Chapter 95

 

When Ming Xi, filled with apprehension, voiced her worries, Liang Jiancheng couldn’t help but glance sideways, equally filled with fear, looking at Miss Ming in the passenger seat.

While the order delay was a problem worth considering, wasn’t Miss Ming’s line of thinking a bit too business-oriented?

Otherwise…

Ming Xi had made up her mind. She picked up her phone, intending to send Zhang Xia a text message to explain things clearly, making sure their relationship wouldn’t be strained because of today’s incident.

The factory was currently booming, with no shortage of orders. If Zhang Xia made things difficult for her because of personal feelings, finding some excuse to delay delivery, it would affect her reputation with customers, and consequently jeopardize her future business!

Liang Jiancheng pursed his lips, confirming again: “…So, Miss Ming, are you only worried about business issues?” ”

Of course!

Ming Xi raised a brow slightly. She understood perfectly what he was implying. She looked back at him frankly and replied with righteous clarity: “I’ve always known Zhang Xia likes me. I just didn’t know she liked me from a ‘heterosexual’ perspective. I don’t care whether she feels psychologically male or female. As long as her ID says female, she’s female—

If a woman likes me, what’s the problem? Let her like me. What do I have to worry about? Men can assault women—can women? President Liang, you don’t need to worry so much either. Instead of worrying about whether I’ll come out of the closet, why not worry about my containers, hmm?”

“…”

“If a supplier liking me could guarantee smooth cooperation every time, I’d hope every supplier had a good impression of me.”

From beginning to end, after learning about Zhang Xia’s sexual orientation, Ming Xi showed no surprise whatsoever, but instead faced Boss Liang with a generous and objective attitude.

Finally, she asked with conviction, “Isn’t my personal charm also one of my competitive advantages?”

Liang Jiancheng paused for a moment, then said, “Miss Ming, I have some doubts about what you said, but I can’t think of a rebuttal for now.”

Compared to her thinking, perhaps he was the one being overly traditional.

Ming Xi’s lips curved into a sly smile as she delivered the finishing touch. “Because if Mr. Liang refutes it, he’ll realize he has no standing to.”

At noon, under the clear spring sunlight, the car drove along Yuexi National Highway. Both wore sunglasses—broad, dark lenses that accentuated the clean lines of their brows, noses, and jaws.

Ming Xi reiterated her thoughts:

In business, one shouldn’t be bound by rigid forms. Nor should relationships between people be. As long as there was mutual benefit, it was a good relationship. One could be friends, even lovers. One could be competitors and still partners.

For example, her relationship with Liang Jiancheng, though romantic, was more like a friendship.

Liang Jiancheng blinked, pondered, blinked again, and continued to think deeply…

“Miss Ming is absolutely right.” Liang Jiancheng nodded in approval, speaking sincerely.

Ming Xi shook her head lightly, neither confirming nor denying, then teased, “Mr. Liang, you say Zhang Xia is jealous of you. But in my view, it’s clearly you who’s jealous. If you weren’t, you—who are always so magnanimous—wouldn’t be saying all this.”

Boss Ming, please stop putting such a tall hat on him.

Liang Jiancheng couldn’t help but chuckle. For a moment, guilt, pleasure, helplessness, and a tangle of other emotions crowded into his jealousy-tinged heart. But no matter what, joy was always the underlying tone of their conversations.

How utterly dull his life would be if he never talked to Miss Ming again!

Of course…because Miss Ming felt the same way!

Earlier, during their social gathering on the lawn at Yueshan Golf Course, Liang Jiancheng had casually mentioned the recent DG order. Ming Xi was no longer upset about that DG deal. In front of Director He and the others, she had only pretended to complain. Their many years of friendship had built an exceptionally solid foundation of trust between her and Liang Jiancheng.

Then, before leaving the mountain, she and Liang Jiancheng had a light meal at the Yuexi Golf Course.

After learning about her idea of building a factory, Director He gave her an enormous favor: if she truly went ahead with it in the future, Tianjian’s profit margin on her project would not exceed 7%.

