Chapter 603: The Qin Family and the Feng Family

“Is it a family matter?” is a philosophical question that Qin Zhihuan pondered for a long time, feeling that answering this required extreme caution.

“Yo, airplane.”

“?”

Pointing outside the window, Qin Zhihuan diverted the other person’s attention and then quietly left the office.

He Yijun stood still for a long time, feeling a tingling sensation on his scalp that was long forgotten.

This sensation was something he hadn’t felt in a while.

Since Wanzhong Group transitioned from mall operations to commercial real estate, he had been working in Shanghai, far from his problematic neighbor Jiang Qin, which reduced his psychological shadows.

The last time he felt this tingling was after confirming the architectural plans for the Group-Buy Industrial Park when he and Jiang Qin visited the site and saw him staring at the steel bars with gleaming eyes.

That tingling was mild, but this time it was intense.

The more General He thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, so he took out his phone to clarify things with Jiang Qin.

Feng Nanshu’s cold had already cleared up—so quickly that she missed the much-anticipated spanking, but Jiang Qin had taken her out for hot pot.

A new hot pot restaurant had opened near the school, reportedly with good flavors.

The restaurant owner, having learned of a rapidly developing business channel, directly gifted a preloaded membership card not to Jiang Qin, but to Feng Nanshu.

Whoever managed this knew at least two key points.

First, Feng Nanshu is Jiang Qin’s weak spot.

Second, Feng Nanshu loves hot pot.

It turned out taking the right approach is crucial; Jiang Qin indeed brought her, and then the restaurant owner expressed his desire to join the business group, open stores nationwide, reach the pinnacle of life, and marry a rich and beautiful woman.

Initially, Jiang Qin did not agree because the Linchuan Business Group already had two hot pot brands, River Hotpot for upscale service and inexpensive and friendly Jia Jiu, and they had no plans to support another.

Especially within the same strategic framework, it becomes difficult to manage when there are too many competing brands.

Seeing his hesitation, the owner didn’t ask directly but turned to Feng Nanshu: “Mrs. Jiang, do you like our hot pot?”

“Delicious!”

Hearing herself addressed as Mrs. Jiang, Feng Nanshu would have praised the food regardless, but it genuinely was delicious.

Jiang Qin sighed and handed him Wei Lanlan’s phone number.

Some people have been around him for four years, yelling about starting a business and making a fortune, but they never took the right path.

Others he had never met, but they stepped onto the path of success with a single stride…

As Jiang Qin was reflecting, he suddenly saw He Yijun’s call coming in and answered.

“Jiang Qin, tell me the truth. Are you and Qin Zhihuan relatives?”

“What relatives?”

He Yijun repeated the afternoon’s conversation about “family matters” to Jiang Qin, causing a moment of silence.

Not good, Old He is catching on.

“No, not relatives, no relation whatsoever.”

As Jiang Qin spoke, he fed a fish ball to “Qin Zhihuan’s relative.”

But He Yijun was still suspicious: “I don’t believe you. Swear it.”

“I swear, right now Qin Zhihuan and I are absolutely not relatives. We are just business partners, no other connection. Otherwise, I won’t make any money.”

Hearing this, He Yijun was reassured enough to let his guard down.

But he didn’t know that at the moment Jiang Qin swore, “Qin Zhihuan’s relative” had bitten the fish ball in half and fed the other half to a dog, his eyes full of reliance on Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin swallowed the fish ball and then spoke, “Old He, think about it. How long have I known Qin Zhihuan? And how long have I known you? If anyone’s really relatives here, it’s us. Qin is an outsider in my eyes, like a friend of a friend’s cousin. You get it?”

He Yijun was instantly happy: “Got it, very distant, not even close.”

“Exactly, so Old He, lay your worries to rest and focus on good work. Together, brothers, we’ll make Wanzhong the leading force in commercial real estate!”

“Of course.”

“Oh, by the way, I’ll be in Shanghai for a business meeting in a couple of days. I’ll come visit you.”

“No need to come, everything’s fine here, no worries!”

He Yijun quickly hung up, leaving behind only the dial tone.

That’s settled, might as well work overtime. Time to clear out the emails!

Old He brewed a cup of hot tea and sat squarely in the chair only the boss is entitled to sit in, working furiously.

Jiang Qin put away his phone, smacking his lips, his conscience quite clear.

He really wasn’t lying—they were not relatives. Moreover, the cooperation with Qin Jingqiu was initiated by Old He. That’s none of his business.

“What relatives?”

Feng Nanshu noticed Jiang Qin zoning out and couldn’t help but ask.

Jiang Qin snapped back to reality: “Someone was worried our friendship was evolving again. They specifically called to ask, so I reassured them that our friendship remains pure and flawless.”

