Chapter 62: Anyone Would Choose the House

As soon as they reached the doorstep, Zeng Shen could hear the lively chatter inside, punctuated by bursts of boasting and his parents' laughter.

Peering in, he saw the living room was packed.

There were three uncles from the Zeng family, Zeng Youxin's family, Mayor Li, the Yan family head and his son Yan Li, neighbors from nearby estates, including the Li family from next door, and Lin Gui, the village's richest man, with his children and some unfamiliar faces who seemed to be business owners from town.

Those who couldn't find seats in the living room were sitting on chairs borrowed from the Li family's estate, occasionally joining in the conversation, praising Zeng Shen's parents.

Even though he expected many visitors, Zeng Shen hadn't anticipated so many. He frowned and turned to leave, planning to return when the crowd thinned out.

Xiao Ai, noticing his intent, covered her mouth and laughed, "Master, if we don't show up, they won't leave."

"Sigh," Zeng Shen sighed deeply, "Alright, let's find a quiet corner to reappear and go back in."

When Zeng Shen and Xiao Ai reappeared at the door, all eyes turned towards them eagerly.

Some younger family members even exclaimed:

"They're back, finally!"

With everyone's attention on them, Zeng Shen led Xiao Ai inside and addressed his parents, who were stuck entertaining the guests in the living room:

"Dad, Mom, Uncles, hello everyone."

"Hello, Uncles and Aunties," Xiao Ai echoed.

The atmosphere in the living room grew even more lively.

"Haha, Zeng and Miss Alice are much more polite than our kid," joked Lin Gui, the village's richest man.

An elderly woman, whom Zeng Shen had never met before, chimed in, "Indeed, they're not only polite but also a handsome couple. They're like a golden boy and jade girl."

"Yes, a perfect match," someone else agreed.

Seeing them return, Wu Xiane immediately stood up, "Zeng, Xiao Ai dear, you're back. Oh, it's already noon. You must be hungry. I'll go make lunch for you and everyone."

"Sister, let's not eat at home this noon. I'll treat you all to lunch at the Good Luck Grand Hotel in town," suggested the Yan family head.

"No, no, that's too much trouble," Wu Xiane shook her head.

"It's no trouble at all. My in-laws own the place, and they can give us a good discount," the Yan family head insisted.

A businessman in the building materials trade, overhearing the mention of the Good Luck Grand Hotel, quickly interjected, "Oh, going to the Good Luck Grand Hotel? Sister, let me treat you all. I have a twenty-person table voucher there."

"No, please," Wu Xiane quickly declined.

"It's no problem, Sister. I'm in a good mood today and want to treat everyone," the businessman laughed.

Before Wu Xiane could refuse again, Zeng Shen said, "Mom, can you really cook for this many people at home? Why not accept Mr. He Shan's offer today, and we can return the favor another time?"

Hearing Zeng Shen's words, He Shan, the building materials businessman, looked excited, "Nephew, I like what you said. It's settled then. Let's all go to the Good Luck Grand Hotel."

Soon, everyone was seated at the Good Luck Grand Hotel.

There were six tables, each seating ten people.

At the main table sat Zeng Shen's family, Uncle Bald Zeng, Zeng Youxin, Mayor Li, Lin Gui, the Yan family head, the village chief, and He Shan.

If the meal were hosted by the Yan family head, He Shan wouldn't have had the opportunity to sit at the same table as Zeng Shen's family. He had seized the chance to join this table and was actively engaging to keep the atmosphere lively.

Others, too, after a few drinks, were chatting more freely, offering toasts as they went.

However, Zeng Shen, citing the need to drive later, refrained from drinking. Instead, Xiao Ai drank with them, even helping to deflect some of the toasts aimed at his parents from his eldest uncle.

As the meal progressed, Yan Li, sitting at the neighboring table, watched Xiao Ai, who had consumed numerous drinks without showing any signs of intoxication, elegantly wiping her lips, and was secretly amazed.

How could this foreign woman drink so much?

"Miss Alice, your drinking capacity is impressive. You're outdrinking all of us," Mayor Li remarked suddenly.

"You're too kind, Mayor," Xiao Ai replied.

Mayor Li continued, "I heard from Youcai that you toured the village this morning to scout for a factory site. Have you found a suitable location yet?"

"Mayor Li, I haven't decided on a site yet. The new city construction in Jinhai is urgent, so I plan to entrust Uncle Youcai to help choose a location in the next couple of days," Xiao Ai replied calmly.

In an instant, all eyes at the table turned to Zeng Youcai.

Hearing Xiao Ai's request to help choose a factory site, Zeng Youcai sobered up instantly, surprised.

"Xiao Ai, you must be joking. I'm just a farmer. How could I know how to choose a factory site?"

"Uncle, I'm not joking. I believe, as a local, you know this area better than I do and would know where a factory would be suitable," Xiao Ai replied.

"No, no, I really can't," Zeng Youcai shook his head.

Zeng Shen chimed in, "Dad, don't be too quick to refuse. Let Xiao Ai finish."

Zeng Youcai, hearing his son, frowned slightly, giving him a meaningful glance.

Xiao Ai continued, "I understand your concerns, Uncle, but there's no need to worry. Once you determine a suitable site, I'll choose it. If there are houses there, I can purchase them at two to three times the current local market price, or exchange them for a seventy-square-meter apartment in the new city development in Jinhai."

"Wow!"

The room fell silent at Xiao Ai's words.

She had made it clear that whoever owned land in the chosen site would become a beneficiary of demolition compensation, potentially making a significant profit.

They could even opt for an apartment in the central city.

A central city apartment was valued at around 15,000 per square meter. A seventy-square-meter flat would be over a million.

Who wouldn't choose the house in such a scenario?

Many present were thinking along those lines, eagerly eyeing Zeng Youcai, pondering how best to curry favor with him.

After all, many held several old properties.

Hearing Xiao Ai's offer, Zeng Youcai considered for a moment and said, "Since Xiao Ai says so, I'll help choose a site."

"Thank you, Uncle," Xiao Ai raised her glass, clinking it with Zeng Youcai's, and after taking a sip, said, "Uncle, Auntie, I have to return to Jinhai for some matters. I'll leave with Zeng now, and once you've selected a site in the next couple of days, I'll come back to start the investment."

"So soon?" Wu Xiane said, a hint of reluctance in her voice.

"Mom, we'll be back in a while," Zeng Shen reassured her with a smile.