After my divorce at thirty, I developed an intelligence network.

Gong Yuelong, who was in the way, is gone, and so are potential competitors!

Now, Zheng Tao has monopolized the time and attention of two key figures!

This is an opportunity, an absolute godsend!

He suppressed his excitement and quickly refilled Liu and Hou's teacups with hot tea.

"Mr. Liu, Mr. Hou, now it's quiet! We can have a proper chat... Is there anything I can prepare in advance?"

Liu Guangjin and President Hou exchanged a glance, their unspoken understanding unspoken.

The fish are already eager to bite the hook.

Liu Guangjin picked up the tea that Zheng Tao had just poured, blew on it, and smiled.

"Young Master Zheng, please don't be in a hurry," he said slowly and deliberately.

"Perfect timing, there are some more specific details... that we can discuss in more detail."

When Zheng Tao heard that they needed to have in-depth communication, his heart skipped a beat, as if he had been struck by an electric current.

It's here! The opportunity has truly arrived!

The opportunity to prove your abilities, make contributions to your family, and showcase your talents is right in front of you!

He suppressed his overflowing joy, took a deep breath, and instantly put on a fawning smile.

He stood up abruptly.

"Mr. Liu, Mr. Hou, please wait a moment!"

He immediately turned towards the door and called to the waiter:

"Waiter! Quick! Change this pot of tea!"

Bring me your best, top-quality tea!

"Yes, that jar of pre-Qingming Longjing tea I have with Boss Yang! Quickly!"

After giving the instructions, he quickly added:

"Also, please tell Boss Yang that we might need to use this tea room for a while longer. If there's nothing particularly urgent, please don't let anyone disturb us for now."

His meaning was clear: We're going to talk about important matters; unauthorized people are not welcome.

After doing all that, he practically rubbed his hands together and quickly walked back to the tea table.

The new premium tea hadn't arrived yet, but he couldn't wait. He picked up the half-cooled cup of tea in front of him, held it with both hands, and bent his waist even lower.

"Brother Liu! Brother Hou!"

His tone was extremely enthusiastic, and the way he addressed the other person instantly changed from a polite "General" to an almost brotherly "Brother," revealing an eagerness to forcefully close the distance.

"I'm a straightforward person, I don't beat around the bush."

It is truly my blessing, no, the good fortune of the Zheng family, to meet you two brothers today!

In this matter in the East, you two are the benefactors who have guided me! If there's anything I need to do, coordinate, or even... make arrangements in advance, please don't hesitate to ask!

"I, Zheng Tao, and my father have been running a business here for so many years. I can't speak for everything else, but when it comes to social connections, we're absolutely top-notch!"

Liu Guangjin and President Hou took in his almost kneeling performance and understood that the fish had not only taken the bait, but was also desperately trying to get tangled in the fishing line.

The two exchanged a knowing glance, their composure remaining unchanged.

Liu Guangjin gently raised his hand and pressed it lightly, gesturing for Zheng Tao to sit down.

"Young Master Zheng, there's no rush. Savor your tea slowly. Things must be done step by step. Sit down and let's talk."

Only when Liu Guangjin and Zheng Tao's enthusiasm reached its peak did Liu slowly pick up the freshly brewed top-grade Longjing tea, smell its aroma, and begin to speak:

"Since Mr. Zheng is so sincere, we won't beat around the bush. For a project of this caliber in the East, to secure an advantage early on, there are certain aspects... that we must be ahead of the curve."

He put down his teacup. "Based on preliminary estimates, the key figures that need to be lobbied in the early stages will amount to approximately... around three million."

Three million.

Zheng Tao's smile froze, and the words caught in his throat.

In that half-second of hesitation, President Hou had already put down his teacup, his tone turning indifferent:

"Young Master Zheng has concerns? I understand. This matter is all about timing."

Liu Guangjin nodded and made a move to stand up: "It seems we won't have a chance to cooperate this time..."

