Chapter 39: The Old Man Is Just Stubborn

Stepping out of the conference room, Mayor Zhao gripped Lu Chengwen’s hand, his excitement undisguised.

"Chengwen, I owe this all to you today! You’ve saved my reputation. Now, I finally have an answer for the provincial authorities, my colleagues, and the folks back in Snow City."

"Oh, it—it was nothing."

Lu Chengwen’s mind was reeling; he was still trying to process what exactly had happened today.

Sensing Lu Chengwen’s distraction, Mayor Zhao kept his words brief. He leaned in close and whispered, "The honor this year will be yours; be prepared. I will have the blueprints approved by the higher-ups as soon as possible—very quickly, I promise. Also, let me know if you need anything. We will establish a dedicated slum redevelopment task force to coordinate specifically with your Dasheng Group. I guarantee that within the municipal committee and the city government, all of Dasheng Group’s operations will have the green light. We will clear the path for you."

"Thank you, thank you, Mayor Zhao, Secretary Wu."

Secretary Wu smiled and added, "Mr. Lu, Mayor Zhao is thanking you from the bottom of his heart. Do come by more often in the future to chat with the leadership."

"Yes, of course, absolutely."

Lu Chengwen walked out of the building in a daze. As Zhao Gang opened the car door, Lu paused at the entrance and looked back at the towering city hall, feeling as though he had just woken from a dream.

...

The final investment structure:
The Lu family invested 50 billion; the Xu family invested 20 billion; the Chen family invested 12 billion; the Leng family invested 4.9 billion.
Total: 86.9 billion.
Additionally, Hu Shuhui donated 30 million in the name of the group for the construction of public restrooms throughout the slum district.

It was indeed fast—so fast that Lu Chengwen could hardly believe it. By that afternoon, the provincial authorities had already issued their approval. Once word reached them that someone had stepped up to take on the slum redevelopment project—and that the four major families had collectively pledged over 80 billion—the provincial leaders set aside all other work and immediately convened the relevant personnel to discuss the matter.

Not only were the blueprints approved, but a professional advisory team was dispatched to discuss the specifics and finalize the plans.

...

At the golf course, the four titans—Lu Guanghong, Leng Tianhao, Xu Zhiyun, and Chen Qingbin—were playing a round.

Lu Guanghong swung his club, delivering a perfect shot, looking thoroughly pleased with himself. "It’s been a long time since we four gathered like this, hasn’t it?"

Leng Tianhao, wearing his golf glove, stood to the side adjusting his clubs. "Cut the crap. We’re all just here to dodge trouble."

Xu Zhiyun laughed heartily. "Can't help it. Mayor Zhao has been hunting for someone to take over that messy old town redevelopment project everywhere he goes. Better to hide while we can!"

Chen Qingbin smiled. "Old Lu, your boy has been doing well lately. I heard he quietly acquired a high-tech company. The kid has the guts to get into any business. High-tech—does he even understand that?"

Lu Guanghong looked displeased. The other three families relied on ancestral wealth; in other words, they were born rich. Only Lu Guanghong had built his fortune from scratch. He started his business in his twenties, made Dasheng Group a top-tier enterprise in Snow City by his thirties, and by his forties, it had become a behemoth across the entire North.

Unfortunately, he suffered a severe illness in his fifties. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so uneasy about handing the business over to Lu Chengwen. Oddly enough, while Lu Chengwen was seen as uneducated, he was a natural at business—he rarely lost money and always seemed to come out on top. The two of them had plenty of money, but neither had much "culture." This had always been a point of ridicule and snide remarks from the other three families.

They considered themselves nobility, wealthy for generations, while looking down on the Lu family as mere upstarts.

Lu Guanghong scoffed, "What the hell is 'high-tech'? Isn't all high-end business just run by people? Are the royals and nobles born better than the rest? Sooner or later, my son will acquire every one of those companies owned by those self-proclaimed noble bags of wine and rice."

The other three exchanged glances, their eyes filled with disdain. *You have the money, sure, but culture is your fatal flaw. Most importantly, it’s about bloodline! We are aristocrats. No matter how rich you are, we still see you as nothing but a nouveau riche.*

Chen Qingbin said, "Whatever else you do, that slum project is a death trap. Whoever touches it is finished. You’d better keep your successors in check!"

Xu Zhiyun added, "Needless to say. You guys sent your CEOs to that meeting, but I sent my youngest daughter, the vice president. Heh. Mayor Zhao should understand my stance."

Leng Tianhao swung his club and cursed in frustration, "Damn ball!" He tossed the club to his caddy and added, "Though I heard from Chengwen that he intends to take on the project."

"Him?" Lu Guanghong laughed. "I know my son. He’s craftier than a monkey; he wouldn't touch such a disaster."

Just then, Long Aotian walked over from the distance, accompanied by Hua Xuening in her sportswear.

Leng Tianhao smiled. "Let me introduce you to a brilliant young man, Long Aotian. He just returned from the frontier; he’s quite the strategist."

Long Aotian smiled, "Greetings to the heads of the four major families of Snow City."

Lu Guanghong glanced at him. "Isn't this the punk who caused trouble at my place the other day? Leng Tianhao, why would you keep someone like him around?"

Leng Tianhao chuckled. "I’ve been needing a piece of land, and he’s helped me a lot. He’s a talent."

Lu Guanghong scoffed, "If you have matters to attend to, why not ask your future son-in-law instead of an outsider?"

"My son-in-law?" Leng Tianhao wiped his club. "Can I count on him? He’s a miser. I’m starting to wonder if I should even let my daughter get engaged to him."

