Chapter 97: Unexpected Joy

Chen Yang turned off his phone, planning to rest at home for a day and do nothing. But things didn't go his way. Not long after noon, Lin Wei dragged him out of bed.

"Honey, what are you doing? You don't need to turn off your phone just to sleep at home! Everyone's been looking for you; my phone's about to blow up." Lin Wei was angry. She thought something had happened to Chen Yang, so she rushed back anxiously. Never expected Chen Yang was actually sleeping in.

"How can you sleep without turning off your phone?" Chen Yang looked helpless. He just wanted some quiet, but he couldn't get it.

"Don't sleep, we have something to discuss."

"What is it?" Seeing Lin Wei's stern expression, Chen Yang had no choice but to force himself to focus.

"Near the city centre, beside the Clear Water River, there's a plot of land originally developed by the Zhang Group, but it was abandoned for some reason. At today's government meeting, the boss recommended you take it over. Deputy Mayor Meng also voted in favor."

Chen Yang looked bewildered, not understanding Lin Wei's meaning. "You're looking for a real estate developer to handle development! I'm just a agricultural products seller—what can I do?"

Lin Wei said: "Isn't your friend Liu Shijie a real estate developer? Have him take a look; maybe it'll work out."

Chen Yang still didn't get Lin Wei's meaning. "Besides the Zhang Group, Qingshui City has other real estate developers. Why must I team up with Liu Shijie to handle this?"

Lin Wei said: "Today the senior leaders held a meeting, originally to discuss revoking the Zhang Group's qualification to develop that plot. Deputy Mayor Meng spoke up for the Zhang Group, saying not to let someone like Zhang Daguo, an experienced and capable entrepreneur, develop it—should we let a vegetable seller do it instead? My boss thought Deputy Mayor Meng was targeting you, so he fought to get the project for you."

Chen Yang was completely confused. He had never even met Deputy Mayor Meng. Even if he had business competition with Meng's nephew Meng Bin, it was fair and square. How could that offend anyone? "Honey, does Deputy Mayor Meng have a grudge against our family?"

"No!" Lin Wei shook her head and explained: "Deputy Mayor Meng's nephew recently took 500,000 from Zhang Jun. And the plot the Zhang Group took is exactly the one Deputy Mayor Meng is responsible for. The city's senior leaders suspect there might be irregularities, so they called the meeting to discuss reclaiming that land."

After hearing Lin Wei's explanation, Chen Yang's doubts cleared away like clouds parting to reveal the sun. It turned out Meng Bin had been opposing him relentlessly because he had received a benefit of 500,000 from Zhang Jun.

What made Chen Yang feel wronged was that he hadn't reported Meng Bin's bribery to the relevant authorities. If Deputy Mayor Meng flew into a rage over this, wouldn't he be completely mistargeting?

Thinking this over, Chen Yang helplessly shook his head and gave a wry smile. This is truly "sitting at home, misfortune falls from the sky"!

"Honey, what exactly does Deputy Mayor Meng mean?"

Lin Wei said: "I don't know either. The meeting was of high rank; as secretaries we aren't qualified to sit in. From what the boss said, Deputy Mayor Meng looks down on you. She recommended you take on the project out of a sense of injustice."

Chen Yang was speechless. That senior female mayor meant well, but she was overestimating this junior. Investing in property and developing real estate are two completely different tracks. As a reborn person with foreknowledge, if he were just investing in property, Chen Yang would certainly handle it with ease. Switching to real estate development, he'd be a pure novice.

"Is this project absolutely mandatory to take on?"

"No, not really. The boss merely recommended you. To actually acquire that land for development, you still need the senior leaders to verify your qualifications and capabilities."

Chen Yang immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He felt the senior leaders of Qingshui City were still wise. Really letting an outsider like him handle real estate development would be too child's play.

However, since it was the Zhang Group's land, he had to get involved somehow. So he put his phone battery back in and called Liu Shijie.

"Chen Yang, you little brat, finally alive? Your whole harem of beauties has been looking for you; my phone's been blown up."

"Shijie bro, don't talk nonsense—my wife's here!"

"Oh oh, my mistake, my mistake—it's your staff who've been looking for you."

"We have a plot of land here, location not bad—it's land the government reclaimed from the Zhang Group. Are you interested in coming to take a look?"

"Zhang Group's land? Are the procedures all clear?"

"It's the information my wife's leader gave me; it should be fine."

"Sure, I'll bring people over right away to have a look."

Liu Shijie had just hung up when Shen Anna's call came in. She asked Chen Yang when he would return to Xingcheng.

Then Yexin, Liu Qingqing, Su Mingyue, and Zhao Xiaoli also called one after another, asking basically the same question.

After Chen Yang replied to each of them, he sighed helplessly at Lin Wei. "Dear, now you know why I turned off my phone, right?"

"Serves you right!" Lin Wei gloated. "Who let you go around causing trouble? You've even ended up with a harem—quite the achievement!"

Chen Yang said sternly: "Don't listen to Liu Shijie's nonsense—I'm still quite devoted when it comes to feelings."

Lin Wei snorted: "Heaven is high and the emperor far away—if you have someone out there, I wouldn't even know!"

Chen Yang said: "If that's the case, then I'll satisfy your wish!"

"You dare!" Lin Wei pinched Chen Yang hard.

Chen Yang picked her up and tossed her onto the bed, they fooled around for a while, finally soothing her little temper.

He actually couldn't figure it out either. Obviously a cold goddess, yet once married to him she turned into a jealous little wife. Could his rebirth also help change someone's nature?

Think about it carefully: since Chen Yang's rebirth, the personalities of those around him have changed to some extent. Besides Lin Wei, Liu Qingqing, Su Mingyue, Zhang Jun, Zhao Shunfa, and Tang Kun also show some differences. Even Lin Jianguo is quite different from his previous life.

Because of Chen Yang's changes, others changed as well. Could this be the legendary butterfly effect?

Lin Wei went back to work feeling satisfied. Chen Yang, after being tossed around by her, lost his urge to sleep. So he drove to the vicinity of the plot reclaimed from the Zhang Group to have a look.

Just taking one glance, a strong premonition welled up in his heart: Liu Shijie would definitely be deeply attracted to this land!

Because this plot is not only in the city centre but also right at the confluence of the Clear Water River and the Waterside River, the scenery is exceptional.

Moreover, the plot covers a broad area—estimated at least thirty mu. Whether used to build a luxury residential complex or to create a large commercial centre, it holds limitless potential and development space.

Such a treasure of land, yet the Zhang Group didn't think to develop it first, instead running off to Xingcheng to muddy the waters of the International New City. No idea what Zhang Daguo was thinking.

Of course, Chen Yang also has to thank Zhang Jun, that brainless second-generation rich kid. If he hadn't given Meng Bin 500,000, this plot might not have been reclaimed by the government.