“You have good taste!” Mao Kangshan snorted.

“Cornell University’s Architecture Department is very strict in undergraduate admissions. You might not get accepted, but for just a one-year exchange program, I still have some influence.”

Why did Mao Kangshan have influence?

Like Ning Yanfan who studied abroad, Mao Kangshan, who was equally renowned, had similar experience. However, Mao Kangshan’s time studying abroad wasn’t long, and he never boasted about Cornell University being his alma mater. Mao Kangshan never liked asking for favors from others, but he made multiple exceptions for Xia Xiaolan. If Mao Guosheng knew that Mao Kangshan was willing to reconnect with Cornell University alumni for Xia Xiaolan’s sake, he would probably kill him with just his glare.

Xia Xiaolan felt her teacher’s care and stepped forward voluntarily: “How about letting me hit you with sugarcane a few times?”

Mao Kangshan couldn’t help but laugh at her words, “Have you no shame? If getting hit by sugarcane a few times could get you a year of architecture study at Cornell, do you think any student from Huaqing’s Architecture Department would refuse?”

That was true indeed.

Not just sugarcane hits, some would even accept being struck with red-hot iron rods.

Xia Xiaolan was particularly happy, and when happy, she wanted to repay Old Mao:

“Teacher, I heard from Senior Zhou that Brother Guosheng has figured things out again and wants to transfer from Hangcheng Provincial Construction Institute to Guangdong Provincial Construction Engineering. When he comes, shall we let him work at Qihang?”

Xia Xiaolan originally wanted to put some pressure on Mao Guosheng, who was always overcautious yet simultaneously arrogant and insecure – quite a contradictory person.

However, since Mao Kangshan had been so good to her, Xia Xiaolan thought perhaps she should use gentler methods, which was why she brought up this matter.

Unexpectedly, Mao Kangshan flatly refused:

“Does Qihang lack people now? If you think I’m too old to help, I’ll take your teacher’s wife back to Hangcheng. It’s either him or me, you choose!”

His tone was extremely fierce, clearly opposing Mao Guosheng’s work at Qihang.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t understand why.

Wouldn’t it be good for father and son to work together? Old Mao had a fiery temper, but one could learn real skills from him. Just look at Wang Houlin – he was happy despite his bad leg, running around all day. For Wang Houlin, working with Mao Kangshan was a pleasure.

Wang Houlin was also 50 years old but hadn’t given up on improving himself. Wouldn’t Mao Guosheng want the same?

Mao Kangshan was a very stubborn old man, and Xia Xiaolan didn’t dare go against him. So she could only let Mao Guosheng stay at Guangdong Provincial Construction Engineering… which aligned with Xia Xiaolan’s thoughts. Didn’t Mao Guosheng think he was held back by his father? If he couldn’t develop even after leaving Hangcheng Provincial Construction Institute’s environment for Guangdong Provincial Construction Engineering, then it would prove Mao Guosheng’s inadequacy.

Zhou Maotong greatly respected Teacher Mao and would certainly look after Mao Guosheng to some extent.

The model building had already topped out, and Xia Xiaolan brought Liu Yong over to handle the interior and exterior decoration.

The exterior walls needed decoration, the sales office needed renovation, and several model rooms needed to be set up.

“Wait a few more days until the building is completely dry, then we can start work. I’ll arrange everything properly,” said Liu Yong.

Liu Yong walked around the construction site and personally inspected the topped-out model building. Although even the external scaffolding hadn’t been removed, Liu Yong could see the layout inside.

He didn’t have any design talent, but he had taken on renovation projects both big and small.

The residential properties he had renovated before weren’t bad, but after seeing the building his niece had constructed, Liu Yong understood the difference.

A bathroom was a proper bathroom, a kitchen was a proper kitchen – there would never be awkward situations like having bathroom and kitchen doors facing each other, with someone using the toilet while another person was cooking.

Every bedroom had access to natural light.

The pre-installed window frames were particularly large, ensuring abundant light. Such houses were completely different from the railway bureau dormitory they had previously rented in Shangdu – more spacious and comfortable.

“There are three types of layouts. A 70㎡ two-bedroom, a 90㎡ three-bedroom, and a 135㎡ four-bedroom duplex?”

Liu Yong had gone to the top floor to look. The so-called 135㎡ was actually 90㎡ downstairs plus half a floor added on top, totaling 135㎡. Liu Yong particularly liked the 135㎡ layouts. Living in such a house would definitely feel completely different from living in a tube-shaped apartment building, especially bright… Indeed, it’s easier to go from frugal to luxurious.

When people have money, they want to treat themselves well. Only a small minority is truly content with poverty; most who claim to be content with poverty simply have no choice.

Isn’t it good to live in a big house, wear nice clothes, and eat meat with every meal?

Nonsense, it’s only criticized because it’s unattainable!

Liu Yong’s ideological consciousness wasn’t high at all; he just wanted his family to live a good life.

After coming downstairs, he told Xia Xiaolan to reserve a 135㎡ unit for him.

Xia Xiaolan thought for a moment, “That’s not a problem. We need to set up a model room for each layout type. I’m just worried that the building near the road might be noisier. Would you prefer a building further inside?”

Liu Yong was eager: “The outer one is fine. Just use the unit reserved for me as the model room for decoration, so your aunt and I can move in earlier.”

That would work too, as long as Uncle didn’t mind.

The community was still some distance from the road, and planting two rows of trees would help reduce noise.

The environment was really good, with the golf course under construction next door and the operating Xiangmi Lake Resort both having completed their landscaping. The Jinsha Pool residential community, nestled between them, would naturally become tree-lined in the future.

As for the house prepared for her teacher Mao Kangshan, Xia Xiaolan was thinking of a first-floor unit.

After discussing with Liu Yong for a while and coming out of the building, they happened to meet Ke Yixiong’s transport team delivering sand and stones. One of the trucks was driven by Ke Yixiong himself. Meeting Xia Xiaolan here didn’t surprise him at all – delivering sand and stones shouldn’t have required Ke Yixiong’s involvement, but since he had promised to guarantee the safety of Xia Xiaolan’s construction site, he had people watching this area constantly.

He knew as soon as Xia Xiaolan appeared.

Ke Yixiong’s expression was unpleasant, “Miss Xia, you’re quite familiar with the Bai family. I’ve been tolerant because Bai Zhenzhu is a woman, but if she continues to act without restraint, I won’t show any mercy.”

Xia Xiaolan looked at him: “Yes, I am familiar with the Bai family, but I couldn’t stop you from disrupting their wedding banquet. Now you want me to stop Bai Zhenzhu from competing with your business? Mr. Ke, you’re asking too much!”

Bai Zhenzhu had been focused on running her building materials store, not interfering with Ke Yixiong’s business.

Ke Yixiong wanted to step on the Bai family to show off, but Bai Zhenzhu wasn’t willing to be trampled on casually, so now she was gathering the former brothers from the Bai family’s martial arts school to start a transport team.

In business, everyone relies on their abilities. Even in the underworld, it depends on whose fists are harder. Why should Xia Xiaolan step in to manage this?

Ke Yixiong didn’t think this way. Xia Xiaolan laughed in anger: “If you want both parties to sit down and make peace, to define business boundaries, then you need to show a peaceful attitude. Coming here suddenly to make demands of me – Ke Yixiong, are you even a man?”

Ke Yixiong wanted to say, “Why don’t you try and find out if I’m a man?”

Looking at Xia Xiaolan’s delicate white face, he held back these crude words.

“Then let Bai Zhenzhu wait and see.”