The Old Man Is Just Stubborn

Mayor Zhao, his hand clasped with Lu Chengwen's, emerged from the conference room, his excitement palpable.

"Chengwen, I can't thank you enough today! You've saved my old face. With this, I finally have something to report to the province, my colleagues, and the people of Xuecheng City."

"Oh, i-it was nothing."

Lu Chengwen's mind was still reeling, trying to process what had happened that day.

Mayor Zhao, noticing Lu Chengwen's distracted state, didn't press the matter further.

He leaned in closer, "This year's honor is undoubtedly yours. Be prepared. I'll get the blueprints approved by the higher-ups as soon as possible. Very soon. And anything you need, just tell me. We'll establish a special shantytown working group to specifically assist your Great Sage Group. I promise you, from the city committee and city government's side, all of Great Sage Group's work will have a green light! We'll escort your efforts."

"Thank you, Mayor Zhao, Secretary Wu."

Secretary Wu smiled, "President Lu, our Mayor Zhao is genuinely grateful. You should visit more often in the future and chat with the leaders."

"Yes, yes, absolutely."

Lu Chengwen walked out of the building in a daze. Zhao Gang opened the car door. Lu Chengwen stood at the entrance, glancing back at the towering city hall, feeling as if he were dreaming.

The final investment structure:

The Lu Family injected 50 billion; the Xu Family injected 20 billion; the Chen Family injected 12 billion; the Leng Family injected 4.9 billion.

Total: 86.9 billion.

Additionally: Hu Shuhui donated 30 million in the name of the group for the construction of all public restrooms in the shantytown.

Indeed, it was soon, so soon that Lu Chengwen could hardly believe it. That same afternoon, the provincial approval came through.

As soon as the news spread that someone was taking over the shantytown project, the four major families acted in unison, investing over 80 billion. The provincial leaders immediately put aside all other work and convened relevant personnel to discuss the matter.

Not only were the blueprints approved, but a professional guidance team was also sent to discuss and finalize the specific details.

The golf course.

Lu Guanghong, Leng Tianhao, Xu Zhiyun, and Chen Qingbin, four influential figures, were playing golf.

Lu Guanghong swung his club, hitting a good shot, looking pleased with himself.

"It's been a while since the four of us gathered like this, hasn't it?"

Leng Tianhao, wearing gloves, stood to the side, organizing his clubs. "Enough with the pleasantries. Aren't we all just here to escape for a bit?"

Xu Zhiyun chuckled, "What can we do? Mayor Zhao is desperately looking for someone to take over that messy old city renovation project. Might as well hide for a while!"

Chen Qingbin smiled, "Old Lu, your son has been quite impressive lately. I heard he quietly acquired another high-tech company. This kid dares to do any kind of business. Does he even understand high-tech?"

Lu Guanghong's expression turned displeased.

The other three families had inherited their wealth through generations; in other words, their ancestors were already wealthy.

Only Lu Guanghong had built his fortune from scratch.

He started his business in his twenties, making the Great Sage Group a top enterprise in Xuecheng City by his thirties, and by his forties, Great Sage Group had become a behemoth across the Northern Kingdom.

Unfortunately, he fell seriously ill in his early fifties.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so worried about handing over the business to Lu Chengwen.

But it was strange. Lu Chengwen, despite his lack of formal education, was a shrewd businessman, rarely losing and always coming out ahead.

This father and son had plenty of money, but little in the way of formal education.

This led the other three families to mock and ridicule them, both openly and subtly.

They were the aristocracy, wealthy for generations, while Lu Guanghong was from humble beginnings. They looked down on him.

Lu Guanghong snorted, "What the hell is high-tech? Aren't all high-end businesses run by people? Are kings and generals born, or made? Sooner or later, my son will acquire all the businesses of those self-proclaimed noble, good-for-nothing corporations."

The other three exchanged glances, feeling a sense of disdain.

"You have the money, yes, but education is your weak point. Most importantly, it's bloodline! We are all nobles. No matter how rich you are, we still see you as a nouveau riche."

Hmph!

Chen Qingbin said, "Putting everything else aside, that shantytown business is a definite no-go. Anyone who touches it is doomed. Your young masters should know this!"

Xu Zhiyun added, "Is that even a question? You sent your CEO to the meeting, while my family sent my youngest daughter, the vice president. Heh. Mayor Zhao will surely understand my meaning."

Leng Tianhao took a shot and cursed, "Stupid ball!"

He then threw the club to the caddie. "I did hear Chengwen say he intended to take on this project."

"Him?" Lu Guanghong laughed. "My son, I know him. He's more cunning than a monkey's offspring. He wouldn't get involved in such a troublesome affair."

At that moment, Long Aotian approached from a distance, with Hua Xuening, dressed in sportswear, by his side.

Leng Tianhao smiled, "Let me introduce a young and promising talent, Long Aotian. He's returned from the border and is quite strategic."

Long Aotian smiled, "This junior greets the heads of Xuecheng's four great families."

Lu Guanghong glanced at him. "Isn't this the kid who caused trouble at my house the other day? Leng Tianhao, why did you bring him around?"

Leng Tianhao chuckled and said, "I need a piece of land recently. He has helped me a lot; he's a talent."

Lu Guanghong snorted, "If you have business, why don't you look for your son-in-law? Why look for an outsider?"

"My son-in-law?" Leng Tianhao polished his club, "Can I rely on him? He's a stingy fellow. I'm starting to doubt if I should still have my daughter engaged."

Lu Guanghong said displeased, "Old Leng, what do you mean?"

