Knowing how to spend and earn.

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t expected Teacher Mao to evaluate her this way.

Teacher Mao was worried about her, and Xia Xiaolan was certainly grateful.

She was even happier hearing that Wu Daonan had ultimately chosen a Golden Sand Pool apartment over cash.

“This will make Golden Sand Pool’s apartments sell more reliably. Master Wu is truly wise.”

Since Wu Daonan had already given Tang Yuanyue face by coming, he might as well complete the favor thoroughly. His taking an apartment at Golden Sand Pool would be more convincing to Hong Kong buyers!

What did it mean that Master Wu favored it?

If the feng shui wasn’t good, would Master Wu have property there?

In her great joy, Xia Xiaolan didn’t forget to instruct Ge Jian: “Take good care of Mr. Wu. Qihang might cooperate with him in the future – we’re not just building this one property. By the way, have you seen Manager Ying?”

“I haven’t seen Manager Ying since I returned.”

Xia Xiaolan sighed – had the mortgage procedures been handled or not?

Tang Hongen had told her to wait three days for clarity, and it was already the second night.

She called home, and Grandmother Yu said Tang Hongen was still in Beijing, spending the day running around with her mother, accompanying her to the store, even taking her to see movies… With these tactics, clearly those of an experienced romantic, her mother would be unable to resist.

Mayor Tang truly wasn’t worried at all.

It seemed he came to Beijing just for some peace, not taking the troublemakers to heart.

Did this mean the situation wasn’t serious?

Xia Xiaolan could only trust Tang Hongen’s assurance that no news was good news. At least according to Ge Jian, Qihang hadn’t received any “early repayment” notices from the bank.

If mortgage procedures couldn’t be handled, they’d just focus on buyers who could pay in full for now.

Full payment got a 10% discount, which was quite substantial.

Taking a 70㎡ special-price apartment at 1,999 yuan/㎡ as an example, the total price was 139,930 yuan, discounted to 125,937 yuan for full payment, saving nearly 14,000 yuan. Hong Kong people had money, but their money didn’t fall from the sky – if they could pay in full, many wouldn’t want to take loans and pay bank interest.

For over a hundred apartments, if all were full payments, Xia Xiaolan would receive at least 3 million less!

She didn’t mind this money – she was happier than anyone about recovering funds so quickly.

In fact, after raising the unit price, even with the 10% discount it was still higher than 1,999 yuan/㎡. Don’t believe that merchants ever give real discounts – the wool comes from the sheep!

Since Ge Jian hadn’t seen Jin Chuan, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t ask about the situation. She could only think optimistically:

“No problem, just watch the construction site well. The closer we get to opening sales, the more we can’t have any issues. If we’re short-handed, ask the brothers from the Bai Family Martial Arts School for temporary help – they’ll be compensated afterward. Ge Jian, I’m entrusting all security matters to you. I’ll arrive in Peng City on the 13th, and before I arrive, Golden Sand Pool can’t have any accidents, understand?”

Ge Jian didn’t need to swear an oath – he hadn’t failed any task Xia Xiaolan had given him so far.

…

“It’s already the 11th, and Qihang’s mortgage procedures still aren’t settled. Xia Xiaolan isn’t worried at all.”

Huo Chenzhou had even offered to lend money to Xia Xiaolan, but after saying she’d consider it, there was silence – apparently, she had found a way to fill the 16 million loan gap.

Besides Dongfeng Holdings, who could lend such a large sum to Qihang?

Unless Mayor Tang had stepped in again, finding another funding source for Qihang.

Huo Chenzhou interlaced his fingers, “Who would’ve thought Mayor Tang was such a sentimental person? You and my uncles probably all misjudged him.”

The hero’s spirit wanes, while romance lingers… To think this phrase would one day describe Tang Hongen – unexpected, yet reasonable. Hadn’t Tang Hongen been unable to forget his ex-wife before? But Huo Chenzhou wouldn’t believe it, thinking it was just Mayor Tang’s cultivated image of devotion.

What if it wasn’t pretense, but real?

Tang Hongen was just such a contradictory person, which was why Grandfather valued him so much.

Being capable and being sentimental weren’t mutually exclusive. If a politician was perfect in everything, cold-hearted without weaknesses, colleagues would be wary, superiors would be guarded, and subordinates wouldn’t trust him – people without weaknesses were truly frightening, ready to abandon allies at any time!

“Mother, I think Mayor Tang won’t be replacing anyone. You were right – we can only interact with the mother-daughter pair he’s chosen now. Second Aunt’s efforts are also wasted.”

All of Sheng Xuan’s efforts were useless.

Tang Hongen never valued her from the start – some men like being pursued by women, and some don’t.

Song Nanzhen murmured, “Did you know Tang Hongen’s been in Beijing these past days? Qihang indeed doesn’t need Dongfeng’s help anymore.”

Sheng Xuan had been quite clever, not barging in to confront Liu Fen.

Instead, she approached Liu Fen to gauge her background, then cleanly transferred to work in Peng City – surely Sheng Xuan had her plans. But no matter how well planned, how brilliant the moves, it depended on whether the opponent would engage… Sheng Xuan and Tang Hongen weren’t equal opponents to begin with. If Sheng Xuan couldn’t interest Tang Hongen, it was all for nothing!

So Chenzhou wasn’t wrong – Tang Hongen turned out to be such a sentimental person.

Was this good for her and Chenzhou?

Song Nanzhen believed the answer was yes.

Sentimental people had soft hearts. The old master had shown Tang Hongen the kindness of promotion and guidance – Tang Hongen would remember that.

Perhaps everyone in the Song family had used the wrong strategy. They shouldn’t have taken a hard stance trying to “command” Tang Hongen, but rather remind him of old feelings, and influence him with a gentler approach.

“Chenzhou, we were on the wrong path before! Who knows when others in the family will realize this – hopefully they maintain their current attitude while we’ve already changed, putting us ahead. Go find Tang Hongen, and give him a new proposal – not the kind that takes advantage of the Peng City government. It’s fine to give up more profit. First, we need Tang Hongen to trust rather than resist and guard against you. Your grandfather likes you so much – you’ll make Tang Hongen like you too.”

Wouldn’t that mean using the same attitude he used to please Grandfather to please Tang Hongen?

Tang Hongen was just Peng City’s mayor, far from Grandfather’s level – Huo Chenzhou hesitated.

Wouldn’t this be too fawning?

He would lose face.

Previously he hadn’t taken Tang Hongen too seriously – it was only because Tang Hongen happened to be stationed in Peng City, a special economic zone for national reform and opening up. Dongfeng Holdings couldn’t completely avoid investing in Peng City, so Huo Chenzhou had to actively seek him out.

But he had never let go of his pride – after all, Tang Hongen was just the Song family’s “retainer,” and helping him was natural.

Now Song Nanzhen wanted him to change his attitude, and Huo Chenzhou found it hard to accept.

Why had his mother suddenly said this? Huo Chenzhou suddenly looked up:

“Have you recently visited Grandfather?”