In Pengcheng, any company wanting to enter the real estate sector couldn’t bypass Qihang. Before Qihang launched the Jinsha Pool residential complex, no one dared to sell properties at 2,000 yuan per square meter. Those welfare housing units were only two to three hundred per square meter. As for anything more expensive, it was unthinkable. Even the ‘Donghu Garden’ built earlier by Hong Kong merchant Liu Tianquan wasn’t cheap at 2,000 Hong Kong dollars.
However, when converting Hong Kong dollars to Chinese yuan, ‘Donghu Garden’s’ selling price would be cut in half, making Jinsha Pool still the highest-priced property in Pengcheng!
Expensive as it was, they managed to sell it all.
Now, if anyone wanted to list any of those hundred-plus units at Jinsha Pool for sale, they’d be snatched up immediately.
The feng shui was excellent, the views were spectacular, the building quality was superior, and the location was prime.
Just taking a garbage pool between the golf course and Xiangmi Lake Resort and turning it into such an impressive property development – anyone wanting to enter real estate should be learning from Qihang’s dust!
Qihang raised Pengcheng’s property prices, making people like Meng Guanchao beam with excitement.
Then Qihang pulled off a move that confused everyone – they sold the excellent ‘Luohu Tiancheng’ project at a reduced price of 1,400 yuan per square meter. Qihang had driven prices up, and now they were bringing them down – were they trying to destroy their competitors?
Regardless, Qihang’s strategies were far ahead of others. Anyone wanting to do real estate business in Pengcheng could only pick up Qihang’s leftovers. When it came to investing in Qiong Island’s real estate, it made sense for Xia Xiaolan to teach Meng Guanchao and others, but how could Meng Guanchao have the face to brag in front of Xia Xiaolan?
Upon hearing that this young and beautiful woman before him was Qihang’s boss, Meng Guanchao suddenly felt uncomfortable.
Then he brightened up.
Everyone said Qihang had strong connections, otherwise they couldn’t have secured Pengcheng’s commercial land.
Strong connections meant access to reliable information.
Qihang’s boss was capable.
If someone like her had come to Qiong Island, it meant his information wasn’t wrong!
Qiong Island had potential.
Meng Guanchao immediately reintroduced himself to Xia Xiaolan, and the friends he brought along all showed great enthusiasm toward her. This enthusiasm wasn’t because of her beauty, but because she exuded an intoxicating aura of money.
Qihang’s properties sold like crazy – Xia Xiaolan was a walking money printer.
The dinner conversation was lively. Though Xia Xiaolan offered to pay, someone moved faster than Yu Li and settled the bill early. As the meal drew to a close, Meng Guanchao couldn’t help but get to the point, telling Xia Xiaolan their purpose for coming to Qiong Island.
“We’ve pooled together 6 million yuan and want to acquire land on Qiong Island. I’m confident the land prices here will rise next year!”
Six million – that was quite substantial.
Yecheng was now Qiong Island’s central and most prosperous city. While Pengcheng’s land prices had already exceeded 200,000 yuan per mu, Yecheng’s topped out at only 50,000-60,000 yuan per mu.
To Xia Xiaolan, it was as cheap as cabbage in a field.
Since Xia Xiaolan had 15 million yuan in available funds, she could buy 300 mu of land in Yecheng.
It wouldn’t take long – just one year. After Qiong Island was converted from a district to a province and established as a new special economic zone, the land Xia Xiaolan purchased would double in value. At 150,000 yuan per mu, buyers would immediately snap it up.
This wasn’t normal real estate business – this was everyone playing a game of “musical chairs.” At the height of Qiong Island’s real estate bubble, land in Yecheng would soar to 6 million yuan per mu. In other words, the money Meng Guanchao and his friends had pooled could buy 100 mu now, but in a few years, it would only buy one mu.
They wouldn’t have to wait too long – this prosperity would arrive around 1992 or 1993.
If Xia Xiaolan didn’t use bank loans now and just used her 15 million to buy 300 mu in Yecheng, letting the land sit idle for a few years, she wouldn’t need to do anything. If she sold the land just before the national government introduced the “Sixteen Regulations” that would burst Qiong Island’s real estate bubble – not even at the peak price of 6 million per mu, but at 5 million – that would still be 1.5 billion yuan.
What did 1.5 billion yuan mean before 1993?
Not assets – 1.5 billion in cash flow!
Even the two Hong Kong tycoons Xia Xiaolan knew would find it difficult to produce 1.5 billion yuan in cash.
And this was with her restraining herself, using only her available 15 million to purchase land and wait for appreciation. If she didn’t hold back, sold Zhou Cheng’s shares in Luna, sold Wenquxing, sold the building materials market, and even sold Qihang, scraping together 50 million yuan and buying 1,000 mu of land in one go, by 1993, she could earn 5 billion!
