Volume 1, Chapter 7: Laying the Groundwork Early

In Jiangbei, a small real estate agency stood quiet and listless, its staff as wilted as the sun-scorched leaves outside. For the past two years, the property market had been in a steady decline, reflecting a dismal overall economy. In a third-tier city like Ancheng, business was even worse; it was rare to close more than a few deals a month.

As the "Welcome" chime rang out, the tempered glass door swung open to admit a tall, broad-shouldered young man. He had sun-kissed skin and handsome, regular features that still carried a hint of youthful innocence, though his eyes were deep, as if he had already weathered the trials of life. He was dressed in a loud floral shirt, baggy shorts, and a pair of flashy red flip-flops.

The three staff members propped their chins on their hands and glanced at Zhang Han. One girl, slightly plump, asked with a lethargic tone, "What do you want?"

"I'm here to buy a house," Zhang Han replied, his voice calm and breezy.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. The three of them were suddenly as energized as if they had been injected with adrenaline. The plump girl, moving with surprising agility for her size, darted over to him. "Have a seat, have a seat! You look so young—a real success story already."

"Did your family send you to take a look?"

She quickly turned to pour him a glass of warm water. "Here, have some water."

Zhang Han took a sip and set the cup down. "I’m buying it for myself."

"Are you interested in any particular neighborhood? Oriental Charm or Yunjin? Those are some of the best areas in Jiangbei, going for about 11,000 per square meter..." The girl began her pitch enthusiastically, her face beaming. The other two male staff members didn't sit idle either, joining in to praise the landscaping, infrastructure, and nearby shopping malls of those developments.

"Oh, I'm not looking at those," Zhang Han said with a faint smile. "I want to buy in Fulai Village."

The girl’s freshly shaped eyebrows arched in surprise. "Are you sure? Fulai Village?"

"Yes," Zhang Han nodded.

In an instant, the three of them scattered like startled birds, returning to their own tasks as if Zhang Han had ceased to exist.

Fulai Village was an underdeveloped settlement on the outskirts of Jiangbei, a desolate place where you could barely find a soul. To make matters worse, the roads turned into impassable mud tracks whenever it rained or snowed. Furthermore, the residents were notoriously petty; the standard price was 3,800 per square meter, and if a buyer showed interest, the sellers would haggle with the agents for days—sometimes even weeks—over a mere pittance of fifty or a hundred yuan.

In short, it was the place agents loathed most; no one wanted to waste half a month of their time for such a meager commission. Plus, it was July, the weather was stifling, and you had to get out and walk into the village from the entrance, where the locals didn't even bother with air conditioning.

Zhang Han rubbed his nose, unfazed by the rejection. Most people in Ancheng didn't realize that in six months, property values in that area would skyrocket, with prices rising more than tenfold. High-rises would emerge from the dirt to become the city's new landmarks. He only knew this because of information provided by his cellmate, Wang Hu.

Wang Hu was a stocky man, about 1.7 meters tall, with a terrifying scar on his face that earned him the nickname "Tiger." He had ended up in prison because some residents of Fulai Village were unhappy with their compensation and tried to hold out for more. When the order came down, Wang Hu led a team to force the demolition. The villagers were not to be trifled with; they called in their kin, a brawl ensued, and Wang Hu ended up stabbing two people to death and severely injuring three others.

In prison, Wang Hu often cursed the people who had hired him, fuming about how he had to live in a cell just for doing their dirty work. When he first arrived, he had tried to throw his weight around, but after Zhang Han beat him into submission a few times, he had learned his lesson.

Zhang Han stood up to leave. Just then, a woman walked in. She looked to be about thirty, with alluring peach-blossom eyes, bright red lips, and fair skin. She was dressed in professional attire—a white long-sleeved shirt, a black pencil skirt, and black stockings with high heels. She looked every bit the career woman, and Zhang Han couldn't help but take a second look. She offered him a polite smile as she brushed past.

Once outside, the heat hit him like a wall. It didn't matter; there were plenty of agencies in Ancheng. If this one wouldn't do business, he’d go to another. If he had money to spend, he wouldn't be short of people willing to work.

He had walked only a few hundred meters when he heard someone calling from behind, "Hey, handsome! Wait up!"

Zhang Han turned around in surprise to see the woman from the agency. He stood in the shade. "Yes?"

As she ran toward him, her movements were graceful and eye-catching. She stopped in front of him, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, radiating a mature charm that the younger girls back at the office couldn't replicate. A pleasant scent of perfume drifted into his nose. "Handsome, you're looking to buy a house, right?"

She was breathing heavily from her sprint in high heels, and sweat beaded on her slender neck, dampening her white shirt in a way that was unintentionally provocative.

"That's right," Zhang Han smiled. "I said I wanted to buy in Fulai Village, and your colleagues wouldn't even give me the time of day."

"They're just busy," Zhao Rui said with a smile, her red lips curving. "If you don't mind, would you like me to take you to see it?"

Zhang Han, noting her pleasant attitude, agreed.

"I'm Zhao Rui."

"Zhang Han."

Zhao Rui smiled shyly. "It's so hot today. Would you mind riding on my 'convertible'? It has two wheels."

"Of course not. I'm here to buy a house, not go on a date. As long as I can buy the property, that's fine." Zhang Han was amused by her wit; humor made people more likable, no matter the situation.

"Wait here, I'll be right back." Zhao Rui jogged off with a smile.

Before long, she returned on an electric scooter, skidding to a halt with a flourish. She nodded at him. "Get on."

Zhang Han climbed onto the back seat.

"The road to Fulai Village is rough and bumpy," Zhao Rui warned. "You can hold onto my waist."

Zhang Han didn't stand on ceremony and wrapped his arms around her waist. Her body stiffened noticeably as the scooter took off.

The summer breeze stirred Zhao Rui's long hair, the ends brushing against Zhang Han's nose. Every summer, Zhang Han had imagined an evening where the sunset painted the sky red, and he would be riding a scooter with Liu Xin sitting sideways behind him in a beautiful dress, one hand hooked around his waist, the wind catching her skirt and hair as they traveled from Jiangbei to the south.

Along the way, Zhang Han and Zhao Rui chatted sporadically. When he asked why she took the job when her colleagues wouldn't, she offered a bitter smile, looking toward the distant high-rises, and simply said that even a mosquito's leg is still meat.

Zhang Han sensed there was more to her answer than she let on, but he wasn't in a position to pry into their relationship.

Twenty minutes later, they reached the entrance of Fulai Village. The road inside was even worse, forcing Zhang Han to hold onto Zhao Rui’s waist even tighter. Because of the constant jolting, his hands brushed against her sides several times, making Zhao Rui blush.

Zhang Han silently swore to himself that it wasn't intentional; the road was simply too bumpy, and if he didn't hold on tight, he would surely be jostled right off the back of the scooter.