Xia Xiaolan was a person of swift action.

When she said she wanted to congratulate Pan Yijun, it immediately moved to the top of her schedule.

Being abroad earlier was one thing, but now that she was back, relationships needed maintaining. Xia Xiaolan didn’t even need an excuse to treat Vice President Pan to dinner – she had a ready-made reason: bringing him specialties from abroad!

Tang Hongen was supposed to have dinner with Xia Xiaolan, but she just dropped things off at home and left. Mayor Tang immediately called to complain to his wife:

“Ah Fen, look at this, she’s even busier than me as mayor.”

Ah Fen didn’t want to look!

How childish, still comparing himself with Xiaolan – it wasn’t complaining, more like whining.

“If she can’t eat with us, so be it. I can’t control her, she’s busy with company matters. What do you want to eat? I’ll cook for you when I get to Shenzhen in a few days!”

Year-end was approaching, and Liu Fen had several shops to manage in Beijing. She hadn’t even rushed to Shenzhen when her daughter returned home – that showed how busy she was.

Tang Hongen was very concerned about her and wouldn’t let her cook once she arrived in Shenzhen.

Perhaps because they’d lived apart since marriage, distance made the heart grow fonder – this mid-life couple grew increasingly affectionate. Fortunately, Xia Xiaolan left early for her engagement – if she’d heard Tang Hongen’s phone call, she would have been force-fed another bowl of dog food!

This time when Xia Xiaolan invited Pan Yijun to dinner, she didn’t just invite him alone, but also his wife and nephew Pan Weiliang, giving it quite a familial atmosphere.

On Xia Xiaolan’s side, she invited her uncle Liu Yong and Bai Zhenzhu.

Before Ying Jinchuan took over Qihang’s finances, Liu Yong and Pan Yijun had been the closest.

Bai Zhenzhu was Pan Weiliang’s direct supervisor – everyone was like family.

This was intimate enough!

If Tang Hongen had been invited too, Pan Yijun would have felt too constrained.

“Vice President Pan, let me toast you first. Qihang has troubled you many times with business matters.”

Xia Xiaolan took a small sip, and Old Pan downed him in one go.

Becoming vice president hadn’t gone to Old Pan’s head. He still remembered being isolated for investigation – if not for Xia Xiaolan’s help pulling him up, he would have been sacrificed as cannon fodder!

That feeling of utter hopelessness constantly reminded Pan Yijun not to become proud or complacent, nor to toe the line of regulations. If he didn’t make mistakes, there’d be less chance of others finding fault with him.

These were gifts Xia Xiaolan brought from abroad, so Pan Yijun dared accept them. Others saw him as being in the same boat as Qihang, so naturally, he wasn’t concerned.

But gifts from others? Pan Yijun wouldn’t dare touch them.

His wife said that after becoming vice president, he’d become more cautious than before. Pan Yijun scolded her for being short-sighted.

Finally, when it came time for Old Pan to dare accept gifts, his wife was delighted.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t mind – who wouldn’t be happy receiving gifts?

Wouldn’t the gift-giver’s efforts be wasted otherwise?

She liked Pan Yijun’s wife’s straightforwardness.

Everyone at the table was chatting and laughing. Pan Yijun was truly happy and even offered a toast in return:

“You’re all Weiliang’s bosses. Without your trust, this kid would still be causing us worry! Now he’s doing well, earning more than me. Before, he was such a layabout no one would marry him, but now there are plenty of matchmakers… This toast is from me to you!”

Pan Weiliang felt quite embarrassed.

His wayward days were in the past. Now as a store manager, he was too busy with work to mess around!

He really should thank the bosses for trusting him.

Pan Weiliang didn’t dare act frivolous in this setting and hurriedly raised his glass for the toast.

If not for his uncle, he wouldn’t have been included in this gathering as just a store manager.

The dinner was enjoyable for all.

Finally, Pan Yijun casually mentioned Sheng Xuan:

“Director Sheng is quite persistent. After I left the credit department, she got her chance to shine.”

Sheng Xuan could really endure – being sidelined for so long, she stubbornly refused to transfer, and now had outlasted Pan Yijun until his promotion to vice president.

Xia Xiaolan was indifferent. “Director Sheng still can’t override you.”

Of course not.

After all, he was in charge of credit operations!

Before, Sheng Xuan had parachuted in, using her director position to pressure him. Even after sidelining her, he was still just a deputy director – not quite legitimate. Now that he outranked Sheng Xuan, the tables had turned, and he could finally legitimately manage Director Sheng.

Pan Yijun didn’t feel he was bullying anyone – he felt great inside.

Hadn’t they both worked in the banking system for many years? From a small savings counter clerk to today’s position, it was like a daughter-in-law finally becoming the mother-in-law. How could Pan Yijun accept being pressured by someone parachuted in?

Xia Xiaolan also didn’t suggest that Pan Yijun go easy on Sheng Xuan just because she was now a Ya Xiya Mall shareholder and Zhu Suizhou was Sheng Xuan’s boyfriend… Why should he? Business was business – Sheng Xuan’s current predicament wasn’t Xia Xiaolan’s doing, but her own making.

This wasn’t about grudges between Sheng Xuan and Xia Xiaolan but between Sheng Xuan and Pan Yijun.

As long as Sheng Xuan didn’t transfer from Shenzhen, Pan Yijun would pressure her every day he held power.

After the gathering dispersed, Liu Yong was still thinking about the Shangdu matters:

“Are you cooperating with that Zhu fellow? Just looking at him gives me chills. Plus he’s Sheng Xuan’s boyfriend – what if she causes trouble?”

“Of course, we’re cooperating. Uncle Xu has already invested the money, and the investment agreement is ready, just waiting for my signature. Besides Building 45’s property rights, we put in an additional 1.5 million US dollars for 18% of the shares.”

Xia Xiaolan didn’t know what to say – her uncle’s business sense was quite unorthodox.

Others who met Zhu Suizhou inevitably developed good impressions, yet Liu Yong got chills.

Did he think Boss Zhu wasn’t reliable?

While Boss Zhu might not be reliable in the future, he is quite reliable now. Xia Xiaolan wasn’t making a lifetime commitment – the Ya Xiya investment was just a one-time deal. She didn’t care what he’d be like in the future!

She wouldn’t tell Du Zhaohui the truth, but to Liu Yong, she could reveal:

“Uncle, I won’t be cooperating with Boss Zhu for too long. Investment doesn’t have to be a long-term holding. Once Ya Xiya Mall is built, if we can profit, I’ll sell our shares.”

Ya Xiya’s peak years were quite valuable.

The investment was for profit – this was money Xu Zhongyi invested to thank her.

Liu Yong was still worried.

That Zhu fellow didn’t seem easy to deal with – could Xiaolan take advantage and run?

But Liu Yong didn’t say anything.

The “Blue Phoenix” location in Shangdu was too good – Liu Yong regretted losing that building. But he knew that selling the property at market price wouldn’t fetch 500,000 US dollars; this was the best choice under the circumstances.

The land belonged to the state – individuals couldn’t fight local government planning.

Meanwhile, Xia Xiaolan had Yu Li make another note – she would return to Yunan in a few days to sign and confirm the investment with Boss Zhu.

Though the agreement was written, she’d been abroad and hadn’t signed or sealed it – the contract wasn’t actually in effect yet.