Zhao Dong came to Xie Jinghu to borrow money.
Of course, Zhao Dong dressed up his borrowing as an investment.
Zhao Dong had heard that the Rongcheng government was about to issue permits for a large-scale amusement park. Having missed out on “Guose Tianxiang” last time, he couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.
In fact, in 2005, there were all sorts of money-making opportunities. Most businessmen would switch to another path if one didn’t work out, but Zhao Dong’s obsession with building a large amusement park showed his stubbornness.
Zhao Dong and the Xie siblings, Xie Qian and Xie Jinghu, had a brief encounter.
He brought a project proposal to ask Xie Jinghu for money. After much persuasion, Xie Jinghu promised to give it serious consideration.
Jinhu Group had the financial capacity to provide such a large sum.
But Xie Jinghu wasn’t about to lend all the money to Zhao Dong.
Investing was possible, but how much to invest was still under consideration.
With an investment in Rongcheng, he’d have an excuse to go there. Even if he didn’t go himself, sending a trusted aide to handle business was perfectly normal. Even his elder brother couldn’t stop him from investing and making money.
Xie Jinghu thought about the 4% of shares already transferred to Xie Qian’s name and Zou Weijun’s perpetually busy phone line, and decided Zhao Dong’s project was worth investing in.
Of course, with the money in Xie Jinghu’s hands, even without Zhao Dong’s project, there were plenty of other ways to spend it. Just a few days ago, an old friend, Dai Chenglan, had contacted him, inviting him to inspect a factory in the south.
Xie Jinghu knew full well this was another investment pitch.
Even if not for old friendship, he had to give face to his woman, who had never asked for such favors before. Having followed him without any formal status, she had cut ties with most of her old friends. In China, Dai Chenglan was probably the only one she still kept in touch with.
Xie Jinghu had already decided that as long as the issues with Dai Chenglan’s factory weren’t too severe, even if the prospects were mediocre, he’d invest a sum to show support.
Since Dai Chenglan had spoken first, Zhao Dong’s project would have to take a backseat.
Jinhu Group had ample cash flow, but the money wasn’t for Xie Jinghu to spend recklessly. While he was a major shareholder, the company’s fund allocations still had to be justified to the smaller shareholders.
If both Dai Chenglan’s factory and Zhao Dong’s project required investment, Xie Jinghu considered investing in one under the company’s name and the other with his personal funds—conveniently, he had a sum of money sitting idle for too long. Bank interest couldn’t outpace inflation; wealth had to keep growing to increase!
The money was with Zou Weijun.
Thinking of this, Xie Jinghu called Zou Weijun again, but the line was still busy.
He dialed Xie Qian’s number instead. Xie Qian picked up but said he was in Modu and would discuss things back in Beijing.
“Anything else?”
Listen to that rebellious tone!
A father calling his own son had to deal with such attitude—it was outrageous.
“Xie Qian, I know exactly what you’re thinking. You got your mother to buy a house in Modu just to trick your grandmother into handing over her shares!”
…
Xie Qian really didn’t want to take this call.
Xie Jinghu was just that kind of self-righteous person. Years of smooth sailing in business had made him deaf to opposing views.
Xie Qian held the phone slightly away to reduce the noise pollution, then calmly countered, “I’m with Sister Tang. Want to speak to her directly?”
Regardless of why the house was bought, it had already been given to Xie Tang and others.
If Xie Jinghu was unhappy, he could just ask for the house back!
That, of course, was impossible.
Not to mention how Xie Tang’s three nephews and nieces would view him, even his own brother and mother might stop speaking to him. What Xie Jinghu cared about wasn’t the three houses but Xie Qian defying him, challenging his authority!
Interrupted by Xie Qian, Xie Jinghu didn’t get a chance to mention the money with Zou Weijun.
After Xie Qian hung up, he noticed Xie Tang standing a few meters away, pretending not to know who he was talking to. Xie Qian felt a warmth in his heart.
As the younger generation, Xie Tang couldn’t openly criticize Xie Jinghu’s mistakes, but her refusal to engage with him was her way of taking a stand.
“What are you actually doing in Modu?”
Xie Tang and Xie Qian had been in Modu for two days. Xie Tang had not only checked out her own house but also looked at the ones for Xie Qi and the others. The houses were better than she’d expected—not luxurious, but well-located with convenient amenities, ready to move in with just a new bed.
Of course, if they were truly luxurious, her father would never let her accept them. He often said you should enjoy only the blessings that match your contributions. As a university student who hadn’t earned big money or contributed to society, why should she live in a mansion or drive a luxury car?
Xie Qian had gone along to see the houses.
He didn’t seem to care about their appearance but was focused on their prices.
The houses had been bought just half a month ago, and prices had already risen!
Modu’s real estate market was showing signs of a frenzy.
Prices were certain to keep rising, but no one could predict by how much. New developments were selling out the moment they opened, with units priced over ten thousand yuan per square meter snapped up instantly. You’d never know how wealthy Modu’s aunties, who haggled over extra scallions at the market, really were unless you went to a sales office.
