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People say that when you go to Shanghai, you must see the Huangpu River, and when you go to Jing'an, you must visit Jing'an Temple.

Qiu Shanglin considered himself an ordinary person. After resting for a while, he whispered to Hua Ge in the room for a moment, then excitedly dragged them out to play.

Hua Zi volunteered to be the tour guide. His idea was to first visit the Huangpu River, explore the more distant areas, and then slowly visit the attractions in Jing'an District. However, Shang Lin had his own considerations and went to Jing'an Temple first.

Legend has it that Jing'an Temple was built during the Three Kingdoms period (Sun Wu era) and was not called Jing'an Temple until the Song Dynasty, when it was renamed Jing'an Temple, a name it retains to this day. It was a very popular place of worship in Shanghai, but during the Cultural Revolution, it became a target of widespread criticism, and most of its buildings were destroyed. It was only after the government implemented its religious policies that it was gradually rebuilt and its incense offerings flourished once again.

There are devout believers in every era. People and vehicles come and go in front of the temple gate, where monks greet visitors with their hands clasped and eyes lowered. Wisps of incense smoke can be seen rising from the hall. Led by the welcoming monks, we entered the temple. In the main hall, several elderly women with white hair were devoutly worshipping Buddha. The temple was lush with flowers and trees, quiet and elegant. Just a door away, it felt like a world apart.

More than a decade or so later, we will no longer be able to feel this tranquility.

Shanglin thought to herself as she watched as Brother Hua respectfully wrote her name on the merit record and donated eight hundred yuan.

She frowned slightly, just as Hua Ge finished writing and was about to talk to her. Seeing this, he smiled and said softly, "Don't worry, I won't make you pay."

In his youth, he had committed numerous murders, his body stained with blood. The older he got, the more convinced he became of divine justice. In recent years, he had been temporarily assigned to work under Qiu Shanglin, where he reformed his ways and stopped engaging in illicit activities. Many of the wealthy businessmen he met were Buddhists, and he attended several sermons there, gradually becoming a believer himself. Jing'an Temple was a famous ancient temple in Shanghai, close to his hotel. Whenever he came to Shanghai, he would stop there to chant sutras and become familiar with the monks, always donating a considerable amount of money. Eight hundred yuan, no more, no less. As he was writing, he intended to write his own name, but then remembered Qiu Shanglin's early brilliance. However, as the saying goes, heaven is jealous of talent, so he signed it with her name, as a prayer for blessings and to accumulate some merit.

Shanglin remained silent.

She doesn't reject religion; in fact, she prefers Buddhism over other religions. However... she always felt that while having a psychological anchor is good, it can easily make one unambitious and unable to think independently.

I shook my head and laughed at myself for overthinking.

Changsheng and Xialin had already run off to play elsewhere. Changsheng chased after Xialin, who was about to hit him, and screamed as he circled around the poplar tree. Shanglin, seeing the monk's disapproving expression and sticking out his tongue, hurriedly went to dissuade and stop him.

The day passed quickly. They drove around aimlessly, with Shanglin specifically directing the car to areas with a high concentration of snack shops. The three of them got out of the car and ate like crazy. After eating their fill, they drove on, ate again, and drove on again, until Xialin was clutching his stomach and groaning in pain.

The next day, they went crazy for another whole day. On the third day, Changsheng and Xialin discovered that Qiu Shanglin and Hua Ge had mysteriously disappeared.

It wasn't really a mystery; they just left early and returned late, always in a hurry. They would leave in the morning and not return by the time they went to bed at night. For three to five days in a row, you wouldn't see them at all.

Although there was no older sister to boss them around and restrict their freedom, and someone to accompany them to explore Shanghai, Xia Lin still felt that even though Qiu Shang Lin was quite annoying, without her around, it was actually a bit... you know... less fun.

Qiu Shanglin could readily recall all sorts of historical anecdotes, and not only that, she could predict future trends. She also knew all the famous snack shops in Shanghai, and could navigate the alleys and lanes, leading them into homes to chat with locals. When she wasn't around, the people accompanying them only dared to take the two children to clean restaurants and places with fewer people, fearing they would be held responsible if something went wrong.

Even the best amusement park can't withstand going there repeatedly.

On their seventh day in Shanghai, before going to bed, they knocked on the door but received no answer. Xia Lin went back to his room, crawled into his brother's bed, and nudged Chang Sheng, who was watching TV: "Brother, do you think my sister went?"

