Chapter 53 This factory demolition matter needs to be handled quickly.
The younger relative Mr. Zhong was entertaining at home was only in her twenties, named Lian Hongrui. She had previously dated Mr. Zhong for a period of time.
That's why Mr. Zhong bypassed Mr. Zhong and Attorney He and went directly to Nie Qingqing, inviting her to his home for dinner. He explained that Lian Hongrui had taken over a project from her family that had been dragging on for more than half a year without any progress. If the project wasn't done well, her family's assets would be lost. Therefore, the safest solution was to cooperate with Yuanda.
Nie Qingqing wasn't stupid; she understood immediately. Lian Hongrui's family had acquired a piece of land, and the planning had been revised for almost half a year, but it still hadn't been finalized.
The inability to start construction meant that funds were tied up. When dividing the family property, this hot potato was given to the youngest daughter, Lian Hongrui. The other siblings didn't want this asset in the mainland, so it was perfect for her.
Lian Hongrui had no experience and didn't know how to develop the land without losing money. An elder, feeling sorry for the girl, gave her some advice, suggesting that she find a reputable and experienced company like Yuanda to cooperate with again, so that she could at least recover the initial cost of acquiring the land.
If she can get the money back, it's her property that can go into her pocket.
Lian Hongrui found Mr. Zhong and explained her purpose. Mr. Zhong was not helping out of personal favor.
Mr. Zhong felt that, from a business perspective, cooperation would be beneficial to Yuanda and would yield substantial profits, so there was no reason not to cooperate.
He weighed the options and decided that finding a son and daughter-in-law was not as good as finding Nie Qingqing.
If Nie Qingqing thinks it's acceptable, she will report to Xianzong and Shunyi in a way that they can accept, as he trusts Nie Qingqing's eloquence.
Mr. Zhong refused to let Nie Qingqing help for nothing, saying, "If Yuanda and Liancheng successfully cooperate, you will be in charge of the project. As for compensation, you can consider the first apartment you own."
...
They'll give you an apartment after a year of work. It's a high-end development, and every single one is very expensive. Plus, she can choose any one of them in the first phase.
Nie Qingqing's heart raced. This was truly a test of human nature. How could anyone resist temptation time and time again? Besides, she had always loved money.
Nie Qingqing looked at the map of the land plot. The earlier the land was acquired, the more controllable the costs would be, and there was indeed a large profit margin.
She said, "With such a good project, I will explain it clearly to Mr. Zhong and Attorney He. However, they will not be back until the tenth of the month. Mr. Zhong, I cannot give an answer right now. Ultimately, whether or not to cooperate is up to them. I am just passing on the message."
Nie Qingqing underestimated her power to influence others. Mr. Zhong was very satisfied with her answer and said, "Okay, then we'll give you an answer on the eleventh day of the first lunar month. Let's not talk about work anymore, let's have dinner."
...
After the meal, Nie Qingqing took her leave. Lian Hongrui stayed a while longer and asked the elders for their opinions: "Uncle Zhong, will Nie Qingqing agree?"
Mr. Zhong said, "Not necessarily. Don't be fooled by her love of money. If Shunyi isn't willing, she won't take the job."
Lian Hongrui didn't care: "I want to cooperate with Yuanda, not her. As long as Yuanda agrees to cooperate, what difference does it make who it is?"
Looking at these young people, Mr. Zhong was filled with emotion. Some truths cannot be understood without experiencing them.
He said, "I want you to get to know her and see her positive attitude. Maybe it will help you let go of many things."
Lian Hongrui didn't take it to heart. She spoke directly and didn't intentionally belittle anyone; that was just her prejudice.
"Isn't she just an ordinary assistant? Divorced, stepmother—she's the kind of person I wouldn't want to be friends with. You speak highly of her; what other good qualities does she have that aren't apparent from her appearance?"
Mr. Zhong laughed heartily and said with satisfaction, "It's good that you can think of these problems. Go and discover them for yourself."
...
As soon as Nie Qingqing got home, she told Song Zhao the news, saying, "If it can be facilitated, that would be great. If Yuanda doesn't accept it, there's nothing to regret. I'll just pretend I never heard the news."
