“How could it be unprofitable?”

If Xia Xiaolan were to develop an unprofitable building project, she might as well hang herself.

Wang Houlin didn’t understand how to operate because his mindset hadn’t changed yet.

The Construction Group didn’t make much profit from dormitories for work units, just slightly above the cost price. Before the Reform and Opening Up, all state-owned units operated this way. The priority wasn’t unit profitability – after all, the state wouldn’t let anyone starve, so what was there to compete for?

But Xia Xiaolan’s real estate development was meant to make money.

She had no psychological burden about selling houses at high prices.

Who could afford commercial housing in Pengcheng during the mid-80s? They were either Hong Kong residents or the few mainland businesspeople who got rich first during Reform and Opening Up. Xia Xiaolan had nothing to feel guilty about making money from them.

So the houses needed to be profitable – it couldn’t be like the Construction Group building dormitories for other units at cost price.

The costs of landscaping, sacrificing total building height for optimal living experience – all these would eventually be passed on to the buyers.

It didn’t matter if Wang Houlin didn’t understand, as long as he was willing to follow her ideas:

“The Jinsha Pool land is long and narrow. The community entrance will be near the main road. The golf course is on the left, and Xiangmi Lake is on the right, with courtyard landscaping in the middle and green spaces dotted throughout. The views from any direction will be stunning. We’ll build units with one elevator serving two households, five floors total. First-floor units will come with parking spaces in the basement, and top-floor units will have roof gardens. Below the fifth floor will be normal units, above the fifth floor we can add small lofts to create duplex penthouses…”

Fortunately, Xia Xiaolan was drawing while explaining, otherwise, these concepts would have completely confused Wang Houlin.

Wang Houlin had to concentrate hard to keep up with Xia Xiaolan’s train of thought.

Mao Kangshan hadn’t spoken, clearly wanting to let Xia Xiaolan fully express her ideas.

Xia Xiaolan paused to drink water, and Wang Houlin scratched the back of his head, “Director Xia, what you’re describing is like building villas!”

Xia Xiaolan smiled:

“I wouldn’t dare call them villas – let’s say they’re townhouses.”

Had she known the land would become so hot, Xia Xiaolan would have considered building villas. The Jinsha Pool name was such a great selling point that even Tang Yuanyue wanted to buy the land to build villas. Building several dozen 200-square-meter villas to sell to Hong Kong buyers would have been quite profitable.

However, since she had told Tang Hongen she would build regular residential units, it wouldn’t look good to suddenly switch to villas now.

Villas were too high-end with limited mass appeal. How many mainland millionaires were there at this time? Individual mainland businesspeople definitely couldn’t afford large villa units.

But 100-square-meter smaller units were different – the community would end up housing both Hong Kong residents and newly wealthy mainland private business owners.

Mao Kangshan carefully studied the rough sketch Xia Xiaolan had drawn. While she might lack solid foundational skills and couldn’t draft independently or be certain about some technical aspects, her ability to manage the big picture was very strong. These casual sketches clearly showed careful consideration.

After becoming Xia Xiaolan’s teacher, Mao Kangshan finally understood that when people said Xia Xiaolan designed the Nanhai Hotel’s interior, she was just the ideas person – the ones who worked hard on the drafts were people from Ning Yanfan’s studio… Heh, Ning Yanfan’s people were only fit to assist his little apprentice.

“It’s not impossible to make money – it depends on how we price the units.”

Mao Kangshan’s words carried more weight, and Wang Houlin started paying attention to Xia Xiaolan’s concept.

Since gold sand was discovered in Jinsha Pool, it has become the top evening stroll destination for Pengcheng citizens. People come at all hours, partly to absorb the good feng shui of this auspicious location, and some hope to find leftover gold in the pool!

Ge Jian had no choice but to post guards by the pool.

They worried someone might start digging randomly in the pool with hoes, which would create difficulties for future construction – filling in all those holes would be troublesome.

The police station also sent officers to patrol nearby, fearing another looting incident like before.

Hiding some gold was a minor issue – if people got hurt, nobody would want to take responsibility.

Yellow warning tape was put up around the area. The Futian Street Office suggested that Qihang Company quickly build a wall – with a wall and a couple of security guards on patrol, they could better control the curious crowds. They couldn’t have the police guarding Jinsha Pool forever.

The wall was under construction, and now Xia Xiaolan and Mao Kangshan’s group were in a temporary work shed.

The shed was open on all sides for ventilation and light, just four posts with a roof to block sun and rain. Inside was a large table covered with various tools and drawings. As Xia Xiaolan paused her parched explanation to rest, she saw a large group approaching with gongs and drums.

“Stop! What are you trying to do?”

The police stopped them.

The leader, Luo Yaozong, wiped his tears, “We’re not here to make trouble. It’s just that when gold sand was found here, my grandfather was so shocked he collapsed that day. Now he’s getting worse by the day. He wants to look at this land a few more times – he won’t be able to rest in peace when he dies otherwise!”

Behind Luo Yaozong, several villagers had made a simple stretcher from wooden poles and bedsheets. The person lying on it was Old Man Luo.

The police officers looked at each other uncertainly.

The Luo family had sold their land to Qihang Real Estate, and Qihang had found gold sand in what was a stinking pond. The land’s value had skyrocketed.

Not just the Luo family, even the Futian Street Office and Shangbu District who had agreed to sell must be regretting it now… not regretting selling the land, but asking too low a price.

Word was that Jinsha Pool land prices had risen to 600,000 yuan per mu.

Xia Xiaolan had also heard the commotion.

While Wang Houlin cursed them as hooligans, Xia Xiaolan wasn’t so angry.

The Luo family had tried every way possible to see her. Today, knowing she was at Jinsha Pool, Luo Yaozong had brought his grandfather on a stretcher. Whether the old man was dying or not didn’t matter – to others, it certainly appeared that way.

“If you want to see Jinsha Pool, it’s not going anywhere. Why bring so many people? Those carrying the stretcher can stay, everyone else leaves, then I’ll agree to meet with the Luo family.”

Ganquan Village hadn’t even relocated yet, and the Luo family, as village tyrants, could still cause trouble for Xia Xiaolan.

Old Man Luo hadn’t given up his desire to see Xia Xiaolan, constantly thinking about getting this land back. Now that he’d finally cornered her, he wouldn’t easily let this chance slip away.

Lying on the stretcher, he laboriously got the villagers to disperse, leaving only a few close nephews from the family and his grandson Luo Yaozong.

As Xia Xiaolan walked over, Luo Yaozong’s calves trembled.

He truly feared this formidable woman. Although she had never personally beaten him, Xia Xiaolan was the source of Luo Yaozong’s terror.

“Old Village Chief Luo, looking so sick – are you trying to guilt me? To be honest, I’m only agreeing to see you out of respect for your age. Respecting the elderly and loving the young is our country’s traditional virtue. Whatever you want to see me about, you might as well say it now.”

The old man on the stretcher opened his eyes, staring intently at Xia Xiaolan:

“You capable young woman, you stole our Luo family’s feng shui treasure land – you think that’s the end of it?”