That money would be like paper.
But did Xia Xiaolan dare to play this game?
She didn’t.
If she earned that 5 billion, she would face consequences. Qiong Island’s real estate bubble had hindered the special zone’s development for ten years. Even after the bubble burst, Qiong Island’s economy hadn’t developed; instead, it was left with numerous unfinished buildings that were difficult to deal with.
This wasn’t much different from profiting from national disasters. The money might be easy to earn, but would Old Tang let her off? She might even be called in for a “chat” by someone of Song Lao’s level – not for praise, but for condemnation!
Xia Xiaolan still wanted to live comfortably. On one hand, she was implementing protective plans like “Chuying Qihang,” while on the other, she would be causing her downfall – wouldn’t that be self-contradictory?
She didn’t want to stay in Qiong Island until the very end.
She wanted to exit early. The money earned should be neither too much nor too little – why make it so high-profile?
After her exit, she would use her personal experience to warn the nation… Earlier control would reduce many losses. The game of musical chairs should have ended while it was still manageable.
Was it shameless?
It was acceptable.
Next year, once Qiong Island became a special economic zone, land prices would immediately soar. This wasn’t something Xia Xiaolan could control. Even if she didn’t earn a penny, she couldn’t stop this trend. Qiong Island becoming a province and establishing a special zone was historical momentum.
Since Meng Guanchao had spoken so plainly, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t remain silent. She had to respond:
“What exactly does Director Meng mean? Just coming to Yecheng to speculate on land, buy land, and wait for appreciation? This doesn’t align with Qihang’s principles. Qihang has always focused on solid project development. We don’t speculate on land; we seek projects that balance reputation and profit.”
Xia Xiaolan spoke too seriously.
Liu Yong remained silent, but Meng Guanchao believed Xia Xiaolan’s words about not speculating on land.
After gold sand was discovered at Jinsha Pool, the whole city was shocked. The worthless wasteland had reportedly received offers exceeding 10 million from Hong Kong merchants, all rejected by Qihang. Although Qihang’s final property development sold at high prices, the costs were substantial. Building properties through hard work might not earn as much as land speculation.
If others claimed they didn’t speculate on land, Meng Guanchao wouldn’t believe it at all. But when Xia Xiaolan, Qihang’s boss, said they wanted to build reputable projects, Meng Guanchao immediately believed her:
“We admire Director Xia’s approach, but developing a property requires tens of millions in capital. We can’t tie up that much money in Yecheng. Could Director Xia offer some guidance?”
Xia Xiaolan pondered for a moment, then hesitantly spoke:
“I have an idea – please hear me out, Director Meng, and if you find it feasible, we can discuss it further. Qihang doesn’t have that much capital either, and Yecheng is a new market for us. I’m not confident about securing bank loans or how much we could borrow. From my available funds, besides buying land, I need to reserve some for construction. I can’t buy much land, but since Director Meng believes land prices will rise next year, why don’t we agree? If Director Meng wants to sell his land next year, give Qihang priority – we’ll buy at market price!”
Meng Guanchao thought for a long while, exchanging glances with his friends.
This approach completely benefited them, with Xia Xiaolan taking on the risk.
Meng Guanchao had heard rumors about major developments in Qiong Island next year, which prompted his early land acquisition.
But what if the rumors were false?
Or if it wasn’t next year, but delayed to the year after, or several years later? Their pooled 6 million would be tied up in this ghostly place.
If they wanted to withdraw then, who would take over?
After all, with so much vacant land in Yecheng, why would others buy from them when they could acquire land directly from the local government, with more choices available?
If Xia Xiaolan was willing to take over, they wouldn’t lose if land prices rose.
If prices didn’t rise, they’d take the loss, but at least they could quickly recover their capital.
It seemed like a win-win situation no matter how they looked at it.
Meng Guanchao saw no trap and raised his glass to Xia Xiaolan:
“Director Xia is truly an outstanding businesswoman, generous and straightforward in business. I think we can sign this agreement. Well, well, meeting Director Xia and Brother Liu – the club membership fee wasn’t wasted after all.”
Meng Guanchao laughed heartily.
Xia Xiaolan also smiled: “You’re too kind, Director Meng! This is mutually beneficial, a win-win situation. I hope by then Qihang will have freed up enough capital to acquire the land you’ve purchased.”
Liu Yong was smiling too.
What was Liu Yong smiling about? He was smiling at Meng Guanchao thinking he had scored a great deal!
Liu Yong didn’t judge economic trends; he simply trusted that his niece wouldn’t make losing deals.