With Grandmother Yu having made her decision, Ning Yanfan couldn’t say much.

“I’ll find someone to help with this matter. That girl doesn’t seem heartless. I heard she’s got Mao Kangshan delighted, making him come out of retirement at his age and running around for her affairs!”

That was truly impressive.

This ability to win people over was something Ning Xue didn’t possess.

Grandmother Yu rolled her eyes: “I wanted to introduce you to a disciple because of our years of friendship, but the Ning family’s standards were too high, forcing her away. Now don’t complain about Mao Kangshan taking advantage… Xiaolan’s personality is what it is – she certainly has ulterior motives in becoming Mao Kangshan’s student, but if he’s good to her, she’ll repay him tenfold. Mao Kangshan is nurturing a disciple now, so he can look forward to her filial respect and having her spread his fame in the future!”

Ning Yanfan sighed: “Trying to balance everything naturally leads to constraints everywhere. Comrade Kangshan follows his heart’s desires, but I have my burdens.”

With such a large family and business, Ning Yanfan couldn’t control every family member’s thoughts.

His daughter-in-law Zhen Wenxiu, influenced by Ji Yaying, had mocked Xia Xiaolan, earning her antipathy.

Before Ning Yanfan could even mention taking her as a disciple, Xia Xiaolan had already distanced herself from the Ning family. Forced relationships never work well – once Xia Xiaolan developed misgivings, Ning Yanfan couldn’t force the issue.

He thought Zhen Wenxiu was wrong, but what use was scolding her as a father-in-law? She would only hate Xia Xiaolan more.

Zhen Wenxiu was also Ning Xue’s mother, married to Ning Yanfan’s eldest son for over twenty years with grown children. He couldn’t force his son to divorce Zhen Wenxiu just because she disliked Xia Xiaolan, could he?

Impossible.

People naturally have different levels of closeness. While Ning Yanfan thought highly of Xia Xiaolan, Zhen Wenxiu had been part of the Ning family for over twenty years – though not bearing the Ning surname, she was truly family.

“All excuses! But I won’t force you. The talent you won’t cherish, Mao Kangshan treasures – this shows that after years of bad luck, Mao Kangshan’s fortune is finally turning. Alright, alright, I won’t argue about what’s already happened. You’ve helped so much, this old woman remembers your kindness!”

The Er’qi Square property rights dispute still needed Ning Yanfan’s help, so Grandmother Yu reluctantly suppressed her displeasure and left after some perfunctory words.

Watching her leave, Ning Yanfan shook his head. Her determination couldn’t be stopped – even now, she was no longer the Yu family’s young miss, yet still knew how to command people.

Ning Xue entered the study: “Grandfather, Grandmother Yu asked for your help to gift her Shangdu property to Xia Xiaolan. You’ve been helping Grandmother Yu search for Uncle Xu’s family all these years but couldn’t find them – how could Xia Xiaolan succeed?”

Ning Yanfan shook his head: “Xia Xiaolan might not find them, but Grandmother Yu trusts her. This is your Grandmother Yu’s hope – why should we shatter it? Even if Xia Xiaolan can’t find them immediately, she’ll let your Grandmother Yu wait with hope. At least while she’s alive, she can live comfortably. Just for this reason, giving the Shangdu property to Xia Xiaolan isn’t inappropriate.”

Without finding her family, Yu Shimei was just a lonely old woman. Whoever cared for her in old age would inherit her property – this followed Chinese tradition.

Yu Shimei’s stubborn personality wouldn’t let her freeload off Xia Xiaolan. Even if Xia Xiaolan didn’t help find her son, as long as she stayed with Xia Xiaolan’s family, she would eventually leave her property to Xia Xiaolan.

It was just a matter of giving it before or after death. If Yu Shimei wanted to give it earlier, Ning Yanfan would naturally respect her wishes.

“But—”

Ning Xue couldn’t finish her thought.

Ning Yanfan smiled: “But what? You seem very concerned about Xia Xiaolan’s movements. Though you can’t be fellow disciples, you’re still classmates. If you want to know something, why not ask her directly?”

Though he said this, Ning Yanfan knew his granddaughter’s personality – Ning Xue would never privately inquire about others’ affairs.

“Xia Xiaolan bought a plot of land in Pengcheng to develop and sell residential properties. Don’t stare at me like that – I don’t know where she got so much money either. But her residential development needs Tang Hongen’s support – no wonder Ji Yaying hates that girl so much. I know what you’re thinking – you think she’s neglecting her studies again, but this time it’s different.”

Grandfather’s words made Ning Xue curious, “What’s different? No wonder I heard from dormmates that Xia Xiaolan hasn’t been at school any weekend this semester – I thought she was just staying at home.”

“The difference is that she’s now Mao Kangshan’s disciple. Mao Kangshan originally kept to himself, but for Xia Xiaolan, he quit his work at Hangcheng Provincial Construction Institute to focus on planning for her. You know Mao Kangshan’s temperament hasn’t changed over the years, don’t you? He won’t watch Xia Xiaolan waste her talent, nor will he just aim for profits from residential development. If he’s investing so much effort, he must be using this to help Xia Xiaolan grow quickly through practice. Mao Kangshan is using this method to make Xia Xiaolan catch up to you.”

Everyone knew Old Cannon Mao’s temperament.

Ning Yanfan considered himself worldly, while Mao Kangshan was like a hot-tempered immortal official – Ning Yanfan had to consider his family, while Mao Kangshan followed his path, never bothering with children’s concerns or bowing to mere money.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t move Mao Kangshan with money. Only one thing could make him work so hard – molding Xia Xiaolan into talent!

Mao Kangshan defied heaven and earth, unbound by constraints, refusing to submit to any architectural official or civilian organization. With such a confrontational personality, he must be setting up an imagined rival for Xia Xiaolan.

Thinking it through, who was more qualified to be this imagined rival than his granddaughter Ning Xue?

At his age, Comrade Kangshan was still very competitive. Though Ning Yanfan was speechless, he thought this was a good thing.

If they couldn’t become close friends, having a competitor wasn’t bad for Ning Xue.

The mountain peak was magnificent but lonely and cold.

Having someone to climb that peak together would make the journey less solitary!

Relationships needn’t be confined to fixed patterns. Being wary of each other, chasing each other, sometimes defiant, sometimes admiring… wasn’t such a relationship interesting too?

Ning Xue frowned:

“So Xia Xiaolan’s land development means she can design however she wants on her territory?”

That was indeed an advantage.

No matter how talented Ning Xue was, she was still just an undergraduate architecture student.

She could publish papers, attend seminars, and compete in domestic architectural design competitions.

But could her designs become real buildings?

This was the first time Ning Xue felt pressure. She became very interested in Xia Xiaolan’s residential development in Pengcheng. After leaving grandfather’s study, she saw her mother approaching with a smile:

“Xue’er, will you accompany the mother to Pengcheng next month? Your Aunt Ji’s wedding will be held there!”