"By 2022, our Jiangnan New City will be developed into a smart super city complex, with three luxurious five-star hotels, including a super five-star White Sail Hotel. It will become Hang City's new landmark!"
As the capable woman gave her passionate presentation, the images on the projection screen constantly changed. A high-definition satellite map shifted into a three-dimensional aerial view; the original villages and towns were swiftly flattened, while skyscrapers rose from the ground one after another.
The most eye-catching of them was undoubtedly the hundred-story Sail Hotel standing west of Linjiang, a sight that set one's blood boiling.
She concluded, "It is said that a hidden dragon lies dormant in Linjiang on the South Bank of the Qian River. What we must do is let this hidden dragon soar into the sky!"
The room fell silent for a moment. The handsome man seated to Yuan Bin's left was the first to applaud.
The next moment, everyone joined in, including the bodyguards standing by the door and Guan Zhishang, who was waiting to be summoned.
The capable woman secretly let out a breath of relief, bowed, and smiled. "Thank you."
Yuan Bin turned to the handsome man and asked smugly, "Brother Mingzhe, what do you think of our proposal?"
The Jiangnan New City planning and construction proposal had been revised several times. Yuan Bin had personally participated in devising strategies and offering suggestions. He considered the final version they had just presented flawless and perfect, so naturally he wanted to show it off in front of the other man.
This effeminate man came from the Imperial Capital. He was a direct descendant of the Chen Family, one of the Capital City's seven great families. He had come south to Hang City as the Chen Family's representative to oversee the Jiangnan New City Project on the South Bank of the Qian River.
A mighty dragon.
Yet as the saying went, a mighty dragon could not suppress a local snake. No matter how great the Chen Family's appetite was, it could not possibly swallow a venture as massive as Jiangnan New City alone. Thus, it had chosen the Jiangdong Yuan Family as one of its partners to jointly develop the project.
In terms of family strength, power, and influence, the Jiangdong Yuan Family was certainly inferior to the Capital City Chen Family. But Yuan Bin, who considered himself the local snake, had no intention of bowing his head to Chen Mingzhe. He had to compete with him somehow.
As he questioned Chen Mingzhe, Yuan Bin's peripheral vision drifted toward the woman seated on the other side.
This elegant woman in a white dress was named Ye Yingxue. She was Chen Mingzhe's cousin, and according to Chen Mingzhe, she had been brought along simply to broaden her horizons.
The moment Yuan Bin first saw Ye Yingxue, at least half his soul had been stolen away.
Ye Yingxue was not the sort of woman who flaunted her charms. Though her looks and figure were exceptional, she carried herself with an aloof, indifferent air. She had not spoken a single word since sitting down, giving people the sense that she was impossible to approach.
But Yuan Bin, a veteran among women, knew very well that once such icy beauties were won over, they were often passionate as fire. Between the sheets, they were the kind that drove men wild—truly the finest of the finest!
Yuan Bin had tried showing her attention several times before, yet had failed to earn even a smile from the beauty. Instead, it had only stirred up his desire to conquer her.
In response to Yuan Bin's showboating, Chen Mingzhe merely smiled faintly. "Very impressive. I have no objections to this project proposal."
He spoke softly and delicately, with a somewhat limp tone.
"But..."
Just as Yuan Bin revealed a smug expression, Chen Mingzhe suddenly changed the subject. "Scheduling the demolition and relocation of Riverside Town for the first half of next year is too late. I hope the first phase of Jiangnan New City can begin construction at the start of next year!"
Yuan Bin froze for a moment, then hesitated before saying, "Riverside Town has more than thirty thousand residents. There are over a thousand buildings of all sizes in town, not to mention the surrounding factories and workshops. Relocation will be very difficult. We are currently conducting surveys for demolition and resettlement. Besides, the Jiangnan New City Project proposal still needs approval from the provincial council, so..."
"The project approval will pass next month!"
Chen Mingzhe directly cut him off. "What you need to do is complete the relocation of Riverside Town as soon as possible!"
Yuan Bin was instantly rendered speechless.
The momentum he had just built up was slapped down by Chen Mingzhe in one stroke.
If anyone else claimed they could secure approval for the Jiangnan New City Project next month, Yuan Bin would have treated it as a joke. Every one of those provincial council members was an old fox. Expecting their votes before the distribution of benefits had been settled was simply a fool's dream.
But Chen Mingzhe—or rather, the Capital City Chen Family he represented—truly had the confidence to say such a thing.
