Chapter 342: Lin Wei's Uncle Hu Shiyou

On the first day of 2003, Chen Yang brought Lin Wei to Shencheng by plane again.

Su Mingyue and Xiao Jian specially went to the airport to pick them up. Seeing that Chen Yang's checked luggage was full of mountain produce, Su Mingyue was a bit surprised.

"Weiwei, Chen Yang, are you two really going to Deputy Mayor Hu's place with just this? That's too shabby!"

Lin Wei smiled and said, "Susu, you don't understand—it's the thought that counts! My old uncle has worked in Shencheng for over ten years, and the local specialties from Dongjiangsheng are his favorite."

Su Mingyue still found it hard to believe, but she didn't say more. After all, Lin Wei was Hu Shiyou's paternal cousin's daughter, and she knew his preferences better than anyone.

On the way, Su Mingyue gave Chen Yang a brief update on their work. Thanks to her and Xiao Jian's efforts, they bought a total of eighty decently located shops, with a combined area of two thousand square meters, spending forty million yuan.

This result pleased Chen Yang. With eighty storefronts, if the annual rent is calculated at fifty thousand each, they could collect four million a year; at one hundred thousand each, eight million a year. Even if they did nothing else, just collecting rent would let them live very comfortably.

"Susu, are you planning to stay in Shencheng forever?" Lin Wei hadn't expected that Su Mingyue, after just one visit to Shencheng, would stay without hesitation, and she felt a bit emotional.

"Shencheng has great weather and convenient living—far better than Xingcheng. It's thousands of times better than my hometown. I fell in love with this city at first sight." Su Mingyue's voice was excited; although she had experienced some unpleasantness in Shencheng, her overall impression of the city remained very positive.

"I'm afraid I'll only come live here when I'm old." Lin Wei's ideal is to stay in Qingshui City; she wouldn't consider moving to Shencheng anytime soon. Seeing Su Mingyue doing well there, she felt happy for her friend.

In the midst of their talk, Xiao Jian had already driven to the gate of Lin Wei's uncle Hu Shiyou's house.

It was a three-story small villa with exquisite exterior design and a luxurious, imposing decor. The villa's outer walls used high-quality stone and beautiful carved decorations, while the windows were made of large transparent glass panels, giving it an elegant yet modern appearance.

Chen Yang took out the local specialties prepared by Hu Qingwan from the trunk, while Lin Wei walked to the villa's main gate to press the doorbell.

About a minute later, the gate opened automatically, and a middle-aged couple stepped out. The man was around fifty, slightly shorter than Chen Yang by two centimeters, wearing silver-rimmed glasses, and his manner was gentle and refined. The woman was a bit younger, wearing black glasses, with a faint smile on her face, giving an impression of quiet elegance.

"Uncle, Aunt!" Lin Wei immediately gave Hu Shiyou and the woman beside him a warm hug.

"Weiwei, it's been a year—you're getting prettier and prettier!"

"Uncle, you're looking younger and younger!"

"Haha, you sweet-talker. If your cousin were half as good as you, your aunt and I wouldn't have to worry."

"Are your older brother and his wife not home?"

"They left early this morning by plane to travel abroad. All they do is play, never tend to proper business—really hopeless!" Hu Shiyou shook his head, then turned his gaze to Chen Yang.

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm Lin Wei's husband, my name is Chen Yang." Chen Yang respectfully bowed to Hu Shiyou and his wife.

Hu Shiyou gave Chen Yang a careful look, then nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad—handsome and sharp, you're a good match for our Weiwei."

Lin Wei heard this and the corners of her mouth twitched upward. Chen Yang just smiled without speaking.

After the greetings, Hu Shiyou invited Chen Yang and the four of them to enter his villa.

Hu Shiyou seemed like a workaholic. Before Chen Yang could even sip his tea, he was summoned to the study.

"Chen Yang, with your current finances you could handle the Commoners' Building project alone. Why bother partnering with Miss Zhu Zhu?" Hu Shiyou doubted Chen Yang's decision to team up with a Hong Kong businessman.

Chen Yang explained, "Uncle, my main business is in Dongjiangsheng, and I don't have time to shuttle between Dongjiangsheng and Shencheng. Miss Zhu has extensive real‑estate experience and we've worked together pleasantly before. Partnering with her on the Commoners' Building is currently the best option."

Hu Shiyou said with some concern, "The total investment of your two companies exceeds ten billion yuan. Without someone reliable to oversee it, haven't you considered the risks?"

Chen Yang wasn't too worried about Hu Shiyou's concern, saying, "Su Mingyue is my and Lin Wei's classmate and close friend. With her watching over things here, there shouldn't be any major issues. Even if she can't handle something, I can rush over from Dongjiangsheng in just a day."

Hu Shiyou was merely reminding Chen Yang, from an elder's perspective, about investment risks. Since Chen Yang had made preparations, he dropped the matter.

"Chen Yang, actually Shencheng's future prospects are much better than Dongjiangsheng's. While the current policies are favorable, you should shift your business focus here."

As a Reborn Person who had lived in Shencheng for over twenty years, Chen Yang naturally knew that Shencheng's future outshone Xingcheng's. But since Lin Wei intended to stay and work in Qingshui City, he had no choice.

"Uncle, Lin Wei's career is in Dongjiangsheng, and being separated from her for long periods would harm our marital harmony."

"What's the big deal? Just transfer her job to Shencheng." Hu Shiyou dismissed the worry, saying, "With my connections in Shencheng, arranging a job for my niece is no problem."

Chen Yang chuckled, "Uncle, if you can persuade her to develop in Shencheng, I might consider expanding my investments here."

Hu Shiyou immediately summoned Lin Wei to his study.

"Weiwei, I've arranged a job for you at the Shencheng Municipal Government. How does that sound?"

"Uncle, I have a job I like in Qingshui City—why would I come to Shencheng?" Lin Wei pouted, then glared at Chen Yang and snapped angrily, "Honey, are you scheming behind my back?"

Chen Yang shrugged and gave a wry smile. "This is your uncle's idea; it has nothing to do with me."

Seeing Chen Yang back down so quickly, Hu Shiyou shook his head helplessly and said to Lin Wei, "What's good about staying in that godforsaken place Qingshui City?"

Lin Wei replied, "Qingshui City has my ideals; Shencheng doesn't!"

Hu Shiyou snorted, "Little girl, ideals are nice, but reality is harsh. Qingshui City's decline is an inevitable result of progress; no matter how hard you try, you can't change that."

Lin Wei stood firm. "Uncle, thank you for your kindness, but I still want to realize my ideals in Qingshui City."

Hu Shiyou asked, "Then can you accept Chen Yang staying in Shencheng for a long time?"

Lin Wei shook her head decisively. "No way!"