Chapter 37: A Genius Mind

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The meeting concluded, 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 sipped his coffee as Li Meiqin stood in front of his desk.

“Boss, the shantytown redevelopment project is almost guaranteed to lose money. With your judgment, you must see it’s a bottomless pit. I don’t understand why we have to take over.”

Lu Chengwen smiled. “How’s the coffee?”

“Great.” Li Meiqin forced a smile. “I came to seek your guidance. I hope you can teach me more.”

Lu Chengwen said, “As the Buddha said, some things are unspeakable.”

“Huh?”

“In any case, just do as I say. No matter how much effort it takes, we must secure this project.”

Li Meiqin had never heard such a thing. This rotten project “no matter how much effort”? If it weren’t a big deal, the money would have been enough to get it started.

Since Dasheng Group was taking over, everyone would give the green light. It was like becoming a fool who pays for someone else’s loss.

“Also, Mr. Lu, salary increases need to come gradually. Based on our local average wages and national inflation standards, we should raise them step by step. If we suddenly raise them so much, the cost will be too high...”

“We won’t discuss that now. And besides, you don’t have to learn to wear short skirts like them anymore. Wear whatever you like.”

At that moment, Jiang Shihan knocked and entered. “Mr. Lu, Mayor Zhao invites you to a meeting at 3 p.m. in the city government conference room. They’ll be discussing the shantytown redevelopment project.”

“Got it.”

Lu Chengwen looked at Li Meiqin. “Meeting time.”

...

3 p.m.

City government conference room.

Lu Chengwen was five minutes late. Fortunately, Mayor Zhao was busy and not yet in the room.

As Lu Chengwen entered, he saw many familiar faces.

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

The four major families of Xuecheng were all present, though none of the chairpersons attended personally; only presidents and vice presidents came.

No need to say—their mindsets were the same.

They would never touch this project themselves. Sending young people was the best way to offend others.

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

Leng Qingqiu smiled faintly at Lu Chengwen.

He politely smiled back and shook her hand. “President Leng, long time no see.”

Leng Qingqiu smiled bitterly to herself—“long time no see”? They had met just yesterday.

Chen Mengyun, annoyed by Leng Qingqiu, also shook Lu Chengwen’s hand. “President Lu, still as suave as ever.”

“President Chen, you look beautiful today. Nice dress.”

Just as Lu Chengwen turned to greet Xu Xuejiao, she suddenly jumped up, startling him. Worried she might fall, he quickly caught her.

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

She was petite, with slender arms and legs—not heavy. But... she was the Executive Vice President of Houde Group!

What was she doing clinging to me in public like this!?

Nervously, Lu Chengwen asked, “What are you doing? Get down!”

“Nope. If you kiss me, I’ll get down.”

“Stop it, there are so many people here!”

“What’s to be afraid of?”

Leng Qingqiu picked up some documents and slammed them on the table in displeasure.

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Xu Xuejiao ignored her completely, wrapping her arms around Lu Chengwen’s neck. “Miss me?”

“If you weren’t tormenting me, I’d be in heaven...”

Just then the secretary pushed the door open, and Mayor Zhao entered.

“Sorry, everyone, been very busy lately. Let’s start the meeting.”

Seeing Lu Chengwen with a vice president clinging to him, Mayor Zhao was momentarily stunned.

“President Lu, what’s this...?”

Lu Chengwen quickly patted Xu Xuejiao’s small bottom. She blushed, let go, stuck out her tongue, and sat down.

Secretary Wu began speaking at length, stressing that this project concerned the nation’s livelihood. If it continued to stall, city leaders would lose face before their superiors, severely dragging down Xuecheng’s economic growth and development pace. He hoped the groups would consider the public good and take over the project to continue construction.

After Secretary Wu finished, Mayor Zhao sighed before speaking.

“Distinguished business leaders, I know your forebears well, and I understand this project is complex and a hot potato. But Xuecheng must get past this hurdle. Whichever group is willing to invest and see this project through from start to finish, on behalf of the municipal party committee, government, and thirty million citizens, I express my gratitude. This is a great endeavor benefiting both present and future generations. I hope everyone can look far ahead on this matter.”

Flowery words, indeed.

In reality, they wanted you to pay and work hard, taking over the government’s burden.

Everyone looked at each other in silence.

Hu Shuhui sat at the back, staring at Lu Chengwen and suddenly said, “Mayor Zhao, we are businessmen. Business is business. Asking us to invest in a loss-making deal is like throwing hard-earned money into the wind. Minghui Group definitely won’t get involved.”

He then pointed at Lu Chengwen. “He’s rich! Everyone knows the Lu family, the head of Xuecheng’s four major families, is immensely wealthy—richer than many nations. If he pays, I’ll pay a small share.”

