Director Lu and Deputy Director Li didn't stay for lunch with Jiang Hai.
After speaking with him, they left, making it clear that the final decision rested in his hands.
When they were gone, Jiang Hai sat beneath the tree by the entrance, replaying their words. Should he, or should he not, step into real estate?
Based on their explanation, it was almost guaranteed to be profitable. In fact, even without their persuasion, Jiang Hai had already done the math.
A high-rise building, twenty to thirty floors tall, would cost around thirty to forty million RMB to construct. Adding the cost of the land—about twenty million RMB—the total came to fifty million.
Now, consider the returns: each floor could hold two households, averaging 120 square meters each. A single building with four entrances and thirty floors would house 240 units. At $2,000 per square meter—roughly 12,000 RMB—each home would fetch 1.44 million RMB. Multiply that by 240, and the building would generate 345.6 million RMB in sales.
That was the allure of real estate. Even if construction quality was elevated—say, spending 100 million RMB on a single building—they'd still pocket over 200 million in profit. Of course, not all of it would go to the developers; government officials and other parties would take their share.
But if Jiang Hai were to lead the project—securing land approval, bringing in Chinese developers, and selling to wealthy Chinese buyers—he could claim at least half the profit. That meant a minimum of 100 million RMB per building, or about $10 million after taxes. And naturally, no residential complex would stop at one building.
Twenty or thirty buildings would bring him two to three hundred million dollars. The numbers were staggering, and Jiang Hai would be lying if he said he wasn't tempted. Beyond that, a new community would attract residents to Winthrop, creating steady demand not just for tourism, but for household goods, furniture, decoration, clothing, and more.
Suddenly, Jiang Hai understood why Mayor Wallis had entertained the idea despite knowing Jiang Hai wouldn't sell. For Wallis, it wasn't just about avoiding conflict with the investors—it was also about the economic benefits such a development could bring.
Still, something about the proposal didn't sit right with Jiang Hai. That unease gnawed at him, leaving him conflicted.
Luckily, Director Lu and Deputy Director Li hadn't pressed the matter, allowing him space to think.
After a simple lunch, Jiang Hai reclined in his chair, still turning the problem over in his mind. Without realizing it, the day slipped into dusk.
That evening, after dinner, Jiang Hai went to rest. Tonight, Qi Ya, Qi Jie, Xila, and Osyliya were with him. Recently, they'd adopted a rotation system—different companions each night from Sunday to Friday. Sundays, Valentina and the others returned, taking their share of his time. Daytime, of course, was separate.
Normally, Jiang Hai relished these nightly arrangements. A dragon's nature, after all, was difficult to restrain. But tonight, even amid passion, his thoughts kept drifting.
After he finished with Qi Ya, then with Xila and Osyliya, he still found himself distracted while Qi Jie rode astride him. She noticed it immediately, pausing to look at him in puzzlement.
"Why are you so absent-minded tonight? Even while doing this, you seem distracted."
Jiang Hai blinked, then gave her an apologetic smile. "I was thinking about what those two said earlier. It's left me torn." He squeezed her ankles gently as he spoke, realizing he couldn't work it out alone—maybe it was best to ask her opinion.
"What's there to hesitate about? Do you want to do it or not?" Qi Jie asked, wiping sweat from her forehead, her gaze searching his face.
"It's not that I can't do it—it's that the profits are too big to ignore. I did the math this afternoon. Even with the highest construction standards, I'd still clear over 100 million RMB per building. Thirty buildings would mean 3 billion RMB, around 300 million USD after taxes. It's practically a sure win… but something feels wrong."
Qi Jie frowned. "Then why don't they just do it themselves? Why drag you in?"
Her words struck Jiang Hai. With such enormous profits on the table, why wouldn't they handle it directly?
"Because this is America," Jiang Hai answered slowly, the realization dawning. "If Chinese officials came here openly to buy land and build communities, the U.S. government would never allow it. Land sovereignty is non-negotiable. If they built here directly, it would raise serious problems. But me—I'm an American landowner. I can push through approvals. That's why they want me involved."
Qi Jie leaned forward on his chest, her expression sharp. "And have you thought about the risk? If you front this project and anything goes wrong, you'll be the one the U.S. government comes after. Don't forget—you still have your estate here. Are you really going to jeopardize all of that for 300 million?"
Her words cut through him. Suddenly, everything clicked. He had been dazzled by profit and blinded to the dangers. With U.S.–China relations already tense, if Beijing intended to use his land as leverage, he would be the one left exposed.
Right now, Jiang Hai's safety came from his taxes and his lack of political entanglements. Money was his shield, and Walmart and the Dufarman family his umbrellas of protection. But if he gave anyone leverage—any handle—the U.S. government would have reason to dismantle everything he had built.
Jiang Hai was not a man willing to sacrifice himself for national interests. Some might call his values flawed, but he didn't see it that way. He had family now, people depending on him. If disaster struck, if his entire household were crushed in the fallout, who would stand up for them?
Three hundred million dollars was tempting, yes—but not essential. His life, his estate, his family were worth far more.
Relief washed over him. He looked at Qi Jie with a grin, patted her backside, and laughed. "You're incredible. You saw through it instantly."
Then he flipped her over, pressing her into the bed, pouring his gratitude into relentless passion until her gasps filled the room. For Jiang Hai, the knot in his chest finally loosened.
"You're such an idiot," Qi Jie scolded afterward, giving him a playful slap. "Couldn't even give me time to prepare." But her eyes sparkled. She was glad he listened.
Jiang Hai only chuckled. "You're drenched. Let's take a shower together."
Qi Jie glanced at him, lazy and flushed. "No. If it stays inside, the chances of pregnancy are higher. Don't you want a baby?"
Before she could settle into the bed, Jiang Hai scooped her up again with a mischievous grin. "What's the hurry? I'll give you another chance."
She blushed, smacking his back lightly. This man really was insatiable.
That night, Qi Jie couldn't remember when she finally drifted off. She only had a hazy impression that dawn was near. Jiang Hai, meanwhile, held her close, grateful beyond words.
The next morning, he called Deputy Director Li to decline the offer.
Just as Qi Jie had said—he wasn't short of money. He was already content with his life. Missing out on 300 million didn't matter.
(To be continued.)