Soon, Ge Jian reported back to Xia Xiaolan.

As expected, Tina had come to Pengcheng with Mrs. Wilson. They were staying at the Nanhai Hotel, accompanied by Ji Ya and George.

“They visited the golf course today.”

The golf course?

Something wasn’t right – that was Harold’s investment. Could Mrs. Wilson have been mentally affected by Harold’s provocations… If so, what a fateful connection – she was destined to be Ji Ya’s mother-in-law.

“Just keep an eye on Tina daily.”

“No problem, Executive Xia.”

It might be difficult if they stayed elsewhere but at the Nanhai Hotel. That was easy.

Back then, Huo Chenzhou had asked Xia Xiaolan to bid on the Nanhai Hotel’s renovation project when competing with Hong Kong shareholders for management rights. After “Yuan Hui’s” design was approved, Dongfeng Holdings naturally obtained the hotel’s management rights.

This meant everyone from the servers to kitchen staff at Nanhai Hotel was hired by Dongfeng Holdings.

Given Huo Chenzhou and Xia Xiaolan’s “relationship,” he would certainly help with such a small favor.

Protecting guest privacy… well, in 1980s China, people didn’t have such concepts. Unless they were government officials, what was wrong with discussing two American guests?

Knowing Tina was at Nanhai Hotel, Xia Xiaolan had no more worries.

Pengcheng’s public security was much better than America’s. Tina wouldn’t wander around alone – what danger could there be?

Xu Changle was just being overprotective, treating his sister like a fragile glass doll, and making a fuss when she left America.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t afraid of Mrs. Wilson either.

While there might have been concerns in America, in China, Mrs. Wilson should be the one worried.

She complained to Zhou Cheng on the phone:

“Is Gao Fei still at work? When can I come to see you?”

Zhou Cheng hesitated, “Just hold on for a few more days. I know you’re busy in Pengcheng.”

Why wait a few more days?

Xia Xiaolan didn’t mind being busy with work, but she dreaded being a babysitter.

Babysitting adult babies was terrible – even detectives like Jim preferred investigating Zhang Jiangdong over taking care of Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi was different – she was Zhou Cheng’s cousin, and Xia Xiaolan had invested considerable effort in her. If Zhou Yi now wanted to regress instead of moving forward, she’d have to get Xia Xiaolan’s approval first!

After all, Executive Xia never made losing investments. If Zhou Yi couldn’t stand on her own, all of Xia Xiaolan’s initial investment would be wasted.

Having one Zhou Yi was enough – she didn’t want to look after another Princess Tina.

So although Xia Xiaolan promised Xu Changle to ensure Tina’s safety, she was very reluctant to appear before Tina.

She was truly tired of these princesses and wanted to stay far away from trouble.

She could have others watch Tina while leaving Pengcheng herself!

Unfortunately, Zhou Cheng had rejected her.

He only said to wait a few days, without explaining why.

From Tina, her thoughts drifted to Zhou Yi, then to Yuan Han, then to Ye Xiaoqiong. She called Ge Jian:

“That coward Luo Yaozong watching Yuan Han and He Shiyuan – any updates these past few days?”

Ge Jian shook his head: “Those two have been meeting secretly, nothing unusual. But… someone’s been looking for Xia Hongbing’s family these past few days.”

Oh?

What did they want with Xia Hongbing’s family?

“I thought they returned to Shangdu together.”

“Executive Xia, they’re still in Pengcheng. Seems they plan to stay.”

This news surprised Xia Xiaolan.

If Uncle Xia Changzheng’s family was completely bad, then Third Uncle Xia Hongbing’s family was just lazy and cunning.

It wasn’t that Xia Hongbing’s family was utterly terrible – they were just crafty, thinking themselves clever, used to leeching off others, unwilling to work hard… Xia Xiaolan had thought they would stick close to Xia Dajun, relying on him for support.

Unexpectedly, long after Xia Dajun and Fan Yu left Pengcheng, Xia Hongbing’s family remained without trying to reconnect.

This surprised Xia Xiaolan, prompting her to ask:

“How do they make a living in Pengcheng?”

City life was different from the countryside. While farmers depended on nature, they had their land, and, barring illness, daily expenses were very low.

If they couldn’t afford meat, they didn’t eat it. They grew vegetables in their private plots and produced their grain, spending little money.

But in the city, one needed a job and income.

They might skip meat and new clothes, but they had to eat, right?

Xia Hongbing had two sons in school, and though they lived in the city, they still had land in their hometown and rural household registration, owing grain taxes and fees… Well, they could dodge that part as long as they didn’t return to Dahe Village – village officials wouldn’t come to Pengcheng to collect.

Ge Jian had been monitoring Xia Hongbing’s family:

“Xia Hongbing does odd jobs, while Xia Hongxia and Wang Jingui run a mobile lunch box stall.”

Selling lunch boxes?

Right, without proper education or skills, perhaps food was all Xia Hongxia knew.

She had helped at Zhang Cui’s snack shop before.

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t expected the lazy Xia Hongxia to do honest work.

But thinking again, people make different choices in different environments and experiences – she shouldn’t judge Xia Hongxia by old standards.

After all, Xia Hongxia was young; her rural mindset and personality could still change.

But Wang Jingui and Xia Hongbing were set in their ways at their age – impossible to change!

“Who would be looking for Xia Hongbing’s family?”

Xia Xiaolan mused.

“Executive Xia, I’ll uncover their purpose and background.”

Ge Jian took this seriously. Xia Hongbing’s family wasn’t unique in the Special Zone – how many original residents were there before Pengcheng became a city? Most people living here now were migrants.

Among migrants, Xia Hongbing’s family wasn’t particularly successful or unsuccessful – just ordinary, shouldn’t attract attention.

Except for one thing – they were Executive Xia’s “relatives.”

Though few knew this, it could be discovered with effort.

Ge Jian believed anyone interested in Xia Hongbing’s family must be targeting Xia Xiaolan.

He wouldn’t allow any attempts to harm Executive Xia.

Xia Xiaolan thought similarly.

“Keep an eye on them. If there’s no ill intent, leave them be.”

Xia Xiaolan had no intention of destroying Xia Hongbing’s family. Most past schemes against her were done by Xia Ziyu’s family. Xia Hongxia was just extremely foolish, used by Xia Ziyu – the type who would help count money after being sold out.

A complete simpleton.

But even simpletons deserve to pursue a better life. If Xia Hongxia was now living honestly, Xia Xiaolan had no desire to make things difficult for her!