"Aren't you going to try to persuade Attorney He?" Song Zhao said, "This is a good project. I don't think Attorney He will mind. She has had a fiancé before and even set up her cousin with Attorney Xun. Why would she mind Mr. Zhong's ex-girlfriend?"
Nie Qingqing: "It's no use if we say it. Let's wait for Attorney He to come back and see her attitude. No matter what, I'll stand by her side."
...
Attorney He returned on the 10th, which was too late, so Nie Qingqing didn't bother her. On the 11th of the first lunar month, as soon as she and Mr. Zhong arrived at Yuanda Company, Nie Qingqing told them about Liancheng Company's desire to cooperate.
Liancheng Company was renamed after Lian Hongrui received her share of the assets. Mr. Zhong didn't dare to utter a word; he didn't step forward and let his wife decide.
After Nie Qingqing finished speaking, she remained silent.
She always knew that the house she was currently renting had been bought by Attorney He long ago, so that she could live there with peace of mind, and she would never betray Attorney He's trust.
Attorney He was quite surprised that Zhong Xianzong's father didn't contact them directly, but instead had Qingqing act as a go-between. It seemed that there was definitely some connection between them that they were unaware of.
As for his ex-girlfriend, it's really nothing. She doesn't care. Her marriage to Zhong Xianzong was based on mutual benefit, so why would she care about his premarital relationships? It's just that outsiders are overthinking things.
She took it all in stride and was very magnanimous, telling Chung Hsien-tsung, "It's your friend, it's your company, you decide."
...
Attorney He's calm and indifferent attitude was interpreted by Mr. Zhong as jealousy. The calmer the demeanor, the bigger the storm brewing beneath. His wife was clearly quite jealous.
He felt bitter inside. What kind of mess was this? Couldn't he just have a couple of good days?
He refused decisively: "No, we won't do it! Yuanda doesn't make money from this. I'll talk to my dad and make sure Manager Nie isn't put in a difficult position."
Attorney He was baffled by his absurdity. Why wouldn't he take on such a lucrative project?
The competition for land these days is fierce, and the premiums are high. How can we expect higher profits from direct cooperation?
Moreover, Liancheng Company offered Qingqing a high salary: a house. Once the project was completed and Yuanda made money, Qingqing wouldn't need to rent a house anymore.
Attorney He made the decision: "This concerns the company's interests. Let's decide in a meeting."
...
After one round of meetings, the cooperation plan was approved without any doubt. Nie Qingqing was still in charge, Liancheng Company would provide the compensation, and Yuanda would provide an additional payment.
Attorney He said, "Qingqing, you'll have to work hard. As before, I'll give you an annual salary as the person in charge."
Nie Qingqing quickly waved her hand: "How many people are envious? No need. How about our Yuanda Real Estate and Liancheng Company share the cost of this house?"
Mr. Zhong was speechless: "I've never seen anyone refuse money offered to them."
Attorney He understood that Qingqing didn't want to bring criticism to herself, her, or Yuanda. She said, "Qingqing is very thoughtful. Let's do as she says."
I'll make it up to her elsewhere later.
...
The new project is tentatively named Shanshui Renjia. It will be built as a six-story townhouse, with the first and second floors being duplexes with basements and yards, and the fifth and sixth floors being a single unit. The upper units have good views and large front and rear balconies, but what is the selling point of the middle three and four-story duplexes?
The design process was a real headache for Nie Qingqing. She was determined to solve this problem, otherwise why would anyone buy a two-story duplex villa? Even if only one unit didn't sell, it would tie up her capital.
Lian Hongrui, growing impatient during the meeting, said, "Let's just develop it first, and then sell the middle layer at a lower price later."
Nie Qingqing refused: "We've already bought high-end properties, spending roughly the same amount of money. Why should we buy something worse than what others are doing? What are you doing here? We must solve the sales problem before we can start construction."
She was adamant, and people are often forced to act. The designers racked their brains and created a rooftop garden in the middle of the third and fourth-floor duplex. The entrance on the third floor leads directly into the garden, and this large area was even given away as a bonus, so it was a good deal.
