Since everyone was acquainted, especially the three grown men present who were not the type to press drinks, at the dinner table, whether one preferred wine or a soft drink was entirely up to them, which put Wang Qiqi at ease; she couldn't help it, as Song Ziwen had quite the tolerance for alcohol and enjoyed plying others, always having a new toast ready.

Dinner tables truly are one of the best ways to bring people closer; even without alcohol and despite having only met a few times before, by the end of the meal, everyone was on excellent terms, and the most crucial matter of the gathering had been resolved. "That's the price; if you wish to purchase, come find me. We'll settle for a thirty percent deposit then, and when the properties are officially handed over next year, we'll finalize the paperwork." Juliana knew that while everyone present had means, putting down such a large sum for housing was a significant burden, so she thoughtfully stated this. Although the real estate company needed capital, they weren't desperately short of funds for just a few units, and selling this many properties would also create an impression of brisk sales.

Thirty percent down? Song Yao and the others were stunned. They had initially considered getting a discount a pleasant surprise and knew this generosity was largely due to Wang Qiqi's connection, but they hadn't expected her to be so generous as to allow payment in stages. This arrangement genuinely solved a massive problem. Even if they still needed a mortgage next year, the interest paid would be considerably less. A thought suddenly struck Song Yao: Qiqi studied finance, and Shi Man's husband worked at a brokerage—perhaps he could offer some guidance on maximizing the money they currently held.

With this thought, Song Yao voiced, "After I pay the thirty percent deposit, I'll have some funds left over. Do you have any good suggestions for making money grow quickly with that remaining cash?" Song Yao wasn't familiar enough with Feng Xuanxiang to directly ask him in front of everyone, "Tell me which stock will multiply my capital several times over."

"This..." Wang Qiqi lowered her head to eat, unwilling to face the teasing smiles from everyone. Truthfully, the reason everyone was making such large purchases—both buildings and shops—was that they had pulled all their money out of the stock market; otherwise, even with Juliana's discount, Wang Qiqi and Shi Man wouldn't have been able to afford more property.

As a professional, Feng Xuanxiang naturally offered professional advice. From the company's perspective, he certainly wanted Song Yao to enter the market; brokerage firms only earned commissions from frequent trading by account holders. Though small, it was still income. However, since Song Yao was Wang Qiqi's cousin, he wouldn't mislead her. He offered a brief overview of the current market trends and the general economic climate.

Song Ziwen, overhearing Song Yao's veiled query, was startled. He wondered if his elder sister was actually planning to trade stocks; this was strictly forbidden at home—their parents considered it gambling, and yet his sister was being so reckless.

Song Yao inwardly chuckled at her brother's disapproving look, thinking him a silly boy. She had attempted stock trading several times before, often by persistently nagging Wang Qiqi to get inside tips. Unfortunately, she hadn't held on long enough, withdrawing after only a small profit, which left her deeply frustrated. This time, she was determined not to miss such a good opportunity. Yet, to find that Shi Man's boyfriend, who worked in finance, was also unenthusiastic made her wonder if she was truly jinxed—was she simply not destined to strike it rich in the market?

"Sister, the stock market hasn't been great these past few years. We all pulled our money out; otherwise, how would I have enough cash to buy these buildings and shops?" Wang Qiqi spoke up, worried Song Yao might think Feng Xuanxiang wasn't giving genuine advice. "Sister, the market surged incredibly fast for a few years and now needs a period of adjustment. Besides, even the women buying vegetables are discussing the stock market now, so it’s best to hold off."

Feng Xuanxiang's words made Song Yao feel a bit uncomfortable, but now that Wang Qiqi echoed the sentiment, she believed it. Although Song Yao didn't know exactly how much money Qiqi had, hearing her talk about buying so many properties indicated she was liquidating her stock holdings. Song Yao knew that if the market were booming, Qiqi would never willingly pull her money out. Once, Qiqi let slip something that suggested she had made a substantial profit in stocks.

"Then I'll wait. Remember to include me next time there's a good opportunity."

Song Ziwen glanced at Yang Jing beside him and saw, without surprise, a look of interest. He knew Yang Jing traded stocks privately, though he was unsure of her returns. "Is the market really that bad right now?"

"It's not that it's bad, but the market was so good recently that it gave people the impression that just putting money in stocks guaranteed windfalls. You can still make money in the market, but you need a good temperament and precise timing," Feng Xuanxiang remained somewhat optimistic about the market; no matter how poor the overall conditions, someone would always manage to profit. "If you operate well, it’s definitely more rewarding than a savings account."