The “little rich girl” immediately narrowed her eyes and mentally categorized the nearly bald He Yijun on the phone as a super ultimate villain.

Seeing her cute expression, Jiang Qin reached out and pinched her cheek.

Just then, the internal housing price list arranged by Qin Zhihuan arrived in Jiang Qin’s hands.

Jiang Qin had just been wondering how He Yijun figured it out. Seeing this list, he probably guessed it when Qin Zhihuan was preparing it.

Old He must have been surprised and asked if he was crazy, saying they were like family…

Old He’s downfall was not having an anti-fraud app on his phone.

Jiang Qin casually sent the housing list to Dong Wenhao for drafting an internal housing announcement, which was distributed to employees’ emails through the management system.

This batch of housing had twenty-eight units, located around the Wanzhong Mall, very close to the headquarters building that Group-Buy was constructing.

Employees who met the tenure requirements, had an urgent need to purchase a home, and were willing to dedicate their lives to Group-Buy could submit an application.

Additionally, Jiang Qin emphasized that those who did not meet the criteria should not worry—this was just the beginning.

“Wow, boss’s salary recovery plan is getting more outrageous.”

Ma Yubao couldn’t help but whisper in Yang Shuai’s ear: “Brother, we can’t fall for the boss’s trap.”

Yang Shuai glanced at him: “Weren’t you the first to submit an application?”

“How did you know?”

“Sister Lanlan asked me to help with the statistics. I just saw your form. Ma Yubao, playing tricks with your brother, huh?”

Ma Yubao narrowed his eyes: “I was worried there might be a catch, just going through the motions for you.”

Yang Shuai grabbed his neck: “It’s less than half the price. I’d wade through much more for such a deal!”

Domestic housing prices had soared like springtime, particularly fierce. In Shanghai, the average housing price had reached 30,000 per square meter, and the area for Group-Buy’s internal housing was even pricier at 50,000 per square meter, continually rising.

But Group-Buy’s internal housing was only 15,000 per square meter—who could resist?

The Shanghai division head Xu Kaixuan, formerly a ground promoter, had shared his dream of buying a home in Shanghai when he first met Jiang Qin.

He and his wife had been working and living in rented homes in Shanghai, longing to own a small place in the city.

Jiang Qin always remembered this, so he reserved one housing spot for him.

After finishing the hot pot meal and surveying more potential sites with Feng Nanshu, Jiang Qin received a call from Xu Kaixuan.

“Boss, thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I wasn’t joking when I said I’d help you get a house. Oh, by the way, do you have enough money?”

Xu Kaixuan pursed his lips: “I wanted a bigger place. I’m a bit short, but my parents said they’d cover it.”

Jiang Qin fell silent: “Don’t ask your parents. If you ask them if they have the money, even if they don’t, they’ll claim they do and then struggle to come up with it. That’s not good. Family isn’t about having a house—it’s about the people.”

“Especially since you’ve got to think about kids later on.”

“Then borrow from someone rich nearby instead of burdening your parents.”

Xu Kaixuan was silent for a moment: “Boss, do you have money?”

“…”

After hanging up, Jiang Qin had Wen Jinrui transfer the funds to Xu Kaixuan. He then packed his bags in the dormitory and called He Yijun again.

The plan was to arrive in Shanghai at noon today, visit some relatives for lunch, and then meet him for drinks in the evening.

He Yijun agreed verbally while his gaze swept his office desk, locking up valuables in a cabinet before feeling secure.

Just then, Qin Zhihuan passed by his office door and tossed him an apple: “Old He, I’m leaving early today.”

“Got it, but come earlier in the afternoon. We’ve got an important meeting in the Investment Attraction Department. The project in Shanghai is starting, and I need to go ahead with the merchant invites.”

“Can it be postponed? I’ve got something in the afternoon.”

He Yijun stood up and walked to the door: “You really should be there. Some things need your decision. You know how crucial attracting merchants is for our mall.”

Qin Zhihuan looked troubled: “That’s tough, General He. I have relatives visiting, and I’m supposed to have lunch with them.”

“?”

He Yijun squinted his eyes, his right eyelid twitching uncontrollably.

Jiang Qin was visiting Shanghai today, skipping meetings to dine with distant relatives.

Qin Zhihuan felt uneasy under his stare: “What are you looking at me like that for?”

He Yijun looped an arm around his shoulder: “What kind of relative? Important?”

Qin Zhihuan hesitated: “Not an important relative, just from my aunt’s side. She asked me to join her for a drink, haha.”

“I’m very interested in this relative of yours. Can I come along?”

“General He, why are you acting like a child? Chasing after relatives—I’ll bring you a big chicken leg when I come back.”

He Yijun, sensing something odd in his demeanor, was adamant: “I don’t care, I’m tagging along to meet this relative today!”