Furthermore, by setting the fifth and sixth floors back a bit, the third and fourth-floor duplex villas now have a beautiful, unobstructed large terrace on the fourth floor.
Nie Qingqing was very satisfied with this design. That's right, this way each villa has its own highlights, and then there will be targeted customers who like these highlights to choose from, so there's no need to worry about sales.
After another half month of meticulous refinement, the plan was approved, and an auspicious day was set for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially commence construction.
It's March now, and once we get the pre-sale permit, we can start selling as early as July.
However, this is a high-end project, and Nie Qingqing doesn't want to rush it. With plenty of time, the demonstration area can be further improved. She plans to set the first opening date in September, which is a more suitable time. The peak sales seasons of March and April, and September and October, are more appropriate, allowing for two separate openings.
For products that are expensive, people need to see that they are worth more than their price to make them more marketable.
...
Everything was settled, and Nie Qingqing was overjoyed. She took the finalized floor plan home to show Song Zhao.
On the master plan, she pointed to a building in the middle and dreamed: "As for the building, I'll choose the one with the best view in the middle, but which one should I choose? I feel they're all good, I can't decide."
Song Zhao didn't care: "Whichever one you choose, it's more spacious than where we live now. I'm fine with either one, you have to choose."
Tangyuan: "Mom, let's choose the first floor. It has a big courtyard and is bright and spacious."
Xiao Yuan thinks the middle villas are good: "I think the middle buildings are pretty good. The big entrance garden is a free gift, which is a great deal."
Nie Qingqing was really undecided. She preferred the upper duplex on the fifth or sixth floor, where there were no other houses, good lighting, and it was quiet.
But the first and second floors have a yard and a basement, which is also good. Each has its own advantages. When people have choices, it's hard to choose.
Seeing her hesitation, Song Zhao said, "The project won't open until September, so there's still more than half a year to think about it. There's no rush."
That's true, then let's put it on hold until it's confirmed before the market opens.
...
Once the design was finalized and the project started, there was a mature process. Nie Qingqing added two new contractors to increase competitiveness, and for project supervision, they used Supervisor Lu and his team.
Everything was settled and on track. She would steal a few moments of leisure from her busy schedule and leave early after get off work. Anyway, once she started working, she said she could go anywhere and didn't need to be in the office.
She's really busy when she's busy, but she also takes the time to be lazy. Today, she was already trying to slip away at four o'clock.
Lian Hongrui would come two or three times every five days and leave even earlier than Nie Qingqing. She only arrived at this time today and happened to run into Nie Qingqing who was about to leave. She quickly called out, "Manager Nie, are you going out?"
Nie Qingqing chuckled guiltily, "Yes, I went out to take care of some business."
Lian Hongrui wasn't in the mood to ask where she was going, and directly instructed: "Arrange a job for my nanny's child at the project site."
Another relative of the nanny? Rich people really treat their nannies well, Nie Qingqing couldn't help but laugh.
Lian Hongrui was puzzled by her laughter and asked, "What are you laughing at? Is there a problem?"
Nie Qingqing said, "I remember before, Yuanda cooperated with Zhong Xiujun on Lishui Garden. She also needed to make arrangements for the family members of her nanny. I didn't let her have her way, and she still scolds me to this day."
Lian Hongrui asked, puzzled, "What does this have to do with me?"
Nie Qingqing: "Once you refuse something like this, you can only keep refusing it. Otherwise, Zhong Xiujun will curse me to death. Miss Lian, we agreed before the cooperation that I would make the decisions on the project. These are all stipulated in the agreement. I'm sorry, I can't arrange it."
...
Lian Hongrui was stunned for a long time. How could there be such a worker? No matter how capable she was, she was still working for Liancheng and Yuanda. How could she refuse her boss's request?
Lian Hongrui stood in the project office for a while. People came and went, workers and project managers, but they ignored her, as if she didn't need to curry favor with her, their boss.
She wanted to complain to the boss of Yuanda, but Attorney He didn't like her. So she had to avoid Zhong Xianzong. After thinking it over, she went to Mr. Zhong to complain.
"Is Nie Qingqing really that willful? She doesn't give me any face at all. With someone like her, who will want to hang out with her in the future?"