It wasn’t just locals buying—funds from nearby cities were pouring in. Private capital was pooling together to snap up new developments, and these speculators were heating up Modu’s housing market even more!
Xie Qian recalled a conversation with his uncle, Xie Yuping, in the study.
Xie Yuping said that when he was a teenager, he took on the burden of supporting the family, as the eldest Xie son should.
Xie Qian didn’t need to bear such a burden; the Xie family’s circumstances were different now. But Xie Qian faced a different situation than Xie Yuping. He could focus solely on his studies, carefree, or step into the adult world early and fight for what he wanted.
“Your mother said she’d buy you a plot of land. I think you should go see it yourself,” Xie Yuping had said.
See what kind of city Modu was, its development plans in recent years, and where to buy land.
Xie Yuping would have people help Xie Qian screen options, but the final decision was Xie Qian’s.
Even if Xie Qian chose poorly and bought a low-value plot, it would be a lesson for him.
Adults and minors alike must take responsibility for their choices. In land transactions involving huge sums, whether Xie Qian was good-looking, whose son or nephew he was, he could still misjudge his first land purchase. That’s the market economy at work, unchanged by who Xie Qian was!
“Xie Qian, I’m talking to you.”
Xie Tang noticed his distraction and called out to him.
Xie Qian teased, “You’ll find out this afternoon, if you don’t go out.”
Xie Tang had been making secretive phone calls the past two days, her face beaming with unconcealed joy. Xie Qian overheard—it sounded like she’d arranged to meet a classmate.
No wonder she insisted on coming to Modu.
Xie Tang’s face flushed, “You said you wouldn’t ask! Ugh, it’s not a big deal, nothing to hide… I got a boyfriend at school. He’s from Modu, and he’s coming to the hotel to meet me this afternoon. Don’t say anything weird when you meet him!”
University romances were relatively pure. Xie Tang’s boyfriend didn’t know her family background. They mostly talked about ideals and the future, not much else.
Xie Tang dressed plainly at school, so the boy thought she was an ordinary girl from Beijing.
She hadn’t told her family about the relationship yet. Xie Qian was the first to know.
She was shy at first but became candid after saying it out loud.
Xie Qian thought it sounded unreliable.
Love might not have much to do with family background—just mutual affection was enough.
But Xie Tang trying to hide it… Xie Qian was amused, “Sister Tang, you’re having him pick you up at this hotel. You think you can keep it a secret?”
This hotel was far beyond a university student’s budget.
Even a middle-class family wouldn’t casually stay here.
“Oh!”
Xie Tang slapped her face—love really does make you dumber.
With her quick decisiveness, she moved her luggage to a more budget-friendly guesthouse before her boyfriend arrived, one that suited a student’s income. Xie Qian followed suit.
When Xie Yuping’s contact arrived at the guesthouse to meet Xie Qian, they were a bit surprised.
Discussing a land deal worth hundreds of millions in such a place—rich people sure had odd quirks.
That’s when Xie Tang learned Xie Qian was in Modu to scout and buy land.
…She’d been intruding!
She felt like she was seeing her cousin in a new light.
Watching Xie Qian pore over a stack of documents like a little adult.
When her boyfriend came to pick her up, Xie Tang left quietly without disturbing Xie Qian.
Her boyfriend had prepared for meeting his future brother-in-law, even imagining scenarios where he’d be grilled. But he didn’t even see Xie Qian. All his mental preparation felt like punching cotton.
“My palms were sweating from nerves,” her boyfriend said, looking at Xie Tang with mock resentment.
Xie Tang laughed it off, “He’s busy today. You’ll meet him another time, for sure.”
It looked like Xie Qian would be in Modu for a few days.
Buying land wasn’t something decided in a day or two.
Xie Qian was handling such a big deal—Xie Tang was in awe of her cousin.
Her boyfriend, oblivious, said, “You coming to Modu out of the blue was such a surprise. How long are you staying? I’ll plan some fun stuff for us.”
Xie Tang smiled, “Wanted to surprise you! Not sure how long yet—depends on when my cousin heads back.”
Sightseeing was secondary; the land deal was the priority.
Xie Tang changed the subject, taking her boyfriend’s arm as they boarded a bus. If she were to settle in Modu in the future, she wanted to explore the city thoroughly.
While the young couple toured Modu, Xie Qian looked up from the pile of documents, his neck sore from hours of reading.
After reviewing so much, he reached one conclusion: Jinhu Group wasn’t rich enough!
Modu’s government was tendering several highly valuable plots this year, but their starting bids were steep, and the final sale prices would likely set records.
We’re talking not just hundreds of millions but likely billions.
Jinhu Group couldn’t afford such a sum.
“Young Master Xie, anything catch your eye?”
The person Xie Yuping sent asked for Xie Qian’s choice. Xie Qian picked out one document, “I want to check this site in person.”
The person took a look.
It was a bankrupt building materials factory.
The factory’s buildings and land were up for sale.
For some reason, Xie Qian had chosen it from the stack of documents. The site was near Hongqiao Airport, with rumors of a train station being built, though the news was unconfirmed.
