A Genius Mind

After the meeting ended, Lu Chengwen returned to his large office.

Li Meiqin caught up with him. "Boss, we need to talk."

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

Lu Chengwen sipped his coffee while Li Meiqin stood before his desk.

"Boss, it's practically inevitable that the shantytown redevelopment project will lose money. With your judgment, you must be able to see that it's a bottomless pit. I don't understand—why do we have to take it over?"

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

"Very good." Li Meiqin forced a smile. "I came to ask you to clear up my confusion. I hope you can teach me more."

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

"Huh?"

"Anyway, just do as I say. No matter how much effort it takes, we have to secure this project."

Li Meiqin had never heard of a lousy project requiring them to spare no effort. This project required no effort at all; all they had to do was put up the money and get started.

If Great Sage Group wanted to take it over, everyone would give them the green light. At last, a sucker had come along.

"Also, CEO Lu, salary increases need to happen gradually. We should raise them in stages according to local average wages and domestic inflation rates. Such a sudden, steep increase will make our costs far too high..."

"We won't discuss those matters anymore. And you don't need to dress like them in short skirts from now on. Wear whatever you like."

Just then, Jiang Shihan knocked and entered. "CEO Lu, Mayor Zhao has invited you to attend a meeting at the city government conference room at three this afternoon. The topic is the shantytown redevelopment project."

"Got it."

Lu Chengwen looked at Li Meiqin. "Meeting time."

Three in the afternoon.

City government conference room.

Lu Chengwen was five minutes late. Fortunately, Mayor Zhao was busy with something and had not yet arrived in the conference room.

The moment Lu Chengwen entered, he saw many familiar faces.

Qianfeng Group's executive president Leng Qingqiu, Houde Group's executive vice president Xu Xuejiao, and Xiangyun Group's executive president Chen Mengyun...

All of Xue City's Four Great Families were present. Not one chairman had attended personally; they had all sent presidents and vice presidents instead.

Needless to say, they all had the same idea.

They would never touch this project, and sending young people to offend others was the most suitable arrangement.

The moment Lu Chengwen entered, Leng Qingqiu and Chen Mengyun stood up at the same time.

Leng Qingqiu looked at Lu Chengwen and revealed a faint smile.

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

Leng Qingqiu smiled. This idiot—what did he mean, "long time no see"? They had clearly met yesterday.

Chen Mengyun was annoyed just by seeing Leng Qingqiu. She then shook Lu Chengwen's hand as well. "CEO Lu, you're as dashing as ever."

"President Chen, you look beautiful today. That dress is lovely."

Lu Chengwen had just turned to greet Xu Xuejiao when she leaped up directly, startling him. Afraid that she might fall, he hurriedly caught her.

Good grief—Xu Xuejiao clung to Lu Chengwen like a koala.

Xu Xuejiao was petite, with slender arms and legs, so she was not heavy. The important thing was... she was the vice president of Houde Group!

What was she doing hanging off him in front of everyone like this!?

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

"No. Kiss me and I'll get down."

"Stop messing around. There are so many people here!"

"What's there to be afraid of?"

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

Xu Xuejiao ignored him completely, wrapping her arms around Lu Chengwen's neck. "Did you miss me?"

"If you don't hold yourself back from trying to hurt me, I'll count my blessings..."

At that moment, the secretary opened the door and Mayor Zhao entered.

"Sorry, everyone. Things have been very busy lately. Let's begin the meeting."

Seeing a vice president hanging from Lu Chengwen, Mayor Zhao froze for a moment.

"CEO Lu, what is this..."

Lu Chengwen quickly patted Xu Xuejiao's little butt. Blushing, she got down, stuck out her tongue, and sat to one side.

Secretary Wu began speaking. After talking for quite a while, his meaning was simply that the project concerned the national economy and people's livelihood. If it remained unfinished, the city leadership would look bad before their superiors, and it would seriously hinder Xue City's economic development and construction progress. He hoped each group would consider the national economy and people's livelihood and take over the project to continue construction, and so on.

After Secretary Wu finished, Mayor Zhao began his speech. He first let out a sigh.

"Distinguished leaders of the business world, I know all of your fathers. I also know this project is complicated and a hot potato. But Xue City needs to overcome this hurdle. Whichever group is willing to invest and carry this project through from start to finish, I, on behalf of the municipal party committee, the city government, and Xue City's thirty million residents, would like to express my gratitude. This is a great undertaking that benefits the present and brings prosperity to future generations. I hope everyone can view this matter with a long-term perspective."

That sounded nice enough.

In reality, he was asking them to spend money and effort to take over the government's mess.

The group looked at one another, but no one spoke.

Hu Shuhui sat at the far end of the table, looking at Lu Chengwen, and suddenly said, "Mayor Zhao, we are businessmen. In business, we talk business. Asking us to invest in a deal with no returns—isn't that asking us to throw our hard-earned money into the wind? Minghui Group definitely won't wade into this muddy water."

Then he pointed at Lu Chengwen. "He has money! Who doesn't know that the Lu Family, foremost among Xue City's Four Great Families, is immensely wealthy—rich enough to rival a nation? If he puts up the money, if he's willing to cover the larger share, then I'll cover the smaller share."

Mayor Zhao turned to look at Lu Chengwen.

