Despite being incredibly wealthy, I want to be a prosecutor.

Anxia County belongs to Ningkang City, which is located in the northwestern mountainous region.

Tong'an is the ancient capital of six dynasties, the largest city in Northwest China, and the current capital of the province.

Ningkang City is a remote rural area in the province. Even the urban area has a yellowish hue like that of the Loess Plateau.

The road from Ningkang to Anxia County is mostly full of potholes; more than ten years ago, it was even impassable for cars.

After leaving Tong'an, Zhou Hong and Fang Ting rode in a dilapidated Xiali that Fang Ting had found, not caring about the bumpy ride.

The driver was Fang Ting's old classmate, but he had a scruffy beard and looked like a man in his thirties.

When Zhou Hong started calling him "Master Zhang," he didn't know that he was only in his twenties and was Fang Ting's classmate.

However, since he had already called him that, Zhou Hong didn't change his mind.

When speaking to Fang Ting, Mr. Zhang's words contained a hint of flattery, but more so the warmth of an old classmate. If it had been just flattery, given Fang Ting's personality, she probably would have broken off contact with Mr. Zhang long ago.

Mr. Zhang is a taxi driver in Tong'an. It seems that Fang Ting's father helped him get the taxi license.

Fang Ting and her father are both native residents of Tong'an. Her father was transferred to Anxia County for work, while her mother works at the Provincial Development and Reform Commission. Her maternal grandfather's family seems to have a lot of influence in the province.

Perhaps it is because of her family background that Fang Ting is able to do what she likes and face the world with a very kind mindset.

Zhou Hong sighed inwardly.

"Finally arrived..." Mr. Zhang breathed a sigh of relief. The road had been full of potholes, and the driver had suffered a lot.

There's a small sandstorm today, and the dark outline of Anxia County appears in the yellowish haze ahead.

……

The Anxia County Government Guesthouse is clearly the best hotel in this impoverished county.

After all, these days, nobody would be foolish enough to invest in a high-end hotel here.

However, the guesthouse was decorated very luxuriously, especially the top three floors, which had two executive suites of more than 80 square meters each.

I heard that one of the rooms was used by the former secretary when he worked here. He served for three years and lived here for three years.

Zhou Hong was assigned to this executive suite.

The pretty waitress at the guesthouse proudly introduced these things, as if Zhou Hong had been blessed with good fortune just by staying there.

Fang Ting turned her head away awkwardly.

Master Zhang, with his full beard, listened with great interest, grinning foolishly. He looked at the waitress's curvaceous figure and then at the secretary's suite, clearly pondering some filthy thoughts.

"This environment is alright..." After the waiter left, Zhou Hong went to look around the inner bedroom and bathroom.

"The conditions are quite tough, Mr. Hong, please make do for a few days," Fang Ting said naturally.

Just then, a waiter who happened to be carrying a network cable came in and overheard this. He could hardly believe his ears and thought to himself, "What are you guys doing here at Versailles?"

Fang Ting saw her come in and, whether intentionally or not, said, "Secretary Li has always been in poor health, suffering from stomach problems. When it flares up, he's in so much pain he's rolling around in agony, but he's always working despite his illness. He originally insisted on living in the dormitory in the compound, but the dormitory was drafty and the bed was hard, which caused Secretary Li to be hospitalized several times. He was forced to stay here, and even had to go to the Standing Committee meeting before he finally submitted to the majority. In the three years Secretary Li has been here, we've built more than ten new primary schools, and nine-year compulsory education has finally been truly implemented."

The young waiter was bewildered, but realized that the people in front of him were not ordinary guests, and that his own thinking was too low-class. In the future, when introducing this suite, it seemed that the Versailles beauty's words were much more sophisticated.

……

In the evening, Director Feng of the county's Civil Affairs Bureau hosted a welcome dinner for Zhou Hong in a private room of the guesthouse's dining hall.

It's true that having connections in high places makes things easier. Without Fang Ting's connections, Zhou Hong could imagine how difficult it would be to even meet Director Feng, let alone for her to come to his door in person.

However, since Deputy County Head Fang did not summon him, it was because he did not trust the friend his daughter had mentioned. Director Feng was there to investigate.

There were only four people in the private room: Zhou Hong, Fang Ting, Director Feng, and Director Qian from the Civil Affairs Bureau office.

Director Qian, of course, is in charge of serving drinks at banquets.