Lu Guanghong said with dissatisfaction, "Old Leng, what do you mean by that?"

"What do I mean?" Leng Tianhao smirked. "Whoever can secure that plot of land for me will get to marry my daughter—that’s what I mean! Your son is arrogant and gives me no face at all."

Lu Guanghong was fuming, silently cursing his son for being so incompetent. "I’ll handle his affairs. I’ll talk to him when I get back."

Long Aotian smiled, "There is news. A very surprising bit of news."

"What news?" Lu Guanghong asked, distracted, preparing to swing his club.

Long Aotian smiled, "Mr. Lu Chengwen announced at the meeting that he is investing 50 billion into the slum redevelopment project."

Lu Guanghong’s swing went wild, and he collapsed to the ground. The three old men rushed over to help him up, their faces masked with schadenfreude as they struggled to hide their smiles.

Xu Zhiyun laughed, "Old Lu, why so agitated? Your son is a man of grand strategy; he must have spotted a business opportunity! Haha, though 50 billion—tsk, tsk, that’s quite a bold move. I hope you can recoup your investment. I really do! Hahaha!"

Chen Qingbin added, "Exactly. Actually, it doesn't matter if you lose it; the Lu family is rich enough. Just treat the 50 billion as if it never happened—a small price to pay for peace of mind! The people of Snow City will be grateful to you two fools!"

Lu Guanghong clutched his lower back and said angrily, "Get lost! All you know is how to kick a man when he's down!"

The two old men roared with laughter, while Leng Tianhao said coldly, "Fine. So the kid isn't broke; he just doesn't respect me. He has 50 billion to throw at the government, but when I need to secure a plot of land, he gives me nothing but excuses. Hmph."

Lu Guanghong grimaced in pain, "Old Leng, there must be a misunderstanding. I’ll ask him about it and get back to you."

"No need to ask. He doesn't look up to me as a future father-in-law," Leng Tianhao sneered. "The Lu family’s luck is probably running out. Slum redevelopment? He actually dared to take the bait. He looks so sharp usually, but at the critical moment, he gets scared and coughs up his money. So much for 'grand strategy'—he’s just a coward."

Lu Guanghong gritted his teeth, "What are you talking about!?"

Leng Tianhao said, "Without your Lu family, I can secure that land on my own! Aotian!"

"Yes, Mr. Leng."

Long Aotian said, "I have already spoken with the sales department. That plot of land can be secured for just 1.9 billion, and it has been approved for commercial use. Congratulations, Mr. Leng. Relying on this golden piece of land, the Leng family will surely reap massive profits over the next few years."

Leng Tianhao looked at Lu Guanghong, "Did you hear that? Without the Lu family, the Leng family can still thrive! My Qingqiu is the real strategist. Your son is throwing money into the ocean to please the government, while my daughter hasn't wasted a single minute, focusing all her energy on important work! Having a son... what’s the point of having a son? He isn't worth a single toenail of my daughter!"

Lu Guanghong was in severe pain, and he was so furious at Leng Tianhao that he was struggling to breathe. Since the news was already out, facts spoke louder than words, and he found himself speechless.

Just then, Long Aotian received another message and looked genuinely shocked.

"What is it?" Leng Tianhao walked over, preparing to take his shot.

"Leng... Leng Qingqiu... has announced an investment of 4.9 billion to join the slum redevelopment project."

Leng Tianhao’s reaction was identical to Lu Guanghong’s; he heard the news just as he was about to swing, and he collapsed to the ground in exactly the same way.

Xu Zhiyun and Chen Qingbin helped him sit next to Lu Guanghong, their faces turning purple as they struggled to contain their laughter.

Leng Tianhao was drenched in a cold sweat, "What is Qingqiu thinking!?"

Long Aotian sighed, "It must have been instigated by Lu Chengwen."

Leng Tianhao winced in pain, "Lu Guanghong, did you know about this all along?"

Lu Guanghong glared at him, "Look at my back! Do you think I’d throw myself on the ground on purpose if I knew!?"

Leng Tianhao realized that was true; he had been caught off guard by the news too. There was no need for such an elaborate act. Both old men felt their fire extinguished, their chests tight with frustration.

Xu Zhiyun and Chen Qingbin were having the time of their lives. These two guys—one a nouveau riche buffoon who used his money to bully others, and the other a dying grasshopper trying to act like their equal—were now both "brothers in misfortune." And they were supposed to be in-laws? Perfect! Let the couple squander their parents' money together. They wondered if they were happy now, or perhaps surprised?

The caddy set up the ball, and Chen Qingbin gripped his club, grinning uncontrollably, "What a beautiful day! Say, I wonder why I’m in such a good mood today?"

Xu Zhiyun laughed, "Naturally! Lu Chengwen is a grand strategist, and Leng Qingqiu is a peerless talent. The two of them singing in harmony—it’s truly enviable!"

As the two old men laughed, the other two sat clutching their backs, fuming.

Chen Qingbin began to prepare his shot, swaying back and forth, "Golf is a noble sport, not for the average bumpkin or a family on the verge of ruin to play around with. If you don't play it right, it’s easy to throw out your back!"

At that moment, Long Aotian received another message and showed it to Leng Tianhao.

Leng Tianhao, who had been relentlessly mocked by his two rivals, was already at his breaking point. Seeing this new message, he gently pressed down on Long Aotian’s wrist, leaned in, and whispered through gritted teeth, "Wait until he swings before you tell him."