Chapter 271

After returning to Yanjing, it was already past 11 a. m. at noon.

It was noon on January 4th.

Duan Fei and Liu Erwa each drove a Knight and a Range Rover to the airport to pick someone up.

After the car was handed to Lin Feng, Duan Fei got into the Range Rover and returned to the Fierce Tiger Gym together with Zhao Xiaoyang and the others.

Lin Feng drove and asked Ouyang Moli what kind of place she wanted to live in.

Ouyang Moli had a tourist visa, so her stay would not be long.

So there was no need to arrange a rental.

Ouyang Moli wanted to live together with Tang Mi.

Tang Mi's residence was Building 2, Unit 902 of the Wealthy Cartier complex, which had ample space.

Originally, Tang Mi had disagreed.

But Ouyang Moli lowered her stance and even agreed to pay half the rent.

Tang Mi couldn't bring herself to refuse, so she had to agree.

On the surface she was cheerful, but in her heart she kept cursing Moli for being shameless.

After dropping Tang Mi and Ouyang Moli off at Building 2, Unit 902 of the Wealthy Cartier community, Lin Feng left.

Today was another busy day.

After lunch and an hour's rest, Lin Feng drove to Daqi Media Company to check the progress of the preparations for 'National Treasure'.

The preparations were nearly finished, and starting filming later this month would pose no problem.

During this time, we can thoroughly polish the script.

The established production crew is all based in Yanjing.

At 2:30 p. m., Lin Feng summoned over a dozen crew members for a meeting.

Those present were not particularly famous, but they had rich work experience as directors, screenwriters, and so on.

During the meeting, these people put forward many of their own opinions.

Some of the issues were valid, but Lin Feng was dissatisfied with others.

If we followed their suggestions, it would surely become another melodramatic love story draped in mystery and treasure‑hunting trappings.

Someone pointed out that the portrayal of some supporting characters in the script was insufficient and too stereotypical.

They hoped to make a small adjustment to the script.

For example, the maid serving the heroine, Song Ling'er—played by Zhao Yuwan—could have a scene added where she is captured by the enemy army and then commits suicide for her country.

In Lin Feng's original script, this maid accompanied the heroine in jumping into the sea and had little screen time.

Such a change……

Lin Feng thought it over and then nodded his agreement.

This undoubtedly gave Zhao Yuwan more screen time; according to the script plan, she gained several extra minutes.

Lin Feng left everything else unchanged.

Next he asked how the prop preparations were coming along.

The props mainly consisted of weapons, armor, costumes, and also the warships used in naval battles at that time.

The head of the props department replied, having adopted the samples provided by Gu Yun Culture Company,

Just the imitation armor alone required ten thousand sets, and for filming the naval battles, twenty warships could be rented, with the rest handled by special effects.

Only twenty warships?

Lin Feng was dissatisfied, shaking his head and saying, 'That would look too fake. Isn't there still two hundred million left in the budget? Take out half of it, rebuild the warships at a one‑to‑one scale, and build as many as we can.'

These warships don't need to be actually usable; it's enough if they can float on water for half a year.

Although this would cost money, it would save a large amount of special‑effects expenses…

After Lin Feng finished speaking, the crew stared at each other in disbelief: one hundred million to build imitation ancient warships!

With today's industrial capacity, if we don't consider the lifespan of wooden ships and use cheap timber, each would cost only tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand.

We could build several hundred of them!

Lin Feng finally reminded them, 'After they're built, we still need to check their quality; otherwise, if any mishap occurs during filming, it won't be good.'

The Battle of Yashan took place in late March, in southern waters, so it's not cold anymore.

Filming in the same period leaves us with over three months of preparation time, which is sufficient.

'That's settled then!'

Having said that, Lin Feng stood up and left the meeting room.

The crew members did not leave.

The bosses just move their mouths while the underlings run themselves ragged.

Lin Feng's small change means the crew's shooting schedule has to be redrawn.

Leaving the basement of Jiachen Dasha, Lin Feng called Mu Nian.