Ming Xi worked in foreign trade and wasn’t very familiar with the construction industry, but she understood the basic industry norms. For a labor-only construction project, profit margins were typically at least 15%. For specialized projects, profits could exceed 30%. So for Director He to cap it at 7% was already exceptionally generous and conscientious.

Director He was indeed as Liang Jiancheng had described—wealthy, yet very down-to-earth and sincere.

Around noon, the car smoothly drove into Tianxi No. 1 and parked in the underground garage.

Ming Xi didn’t go back to her own place but went to Liang Jiancheng’s place.

This morning, she and Liang Jiancheng got up at 4:30 to leave for Yuexi. Even though she was full of energy and Liang Jiancheng had superhuman stamina, the moment she lay down on his bed, her eyelids drooped uncontrollably.

For some reason, compared to her own bed, she seemed more fond of “occupying the magpie’s nest” at Liang Jiancheng’s place.

And so Liang Jiancheng joined Miss Ming for an afternoon nap.

The bedroom curtains were thick and drawn tightly, completely blocking out light.

When they woke up, both of their phones were outside, so there were no calls to disturb them. Their minds were still in that hazy state of awakening, free from the pressures and dilemmas of corporate development… and their bodies woke even faster than their minds.

The lovemaking that followed, naturally unfolding in the bright afternoon, was bold and unrestrained.

Throughout, Ming Xi’s body responded in a daze—at times swaying on the verge of collapse, at times surging with passion.

The more varied her reactions, the more patient Liang Jiancheng became.

His body pressed against hers; his gaze collided with hers as well… She trembled lightly in moments of pain, and at other times let out soft cries in uncontrollable pleasure.

Ming Xi was open and uninhibited, and Liang Jiancheng gave himself over fully. Though Boss Liang usually conducted himself with gentlemanly restraint and courtesy in public, when his composure, humility, and cultivated refinement clashed fiercely with male instinct, it radiated a uniquely sexy, vivid vitality.

After a long while, when it was over, Ming Xi lay there in post-intimacy languor, with an air of looseness about her. She casually picked up the shirt Liang Jiancheng had tossed on the floor and went into his bathroom for a shower.

Afterward, she found the hairdryer and began drying her hair. To her surprise, neatly arranged above the sink cabinet was a complete set of women’s skincare products.

Once her hair was dry, she did feel her skin slightly tight. Tilting her head, she deliberately asked Liang Jiancheng, who was getting dressed, “Can I use this skincare set?”

Sometimes, Miss Ming’s deliberate politeness left Liang Jiancheng somewhat helpless.

“Of course, this was originally prepared for Miss Ming.”

“Oh…”

Satisfied, Ming Xi unwrapped the packaging and went through a full skincare routine.

Liang Jiancheng had always been meticulous. He hadn’t prepared the set because he himself was particular about skincare—on a normal day he only used post-shave moisturizer. He also knew that his Miss Ming wasn’t especially fussy about such things.

However, while she might not be fussy, he couldn’t be careless.

Ming Xi changed back into her sportswear. Since Caini was returning to Yicheng tomorrow, she needed to take her out for a proper dinner tonight.

So once her hair was dry and she was dressed, she didn’t linger.

At that moment, Liang Jiancheng suddenly understood the mindset Yang Minwen had long harbored. Fortunately, he could still use work as an excuse to keep her a little longer.

“Ming Xi, if you’re planning to buy land and build a factory, you don’t need to choose a site within Haigang,” Liang Jiancheng stated clearly.

Why? Ming Xi’s beautiful eyes narrowed, waiting for Liang Jiancheng to continue.

Liang Jiancheng began with the massive DG order.

In his view, Mingzhou failing to secure cooperation with DG wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. And he wasn’t saying this from the standpoint of someone protecting his own vested interests.

In foreign trade, who doesn’t long to land big orders? Many companies stagnate because they “can’t secure big orders and look down on small ones.”

There is undoubtedly an element of luck in foreign trade. Market allocation is never perfectly fair. But in production, strength still determines everything. He could say responsibly that with Mingzhou’s current capabilities, taking on the DG project would be extremely difficult.

