Zheng Shuqin was the most miserable of all.

She desperately wanted to go along, but Xia Xiaolan didn’t want her there.

Watching the two taxis disappear into the distance, her chest ached, her limbs ached, her head ached – there wasn’t a single part of her that didn’t hurt.

Song Daniang had locked the doors and windows tight, and thinking about all those fine gifts that hadn’t been distributed to anyone made Zheng Shuqin feel completely drained.

“I wonder if Guosheng listened to what I said…”

What had Zheng Shuqin said?

Her main point was that they must uncover Xiao Xia’s background, whether she really had one million yuan, and how much benefit their family could gain!

Her secondary point was that Mao Guosheng must stay ahead of his brothers and sisters – they should keep Xiao Xia’s existence secret for as long as possible, absolutely preventing other families from coming to share in the benefits!

Zheng Shuqin truly saw herself as excrement, finding everything around her equally foul.

If all of Mao Kangshan’s children were like Zheng Shuqin, constantly scheming, wouldn’t it be tragic for Mao Kangshan and Song Daniang to have no worthy children?

So, how much of his wife’s instructions did Mao Guosheng take to heart?

Once they boarded the taxi arranged by Xia Xiaolan, things were no longer under Mao Guosheng’s control.

Traveling with Xia Xiaolan meant everything was taken care of.

The taxi took them to the airport, then they boarded the plane.

After landing at Yangcheng’s Baiyun Airport, Xia Xiaolan had arranged transportation again but didn’t rush them like someone chasing a deadline. Considering Mao Kangshan and Song Daniang’s age, Xia Xiaolan arranged for everyone to stay one night in Yangcheng.

After resting at the hotel, they toured Yangcheng and experienced its morning tea culture before driving to Pengcheng.

As the car passed through Pengcheng’s wire fences, they entered a completely different world.

Construction sites were everywhere – Mao Guosheng’s nostrils flared with excitement. This was truly a paradise for architects!

“Brother Mao seems very interested in this place?”

Xia Xiaolan’s words seemed to carry deeper meaning, but Mao Guosheng missed it completely and instead asked her:

“Xiao Xia, were you serious about starting a company? You want to build houses – who are you building them for?”

With so many construction companies around, how could Xia Xiaolan possibly get into construction?

Mao Guosheng had been pondering this question throughout the journey.

Initially, he had been shocked by the million yuan figure.

But working at the Provincial Construction Institute, Mao Guosheng wasn’t completely ignorant – he at least understood the industry’s current situation.

Modern construction companies like Huajian were all well-capitalized. To ordinary people, a million yuan seemed like a lot, but that was measuring public wealth by private standards. A million yuan might only build one dormitory building, and that’s assuming you already owned the land.

Facing Mao Guosheng’s questions, Xia Xiaolan just smiled:

“If Brother Mao is curious, keep watching. Please forgive me for being mysterious about your questions – once my company is established, you’ll understand.”

Mao Guosheng was surprised, “So it is your own company?”

Hadn’t she just been admitted to Huaqing’s Architecture Department last year? No matter how Mao Guosheng looked at it, Xia Xiaolan seemed only around 20 years old. With her young face, some might even believe she was still in her teens. Mao Guosheng guessed twenty only because of how mature she acted and spoke.

“Of course, it’s my own company. Don’t doubt that – how could I possibly deceive Teacher and his wife?”

As Mao Guosheng tried to ask more questions, Song Daniang couldn’t stand it anymore:

“Guosheng, let Xiao Xia catch her breath. She’s been taking care of everything for us, yet you’re interrogating her like a criminal…”

Mao Guosheng’s emotional intelligence was truly too low.

Even Song Daniang could tell that Xia Xiaolan was being reserved in her answers, yet Mao Guosheng kept pressing.

It was her money-making business – how could she freely discuss everything?

People needed to maintain their dignity. Just because Xiao Xia was warm and approachable didn’t mean they should ask whatever they wanted, appropriate or not.

