The planned area for Jiang Beicheng's hometown farm was nearly 50 mu (about 8.2 acres). He had previously consulted several design firms in the city, and their quoted prices for planning and design ranged from 80,000 to 100,000 yuan.
Not expensive, but Jiang Beicheng wasn't impressed with their proposals.
If he were to hire a major domestic firm for the design, the price would double, or even multiply several times.
Not to mention international design firms like HKS.
Hai TangXi taking on this job was actually a steal for Jiang Beicheng.
"Taking private work, aren't you afraid the company will discipline you?" Jiang Beicheng teased.
"I'm currently on unpaid leave," Hai TangXi replied. "If you don't trust my abilities, you can always hire a well-known domestic firm. That'll cost you a few hundred thousand."
Jiang Beicheng: "It's not that I don't trust you. I just don't like taking advantage of women."
Hai TangXi laughed. "Do you even believe that yourself? If you feel bad about it, just take me around for a bit. Jiangnan City has developed so fast, it feels unfamiliar to me."
"Always at your service, Sister Xi."
"If you had that attitude downstairs just now, I wouldn't have fleeced you today," Hai TangXi said, her gaze drifting toward the Longines counter. "I didn't bring you a gift when I came back, and I don't know what you like. A watch?"
Jiang Beicheng noticed her eyes lingering on the Longines display and deliberately teased her, "Sure, Sister Xi, are you buying me a Patek Philippe? There's a store in Vientiane City nearby."
Hai TangXi gave him a look of disdain. This little punk was definitely doing it on purpose.
She was at her poorest right now.
"Would selling me cover that kind of money?" she joked.
"If Sister Xi were that cheap, I'd definitely buy," Jiang Beicheng quipped back with a smile.
Hai TangXi burst out laughing.
Slick and smooth-talking, but it didn't annoy her.
Instead, it felt kind of familiar and warm.
"If you haven't decided, we'll talk about it later," Hai TangXi said. "If you really like Patek Philippe, wait until I start working in the U.S. I'll buy you one on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It's much cheaper than here. Just tell me which model you want."
Jiang Beicheng wasn't actually that interested in watches. Back when he was a student, he'd been into it, buying Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin, Richard Mille, and Patek Philippe. Though most were entry-level models, they weren't cheap. After satisfying his urge to show off, he lost interest.
Now, he rarely dressed formally, so he seldom wore watches. The only one he used regularly was his Huawei Mate XT, which cost over 20,000 yuan.
He bought that watch purely for outdoor activities since it could connect directly to the Beidou satellite system, improving safety for outdoor sports.
That said, he'd bought plenty of luxury watches for the women he'd slept with—Cartier Ballon Bleu, Breguet Reine de Naples, Chopard Imperiale... all about throwing money around.
A lot of small-time internet celebrities used to clamor to sleep with him, some even lining up for the chance.
But Jiang Beicheng's mindset had completely changed. The women who could make him invest time and energy now needed more than just looks and a good figure.
They had to spark his curiosity and give him that *Godfather* vibe.
Hai TangXi's offer was generous, but whether she'd actually spend that money in the U.S. wasn't important. For Jiang Beicheng, it was often just about a woman's attitude.
"I'm looking forward to it," he said with a smile.
Besides clothes and shoes, Jiang Beicheng accompanied Hai TangXi to buy some skincare products and makeup, spending a few thousand yuan.
For lunch, they went to an old alley hotpot restaurant.
Hai TangXi had been craving that spicy flavor.
It was already two or three in the afternoon when they got back home.
Jiang Beicheng parked the car and carried seven or eight gift boxes inside.
Zhou Ya and her husband, Hai Lin, were drinking tea and chatting in the courtyard. Seeing Jiang Beicheng's hands full, Hai Lin got up to greet him.
"Mom, what's for dinner tonight?" Hai TangXi asked, leaning on Zhou Ya's back.
Zhou Ya said with mock disdain, "You had Beicheng buy you all this stuff?"