Some things, she can only understand after experiencing them herself; it's useless to just tell her.
Mr. Zhong laughed and said, "Yes, you and my older sister were both rejected by her. Why don't you go and complain to her?"
...
Lian Hongrui actually went and told Zhong Xiujun what had happened. Zhong Xiujun felt quite pleased. Nie Qingqing really didn't give face to anyone, which was quite fair.
She gave an irrelevant answer: "Reserve a good number for me in your Shanshui Renjia villa complex. Let me tell you, several of my friends who want to buy property in the mainland have their eyes on it, and they can't get multiple numbers, but you have to reserve one for me."
Lian Hongrui was stunned. Didn't Zhong Xiujun have a grudge against Nie Qingqing?
Nie Qingqing abused her son, sending him to a construction site where he suffered for more than half a year. The news had spread to every household she knew. Why was she acting this way now?
She couldn't understand it at all.
Zhong Xiujun felt sorry for the little girl when she saw her puffed up in anger. In the family dispute over the inheritance, she had never fought for anyone and was only given a few scraps.
Although it's a lot for an ordinary person, compared to her family of brothers and sisters, she was the most wronged.
Zhong Xiujun kindly said, "People are all bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. Why is the nanny so good to you among your siblings? It's because you're the easiest to please. You shouldn't be too nice to the nannies; one is enough."
Lian Hongrui was puzzled and asked, "You've been very good to the nanny who's been with you for decades, so why are you saying this?"
Zhong Xiujun was heartbroken. She said, "People change. I bought her a retirement home, but she told people in private that I gave her the worst one and that her decades of sincerity had been wasted. Others complained about her out of jealousy, but I was heartbroken too."
Lian Hongrui remained silent. Was she really wrong to ask for a lucrative job for the nanny's child?
Zhong Xiujun then advised, "Nie Qingqing manages the project very tightly, which is actually protecting your assets. If you think about it that way, you won't be angry anymore."
...
When it came time to finalize the model house and prepare for the design and decoration, Nie Qingqing finally decided that she wanted the corner unit of the first and second floor duplex villa.
After comparing various options, she decided that the building with its large front and back yards was the most practical, and the first and second floors, being used as model homes, would save her money on renovations.
The landscaping of that large basement and front and back yards would have cost a lot of money, but now we can save on that. The more I think about it, the better it seems, so it's decided.
Lian Hongrui was still a little angry. She really didn't have any feelings for Mr. Zhong. Breaking up was a normal thing. It was just that she rarely went to Yuanda to avoid suspicion.
Today's visit to Yuanda was a routine one. I only mentioned one thing to Attorney He:
"Manager Nie used the apartment she selected as a model home, using company funds to renovate her own house. Is that appropriate? Attorney He, what's the difference between you helping her and me helping my housekeeper?"
Attorney He said, "There is still a difference. Nie Qingqing can create value for Yuanda, so the reward she receives is what she earned herself. But you and the nanny only have a relationship, and that relationship is not guaranteed to be genuine. Originally, according to the usual practice, Yuanda was going to give her another annual salary, but she didn't want it. So this renovation was something I offered voluntarily. Do you have any more questions?"
Lian Hongrui was surprised that someone would refuse money. Was Nie Qingqing that kind of person? She really didn't know, and simply said, "No problem."
...
The Shanshui Renjia demonstration area is built strictly according to the blueprints. Customers can visit the area with the blueprints in mind, ensuring the most authentic presentation and eliminating any concerns about discrepancies between the actual product and the provided images in other areas in the future.
The hard decoration of the model room was completed and met the design requirements. Nie Qingqing was very satisfied and brought Tangyuan, Xiaoyuan, and Song Zhao to see it.
Although it is not yet completed, the hard decoration is finished and the initial effect has been shown. Even Song Zhao couldn't help but like it.
“This house is really nice, Qingqing. This time you did the Shanshui Renjia project, and our whole family is benefiting from it. We have a new house to live in.”
Nie Qingqing was overjoyed, because when the handover date came, she would finally receive a house she could move into right away.
Looking at the still bare yard, Tangyuan compared it with the blueprints and said happily, "Mom, when we get the house, I'll make you a swing set to fulfill your childhood dream."
