32: Large projects

She watched as Chen Qiu's horch drove away.

Only then did Xu Jia turn and walk back into the bank building.

Not far away, He Ting was leaning against a pillar, arms crossed, staring at her coldly.

Xu Jia walked straight past without looking aside and returned to the office.

"Stop acting so high and mighty!"

Completely ignored, He Ting cursed under her breath.

What she despised most was Xu Jia's aloof and "pure white lotus" act.

As if she were the only clean person in the whole world.

Making everyone else look like money-grubbers and philistines!

"Does she really think she's some kind of pure goddess?"

He Ting, clicking her high heels and swaying her hips, returned to the office a moment later.

She sat back down at her workstation.

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, but just enough for the entire office to hear.

"Hey, did you guys know? The city is planning to develop a Cultural Industry Park soon."

These words were intentionally directed at the two male colleagues.

Relationship Managers in Private Banking like them all had their own information channels.

Recently, they had indeed noticed many Private Banking clients bustling about for this park.

"I've heard about it."

Brother Ma pushed up his glasses.

"I heard the total investment is over a billion yuan?"

"Yeah."

Brother Zeng also chimed in.

"It's been a long time since a third-tier city like ours has seen such a big move."

"This is definitely one of the city's key projects lately."

"You guys might not know this."

He Ting raised her chin slightly and said mysteriously.

"The city values this project highly and wants it implemented quickly."

"Bidding for various infrastructure parts has just begun."

"They say no advance funding is required!"

As soon as she finished speaking.

Both Brother Ma and Brother Zeng were startled.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

"No advance funding?"

"He Ting, is your information for real?!"

It was well known that real estate projects these days were extremely dismal.

Major construction companies were all suffering.

Not to mention small enterprises; they had to stretch out their work for fear of running out of it.

The most obvious sign was.

Even the business KTVs and foot massage parlors were going out of business as a result.

In this kind of market.

Projects requiring the contractor to provide advance funding were countless.

Even some government projects had begun demanding full advance funding!

Before any money was earned.

The money in one's own pocket was emptied first!

After the project was finished, let alone making a profit.

Whether the advanced funds could even be recovered was still up in the air!

Therefore.

A project that didn't require advance funding, or might even be fully funded upfront, was an absolute goldmine!

Not to mention, this wasn't just some small project!

"Won't people be fighting tooth and nail for it?" Brother Ma remarked.

"Exactly." He Ting smiled triumphantly.

"Countless people are looking for a piece of the pie right now."

"Mr. Li was even complaining to me at lunch today that he can't keep up with all the social invitations!"

"Mr. Li?"

Brother Ma and Brother Zeng exchanged another glance.

Their expressions were a bit awkward.

They instinctively glanced at Xu Jia, who was working quietly in the corner.

Everyone knew.

This Mr. Li, who had lunch with He Ting.

Used to be Xu Jia's client.

But they hadn't expected.

From what He Ting was saying, this Mr. Li was actually involved in the Cultural Industry Park project?

"It seems... Mr. Li is quite something," Brother Ma said dryly.

"You bet."

The corners of He Ting's mouth curled up slightly.

"He's currently holding project resources worth hundreds of millions."

"Nowadays, if you want to have a meal with Mr. Li, you have to wait in a long line!"

Her eyes casually swept over Xu Jia's profile.

Her face was full of smugness.

Stealing Mr. Li away from Xu Jia was her most proud achievement!

Bank performance and such didn't matter.

The most important thing was that it gave her access to someone like Mr. Li!

Next.

As long as her father could get a few small projects from Mr. Li.

Her family's income would see a qualitative leap compared to before!

"If you don't know how to use your own resources."

"In the end, you'll be stuck at the bottom for your whole life!"

Looking at Xu Jia's calm profile, He Ting sneered in her heart.

Sitting in the same office.

Xu Jia naturally overheard their conversation without missing a word.

Surprisingly.

When she heard He Ting's obvious boasting intended for her ears.

