Song Zhicheng’s words left the second Mrs. Song sheepish.

She wanted to say it was normal for Sheng Xuan to get loans since she worked at the bank.

But the second Mrs. Song knew the truth better than anyone.

Before marrying Song Zhicheng, her family was ordinary – over ten years ago, how could common people study abroad? Without studying abroad, Sheng Xuan certainly couldn’t have reached her current position at such a young age… The second Mrs. Song was sheepish because she knew Sheng Xuan’s “success” couldn’t be separated from the Song family. Sheng Xuan had leveraged the Song family’s influence for many things, including handling hundred-million-yuan loans.

The old master didn’t know about this yet.

The second Mrs. Song turned a blind eye partly because she cared for her cousin Sheng Xuan, and partly because when she learned Yangfan Real Estate had borrowed over a hundred million to hoard land, they weren’t the only ones doing it – everyone was doing the same.

Moreover, because of the old master’s high standards forbidding family members from such activities, the second Mrs. Song found a loophole – if she couldn’t make money herself, should she stop her cousin and cousin-in-law from doing so?

Now with Song Zhi cheng’s anger, the second Mrs. Song felt less confident, taking a moment to organize her counterargument:

“When Xuan asked for our help, we didn’t agree. You didn’t help Zhu Suizhou make connections either. Can’t they get their loans and buy land? You just can’t stand seeing my family do well, always afraid of this and that, without any masculine courage… You’ve eaten and used what Xuan sent home. Song Zhicheng, you’re biting the hand that feeds you!”

Women’s typical argument strategy was to turn accusations around – the less confident, the more aggressive; the guiltier, the louder!

Sheng Xuan had indeed sent some things home.

Song Zhicheng choked, then furiously began ransacking the house, throwing everything Sheng Xuan had sent onto the sofa:

“I don’t want these things. Return them immediately. I can’t control others’ loans, but only Sheng Xuan and Zhu Suizhou are connected to the Song family. If someone reports this to the old master… you explain it yourself!”

The second Mrs. Song finally backed down.

“Is it that serious?”

Song Zhicheng collapsed onto the sofa, “I’m uneasy. Qiong Island’s land prices are rising too fast. The authorities will notice and intervene sooner or later. When they investigate, your cousin and her husband will be identified as leading land hoarders. What then?”

The second Mrs. Song grew anxious, “Tang Hongen wouldn’t do that, right? Xia Xiaolan is in Qiong Island too!”

Song Zhicheng glanced at her:

“Yes, Xia Xiaolan is there, but she’s donating while making money. Did you know her company launched the Eagle Fledgling Initiative with the Education Ministry, donating over ten million in total? Do your cousin and her husband have such courage?”

Crazy, donating over ten million.

Not ten thousand!

The second Mrs. Song didn’t need to ask – Sheng Xuan and Zhu Suizhou certainly wouldn’t part with such money.

“Then I’ll tell them to stop. Sell the thousand mu of land, and repay the bank loans. The remaining money would last them a lifetime.”

They could do other business with that money.

Song Zhicheng’s harsh words made the second Mrs. Song realize her husband wouldn’t speak groundlessly. She feared for Sheng Xuan too.

Regardless of whether the loan procedures were clean, the charge of “speculation and profiteering” was too heavy – everyone feared it.

Song Zhicheng sneered:

“They probably won’t listen to you anymore!”

Naturally – after using the Song family’s influence to make a fortune, and becoming their bosses, why listen to the Songs anymore?

The second Mrs. Song didn’t believe this, “I’ll warn them. How could Xuan not appreciate it?”

Never speak too confidently – the second Mrs. Song’s self-assured warning to Sheng Xuan backfired badly.

Sheng Xuan’s words were polite, but her meaning was clear – she wouldn’t leave Qiong Island.

“So many people are buying land in Qiong Island, why must only we withdraw?”

At least Qihang showed no signs of retreating – they’d just profited well from selling office buildings and were still buying land piecemeal!

Now among thousands of real estate companies in Qiong Island, regardless of size, none would leave. Established companies were beaming, while those who hadn’t gotten in were beating their chests in regret. How could Sheng Xuan and Zhu Suizhou agree to withdraw now, leaving profits for others?

Especially letting Xia Xiaolan profit – that was unacceptable!

Sheng Xuan even criticized the second Mrs. Song for being too timid, angering her:

“Believe it or not, I can’t control you anymore… Indeed, now you’re a big boss, leaving your cousin-in-law far behind!”

“That’s not-“

Sheng Xuan tried explaining anxiously, but the second Mrs. Song hung up.

Sheng Xuan’s anxiety was just for show. She wasn’t worried!

Because she knew there was safety in numbers.

If she and Zhu Suizhou were speculating and profiteering, weren’t others doing the same?

If authorities investigated, let them investigate everyone.

Could Xia Xiaolan escape?

She’d been hoarding land before Qiong Island became a province. If things exploded, she wouldn’t spare Xia Xiaolan – they’d all go down together… Thousands of real estate companies failing together would be quite a spectacle.

The authorities wouldn’t do that. Wasn’t Qiong Island’s economy now driven by real estate? Without land speculation, how could it be a real Special Economic Zone?

Zhu Suizhou comforted her:

“Your cousin might have heard something. She’s overly cautious. We don’t have to listen, but we should take precautions. I’ll sell some land and repay that first 20-million loan. Only that loan didn’t follow regulations. Once repaid, who can trouble us?”

The remaining land had proper bank loans because Qiong Island real estate had started rising – banks weren’t worried about Yangfan Real Estate defaulting.

Zhu Suizhou thought real danger would come when banks stopped lending when policies tightened – that would be real trouble.

But now banks were happy to give mortgages – the second Mrs. Song’s warning was just alarmist!

Sheng Xuan was touched. She knew how much Zhu Suizhou valued their hoarded land. Recently, land prices reached over 400,000 per mu, and Zhu Suizhou analyzed they’d at least double. Now, to protect her from crisis, he voluntarily offered to repay the first loan, erasing all evidence against her.

That 20-million loan would require selling 50 mu of land to repay.

If land prices doubled, these 50 mu would mean 20 million less in profit. How could Sheng Xuan not feel pained?

“Could Xia Xiaolan be behind this? Seeming to leave Qiong Island but trying to trick us into panic-selling our land. She has money herself but won’t let others earn any-“

Since Yecheng’s first land auction, Sheng Xuan had deeply resented Xia Xiaolan’s dominance!