If Mingzhou forced itself to take the order, Ming Xi would have to expand aggressively. The problem was that a company with annual sales of five million U.S. dollars suddenly jumping to twenty million would also need to scale up personnel and team structure accordingly—otherwise problems would arise.

One problem would lead to another. A chain reaction could cause other projects to collapse, and what had been steady upward growth could suffer a heavy blow. This was precisely why many companies only enjoyed three years of glory. A company must indeed have the ambition to “swallow an elephant,” but that ambition must be used at the right moment.

Whenever Liang Jiancheng spoke about business philosophy, Ming Xi listened attentively. Today was no exception.

“Then should I postpone building the factory?” she asked with concern.

No need to postpone it—if anything, it should be accelerated.

Bringing up the DG order wasn’t meant to make her cautious to the point of abandoning her factory plans. On the contrary, building a factory was imperative—a necessary path for Mingzhou’s upward development. The only thing that required careful deliberation and precise assessment was the location.

“Does Mr. Liang have any specific suggestions?”

“Ning City’s Beijiang Development Zone.”

“Isn’t that a bit far?”

“In the next five years, transportation within a 200-kilometer radius won’t be an issue. In foreign trade, what matters is the industrial chain. In terms of land transfer prices, industrial land in Ning City is significantly cheaper than in Haigang. The money needed to buy fifty mu1 mu = 1/15 of a hectare or approximately 666,67 square meters in Haigang could buy one hundred mu in Ning City.

“Buying land to build a factory isn’t the typical business of a foreign trader—it’s a huge pressure. But once secured, it will become a powerful bargaining chip in your hands. Ming Xi, on this matter, my concrete advice is: you can afford to be a little greedy.

“And most importantly, I recommend Ning City because, as a coastal development city, its government investment promotion policies this year are very favorable. When bidding for industrial land, you can obtain substantial subsidies.”

…

Ming Xi gazed deeply at Liang Jiancheng. Then she lowered her thin eyelids, looked up at him again, and a faint, unreadable smile appeared on her face, her eyes bright as stars: “Thank you, Boss Liang. I feel our relationship has deepened a little more.”

“Of course, I feel the same way as Boss Ming.”

The water in the kitchen finished boiling. Liang Jiancheng walked in, poured a cup of hot water, and thoughtfully placed it in front of Ming Xi. He then stood casually and naturally in front of her.

The way he offered advice was like that of a shrewd capitalist, yet his manner of serving water was gentle and approachable.

“Drink this cup of water before you leave. Consider it staying a little longer to keep me company, alright?” Liang Jiancheng requested.

So that was the purpose of boiling the water so hot…

Ming Xi glanced silently at the steaming cup of water in front of her, then sat quietly at the table, waiting for it to cool down.

Considering her relationship with Liang Jiancheng, she might as well be frank. If she were to buy land, how much capital could she currently put forward? Earlier, when they spoke of bidding for land, she had been bold and ambitious, but the reality was that every step was difficult. If she were just an ordinary girl, she would undoubtedly be considered wealthy. The problem was that she was no longer alone. In running Mingzhou Company, she had always upheld two principles: never delay employee salaries, and never delay supplier payments.

Therefore, the funds she could flexibly mobilize were not abundant.

Even though a more powerful business owner sat before her, and their relationship was subtly intimate, Ming Xi had never asked Liang Jiancheng to lend her money—she had not even entertained the idea of temporary bridging funds.

Still, she had to admit that Liang Jiancheng had given her a good path forward. If she were to bid for land, Ning City truly was an excellent choice. Whether in terms of geographic location or maritime advantages, everyone in foreign trade knew that Ning City’s deep-water port was poised to become one of the largest in the country—perhaps even the world—in terms of cargo throughput.

Ming Xi tightened her grip around the glass. After deep contemplation, she felt the water inside gradually cooling, while her heart grew warmer by the moment.

Unknowingly, she had finished more than half the cup.

“Thank you, Mr. Liang. I will consider it carefully,” Ming Xi said gratefully. She lifted her wrist to check the time and realized she truly had to leave—otherwise Caini would call to hurry her.

