to now having cold water dumped on his head!

Wait for the announcement.

Why would they need the Song family’s help then? Once Coconut City’s government reopened applications, he could buy land on his own.

But by then, prices of thirty to forty thousand per mu would be impossible—he’d probably earn half as much.

Originally with a 20 million loan, he could earn 20 million, but now it might become just 10 million, or even seven or eight million.

Such a difference was hard for Zhu Suizhou to accept.

Yet he couldn’t even speak ill of the Song family!

Despite his immense disappointment, he had to maintain his spirits when dealing with Sheng Xuan. He couldn’t get angry with her—she was pregnant, his wife, staying in Commercial City to help him register the new company and arrange the loan.

“…Then that’s how it must be. It’s fine, I’ll try the government again tomorrow. We can’t force Sister-in-law to help, she has her concerns.”

On the other end, Sheng Xuan was also silent.

They couldn’t even get an introduction to a Coconut City official? Her cousin was being too cautious.

Zhu Suizhou also discussed the new company registration and loan matters. Not wanting to disappoint her husband again, Sheng Xuan promised to handle everything as quickly as possible:

“Suizhou, not being able to buy land now might not be bad. Even the Song family isn’t allowed to touch this. Xia Xiaolan bought lots of land using Tang Hongen’s insider information—when this comes out, even if she’s fine, it’ll be enough trouble for Tang Hongen! If Tang Hongen suffers, Xia Xiaolan won’t fare well either. You can use this as leverage to deal with the Asia Mall situation!”

What Sheng Xuan said aligned with Zhu Suizhou’s thoughts.

Though he had backup plans, after hanging up, his mood remained poor.

For someone like him born into an ordinary family, success was particularly difficult.

Not just Xia Xiaolan, but even Du Zhaoqi earlier—just because of his birth, in his early twenties he was already above him…

Zhu Suizhou chain-smoked, littering the floor with cigarette butts.

Though the Song family refused help, he wasn’t one to admit defeat until the very end.

What was face worth? History was written by the successful.

He also thought: if Coconut City’s government wasn’t approving land now, what about previously approved land?

Until the news was announced, those who’d bought land must have been uncertain too. He could offer one or two thousand more per mu than their purchase price—they’d recover their investment immediately, and he’d still profit.

Though the Song family wouldn’t help, they’d indirectly confirmed that Sheng Xuan’s information was true!

The news was certain.

Xia Xiaolan probably knew with absolute certainty too, but what about others?

He had to seize this final time difference.

Early on the 13th, Zhu Suizhou still went to the Pengcheng Government, but this time he wasn’t asking to buy land—he just wanted to know who had bought land. This man indeed had the capability, his thickness of skin matching Xia Xiaolan’s. Not selling land was the Coconut City government’s major principle; without violating this principle, other matters could be accommodated.

Zhu Suizhou obtained some materials.

Back at the guesthouse, he dialed the phone numbers:

“…Hello, I’m looking for Comrade Meng Guanchao.”