“Making money? Did you agree to invest in Zhu Suizhou’s shopping mall? With that money, you’d be better off investing in the Electronics Plaza…” Du Zhaohui muttered.
He had high expectations for the Electronics Plaza himself.
If Xu Zhongyi was willing to spend 1.5 million US dollars to buy shares in Chaoyang Real Estate’s planned mall, why wouldn’t he buy shares in the Electronics Plaza?
This money should have gone to Xia Xiaolan in the first place. That good-for-nothing pushed Xia Xiaolan to the front to draw fire while secretly hiding himself. Du Zhaohui used to have major objections to “Lord Qiu,” and now he had equally strong opinions about Xu Zhongyi.
Not confronting Xu Zhongyi directly was out of pity for him being a cuckold.
In Du Zhaohui’s view, a man whose wife made him wear a green hat could never hold his head high again.
Xu Zhongyi had just given Xia Xiaolan 1.5 million US dollars as a “thank you gift,” and Du Zhaohui thought even that was too little.
“What are you talking about? How could I possibly invest in the Electronics Plaza? Your compensation has already been paid in advance. This plaza must be solely owned by you – it’s the key to whether you can beat Second Young Master Du.”
The Electronics Plaza would indeed be a long-term money-maker.
It probably wouldn’t decline until the knockoff phones in Huaqiang North lost their popularity.
That was still many years away!
It was even more suitable for long-term investment than Zhu Suizhou’s mall.
But she hadn’t joined when Du Zhaohui was building the plaza, partly because she couldn’t raise that much capital, and partly because she didn’t want to get too deeply involved with Du Zhaohui.
As for Zhu Suizhou’s mall, she didn’t need to hold it long-term anyway!
Xia Xiaolan and Du Zhaohui weren’t close enough to bear their hearts to each other. Du Zhaohui wasn’t Zhou Cheng – why should she tell him everything?
However, Du Zhaohui, who had just been like a bristling cat, suddenly became docile, as if she had paid him some great compliment. His temper was like the tides, changing with the ebb and flow – truly typical of Young Master Du’s style.
Xia Xiaolan couldn’t figure it out. She had come to discuss business with Teacher Mao and didn’t have much time to get sidetracked with Du Zhaohui.
When Du Zhaohui tried to follow along, Mao Kangshan glared at him. Du Zhaohui’s eyes darted around:
“I’ve been wanting to thank Teacher Mao for his contributions to the Electronics Plaza. No better time than the present – since Manager Xia is here, I’d like to treat Teacher Mao to dinner tonight, and Manager Xia must honor us with her presence.”
“…!”
Xia Xiaolan was returning to America tomorrow, and she had originally planned to have a simple home-cooked meal with Teacher Mao and Madam Song tonight.
Not going out, just going to Teacher Mao’s house in Jinsha Pool, where the atmosphere would be warm and master and disciple could talk properly.
Now Du Zhaohui was barging in, and Xia Xiaolan had to thank him for the meal.
Du Zhaohui dropped these words and ran off, giving Xia Xiaolan no time to refuse. Mao Kangshan didn’t care about a meal, but he was concerned about his disciple: “Du Zhaohui gave you 10 million Hong Kong dollars?”
This was news to Mao Kangshan!
Xia Xiaolan hadn’t widely publicized it; previously only Zhou Cheng knew about it, and even Liu Fen wasn’t clear about it.
Having her teacher overhear the conversation, Xia Xiaolan frankly admitted:
“Du Zhaohui wanted to find a good project and sought my advice. The 10 million Hong Kong dollars was his consulting fee. I’m designing the plaza for him and will help him make it successful. Teacher, this Du fellow might seem flippant, but he’s truly someone who won’t take losses. His willingness to pay 10 million Hong Kong dollars to hire me shows he’s after even greater benefits.”
Xia Xiaolan feared Mao Kangshan might misunderstand that she and Du Zhaohui were up to something nefarious. A “consulting fee” of 10 million Hong Kong dollars was unimaginable to Mao Kangshan.
Mao Kangshan started to speak but stopped.
He could guide Xia Xiaolan in architecture, but when it came to making money, Xia Xiaolan not only had talent but also knew her limits.
Mao Kangshan simply changed the subject:
“You want to establish an architectural firm – have you thought it through? This isn’t something to joke about. Others are leaving their iron rice bowls to follow you. If you abandon it halfway, I’ll be responsible for these people.”
“I wanted to discuss this with you too. As an architecture student who hasn’t even graduated, I can’t attract truly impressive architects to join my firm – they’re afraid I’m not reliable. If anyone is willing to come, it’s natural because of your reputation, Teacher. I’ve already had Ge Jian rent a place. You can send them over, and they won’t be treated poorly. I’m serious about making this work. A firm is more flexible than working with a design institute… Everything else is negotiable, but I must emphasize one point: those who work at the firm can’t rely on seniority – they must follow my work arrangements!”
Talented people tend to be proud.
Xia Xiaolan was willing to show respect and offer high salaries – even making some partners in the future was possible. These were incentives to attract people to work there.
Bosses who only talk about passion and not money are jerks!
But no matter how skilled the architects Teacher Mao brought in were, they had to follow her orders as the boss. Though she was inexperienced in the industry, in the firm, she was the one paying everyone’s salaries. For anyone who constantly challenged her authority, Xia Xiaolan would only tell them to pack up and leave!
Mao Kangshan waved his hand impatiently:
“Alright, I get it. As long as I’m alive, how dare they rebel?”
As for after his death… Mao Kangshan figured he should take good care of his health and try to live another seven or eight years. After his death, if Xia Xiaolan still couldn’t control these people, he would have wasted his time taking her as his last disciple.
After thinking for a moment, he asked: “What will the firm be called?”
“Of course, it will be called Qihang!”
Xia Xiaolan didn’t hide her ambition.
All these ventures she had started would eventually need to be integrated – it couldn’t just be a simple real estate company.
“So, will you meet them after finishing your studies in America?”
“Teacher, I trust your recommendations. Please interview them on my behalf. Those who are willing can start work at the firm anytime. Though conditions are modest now, things will get better in the future. The formal architects you recommend will all get base salaries matching Wang Houlin’s 600 yuan per month, and as for performance bonuses and year-end bonuses, that depends on their initiative.”
Mao Kangshan wasn’t fooled by Xia Xiaolan and immediately exposed her calculations:
“You want them to come right away because you want to get some manpower for Qihang’s new project, right?”
That so-called rigid demand project.
What a strange name.
Xia Xiaolan’s eyes twinkled with amusement, “Teacher Mao, truly nothing can be hidden from you. You’re like the Buddha himself – I can’t escape your Five-Finger Mountain!”
Starting work two months earlier or later made no difference.
At 600 yuan per person, if Mao Kangshan brought ten people, that was just 6,000 yuan more expenses per month.
Two months would be 12,000 yuan.
Even a fool could calculate which would make more money – this small amount or Qihang’s property development!
…
While Xia Xiaolan thought she probably wouldn’t have the “fate” to meet Zhu Suizhou, he had quietly arrived in Pengcheng.
After much consideration, he realized Xu Zhongyi’s “investment” proposal would benefit both parties, so he naturally had to agree. However, when it came to discussing the investment share details, Xu Zhongyi told him to find Xia Xiaolan in Pengcheng.
Zhu Suizhou didn’t know Xia Xiaolan, but when it came to the owner of Qihang Real Estate, he was very interested!
—Zhu Suizhou had previously admired the marketing operations of the Jinsha Pool residential area!