Mayor Zhao turned to look at Lu Chengwen.

At that moment, Lu Chengwen’s phone rang. He quickly stood. “Sorry, everyone, I’ll take this call and be right back.”

Then a flurry of voices: over a dozen entrepreneurs spoke one after another, differing in content but sharing the same theme.

All polite, all high-sounding.

But the bottom line was one word: no money.

Some complained of hardship, some said they didn’t do infrastructure, and so on—various excuses.

Mayor Zhao’s face darkened.

A group of greedy capitalists!

When asking the city for favors and benefits, they all came forward eagerly. But when their own interests were at stake, each one retreated.

Mayor Zhao’s expression grew angrier, and the meeting atmosphere turned oppressive.

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

Mayor Zhao knew without looking that this group of cold-hearted people was hopeless.

Especially Hu Shuhui, whose tone was the harshest.

Whenever he spoke, his main point was: “Lu Chengwen has more money than me; if he pays, I’ll pay.”

Simple but rude.

He was the only one swaggering arrogantly at the meeting, refusing to contribute a penny, yet talking endlessly.

Mayor Zhao slammed the table. Hu quieted.

“Do you only pay if someone else pays?”

“If Lu Chengwen pays, I’ll pay! He’s much richer than me!”

Mayor Zhao pointed at Secretary Wu. “Note that for Minghui Group: they pay only if someone else pays.”

“I... I’m only paying a small portion!”

Mayor Zhao looked sternly at everyone. “Anyone else?”

Such matters are always tricky to start.

Once one person sets a precedent, the rest find it hard to refuse.

Everyone glared angrily at Hu Shuhui.

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

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But the rest weren’t pushovers either.

Each expressed: since Lu Chengwen is willing to invest, we’ll invest too, because he’s the richest.

Mayor Zhao stood. “I’m stepping out for a moment.”

Lu Chengwen was taking a breather when he met Mayor Zhao outside.

“Mayor Zhao.”

“Hmm, Chengwen, how’s your family?”

“Thank you for asking, all is well.”

“Sigh.” Mayor Zhao sighed. “No rush to leave, come walk with me.”

They strolled in a small courtyard behind the city government.

Mayor Zhao spoke sincerely. “Chengwen, what do you think of the shantytown redevelopment project?”

Lu Chengwen replied, “Your planning has problems.”

“Oh? Elaborate.”

Lu Chengwen said, “That area originally belonged to six villages. Now they want to connect them all into one large residential community. It covers a huge area, requiring over two hundred buildings, plus widening and paving new cement roads, renovating sewers, building supporting facilities...”

“So where’s the problem?”

“Everything else is fine. You even designed subway stations. No issues there.”

“Then what is the problem?”

“You lack a commercial district.”

Mayor Zhao was taken aback. “This is residential land, and the commercial districts nearby aren’t far.”

“So what? When people buy houses, what do they look for? Schools, hospitals, parks—you designed those. But there’s no commercial district there! It’s inconvenient.”

Mayor Zhao lowered his head, pondering.

Lu Chengwen turned. “Jiang Shihan! The blueprints!”

Jiang Shihan, trailing behind, quickly ran over and pulled the blueprints from her bag.

“See, Mayor Zhao, all the designs are reasonable, reflecting how much the party committee and government care about this project. But imagine if we designed a circular commercial city here, with amusement, shopping, dining, cinemas, even a stadium for concerts... Not only would the shantytown be transformed, but the entire northern city would be revitalized!”

Mayor Zhao’s heart skipped.

Someone had proposed this before, but no one was as bold as Lu Chengwen.

At the time of land acquisition, it was promised the area would be for public welfare projects only—no factories or commercial buildings.

Some had suggested a small commercial zone to boost occupancy.

But their proposal was much more conservative than Lu Chengwen’s.

He was planning something grand.

With one bold circle, he was claiming a vast swath of land.

Mayor Zhao mused, contemplating.

After a long pause, he sighed. “The people won’t agree. They want housing and compensation.”

Lu Chengwen said, “Calculate how much they want, total it up. I can provide that. If you redesign and re-plan the project this way, the subway stations can’t be limited to just a few; they must cover all areas. Roads need to be circular and interconnected, with dedicated highway entrances...”

Mayor Zhao looked at Lu Chengwen, surprised by his grand vision and that today he hadn’t played the poverty card or dodged the issue, but seemed genuinely invested.

Seeing the blueprints with Lu’s own annotations showed he had been closely following the project.

“If—just saying if—the project can be modified extensively according to your vision, would you take it on?”

Lu Chengwen smiled. “Why else would I study it?”

Mayor Zhao said, “Alright. But the people inside, I need you to handle them for me. Can you do that?”

Lu Chengwen laughed, patting Mayor Zhao’s shoulder. “Just watch!”