Wang Qiqi never doubted that Song Yao would manage to persuade Wang Damei. After all, Song Yao’s silver tongue had become quite sharp these days, and more importantly, she had the trump card of little Tao Tao in her hand.

Wang Qiqi had assumed Song Yao would find the return to their hometown—a city without central heating—extremely uncomfortable after becoming accustomed to the heated apartments in Beijing. For the sake of little Tao Tao’s health, maintaining a warm indoor environment would be paramount. And as for her aunt, Wang Damei, Wang Qiqi knew that even though her own children were successful and didn't rely on them for money, Wang Damei was the type to save every penny. She would surely balk at the electricity bill for running several air conditioners simultaneously. Hearing that the heating was constantly on here, she would undoubtedly agree to let Tao Tao stay with them. Furthermore, since she and Song Ziwen lived here, the elderly couple could visit their son and daughter’s families often, not to mention their own unfortunate niece would also get to see them.

This was how Wang Qiqi imagined Song Yao had swayed Wang Damei, and the fact that Song Yao hadn't moved out since moving into Wang Qiqi's new place under the guise of a 'scam' only reinforced Wang Qiqi's belief that her guess was correct.

“Qiqi, do you have any scallions left? Go grab some,” Wang Damei called out to Qiqi, who was currently entertaining Tao Tao and the other child in the living room.

“Qiqi, while you’re at it, bring over the vinegar from the house.”

“Qiqi, I remember you have lemons, go get a lemon.”

“Qiqi, do you have a corkscrew?”

Wang Qiqi felt like her head was spinning. She was sitting in Song Ziwen’s living room. Although the self-proclaimed master chefs among them—Wang Damei, Luo Hongjuan, Song Yao, and Yang Jing—insisted that Wang Qiqi, being an unmarried girl, needn't crowd the kitchen to help, asserting there wasn't even room for her to stand, Wang Qiqi felt their words meant nothing. She was exhausted just keeping track of how many trips she’d made between the two households while they prepared the New Year's Eve dinner, fetching one item after another.

Thank goodness for the chaos at Song Ziwen’s place, Wang Qiqi grumbled internally. Any heat lost from the constant opening and closing of doors was Song Ziwen’s electricity bill, nothing to do with her. But Wang Qiqi felt her body couldn't handle the constant transition from the warm space to the icy environment of her own home. (Since people were always home, the AC was constantly running. Except for when Luo Hongjuan woke up in the morning to briefly open the living room and kitchen windows for cross-ventilation, the doors and windows were usually sealed shut the rest of the time. It was warm, yes, but the air was stale. Taking advantage of everyone eating the reunion dinner at Song Ziwen’s, she’d left her own windows open to air the place out.) Wang Qiqi felt utterly drained, having to take off and put on her padded jacket every time she ran back and forth.

“Auntie, Mom, Sister, please, if you need things, just say it all at once! It doesn't matter to me, but with me constantly going in and out, the warm air escapes, and my brother’s electricity bill will spike. Of course, an overcharge is nothing to a wealthy man who runs a big company, but we can't let my little nephew and niece get cold, right?” Wang Qiqi couldn't explicitly ask them to leave her alone, so she deflected the blame. She had also considered how many people would agree with her words if she spoke them—Luo Hongjuan or Wang Damei, for instance.

“It’s fine, Qiqi, your brother can afford the electricity bill,” Song Ziwen said with a smile as he helped carry dishes. Having recently expanded his business successfully, Song Ziwen now possessed a slight air of authority and spoke with a bolder tone. “Besides, keeping the door open allows for ventilation. Stale air isn't good for the children’s health.”

Song Ziwen probably knew his comment might offend Wang Qiqi. As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly set the dishes on the dining table and scurried over to the sofa to play with his daughter. He thought that if Wang Qiqi dared to get angry and chase after him, Niu Niu would be the perfect shield.

Wang Qiqi genuinely wanted to give Song Ziwen a piece of her mind, feeling he was taking her for granted. But seeing Niu Niu in his arms, she suppressed the impulse. Still, Wang Qiqi walked over to Song Ziwen and plopped down right beside him. This move startled him badly, and he instinctively held Niu Niu between them. “Brother, could you keep an eye on Han Tao’s mother’s property for me frequently?” Hmph, you think I’m as petty as you are? Wang Qiqi looked at Song Ziwen with disdain.

“Huh? What’s wrong with that property?” Song Ziwen thought; what danger could an empty apartment pose, especially an apartment unit, which wouldn't have water leakage issues?

