Xia Xiaolan hated being threatened more than anything.

Sheng Xuan’s threats might have been subtle, but they still existed.

Happily accepting Director Pan’s gratitude and hearing that he had safely escaped disaster, Xia Xiaolan was genuinely happy for him:

“From now on, you’ll surely have smooth sailing ahead!”

The grievances Director Pan suffered would likely be returned to Sheng Xuan. As a parachuted executive, Sheng Xuan had caught Director Pan off guard, but once he recovered, he would surely seek fierce revenge.

Did she think she could run the bank single-handedly?

Xia Xiaolan didn’t believe such nonsense!

Director Pan didn’t believe it either. While Sheng Xuan might outrank him in education, Director Pan had years of work experience.

Seeing that Xia Xiaolan and Ying Jinchuan had more to discuss, Director Pan expressed his profound thanks and took his leave.

With only Xia Xiaolan and Ying Jinchuan remaining in the office, the conversation became easier:

“Manager Ying, is everything resolved?”

Ying Jinchuan nodded, “Since Director Pan is cleared, it proves there were no issues with Qihang’s mortgage loan procedures, so there’s no way to block Qihang’s mortgage applications.”

Though Ying Jinchuan was typically easygoing, this matter had failed in his hands. Regardless of the deeper reasons, when the bank had problems, he had to resolve them.

Even an easygoing boss could be persistent – whichever bank caused problems, he would focus on that bank.

“How did you negotiate the mortgage loans?”

“Qihang will repay 5 million first, then they’ll process mortgages – 10-year mortgage loans with 50% down payment!”

This exceeded Xia Xiaolan’s expectations. “The bank agreed to 10-year mortgages? That’s wonderful!”

This wasn’t a favor from Sheng Xuan, but rather Ying Jinchuan’s capability.

Unlike in later times with 20 or 30-year mortgages, getting 10 years was quite good. Taking a 70㎡ apartment as an example, if buyers chose mortgage financing, the down payment would be around 70,000, with another 70,000 in loans. Including interest, spread over 10 years, it wasn’t a major burden.

At least those who could manage a 70,000+ down payment could surely earn enough over 10 years to pay the remaining half!

This was good news that would motivate some people to buy.

Xia Xiaolan was delighted: “This news needs to be published immediately!”

Ying Jinchuan pulled a newspaper from his desk drawer and handed it to her: “This was arranged yesterday, and we rushed to publish it overnight. Everyone wanted to surprise Director Xia.”

The latest advertisement had already been published. Xia Xiaolan repeated “good” three times:

“Such surprises are always welcome. If tomorrow’s opening sales go well, everyone gets a bonus!”

Everyone meant everyone – not just Qihang’s people, but including the construction teams from Yue Province Construction. With such a generous boss, naturally, everyone was highly motivated.

Tomorrow the complex would pause construction for a day, with workers taking a break, and only security continuing normal duties.

While everyone was excited, Luo Yaozong and the security team were full of worries.

He had long wanted to quit this security job. His grandfather’s supposedly win-win solution had proven completely impractical after much consideration – the “female demon” rarely visited the site, and a lowly security guard had few chances to interact with the female boss.

Moreover, she was always accompanied by wealthy Hong Kong businessmen.

With Jinsha Pool’s construction complete and sales beginning, Luo Yaozong hadn’t found his opportunity, leaving him desperate.

He had once considered teaming up with Ke Yixiong, working from both inside and out, but after Ke Yixiong’s misfortune, Luo Yaozong became even more timid.

Xia Xiaolan’s people were wary of him too, not scheduling him for shifts tonight or tomorrow. Luo Yaozong spat on the ground: “Hmph, who wants to stay in this dump anyway.”

Luo Yaozong stumbled away. He had joined the site’s security with ulterior motives, and others were suspicious of him, always keeping him at arm’s length from site personnel.

Halfway home, he was stopped by several friends.

“Come on, let’s drink!”

These friends had become closer to Luo Yaozong recently, often drinking and eating together, and he didn’t think much of it.

He didn’t want to stay at the site or return to the village.

Every day when he returned home, his grandfather would question his progress. Under pressure, Luo Yaozong would make up lies about getting close to Xia Xiaolan. Over time, even lying became exhausting – his grandfather thought he was close to success, when in fact he hadn’t even touched a hair on her head!

“If we’re drinking, we’re drinking until we’re drunk tonight, brothers!”

Though Luo Yaozong’s salary was low, he had plenty of money – all “activity funds” from home. Old Luo understood that pursuing women required money.

This also worried him – he had wasted the money. Once Jinsha Pool’s properties sold, having spent all the money with nothing to show for it, his grandfather would surely break his limbs. Old Luo indulged Luo Yaozong in everything else, but on this one matter, he was obsessive, convinced that Jinsha Pool belonged to the Luo family and refusing to let go.

The news of Hong Kong’s Wu Daonan coming to check Jinsha Pool’s feng shui was aimed at Hong Kong clients, but with so many eyes on site, word had spread. This seemed to certify Jinsha Pool’s value as a feng shui treasure, driving Old Luo to obsessive madness, refusing to give up the land – this was inflexible old feudal thinking. Jinsha Pool belonged neither to the Luo family nor to Xia Xiaolan but to the state.

Qihang only had 50 years of land use rights.

No one could predict land policies after 50 years.

Luo Yaozong simply didn’t want to go home, so he went drinking with his friends, arms around each other’s shoulders.

Tonight these friends seemed to have planned something, taking turns forcing drinks on Luo Yaozong while chatting idly, all stoking his anger.

“You’ve been a security guard for months, when will they promote Brother Yao to the manager?”

“Tomorrow Jinsha Pool’s properties go on sale, the paper says over 2,000 per square meter, who knows how much they’ll profit, while the compensation to the Luo family only buys one unit…”

“Exactly, why should they bully people like this? We feel it’s unfair for Brother Yao!”

Luo Yaozong slurred, his eyes unfocused from drunkenness:

“Use… useless, that woman isn’t… isn’t easy to deal with…”

Someone whispered in Luo Yaozong’s ear:

“We can’t let this go. Brother Yao, I have an idea that’s sure to help you extort that woman. Your family’s plans might work, but Brother Yao, you’ll have to suffer a bit. Do you dare… Hey?!”

The person pushed Luo Yaozong.

Luo Yaozong was sleeping like a dead pig, impossible to wake.

They looked at each other.

“Doesn’t he usually handle more alcohol than this?”

They didn’t realize that sometimes people deliberately seek drunkenness, drinking fast and hard, naturally passing out quickly.

One of them clapped his hands and sneered, “Perfect. After so many drinking sessions together, we’re friends. Letting him go without suffering is the least we can do!”

“The boss said to keep it clean.”

“It’ll be spotless without a trace – can dead men talk? I’ll take him to the spot, you notify the Luo family!”