Xia Xiaolan couldn’t understand Mao Kangshan’s pride.

She had no idea that her newly accepted teacher had such high hopes for her. Before even beginning to teach her, he was already planning for her to roll up her sleeves and compete with Ning Yanfan.

Mao Kangshan carefully examined the Nanhai Hotel construction site, asking questions as they walked, making Xia Xiaolan answer.

Xia Xiaolan could only respond about the renovation aspects; she didn’t fully understand Ning Yanfan’s design of the main structure.

Mao Kangshan jumped up and cursed her as an idiot, but afterward, he squatted down, picked up a tree branch, and began drawing and writing to explain things to her.

Xia Xiaolan could only squat down beside him, not daring to be inattentive, as Old Mao had entered teaching mode.

So this was how well Mao Kangshan taught.

Xia Xiaolan had attended Ning Yanfan’s lectures before – he taught from basics upward, making complex concepts accessible.

Mao Kangshan had a different style.

He used Ning Yanfan’s “Nanhai Hotel” as a template, directly dissecting Ning’s thought process. Being equals in reputation, Mao Kangshan could certainly see through Ning Yanfan’s design.

He was using Ning Yanfan’s design to teach Xia Xiaolan.

Some parts were completely beyond Xia Xiaolan’s comprehension.

Mao Kangshan didn’t coddle her or humor her. Gone was any trace of the drowsy lethargy from the seminar – his energy was incredible as he berated Xia Xiaolan thoroughly.

After scolding her, he would break everything down and explain it again.

After finishing each point, without checking if Xia Xiaolan had absorbed it, he would tell her which books she needed to read.

Some books were from the Huaqing Architecture Department’s undergraduate curriculum.

Others exceeded undergraduate course content.

Xia Xiaolan had never encountered any of them and hurriedly took notes.

Seeing foam forming at Mao Kangshan’s lips as he lectured, she quickly offered him water:

“Teacher, please rest a bit before continuing. And could we maybe not squat on the ground? I don’t mean anything by it, just that at your age, standing up suddenly after squatting for so long might make you dizzy.”

Mao Kangshan gulped down a cup of water:

“Rest? I’m anxious for you – your foundational knowledge is far too behind!”

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t behind – she was just starting her sophomore year, and for an architecture student, she was ahead.

When Mao Kangshan said “behind,” he was comparing her to Ning Yanfan’s granddaughter, Ning Xue.

Ning Xue had started learning the basics from a very young age under Ning Yanfan. Mao Kangshan normally wouldn’t care about someone else’s granddaughter, but she happened to be in the same school, department, and class as Xia Xiaolan. He didn’t want Xia Xiaolan to lament “Why was I born in the same era as such a talent” in the future. If you’re going to do something, be the best – don’t settle for being equal first.

Mao Kangshan didn’t want to hear terms like “Huaqing’s Twin Beauties.”

He had heard enough of “Bei Ning Nan Mao”!

However, after Xia Xiaolan’s words, Mao Kangshan slowly stood up.

Xia Xiaolan was right – at his age, he needed to take care of his health. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to teach Xia Xiaolan for many years, and wouldn’t be able to watch her surpass Ning Yanfan’s granddaughter. Mao Kangshan wouldn’t be able to rest in peace without seeing that… Yes, yes, surpassing Ning Xue was just the first step; the second step would be competing with Ning Yanfan himself.

Thinking about how the Nanhai Hotel investors had chosen Xia Xiaolan’s renovation plan over Ning Yanfan’s original design, Mao Kangshan walked around the construction site with his hands behind his back, unable to contain his satisfaction.

Yang Yonghong stood at a distance, her eyes filled with envy.

Not envying Xia Xiaolan’s wealth, but envying her opportunity to learn from Teacher Mao.

The Architecture and Civil Engineering departments often merged and split, and Mao Kangshan was a giant in both fields.

Li Dongliang noticed Yang Yong hong’s envy and asked:

“Why don’t you go listen too?”

Yang Yonghong scratched her head: “Manager Li, don’t tease me, it’s not the same thing.”

One must know their place. Xiaolan had kindly introduced her to this part-time job with a high salary of 400 yuan per month, and Yang Yonghong was determined to work hard enough to deserve it.

Was she being paid to attend private lessons?

If she brazenly went to listen, Xiaolan probably wouldn’t mind.

But Yang Yonghong refused to do so.

Withdrawing her envious gaze, Yang Yonghong asked Li Dongliang: “Manager Li, didn’t we say we were going to check inventory?”

“Right, let’s go then!”

Rather than stay here feeling restless, better to leave entirely. Yang Yonghong turned and left, with Li Dongliang following, actually quite pleased with her attitude.

Miss Xia’s classmate was indeed quite good.

Hardworking and capable.

Most importantly, her character!

She remembered Xia Xiaolan’s kindness and envied her opportunity to become Teacher Mao’s disciple, yet harbored no petty jealousy. As brothers-in-arms with Ge Jian, Li Dongliang naturally understood better than others how much effort Xia Xiaolan had invested to earn Mao Kangshan’s current attitude.

Now that the master-disciple relationship was established, how could teaching one student be the same as teaching two?

People should know their limits, and not be greedy for things that don’t belong to them. If you want something, work hard for it yourself, don’t rely on connections and thick skin to take advantage!

In this aspect, Yang Yonghong was doing quite well… If Miss Xia had more classmates like her, that would be ideal, Li Dongliang thought. Miss Xia was destined for great things – he and Ge Jian had long known this. Her ventures in clothing and building materials were all groundwork for the “real estate” business.

“Real estate” was a term Li Dongliang had just learned and put to use.

Whatever business Miss Xia pursued, she would need helpers.

Li Dongliang was thinking about discussing with Liu Yong whether they could invest some effort in fully securing Yang Yonghong’s loyalty.

If Gong Yang from Commercial University could work for them, why couldn’t Yang Yonghong from Huaqing?

It was worth trying at least.

Li Dongliang quickened his pace to catch up.

…

While Xia Xiaolan followed Mao Kangshan’s teachings at the construction site,

Mao Guosheng accompanied his mother Song Daniang to tour Xiangmi Lake.

After arriving in Pengcheng, Mao Guosheng’s heart was like a water droplet falling into hot oil, causing oil to splatter everywhere.

His heart was that water droplet, refusing to mix with the oil, yet terrified by the high temperature!

“Guosheng, you seem troubled?”

Though Song Daniang wasn’t highly educated, she had been Mao Kangshan’s wife for most of her life and her powers of observation weren’t poor.

She might not have realized it herself, but Mao Kangshan had indeed influenced her in many ways throughout their life together.

Song Daniang couldn’t articulate grand theories, but she paid attention to her family members’ small matters.

For instance, she had noticed all of Mao Guosheng’s psychological changes since arriving in Pengcheng.

Faced with his mother’s inquiry, Mao Guosheng didn’t answer immediately.

He was organizing his thoughts, unsure how to express them.

Under Song Daniang’s gaze, Mao Guosheng reluctantly voiced his concerns:

“Xiao Xia arranges for people to take us sightseeing, but we don’t know what she’s doing with Dad. Mom, aren’t you worried? I see Xiao Xia acting so extravagantly as if she has endless money. Have you thought about where her money comes from? Could it be…”

Mao Guosheng couldn’t continue.

Song Daniang sighed, “I think Xiao Xia is a good person. If you have doubts, why don’t you ask her directly? Even if you can’t ask, you can observe with your own eyes.”

Mao Guosheng’s face reddened – he had asked Xia Xiaolan once, but she hadn’t answered!