Xia Xiaolan was too unyielding.

This woman didn’t know what it meant to “give in.”

Would she ever yield?

Perhaps to her boyfriend, like that rare smile when getting out of the car this morning. Du Zhaohui had his thoughts but echoed Tang Yuanyue’s words:

“No wonder she’s so generous. One or two units is nothing, considering Mao Kangshan’s influence in the industry.”

But not everyone could become an apprentice to such an influential master.

South Sea Hotel could hire Ning Yanfan for design, but once paid, Ning Yanfan wouldn’t help with anything else.

Having such a figure as a teacher was worth a house.

For someone worth hundreds of millions, 200,000 was pocket change.

Xia Xiaolan was truly clever and generous! After all, by Tang Yuanyue’s calculations, her net worth hadn’t reached ten million. Her liquid assets might not even be a million, yet she could give away 200,000—you must give to receive, she deserved success!

“Zhaohui, it seems Miss Xia is too busy to attend to us today. I’m leaving—what about you?”

Du Zhaohui was irritated—if he wanted to leave, just leave, why ask?

Yet he couldn’t show any reluctance to leave. He didn’t want Tang Yuanyue to know about his “condition,” so he had to go along.

“I’m not buying a house anyway, I’ll leave too.”

Both Tang Yuanyue and Du Zhaohui were used to living in villas.

Even when traveling, they wouldn’t stay in places like Golden Sand Pool.

A thousand-square-foot mansion?

That was for ordinary Hong Kong people. If people like them bought units here, where would their bodyguards and drivers stay?

They could combine entire floors, but living in the same community as small business owners? Unthinkable.

So when Tang Yuanyue wanted to support Xia Xiaolan’s business, he sent an assistant to buy, not coming himself.

While others sent flower baskets, only these two came in person. When they said they were leaving, Liu Yong apologized for not properly hosting them.

Tang Yuanyue politely declined, “Please stay. Today is about Golden Sand Pool’s sales. If we’re to dine and drink, we can arrange another day. Please relay this to Miss Xia—judging by today, her first property development is destined for success!”

Who the hell wants to dine and drink with you, talking nonsense, shameless?

But Liu Yong couldn’t be rude—both came to congratulate and show support.

Especially Tang Yuanyue, who introduced Wu Daonan, whose expertise helped Xiaolan avoid a major crisis.

This matter needed to be handled discreetly for now.

Liu Yong was thus grateful to Tang Yuanyue.

Du Zhaohui noticed Liu Yong’s different treatment and felt displeased.

As their cars arrived and Liu Yong saw them off, in the distance, Xia Dajun supported his pregnant wife Fan Yu, his eyes red.

Following Fan Yu’s persuasion, Xia Dajun decided to return to their hometown.

Before leaving, coinciding with Golden Sand Pool’s launch, he couldn’t resist coming for a look.

He dared not get close, of course.

With Luo Yaozong’s fall still unresolved, security was especially tight today, fearing troublemakers.

Police officers.

Temporary security in suits.

Plus Du Zhaohui and Tang Yuanyue standing there with their bodyguards.

Most onlookers lacked the courage to approach, especially someone as guilty-feeling as Xia Dajun.

From their distance, he and Fan Yu couldn’t hear people calling Xia Xiaolan “Director Xia.”

But Xia Dajun saw Liu Fen and Liu Yong.

Liu Fen looked more dignified than when they last met in Yangcheng.

Fan Yu knew this was Xia Dajun’s ex-wife and stewed in jealousy.

She didn’t particularly like Xia Dajun, but she had picked up the man Liu Fen discarded… If Xia Dajun were successful, she could say she “stole” him, but clearly, Liu Fen was living better than both of them.

Liu Fen wore a jade bracelet.

Fan Zhenchuan’s mother used to wear jade bracelets too, often putting on airs, making Fan Yu tear up in shame.

Auntie Fan often said wearing jade was classier than gold, gold was for nouveaux riches—so Liu Fen was a woman of taste?

Looking at Liu Fen’s attire, then at Xia Dajun, if Fan Yu could live like Liu Fen, she wouldn’t want Xia Dajun either! Feeling inferior to Liu Fen, Fan Yu wanted to prod Xia Dajun:

“Brother Dajun, isn’t that Young Master Du? Why don’t you go—”

“No!”

Xia Dajun recoiled as if stung by a bee.

Ah Hua had been clear enough—he dared not approach Du Zhaohui.

Other times maybe, but not now!

Who knew what Liu Yong had become, shaking hands and chatting familiarly with Young Master Du?

Xia Dajun had always looked down on his brother-in-law Liu Yong, thinking him unproductive.

Now, to beg Du Zhaohui for work in front of Liu Yong and Liu Fen—Xia Dajun’s pride wouldn’t allow it.

Just then, two frustrated house-viewers passed by them, leaving the sales office.

“Over 2,000 per square meter—why not just rob us?”

“Right, can’t afford it! Even the cheapest unit is 140,000!”

“But plenty can afford it. Those people have too much money, damn them!”

“If everyone refused to buy, let’s see if these lousy units drop in price…”

Price drop?

Looking at today’s situation, prices were more likely to rise than fall.

The two left, sighing about being unable to afford units.

Xia Dajun and Fan Yu felt another sharp stab in their hearts.

Fan Yu felt bitter too—how did these buyers have so much money, where did they earn it? The useless Xia Dajun refused to try business no matter how she urged. In ten years, they still wouldn’t afford such a house or get urban residency… How bitter—such a life had once been within reach!

Too heartbreaking, Fan Yu couldn’t help but cry.

“Brother Dajun, let’s go, or we’ll miss our train.”

Xia Dajun’s pride was in tatters, the sight growing more painful. He turned away with faltering steps.

The tide of the times rolled on, panning for gold in rapids. True gold fears neither fire nor water—the bigger the waves, the brighter they shine!

Some pebbles, swept into the current, were washed away by the waves.

Those who couldn’t take root in the Special Zone in 1985—their fate for the next 30 years was probably predictable.

Xia Dajun was just such an insignificant grain of sand.

After they left, a man reported to Ge Jian:

“Those two have gone.”

Ge Jian nodded, “Let them go, but watch closely—make sure they leave Pengcheng!”

Today was a high-alert day for Qihang. Even if Xia Dajun wanted to cause trouble, he’d have no chance. His skulking hadn’t escaped Ge Jian’s men’s notice.

But these two were too cowardly—Ge Jian was spared the effort of dealing with them.

This wasn’t reported to Xia Xiaolan yet. By three in the afternoon, this wave of buyers gradually dispersed. The sales consultants’ lips were pale from talking too much without time to drink water. Xia Xiaolan wasn’t much better.

Finally able to rest, Xia Xiaolan drank a large cup of water:

“How many units have we sold today so far?”