There wasn't much of an emotional ripple in her heart!

Wait... Cultural Industry Park?

If Xu Jia remembered correctly.

Two days ago, when her sister was complaining about her internship during the break, she seemed... to have mentioned this project quite a bit?

After finishing work in the evening.

Xu Jia drove her Wuling MINI back home.

She called her sister, Xu Yi.

"Hello, Yiyi, are you off work yet?"

"Sis... I just got back to the dorm..."

A pleasant voice came from the phone.

But it sounded a bit tired!

Yes, it was that exhausted office worker vibe Xu Jia knew so well!

"What's up, Sis?"

"I wanted to ask you something, about your internship..."

Xu Jia asked.

As soon as this was mentioned.

Xu Yi's chatterbox opened instantly.

She was full of complaints.

"Sis! Why am I so unlucky!"

"Everything was fine with my internship, then suddenly I was transferred to work like a beast of burden!"

"I can handle being a workhorse..."

"But you have no idea, our new boss..."

Luo Jinglan wanted to keep her son as low-profile as possible.

That's why she strictly forbade Chen Zhide and Luo Yu from spreading the word.

But she never imagined.

There was no need for anyone else to spread the word.

When Chen Qiu drove that brand-new Audi Horch onto the concrete pad in front of their house.

The neighbors instantly went into an uproar!

That flashy Xiaomi SU7.

These middle-aged women didn't really recognize it.

But those four circles!

Those were household knowledge!

"Oh my, Jinglan! Qiu-zi drive another Audi home?"

"And it's a new car! Did he buy it, or was it a gift?"

"This car... it must cost three or four hundred thousand yuan, right?"

Several women were chattering around the car.

An uncle smoking nearby gave a direct sneer.

"Three or four hundred thousand?"

"You can't buy it for that!"

"I'd say this car is an audi a8! It must be at least six or seven hundred thousand!"

He smacked his lips and stated a figure that stunned the neighborhood Aunts.

*Hiss!*

Seven or eight hundred thousand?!

Isn't that the price of a whole house?!

Everyone gasped in unison.

Then.

They saw Chen Qiu step out of the car, carrying several LV bags from the trunk.

A sharp-eyed Aunt exclaimed again.

"Are those LV clothes?"

"Wouldn't that be... tens of thousands of yuan per outfit?"

Another collective gasp.

The surrounding temperature even warmed up a bit!

Luo Jinglan quickly pulled Chen Qiu into the house.

Leaving Chen Zhide alone outside to enjoy the neighbors' constant flattery.

"Sigh, we can't hide it anymore!"

Luo Jinglan looked a bit distressed.

Chen Qiu didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Mom, how could we even hide this?"

"Besides, aren't we planning to move before the Lunar New Year?"

"Whatever they say then won't bother you!"

Luo Jinglan thought about it and agreed.

Her son had become successful; why should she care about anyone else?

"By the way."

She suddenly remembered.

"Who was that girl who came to pick you up in that little pink car this morning?"

Luo Jinglan asked curiously.

"My junior high school classmate."

"Xu Jia from the neighboring village. You've met her before!"

"Oh, it's her!"

As soon as Chen Qiu mentioned the name.

A blurry image immediately appeared in Luo Jinglan's mind.

"I remember you two used to hang out quite a bit in junior high..."

She asked tentatively.

"How are things now?"

"Just like in junior high!" Chen Qiu said casually.

"What do you mean 'just like in junior high'?"

Luo Jinglan was dissatisfied and laid her cards on the table.

"That girl Xu Jia, I remember her having a very good personality."

"She's pretty, too, and from the neighboring village, so we know her background."

"Mom supports you! Go and win her over!"

Chen Qiu was helpless.

"Mom."

"If I could just 'win her over' like that."

"Would I still need to go on a blind date tomorrow?"

"I think she actually has a good impression of you!"

Luo Jinglan curled her lip.

She didn't press further.

Instead, she began to instruct her son on the arrangements for tomorrow's blind date!