Yet Yuan Bin himself could not thump his chest and guarantee that Riverside Town's demolition and relocation would be completed next year. He had little decision-making power over a project this large, and his momentum immediately fell far behind.
Seeing Yuan Bin's embarrassment, Chen Mingzhe did not press him any further. He smiled and said, "Young Master Bin, I know demolition and relocation work is difficult. We can discuss this matter at length; there's no need to rush it. As long as we all cooperate sincerely, I believe we can achieve a win-win outcome."
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Given a way out, Yuan Bin hurriedly took it. "A win-win partnership."
He turned to the maid beside him and instructed, "Serve tea!"
Only then did Yuan Bin notice Guan Zhishang standing in the corner again. He frowned and beckoned to him.
Guan Zhishang immediately came over, nodding and bowing. "Young Master Yuan."
Yuan Bin said in a deep voice, "Old Guan, you said you brought a treasure for me to inspect. Let me tell you, everyone here has a keen eye. Don't try to fool me with some worthless junk and make me lose face."
The day before yesterday, Yuan Bin had received a call from Guan Zhishang, who said he had acquired a rare item and wanted him to take a look.
Yuan Bin had not thought much of it at the time and casually brushed him off with a few words. Unexpectedly, Guan Zhishang called again today to ask for instructions, so Yuan Bin simply told him to bring the item here.
Having just been needled by Chen Mingzhe, Yuan Bin was not in a good mood, so his tone was rather harsh.
Guan Zhishang's legs trembled as he listened. He knew perfectly well what would happen if he caused Young Master Yuan to lose face. He wanted nothing more than to slap himself hard. Why did I have to be so meddlesome?
Guan Zhishang had merely wanted to flatter him, which was not wrong in principle. The problem was that Young Master Yuan was not broad-minded.
If the item failed to satisfy him, Guan Zhishang's flattery would land on the horse's leg. Wouldn't he just be asking for trouble?
But at this point, Guan Zhishang had no way to back down. He hurriedly presented the item he had prepared long ago with both hands.
He had brought a square ebony box, only about three inches in length, width, and height. The box was exquisitely made, though it was not some antique relic.
"Please inspect it."
After placing the sandalwood box before Yuan Bin, Guan Zhishang withdrew his hands and stepped back. His bowed waist did not straighten again.
Yuan Bin glanced at Guan Zhishang, then reached out and opened the lid.
Perhaps out of curiosity, Chen Mingzhe and the frosty Ye Yingxue both turned their gaze toward it.
When the lid was lifted, a gold coin lay on dark purple velvet. The light it emitted instantly shone upon everyone's faces, bright and striking, yet exceptionally gentle and not at all dazzling.
"Hm?"
A flicker of surprise passed through Chen Mingzhe's eyes, and he could not help looking at Ye Yingxue.
Ye Yingxue's expression became somewhat grave.
Yuan Bin paused, then asked, "Old Guan, this is the treasure you mentioned?"
Other than being very new, shiny, and attractive, he could not see anything unusual about the gold coin.
As the young master of Golden Jade Fortune Group, Yuan Bin had seen more gold than he could count.
He had not noticed the expressions on Chen Mingzhe's and Ye Yingxue's faces.
"Young Master Yuan..."
With his fortune and life at stake, Guan Zhishang hurriedly explained, "This gold coin is extremely special. I tested it repeatedly with instruments. Its purity is 100%, without a single impurity."
"Pure gold at one hundred percent?"
Yuan Bin laughed. "Are you kidding me?"
How could there be 100% pure gold in this world? No matter how advanced modern technology was, it could not refine gold to absolute purity.
Normally, gold products sold on the market were considered pure gold at 24K.
"That was what the test showed. It's also possible that the shop's instrument wasn't precise enough..."
Guan Zhishang swallowed, leaving himself a way out before continuing, "Also, its hardness is extremely high. I tried using a diamond knife on it, but I couldn't leave even the slightest mark."
"You can try it yourself."
To prevent Yuan Bin from questioning him again, Guan Zhishang quickly offered up a diamond knife he had prepared earlier.
Yuan Bin accepted it, half believing and half doubting.
If the 100% pure gold test result could be attributed to faulty equipment, then a diamond knife failing to leave a scratch was completely unscientific. Pure gold was very soft; even a fingernail could easily leave a mark on it.
He did not immediately test the knife on the gold coin. Instead, he first slashed hard across the tea tray.
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