Yuanfei’s project value had increased from 4 million to 7.5 million, and the Citroën car was worth more than Xia Xiaolan expected, which helped solve her funding gap.

The Nanhai Hotel project was urgent – as soon as the shareholders’ meeting approved Yuanfei’s proposal, work needed to begin immediately.

Dongfeng Holdings wasn’t in the renovation business; they preferred investment and management.

They gave one-quarter of the project to Yuanfei, with the remaining work going to Huajian.

Huajian’s manager in Shenzhen had previously met Liu Yong. At the municipal government guesthouse project, when Yuanfei emerged victorious, Huajian was certainly dissatisfied.

Huajian’s target hadn’t been the guesthouse – it had always been the Nanhai Hotel.

Though Huajian finally secured the Nanhai Hotel project, Dongfeng Holdings gave a quarter to Yuanfei.

Huajian’s people were unhappy!

But they had no choice. Yuanfei’s proposal had won the Hong Kong investors’ approval. Without Yuanfei’s involvement, Hong Kong renovation companies would have taken the project, leaving Huajian with nothing, let alone three-quarters!

Even though Yuanfei’s design had outperformed the Hong Kong companies and won the project, people still gossiped.

Liu Yong was irritated. While in Beijing signing loan documents, he complained to Xia Xiaolan:

“They’re saying Yuanfei forced its way in through Mayor Tang’s connections. What do these people know!”

One phrase about connections erased all their hard work. Tang Hongen was why Dongfeng Holdings brought Yuanfei in, but without Xiaolan’s “infinity pool” proposal impressing the Hong Kong investors, who knows how things would have turned out?

For the 7.5 million project requiring advance funding, Liu Yong and Xia Xiaolan hadn’t troubled Tang Hongen, fearing it might reflect poorly on him. They arranged loans in Beijing without involving Shenzhen banks.

Yet Liu Yong still heard gossip.

“Must be Huajian’s people, looking down on our grassroots approach, thinking I can’t handle five-star hotel renovations.”

Xia Xiaolan frowned.

“Uncle, Uncle Tang did help us, but we can ignore outside talk. We must excel at the Nanhai Hotel renovation. When inspection time comes and we deliver impressive results, the rumors will naturally dissolve!”

It was impossible to avoid gossip.

Yuanfei’s two big leaps forward had indeed benefited from Tang Hongen’s help.

Even if Tang Hongen just gave them an entry ticket, this help couldn’t be denied.

Like this time – no matter how innovative Xia Xiaolan’s proposal was, without Tang Hongen’s influence, Huo Chenzhou wouldn’t have given a small company like Yuanfei a second glance.

What’s wrong with being a small company? What’s shameful about starting from scratch?

At their current pace, they’d grow quickly.

Liu Yong’s frustration turned into a fighting spirit with just a few words from Xia Xiaolan.

“Watch, Xiaolan – this project won’t go wrong!”

Huajian had solid foundations and technical expertise that Liu Yong couldn’t match, so now he could only grit his teeth and ensure the Nanhai Hotel project’s success. Though uncertain about other aspects, most of his workers had been with him for a year. Recently, Liu Yong even hired two retired engineers at high salaries – everything was for the Nanhai Hotel project. He couldn’t mess this up.

“Uncle, we just need to get through the Nanhai Hotel project. After that, Yuanfei will have credible experience, and the company will become more standardized. Besides Gong Yang, we can hire other college graduates. It’s not shameful if we can’t match companies like Huajian right now – does that mean we’ll never match them? There will come a day when no one questions us, no matter what project we take on.”

Xia Xiaolan could particularly empathize.

Previously, people questioned whether she deserved Zhou Cheng; now they questioned if she relied on the Zhou family’s influence. Xia Xiaolan wasn’t oblivious to this.

She couldn’t drag everyone aside to explain whenever someone said something.

Some things didn’t need explanation – proving oneself through ability was better than verbal defense.

Liu Yong was inspired by Xia Xiaolan’s words. Thinking carefully, there was nothing to be angry about. Even splitting profits with Xiaolan on this project, Liu Yong would make several hundred thousand. Those gossiping behind their backs – forget several hundred thousand, did they even have tens of thousands in their pockets?

“You’re right, Xiaolan. Let’s ignore those gossipmongers, hmph!”

Just moments ago angry, now suddenly proud – Xia Xiaolan couldn’t understand Manager Wu, nor her uncle.

What was with these middle-aged men?

Their moods changed like the weather – so hard to please!

From dealing with Xia Ziyun’s family to securing the Nanhai Hotel project, she’d been busy for quite a while.

Once the dust settled, she finally had time to visit the Zhou family.

Besides visiting the Zhou elders, there was also the Stone family matter, which Guan Huie had been handling.

“Wei Juanhong and Shi Ping’s jobs are settled – they’re both at the cigarette factory.”

Wei Juanhong and Shi Ping had neither skills nor education – their only advantage was being martyrs’ families. Skills could be learned gradually; forcing Wei Juanhong into government office would have harmed her.

As a rural woman, she couldn’t handle office politics well. Office work looked easy, but where there were people, there were conflicts. Better to let Wei Juanhong work in the workshop than face those battles.

Workshop workers could be promoted too. Though Wei Juanhong had two children, she was only in her twenties, with plenty of time to work hard.

Shi Ping was easier to handle – with his mental challenges, he was assigned pure physical labor requiring no thinking.

The physical work at the cigarette factory wasn’t particularly demanding. After training, Shi Ping could already start working.

Xia Xiaolan knew this arrangement was carefully considered. Zhou Cheng’s cigarette dealings brought profit, and the quota production made the factory profitable. Good profits meant good benefits – though she wondered if Wei Juanhong was satisfied.

The last time Xia Xiaolan visited the Stone family, she’d missed Wei Juanhong.

Wei Juanhong struggled to accept that Shi Kai had sacrificed himself to save Zhou Cheng, harboring some resentment. Xia Xiaolan understood.

But if she held onto that resentment forever, Xia Xiaolan would feel helpless.

Making others difficult didn’t necessarily make one’s own life better.

But Mother Stone was someone Xia Xiaolan liked.

“Are you still planning not to tell Mother Stone the truth?”

Guan Huie also had great affection for Mother Stone. Regardless of background or education, some people were very reasonable even if illiterate.

After several interactions with Mother Stone, Guan Huie’s feelings changed from guilt and sympathy to admiration. Her thoughts changed:

“Wouldn’t it be good if we could keep it secret forever?”

Xia Xiaolan shook her head, “You know that’s impossible.”

…

At the Stone family home.

The relative Zeng Sister brought to help had been firmly sent away by Mother Stone.

Her eye surgery was very successful. After more than two months of recovery, her vision had mostly returned. Even in previous years before her vision deteriorated, Mother Stone had handled the household chores. She felt she could manage two children without any problem – there was no need for a nanny.

Wei Juanhong and Shi Ping had officially started work, while Mother Stone stayed home with the children.

If Mother Stone had any discomfort, it was living in the house the Zhou family had found.

Seeing Wei Juanhong return from work, Mother Stone seized the opportunity to mention it again:

“Juanhong, have you asked about how the cigarette factory allocates housing?”