A program introducing Tai Chi was playing on TV, and Changsheng was completely engrossed. Xia Lin asked several times before finally saying impatiently, "She appears and disappears like a ghost, what are you worried about?"

“We’ve never been to Shanghai before, I’m afraid she’ll be kidnapped by a child trafficker.”

Chang Sheng scoffed: "The beggar girl will try to abduct her? I'd be more afraid she'll sell the beggar girl out of her hands and then help her count the money!"

Xia Lin pouted, "Yeah, right." She scurried inside, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.

Changsheng stared at the television.

What on earth did this girl do?

She went out with Hua Ge, could it be that they went to see Yin Yeyao?

I'm not as jealous as Xia Lin and the others made it up. I just think that since we've known each other before, we should be friends when we meet again. We haven't seen each other for years, and she shouldn't meet with her friends alone. Actually, I kind of miss Yin Yeyao... Yin Yeyao's cold expression flashed through my mind. Ugh, only a jerk would miss him...

He truly wronged Shanglin and Yin Yeyao.

Yin Yeyao was indeed in Shanghai, but the two of them had never met.

Shanglin and Hua Ge only went out for work.

She visited several factories, met with several managers of the Cat Card Cat Boutique store to check accounts, and went to Pudong to look at land and discuss various matters. She didn't want to take the lead, so she always pretended to be a follower, claiming to be Hua Ge's relative's child, which angered the managers who criticized Hua Ge for blurring the lines between public and private matters, bringing a child along to check accounts…

She listened to these complaints and secretly covered her mouth to laugh.

Some astute individuals, knowing the company's inner workings, also suspected that she was the legendary CEO. Qiu Shanglin was adept at acting; whenever there was a risk of being seen through, she would immediately feign madness and act like a ten-year-old child. Seeing her act this way, others couldn't easily expose her.

The head office has repeatedly received complaints that Hua Ge, the head of the Southern Regional Office, is blurring the lines between public and private matters, and is bringing his relative's child into internal work. Although the child is just a kid, it's hard to say that he might be a corporate spy—which has made Hua Qianshan laugh at Shanglin for several years.

Shang Lin had long coveted land in Pudong, Shanghai, and had even bought a few small plots on the side, but limited funds prevented her from acquiring large tracts of land like in other cities. Now that she had the money, she decided to use it all to purchase a single, contiguous plot in Pudong.

Landlady...

Shaking as she signed the contract, Shang Lin was on the verge of tears. "I guess I'm like a landlady now... no, even a landlady doesn't have any surplus grain."

I used all my money to buy land. Hua Qianshan told me he wanted to invest in real estate. Now where am I supposed to find money?

Real estate? Is real estate such a good investment?

It's all about government connections! I have neither money nor connections, so why should I invest in real estate?

She thought to herself with a sense of righteous indignation, "I'm just a child, how can you ask a child for money?"

Real estate? Real estate is great! It's a profitable industry now and in the future, but I don't have any money right now. I support you in doing it. Take money from Mocha Cat's account and set up another company. You can figure out the connections yourself. This time, you'll be the legal representative, and I'll be the shareholder. I'll only take the dividends and won't be involved in anything. Whether we make a profit or a loss, I won't care. It'll be worry-free and effortless.

Hua Qianshan was so angry with her that he yelled and slammed his fist on the table while shouting into the phone, which startled his secretary so much that she put down her documents and ran out.

He was trembling with anger. "You, you, you! Are you even human? I helped you grow your company, and you're threatening me that I have no money or manpower and that I have to find them myself?"

Shang Lin scoffed, "I never thought about getting involved in the real estate industry."

Hua Qianshan's chest heaved. "Then why are you buying land here and there and leaving it there?"

She pretended to be clueless, saying, "Oh, I've started greenhouse vegetable farming, I grow flowers and plants, I've developed agriculture..."

A blunt interruption: How do you explain telling me to cultivate good relations with government departments while also asking us to contact other real estate companies?

She hesitated, unable to speak, but when she was pushed to the limit, she simply resorted to shamelessness, saying, "I don't want to get involved in the real estate industry, but you can get involved if you want!"

Hua Qianshan sneered. "You said it yourself, so I'm quitting right now. Mocha Cat's boss, you'd better find someone else!"

If it were a ten-year-old child, he would definitely be terrified and beg for mercy, but unfortunately Qiu Shanglin is more mature than him.

