Without finding a wife, one wouldn’t understand the difference. It could only be her – no one else would do. Zhou Cheng couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. From the moment he met Xiaolan in Anqing County, he knew she would be his wife.

Pan Three found this talk nauseating and slapped Zhou Cheng’s shoulder: “Not getting married – all that wishy-washy stuff is too troublesome!”

Jiang Yan used to be straightforward too, until she developed feelings for Zhou Cheng and became hesitant.

Pan Baohua didn’t want to find a wife, didn’t want someone worrying about him, and didn’t want to guess at a woman’s thoughts.

Zhou Cheng had just mentioned it casually – he hadn’t come to this place to convince Pan Three to find a wife.

The two returned to serious matters. Pan Three thought he should stay in the Golden Triangle as the primary target to attract Jiang Wu’s attention, allowing Zhou Cheng to set up the trap.

But Zhou Cheng had the opposite opinion, “Third Brother, let’s not fight on his favorable ground. Let’s lure him to your territory.”

Jiang Wu wanted to draw them in deep. Why follow his playbook?

Both he and Pan Three wanted Jiang Wu eliminated quickly, while Jiang Wu probably couldn’t rest easy with Pan Three around.

Neither side would give up – might as well see who had more patience.

“You mean to lure him to sea?”

Pan Three pondered thoughtfully.

Zhou Cheng nodded, “First, we need to safely leave the Golden Triangle.”

Pan Baohua laughed heartily, “You lack confidence?”

Of course, he had confidence. Without it, he wouldn’t dare venture into this area alone.

Zhou Cheng looked forward to fighting alongside Pan Three again.

While Zhou Cheng played cat and mouse with Jiang Wu in the rainforest, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t even contact her boyfriend.

What could she do? When she couldn’t reach him by phone, she had to set it aside. She needed to draw plans for Dongfeng Holdings’ investment building… Huo Chengzhou wasn’t mindless – for just an office building, any plot of land would do, with no need for Tang Hong’en’s help.

Huo Chengzhou had big ambitions. Seeing Luohu’s prosperity, he wasn’t just randomly constructing buildings – he seemed to want his property to become a landmark in the commercial district.

Integrating offices, shopping, and entertainment.

The building’s functional elements weren’t single-purpose, requiring consideration of various aspects of design.

Xia Xiaolan thought parking was a major issue.

The area divisions needed careful consideration… They couldn’t just put offices upstairs and retail downstairs?

This peculiar project planning made her suspect Huo Chengzhou wanted to acquire more land opportunistically. It was clever – land prices would only increase; acquiring more was beneficial.

From this perspective, Xia Xiaolan greatly envied Huo Chengzhou.

Though Dongfeng Holdings wasn’t his family business, he could mobilize significant funds!

Xia Xiaolan wanted to hoard land too, but could she afford it?

Take the Xiangmihu area – after Golden Sand Pool’s hot sales, she couldn’t even find a cheap piece of wasteland. Nobody was that foolish anymore.

Within a week, Huo Chengzhou’s side had completed the land procedures.

Xia Xiaolan went to inspect in person, drooling over the land Dongfeng Holdings had acquired.

She could start construction now. Mao Kangshan would temporarily return to Beijing with her – he wasn’t comfortable without providing close guidance. Golden Sand Pool was half-built and could be left to Wang Houlin and Ge Jian’s supervision.

It was perfect timing for Xia Xiaolan to take her teacher and his wife to see Beijing.

On the plane, the master and the disciple discussed the overall planning. When Xia Xiaolan mentioned building two levels of underground parking, Mao Kangshan questioned:

“Is that necessary?”

In coming years, buying cars would be easy, but driving them wouldn’t be.

Which first-tier city – Beijing, Shanghai, or Pengcheng – didn’t have traffic restrictions?

Cars moving freely through cities would be difficult enough, finding parking even harder… parking spaces would be scarce.

“Teacher, I believe it’s necessary – this is the future trend.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t care how others designed it, but she knew the future situation. She just needed to ensure Dongfeng Holdings had a solid foundation – they’d have parking headaches later.

Xia Xiaolan wanted a long-term career in architecture.

In the future, when people mentioned certain buildings she designed… imagining people unable to find parking and calling the designer an idiot – she absolutely couldn’t accept that!

Let Mao Kangshan and others think about it. People were just starting to have enough to eat and wear; they couldn’t imagine streets full of cars.

They couldn’t know how many high-rises would fill Pengcheng, unlike Golden Sand Pool’s residential area with open parking spaces.

Mao Kangshan initially wanted to argue with Xia Xiaolan but realized the main goal was to train her. It was normal for young people to have different ideas.

Besides, this was a commercial design – if Dongfeng Holdings accepted it, he had no reason to object.

Two levels of underground parking would increase Dongfeng Holdings’ construction costs.

Mao Kangshan suddenly thought of something else, “Who are they planning to hire for construction?”

“I recommended Guangdong Construction Engineering. Huo Chengzhou is willing to meet with Senior Brother Zhou to discuss!”

Mao Kangshan coughed once and said nothing more.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t foolish. Qihang’s qualifications were affiliated with Guangdong Construction Engineering, and Zhou Maotong helped her tremendously. Why give business to outsiders instead of fighting for Zhou Maotong?

Guangdong Construction Engineering had solid foundations – unless their quote was outrageous, Dongfeng Holdings wouldn’t reject such a reputable construction group.

Choosing private construction teams would be mindless. Everyone hired large companies – who they subcontracted to didn’t matter, as the big company would be responsible for any issues.

Xia Xiaolan felt this deal would be easy to negotiate. Though Mao Kangshan didn’t say it, he was quite pleased.

His last disciple might not be perfect, but at least she was conscientious.

Not an ingrate.

She remembered everyone who helped her and wouldn’t hesitate to repay them when possible!

“No need to be so particular. He’s older than you – calling him Senior Brother means he should help you,” Mao Kangshan added after a while.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t argue with Old Mao.

What in this world was truly “should”?

Zhou Maotong helped her not because of deep friendship, but out of respect for Mao Kangshan.

“We’re all your disciples, Teacher. Senior Brother helps me, and of course, I hope for his success. When everyone prospers, we can help each other through difficulties. Don’t you agree, Teacher?”

Mao Kangshan had nothing to say to that.

Madam Song patted his arm, “Get some rest now – if you don’t sleep, Xiaolan can’t rest either.”

If not for Xiaolan, with her old bones, how could she travel between Pengcheng and Beijing? Madam Song didn’t care about filial children anymore – wherever her old partner Mao Kangshan went, she’d follow while she still could move.

Back in Beijing, Xia Xiaolan entered intense drawing mode.

She found accommodation near the school for Mao Kangshan and Madam Song – he wanted to stay close to facilitate her consultations.

Such a prominent figure hanging around Huaqing couldn’t avoid attention – he was recognized!

“North Ning, South Mao” – with Mao Kangshan rarely coming north, Huaqing’s Architecture Department wanted him to give lectures. Not daring to approach “Big Cannon Mao” directly, the department head turned to Xia Xiaolan, smiling like a wolf grandmother trying to deceive children:

“Student Xiaolan, you must help us – you’re the only one who can do this.”