Mixed in 1980

Chapter 325 Raising a Daughter
"It's settled then, a tribute to '97!"

Hu Ying agreed and then took Chen Fan on a tour of the various buildings. Apart from Xinghuo No. 1 Building, other office buildings, hotels, shopping centers, and stadiums were all under construction.

Compared to Xinghuo-1, the construction of these buildings is relatively simple. Several office buildings have already been topped out and are expected to be put into use by the end of the year.

Hu Yingxiang gave a brief overview of the development progress: "When do you plan to start selling them?"

"Rent first, then sell. Consider selling after 2000. Not many companies can afford to buy office buildings now, and they can't sell them at a good price."

Chen Fan shook his head, then his eyes suddenly lit up again: "Comrade Lao Hu, we should have more opportunities to cooperate."

Hu Yingxiang looked at him warily.

Cooperation is fine, but this guy always invests heavily when he wants to cooperate. I've poured too much money into this, and now I owe the bank a large loan.

"Comrade Lao Hu, what's with that look? You're making it seem like I'd do something to you."

Chen Fan rolled his eyes before saying, "Xinghuo Real Estate has a huge CBD site in Beijing, Shenzhen, and Shanghai. Shall we continue developing it?"

Hu Yingxiang's lips twitched: "I knew you were up to no good. We've already poured too much money into the projects in Guangzhou, and the return on investment is nowhere in sight. We're broke!"

"The money simply becomes an asset; it doesn't disappear."

Chen Fan touched his nose and teased, "These projects will definitely build Xinghuo No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, each one taller than the last. Aren't you tempted?"

Hu Yingxiang chuckled: "I can handle the design, and I can even give you a 20% discount on the design fee."

"Alright, I'll do it myself."

It was clear that Lao Hu was under a lot of financial pressure, but Chen Fan didn't press him. He took a stroll around the construction site, visited Lao Gu's house the next day, and then spent a few days touring the appliance factory.

As for CBD projects in other cities, they should also be put on the agenda.

In 90, the government had already started developing Lujiazui in Shanghai and Nanshan District in Shenzhen, and had also approached Xinghuo Investment, hoping that their land could be developed.

In Beijing, documents are also being drafted, and development is expected to begin in 93. The authorities also hope that their land will be developed.

"They're going to have to invest heavily again!"

Sitting on the plane back to Beijing, Chen Fan sighed inwardly. He figured he'd be throwing all the money he'd squeezed out of the British into the market.

Xinghuo Real Estate is out of money!

The mainland has always lacked foreign exchange. Xinghuo Real Estate has to distribute dividends every year, so not much money is left in the accounts. This time, Chen Fan and China Construction both invested money in the acquisition of 17 plots of land.

When the plane landed in Beijing, Chen Fan pulled his suitcase out and saw Xu Jinqiu in the distance, holding a child in her arms.

"Dad, hug!"

Yan Yin struggled to get out of her stepmother's arms and ran towards her father. Chen Fan quickly put down his suitcase, bent down and picked up his little girl: "Yan Yin, did you miss your dad?"

The little dumpling nodded.

Xu Jinqiu walked over and opened the handle of her suitcase: "As soon as this girl heard you were coming back, she clung to my leg and insisted on coming with me."

"That's why daughters are so thoughtful."

After kissing his little daughter, Chen Fan walked out and asked, "I've been away for a few days. Is everything alright at home?"

Xu Jinqiu followed, pulling her suitcase: "Nothing could possibly happen at home. Everything's fine. We just bought that last big courtyard house in the alley too."

"No price increase?" Chen Fan asked in surprise.

That last large courtyard was the most unyielding before, and the people in the courtyard were particularly united; no matter how the neighborhood committee tried to persuade them, it was no use.

“They got anxious when we gave up the acquisition. It’s not like they really wanted to live in a tenement. Besides, the conditions we offered weren’t bad.”

"Is there only one left in the alley?"

"Well, there's only one left. That's their ancestral home, so let's not get our hands on it. It's nice to have a neighbor in the alley," Xu Jinqiu teased.

Chen Fan nodded and said, "That makes sense."

After walking to the car, Xu Jinqiu opened the trunk, put the suitcase in, and said, "My eldest sister has already started making arrangements to clean up all the houses."

Chen Fan opened the car door, holding his little daughter as he sat in the back: "It's good to renovate everything while the management isn't strict now, especially the basement, which they definitely won't be allowed to dig in the future."

Xu Jinqiu sat in the driver's seat and started the car: "That's what my older sister thinks too. Let's get the framework sorted out first, and then we can talk about the soft furnishings later." As the car started, she continued, "We plan to renovate the courtyards at both ends of the alley and rent them out. We should be able to rent out four of them."