President Hou clicked his tongue and put on a cold expression: "Brother Liu, it seems that Young Master Zheng is also in trouble. We may have... been a bit presumptuous."

He shook his head, his tone regretful, "If you can't even muster this much sincerity, the operation of projects requiring real money later on will probably be even more..."

This display of sincerity made Zheng Tao's heart tighten. Sincerity? They actually doubted my sincerity?!

In his panic, he seemed to already see how glorious he would be after winning the East China project, and his father would no longer scold him for being useless; and that Gong Yuelong, that country bumpkin, so what if he got lucky and won the new title? What are his little tricks compared to that?

At that time, I will be the one standing on high ground looking down on him!

The feeling of triumph and vindication... just thinking about it made his scalp tingle with excitement.

Is this immense wealth and prestige about to slip away because of this three million threshold? No! Absolutely not!

"No, no, no! Brother Hou! Brother Liu!"

Zheng Tao interrupted urgently, "That's not what I meant! There's absolutely no difficulty! I was just... just thinking about the easiest and fastest way to do it!"

Liu Guangjin raised his hand, gesturing for him to sit down, but then sighed, looking somewhat dejected.

"Young Master Zheng, let's be frank. In this game in the eastern region, the line of people who want to join could stretch all the way to the entrance of the High-tech Zone Management Committee."

We brothers chose to talk to you because we value Mr. Zheng's influence in the local area, and we also admire your ambition to get things done, Young Master Zheng.

But ambition alone cannot feed you, much less serve as a stepping stone.

He calmly looked at Zheng Tao, "Three million. You hesitate even over this much, which means either you lack basic trust in us, or..."

He paused, then said, "Your determination to secure the East China project isn't as strong as you think. In that case, we might have really hired the wrong person."

These words hit Zheng Tao where he was most afraid of being questioned: his determination, trust, and ability.

He was sweating profusely. Losing this opportunity meant that he would prove to his father once again that he was a good-for-nothing!

"Brother Liu! Brother Hou! I swear! I swear to God!"

Zheng Tao's voice trembled slightly, almost as if he were making a vow.

"I have absolute trust in you two! My determination is two hundred percent! Three million, I'll pay! Right now!"

"As long as my two older brothers give me instructions on how to give it away and to whom, I will have no objections!"

Mr. Hou then lifted his eyelids and looked at him again: "Immediately? Young Master Zheng, you can't just say that casually. We need concrete actions, not empty promises. How much can be delivered today?"

"Today...today..."

Zheng Tao was caught off guard by the question, his mind racing as he calculated the balances of his various accounts. His face turned pale and then red.

"Today, let's prepare 500,000! The rest, we'll definitely make up the difference within three days, no, within two days!"

Liu Guangjin and President Hou exchanged a glance.

He said slowly, "Young Master Zheng, we're not being unreasonable. Five hundred thousand... well, that could start some initial contact. However..."

He then changed the subject, saying, "The remaining portion must be in place on time, and it must be clean money."

We will provide you with the accounts and names for the transactions. You must strictly follow our instructions and leave no room for us to implicate you. This is the bottom line. Can you do that?

"Yes! I definitely can!" Zheng Tao nodded hurriedly, afraid that if he agreed too late, this hard-won opportunity would slip away again.

"Absolutely clean! I will do exactly as my two older brothers instruct! I, Zheng Tao, keep my word!"

Liu Guangjin pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"Okay." Liu Guangjin finally nodded and picked up his teacup again.

"Then let's... trust Young Master Zheng one more time. We'll discuss the specifics separately later."

Remember, once you leave this room, everything discussed today, especially the numbers and operational methods, must remain firmly in your mind.

"Understood! Keep your mouth shut!"

Zheng Tao patted his chest and assured him, and his anxiety finally subsided.

He could almost hear the roar of the East Project starting construction, ten times, no, a hundred times, a thousand times more grand than Gong Yuelong's.