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"What do I mean?"

Leng Tianhao smiled and said, "Whoever can get that piece of land for me, my daughter will be engaged to them. That's what I mean! Your son is arrogant and doesn't give me any face at all."

Lu Guanghong felt a surge of anger and cursed his son internally for being useless.

"I'll handle his affairs. I'll go back and talk to him."

Long Aotian smiled at this moment and said, "I have some news. Hmm, it's quite surprising."

"What news?"

Lu Guanghong didn't take it seriously and was about to swing his club.

Long Aotian smiled and said, "General Manager Lu Chengwen announced at the meeting that he will invest fifty billion yuan to develop and build the shantytown area."

Lu Guanghong swung his club and it fell directly to the ground.

The three old men went to help him up, each with barely concealed smiles of schadenfreude.

Xu Zhiyun said with a smile, "Old Lu, what's there to be so excited about? Your son is a brilliant strategist; he must have discovered a business opportunity to invest! Haha, but fifty billion, tsk tsk tsk, that's truly a generous sum. I hope you can recoup your investment, I really hope so, hahaha!"

Chen Qingbin also chimed in, "Exactly, exactly. It's okay even if you lose money. Anyway, your Lu family is rich. Just pretend that fifty billion never happened, and consider it averting disaster by losing money! The people of Xuecheng will be grateful to you two foolish father and son!"

Lu Guanghong clutched his lower back and said angrily, "Get lost! All you know is to kick someone when they're down."

The two old men burst into laughter, while Leng Tianhao said coldly, "Alright, this kid isn't penniless; he just looks down on me. With fifty billion to work for the government, yet he's dragging his feet when I need him to secure a piece of land. Humph."

Lu Guanghong gritted his teeth in pain, "Old Leng, there must be some misunderstanding regarding this matter. Let me go back and ask him before I give you an answer."

"No need to ask. He simply doesn't think highly of me as his future father-in-law," Leng Tianhao sneered. "The Lu family's fortune might be coming to an end. Shantytown renovation? Humph, he actually dares to get involved. He seems so shrewd usually, but he just hands over money when someone scares him a little. What brilliant strategist? I think he's just an idiot."

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

Leng Tianhao said, "Without the Lu family, I can still secure that land myself! Aotian!"

"Yes, Mr. Leng."

Long Aotian said, "I've already spoken with the sales office. That piece of land can be acquired for just 1.9 billion yuan, and it has been approved for commercial use. Congratulations, Mr. Leng. Relying on this prime piece of land, the Leng family will surely make substantial profits in the coming years."

Leng Tianhao looked at Lu Guanghong, "Did you hear that? Without the Lu family, the Leng family can still rise again! My Qingqiu is the brilliant strategist. Your son is pouring money down the drain for the government, while my daughter hasn't wasted a single minute and is focused on doing great things! Having sons... what good are sons? They can't even compare to a single toe of my daughter!"

Lu Guanghong was in severe pain and also so choked with anger that he couldn't breathe properly.

Moreover, the news had arrived, and facts spoke louder than words. He was speechless for the moment.

At this moment, Long Aotian received another message, which shocked him.

"What is it?" Leng Tianhao walked over and gestured as if to hit a ball.

"Qingqiu... she announced an investment of 4.9 billion yuan to join the shantytown renovation plan."

Leng Tianhao's reaction was identical to Lu Guanghong's just moments before; both dropped their clubs at the crucial moment of preparing to swing.

Yes, even the motion of dropping the club was exactly the same.

Xu Zhiyun and Chen Qingbin helped him sit next to Leng Tianhao again. The two of them were trying so hard to suppress their laughter that their faces were about to explode.

Leng Tianhao's back was drenched in cold sweat, "What is Qingqiu thinking!?"

Long Aotian sighed, "It must be Lu Chengwen who instigated her."

Leng Tianhao endured the pain, "Lu Guanghong, did you know all along?"

Lu Guanghong looked at him, "Just look at my back! Do you think I'd fall like this if I knew!?"

Leng Tianhao thought about it and realized it was true. He too was caught off guard by this news. There was no need to act this way.

The two old men had calmed down, but they were both feeling incredibly frustrated.

Xu Zhiyun and Chen Qingbin were thoroughly amused.

One of them was a nouveau riche, a bumpkin who was used to being overbearing because of his wealth.

The other was like a grasshopper in autumn, with only a few days left to live, yet he always pretended to be their equal.

Well, now you two are unfortunate brothers. You still want to form an alliance?

A great alliance! Haha, they'll squander your money together. Aren't you happy? Surprised?

The caddy placed the ball. Chen Qingbin held his club, unable to stop smiling, "What lovely weather! Ah, I don't know why, but why do I feel so good today?"

Xu Zhiyun burst into laughter, "Naturally. Lu Chengwen is a brilliant strategist, and Leng Qingqiu is a peerless prodigy. They are a perfect match, enviable, truly enviable!"

The two old men were laughing, while the other two old men, with the same gesture, clutched their lower backs, fuming with anger.

Chen Qingbin began to prepare to play, gesturing back and forth as he said, "Golf is a noble sport, not something for ordinary bumpkins to play with families that are about to decline. If you don't play it well, you might just pull your back!"

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

Leng Tianhao had been thoroughly provoked by the sharp remarks of Chen and Xu, and it was clear they were mocking him and Lu Guanghong together. He was extremely angry.

Upon seeing this message, he gently pressed Long Aotian's wrist and gritted his teeth, whispering, "Tell him after he swings."