Wang Qiqi glanced at Yang Jing’s parents, seeing them engrossed in conversation with Song Wenbo, and quietly explained the situation to Song Ziwen. “Brother, I’ll trouble you with that. In a while, she’ll decide whether to rent it out or sell it.” Once things settled down a bit, Luo Hongjuan would know how to proceed. However, Han Tao’s grandmother and the others were surprisingly resilient. Wang Qiqi had expected them to cave quickly given the pressure from their creditors, but they had managed to drag things out for several months.

Song Ziwen understood immediately; this was a small matter for him. “Don’t worry, I get it. By the way, give me the keys. I’ll go tomorrow and get a solid main door installed, plus a security door. Let’s see if they dare try breaking in then.” Sometimes, petty people needed to be guarded against.

Wang Qiqi hadn't expected Song Ziwen to take such precautions. “Brother, this investment…” Good heavens, this project was going to be massive!

“Relax, your brother will find you some second-hand items, absolutely reliable quality,” Song Ziwen was currently involved in renovation work, having taken on several secondary renovation projects, so sourcing relatively new second-hand materials was easy for him. “Labor will be free, of course. Don’t worry, your brother doesn't do losing business. Speaking of which, I heard you managed to secure another investment during your trip?” Song Ziwen admired his sister deeply. Most people traveled for leisure, but this girl managed to set up a partnership to open a hotel. While he didn’t know the partner, anyone Wang Qiqi trusted enough to invest with probably had decent character. He couldn't help but wonder if his sister was simply too wealthy, investing in three different sectors simultaneously.

“Yes. An elder I helped once opened a hotel in Lijiang. She needed more capital to expand, so Manman and I put some money in. Ah, now all my cash is tied up,” Wang Qiqi said with a troubled expression. “Brother, how is the matter with the bank going?” Song Ziwen’s business was real estate agency, and he had gradually built connections with banks.

“I checked. The maximum loan is sixty percent. If you agree, we can sign the papers in a few days.” Song Ziwen thought his sister was brilliant; she’d rather take out loans than sell the property, knowing that holding onto real estate would only increase its value.

“Sixty percent?” Wang Qiqi didn’t mind. “Loan term of five years.” Wang Qiqi had initially considered ten years but decided against it; she couldn't pay it off early anyway, so why pay extra interest? “Get me a loan for two properties.”

Wang Qiqi paused again. “Brother, make it three properties.” Who knew how much money she’d need to spend? Sighing, Wang Qiqi decided that since she was bothering him anyway, she might as well push Song Ziwen to his limit all at once.

“Three properties?” Song Ziwen was surprised; the required number of mortgaged properties had jumped up in the blink of an eye. If it was three properties, “Uh, Qiqi, we’ll need you to find someone to provide a salary certificate, and then I’ll have to work some connections to try and get you loans from three different banks.” Two banks would be ideal for repayment convenience. Fortunately, only the house she was currently in back home was mortgaged; the others had no debt, and the monthly rent would certainly cover the loan payments.

“I know,” Wang Qiqi thought; getting an income proof wouldn’t be hard; she’d just ask Old Ye. “By the way, does my sister-in-law know about my brother-in-law’s workshop situation?” Wang Qiqi asked in a low voice.

Song Ziwen quickly shook his head. “No one knows; don't breathe a word of it. Also, regarding the demolition of the houses, I spoke with the demolition office. It should be fine to get four properties in exchange for the one under your name. We can discuss signing the agreement, but I think you might want to wait a bit longer.” Although Wang Qiqi didn't have registered residency there, the property transfer procedures were handled flawlessly, giving her confidence to hold out as a ‘nail house.’ “I estimate you can secure five properties.”

Is that so? Wang Qiqi thought. Such a large house, and only five units in return? While the rent from the past two years had already recouped the original principal, yielding a considerable surplus, five units meant half actually belonged to Song Yao. “Brother, what are the sizes of the units? If we were to sell them, roughly how much could we get?” Although selling the property now seemed disadvantageous, Song Yao needed the money.

“If we sell, the price won’t be very high, maybe just over a thousand per square meter. Sister, are you having funding issues?” Song Ziwen wondered what was going on with Wang Qiqi—loans and selling property. She had already paid for her share of the renovation company investment, and she said her brother-in-law’s workshop was nearly set up. The Lijiang investment wasn't until March, when Qiqi would have rental income from her commercial space. Song Ziwen mentally calculated; she shouldn't be this short of cash. Did she have some major move planned?

Thinking this, Song Ziwen looked around cautiously and whispered, “Qiqi, are you planning something big? Remember to bring your brother along.” Clinging to the cash cow was the priority; if he hadn't known, fine, but knowing about an opportunity and missing out was out of the question.