This child actually remembered a casual remark she made some time ago.
...
The Shanshui Renjia project has been advertising in local newspapers to generate buzz, and it's doing quite well, with several groups of guests visiting and registering every day.
That day, Attorney He suddenly called her over, his expression serious: "Qingqing, I have something to tell you."
Nie Qingqing was startled: "Attorney He, what's so serious?"
Attorney He told her to relax: "This is originally none of our business, but I thought about how close you are to Mrs. Qian, and how she even said you're her sister, so I had to tell you."
Nie Qingqing was startled and panicked: "What's wrong with Sister Qian?"
Attorney He asked her to sit down and comforted her, "It's not a big deal. Qian Yurong's husband's sister tried to get two good numbers through connections to buy two adjacent upper-level apartments. She said her parents-in-law would pay for it for the two brothers. Xianzong and I didn't refuse and agreed. I was worried about where the money came from. Maybe I'm overthinking it. Just keep it in mind."
How could Nie Qingqing not understand? Yu Rong's sister-in-law bought a house, saying that her parents-in-law would pay for it, but two duplexes would cost a lot of money. I've never heard of her relatives being so good at making money.
It's hard to say who will get the money when the house is sold in a few years. Hopefully, she's overthinking it.
Nie Qingqing was very worried: "I'll ask Sister Qian when I have the chance."
Attorney He cautioned: "You have to be careful about what you say in other people's business. If you meddle too much, they might not be happy. Just stop when you've said enough."
Nie Qingqing nodded quickly: "I know that."
...
When she got home that evening, she told Song Zhao about her sister-in-law Qian Yurong's in-laws wanting to buy two duplex apartments facing each other.
Nie Qingqing said, "With this connection, you can make money by partnering with anyone. Their family doesn't even need to put up any capital; they can get a cut of the profits from any project they get."
Song Zhao said, "There have been countless similar cases throughout history. Once this kind of thing starts, it's hard to stop. Find some time to go to her house and subtly ask her about it. If you can persuade her, then do so. If you can't, then stay away from her in the future."
That was all there was to it, and Nie Qingqing felt quite sad.
Soon the Dragon Boat Festival arrived. She brought homemade meat-filled rice dumplings and mung bean cakes to Qian Yurong's house and chatted with her: "Do the meat-filled rice dumplings I made still taste the same?"
The meat-filled rice dumplings were delivered hot and cooked. Qian Yurong immediately peeled one and ate it. It still tasted the same as before. She sighed with satisfaction, "Over the years, the only rice dumplings our family has been able to finish are the ones you deliver."
After chatting and laughing for a while, seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Nie Qingqing brought up the Shanshui Renjia project and the model apartment she had been given.
She shouldn't have shown off, for fear of upsetting Sister Qian, but in this situation, she couldn't care less.
How could Qian Yurong not know? In recent years, her mindset has been okay, but her husband has gradually softened and is no longer as inflexible as before. He has started to turn a blind eye to some things.
She said, "Qingqing, I know what you want to say. The two houses my aunt's family wants to buy are indeed earned by their family, but I won't lie to you, why should they help them make money? It's all because of my husband's connections. Fortunately, this time it's all legal and compliant. Our family didn't get any benefit, so we're not afraid."
Nie Qingqing believed everything Qian Yurong said.
She patted the back of her hand to reassure her: "I was worried about you. If you say you're okay, then you're okay. I won't say anything more."
...
The Dragon Boat Festival is over, and the high school entrance exams will be just around the corner.
The two students preparing for the high school entrance exam at home remained calm, while Nie Qingqing was the most anxious. She walked quietly at home and spoke softly, afraid of disturbing their studies.
But sometimes she can't control herself. When she sees something that Tangyuan doesn't like, she gets so anxious that she yells at him, and then she regrets it afterwards.
Tangyuan exaggeratedly patted her chest after being yelled at: "Mom, I was perfectly fine, you're just messing with my mindset, this won't do."
Nie Qingqing regretted it and came up with a solution: "Why don't you and Xiao Yuan stay at Sister Lehan's hotel this weekend?"