It's lively at both ends, and it's good to have some popularity.

Just as Chen Fan was about to speak, the little dumpling in his arms nudged him and said, "Second Aunt is a bad person. She keeps talking, and Daddy won't talk to me anymore."

Xu Jinqiu smiled and said, "Little girl, when you're clinging to me, your second aunt is the best. But as soon as your father comes back, your second aunt becomes the bad guy."

The little dumpling turned around shyly and hugged her father.

The car quickly returned to Ya'er Hutong, where construction teams had already arrived, and construction was underway in many courtyards, with everything proceeding in an orderly manner.

Back at Chen Family Villa No. 16, Chen Fan glanced at the neighboring No. 17 courtyard: "Clean this up and use it as a dormitory for the bodyguards. They can stay here when they take turns on duty."

"I'll arrange it later." Xu Jinqiu picked up the little dumpling.

Chen Fan took his suitcase down and had just entered the main courtyard when a group of children surrounded him. He hugged each of them and was pestered by the children to play with him.

Xu Jinqiu stood to the side, smiling, muttering, "She didn't want to have children before, but now she cherishes them so much. People are so fickle."

Zeng Ali walked over carrying her youngest son and overheard the conversation. She couldn't help but laugh: "That's right. When I was pregnant with Yanxi, I was worried that he wouldn't like it."

Just as Yan Xi was talking, the little girl ran over: "Mom, Second Aunt, take me to the basement, I want to get a painting, a big rooster one."

Zeng Ali asked curiously, "What are you going to do with the painting?"

The little girl grinned and said, "I'm learning to draw. My teacher assigned it to me. Grandma said there are a lot of paintings in our basement, and I want to learn how to draw."

“Learning to draw is a good thing; who knows, maybe our family will produce a little artist.”

Xu Jinqiu pinched her eldest daughter's cheek: "Come on, your second aunt will take you to the west courtyard. Take whichever painting you like."

Zeng Ali said irritably, "You just spoil him. A child learning to draw doesn't need famous paintings. Don't let him break them."

"If my daughter is going to learn, she has to learn the best." Xu Jinqiu didn't care and dragged her eldest daughter to the west courtyard. A little while later, she came out carrying several scrolls.

Seeing this, Zeng Ali instructed her daughter, "You can take it to learn, but you can't break it, and you absolutely can't scribble on it, understand?"

"Our daughter isn't stupid."

Xu Jinqiu rolled her eyes at her older sister, then pulled her daughter back into the house and helped her hang up the paintings. They were all rooster paintings, also called "auspicious paintings," since "rooster" sounds like "auspicious."

These are all works by famous artists, including Qi Baishi, Xu Beihong, and Wu Changshuo.

Zeng Ali, holding her youngest son, watched from the side, shaking her head. Her own little girl couldn't even draw a fish properly, what a waste of these famous paintings.

These paintings are very expensive now.

That being said, the paintings were indeed cheap back then, only a few dozen yuan each. Several families got a great deal and stockpiled a large number of works by famous artists.

Wearing her pajamas, Miss Zhao walked over in a daze and looked at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall: "Yan Xi wants to learn to paint? Then find a famous teacher and let her study there."

Zeng Ali shook her head slightly. There's nothing wrong with learning to draw, but you should also observe. Children often only have a three-minute attention span.

But things didn't go as she expected.

Yan Xi drew for several days in a row. Not only did he enjoy drawing, but he also became interested in the countless antiques in the basement and would go there whenever he had free time.

They would take out something every now and then, making Zeng Ali's palms tremble: "Daughter, be careful. If you need anything in the future, ask your dad and mom to help you get it. Don't break it."

Yan Xi said "Oh," and picked up a bottle, asking, "Mom, what kind of vase is this?"

Zeng Ali took the bottle, stammering and unable to explain it clearly. She wasn't interested in these things and had no idea what this was.

"Mom doesn't know either. Ask your dad. He bought them all."

Yan Xi said "Oh" and went to get the bottle again, but Zeng Ali quickly said, "I'll get it. Remember in the future, children shouldn't handle porcelain, it's a pity if it breaks."

He carried the bottle out of the basement and went straight back to the main house in the east courtyard. He put the bottle on the table and said to his daughter, "Ask your dad. He'll definitely know."

As she spoke, she glanced at her husband with a playful expression.

Chen Fan was slightly taken aback. When did I learn these things? This woman is deliberately picking a fight.

P.S.: Second update! Please vote! Thanks for your support!
(End of this chapter)