A big move? Wang Qiqi looked completely bewildered. “My big moves are here with you, with Brother-in-law, and the hotel.” She wasn't a billionaire who didn't need money. Who knew Wang Qiqi dreamed night and day about making more money? “If I had money, why would I be so stressed? Why would I need loans?” Sighing, Wang Qiqi always felt that owing the bank was hard, especially since she already owed them so much; she needed to practice restraint.

Song Ziwen didn't believe Wang Qiqi’s words for a second; how could she need so much money without a big plan?

Wang Qiqi could only offer a wry smile when she saw Song Ziwen’s look of disbelief. She couldn't tell him that the portion of the demolished houses being sold was Song Yao’s share. Wang Qiqi didn't know if they were desperate for money, so she was checking in advance. She couldn't reveal these details to Song Ziwen. “Brother, I really don’t have any major moves planned.”

Song Ziwen remained unconvinced, but since Qiqi insisted, what could he do? He started brooding, feeling that Qiqi was pulling away from him. The exasperated Wang Qiqi could only go over to Song Yao and whisper to her for a long time. Song Ziwen watched this interaction, solidifying his belief that there was a secret. He felt a mixture of emotions.

Just as Wang Qiqi returned to the sofa, intending to say something to Song Ziwen, she saw him proudly holding Niu Niu, completely ignoring her.

Wang Qiqi sighed, hooked her arm around his shoulder—regardless of whether he liked it—and whispered something into his ear. If he still didn't believe her after this, Wang Qiqi felt there was nothing more she could do. In fact, she had just gone to ask Song Yao whether she should tell Song Ziwen.

Song Ziwen had initially thought Wang Qiqi and the others were concocting an excuse to deceive him, but he never expected the real reason to be this. He stared at Wang Qiqi in astonishment. “You weren’t lying to me? Or did I hear wrong?” He never imagined that the property they all assumed belonged solely to Wang Qiqi had a fifty percent stake owned by his older sister. Song Ziwen was utterly surprised. Considering that property housed several tenants, the monthly rent income couldn't be small. Song Ziwen quickly calculated the earnings for his sister; her monthly rental income alone was substantial.

“It’s true. Is there any reason for me to hide it?” Wang Qiqi guaranteed repeatedly. “I was worried about leaking information back then.”

Although Wang Qiqi didn't specify who the leak might come from, Song Ziwen understood his sister was defending against someone. “I know. But isn’t selling now a bit of a loss?” He finally understood why Wang Qiqi asked about selling the property—she was worried about her brother-in-law’s workshop needing funds. Still, that location was excellent; with minor renovations, finding tenants wouldn't be an issue.

“But if Brother-in-law’s workshop does well, the investment will be significant,” Wang Qiqi argued. Otherwise, why would she need a loan for three properties? Her initial budget only required one. “How about this, Brother, when the time comes, you buy the properties? It’s better to keep the wealth within the family than let outsiders profit.” Wang Qiqi’s mind was racing fast; it was better for her own people to get rich.

Song Ziwen was quite tempted by Wang Qiqi’s suggestion. With the development of the economic zone, more people were moving in, and the rental and sales market had picked up. Song Ziwen, in this line of business, felt this most keenly. “But that…” Wouldn't he be taking advantage of them?

“You and my sister can discuss the specifics. Brother, you should try to take six units, even if they are smaller, it would be worth it,” Wang Qiqi had thought things through: houses around a hundred square meters might not rent out as easily; smaller units of sixty or seventy square meters were easier to rent and had lower renovation costs.

“Alright, I’ll ask about it.” Song Ziwen understood why Wang Qiqi wanted six units—it made dividing the properties easier, and smaller units were always in high demand for rental or sale.

“Don't worry, my sister is also inclined to sell,” Wang Qiqi patted Song Ziwen’s shoulder. When she discussed this with Sister Yao just now, Song Yao had already said that if Ziwen wanted them, she’d sell them to him. Song Yao understood the future potential of the properties in that area was good, but she couldn't wait that long. Gong Peixing's investment in the workshop would require a lot of capital, and before returning this time, Gong Peixing had met someone new, planning to secure an order from her after the Spring Festival holidays. That would mean securing at least two clients, which immediately raised the issue of machinery. Song Yao had been planning to sell the properties for cash after the demolition anyway, and she was surprised Qiqi had already figured out a solution before she could even speak.

Song Ziwen completely understood why Song Yao wanted him to know the news. “Don't worry, I’ll buy them at the market rate.” Although they were in urgent need of cash and could negotiate a lower price, Song Ziwen wouldn't use such a tactic against his own sister and brother-in-law when he knew they needed the money; otherwise, what kind of person would he be?

Wang Qiqi stated that this was not her concern. “Brother-in-law, how is business?” That was what she truly cared about.