"Although this foundation has a registered capital of only five million, the capital used for charitable work each year will not be less than fifty million. I will inject this capital at the beginning of each year. I can even write a commitment letter for this. Although it has no legal significance, it would be morally unacceptable if I couldn't keep it, right?"

Director Feng had just brought up the foundation and asked Zhou Hong what kind of charitable foundation he wanted to create, so Zhou Hong immediately got to the point.

I didn't dare say much, I just mentioned fifty million.

Director Qian, who had just opened the bottle and was about to pour wine for the people at the table, was stunned. He hadn't even drunk any yet, and there was already too much?

There are too many bosses at the dinner table who talk a big game, even saying they could buy the moon, but you're unique in that you start bragging before anyone even starts drinking! Thumbs up!

Director Feng looked at Zhou Hong with a half-smile: "This commitment letter sounds very interesting to me. Zhou, why don't you write one now?"

From the moment they met, Director Feng addressed Zhou Hong as "Little Zhou," clearly showing some disdain due to Zhou Hong's age.

If it weren't for the daughter of the supervisor being here, I'm afraid I would have turned around and left. What kind of nonsense is this half-grown kid coming here to talk nonsense?

"Okay." Zhou Hong smiled slightly.

Director Feng gave him a wink, and Director Qian quickly took out paper and pen from his bag and handed them to Zhou Hong.

Fang Ting wanted to speak up, saying that Chairman Hong had donated tens of millions of yuan to the education assistance network in just a few months. However, that was internal information of the education assistance network, and Chairman Hong did not like to publicize it. Even to her father, Fang Ting only said that Chairman Hong had donated a lot of money to the education assistance network.

But now it seems that my father's understanding of "many" was quite different from my own original intention.

Sigh, after spending so much time with Mr. Hong, it seems like my concept of money has changed, and I have problems communicating with others.

Just as she was about to speak, Zhou Hong gave her a wink and smiled, saying, "It's alright, I'll write it."

Zhou Hong quickly wrote down the commitment letter as he had just said, but without returning the pen, he took out a checkbook from his handbag and said, "What's the county government's public account number? However, this way of transferring the money is too cumbersome, and I don't know which department to go to. How about this, I'll write a cash check. I just arrived and heard that the staff dormitories in our compound are in dire need of repair and the conditions are extremely difficult. That won't do. I'll donate one million to help repair the dormitories in our compound..." As he spoke, he wrote down the amount and tore up the check.

Director Feng, who was admiring the letter of commitment and seemingly pondering something, paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "Xiao Zhou, the government cannot accept social donations. Even disaster relief funds cannot be used by government agencies, making them the beneficiaries."

Zhou Hong put the check away. "It's alright, we'll have to spend it here sooner or later anyway. Let's get dormitories for the foundation's staff first."

Director Feng couldn't help but glance at Zhou Hong. His response to Zhou Hong had been somewhat condescending, and he even seemed to be secretly laughing at this little brat who knew nothing and was so eager to show off his money.

The other party's response was unexpected. There was no stage fright when facing officials, no sudden loss of faith in money, and no reaction of shame. Instead, he was very calm, as if he had just intended to give someone a few cents, but the other party refused, so he kept it.

One million could buy a 200-square-meter shop in the city center of the county, plus a dozen or so 80-square-meter apartments.

"Xiao Zhou, from what you're saying, you've already recruited all the staff for the foundation?" Director Feng asked calmly.

"Sister Fang Ting has helped me recruit all the key personnel here. When registering a foundation, you need to review the foundation's framework, right? I'm hiring real staff here, no faking it." Zhou Hong smiled. "And even if this trip to Anxia County was in vain, the dormitory can be donated to teachers in need in the county, and the storefront can be rented out. It's all easy to arrange."

After a pause, Zhou Hong continued, "I'm determined to make this foundation work. If things don't improve here, we'll find a new place to settle down. If doing charity is this difficult, then I hope I can personally experience the thorns on this path and pave the way for those who come after me."

Fang Ting looked at Zhou Hong, her face showing emotion.

Director Feng coughed and said, "Stricter review procedures are for the good of charity. So many people use charity as a pretext to make money off themselves. You're not in this industry, so you don't understand."

