Chapter 97: Four Acres of Land

Money makes things happen fast. The whole family had only stayed in the hotel for two days before moving into their new home.

With Song Tianming’s affairs settled, Zejian Company resumed its routine of collecting garbage and picking up scrap, and the numbers on the ledger continued to climb daily. Occasionally, when Shen Lian’s crew found something valuable among the refuse, the numbers would jump significantly.

Zhao Zejun even found a few days to accompany his cousin, Zhou Na, around the city.

As he spent more time with her, he realized that the quirks typical of girls from Shanghai—spoiled, showy—were all present in Zhou Na as well. Not that only Shanghai girls had these traits; most young women did. Of course, their virtues were just as evident in Zhou Na: fashionable, beauty-conscious, fond of dressing up, adept at spending money.

He accompanied her on a three-day spree from morning till night, doing just one thing—shopping in malls.

“Brother! I want this!”

“Brother, I want that!”

“Brother, which of those two do you think is better?!”

Zhao Zejun’s head was spinning, and with a wave of his hand, he said, “Buy them all!”

“Forget it, they’re so expensive, and all end-of-season leftovers anyway. It’s better to buy them in Shanghai…”

They circled the malls again and again, but in the end, she barely bought anything. However, Zhao Zejun’s legs were so worn from walking that they felt thinner.

After shopping, she dragged him to get her hair done. These girls always chose the busiest places, clutching fashion magazines, waiting for a seat for hours, never bothered by the wait.

“Brother, do you think I could be a model?” Zhou Na mimicked a pose from a magazine, leaning over the table and arching her hips, throwing a flirtatious glance at Zhao Zejun.

She had a great figure, and Zhao Zejun nearly spat out blood in exasperation. He glared at her, “What respectable girl becomes a model? Sit properly!”

“Such a fossil, stuck in old ways! When I get to university, I’ll take a course in posture! One day I’ll win a national championship, just you wait!”

“Don’t you know that models always have wealthy patrons behind them?”

“Exactly! That’s why I’m asking, how would I do as a model?” Zhou Na patted Zhao Zejun’s shoulder in mock seriousness. “This handsome young man right here—aren’t you a ready-made patron?”

Zhao Zejun felt that if this kept up, whatever edge he had would be worn away by this girl.

“As your brother, I could only sponsor a township-level model at best.”

He tossed her a card, “There’s some money in there. Buy whatever you fancy. If you run into trouble, call Jiang Xuan. I have business to attend to, so I’ll be off.”

“Are you my brother or is he? I’m not calling him—driving around in that old heavy truck, it’s so tacky! Brother, I’m telling you, he’s not my type!” Ever since she’d experienced the ‘200,000 heavy truck’ last time, Zhou Na hadn’t ventured to the construction site again.

“I’m not asking you to get together with him!” Zhao Zejun slapped his forehead. “I really have things to do. Be good, wander around on your own.”

“I want to go to a bar! Come with me!”

“Go by yourself. Hopefully you’ll run into some scoundrel and get taken away, then I’ll have peace!” Zhao Zejun made a quick exit.

He genuinely had important business to deal with.

Last time, Huayang Group had lent him a hand. If Zheng Yuan hadn’t intervened, all the money in Zejian’s account would have been transferred to Song Tianming; once Song Tianming fell, the funds would have been confiscated, and Zejian’s whole relocation effort would have been for nothing.

Though the favor wasn’t huge, their willingness to help was a kindness. Now that things were settled, Zhao Zejun couldn’t simply ignore it.

He arrived at Huayang Group’s two-story building. The row of trucks parked outside had vanished, and workers were moving things out.

“Mr. Zheng, what’s going on? Are you moving?”

Zheng Yuan’s office was in disarray. He was tidying up by the file cabinet.

“Oh, Mr. Zhao, please, have a seat. Xiao Li, tea!” Zheng Yuan turned and saw Zhao Zejun, calling out to the door.

