Xia Xiaolan quickly regained her spirits.

Whether the land price was high or not, she had to see the site herself.

Though Harold had taken most of the good plots, perhaps she could get some remnant pieces for less than 180,000 yuan per mu.

180,000 was truly difficult to bear.

What Xia Xiaolan didn’t know was that her involvement had already changed Pengcheng’s commercial housing market trajectory. In her previous life, Pengcheng’s first true commercial housing project was “Dongxiao Garden” in 1987, which marked China’s first commercial land auction. The 8,000-plus square meters (about 13 mu) of land ultimately sold for 5.25 million yuan!

That meant each mu of land sold for 400,000 yuan.

Of course, this was a public auction, where companies’ competitive bidding had driven up the price.

But the premium wouldn’t have been too excessive.

Getting in two years early, even paying 180,000 per mu like Harold, would be extremely worthwhile.

If she could hold onto the land for two or three years before selling, the land price alone would double – that was the terrifying speed at which real estate made money. Buying at 180,000 and selling at 400,000 per mu – wasn’t that an enormous profit?

Director Xia was someone who wanted to build a real business, not be a land speculation profiteer… If she were to speculate on land, it wouldn’t be in Pengcheng anyway. Pengcheng’s land prices had already been driven up by the influx of foreign capital. She couldn’t hoard much and didn’t see much profit in it.

For land speculation, Shanghai’s Pudong would be better.

If she secured some plots in Pudong New Area before its establishment in 1990, following her previous life’s memories, that would truly be effortless money-making.

But no, no – focus on Pengcheng first. Can’t be running around everywhere at once.

While Xia Xiaolan was lost in thought, they arrived at Xiangmi Lake.

She hadn’t been here for a month, busy with the research conference in Jiangcheng and apprenticing under her master. Now it looked completely different.

There was no need to ask Secretary Peng which land belonged to Harold – marker lines had already been set up. Along these lines, wall construction had begun – Harold was moving quickly.

Groups of people gathered here and there, including many who looked like officials.

White shirts tucked into Western-style trousers, belts worn high, paired with their distinctive hairstyles – Xia Xiaolan was 100% certain they were local officials.

Understandably so – Harold’s golf course was a major local investment, naturally drawing attention from local officials.

While the biggest achievement went to their superiors, the Shangbu office staff were still excited about the project landing in their jurisdiction.

Futian Street Office had originally been quite desolate. First came the development of Xiangmi Lake, and now an American businessman had taken interest in over 2,000 mu of land around Xiangmi Lake Resort – everything was looking up.

“Miss Xia, should we get out of the car?”

Seeing Xia Xiaolan lost in thought, Ge Jian couldn’t help but remind her.

Xia Xiaolan nodded, pulling out a hat to wear.

“Of course, we should get out. We need to thoroughly explore this area, not miss any corner.”

What others thought worthless might become a treasure.

Operating on a small scale now, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t compete with wealthy foreign investors. She’d have to pick up what others missed in the gaps.

Harold had taken all the big opportunities – to find what slipped through the net, Xia Xiaolan needed to keep her eyes wide open, not missing any overlooked corner plots.

Harold couldn’t have taken all the land around Xiangmi Lake; there must have been some areas he’d missed.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t mind the heat, taking Ge Jian to look everywhere.

Harold’s 2,500 mu wasn’t all wasteland; some was villagers’ residential land.

Of course, with the government leasing land to foreign investors, these villagers would have to relocate.

The government wouldn’t give villagers the same 180,000 yuan per mu they were selling at. The specific relocation work was handled by the Shangbu Office and Futian Street Office staff. In 1985, such relocations only happened in Pengcheng.

Investors hadn’t stooped to outsourcing evictions to thugs, and villagers hadn’t become stubborn holdouts.

People were still honest then – land belonged to the state, and when the state needed to develop the economy, everyone naturally followed state arrangements.

Pengcheng was big enough – if this land was taken, people could move elsewhere.

The government would compensate for houses and land, and no one questioned whether the compensation was fair.

Xia Xiaolan and Ge Jian spent the afternoon exploring, staying outside the marked lines. When she saw suitable spots, she noted them in her notebook.

Though she tried to keep a low profile, she was too eye-catching.

Even with her face covered, her graceful figure couldn’t be hidden – acquaintances could easily recognize her.

“Xia Xiaolan!”

A familiar voice called her name several times.

Xia Xiaolan wanted to pretend she hadn’t heard.

Don’t call me, it’s not me, I want to hide, why make me draw attention!

But she couldn’t play ostrich – seeing no response, Ji Jiangyuan was already striding over.

“What a coincidence! Why are you here? Haven’t seen you for days.”

Ji Jiangyuan felt somewhat awkward.

After their chance meeting at the Western restaurant, he’d felt uncomfortable contacting Xia Xiaolan, fearing it would upset Ji Ya’s fragile nerves. Especially after seeing through Ji Ya’s intentions, Ji Jiangyuan felt particularly awkward around Xia Xiaolan.

His mother had thoughts of reconciliation.

She should have been more honest when returning to China and discussing reconciliation with his father.

After all, Ji Jiangyuan now knew his parents’ divorce was due to the special circumstances of that era.

But since returning, everything his mother did only pushed his birth father further away.

Ji Jiangyuan couldn’t understand – was face more important than the concrete happiness of family togetherness?

Unfortunately, he’d realized his birth mother’s intentions too late. That day at the restaurant, Ji Jiangyuan had seen his birth father Tang Hongen’s meaning. Tang Hongen was developing a relationship with Liu Fen… Comparing Liu Fen and Ji Ya, Ji Jiangyuan couldn’t honestly say his birth mother was more likable.

Even if on the surface, the Ji family’s background seemed better.

Ji Ya had been abroad and was a fashion designer, very stylish.

But so what?

Beneath that elegant, sophisticated exterior lurked a true neurotic.

Compared to Ji Ya, anyone would win in terms of temperament. Moreover, the birth father Tang Hongen already liked Xia Xiaolan very much. Forming a family with Xiaolan’s mother wasn’t just unproblematic – it was natural.

Suppressing his complicated feelings, Ji Jiangyuan said, “I thought I saw you from afar, called several times but you didn’t answer. What are you doing out here in the wilderness?”

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t play ostrich anymore, but maintained her composure as she seized the upper hand:

“I didn’t expect to see you here either. Speaking of which, what are you doing here?”

Xia Xiaolan noticed a foreigner with Ji Jiangyuan, and in a flash of insight understood: “You’re working for Harold now?!”