The successful speculators boarded the ships early, celebrating their winning bets!

Zhu Suizhou, unable to buy a boat ticket, was helpless.

He hadn’t managed to buy a single mu of land – how ironic!

The person who had initially agreed to sell him part of their land hadn’t signed on the spot, saying they needed time to think.

Though that person had criticized Qihang for being too domineering, they were also a gambler. Their “consideration” dragged on until evening. After the Evening News announced Qiong Island’s provincial status and special economic zone establishment, they could only apologize to Zhu Suizhou.

With the Evening News broadcasting the meeting results, there was no doubt about the news anymore. Sheng Xuan felt sorry for Zhu Suizhou and their missed opportunity, but after the emotional rollercoaster, Zhu Suizhou became calm:

“It’s fine, we’ll just make less profit, but we’ll still profit. Continue with the loan arrangements. I’ll stay in Ye City for a while longer.”

The April 13th provincial announcement wouldn’t cause land prices to skyrocket immediately on April 14th – it depended on market response.

It was a gradual process – sellers raising prices, buyers accepting them – only then would the market price become real.

Zhu Suizhou’s quick adjustment showed his remarkable mental fortitude.

Sheng Xuan felt she had good taste in choosing a husband – Zhu Suizhou’s character was suited for achieving great things:

“Just stay in Ye City, don’t worry about Shangdu. As for my cousin, she said she couldn’t help before the news was public, but now that it’s been on the Evening News, surely she’ll do something? Suizhou, wait for my good news.”

Zhu Suizhou didn’t hold much hope for Song’s second madam’s help anymore. He trusted his networking abilities more, but if Sheng Xuan wanted to try, he wouldn’t stop her.

That night, Zhu Suizhou couldn’t sleep.

Early the next morning, he deliberately detoured to check Qihang Real Estate’s ‘Haitian Yiyuan’ construction site. The fenced area wasn’t particularly large.

Had Qihang only bought such a small plot?

Impossible.

Qihang’s land purchases were scattered – making them easier to resell.

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t come to Qiong Island for development at all but for land speculation!

And her monopolistic agreement strategy…

Zhu Suizhou wasn’t trying to oppose Xia Xiaolan or find satisfaction in sabotage, but her success directly conflicted with his interests.

Meanwhile, Xia Xiaolan called Tang Hongen first thing in the morning, voluntarily explaining her arrangements in Qiong Island.

“…Uncle Tang, that’s how things are. Will this affect you?”

On the other end, Tang Hongen’s expression was rather peculiar:

“You heard some rumors at the golf club and decided to buy land in Qiong Island?”

“I did analyze it myself. Better to channel than block – Qiong Island’s location is excellent, but its economy never developed well, and there was even that car smuggling incident before.”

Special economic zones weren’t chosen randomly. Xia Xiaolan knew the answer in advance and worked backward to explain the reasoning, naturally sounding convincing.

Tang Hongen sighed helplessly: “It won’t affect me. Though the provincial-level special economic zone was just announced yesterday, preparations took a long time. Initially, Qiong Island wasn’t the only candidate – there were ongoing discussions above. But in April last year, nothing was certain. Even if I had wanted to leak inside information to you, it could have changed.”

If the provincial-level special economic zone proposal hadn’t passed at yesterday’s meeting, speculators like Xia Xiaolan would have ended up empty-handed.

What could Tang Hongen say?

Only that Xia Xiaolan was bold enough!

As for her concerns about affecting him… Xia Xiaolan had already moved from Pengcheng to Qiong Island. If there were still impacts, Tang Hongen couldn’t help it.

Old Song trusted him, and his conscience was clear – nothing else mattered.

In life, who doesn’t face some doubts and suspicions behind their back?

With Tang Hongen unconcerned, Xia Xiaolan felt even more relieved.

She hadn’t stopped Zhu Suizhou from buying land in Qiong Island, but he’d better not drag Old Tang into this, testing her tolerance.

This was originally just business – she didn’t want conflicts to escalate and eventually count Zhu Suizhou among her enemies.

As said before, business matters should be solved through business means.

After communicating with Tang Hongen, Xia Xiaolan immediately returned to Ye City to stabilize the situation. Once she returned, Du Zhaohui could finally contact her.

Du Zhaohui was thoroughly impressed by her “luck.”

“You must be blessed by the God of Wealth – everything you touch turns to gold!”

“Speak properly, don’t be sour. I also bought some land with Qihang Capital’s money before the New Year. You have shares in Qihang Capital, so you’re profiting too.”

Qihang Capital and Qihang Real Estate were separate entities.

Qihang Real Estate’s land purchases were public, while Qihang Capital had indirectly invested in a small real estate company and bought land in Ye City under that company’s name. This wasn’t publicly announced and was known only to Qihang Capital’s few shareholders.

Of course, small shareholders like Bai Zhenzhu and Chen Xiliang would only know if Xia Xiaolan chose to tell them.

Land prices in Ye City were cheap then, and the government hadn’t tightened restrictions. Everything was done quietly and smoothly.

Du Zhaohui chuckled. Like Liu Yong, he estimated Qihang Capital would make twenty or thirty million – nothing compared to their stock crash profits. Du Zhaohui didn’t pay much attention to it and instead asked Xia Xiaolan if she knew about the obituary.

“Yes, Little You is in Hong Kong, she’d naturally notify me of such news immediately… Is this news true?”

So, this was Xia Ziyu’s final fate – died in childbirth? When she first heard this news, she didn’t believe it.

Xia Xiaolan always felt Du Chengrong wouldn’t let Xia Ziyu off so easily.

Du Zhaohui replied vaguely: “I can only say this was the old man’s arranged ending for the ‘Fifth Concubine.’ Though she died in childbirth, her child survived and has been sent to the biological father.”

“…!”

Heavens! Du Chengrong’s move was outrageous.

“Chairman Du sent Xia Ziyu’s child to Wang Jianhua?”

“Yes, Wang Jianhua has received the old man’s carefully prepared gift.”

Du Zhaohui was gleefully schadenfreude.

The root of the enmity between Xia Ziyu and Xia Xiaolan started with this Wang Jianhua. The man had been blind to choose Xia Ziyu… Well, that wasn’t so bad – he thought even Zhou Heilian wasn’t good enough for Xia Xiaolan, let alone Wang Jianhua.

People must pay for their poor judgment. When men can’t control their desires and sleep with women they shouldn’t, they deserve such consequences!

Du Zhaohui labeled Wang Jianhua a “brave warrior.”

Daring to cuckold the old man – truly fearless.

Xia Xiaolan felt dizzy just imagining Wang Jianhua receiving his “gift.”

Relying on his father-in-law for career advancement, yet having a child with an ex-girlfriend during marriage – nowadays men aren’t even professional at being kept men. What great things could be expected of him?