“No need, no need.” Zhao Zejun waved his hand and smiled as he sat. “I came to thank you personally for your help last time.”

Zheng Yuan set aside his work, wiped his hands with a rag, sat across from Zhao Zejun, and offered him a cigarette. “It was nothing, really. But let me congratulate you—our Chairman Wang has heard about it, you fought a brilliant battle!”

“It was luck, a coincidence, nothing more.”

“Yes, yes, let’s not talk about that.” Zheng Yuan lit his cigarette and asked, “Now that Zejian has established itself in Yijiang, what’s next? Are you really going to university?”

Zhao Zejun nodded. “Yijiang is, after all, a small place—weak infrastructure, poor investment climate, scarce talent. I still want to study in Jianwu. One, to improve myself; two, bigger cities offer more opportunities. Zejian will stay in Yijiang for now, but if there’s a chance, I’ll take it to the provincial capital.”

“Good, then we’ll still see each other often.” Zheng Yuan gestured at the messy office. “I’m being transferred to Huayang’s Jianwu headquarters too.”

“Really moving? What about this branch?” Zhao Zejun had been thinking that even if he wasn’t in Yijiang, Zejian and Huayang’s Yijiang branch could still collaborate. If Zheng Yuan left, their relationship would cool.

“The branch is closing, leaving only an office.” Zheng Yuan joked, “An office doesn’t need such a big place. Mr. Zhao, now that Zejian is thriving, why not buy this building from me? I’ll give you the cost price.”

He meant it as a joke, but Zhao Zejun listened with genuine interest.

“Then show me around,” Zhao Zejun replied, half in jest.

“Seriously? Fine, I’ll take you for a tour and give you the details.”

It didn’t take long. The Huayang Group’s two-story office building came with a four-acre unloading and parking lot at the entrance; they finished the tour in minutes.

“What was the land’s zoning when it was approved?” Zhao Zejun asked.

Zheng Yuan smiled. “Definitely industrial. If it were commercial, I wouldn’t sell. The lease was fifty years, and thirty-nine remain. Are you really interested?”

“That depends on the price,” said Zhao Zejun.

In 2002, industrial land was extremely cheap. Huayang’s Yijiang branch had chosen a remote location for ease of transport, nearly on the outskirts. When they bought it years ago, it was wilderness.

Zhao Zejun even suspected that Huayang hardly paid anything for the land back then. Even now, industrial land wasn’t expensive; for a new industrial park, the government would give land to any investor putting in over ten million.

Big companies didn’t throw money away, and even a little is still meat. When it came to business, Zheng Yuan became less easygoing.

Four acres and a barely renovated two-story building, all for five hundred thousand. The main value was the building with over a dozen offices, which was worth more than the land.

“Have you decided what you’ll do with it? Such a big place, just Zejian alone, seems a waste,” Zheng Yuan said.

Zhao Zejun thought for a moment. Sooner or later, the truth would come out; better to be upfront. “I think it’s a good site for a gas station.”

Zheng Yuan shook his head. “A gas station here? It won’t make money. The city has fewer than a thousand taxis, and this is too far from downtown. Why would anyone come all the way out here to refuel? Besides, there’s no provincial or national highway nearby.”

“The city is developing fast. Not many cars or roads now, but who knows about the future? Small cities have their advantages—lots of room to grow,” Zhao Zejun replied.

“That’s a few years off. There are plenty of things you could do with that money,” Zheng Yuan said.

Zhao Zejun waved his hand and said sincerely, “Mr. Zheng, you helped me out last time, and I’ve been thinking about how to thank you. I know Huayang isn’t short on cash, so buying this land is my way of showing gratitude. If it really prospers, I’ll profit; if not, I’ll use it as Zejian’s office—no loss either way.”

Zheng Yuan looked at Zhao Zejun in surprise and laughed. “You, so young, yet so shrewd. Well, then, we’ll meet again in the provincial capital!”