Zhou Hong nodded: "I understand, Director Feng. I'm not complaining, but it's just that in Donghai, investing in a project worth several hundred million US dollars is so easy, but wanting to donate tens of millions to help children in mountainous areas and do it personally has become so difficult. We even have to register in a small county in Northwest China. It's quite ironic, isn't it?"

Director Feng smiled and said, "Social progress doesn't happen overnight. If there are more people who are genuinely doing charity, I believe that such foundations will flourish."

Zhou Hong nodded silently. That made sense. In ten or twenty years, all sorts of private charitable foundations would spring up like mushrooms after rain. Of course, whether they were all genuinely doing charity was another matter.

"Chairman Hong, look, the wine is all full. Would you like to say a few words before we begin?" Director Qian finally seized the opportunity. It was his responsibility to create a lively atmosphere at the table. They hadn't even started drinking yet, and the topic had become so serious. The leader was starting to speak in official jargon. This was not a good thing, after all, the other party had the leader's leader behind him.

"Let Director Feng speak," Zhou Hong said with a slight smile.

Director Feng raised his glass without hesitation: "Actually, it's just the four of us, like family. We don't do these formalities. But we should pay our respects to Chairman Hong. Chairman Hong has come all the way from Donghai with a simple heart for doing charity. It's so rare. Come on, let's toast Chairman Hong."

Director Qian felt relieved when he heard the leader finally address him as "Chairman Hong". He had sensed something was off about the leader's attitude from the time the leader started calling him "Little Zhou".

Then, there's always a hint of deliberate targeting.

Originally, it was clearly the big boss's order to investigate this "Chairman Hong's" background. But somehow, as the conversation went on, I started to believe that this Chairman Hong must have some connections. The initial statement wasn't bragging, but rather a statement of intent. But the boss forgot the original intention and clearly started to dislike Chairman Hong. Was it because this young man casually gave away tens of millions to charity? Did this make the boss uncomfortable?

After all, how much money can the civil affairs department allocate in a year?

Talking about the leader's salary and one's own salary is completely incompatible.

Ren Hongdong wanted to contribute one million to help the government repair dormitory buildings. This could have been handled very well. By changing the source of funds, the money could have been used for the renovation of the compound's dormitory buildings. Even if the money wasn't accepted, it could have been handled tactfully.

But the leader refused outright; that's not how you handle things.

Fortunately, the leader's lapse in judgment only lasted a short while. Now it's that same person with a smile on his face again, someone whose thoughts I can never quite figure out.

Director Qian rolled his small eyes, raised his glass and smiled, "Chairman Hong, I just heard you say that you were involved in an investment project in Donghai worth several hundred million US dollars? We people from this small place get dizzy just hearing those numbers! I'll take a sip to show my respect."

It's not his turn to offer a toast yet, because when it's time for the second toast, it will definitely be Chairman Hong who says a few words. We can't treat him as a guest of honor just because he's young.

That's why he said it was "to cut off one's own mouth".

Zhou Hong smiled, took a sip of his drink, and said, "If I said that I was in charge of the $6 million investment, Director Feng would roll his eyes at me again."

Director Feng laughed heartily, patted Zhou Hong on the shoulder, and said, "You little rascal, I've noticed, you're really something else!"

Director Qian laughed along with her, tears welling up in his eyes.

Fang Ting sat to the side, lost in thought. She never bothered to attend these kinds of drinking parties, and she didn't know what they were saying. She was too lazy to figure it out. She'd rather think about how to help Zhou Hong set up the charity foundation once it was established.

At this moment, Zhou Hong picked up his wine glass. Although his lips were moving, Fang Ting couldn't understand whether he was speaking human language.

But Director Feng and Director Qian burst into laughter again and raised their glasses in a toast.

"Mr. Hong, please don't blame me. I looked at your ID card information on the front desk computer, and your address is very strange. Was it because the people in the household registration department were careless and didn't enter the address completely? And then they just left it as it was? Do you think your ID card could fetch a high price at auction in the future?" Director Qian chimed in with a smile.

Zhou Hong coughed, it was time for him to show off again, although it wasn't his intention. "It's not a data entry error, it's because half of the 86th floor of Jinsheng Building belongs to me, so the address on my ID card is just like that."

Director Qian was stunned. This attempt to strike a chord had turned into a huge joke, but it was so sudden that he didn't know how to continue, which greatly diminished his reputation as the "mediator of drinking parties."