“Goodbye, Liang Jiancheng,” Ming Xi stood up and said goodbye cheerfully.

“Ming Xi, I’ve said so much… but you still haven’t grasped my main point—” Liang Jiancheng suddenly sighed heavily.

Ming Xi turned back with a soft “Ah?” She truly did not know what key point he meant. Was it the government investment subsidies?

Liang Jiancheng raised his gaze, eyes intense, then spoke in a relaxed tone, getting straight to it. “If Boss Ming needs funding when bidding for land later, I can help you out in an urgent situation.”

“Oh…” Ming Xi lightly licked her lower lip, suddenly feeling very embarrassed. Faced with such a strong statement from the contractor, she, as the client, didn’t know how to respond.

So how much funding could Boss Liang provide for her? Ming Xi almost blurted it out.

As for the exact amount, even Liang himself could not specify at this moment. His current focus was on industrial operations; purchasing high-end production lines was extremely costly. Unlike financial tycoons, whose liquid capital was easier to circulate—

But as long as Boss Ming needed it, he would do everything in his power to find a solution.

Okay!

Ming Xi stood neatly in the entryway, her beautiful lips slightly pursed like small water chestnuts, her eyes crinkling with a smile like the first rays of spring sunshine, seemingly brimming with the warmth of life’s infinite beauty.

When Liang Jiancheng told her to be a little greedy, it turned out he was not advising her—but setting expectations for himself.

“If I need anything, I will definitely inform Boss Liang truthfully. When the time comes, I hope Boss Liang will lend a hand,” Ming Xi nodded in agreement, her bright eyes shining even more brightly with anticipation of a grand future.

Liang Jiancheng nodded lightly in return. The movement was small. There were no false formalities—only a silent and clear promise.

…

Then, as Factory Director Li Tianming said, some things, as long as she had the courage and boldness to do them, the opportunity would naturally come.

The bidding for industrial land in Beijiang District of Ning City for the first quarter was scheduled for mid-March.

In preparation, throughout March, Ming Xi traveled to Ning City multiple times.

Regarding the land auction, Ming Xi could not say she was certain of victory, but she hoped to give it her all—even if only as a small attempt.

According to past practice, after the industrial land was listed in the first quarter, the formal bidding would usually take place around mid-April.

Ming Xi had mentally prepared herself, but the circulation of funds in her account was not that fast. A foreign trade company often needed to advance payment for goods. Because her company was relatively small, the advance payment ratio was even higher than that of large companies like Haiou. So to raise several million within a short month truly put her in a difficult position.

It was also her first time participating in a land auction, with no experience whatsoever. Fortunately, she had a good friend by her side who could guide her throughout the process.

Her other friends were equally supportive. When Dezi and Junjun learned that she was going to bid for land in Ning City, their first reaction was to offer her loans. Within a month, Dezi could shift 800,000 yuan for her, and Han Junjun could provide 600,000…

Frankly, Ming Xi was very touched.

However, she declined both offers.

She was not an adventurist. She only intended to test the waters. The maximum bidding fund Mingzhou could currently allocate—without affecting subsequent cash flow—was 2 million yuan.

Being extremely cautious yet mustering courage—that was Ming Xi’s current mindset. And this 2 million was already Mingzhou’s limit.

Any more, and Boss Ming’s courage might burst.

So… even though Liang Jiancheng had told her to be a little greedy, after careful calculation with Jiang Bin, a land appraisal specialist recommended by Liang Jiancheng, Ming Xi preliminarily selected parcel GY-018 from among the listed plots.

It was Category I industrial land, located in the northernmost area of the port-adjacent zone. The price per mu was several tens of thousands higher than inland zones. But in terms of location choice, Ming Xi would rather choose a smaller parcel than compromise on securing the best area.

Two years ago, she and Liang Jiancheng had calculated that for every additional five kilometers away from the port, logistics costs would increase by 30 percent.

Therefore, her pragmatic approach never involved compromising on location.

…

Throughout March, Boss Ming was busy with land acquisition, and Liang Jiancheng was also busy with financing for Xinghai Technology.