They won't back down an inch.

You wouldn't dare! The penalty for breach of contract in our contract is terrifyingly high, and you also hold a large number of shares in my company, receiving exorbitant dividends and salaries every year. You're not even fully grown yet; you won't go solo.

Hua Qianshan was silent for a moment, then said, "Aren't you afraid that I'll grow up and fly again?"

She smiled, like a bird perched on a high branch. If you have ambition, I can't keep you here. I'm just helping you create an environment where I can also make money on the side, and you'll owe me a favor—why not?

She was well aware that real estate was incredibly profitable.

However, she is still young and lacks energy. Although Hua Qianshan takes care of everything, he is not family after all... Even one's own flesh and blood will have ulterior motives once they grow up, let alone an ambitious outsider.

Although Mocha Cat's business was developing rapidly, it couldn't stop Hua Qianshan's burgeoning ambition. She sensed this but didn't want to hinder him, so she simply let him try venturing into the real estate industry. She would invest some money and only be a shareholder. In this way, she could keep Hua Qianshan, satisfy his ambition, and at the same time reduce her own risk.

Don't assume that real estate is a sure-fire way to make money.

The country's policies are currently unstable and constantly changing; who knows if they'll become cannon fodder? They lack proper connections and could easily become scapegoats—it would be wise to remind him to partner with companies he has reliable relationships with…

Hmm, if Hua Qianshan's company does well, we could consider selling the land we have to him for development... He just wants to eat and not work, hehe...

Yin Yeyao in Shanghai

"Never talk to a stranger."

"If you're scared, find a train attendant or police officer. I've already spoken to the attendant in my carriage, and she'll take care of you."

"When the train stops for a break, stay on the platform and don't wander around, or you'll miss your train."

"Don't flaunt your wealth. Pretend you're from a poor family, and never mention money, factories, or companies."

Xia Lin frowned, then grinned, "Don't worry, Brother Hua. With my sister around, no one can take us away." Maybe my sister can even take someone back to do manual labor.

Hua Zi chuckled and ruffled his short hair: "You're so clever for your age—your sister is still just a child! It's a pity we can't find anyone we know who's going to Huaiqiao City on the way, I'm afraid something might happen on the road."

Qiu Shanglin stood in the hotel lobby, her lips pursed, a small leather bag slung across her shoulder, smiling sweetly at them.

Hua Zi looked the three children up and down, sighed, and thought they didn't look like children from a poor family at all!

Look at Qiu Xialin, who's always ready for some serious exercise. His sister forced a plaid baseball cap on his head, which he's now impatiently swinging around. He's wearing a pink short-sleeved T-shirt with a monkey pattern, loose-fitting, lightweight linen capri pants, and white skate shoes with red stripes—oh, by the way, this is another big event for Mocha Cat Company, a collaboration with a well-known international sports brand to create a new brand. To promote this brand, they'll be holding a national youth football friendly league in October. Xialin didn't take it seriously, thinking these skate shoes were too effeminate, but they were among the first batch of trial products.

Hua Zi noticed that he wasn't sitting still, leaning to one side and the other side, his left foot brushing against his right, and his right foot brushing against his left. Hua Zi felt his heart was bleeding. These were such expensive shoes, and he was just wasting them like this...

Looking at Li Changsheng again, he was quite unique today, dressed in camouflage. It was rare for him to have an outfit that wasn't from Mocha Cat, but judging from the quality and workmanship, Hua Zi thought that if he hadn't rolled up his pants, the camouflage outfit would have looked really high-end...

Just then, Shanglin scolded, "Changsheng, pull your trousers down, go catch some fish!"

Xia Lin mocked him, and Shang Lin turned to him, even more annoyed: "Put your hat on! Where did you get your hair cut? Look at you, what's the difference between you and a street thug? Why don't you just give me a fancy haircut!"

He pouted, absentmindedly pulling down the brim of his hat, and muttered under his breath, "What do you know? This is called trendy. The barbershop said this hairstyle is all the rage in Shanghai..."

She scolded, "Big waves are all the rage in Shanghai, why don't you get a perm?"

Pouting, "My hair isn't long enough!"

Shanglin reached out to hit him, but he reacted quickly, leaping away and hiding behind Changsheng, grabbing his large backpack: "Go ahead and hit me, if you hit me, I'll scatter all your precious seeds!"