Zheng Shuqin’s screams could pierce through the roof.

The neighbors were curious – were the Maos going to fight as soon as Mao Guosheng returned after half a month away?

Mao Guosheng realized this too and became anxious:

“If you have something to say, say it properly. Why are you shouting? The neighbors will laugh at us.”

Zheng Shuqin was breathing fire: “Mao Guosheng, that’s 600 yuan, not 60! If you had such a job, I wouldn’t care if they laughed – let them laugh all they want! Explain to me carefully what exactly happened!”

Mao Guosheng felt guilty, knowing that countless people would fight for a 600-yuan monthly salary job.

Even the Director of the Provincial Institute didn’t make 600 yuan.

The Provincial Institute was a state unit, following state-mandated salary standards. Every rank had its defined salary, with many eyes watching. Even units with exceptional performance couldn’t arbitrarily raise salaries, and bonuses were strictly limited.

The Provincial Institute might sound prestigious, but in terms of actual benefits, it couldn’t compare to the Construction Group.

The designers were at the bottom of the totem pole – those with money were the real bosses!

The Design Institute had always been lukewarm. Forget 600 yuan monthly, even half that amount would drive Zheng Shuqin crazy.

If Mao Guosheng didn’t explain everything clearly, Zheng Shuqin wouldn’t let it go. As she said, life would become unbearable!

Mao Guosheng reluctantly explained everything, then righteously asked his wife:

“After how she spoke to me, how could I work at her company?”

Zheng Shuqin spat in disgust:

“What do you know! Senior Zhou Maotong was transferring your work relationship to have you under Guangdong Provincial Construction, then work at Little Sister Xia’s company. You’d be like Father, a specially invited consultant – how is that shameful? Little Sister Xia respects Father, she’d naturally respect you too. You lost such a good opportunity! Think about it – with 600 yuan monthly, how much better would our family’s life be? Mao Guosheng, you have three children to raise! They need money for school, and later for marriage. Look at Old Li’s family on the fourth floor – they spent several thousand yuan on the four major items for their son’s wedding at the beginning of the year. They mention it to everyone they meet, and they only have one son. You have two sons!”

Zheng Shuqin’s quick tongue left Mao Guosheng hanging his head in shame.

She was also skilled at adapting – smoothly transitioning from “Xia” to the more intimate “Little Sister Xia.”

Mao Guosheng timidly countered: “Young girls nowadays are too materialistic, immediately demanding TVs and refrigerators. When we got married, it was so simple – new clothes and a marriage certificate…”

His voice grew increasingly smaller as Zheng Shuqin looked ready to explode.

And explode she did: “You dare bring that up! Mao, I didn’t ask for anything when I married you. Look at how we’ve lived all these years! If you cared about me and the children, you wouldn’t cling to your worthless pride. I don’t care – you must get this job back from Little Sister Xia!”

Mao Guosheng was overwhelmed.

He had spoken so firmly before, practically saying he’d rather eat dirt than work under Xia Xiaolan.

Now he had to eat his words – should he accept Xia Xiaolan’s bowl of rice while saying “How delicious”?

He was unwilling, but his wife’s pressure was unbearable.

But how could he get Xia Xiaolan to seriously invite him back to Shenzhen?

Mao Guosheng fell into deep thought.

…

While Comrade Mao Guosheng was daydreaming, Xia Xiaolan remained oblivious.

If she knew Mao Guosheng regretted refusing the job, she would probably laugh out loud three times.

For Teacher Mao’s sake, she had tried to salvage Mao Guosheng but respectfully invited him to work at her company.

Bah, his skills didn’t match his attitude.

For 600 yuan monthly, who couldn’t Xia Xiaolan hire?

People like Wang Houlin – forced to retire early in their prime due to special circumstances – were rare, but following Uncle Liu Yong’s example, it wasn’t hard to hire two retired engineers. Money talks – the older generation of technical experts had held iron rice bowls at state units their whole lives. Though stable, under such high salary temptation, it wasn’t difficult to find a few willing to bend for 600 yuan.

True, 600 yuan couldn’t attract someone of Mao Kangshan’s caliber.

But Xia Xiaolan’s company was just starting, focusing on what the experts considered simple residential construction. They didn’t need someone of Mao Kangshan’s stature.

Xia Xiaolan just needed someone with real skills to help handle construction technical issues in Shenzhen when she wasn’t there.

Wang Houlin alone was enough for now.

Coming from Guangdong Provincial Construction with field experience, Zhou Maotong’s recommendation was more suitable than Mao Guosheng, who only knew how to draw plans. Now it wasn’t about whether Mao Guosheng wanted to work for Xia Xiaolan – she temporarily didn’t need extra people… someone who could only draw designs wasn’t what she needed. She could hire design institute people to draw architectural plans – pay some money, and there were plenty who could draw.

People like Wang Houlin were what Xia Xiaolan truly needed.

This was the advantage of having connections – Senior Zhou Maotong considered her interests and wouldn’t mislead her.

Besides construction engineers, Xia Xiaolan needed financial staff, which was harder to recruit – she needed trustworthy people.

But those she could trust all had their affairs.

Ge Jian?

Ge Jian wouldn’t work – he lacked professional knowledge, and besides, Xia Xiaolan had arranged a better position for him as project manager.

Ge Jian needed to represent her, keeping a close eye on the construction site. Qihang’s first project didn’t have any mistakes once construction began.

Secretary Peng, hearing Xia Xiaolan was recruiting an accountant, recommended someone:

“This person is quite reliable. Though his life has been difficult, he’s someone the leader knows – you can trust him.”

Xia Xiaolan certainly wouldn’t refuse: “This must be Uncle Tang’s recommendation, right? That puts my mind at ease! By the way, is Uncle Tang free today? I have something I’d like to discuss with him.”

Secretary Peng’s expression showed a hint of awkwardness:

“…The leader is out of town.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t think much of it, “On a business trip? That’s unfortunate, I wanted to ask about the land issue.”

Of course, it wasn’t a business trip, but Secretary Peng couldn’t tell Xia Xiaolan what Tang Hongen was doing. When Xia Xiaolan mentioned the land, Secretary Peng immediately changed the subject: “The Futian Street Office has reported your investment intention to Shangbu District. The district doesn’t oppose it now, and it was just reported to the city today. Whether it passes depends on whether your project plan can convince the city government. At such a time, it’s indeed inappropriate for the leader to stay in Shenzhen.”

Mayor Tang was avoiding suspicion!

Xia Xiaolan suddenly understood.

Wait, Uncle Tang never feared gossip before, but now he was avoiding suspicion… so, as she thought, the relationship between Mayor Tang and her mother had made significant progress?