'Boss, good afternoon!'

After the call connected, Mu Nian's cheerful voice came through.

'Where are you?'..

Lin Feng asked.

'I'm at home! I'm making dumplings—do you want to come over and eat?' Mu Nian asked.

'Sure! I'll come over after work.'

After hanging up, Lin Feng drove straight to the Xinshi Xiaoqu community.

Building 3, Unit 1002.

Lin Feng pressed the doorbell.

After the door opened, Mu Nian looked at Lin Feng with surprise, "Aren't you supposed to come over after getting off work?"

Lin Feng laughed and said, "I'm getting off work right now!"

"Boss, please come in!"

Mu Nian stepped aside and invited Lin Feng inside.

After changing his shoes, Lin Feng entered the living room and saw that the dining table already had neatly arranged rows of dumplings.

Each row had eighteen.

The dumpling wrappers were store-bought, and the filling was her own minced meat and chive mixture.

"You wrapped so many!"

Lin Feng laughed and said.

Mu Nian, while skillfully wrapping dumplings, said, "Wrap some extra, freeze them in the fridge, then when you want to eat, just take them out and boil them directly—it's convenient and hygienic.

Especially in the morning, if you wake up late, breakfast is sold out and expensive; making a batch of dumplings can last a week.

Lin Feng nodded and said, "I see you're quite idle, huh!"

Mu Nian caught the meaning in Lin Feng's words and said, "But managing over a thousand apartments is actually quite easy."

"Hmm?"

Lin Feng was puzzled.

"I knew you'd come to inspect the work, just wait!"

After saying that, she went to the kitchen to wash her hands.

Then she took out a map of Yanjing City from the drawer under the coffee table, along with a notebook.

After Lin Feng sat down on the sofa, Mu Nian sat beside him and began to explain.

"Look at this area—there are nine buildings total; I've designated it as Zone One. This is Zone Two with twenty-one buildings…

Within these zones, each has at least sixty-seven apartments. I've calculated that during the rental and move‑out process, the most frequent task is cleaning.

Next comes changing lock cores, and damage to electrical appliances, etc.

In each zone I've assigned one or several cleaning aunts and signed contracts with them…

Mu Nian finished speaking, and Lin Feng looked astonished.

Just then, Mu Nian's phone rang.

Lin Feng glanced at the caller ID and saw it was a cleaning aunt from Zone One.

After she answered, the other party said a few words, and Mu Nian laughed, "Thank you, Aunt Yang! Remember to change the apartment's password and send it to me by text. Okay, okay…"

Upon hearing that, Lin Feng knew someone had moved out, and the cleaning aunt had just finished her work and was reporting to her.

"How do we handle the deposit refund?"

Lin Feng asked.

"The cleaning aunt first covered the cost. Boss, let me tell you, these cleaning aunts have the sharpest eyes—they can spot all kinds of problems tenants cause in the apartment.

For example, they've repainted walls after graffiti, or thrown trash onto the ceiling, or deliberately clogged the toilet with objects… I've learned a lot from them these past few days.

Moreover, with so many units in a zone, just the cleaning work can support several people, earning more than what they'd make at a cleaning company.

Because cleaning isn't only needed when tenants move out; sometimes lazy tenants need a visit for upkeep… People nowadays are just getting lazier!"

"I don't know how you came up with this idea."

Mu Nian finished speaking, and Lin Feng shook his head with feeling.

Mu Nian seemed to think Lin Feng looked down on her laziness, and said, "I'm not idle at all! I have to inspect these neighborhoods every day, and incidentally change the door lock passwords.

Managing so many properties seems busy only because all the tasks pile up together.

Moreover, I've saved you a substantial amount of expense, Boss!

Look at the previous records—just for cleaning, I've calculated that it would cost a third more. Doing it this way, I can save hundreds of thousands each year!

Of course, this is still a trial phase, and many problems will arise. During this process I'll summarize experience and compile them into a work report.

If I ever stop doing this and you hire someone else to manage, having the work report will make it easy to get started."

