Jiangnan Base City

"This..." Chu Tianxiong pondered for a moment. "I've spent the whole month cultivating, and left everything to the new general manager we just hired. I'm not too clear on the current situation."

"But two months ago, things were developing quite nicely. We'd put down roots in all Six Great Base Cities, at the very least. Restaurants, wineries, medicinal herb farms, orchards—almost every Base City had the facilities to go with them."

"You're... thinking of something new?"

"Mm." Chu He nodded. "Let's open another toy factory and have it make a little thing for me."

"A toy factory?" Chu Tianxiong looked from Chu He to Chu Xi. "Chu Xi doesn't even like toys. Why open a toy factory?"

After explaining some of his reasons to Old Chu, Chu Tianxiong nodded. "All right. I'll give you the contact details for the general managers of the Six Great Base Cities in a bit. You can talk to them yourself."

"I've been thinking of going to the Greater Khingan Mountains these next couple of days, so I won't be around to help you with this."

"The Greater Khingan Mountains?" Chu He looked up. "Are you planning to let the old man unleash his youthful spirit and experience the thrill of the wilderness again?"

"Haha, something like that." Feeling the strength of his War God Level power, Chu Tianxiong took a deep breath. "I was thinking... I should at least kill a couple of lord-level monsters..."

"Of course! Sounds great!" Chu He immediately agreed.

He knew this had nearly become an obsession for Old Chu. Whatever the reason, all he needed to do was support him.

Compared to his father's peace of mind, what did the Jiuzhou Group matter?

Anyway, there were only a little over two months left before the Extreme Martial Arts Gym announced Luo Feng's death, and Chu He was about ready to start his plan to win people over.

If Old Chu wanted to go to the Greater Khingan Mountains, then he could go unwind.

Jiangnan Base City.

In Mingyue Residential Quarter, Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan were still waiting in anguish.

Although Luo Hua had already bought a detached villa in the same residential quarter as Zhen Nan's parents, he had continued living at home these past few months, comforting the old couple from time to time.

Back in January, after President Zhou paid them a personal visit, Luo Hongguo and Gong Xinlan learned that Luo Feng was suspected to be dead.

However, the Extreme Martial Arts Gym had yet to confirm the news.

In March, Xu Xin also learned about it. Even though she was still at school, she could hardly focus on her studies anymore.

Today, July 19, Chu He had returned to the city.

Downtown, at the Jiuzhou Group's Jiangnan Base City Headquarters Building.

"President Chu, you can leave this to our Jiangnan Base City Branch. We'll take care of it, no problem."

Ye Likang, the Jiuzhou Group's general manager in Jiangnan Base City, thumped his chest as he promised.

"Maybe the Jiangnan Region can't compete with the Northeast Region in heavy industry, but when it comes to light industry, I'm not bragging when I say we're number one in the world!"

"Even before the Great Nirvana, the Jiangnan Region was the country's center for light industry. It's the same now."

"Don't worry, President Chu. I'll get this toy factory set up just right!"

"I certainly believe in Jiangnan Base City's strength in light industry. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come here in person."

Chu He blew the foam from the surface of his tea and took a small sip before adding, "As for the staff for this toy factory and the general manager, do you have any good recommendations, Manager Ye?"

Ye Likang glanced at Chu He's warm smile, but couldn't glean anything useful from his expression. He had no choice but to ask cautiously, "I was wondering, President Chu..."

"Drop the 'President.'" Chu He frowned.

"Right, right! Chu! Chu!" Ye Likang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Heavens only knew how much more imposing this President Chu was than Old President Chu when he'd frowned just now!

Ye Likang felt as though the entire office had turned into a storm-tossed sea, and he was a cruise ship bobbing on the waves, liable to sink at any moment.

"May I ask what you'd like me to do, Chu? I'll follow your lead without question."

"If we haven't chosen anyone yet, there's no need to rush. I have to visit the Inspectors of the Extreme Martial Arts Gym and Thunder Dojo here in Jiangnan Base City first." Chu He set down his teacup.

"Chu, I..." Ye Likang hesitated for a long moment, then finally said, "I'm just an ordinary person. I can't even get close to those important figures!"

"What are you thinking?" Chu He said with a laugh and shook his head. "I meant we should put the toy factory on hold for a few days. I need to meet with the two Inspectors before I can discuss the manager positions with you."

"I'll visit the two Inspectors in person, naturally."

"Especially Inspector Lei Meng of the Thunder Dojo. As it happens, I also have a connection to the Thunder Dojo."

"Oh, I see!" Ye Likang nodded vigorously, then began praising him. "President Chu really is young and accomplished, with such a meticulous mind..."

Compliments poured from his mouth one after another, until even Chu He started to feel embarrassed.

"Enough, enough!" Chu He quickly raised a hand to stop him. "Manager Ye, if there's nothing else, how about showing me around the building?"

"Speaking of which, the last time I came to Jiangnan Base City, the Jiuzhou Group didn't have such an impressive building."

"Haha, that's no trouble!" Now that the conversation had turned to something he knew well, Ye Likang finally relaxed and laughed. "I'll personally show you around, President Chu."

"President Chu, technology's advanced these days. Construction teams can put up a building very quickly. From the start of construction to opening its doors, this building took only a month or two..."

As he spoke, the two of them left the office and toured the building from top to bottom.

The next morning, at the Thunder Dojo Main Hall in Jiangnan Base City.

As Inspector of Jiangnan Base City, Lei Meng was a well-known Advanced War God.

With his Thunder Dojo affiliation, and Chu He being an Advanced War God himself, there was no conflict of interest between them. Lei Meng wasn't the brute his name might suggest; instead, he and Chu He got along very well.

When he learned that the Jiuzhou Group belonged to Chu He's family, he repeatedly promised that the group would be safe in Jiangnan Base City from then on.

Chu He didn't expect Lei Meng to actually protect the Jiuzhou Group's development. He'd be more than satisfied if Lei Meng simply let him know before any of the other major powers tried to target the group.

"Heh!" A gleeful look crossed Lei Meng's face. "Little brother Chu, there's no need to visit the Extreme Martial Arts Gym's Inspector."

"Last year, their Inspector was suspected of being trapped in the Ancient Civilization Ruins. I've spent the past six months or so keeping them firmly in check."

Chu He didn't comment on that.

Everyone in the world knew that the Thunder Dojo and the Extreme Martial Arts Gym were always at each other's throats, competing for supremacy.

Hong and Thunder God were close, but they tacitly approved of the competition between their subordinates.

"Trapped? In that case, I should visit Inspector Luo's home and pay my respects." Chu He furrowed his brow, looking every bit like a War God devoted to his family business.

"If you want to go, Little Brother Chu, then by all means. Our rivalry with the Extreme Martial Arts Gym doesn't extend to their families."

Keeping the Extreme Martial Arts Gym in check was Lei Meng's responsibility, but he held no personal grudge against Luo Feng.

So while he didn't support Chu He's plan to visit Luo Feng's family, he didn't oppose it either.

"Once you do, Little Brother Chu, your Jiuzhou Group will be absolutely secure in Jiangnan Base City!"

"Hahahaha! Then I'll take you up on that, Brother Lei."

On the morning of the third day, Chu He arrived at Mingyue Residential Quarter as promised.

Tomorrow is New Year's Day. I hope you all have a wonderful evening on the last day of 2024.