Xie Sui’s plan was clear: the land for the factory and the investment were all his money. The commercial building and residential blocks, which had commercial attributes, would be a collaboration with others.
A small county town wouldn't yield much profit, perhaps a few tens of millions at most per year, which wasn't significant to them. This was just a small pilot project in the county. If it proved successful, they would then seek out larger cities to operate in.
Meanwhile, Du Yujie, accompanied by two bodyguards who were true mercenaries, skilled and ruthless, having taken lives, cornered Yan Xiaoliang. These weren’t mere thugs like Yan Xiaoliang.
Yan Xiaoliang was terrified. "Miss Du, what do you want?"
"What do I want? A bug like you dares to extort money from me. Do I look that foolish?"
"No, no, I'll return the money to you. I haven't touched a single cent. Miss Du, it's all a misunderstanding. I didn't intend to extort you."
Du Yujie's face suddenly turned cold. "Do you think I care about a few million? It's yours if I give it to you. I'm just unhappy. If you can make me happy, we can talk about this. I can give you a few more million; consider it payment for making me happy."
Back in her country, she would pay millions for escorts, and it was nothing.
Yan Xiaoliang didn't realize she was so open about her affairs. He thought she wanted him to entertain her, but he dared not accept her money. He truly regretted it. Women from Hong Kong were truly trouble.
"This is disappointing. Forget it. Break his leg and let's go."
"Yes, miss."
Yan Xiaoliang was terrified. "No, please don't break my leg, Miss Du! I, I'll tell you a secret. Will you spare me?"
"What secret? Only if I'm interested."
"It's about Xie Sui."
Du Yujie's eyes lit up. "That's something. Xie Sui is from this area. Does he have any weaknesses? Any secrets? Tell me everything, and I'll reward you with more money. I won't mistreat you if you work for me."
"No, I won't work for you. I only beg you to spare me. I promise I won't get involved in your affairs anymore."
Du Yujie lost interest. "Coward. What are you afraid of him for?"
He was afraid of everyone and couldn't afford to offend anyone. Yan Xiaoliang cowered and whispered, "I heard his sister-in-law say that Xie Sui's previous two children might not be his."
"Oh, that's interesting. Tell me more. His wife seems so upright, yet she's not a good person!"
Du Yujie became intrigued. Yan Xiaoliang breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Shishi had mentioned it casually, and he had remembered it. Seeing Du Yujie's keen interest in Xie Sui, he decided to try his luck, and it had actually worked.
"It's like this..."
After Yan Xiaoliang finished speaking, Du Yujie laughed. "Is that so? Then this woman is quite unlucky. Alright, you can go. Remember, not all money is easy to get."
"I remember. Thank you, Miss Du. Whatever you two fight over has nothing to do with me."
Xie Sui was unaware that Yan Xiaoliang dared to betray him. He didn't think of exposing this matter as offending Xie Sui because he didn't dare to provoke Du Yujie. Perhaps, in his heart, he felt Xie Sui was less terrifying than Du Yujie.
...
Lin Wanwan, with nothing else to do, went to pick up her children from school. It was only a few hundred meters away, so she didn't think much of it, considering it a stroll.
Xie Sui was returning late today; he had to discuss real estate matters with them.
However, when she reached the school gate, she saw Du Yujie there, chatting with the school security guard.
Lin Wanwan paid her no mind and didn't greet her. Xie Sui didn't even like this woman; she was definitely not a good person.
*Ding ling.*
The dismissal bell rang, and the children rushed out. This was not later on; parents and grandparents would come to pick them up. They ran home themselves. There weren't many cars on the road, so it was quite safe.
Lin Wanwan stayed a distance away, worried about being bumped by the children. Doudou and Dingding spotted her from afar. "Mommy, Mommy, why are you here? Didn't Daddy tell you to rest at home and not come out?"
Lin Wanwan gently stroked their little faces. "Mommy is fine. I was bored, so I came to pick you up."
"Alright then, Mommy. We'll support you. Be careful."
"Okay, Mom isn't that fragile. Walking a bit is fine."
The three of them, walking home, exuded happiness. A trace of maliciousness flickered in Du Yujie's eyes. Happiness should be destroyed. What she couldn't have, why should a village woman possess?
Following them to the Xie residence, it seemed fate was on her side; Xie Sui was not there.
"Mrs. Xie, why isn't your husband looking after you?"
Without waiting for an invitation, Du Yujie strolled in, looking down at them condescendingly.
Lin Wanwan sat in her chair, not rising, and said warily, "My husband will be back soon. He's going to cook for me. What business do you have?"
Du Yujie glanced at the two children and said with a half-smile, "Your children are so cute!"
"Is there something you need, Miss Du? It's not convenient for me to entertain you here. Perhaps I can ask Xie Sui to find you when he returns?"
Lin Wanwan had a bad feeling and didn't want to be with her. This woman seemed a bit sickly.
Du Yujie burst into laughter. "Are you afraid of me? I won't eat you. What are you afraid of? Xie Sui is truly the most magnanimous person I've ever met. He's so good to you, even if he can't be sure if these two children are his. He's such a pure man. How did you, of all people, find such a good man? What virtue do you possess to deserve him?"
Lin Wanwan's face suddenly turned deathly pale. She stared at Du Yujie coldly. Du Yujie felt a pang of guilt. "What are you looking at? Am I wrong? Don't think your little secrets are unknown to everyone."
Lin Wanwan was not angry but calm. "So what if you know? Are you, Miss from Hong Kong, so ignorant? What era are we in? Do women without chastity still have to die? The Qing Dynasty has long fallen. Miss Du should learn to keep up with the times."
Du Yujie hadn't expected her to be so calm. She felt no sense of accomplishment. "Indeed, the shameless can conquer the world. You've caught hold of this good man, Xie Sui, so you cling to him shamelessly, don't you? You are truly formidable. I admit defeat."
"What are you doing?"
Xie Sui returned, carrying a piece of meat, some eggs, and vegetables he had just bought from the supply and marketing cooperative, preparing to cook for Lin Wanwan.
Upon entering and seeing Du Yujie, Xie Sui became immediately wary, sensing she was up to no good.
Lin Wanwan said, "Nothing. Miss Du was just chatting with me. Didn't you invite any friends to have dinner with you?"
"They're eating at the state-run restaurant. I'm not a nanny who cooks for them all the time. Miss Du, you should be going back too. Your brother is looking for you. You probably can't get used to living in a poor place like this county town. Go back soon, why waste your time here?"
Du Yujie looked disappointed. "Alright then. If you advise me, I'll listen. I'm planning to go back tomorrow. Xie Sui, the more I get to know you, the more I can't bear to let go. Your wife is very fortunate to have met you so early. I wish you happiness."
Lin Wanwan replied, "Thank you, this is our destiny. Miss Du, if you can't let go, you will only cause yourself pain. Things that do not belong to you, no matter how much you scheme, will still not belong to you."