"But the market has been dropping constantly. I'd be happy just to recoup my principal." Yang Jing hadn't intended to ask, but she couldn't hold back. Although the amount wasn't huge, it was money she had saved diligently over the years. She had hoped to earn more, but instead, she became trapped. Yang Jing knew her family wasn't relying on this money, but watching the market fall daily and her investment shrink was agonizing. She had initially believed the market was merely correcting itself and would soon rebound, but based on what they were saying, they weren't optimistic, which made Yang Jing anxious.

"You lost money?" Song Yao stated directly, surprised that Yang Jing traded stocks. She looked at the delicate, gentle-looking girl from a scholarly family; she didn't seem like someone concerned with monetary gain. She hadn't expected Yang Jing to be involved in the stock market at all.

Yang Jing offered a bitter smile and nodded. "I got in late last year. I actually made some money initially, and my mother advised me to take out the principal, but I didn't listen to her." Otherwise, at least her initial investment would have been safe. Now, even if the market didn't improve, selling would still yield a small profit, but now the market value was significantly lower than her capital. Yang Jing was nearly in tears, regretting not coordinating with her sister-in-law; if she had, even if she couldn't make a fortune, she wouldn't have lost money.

Helping someone recover losses was something Wang Qiqi honestly didn't have the capability for; back then, she had relied partly on the power of rebirth. As for which specific stocks would perform well when the overall market declined, Wang Qiqi simply wouldn't know. If her memory were that perfect, she would have kept some funds in the market for her own trading as practice.

Feng Xuanxiang was at a point where he was nearly resigning. He hadn't researched the current market extensively, not because he'd given up, but because he was leaving at the end of June or beginning of July. He had many loose ends to tie up, like improving his spoken English and visiting his parents to inform them. He felt he had ample time, but when calculated precisely, it wasn't enough. Fortunately, he had done some research on the market previously, and he listed a few stock codes. "I think these few stocks might be workable, though the upward potential won't be huge. You'll have to manage the timing yourself."

Yang Jing had been quite dejected, wondering if she had to exit the market now—it felt deeply unsatisfying. To her surprise, they ended up providing her with a few specific stocks. "Thank you, thank you. I just need to get my principal back." As for striking it rich, Yang Jing dared not think too much; stocks were too unpredictable, especially since she couldn't actively trade during work hours and often missed the critical entry or exit points.

"Brother-in-law, Sister and I need to talk about something today." Wang Qiqi linked arms with Song Yao and smiled sweetly at Gong Peixing. Just moments before, Wang Qiqi had explained to Song Ziwen why she needed to speak with Song Yao. Her true intention was to use Song Ziwen's voice to convey what she wanted to tell Yang Jing.

Gong Peixing assumed Wang Qiqi wanted to speak with Song Yao about the property. Although there was no current news about demolishing that specific house, it was wise to have a plan in place so everyone would be prepared should relocation occur in the future. "It's fine, go ahead. Qiqi hasn't had a proper chat with you since she got back."

When Yang Jing saw Wang Qiqi linking arms with Song Yao, her expression shifted slightly, but she quickly regained composure. Song Ziwen, who had been wondering if Wang Qiqi was being overly cautious and preparing to explain to Yang Jing why he needed a private talk with Song Yao, now realized women understood women better than he did.

Song Ziwen softly whispered the reason to Yang Jing, who found it quite unbelievable. In her view, resolving such matters should fall to elders or married peers, not Wang Qiqi stepping forward. Moreover, she had never noticed the issue herself; it was only when Wang Qiqi visited occasionally that it came to light. "You really don't understand your sister," Yang Jing chastised Song Ziwen with a sidelong glance, thinking men were often oblivious.

Song Ziwen felt wronged by his wife's comment. He couldn't argue in front of his brother-in-law, "I'll explain when we get home."

Gong Peixing sat in the front seat, watching his brother-in-law and sister-in-law murmur secrets to each other. If you must discuss private matters, must you do it in such a way that it demands attention? he thought. However, they weren't discussing why Wang Qiqi sought a private conversation with Song Yao. Although he hadn't heard the details of Qiqi's plan, he had some idea of what Song Ziwen might discuss with Song Yao, especially after observing the couple's reactions. He wondered if Wang Qiqi was talking to Song Yao about the topic of Wen Rou (gentleness/tenderness). If that were the case, Gong Peixing felt he truly needed to thank Qiqi profusely. (To be continued)