_1Yang Hanqing's words almost made Yun Shi Yu jump up, but considering Xiao Ming's attitude in the corridor, she had no choice but to suppress her feelings.
Xiao Ming also sensed that something was off with Yang Hanqing but was too lazy to argue further. He summoned his secretary, issued some instructions, confirmed the content of the contract, printed it out, and both parties signed and stamped it.
"Next, you have three tasks to complete.
First, change the company's name to Maohe Real Estate Construction."
Xiao Ming then requested a map of Longyin City from his secretary and circled a location by the riverside in the old town area.
"Second, I will transfer a sum of money to your company's account. Send someone to this area, and buy as many properties as you can from those willing to sell."
"Why?"
Yun Shi Yu and Yang Hanqing asked simultaneously, then exchanged glances. Yun Shi Yu said, "Have you heard that the Government Office is going to sell a plot of land here in a few days?
Although seizing the initiative early is not wrong, this area is far from the city center and lacks resources, almost qualifying as a slum of Longyin City.
The government's intention to sell it is to seek private capital for development, but without supporting infrastructure, who would want to buy properties here? The risk of funds being locked up is too high."
"Who said there's no supporting infrastructure?"
Xiao Ming's finger trailed across the river on the map from left to right. "Within a week at most, the city will announce a new infrastructure plan.
One of the main features will be the construction of a fitness trail and a leisure park along the river."
Yun Shi Yu's eyes suddenly lit up. "How did you know?"
Xiao Ming smiled without answering.
Yang Hanqing, looking at his confident demeanor, was also unable to contain her excitement.
Everyone knew that once the construction plan for the leisure park was announced, relevant businesses would rush to develop the surrounding facilities, and the value of the nearby land would almost certainly skyrocket.
By then, her company, holding a vast amount of property, would become Longyin City's biggest "demolition beneficiary". Simply flipping the properties would make a profit far exceeding the earnings of laboring for an entire year.
This guy, who half a month ago had to borrow a hundred thousand from me, now already owned a company with a registered capital of five hundred million.
Turning the world with a flip of his hand, making money as easily as eating and drinking, just by following him, retiring in my thirties isn't a dream!
"Let's just buy this plot of land as well," Yun Shi Yu suggested further. "If the properties on it are ours, then we effectively eliminate demolition costs. The profits after development would be even higher.
Even if we don't develop it, just waiting for its value to increase before reselling could earn us a huge fortune!"
"That's exactly the third thing I wanted to mention and the biggest reason you must invest in Maohe today."
Xiao Ming looked at Yang Hanqing. "The registration for the land auction is closing soon, and by this afternoon at the latest, you'll need to send someone with the credentials to register at the relevant department.
Whether Ruiye Holdings can achieve a grand opening, and whether your 2% share value can immediately exceed twenty million, all depends on this battle!"
As Xiao Ming was discussing grand plans of wealth with the two female shareholders, the receptionist walked into the design department and placed a thermos in front of Jiang Xue.
Jiang Xue opened it, clueless, and immediately a rich aroma wafted out, turning all the heads in the design department toward her.
The receptionist looked around and deliberately said in a volume loud enough for everyone to hear, "Xue, I'm so envious of you! Having such a considerate husband who knows you so well.
If someone made me such delicious chicken soup every day, I would definitely marry him!"
Jiang Xue stood up. "My husband is here? Where is he?"
"He's currently at Mr. Yang's office."
Jiang Xue recalled the scene she witnessed at the restroom entrance that day, her brow furrowed slightly.
They had just returned home that day, and Xiao Ming was only in the restroom for a few minutes. There was nothing substantial he and Yang Hanqing could have done, but there was an uncomfortable knot in her stomach.
Especially recalling the "interaction" at the restroom door and the blush on Yang Hanqing's face.
Her intuition told her that something had happened.
But not knowing exactly what, she couldn't make unfounded accusations.
Seeing her expression, the receptionist's heart skipped a beat, thinking she might have caused trouble, and quickly added, "Right, your husband didn't come alone. He said he was here to discuss business with our Mr. Yang."