At that moment, Lu Chengwen's phone rang. He immediately stood up. "Sorry, everyone. I need to take a call. I'll be right back."

After that, the group chattered away as more than a dozen entrepreneurs spoke in turn. Their content differed, but the theme was the same.

They were all polite and spoke in lofty, high-sounding terms.

In short, one word: no money.

Some cried poverty, some claimed they had their own difficulties, and some said they did not know how to handle infrastructure construction... There were all sorts of excuses.

Mayor Zhao's expression grew increasingly grim.

A bunch of capitalists who ate people alive without even spitting out the bones!

Whenever they wanted concessions or benefits from the city, each of them acted high and mighty. But when their own interests were at stake, every last one of them shrank back.

Anger appeared on Mayor Zhao's face, and the atmosphere in the meeting began to turn oppressive.

Secretary Wu did his best to mediate, listing all the conveniences and benefits the municipal party committee and city government could provide, urging everyone to overcome their difficulties and respond positively.

Mayor Zhao did not even need to look to know that these black-hearted bastards could not be counted on.

Especially Hu Shuhui—he spoke the most unpleasantly.

Whenever it was his turn to speak, his central point was always the same: Lu Chengwen is richer than me. If he's willing to pay, then I'm willing to pay!

The meaning was that simple, but he dragged it out in such a fragmented, obnoxious way.

Throughout the entire room, only he spoke so arrogantly. He refused to pay a single cent, yet he just kept talking.

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

"So if someone else puts up money, you'll put up money too?"

"If Lu Chengwen pays, I'll pay! He has far more money than I do!"

Mayor Zhao pointed at Secretary Wu. "Fine. Make a note for Minghui Group: if someone puts up money, they'll put up money."

"Hey, I... I'll only contribute a small share!"

Mayor Zhao looked sternly at everyone. "Anyone else?"

With this kind of thing, what people feared most was someone taking the lead.

Once one person took the lead, the rest would be put in an awkward position.

At that moment, everyone shot Hu Shuhui angry looks.

Secretary Wu let out a breath of relief. At least they had found an opening. Mayor Zhao was still shrewd and experienced.

But the remaining people were no fools either.

One after another, they stated that if Lu Chengwen was willing to invest, then they would invest too, because he had the most money.

Mayor Zhao stood. "I'm stepping out for a moment."

Lu Chengwen was relieving himself. The moment he came out, he ran into Mayor Zhao.

"Mayor Zhao."

"Mm. Cheng Wen, has everything been well at home lately?"

"Thank you for your concern. Everything has been fine."

"Ah." Mayor Zhao sighed. "There's no rush to go back. Take a walk with me."

They strolled through the small courtyard behind the city government.

Mayor Zhao spoke frankly. "Cheng Wen, what do you think about this shantytown redevelopment project?"

Lu Chengwen said, "Your planning has a problem."

"Oh? Tell me specifically."

Lu Chengwen said, "That area originally belonged to six villages. Now you want to open it all up, connect it into one area, and build an integrated residential community. With such a large area, you need to construct over two hundred buildings, widen and pave new concrete roads, renovate the sewers, and build supporting facilities..."

"So where do you think the problem lies?"

Lu Chengwen said, "There's no problem with any of that. You even designed subway stations. There's nothing wrong with those things."

"Tell me the problem."

"The problem is that the area lacks a commercial district."

Mayor Zhao was taken aback. "This is land for residential use, and it isn't far from nearby commercial districts."

"So what? What do ordinary people look for when buying homes? You've planned schools, hospitals, even parks, but there isn't a single commercial district over there! It's inconvenient!"

Mayor Zhao lowered his head in thought.

Lu Chengwen turned around. "Jiang Shihan! The blueprints!"

Jiang Shihan, who had been following from afar, immediately ran over and pulled the blueprints from her bag.

"Here, Mayor Zhao. Every part of the design is reasonable. It's clear the municipal party committee and city government place great importance on this project. But think about it: what if we designed a circular commercial complex here, with entertainment, shopping, dining, cinemas, and even a stadium for concerts... Not only would the shantytown take on a completely new look, but the entire northern district would be revitalized!"

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, it had been promised that it would all be used for public welfare projects, with no factories or commercial buildings constructed.

Back then, someone had proposed building a small commercial district to attract residents.

But compared to Lu Chengwen's proposal, that plan had been far too conservative.

Lu Chengwen was planning something huge.

With one casual circle of his pen, he would be claiming this vast stretch of land!

Mayor Zhao pondered in silence.

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

Lu Chengwen said, "Calculate it. Figure out how much they want and compile a total. I can pay it. As long as you develop it according to this approach, redesign the blueprints, and replan the routes. In that case, there can't be only this few subway stations—they need to serve every area. And the roads need to connect to the ring road, with a separate expressway entrance as well..."

Mayor Zhao looked at Lu Chengwen. He was astonished both by his grand vision and by the fact that, today, this man had neither cried poverty nor dodged the issue. Instead, he seemed deeply invested in it.

From the fact that his secretary carried blueprints with her, and that the blueprints clearly bore many of his own markings, it was obvious that he had been paying attention to this project all along.

"If—I mean if—the project can be revised substantially according to your vision, would you be willing to take it over?"

Lu Chengwen smiled. "Why else would I have studied it?"

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

Lu Chengwen smiled and patted Mayor Zhao on the shoulder. "Just watch me!"