Tangyuan couldn't wait to relax in the hotel. She said, "Mom, you said it yourself. I'll go to the hotel after school next week. You don't need to come see me. I'll have food and lodging. There's nothing to worry about."
Xiao Yuan promised, "Aunt Qingqing, I will supervise his review."
Song Zhao felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders. This middle school entrance exam had been more nerve-wracking than his college entrance exam. If this state of mind hadn't ended soon, he would have been even more anxious.
He said, "As long as Tangyuan performs consistently, she should be able to get into high school. The most important thing now is to maintain a stable mindset. Staying in a hotel is fine too."
...
The high school entrance exam was approaching. Early in the morning, Nie Qingqing drove to the hotel to pick up Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan. Song Zhao took leave and accompanied them to the exam venue.
Nie Qingqing suppressed her emotions today and didn't say anything, giving them both a relaxed feeling.
We were almost at the exam venue when we encountered a traffic jam. Fortunately, at her insistence, we left early and still had plenty of time to walk there.
Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan got off the bus but didn't want to leave; they insisted on running. The two boys were tall and had long legs, so they ran very fast.
Nie Qingqing was both relieved and worried. She couldn't help but come down and shout, "Slow down, you still have time. Don't lose anything while running."
Tangyuan waved her hand and said, "I know, Mom, don't worry."
Xiao Yuan turned around, waved, and shouted loudly as if afraid she wouldn't hear him: "Mom, we'll do our best, don't worry."
...
Nie Qingqing's eyes welled up with tears. Xiao Yuan had called her "Mom." She didn't really care what he called her, but she was truly happy to hear him call her that.
Song Zhao put his arm around her shoulder, his voice gentle yet firm: "The police are here to direct traffic, let's go."
Nie Qingqing had no desire to leave, and many parents were also staying.
She asked Song Zhao to drive the car out, but she stayed behind and waited outside the examination hall like many other parents.
It was very hot at the end of June, and she couldn't help but wonder if there were fans in the exam room? Would it be unbearably hot during the exam?
She comforted herself, saying that year after year, every family with a child taking the exam has gone through this process; if other families can do it, so can hers.
...
With half an hour left before the morning session ended, she and Song Zhao returned to the hotel to wait for their children, not wanting to put pressure on them outside the examination hall.
When the children came back, she didn't ask about the details or whether they had made any mistakes; she just let them eat, drink, and rest happily.
The high school entrance exam was finally over, and then came the anxious wait for the results. Nie Qingqing was so worried that she couldn't sleep. Fortunately, both of her children performed well, and they were admitted to the same high school, just as the school had predicted.
Tangyuan excitedly boasted, "Mom, you can rest assured now. If I say I can do it, then I definitely can."
Nie Qingqing was much more excited than him and Xiao Yuan, and she was busy cheering him on: "Mom is very impressed with you. I hope you will continue to work hard and maintain a good attitude throughout your three years of high school. As long as you have worked hard in the high school entrance exam, I will accept whatever the result of the college entrance exam is."
"Okay, with you saying that, I feel no pressure. I will study hard, and the result will depend on how much God gives me."
At this point, it wasn't appropriate to say too much, so Nie Qingqing only said a few words, then stopped, praised Xiao Yuan, and said, "You guys can relax this summer vacation and do whatever you want."
Tangyuan asked for sponsorship: "Mom, Xiaoyuan and I are going to Haishi to find my sister and Brother Kaiyang. How much funding can you give us?"
Nie Qingqing was generous and said, "I know you two have a secret stash of money. I'll give you each another five hundred. Go have some fun."
Tangyuan and Xiaoyuan immediately booked tickets. With the two children gone, Nie Qingqing, who had been worried for so long, could finally relax.
Seeing that the time was right, Song Zhao said to Nie Qingqing, "Qingqing, Director Min is a bit anxious. We need to get this factory demolition done as soon as possible."
Yes, last year Xu Cuilan's family failed to make a fuss, and when it came time to divide the profits at the end of the year, they said they would dismantle the factory after the high school entrance exam.
Nie Qingqing quickly replied, "Sure, you can handle it. Just let me know if you need me to come over."
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