Secretary Peng had already heard Liu Yong’s voice.

Liu Yong was a local businessman, and possibly the future brother-in-law of the leader, so Secretary Peng couldn’t afford to offend him and didn’t keep him in suspense:

“120,000 per mu!”

120,000!

Both Liu Yong and Xia Xiaolan’s faces lit up with joy.

At 120,000 per mu, it was one-third lower than Harold’s price of 180,000 per mu!

The difference of 60,000 per mu might seem small, but with a total area of 23.2 mu, it meant saving 1.39 million yuan overall. What a significant amount! Even after the South Sea Hotel’s renovation was complete, this was about all the cash Xia Xiaolan and Liu Yong could scrape together.

“Thank you, Secretary Peng. I understand. When would be convenient to sign the contract at the city government?”

“As soon as possible. Have you prepared the money?”

“Money isn’t an issue. Once we sign the intent contract, we can settle the land payment immediately.”

With money ready and time being of the essence, sooner was better.

After hanging up, Xia Xiaolan let out a long sigh of relief: “120,000 per mu is about what we estimated. I would have gritted my teeth even at 150,000 per mu, but now it’s less than we imagined.”

They had initially expected around 150,000 and had prepared the land payment accordingly.

Xia Xiaolan was also grateful for securing the South Sea Hotel renovation project, with the total project value increased to 30 million.

A quarter of the project meant a budget of 7.5 million.

According to the terms, Dongfeng Holdings would pay 900,000 in cash immediately after the proposal was approved, another 900,000 at the start of construction, and then 900,000 monthly. After just five months of construction, Yuanhui would receive 5.4 million in cash.

The remaining 2.1 million would be paid after the project passed quality inspection.

The South Sea Hotel’s shareholders’ meeting was held on May 20th, with renovation work officially starting in June. So far, Yuanhui has received three monthly payments totaling 2.7 million from Dongfeng Holdings, plus the 900,000 given after proposal approval, adding up to 3.6 million.

In a couple of days, it would be September, and Dongfeng Holdings would pay Yuanhui another 900,000 as agreed.

Since Xia Xiaolan mentioned needing money, Liu Yong hadn’t dared to touch the project funds.

Except for imported materials requiring immediate payment and the initial million yuan paid to build material stores, Liu Yong had learned the essential skill of every contractor: holding back payments.

While withholding payments, the building material stores absorbed most of the pressure from suppliers, leaving Liu Yong to face a barrage of complaints.

There was no choice; Liu Yong had to endure being cursed like a dog to hold onto the money.

Where else could Xia Xiaolan’s Qihang Real Estate find funding?

Getting several million in loans from banks without collateral was impossible, and when Xia Xiaolan thought about the wealthy people she knew, she realized she didn’t have particularly good relationships with any of them.

Owing such large personal favors might lead to unpredictable complications when it came time to repay them.

She could only have her uncle tighten his belt to gather money. After all, keeping it in the family meant whether she owed favors or not, she would still need to be filial to her uncle, so owing more didn’t matter much.

The 1 million used to register Qihang Real Estate came from the funds Liu Yong had taken from Dongfeng Holdings’ payments.

That 1 million couldn’t be touched now; it needed to sit quietly in the bank for some time.

Now, she and Liu Yong needed to pull out another 2.78 million.

For Liu Yong, the pressure was considerably less than before, as they had initially planned for 150,000 per mu.

“Dongfeng always transfers money on the first of September, they’re very punctual. With that 900,000, you won’t need to worry about this money!”

Liu Yong still had 2 million untouched, and with the additional 900,000, they could naturally gather the 2.78 million.

Xia Xiaolan shook her head: “We can’t wait until September 1st. That’s when I start school, and I must be present for signing with the city government. Let’s do this: this afternoon, we’ll bring 2 million to the site to secure the land, and we’ll pay the remaining 780,000 in three days.”

Liu Yong thought this was a good proposal.

As they walked out of the office, they saw Kang Wei and Bai Zhenzhu.

“The land approval must have gone through!”

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “You’re the quickest to catch on. If it hadn’t been approved, I wouldn’t be smiling now.”

Kang Wei agreed and handed Xia Xiaolan two wire transfer receipts.

“This is…”

Kang Wei scratched his head, “Sister-in-law, I can’t help much more, but knowing you need money urgently, I’m lending you what I can. One receipt for 100,000 is from me, and the other for 600,000 is from Brother Zhou Cheng, who asked me to give it to you!”

Xia Xiaolan was extremely surprised: “Where did Zhou Cheng get that kind of money?”

Even if he had secret savings, it couldn’t be 600,000!

Zhou Cheng had already given his savings to Xia Xiaolan, which was invested in Luna, founded by Chen Xiliang, as a long-term investment.

Moreover, Zhou Cheng’s cigarette business had ended long ago, so where did the 600,000 come from?

Kang Wei hesitated to explain, but Xia Xiaolan had a sudden realization: “It’s a loan, isn’t it?”

The only way Zhou Cheng could get such money was through a loan!

Zhou Cheng must have mortgaged his Beijing property to the bank.

Everything had been done behind Xia Xiaolan’s back, and this weighty gesture left her choked with emotion.

The houses Zhou Cheng bought weren’t for his residence, and Xia Xiaolan didn’t know exactly which ones he owned. Like the one previously lent to the Shi family, it must have been in a good location, while others in poor locations and conditions probably weren’t worth much.

This 600,000 must have been obtained by mortgaging Zhou Cheng’s entire assets.

Bai Zhenzhu also handed Xia Xiaolan a bankbook.

“Xiaolan, I only have 200,000.”

Feeling quite poor, Bai Zhenzhu was somewhat embarrassed.

With Bai Zhenzhu giving 200,000, Kang Wei, who only gave 100,000, felt quite shy and quickly explained: “Sister-in-law, wait two more days, my bank loan hasn’t been approved yet… I can gather some more money for you.”

Kang Wei had joined the cigarette business under Zhou Cheng’s guidance when Zhou Cheng had already been operating for some time, so Kang Wei’s accumulated wealth wasn’t as substantial as Zhou Cheng’s.

Later, after investing in the building materials store, buying a car, and renovating his house, plus not taking compensation from Du Zhaohui after the car accident, 100,000 was all the cash Kang Wei had on hand.

Xia Xiaolan held the two-wire transfer receipts and the bankbook, quickly nodding:

“This is enough, more than enough! Thank you all. I won’t stand on ceremony with you. Let me secure the land first, and when Dongfeng Holdings’ money arrives in a few days, I’ll pay you back immediately!”

Bai Zhenzhu shook her head, “No need to rush. When Dongfeng’s money arrives, let Uncle Liu use it to pay the suppliers first. Our store can get credit, but other suppliers aren’t so understanding. Xiaolan, the money we can offer is within our means, so use it for now, and return it when your cash flow improves!”

She had planned to wait for Dongfeng Holdings’ next month’s payment, but unexpectedly, Zhou Cheng, Kang Wei, and Bai Zhenzhu had quietly helped her make up the shortfall.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t waste words on pleasantries. Zhou Cheng was her man, and his support of her business proved she hadn’t misjudged him.

Kang Wei and Bai Zhenzhu were her friends, proving she had good judgment in choosing friends as well!

“Uncle, let’s go. We’ll go to the city government now to sign the contract. Once we have the land in hand, everything else can be worked out!”