Xia Xiaolan chatted warmly with Song Daniang.

After arriving in Pengcheng, when people heard that Xia Xiaolan had invited Mao Kangshan of the famous “Bei Ning Nan Mao” to Pengcheng and become his disciple, Liu Yong was extremely excited. Yuanhui had previously hired two engineers who, despite their high salaries from Liu Yong, were somewhat arrogant about their talents and looked down on their boss’s farmer background.

Unexpectedly, when this “peasant boss” established a connection with Mao Kangshan, both engineers became as obedient as grandchildren.

Early the next morning, Mao Kangshan toured the Nanhai Hotel construction site, where someone from Huajian recognized him.

This left Huajian’s people quite puzzled.

Yuanhui was just a small company that had risen by clinging to Mayor Tang’s coattails, and Huajian’s manager had always looked down on Liu Yong.

How had Liu Yong managed to connect with old Master Mao Kangshan?

Huajian’s people couldn’t figure it out but dared not gossip anymore and became less arrogant. Everyone knew about “Bei Ning Nan Mao” – after retirement, Ning Yanfan opened his studio and was generally accommodating. If paid enough, it was possible to invite Teacher Ning to visit a construction site for guidance.

But Mao Kangshan’s temperament matched his reputation.

Money might persuade Ning Yanfan, but not Mao Kangshan.

Approaching him with money might only earn you a harsh scolding – it wasn’t worth the effort, and Mao Kangshan would never associate with Yuanhui just for money.

Therefore, Yuanhui must have something that Mao Kangshan approved of, and Huajian’s people put aside their contempt.

Yuanhui might be more than just Mayor Tang’s protégé – Old Mao was known for being unbendingly principled! Even if Mayor Tang had asked Old Mao to come to show support, he might have gotten thoroughly scolded.

Liu Yong could never have anticipated that Mao Kangshan’s visit to Pengcheng would have such an effect.

Holding his niece’s hand, Liu Yong was overwhelmed with emotion:

“Xiaolan, you must study hard. Whether during reform and opening up or not, businesspeople making money will always face criticism, but educated people will always be respected! You should become an educated person, and become as formidable as Old Mao!”

Xia Xiaolan thought her uncle was about to cry.

She wasn’t sure how he had managed to move himself so deeply.

Just as Xia Xiaolan nodded, Mao Kangshan, walking ahead, shouted with full force:

“Xia Xiaolan, what’s wrong with you? You’re so young, yet you’re making this old man wait for you? Come here quickly and explain this place to me properly!”

This was a respected educated person.

Even when scolding people, he had his reasons… Mao Kangshan wasn’t there at the Nanhai Hotel construction site just to boost Liu Yong’s image. Upon arriving in Pengcheng, Mao Kangshan showed no interest in other construction sites as they weren’t his concern. His only interest was in the Nanhai Hotel project where Xia Xiaolan was leading the renovation design.

Xia Xiaolan hurried over:

“Teacher, what part don’t you understand?”

Mao Kangshan pointed at the hotel’s roof, “What’s going on there?”

Xia Xiaolan responded, “Oh, originally Teacher Ning’s design had the middle of the roof slightly higher than the sides, but later, to accommodate the infinity pool effect, I modified this part…”

Xia Xiaolan was puzzled.

She had already explained this at the Jiangcheng seminar.

Mao Kangshan nodded solemnly.

He kept staring at the roof modifications.

How could Xia Xiaolan understand Mao Kangshan’s complex feelings?

Couldn’t an old person have some competitive spirit?

Everyone said “Bei Ning Nan Mao” – why should Ning Yanfan be ranked before him? Mao Kangshan knew he wasn’t as diplomatic as Ning Yanfan.

He didn’t envy that coward at all – someday, people would say “Nan Mao Bei Ning” instead. He was too old to compete with Ning Yanfan directly.

But he had a disciple now – he could let his disciple take up the fight!