【047】 Trip to the Imperial Capital
Gu Juan didn’t come to the capital to have fun.
After graduation, his primary focus would still be on cultivation. He couldn't possibly work for someone else like the average college student; the flexibility was too limited. Therefore, the best option was to become his own boss. After his last visit to Xianye Farm, he had an idea: to open a flower farm, or rather, a flower base, in the imperial capital. Farmhouses and agritourism, along with other leisure tourism options, have become popular over the past two years, and a flower base would be a good option, offering both flower sales and tourism opportunities. Furthermore, once the base was properly managed, management would require minimal effort on his part, and it would also provide a substantial source of funds for his cultivation.
The place Gu Juan had his eye on wasn't actually the Imperial Capital, but rather the neighboring city of Zhulu City—Jixiang Village. As the saying goes, the Imperial Capital is full of nobles, princes and dukes alike. It's easy to imagine that the power dynamics within the Imperial Capital are complex and intertwined. It would be difficult for an outsider, especially an ordinary one, to interfere in the capital's affairs. Hence, he chose Zhulu City.
The most important factor in his choice of Jixiang Village was its location near the border between the Imperial Capital and Zhulu City. Villagers typically shopped in Huaijin Town, the Imperial Capital, rather than in Lvyun Town, where Jixiang Village was located. This demonstrates Jixiang Village's proximity to the Imperial Capital. The straight-line distance from Jixiang Village to the center of the Imperial City was only about 160 kilometers.
Gu Juan came to the imperial capital just to conduct an on-site inspection in Jixiang Village.
After getting off the plane, he resisted the urge to text Xi Lang, as he knew that he was already at home with his family.
He hired a taxi to go to Jixiang Village. The taxi first went to Huaijin Town, and then from Huaijin Town to Jixiang Village. Gu Juan asked the driver to pick him up in three days.
When he arrived at Jixiang Village, Gu Juan simply told the villagers that he was going out to relax and see the mountains. He spent some money to find a young man named Lan Na in the village to take him around.
Lan Na was a handsome twenty-two-year-old, but perhaps because he was afraid of the cold, he looked a little languid. Even in the dead of winter, he was still hunching his neck in his down jacket. Seeing Gu Juan wearing only a sweater and a coat, he was impressed and kept staring at his coat, wondering if it was made of some high-quality, warm fabric.
The two mountains Gu Juan had his eye on were said to belong to Jixiang Village, but they were actually quite far away. At the foot of the mountains lay a wasteland with a few small trees and some ruins. According to a young man named Lan Na, people used to live here, in mud-brick houses, but those families later moved away as their circumstances improved, and the area gradually became abandoned.
Gu Juan estimated that the wasteland was about two hundred acres, which was enough for him.
The two continued to walk up the mountain, and Gu Juan was surprised to find a large lake on the top of the mountain. This lake was enough to provide water for Huazhuang.
"It's winter now, so there's nothing much to see. The mountain scenery is quite beautiful in spring," Lana said, shaking his head. "Actually, Mr. Gu, please don't laugh at me. I just don't have any money. Otherwise, I would definitely develop our village into a tourist village. We're also close to the capital, which is a great advantage. Why haven't any investors taken a fancy to this place?"
Gu Juan said calmly, "Maybe someone will be interested in it in the future."
Lana shrugged and said nothing.
After the tour, Gu Juan asked Lan Na to take him to see the village chief to ask about the situation of the contract for the back mountain.
The village chief of Jixiang Village was surprised but also delighted to learn that someone wanted to lease the two mountains. He believed that since the mountains were not suitable for growing crops and lacked any scenic beauty, leasing them out would be even better. He enthusiastically promoted the mountains' merits and even enthusiastically offered to personally take his family on a tour, as if fearing they would regret it.
Gu Juan wanted to establish a good relationship with him, so he went to the mountain with him again and settled the matter during their conversation.
The next day, the village chief accompanied Gu Juan to the city to complete all the necessary procedures. Both of them felt relieved.
Gu Juan asked the village chief to keep the news secret for the time being. After returning to the imperial capital, he found a hotel to stay in and searched online for companies that designed flower bases.
…
In the imperial capital's Yangshan Mountain, at the Xi family villa, it was a rare sight for the entire family to be together. Xi Lang had returned yesterday, but Xi Cong, unable to leave due to work, had missed the family gathering. Today, the entire family finally gathered.
Speaking of the Xi family, in the imperial capital, no one, whether they are business families, prominent political figures, or rising stars in the military, does not envy them. The Xi family initially made their fortune thanks to the two elders of the Xi family, Xi Zhongguo and Xi Shunguo. They are brothers. The Xi family rose to prominence under their leadership, but not long after their rise, a secret feud between brothers almost brought the Xi family to a devastating disaster. Because of this incident, the two brothers suddenly woke up and truly understood the truth that "brothers united are stronger than iron." Since then, the Xi family has passed down this saying as an ancestral motto, and does not allow brothers in the Xi family to fight among themselves. If they do, their financial resources will be cut off at the very least, and at the worst, they will be expelled from the family. Since then, the Xi family has united as one and has grown stronger and stronger, and now it has become one of the most well-established and prestigious families in the imperial capital.
Everyone understands the principle that brothers working together can achieve great things, but how many can truly live up to it? Especially in large families, it's not uncommon for brothers to quarrel with each other, and for fathers and sons to kill each other. The Xi family, however, is an exception, a name that inspires both envy and jealousy.
The current patriarch of the Xi family, Xi Houde, was the son of Xi Shunguo. He had two sons and a daughter: Xi Yongchang and Xi Yongming. Xi Yongchang pursued a career in politics, while Xi Yongming pursued a career in business. This wise arrangement elevated the Xi family's status in the imperial capital to a new level.
Xi Yongming married Lin Ronghua, a daughter of the Lin family, and they had two sons, Xi Cong and Xi Lang. Xi Cong was already married to Luo Qingyou, and they had two children: a four-year-old daughter named Xi Minyue, nicknamed Duoduo, and a one-year-old son named Xi Minxuan, nicknamed Doudou. The family of four lived happily together.
Xi Lang will be 28 after the Chinese New Year and is still single.
Comparing the two brothers, Lin Ronghua paid more attention to Xi Lang's personal affairs, even taking her youngest son with her when she went to the kitchen to cook. Although there were servants at home, she would cook for herself whenever she had the time. Perhaps this was the secret to her and Xi Yongming's continued love for so many years.
Xi Cong winked at his wife and followed on tiptoe.
Luo Qingyou tried to pull him but failed.
Xi Yongming glanced at his wife's back, shook his head, and continued reading the newspaper.
Thanks to "Xiao Lanna" and "Luo Qingyou" for providing the supporting character names, muah. If anyone else wants to guest star, please reply in the format below the pinned post on this post. PS: Moumou needs more male characters. (*^__^*)]
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