“Not bad. Our craftsmanship is good, quality is high, and prices aren't expensive. We’re slowly building a reputation,” Song Ziwen said happily, grinning. His family hadn't been entirely supportive when he decided to start a renovation company; after all, the responsibility was much greater than being an agent. What if something went wrong? But Song Ziwen had pushed forward against everyone’s objections. Although it was just the beginning, clients were trickling in. “By the way, Qiqi, what do you think of the prospects for your brother-in-law’s processing workshop?”

Song Ziwen reasoned that his sister likely had some savings, and since she was selling property, her investment must be significant. Qiqi was also investing heavily. He had initially thought Qiqi had a big move planned, but perhaps that move was centered around her brother-in-law’s workshop. He wanted confirmation from Wang Qiqi so he could see if they should increase their investment. Although Yang Jing managed the family finances, she was showing increasing interest in business. She often told Song Ziwen that they couldn't just keep buying houses; they needed a good investment direction. However, they were both quite conservative and didn’t understand other ventures well, so they naturally turned to Wang Qiqi.

“Good,” Wang Qiqi stated unequivocally. “With Brother-in-law’s skill and existing clients, I think profitability will be good. But Brother, why are you only focused on our hometown? You could buy properties and shops in major areas of Beijing. Even if you don’t develop there, you can be a landlord. You know, even though the prices there sound high now, property values will skyrocket with a single word. The larger the base, the higher the increase.” Wang Qiqi mused that the profit from property speculation might eventually surpass that from running physical businesses. Gong Peixing was in rough processing; he needed constant equipment upgrades to maintain high margins—it wasn't a monopolistic industry. But real estate, over the next decade, would see mad growth, turning even the most clueless person into a millionaire with closed eyes.

Buying property in Beijing? Song Ziwen kept repeating the phrase. Honestly, when he visited Beijing last time, the property prices had already terrified him. Two years had passed since then; he wondered how terrifying the prices must be now. “Qiqi, what are the property prices in Beijing now?” He needed to fully understand the situation before planning to develop in Beijing and gauge his own capability.

Wang Qiqi wasn't exactly sure about Beijing's current prices, so she shared the information she gathered last June. “Currently, it’s estimated to have risen by at least another ten percent.” Beijing property prices were steadily increasing but hadn't reached their absolute peak yet.

Song Ziwen was shocked by the figure Wang Qiqi quoted and kept patting his chest. “Qiqi, are you sure about the amount?” Heavens, the price had more than doubled since he was newly married two years ago! The local property appreciation rate hadn't even been this fast.

Who misquoted the amount? Wang Qiqi snorted. “I would understate rather than overstate, Brother. So, you really need to set your sights further. You could expand the scale of your real estate empire, perhaps by buying houses and shops in places like Beijing. Then, no matter which big city Niu Niu studies in, you’ll have a place, and you can take Sister-in-law traveling every month while collecting rent.”

That vision sounded good. Song Ziwen considered it a worthwhile goal, but the issue remained: “I don’t know how many years it will take for your brother to have that capability.” Although Song Ziwen said that aloud, he placed this plan within his five-year target. “The prices of the houses and shops my sister bought in Beijing must have increased quite a bit, right?” Song Ziwen asked quietly.

Wang Qiqi nodded. “Yes, the commercial space Sister Yao and I bought together has appreciated by over thirty percent.” It was a pity the rent hadn't increased yet; the return was purely on paper wealth so far.

Song Ziwen drew a sharp breath. Good heavens, it had only been a year. He remembered clearly that the initial base price his older sister paid for those commercial properties wasn't low to begin with. The figure of thirty percent made Song Ziwen feel deeply that a full year of his toil couldn't compare to what his sister made just flipping a single property. "I feel like I've been spinning my wheels compared to my sister. I should have just sold the house back home and bought commercial space in the Capital instead." Even the two houses he owned hadn't appreciated this quickly. The Capital truly lived up to its name; it never disappointed. Song Ziwen immediately upgraded his supposed five-year plan to a one-year plan. He began to consider whether he should even bother taking over Song Yao's property, maybe he should just march straight to the Capital with his bank passbook and buy a place there. He finally grasped why his sister and Wang Qiqi weren't expanding their properties back home, and in fact, seemed to be looking to shrink their holdings—the root cause was right here. "Then Qiqi," he asked, "since the property values in the Capital are rising so nicely, why aren't you selling your place here and buying something over there?" Song Ziwen suddenly realized why Wang Qiqi was taking out a loan in the Capital. If it were him, he'd rather liquidate everything here and move to buy property in the Capital. The growth trend there was far superior, and besides, barring any major upsets, his older sister would likely be establishing her career in the Capital and could easily keep an eye on things for Wang Qiqi. Didn't his sister already look after the properties under Qiqi’s name when Qiqi went to study in the Capital before?