“…What are you thinking?”

Getting jealous over this, picking this issue?

He hadn’t gone mad.

“I’m a grown man, how could I expect you to shoulder the Zhou family’s responsibilities? Never mind whether they’d have any use for these houses, the Zhou family has no business living off a woman. The Zhou men know to worry about what kind of house to live in!”

Using money from a daughter-in-law who hasn’t even married yet?

Small gifts were fine, but if Xia Xiaolan dared to give away several houses, everyone from Old Master Zhou down would likely be angry and agitated.

When a man succeeds in his career, would he worry about having no house to live in?

Zhou Cheng’s home was already sizeable, in a good location with a good environment and management. Was that bought with money?

It was the rightful treatment earned by Zhou Guobin’s diligent work.

Zhou Cheng felt a bit annoyed, but Xia Xiaolan leaned over and kissed him:

“I apologize for judging a gentleman’s heart with a petty person’s mindset!”

The words were direct and could hurt feelings, but Xia Xiaolan was always like this.

She’d rather not leave such issues vague and unresolved.

Of course, she was willing to show filial piety to elders on Zhou Cheng’s behalf and was grateful for the Zhou family elders’ care, but she also feared that as her business grew larger, someone from the Zhou family might try to meddle in her business.

Zhou Cheng’s attitude gave Xia Xiaolan confidence.

Would Zhou Cheng change?

Xia Xiaolan didn’t even know if she would change. People change more or less with their environment, but at least the current Zhou Cheng earned her trust!

Zhou Cheng’s annoyance didn’t last long – if one kiss couldn’t solve it, Xia Xiaolan could use two, or three – she could keep kissing him until Zhou Cheng seriously refused.

For a young man in his prime, if Xia Xiaolan kept kissing him, Zhou Cheng felt he couldn’t control himself.

Even now, he was hunched over breathing heavily… she was a temptress who could make him angry one moment and irresistible the next!

To stop Xia Xiaolan from causing more trouble, Zhou Cheng brought up business:

“Isn’t Jiya brand officially opening today? You and Aunt Liu are both in Pengcheng – has anyone told you how things are going in Beijing?”

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t too concerned, “I’ll know when I get to Beijing tonight. But what about you, Luna’s real major shareholder – do you know how many franchise stores Luna gained after the TV commercial? By year’s end, your initial investment will finally pay dividends!”

Why keep watching Jiya? As long as she could manage Luna well, Jiya could only watch enviously.

If she couldn’t succeed with the Luna brand, any tactics to block others would be futile.

“Dividends? Keep whatever dividends there are, use it for going abroad.”

Luna had been Xiaolan’s operation from start to finish – Zhou Cheng never saw it as his own business.

His mind wasn’t on business now. His father was right to tell him to stop the cigarette business. Money was endless – he shouldn’t split his attention… If his rank stayed stuck at battalion commander, the next time Xiaolan encountered new trouble, he wasn’t absolutely confident he could resolve it smoothly.

Wait, why did the atmosphere suddenly become so heavy?

Survival instinct made Zhou Cheng try to recall what he might have said wrong. After a moment, he sat up straight:

“Oh, you haven’t told me yet – how many franchise stores has Luna developed?”

Xia Xiaolan showed a cold smile with bared teeth.

“Chen Xiliang called this morning to congratulate me on the property sales and told me the latest numbers – 40 franchise stores, with franchise fees alone totaling 3.2 million. Some money needs to go into production. It’s estimated you and Chen Xiliang can split half the franchise fees as year-end dividends. From 1.6 million, you could get about 800,000. After paying back your bank loan, you’ll have 200,000 left?”

Was 200,000 too little?

Certainly not – it could buy a unit at Jinsha Chi.

But Zhou Cheng didn’t dare feel proud. This money was earned by his wife – he had fully committed to being kept by her.

“Including the original ones, there’ll be over 50 franchise stores by year-end?”

Zhou Cheng estimated Luna’s profits – the real big dividends wouldn’t come this year, but next year and the year after… Making money while lying down, with far less risk than cigarette dealing. Two years ago in Anqing County, he thought he’d saved himself a wife by playing hero – now it seemed he’d saved a powerful businesswoman who could turn stone into gold!

Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen had a 5 PM flight. Zhou Cheng couldn’t fly with them.

He could only send them to the airport.

Liu Fen seemed a bit distracted but didn’t say anything with Zhou Cheng present. Only after boarding did she ask in a low voice:

“Xiaolan, did Mom cause trouble for you?”

“What are you saying…”

“You’re still trying to hide it – I know about the bank situation. Sheng Xuan made you repay the loan early and wouldn’t give mortgage loans.”

Xia Xiaolan asked with a smile, “So did you see her succeed in troubling me? Are you thinking that because you’re with Uncle Tang, people like Sheng Xuan will keep emerging to cause me trouble? You’re wrong! These things happen in business – if not Sheng Xuan, there would be others. This matter wasn’t as simple as Sheng Xuan causing trouble… The help Uncle Tang brings us outweighs the troubles.”

One should have a conscience – Xia Xiaolan liked to speak based on facts.

Since Liu Fen knew, there was no point hiding anything. Xia Xiaolan explained the bank trouble from start to finish. Though the matter was resolved, Liu Fen was still scared to hear how dangerous it had been.

Timidity?

No, this sparked Liu Fen’s anger.

She remembered sister-in-law Li Fengmei’s advice.

If others didn’t approve of her and Tang Hongen being together, their contempt and obstacles came from jealousy.

Because Tang Hongen was too good – so good others wanted to snatch him away, wanted him for themselves.

Whether or not she married Tang Hongen now, those who couldn’t resist causing trouble would still act.

She shouldn’t become her daughter’s burden. Seeing Min Xiaoju sleeping in the back seat, Liu Fen lowered her voice:

“Your Uncle Tang says he wants to get married. Do you think I should agree?”

Xia Xiaolan was shocked, “Now?!”

Liu Fen nodded, “He mentioned it in Beijing a few days ago, saying those people were too annoying – once we’re married they won’t dare cause trouble. I thought he was just joking.”

“But Uncle Tang wasn’t joking – he brought it up again?”

Proposing marriage at this juncture made Xia Xiaolan think too much.

But seeing Liu Fen’s conflicted expression, Xia Xiaolan suddenly realized. She had almost judged her mother’s marriage by gain and loss. How could Tang Hongen have so many considerations? He just wanted to marry her mother sooner, wanted to bring her home!

It was about feelings, not timing.

Xia Xiaolan softened her voice, “So what do you think? Do you want to marry him? Not for anything else – living with Uncle Tang, do you look forward to it?”

Unmarried there were various provocations; married there would be new challenges.

There was no once-and-for-all solution – even with perfectly matched backgrounds, managing marriage wasn’t about family status!

Money and power could solve many daily life disputes, but the core issues weren’t just these. Mayor Tang liked her mother, and her mother had feelings for him… but they hadn’t been together long. What if they discovered their rose-colored glasses were too thick only after living together?