So when Mingzhou’s company account finally had sufficient deposit funds, Ming Xi still had not awkwardly brought up borrowing money to Liang Jiancheng.

Liang Jiancheng knew she was going to bid for land in Ning City, and he had even helped introduce Jiang Bin to her. Even though they were incredibly busy this month, they still managed to spend time together occasionally, and the phone calls discussing the land auction were made in front of Liang Jiancheng. Since that day, Liang Jiancheng hadn’t mentioned the matter of lending money again, and Ming Xi didn’t want to put him in a difficult position.

Xinghai was in the midst of financing; Liang Jiancheng might need large sums even more than she did.

At present, as long as she aimed for the smallest parcel, GY-018, based on last quarter’s final transaction price, she could still resolve the funding herself. Of course, the tight budget also presented a serious problem: intense competition.

The smallest parcel would likely attract the most bidders, whether companies or individuals.

And this Wednesday would be bidding day.

On Monday, Ming Xi brought her small team and smoothly checked into the only boutique hotel near the auction site in Ning City’s Beijiang Development Zone.

Just a few years ago, this area had still been undeveloped tidal flats. The boutique hotel she was staying in was already the most upscale nearby, though at most it reached three-star standards. As Ming Xi dragged her suitcase and opened her door, she suddenly heard a complaint from next door.

“My God, this hotel smells musty, it’s awful!”

The voice seemed somewhat familiar.

“Alright, alright, just bear with it for a couple of days. It’s your fault for insisting on coming with me, and now you’re complaining.”

This voice was even more familiar.

Holding her keycard calmly, Ming Xi turned to glance at the neighboring room—only to see He Yuan and Ming Yue stepping out together.

Her brows instantly furrowed.

For the first time, she truly experienced what it meant to “run into bad luck.”

When her eyes accidentally met those of He Yuan and his wife, all the passion she had built up over the month dissipated by more than half.

Without a doubt, He Yuan and Ming Yue’s presence at this boutique hotel at this time meant they, like her, were interested in the bidding for the industrial land in Ning City. Bidding always involves competition, and this competition happened to be her former employer and her sister with whom she had a complicated relationship with…

Ming Xi withdrew her gaze coldly and swiped her card to enter her room, composed and calm.

She didn’t even greet them.

She forgot.

Likewise, if Ming Xi felt unlucky, Ming Yue—dragged back into the room by He Yuan—was even more furious inside.

Back in the room, He Yuan’s first reaction was to tell Ming Yue to find out which parcel Ming Xi intended to bid on.

Ming Yue paced irritably around the room, while He Yuan sat on the sofa by the window, smoking without a care.

Several times, Ming Yue wrinkled her nose and looked at him with disdain.

This older man might present himself as refined and tasteful outside, but in the details he was hardly commendable.

Only recently had Ming Yue discovered that He Yuan had long claimed to be a native of Haigang, when in fact he was from the suburbs. His rise to wealth disgusted her even more: he first met an outstanding female classmate through study opportunities, married her, entered the Foreign Trade Bureau, and built his fortune relying on his wife’s entrepreneurship.

His only contribution was resigning from his government job and working with his wife to build their current business.

After marriage, Ming Yue belatedly did the math. Though He Yuan appeared to be a big boss, most of his assets were with his ex-wife. She now held the title of Vice Director of Haiou. The title sounded impressive and looked good on business cards, but in reality, her monthly salary was pitiful—sometimes even less than that of an ordinary sales rep. Whenever she complained about money, He Yuan would shut her down: “Ming Yue, you’ve never lacked money since you were young. Don’t be as calculating as your sister.”

This time, He Yuan had come to Ning City not truly to build a factory. Haiou’s financial situation was already tight. His purpose was simple: if Haiou secured the land, they could mortgage it to the bank and raise more funds.

Ming Yue crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. Suddenly she exchanged a sharp look with He Yuan. The same question flashed in both their eyes—

Exactly how much money had Ming Xi brought this time?

…

Not much, just two million.