Fang Ting finally understood Zhou Hong's human language and was quite surprised. She exclaimed, "Really? Jinsheng Building, the tallest building in Donghai, and the tallest in the whole country! The highest observation deck is on the 88th floor, right? The 86th floor is half of yours? Then if I ever go to Donghai, I can just come to your house to see the city view. That's so convenient!" She was straightforward and genuinely happy. She added, "Then during the summer vacation, can I bring those kids to your house to see the Donghai night view?"

"Of course," Zhou Hong said with a smile. "Director Feng and Director Qian, you are also welcome to bring your families to Donghai for a visit."

"If I have the chance to go to Donghai, I will definitely trouble Brother Hong." Director Feng patted Zhou Hong on the shoulder with a smile, his address and actions becoming increasingly intimate.

Ordinary nouveau riche can be trampled on, high-end nouveau riche can be despised, and the super-rich can be ignored. But when the other party's wealth reaches a certain level, especially if it is completely outside your control and they have clearly achieved something that money can't buy, then you have no choice but to join them if you can't beat them.

"Mr. Hong, acquiring the property rights to half a floor on the top floor of our country's tallest building is not just a matter of money, is it?" Director Qian finally came up with an interesting angle to join the fun.

Director Feng immediately perked up his ears, and indeed, the meaning behind this was far too profound.

Zhou Hong smiled enigmatically, "A lot of money has been spent, otherwise, what kind of organization is Jinsheng Group? It's a central state-owned enterprise. How could the ownership of our China's No. 1 Building become so strange? People would have something to say."

Director Qian laughed and said, "I understand, I understand. It must have cost tens of millions, right?"

Zhou Hong nodded: "Nearly thirty million, in US dollars."

Director Qian was about to exclaim in admiration upon hearing the word "thirty million" when Zhou Hong's last two words choked him back, and he coughed loudly.

Director Feng nodded: "Good heavens, over two hundred million."

Fang Ting said, "Then I feel you've lost out. After the Jinsheng Building was completed, it was announced that the total cost was 5.5 million US dollars. You only got one-two-hundredth of the area with a fraction of the cost. Of course, you could say that the half-floor you bought is one of the two highest floors, so it's valuable. However, you only got the property rights to half a floor of the building. The land use rights have nothing to do with you. In other words, as long as the Jinsheng Building exists, your half-floor exists. But when the Jinsheng Building is demolished in the future, the new building will have nothing to do with you. A large part of their 5.5 million was the money spent on buying the land."

Zhou Hong nodded: "That's why the foundation needs Sister Fang Ting to take the lead. You can calculate everything clearly, both in terms of appearance and substance. You're smart and beautiful."

I can't say it, but the system covers everything, so why not buy it?

Moreover, although these skyscrapers have a long service life, the demolition cost is extremely high. Even if the buildings eventually have to be demolished, it will be more than a hundred years from now, and it is estimated that no one will spend money to demolish them. By then, the prime locations will have gradually become marginalized, and the city will have long since developed new economic centers.

Therefore, this kind of skyscraper is a one-off deal. From the day it's built, you either make a profit or you lose money. Don't fantasize about the future.

On the other hand, the horizontal building, Zhengtai Plaza, occupies a very large area and is only twelve stories high, so there is a possibility that it will be demolished and rebuilt in the future.

However, it also depends on the policies regarding the renewal of land use rights when they expire, so it's hard to say.

Zhou Hong was lost in thought, while Fang Ting felt somewhat helpless and stopped talking to him. There were two uncles at the table, but Zhou Hong was praising her in a flippant manner, leaving her unsure how to respond.

"Chairman Hong, let's get back to the foundation," Director Feng suddenly said.

Zhou Hong smiled and said, "Okay."

"This foundation is funded by my personal investment, in a non-public fundraising form. As I promised, I will invest no less than 50 million yuan every year. However, our charity work will not only cover this county, but will also cover many counties and districts in the Northwest. The main beneficiaries are out-of-school children and teenagers, helping them complete nine years of education. For those with good grades, we will continue to support them until they graduate from university. Another idea is to provide interest-free student loans for some local university students with excellent academic performance and character. Of course, we will discuss this idea in the future."

"As for regulatory aspects, I won't go into the policy requirements, but we have an account with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and are subject to supervision by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. These are all mandatory. In addition, we will proactively publish our accounts to the public every month and welcome supervision from the whole society..."

"And then..."

Zhou Hong spoke eloquently and gradually became the main focus at the table.