Genius Mind

The meeting ended, and Lu Chengwen walked back to his large office.

Li Meiqin hurried after him, "Boss, we need to talk."

"Oh, sure, let's talk. Shihan, coffee."

Lu Chengwen drank his coffee while Li Meiqin stood in front of his desk.

"Boss, the shantytown project is almost guaranteed to lose money. With your judgment, you must also see it's a bottomless pit. I don't understand, why do we absolutely have to take it over?"

Lu Chengwen smiled, "How's the coffee?"

"It's great," Li Meiqin forced a smile. "I'm here to seek your wisdom, I hope you can teach me more."

Lu Chengwen said, "The Buddha said, it cannot be spoken."

"Huh?"

"In short, just do as I say. No matter how much effort it takes, you must secure this project."

Li Meiqin had never heard of this "no matter how much effort it takes" for such a trashed project. This project wouldn't take effort; they could start it with just money.

The Great Sage Group was taking over, and everyone was giving them the green light. They had finally found a fool willing to be the scapegoat.

"Also, Mr. Lu, salary increases need to be gradual, raised slowly according to our local average wage levels and domestic inflation standards. Suddenly increasing them so much will incur huge costs..."

"We won't discuss these matters. Also, you don't need to wear short skirts like them anymore; wear whatever you like."

At this moment, Jiang Shihan knocked and entered, "Mr. Lu, Mayor Zhao has requested you attend a meeting at the municipal government conference room at 3 PM. The discussion is precisely about the shantytown renovation project."

"Got it."

Lu Chengwen looked at Li Meiqin, "Time for the meeting."

3 PM.

Municipal Government Conference Room.

Lu Chengwen was five minutes late. Fortunately, Mayor Zhao was also busy with something and wasn't in the conference room yet.

As Lu Chengwen entered, he saw many familiar faces.

Leng Qingqiu, the Executive President of Qianfeng Group, Xu Xuejiao, the Executive Vice President of Houde Group, and Chen Mengyun, the Executive President of Xiangyun Group...

The four major families of Xuecheng City were all present. What's more, not a single chairman attended personally; it was all their presidents and vice presidents who came to the meeting.

Needless to say, the thinking of all these families was the same.

They absolutely would not touch this project. It was most suitable to send the younger generation to offend people.

As Lu Chengwen entered, Leng Qingqiu and Chen Mengyun stood up simultaneously.

Leng Qingqiu looked at Lu Chengwen and showed a slight smile.

Lu Chengwen smiled back politely and shook her hand, "President Leng, long time no see."

Leng Qingqiu smiled. This idiot, what "long time no see," they had just met yesterday.

Chen Mengyun felt annoyed seeing Leng Qingqiu, then she shook hands with Lu Chengwen, "Mr. Lu, still as dashing as ever."

"President Chen looks so beautiful today, that dress is lovely."

Just as Lu Chengwen was about to turn to greet Xu Xuejiao, Xu Xuejiao jumped up, startling him. Fearing she might fall, he quickly caught her.

Good heavens, Xu Xuejiao clung to Lu Chengwen like a sloth.

Xu Xuejiao was petite, with slender arms and legs, so she wasn't heavy. The crucial point was... she was the Vice President of Houde Group!

What was she doing clinging to him in broad daylight!?

Lu Chengwen nervously asked, "What are you doing? Get down!"

"I won't get down unless you kiss me."

"Stop fooling around, there are so many people here!"

"What are you afraid of?"

Leng Qingqiu picked up a document and slammed it onto the table in dissatisfaction.

Xu Xuejiao completely ignored him, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Did you miss me?"

"If you don't hold back and screw me over, I'll be thanking my lucky stars..."

At this moment, the secretary pushed the door open, and Mayor Zhao entered.

"My apologies, everyone. I've been very busy lately. Let's begin the meeting."

Mayor Zhao was taken aback when he saw a vice president hanging on Lu Chengwen.

"Mr. Lu, you're...?"

Lu Chengwen quickly patted Xu Xuejiao's little backside. Xu Xuejiao also got down with a blush, stuck out her tongue, and sat down to the side.

Secretary Wu began speaking. After a long explanation, he stated that the project was crucial for the national economy and people's livelihoods. If it continued to be abandoned, the city's leadership would look bad to their superiors and severely hinder Xuecheng City's economic development and construction progress. He hoped that the various groups would consider the national economy and people's livelihoods, take over the project, and continue its construction.

After Secretary Wu finished, Mayor Zhao started his speech, sighing first:

"Fellow titans of industry, I knew your fathers. I also know this project is complex, a real hot potato. But our Xuecheng City needs to overcome this hurdle. Whichever group is willing to inject capital and see this project through from start to finish, I, on behalf of the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Government, and the thirty million citizens of Xuecheng City, express my gratitude. This is a great undertaking, benefiting the present and future generations. I hope everyone can view this matter with a long-term perspective."

That was a nice way of putting it.

In reality, it meant: you all pay the money and do the work, taking over this mess for the government.

A group of people looked at each other, none of them saying a word.

Hu Shuhui, sitting at the far end, looked at Lu Chengwen and suddenly said, "Mayor Zhao, we are businessmen. Business is business. Asking us to invest in a deal with no profit is like asking us to throw our hard-earned money into the wind. Our Minghui Group will definitely not get involved in this mess."

He then pointed at Lu Chengwen, "He has money! Everyone knows that the Lu Family, the head of Xuecheng's four great families, is incredibly wealthy, rich enough to rival the nation! If he pays the lion's share, I'll pay the smaller part."

Mayor Zhao turned to look at Lu Chengwen.