April was the height of the rain season. On the drive from Haigang to Ning City, a fine drizzle fell the entire way.

After unpacking her luggage, Ming Xi stepped onto the terrace at the end of the hotel corridor to get some air. The rain had stopped, but the wind in Ning City was fierce. The clouds hung low, as if within arm’s reach.

The sea breeze whipped her hair wildly across her face. She tried to tuck the strands behind her ear, only to realize it was futile.

On the high-rise terrace, Ming Xi stood leaning against the railing, dressed in a sharp trench coat and high heels. She inhaled deeply the damp, salty air. In her ears, it seemed as though roaring waves surged again and again, crashing against her bold, restless spirit.

Skyscrapers rise from flat ground; all rivers run to the sea.

Ming Xi stood quietly, watching the massive cargo ships gliding slowly across the distant water. Though she wasn’t certain whether the auction the day after tomorrow would succeed, looking back on the past few years of her life, she already felt fate had treated her generously.

Her starting point in life wasn’t high, but along the way, unknowingly, her world, her perspective, and her mindset had undergone a dramatic transformation.

Was it merely a driving ambition to climb high?

Obviously not.

Just as with the tides of the times, without the invisible hand of fate pushing the waves forward, how could life’s surf surge upward?

Her phone suddenly rang. Liang Jiancheng was calling.

“Have you arrived?” That was the first thing Boss Liang asked once she picked up.

Ming Xi felt that sometimes Liang Jiancheng’s desire for control was rather strong. He was so busy lately, yet he still remembered exactly when she would arrive in Ning City. Not only did he know what time she had set off, he even called shortly after she checked into the hotel.

Indeed, Liang Jiancheng had been incredibly busy lately. Otherwise, even just as a friend, he would have come to help oversee things and bolster her morale for her first land auction.

Of course, Boss Ming was already a mature and composed decision-maker; she had handled the issues related to the Ning City land auction project very well this month.

Liang Jiancheng still had an important meeting shortly, so he got straight to the point.

“Ming Xi, I just spoke with Jiang Bin on the phone. I had significant capital turnover recently and couldn’t confirm how much I could transfer to you, so I didn’t tell you in advance. Jiang Bin will discuss it with you shortly. We both believe parcels GY-019, GY-023, and GY-029 have greater advantages than GY-018. Miss Ming, since you’ve decided to bid—and now that funding is sufficient—my advice remains the same: you can afford to be a little greedy.”

The wind howled in Ming Xi’s ears; the strong winds of Ning City made the world seem chaotic, but Liang Jiancheng’s voice rang out clearly in her ears.

He wasted no time. After briefly saying what he needed to say, he ended with a blessing.

“Ride the wind while it’s strong. Miss Ming, just move forward boldly.”

Taking risks had always been Liang Jiancheng’s personal style. But he would only risk himself. For Miss Ming, he hoped that under stable conditions, she could soar higher.

So, he felt a trace of apology—his funds had arrived slightly later than ideal.

As soon as the call ended, Ming Xi turned around and hurried from the terrace to Jiang Bin’s room.

Jiang Bin and Sister Tian were already there together. Their expressions were filled with barely concealed excitement—they had learned the amount slightly before she did.

Ming Xi: …

On the phone, Liang Jiancheng had directly suggested she compete for three of the best parcels. Just how much had he lent Mingzhou in the company’s name?

When Sister Tian told her the specific amount, Ming Xi couldn’t help but gasp.

Her blood seemed to surge and burn through her body. What was igniting now was no longer mere ambition, but adrenaline spiking under the shock of such a massive sum.

“With sufficient funding, Miss Ming can afford to be a little greedy.” Liang Jiancheng’s calm yet encouraging voice echoed in her ears once again.

Ming Xi opened her mouth to speak, only to find her voice trembling slightly. Then she steadied herself and, in her most composed and decisive tone, announced a change in strategy: “Since funding is sufficient, let’s revise our bidding targets.”

If not for the financial constraints, her judgment had always aligned with Liang Jiancheng’s. She, too, believed that parcels GY-019, GY-023, and GY-029 were the better choices.

Previous     TOC