Xia Xiaolan paused briefly, then smiled:

“Well, congratulations to Sheng Xuan then, finally finding someone she likes. Now I can directly appreciate Comrade Zhu Suizhou’s capabilities – he managed to win over Sheng Xuan!”

Sheng Xuan used to pay attention to no one except Old Tang.

While Xia Xiaolan couldn’t judge Sheng Xuan’s abilities, she had good taste, having set her sights on Old Tang early on.

As the saying goes, after sailing the sea all other waters pale, and after seeing Mount Wu all other clouds fade – Old Tang had married her mother, shattering Sheng Xuan’s hopes. Given Sheng Xuan’s personality, she wouldn’t casually entrust herself to just any man.

Zhu Suizhou must have real capability to move Sheng Xuan.

Huo Chenzhou also smiled, “Not many people know about this. I’m not sure if it affects you, but thought I should let you know. Would you like to see the Dongfeng Building? Construction has topped out, I think it can be put to use next year.”

Dongfeng Building was the multi-purpose office building Xia Xiaolan had designed for Huo Chenzhou.

“Make sure to send me an invitation for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but I’ll pass on visiting now.”

She had no time to view the Dongfeng Building, even though she designed it – unless she could be in two places at once.

Huo Chenzhou understood, knowing Xia Xiaolan hadn’t completed her studies in America and probably had many company matters to handle during her return. He’d heard Qihang had acquired another plot of land.

“You’ve met Minlan in New York, right? She’s been a bit spoiled by my second aunt, and she’s particularly close with Sheng Xuan. If she does anything excessive… well, don’t hold back. You’re like siblings, giving her a lesson might help her improve.”

Song Minlan?

Xia Xiaolan and Song Minlan were both in New York, but they hadn’t interacted much.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but Song Minlan seemed somewhat afraid of her.

“Third Miss Song and I have always been cordial. She acts with discretion. We’ve met several times without any conflicts.”

As for whom Song Minlan wanted as her enforcer, Xia Xiaolan really couldn’t control that.

She also didn’t feel the need to tell Huo Chenzhou.

They were all adults – shouldn’t they be responsible for their own choices?

Coming out of Huo Chenzhou’s office, Zhou Cheng was waiting outside.

“I just heard some news from a friend, want to hear it?”

“I also got some information from Huo Chenzhou. You go first or should I?”

Zhou Cheng extinguished his cigarette, “We overthought it. This Zhu Suizhou doesn’t have any powerful background. He has one characteristic – he’s extremely good at making friends. It’s not surprising that people in Shang Du are helping him and speaking up for him – they’re all his ‘friends.’ Also, Chaoyang Real Estate borrowed 20 million from a bank, the loan came from a bank in Beijing.”

“My information overlaps with yours but is more detailed – Comrade Zhu Suizhou is Sheng Xuan’s boyfriend.”

“Sheng Xuan?!”

Zhou Cheng couldn’t immediately place the name.

Xia Xiaolan had to remind him, “Uncle Tang’s admirer, who once said she fell in love with him at first sight and would marry no one else. She originally worked in Beijing, but when Uncle Tang started dating my mom, Sheng Xuan transferred to Pengcheng. When Uncle Tang married my mom, Sheng Xuan still didn’t transfer away… She’s a bank loan officer who approved several hundred thousand in loans for Ji Ya.”

Ah, it was this former father-in-law’s troublesome admirer.

Better a dead friend than a poor self – as long as it wasn’t Zhou Cheng himself involved, he wasn’t worried.

“You think Building No. 45 is connected to this Sheng Xuan?”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “No, Sheng Xuan maybe Uncle Tang’s admirer, but she wouldn’t do such things. Look at how she approved loans for Ji Ya – it made us sick, but it fell within her job duties, leaving no room for criticism. That’s Sheng Xuan’s style of doing things. She won’t do anything that could be held against her. I think Building No. 45 is just a coincidence. Zhu Suizhou just wants to build a mall there, he probably had his eye on that plot even before leaving his government position.”

Coincidence?

Zhou Cheng started the car and made a definitive statement:

“If this Zhu Suizhou is really like what we’ve heard, making friends everywhere, if he knows about Building No. 45, he’ll come to find you proactively.”

Such a smart person wouldn’t easily make enemies.

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “Of course, business is for profit – why would he want to make an enemy of me?”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to make enemies everywhere either. Let’s see what attitude Zhu Suizhou would take to resolve this matter.

He was also a notable future big shot, slightly different from Xia Xiaolan’s memories but not significantly changed overall. If he did build himself up without relying on connections, Xia Xiaolan would admire him.

What’s wrong with relying on one’s mouth?

Being good at talking is also a skill.

While ordinary people use their eloquence for arguing, he uses it to make a living.

Xia Xiaolan wanted to meet this person – after all, she had also made a living by talking in her previous life!

…

Shang Du.

Xu Zhong Yi was invited to the city government again, supposedly to resolve the Building No. 45 matter.

Grandmother Yu couldn’t sit still at home and insisted on going too, ready to cause a scene at city hall if they didn’t properly explain the Building No. 45 situation.

Could Xu Zhong Yi control the old lady?

That walking stick was prepared for him – nowadays his old lady preferred action over words.

Liu Fen also wanted to go along, worried the matter would get out of hand, but Grandmother Yu wouldn’t allow it.

“What would you go for? Do people think we’re using our power to pressure them? We have rights on our side, but that would make us seem unreasonable. See why Mayor Tang isn’t saying anything?”

Fortunately, they lived together – Grandmother Yu really couldn’t trust Liu Fen.

After all this teaching, she still hadn’t improved much.

It was all Tang Hong En’s fault, for letting Liu Fen do whatever she wanted!

Grandmother Yu went to the city government with Xu Zhong Yi, and they were again received by Vice Mayor Zhao.

Shao Li Min seemed unable to handle this matter either, so it was assigned to Vice Mayor Zhao… Mayor Zhao also didn’t understand how such a small matter had escalated to this point.

“Comrade Xu, Grandmother Yu, we’ve invited you here today to certainly give you an explanation. I’ve also invited Director Yuan Hong Gang from State Cotton Mill No. 3, he has something to say about this matter.”

Yuan Hong Gang didn’t come alone, Liu Yong followed behind him.

Liu Yong was like a soldier, escorting Director Yuan, who seemed quite helpless.

Grandmother Yu saw Liu Yong but didn’t say anything.

Liu Fen might be easily fooled, but Xiaolan’s uncle was quite shrewd.

“Director Yuan, this old woman wants to ask you – who does Building No. 45 belong to?”

Yuan Hong Gang smiled bitterly, “Grandmother Yu, the building is certainly yours. We’ve already clarified this issue. I can swear on the Party flag that I don’t know why Building No. 45 was registered under State Cotton Mill No. 3 again.”

Even as the factory director, he didn’t know.

Yuan Hong Gang was also embarrassed.

This was a dereliction of duty… Someone had been scheming right under his nose. He had to manage the huge operation of State Cotton Mill No. 3, with thousands of workers, production, and sales – work was too busy. But negligence was negligence, Yuan Hong Gang had to give Grandmother Yu an explanation:

“I’m willing to cooperate with you to change the property rights of No. 45 – it should still belong to you, Grandmother Yu!”