Just then, Lu Chengwen's phone rang. He quickly stood up, "Excuse me, excuse me everyone. I need to take this call. I'll be right back."

Next, the room erupted in a cacophony of voices. Over a dozen entrepreneurs spoke one after another, their specific words varying, but their central theme the same.

All of them were polite, all of them spoke grandly.

In short, the answer was: no money.

There were those who pleaded poverty, those who cited their own difficulties, those who claimed they weren't experienced in infrastructure development... the excuses were varied and plentiful.

Mayor Zhao's expression grew increasingly grim.

A bunch of capitalists who would devour people without spitting out the bones!

When they wanted conditions and all sorts of benefits from the city, they acted like important figures, but the moment their own interests were touched, they all shrunk back.

Mayor Zhao's face was flushed with anger, and the atmosphere of the meeting turned oppressive.

Secretary Wu tried his best to mediate, speaking of various conveniences and benefits the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government could offer, urging everyone to overcome difficulties and respond actively.

Mayor Zhao didn't even need to look to know that these black-hearted fellows were unreliable.

Especially Hu Shuhui, who spoke the most offensively.

Every time it was his turn to speak, his central message was the same: Lu Chengwen is richer than me. If he pays, I'll pay!

The meaning was simple, but he delivered it in a fragmented, unpleasant manner.

He was the only one in the entire venue speaking arrogantly, not paying a cent, and just talking endlessly.

Mayor Zhao slammed the table, and Hu Shuhui quieted down.

"So, if someone pays, you'll pay?"

"If Lu Chengwen pays, I'll pay! He's far richer than me!"

Mayor Zhao pointed at Secretary Wu, "Alright, make a note for Minghui Group: if someone pays, he will pay."

"Hey, I... I'll only pay a small portion!"

Mayor Zhao looked at everyone with a stern face, "Anyone else?"

With this kind of situation, the worst part is getting started.

Once one person breaks the ice, it becomes difficult for the rest.

At this moment, everyone shot angry glances at Hu Shuhui.

Secretary Wu breathed a sigh of relief. At least there was a breakthrough. Mayor Zhao was indeed shrewd.

However, the remaining people weren't just sitting around either.

They all stated that if Lu Chengwen was willing to invest, they would, because he was the wealthiest among them.

Mayor Zhao stood up, "I'm going out for a moment."

Lu Chengwen was relieving himself. As he exited the restroom, he ran into Mayor Zhao.

"Mayor Zhao."

"Ah, Chengwen. Is everything going well at home recently?"

"Thank you for your concern, everything is fine."

"Ah, alas," Mayor Zhao sighed. "No need to rush back. Come, walk with me."

They strolled in the small courtyard behind the municipal government building.

Mayor Zhao spoke candidly, "Chengwen, what are your thoughts on this shantytown renovation project?"

Lu Chengwen said, "Your plan has issues."

"Oh? Elaborate."

Lu Chengwen said, "That area originally belonged to six villages. Now you want to connect them all, forming a single residential community. With such a large footprint, you need to build over two hundred buildings, widen and lay new concrete roads, renovate sewage systems, and construct supporting facilities..."

"So where do you think the problem lies?"

Lu Chengwen said, "Everything else is fine. You've even designed a subway station; all of that is fine."

"Tell me the problem."

"The problem is, you lack a commercial district there."

Mayor Zhao blinked, "This is residential land, and it's not far from the nearby commercial areas."

"What good is that? What do ordinary people look for when buying a house? You've designed schools, hospitals, and even parks, but there's no commercial district there! It's inconvenient!"

Mayor Zhao lowered his head in thought.

Lu Chengwen turned and said, "Jiang Shihan! The blueprints!"

Jiang Shihan, who had been following at a distance, immediately ran over and took out the blueprints from her bag.

"Look, Mayor Zhao, all the designs are reasonable, and it's clear how much the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government value this project. But, think about it, if we design a circular commercial city here, with entertainment, shopping, dining, movies, and even a stadium that can host concerts... it won't just revitalize the shantytown, it will drive the entire north city forward!"

Mayor Zhao's heart skipped a beat.

Someone had actually proposed this plan before, but no one had been as bold as Lu Chengwen.

When the land was reclaimed back then, it was guaranteed that it would all be used for people's livelihood projects, with no factories or commercial buildings to be constructed.

At that time, some people had proposed building a small commercial district to attract residents.

But their proposal was too conservative compared to Lu Chengwen's.

Lu Chengwen was planning something big.

With one casual sweep of his hand, he had claimed a large piece of land!

Mayor Zhao pondered, thinking.

After a long while, he sighed, "The people won't agree. They want buildings and demolition compensation."

Lu Chengwen said, "Calculate how much they want and get me a total. I can handle it. As long as you build it according to this plan, redesign the blueprints, and re-plan the routes, then the subway stations can't just be these few. They need to be accessible. We also need roads connecting to the ring road, and there should be a separate highway entrance..."

Mayor Zhao looked at Lu Chengwen, surprised by his grand vision and also surprised that Lu Chengwen wasn't complaining about money or playing games with him today. Instead, he seemed genuinely invested.

From the fact that his secretary carried the blueprints with him, and the blueprints clearly showed numerous marks made by Lu Chengwen himself, it was evident that this person had been paying close attention to this project.

"If, and I mean if, the project can be modified to a great extent according to your vision, are you willing to take it on?"

Lu Chengwen smiled and said, "Otherwise, why would I be studying it?"

Mayor Zhao said, "Good, but I need you to help me deal with those people inside. Can you do that?"

Lu Chengwen smiled and patted Mayor Zhao's shoulder, "Just you wait and see!"