Tang Hongen’s casual conversation made everyone read too much into it.

Representatives from Huajian and other companies shot murderous glares that could have pierced through Xia Xiaolan and Liu Yong!

Before profits, Xia Xiaolan’s beauty had almost a negative influence. A project involving over a million in profits couldn’t be smoothed over just by appreciating beauty! These companies usually relied on connections and mutual support was their norm. Coming to Shenzhen and having to compete was already uncomfortable enough, and now there was Yuan Hui clearly using backdoor connections – all their hatred was directed here!

When Tang Hongen spoke with Xia Xiaolan, Liu Tianquan firmly labeled her as someone with “connections.”

What a pity – if she was Mayor Tang’s connection, no matter how beautiful, she was off-limits. Though Tang Hongen had only been in the Special Zone for a few months and appeared gentle and refined, his work style was extremely rigid and inflexible. All the planning proposals Liu Tianquan had submitted for new land approval were rejected by Tang Hongen, and there was nothing Liu Tianquan could do since Tang Hongen was in charge of economic affairs.

Though the flower was enchanting, Mayor Tang’s halo protected it. Liu Tianquan calmed down and reassessed Xia Xiaolan, realizing that during their conversation, he had been led by this beauty’s pace.

In Liu Tianquan’s view, most women weren’t very smart, always consumed by romance and drama – how could they accomplish anything significant?

But some women were extremely intelligent.

Beauty and wisdom rarely coexisted, but when they did, they created extraordinary value.

Liu Tianquan smiled warmly. Regardless of whether Yuan Hui’s real boss was Xia Xiaolan or Liu Yong, he was determined to cooperate with Yuan Hui. Judging by Mayor Tang’s attitude today, without Yuan Hui’s involvement, Tianzhen would never get the Nanhai Hotel project! Fortunately, the Special Zone government’s finances were tight, so they weren’t planning to hire foreign renovation teams for the Nanhai Hotel project, otherwise, the competition would be even more fierce.

Yuan Hui lacked proper qualifications, and Liu Tianquan’s Tianzhen was only a year old. He also needed this landmark building renovation project to establish Tianzhen’s industry reputation. Liu Tianquan judged that while Nanhai Hotel was Shenzhen’s first five-star international hotel, it wouldn’t be the only one. Moreover, in March this year, China decided to further open fourteen coastal port cities from south to north… With greater opening up, foreign capital would flow in faster, increasing the demand for five-star international hotels.

After renovating the Nanhai Hotel, Liu Tianquan felt specializing in such projects had great prospects, with plenty of business guaranteed for the coming years.

The Hong Kong boss cornered Xia Xiaolan and Liu Yong to discuss business all evening.

Finally, at dinner time, Xia Xiaolan escaped from the overly enthusiastic Mr. Liu.

Liu Fen came in from outside and sat beside Xia Xiaolan.

The restaurant’s soft furnishings closely matched the design drawings. Small dining tables held vases and candlesticks – somewhat inappropriate for Chinese dining, but locals liked this style. People’s aesthetics were uncertain at this time; after being suppressed for so long, everything followed foreign standards. The restaurant would surely do well when opened to the public! If it were up to Xia Xiaolan’s true preferences, she would have decorated the guesthouse in pure Chinese style – that would have truly impressed foreign guests.

“How was it? Did you tour the whole guesthouse?”

Liu Fen couldn’t understand the business discussion between Xia Xiaolan and Liu Yong, so Xia Xiaolan simply let her mother look around.

Since Xia Xiaolan had “designed” the guesthouse and Liu Yong had executed the renovation, Liu Fen wanted to tour everything. Since it wasn’t officially open yet and today’s visitors were the only guests, no one would stop her from going anywhere.

Liu Fen had grown more confident – the guesthouse wasn’t so high-end that she dared not move around, so she really went for a tour.

She had spotted someone who looked like ‘Mr. Tang’ from afar, but how could she approach such a high-ranking official? Liu Fen timidly hid away. She had been nervous when entering, but it wasn’t a mistake – Tang Hongen was here today. She worried whether the leader had seen her hiding, wondering if she had embarrassed her daughter and brother.

Oddly enough, whoever was in charge of the guesthouse had decided to show off to the leaders by serving Western food.

The pure countryside siblings Liu Yong and Liu Fen immediately revealed their true colors – how to use a knife and fork, why were there such large pieces of meat on the plate?

The siblings exchanged helpless glances, and Xia Xiaolan wanted to facepalm. It was her fault – her mother and uncle’s training hadn’t caught up yet. Taking them to state-owned restaurants and trying seafood wasn’t enough; they hadn’t experienced Western dining yet.

Xia Xiaolan demonstrated while naturally explaining:

“Usually hold the knife in your right hand and fork in the left, like this to cut a small piece of beef. Yes, yes, don’t use too much force, if the plate squeaks others will look at us…”

It was strange – people were used to holding chopsticks in their right hand, but Western dining was reversed, requiring the left hand to bring food to the mouth with the fork. Seeing Liu Fen’s discomfort, Xia Xiaolan simply took her plate and cut the beef into small pieces.

“Just eat however you’re comfortable.”

What etiquette – everyone here had black hair and yellow skin. Table manners weren’t as important as making her mother comfortable!

Xia Xiaolan’s action made several people relax. After cutting the steak with squeaking sounds, it was still more comfortable to hold the fork in the right hand. Tang Hongen, sitting at another table, found it amusing and somehow remembered when Xia Xiaolan had taken her mother for dim sum in Guangzhou.

She had ordered a table full of dim sum like a nouveau riche, eating freely while explaining each dish’s details. The older diners around them had probably been quite disapproving.

Tang Hongen was willing to help Xia Xiaolan because, despite her shrewdness, her filial piety was faultless.

If his child had grown up beside him, would they have been like Xia Xiaolan?

During the meal, many people toasted Tang Hongen.

When leaving the guesthouse, he was slightly drunk and his stomach was aching, though he could still stand steady, he felt very uncomfortable.

Xia Xiaolan naturally had to bid farewell to Uncle Tang. Secretary Peng only knew the leader had drunk a lot but hadn’t noticed Tang Hongen’s stomach pain. Liu Fen noticed Tang Hongen’s unconscious frown and slightly hunched back, and couldn’t help asking quietly:

“Mr. Tang, is your stomach uncomfortable?”

Tang Hongen glanced at her, making Liu Fen’s legs weak – she shouldn’t have called him Mr. Tang when others called him Mayor Tang.

“Leader, is your stomach acting up again?”

Tang Hongen didn’t deny it, and Secretary Peng understood immediately. Having an outsider notice the leader’s discomfort made Peng feel he had failed in his duties, and he wanted to take Tang Hongen to the hospital.

“No need, just take me home.”

Secretary Peng worried, “That won’t do, your housekeeper has the day off today, and you’ll be alone at home…”

If Xia Xiaolan hadn’t spoken up now, her emotional intelligence would have been negative – why was Uncle Tang’s health as fragile as paper? Last time catching a fever in the rain, and now stomach pain from drinking.