Lin Feng laughed, "I wouldn't want to dismiss an employee like you. Keep doing well, and if you do a good job I'll give you a raise."

"Thanks, Boss! I'm going to cook now."

After saying that, she got up and went to the kitchen to boil water.

Lin Feng ate thirty dumplings in one go.

So full!

Lin Feng rubbed his belly, saw Mu Nian had eaten only ten dumplings, and laughed, "Eat some more!"

Mu Nian said, "Eating too much at night will make you gain weight."

Lin Feng added, "It's fine to go out more, stroll around, shop, buy new clothes, accessories, cosmetics, and so on.

If you're short on money, you can draw an advance and just give me the receipt.

Also! Yanjing has lots of fun places—there's a forest park, a large amusement park, or you could go see the Great Wall…

Lin Feng muttered on and on.

Mu Nian widened her eyes and looked at Lin Feng.

Since her parents divorced, no one has ever cared about her food, clothing, or leisure.

At half past six in the evening, Lin Feng rose and said, "Let's go, rest early. If it gets cold at night, turn on the air‑conditioner so you don't catch a chill. If you're worried about the electricity bill, I'll cover it."

After stepping outside, Mu Nian looked grateful and said, "Thank you!"

Lin Feng waved his hand, "No need to be polite—I also need someone to help me manage these properties."

After saying that, Lin Feng turned and left.

Seeing Lin Feng enter the elevator, Mu Nian then closed the door.

What she had just thanked him for was not Lin Feng giving her a job, but knowing that her cousin had run into bad luck.

Because her cousin had called her.

The reason was that she had been arrested for doing shady work, and they wanted Mu Nian to go pick her up.

She also mentioned Du Yang's fate.

The Joy Fitness Center was shut down, its owner Du Yang had committed multiple fraud offenses; although he was dead, most of his property was confiscated.

After saying that, she again begged Mu Nian to let her off, saying she would never dare again.

Mu Nian, of course, paid no attention and simply hung up.

She knew that someone like her cousin, once helped, would stick to her like stubborn glue.

Thinking of her cousin Li Muqiu's last words, that pleading tone, it seemed as if she herself had caused her to become like this.

That's strange!

So her cousin ending up like this certainly isn't a coincidence.

Soon she thought of Lin Feng.

Initially, Lin Feng had driven to the entrance of the fitness center, and that night he also called to ask about her family situation……

With Lin Feng's financial resources, dealing with a small boss and someone like her cousin would be extremely easy.

Mu Nian is very smart; she quickly guessed the general idea.

She of course knew why Lin Feng was so good to her.

Because she is beautiful, he wants to be friends with her.

But he is rich and powerful, good-looking, and there who knows how many women around him.

She is merely one of his 'prey'.

Even knowing all this, she couldn't bring herself to dislike Lin Feng.

Upon seeing Lin Feng, she felt very familiar, as if they had known each other in a past life.

Mu Nian didn't know whether she should keep being rational all the time.

That is, keeping distance from Lin Feng.

For now she would continue like this, waiting until she had saved enough money to return to her hometown and buy a place, then find a decent man to marry and live a good life.

Or she could follow her feelings; if she liked him, she could be friends with him……

Mu Nian felt torn.

She thought, no wonder everyone likes Prince Charming and domineering CEOs.

Princes and CEOs are both handsome and rich, able to easily satisfy all kinds of needs of ordinary women.

In TV dramas, they are always devoted.

But in reality, they divide their feelings toward women into many parts.

Even a tiny fraction of those many parts could knock an ordinary woman unconscious.

Mu Nian took out a coin from her pocket, held it in her hand and shook it,

muttering, 'Heads means I like him, tails means I keep my distance!'

After saying that, she tossed the coin into the air.

After catching it in her hand, she slowly moved the hand covering the coin.

It turned out to be heads!

"Again!"

"Again!"

One, all heads.

How could this be!!

Mu Nian curiously flipped over the other side of the coin.

Ah!

It turned out to be a fake coin, with heads on both sides!

Who made this fake coin?

That's really despicable!