"Discuss business? What business can he, a civilian... discuss with Mr. Yang?"
"I wouldn't know about that. Take your time with the drink, Xue, I have to get back to work." The receptionist, fearing another slip of the tongue, dared not linger and hurriedly left.
Jiang Xue glanced at the steaming chicken soup and, considering it wasn't even noon yet and that eating in public wasn't appropriate, decided to cover it back up and take it to the pantry.
After all, with the microwave there, she wasn't worried about it getting cold.
No sooner had she left than a sour voice remarked, "No wonder Jiang Xue can endure tough days with a poor laborer—look how good she is at currying favor!
"That's why I say, men don't need to be capable, as long as they know how to pander."
"Cut it out!" another retorted, "That's her luck. Jiang Xue's kind of foolishness—cough cough, her low expectations in men, make her a rare species, not something you find every day."
"Damn it, I can make soup too, and I can cook and make desserts that are so tasty. How come I end up worse off than some lousy laborer?"
"Look at your ambition, serves you right to be single. I don't envy Jiang Xue at all; I actually pity her. With her looks, even if she can't match a diamond bachelor, finding an ambitious man shouldn't be difficult.
But she let a poor laborer tightly control her, satisfied with the smallest favors, she deserves the hard work.
Women being oppressed by men in society, it's all conditioned by women like her."
"Shut up, will you? Forgot why Minister Feng and Zhou Xialan were fired? Less gossip, more work!"
The room fell quiet, but many were far from having settled their feelings.
As the top beauty of Maohe Architecture, with a husband who was a laborer, it seemed like a swan marrying a frog, or a flower stuck in dung—naturally, some felt sorry while others reveled in schadenfreude.
Only when Xiao Ming appeared before them as the big boss did they realize how clever Jiang Xue's 'foolishness' was and how myopic they had been.
Of course, that's a story for another time.
After discussing details, Yang Hanqing escorted Xiao Ming and Yun Shi Yu out of the office.
At the pantry door, Jiang Xue was hesitating whether to make an excuse to visit Yang Hanqing when she looked up, saw Xiao Ming approaching swiftly, his gaze as loving as ever, and felt instantly much calmer.
"Xue'er, did you drink the chicken soup? Did it suit your taste?"
"I'm not hungry yet, I'll drink it later."
Jiang Xue nodded at Yun Shi Yu and Yang Hanqing behind her, then asked, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, just discussing some business with Mr. Yang."
"You? What business can you possibly discuss?"
"I've told you before, I work at an investment company, you just didn't believe me. Miss Yun is here now, you can ask her, see if I'm lying to you."
Jiang Xue was extremely surprised: "Then... that day at the construction site..."
"That was me buying a batch of sand before the price hike, temporarily stored it there. The truck and location were found by Mr. Yang."
Jiang Xue suddenly remembered that day in the pantry, Yang Hanqing had sworn that Xiao Ming could never be a laborer, yet she had made assumptions and never took it to heart.
Yet... there are already secrets between them that I didn't know about...
Feeling uncomfortable again, she pursed her lips and said, "Sorry, I misunderstood you again."
"No worries," Xiao Ming chuckled, "On the contrary, you not looking down on me because I was a laborer only strengthens my resolve to love you.
Because you are the best wife in the world!"
"Don't say everything that comes to your mind in front of Miss Yun and Mr. Yang."
She rolled her eyes at him, then turned to Yun Shi Yu with an apologetic smile: "Miss Yun, Xiao Ming can be quite inappropriate at times. Since he'll be working under you, please bear with him."
Under my supervision?
Yun Shi Yu's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Jiang Xue's hand warmly, "Then if he doesn't behave in the future, Xue, you'll have to help me manage him."
Jiang Xue nodded: "Absolutely."
"I'm relieved to hear that."
Glancing meaningfully at Xiao Ming, Jiang Xue added, "By the way, we talked about the interior design last time. I've bought the house already, Xue, when do you have time to take a look?"
Hearing this, Xiao Ming thought: Right! I also need to hurry up and buy a place. Can't keep letting my wife live in someone else's house.