Hai TangXi teased, "Isn't he the guy you picked out for me? Isn't it only right for him to spend a little money on me?"
Zhou Ya shook her head.
Smiling, she poured tea for Jiang Beicheng as he approached. "Beicheng, sit for a bit."
Jiang Beicheng nodded with a smile.
Hai Lin took the bags inside and came back out to join them for tea.
He asked about the situation at Beicheng's restaurant, and Jiang Beicheng answered honestly.
After talking about work, Zhou Ya suddenly brought up matters of the heart.
She was blunt: "Find a time, and let's all go to Beicheng's hometown to sit down and hear Aunt Wang's opinion. The two kids aren't getting any younger."
Jiang Beicheng and Hai TangXi froze, staring at each other. What was this about?
Hai TangXi quickly spoke up, "Mom, that's really not appropriate. Let me break it down for you. First, that childhood engagement was just a joke you guys made back then—it doesn't count. Second, Beicheng and I haven't seen each other in years, and we've only been hanging out for a day. We don't even know if our values align. And finally, look at Beicheng—so handsome, so rich. All those twenty-year-old girls are lining up to chase him. Why would he be interested in a thirty-year-old like me?"
Jiang Beicheng was dumbfounded.
What the heck are you talking about, Hai TangXi?
Trying to slip away by throwing him under the bus with flattery?
Jiang Beicheng didn't fall for it. He smiled and said, "Sister Xi has always had one admirable quality worth learning from."
"Really?" Zhou Ya, her mom, looked at Hai TangXi with disdain.
Hai TangXi: "Too many to count, Mom."
Jiang Beicheng said, "Sister Xi has always had self-awareness and knows herself clearly."
Hai Lin and Zhou Ya both laughed.
Hai TangXi: "Little Beicheng, you itching for a fight, huh?"
"Daring to call your sister an old lady."
She made a show of getting up to "deal with" Jiang Beicheng.
"You said it yourself. Uncle Hai Lin and Aunt Zhou can vouch for it," Jiang Beicheng said.
"Alright," Hai Lin said, giving Hai TangXi a look. She playfully threatened Jiang Beicheng one more time before sitting down to drink tea.
Zhou Ya wanted to bring up the kids again, but a look from Hai Lin stopped her.
She was eager to pair Jiang Beicheng and Hai TangXi, partly because she wanted Hai TangXi to return to China and stay close to them.
Likewise, the reasons Hai TangXi gave were just to temporarily shut her mom up. Her heart was set on working in the U.S.
She felt that China's relationship-driven society and system weren't ideal for artistic creation, and she believed her abilities couldn't fully shine here.
She was chasing the pinnacle of architectural art.
With Hai Lin, the family's backbone, stepping in, the mother and daughter stopped dancing around the topic.
They sat and chatted about family matters, waiting for dinner.
Jiang Beicheng didn't drink since he was driving.
After dinner, Hai TangXi's family saw him off.
Zhou Ya reminded him, "Drive safely tonight."
Hai Lin said, "Call if anything comes up."
After the elders finished their instructions, Hai TangXi followed him out. "Little Beicheng, where are you taking me to have fun tomorrow?"
Jiang Beicheng said, "Tomorrow's no good. I've got business."
"The day after?"
"Not sure if I'm free the day after yet!"
"You're harder to book than my dad. Saving time for your little sisters and influencer girlfriends, huh?" Hai TangXi said with mock disdain. "This morning you said you'd be at my beck and call. Not a single truthful word."
It felt like she was the one begging him, like some desperate girl chasing after him.
If she had more friends in China, would she need to lower herself to make plans with him?
Jiang Beicheng floored the accelerator, and the engine's roar startled Hai TangXi.
"Jiang Beicheng!" she yelled, itching to pin this punk to the ground and teach him a lesson.
Jiang Beicheng stuck his head out, waving at her.
He flashed a cheeky grin and sped off.
He really did have plans tomorrow—Mr. Shen from Nanfeng Ventures had invited him to play golf.