“Yes, I now have a new part-time job.”

Earning two salaries for essentially the same work – Ji Jiangyuan was living quite the good life!

When Xia Xiaolan asked, Ji Jiangyuan admitted it straightforwardly.

There was nothing shameful about working for others. Ji Jiangyuan didn’t share the pride common among some Chinese university students. His mindset was very Western – in America, only children from upper-middle-class families could afford to study without working part-time jobs. Some of his classmates had been working multiple part-time jobs since high school. Compared to them, Ji Jiangyuan could hardly be called a working warrior.

“Congratulations! Earning in dollars means you might have hope of clearing your foreign debt. Mr. Wilson doesn’t seem like a stingy person. If he appreciates your abilities, he won’t pay you too little.”

Though they couldn’t be close friends, Xia Xiaolan was still happy for Ji Jiangyuan.

After all, Ji Jiangyuan wasn’t a bad person.

He was still Tang Hong’en’s son.

Of course, he was also Ji Ya’s son – that detestable woman. The world was strange that way: good parents often spoiled their children into becoming bad ones, while extreme cases like Ji Ya somehow had a chance of raising excellent and filial children.

Truly a case of good bamboo shoots sprouting from bad bamboo!

For Xia Xiaolan, Ji Jiangyuan’s financial independence was good news – it would indirectly irritate Ji Ya. Ji Ya wouldn’t be happy about her son’s financial independence; the sooner Ji Jiangyuan could earn money, the sooner he would escape Ji Ya’s control!

Thinking of this, Xia Xiaolan’s joy became quite genuine.

Ji Jiangyuan, infected by her happiness, didn’t act overly modest: “Mr. Harold is paying me 500 dollars per week. After this summer, I can continue this part-time job. The golf course project will take more than a year or two to operate, so I’ll need to come to Pengcheng every weekend from now on.”

Ji Jiangyuan was frank about it. Xia Xiaolan gave a dry laugh: “What a coincidence, I have business in Pengcheng too, so I’ll be coming here often as well.”

Flights between Beijing and Pengcheng weren’t as frequent as in later years. Sometimes there was only one flight per day. If Ji Jiangyuan needed to come to Pengcheng every weekend, they would likely run into each other often.

Seeing how she kept changing the subject, Ji Jiangyuan didn’t pursue asking why she was here.

Perhaps it was something she couldn’t talk about.

Looking at the sky, Ji Jiangyuan reminded her: “This place is rough, and it’s getting dark soon. You shouldn’t stay too long.”

Ji Jiangyuan remembered how Xia Xiaolan had been surrounded by villagers nearby before. Although she had emerged victorious last time, even earning Harold’s impression of her as Chinese mafia, the situation was different now. Last time she had many workers fighting for her, but this time she only had one person with her.

Even if she could fight well, could she be like Bruce Lee in the movies?

Ji Jiangyuan worried that the villagers she had beaten might recognize and seek revenge against her.

Xia Xiaolan nodded, “I understand, I’ll leave now.”

Not knowing Ji Jiangyuan had witnessed her previous confrontation with the village bully, she still appreciated his good intentions.

Since Ji Jiangyuan now worked for Harold, meeting him wasn’t surprising.

However, Xia Xiaolan hadn’t expected to meet Harold himself. He was a wealthy man – why would he come to the site under the afternoon sun? The initial tedious work was usually handled by employees, unlike Xia Xiaolan who was just starting and had to handle everything personally.

Others were waiting for Ji Jiangyuan. When he returned, the American asked him:

“That Chinese girl, does Mr. Harold know her too?”

This was Bill, Harold’s assistant, whom Ji Jiangyuan was working with.

“It wouldn’t be strange if he did. She’s my friend – we just exchanged a few words when we met.”

Bill gazed deeply in the direction where Xia Xiaolan had gone. Mr. Harold was interested in that Chinese girl; he should report this encounter to Mr. Harold.

Americans also needed to please their bosses.

Harold had many assistants, and Bill wanted to gain more of Harold’s favor.

Was the Chinese girl deliberately here to meet Ji?

From Ji’s reaction, it seemed more like a chance encounter.

Then why was the Chinese girl here?

Bill didn’t think too much about it. His job was just to report the information; Mr. Harold should judge the purpose himself.

…

Following Ji Jiangyuan’s advice, Xia Xiaolan had seen enough for today. The specific plot of land would need to be chosen based on Harold’s project plans.

“Let’s go. That’s enough for today. We’ll come back tomorrow to look around more.”

Ge Jian naturally had no objections.

As they were about to leave, a skinny man whistling approached them.

Xia Xiaolan was in the gap between the Xiangmihu Park area and Harold’s enclosed land. There was a sewage pool bubbling with black water, filled with household garbage, and surrounded by bamboo groves. As the sunlight dimmed, the shadows made it somewhat eerie and frightening.

Perhaps this was why Harold hadn’t wanted this piece of land.

Xia Xiaolan pondered – if so, could she buy it?

Compared to the high land prices, she would rather spend money improving the garbage pool.

What a great location – right next to Xiangmihu Holiday Resort, with Harold’s golf course on the other side, practically taking advantage of both sides’ feng shui and geographic benefits.

With this garbage pool, the land price might be cheaper.

Even at 180,000 per mu, Xia Xiaolan would buy it!

Lost in thought and with Ge Jian present, Xia Xiaolan hadn’t paid attention to the approaching person until he came face to face with her, looked at her twice, suddenly exclaimed, and turned to run.

The behavior was suspicious. Before Xia Xiaolan could give orders, Ge Jian had already grabbed the man’s collar.

Like picking up a chicken, he brought the skinny man before Xia Xiaolan.

The man wailed loudly. Ge Jian kicked his shin, “Behave! No shouting. Why were you running away so suspiciously!”

Men who saw Miss Xia were usually struck by her beauty.

Seeing Miss Xia and reacting like seeing a flood or fierce beast meant he must have a guilty conscience.

Up close, Xia Xiaolan could finally see his face.

The man was trembling like a quail before Ge Jian, both cowardly and wicked. Xia Xiaolan indeed recognized him.

“Why are you running? Did you do something bad again, feeling guilty when you saw me?”

The man wanted to burst into tears.

He had been living comfortably as the village chief’s son in the area, but after drinking and taking a shortcut home, he ran into his number one nemesis. Should he have waited to get beaten up again instead of running?

“No, no! No bad deeds, please let me go!”

He was practically kowtowing and begging, crying and wailing, looking quite ridiculous.

This man was the village bully who had harassed Xia Xiaolan at Xiangmihu before.

What a coward!

Ge Jian gripped his neck, “Stop crying, we haven’t even hit you yet!”

Seeing the village bully scared witless, Xia Xiaolan suddenly had an inspiration: “Shut up, I have questions for you. I remember your father is the village chief around here?”