At the start, I had to choose one of four options, and I immediately picked the Brahmin from the cou

……

The Executive Lounge is located on the 18th floor of Jiangyang International Hotel.

Only six institutions can sit in this hall, and the threshold for verification of capital is 100 million yuan—this is merely the minimum requirement to get a chair in front of this coffee table.

Outside, any one of these six representatives would be a god of wealth, fawned over by city leaders and sought after by countless small business owners. But here, in this lavishly decorated executive lounge, these six financial tycoons, who wield considerable influence in the provincial capital, were behaving like obedient schoolchildren awaiting a reprimand from their headmaster.

The finest pre-Qingming Longjing tea was brewed in an expensive purple clay teapot, its aroma filling the air and steam rising, but no one had the heart to pick up their cup.

Just half an hour earlier, their respective informants had relayed the same shocking news—all eight commercial concrete mixing plants and the largest earthmoving truck fleet under Old Zhao's name in Tianshui City had been transferred to the Li family overnight.

This is tantamount to putting a steel noose, crafted by Lansheng Capital itself, around the necks of these outsiders. There wasn't a single local Jiangyang developer in the venue. Li Xiao had set such a high bar, clearly intending to shut the door and cruelly harvest these fat sheep from outside.

Click. The double doors to the executive lounge were pushed open from the outside by two bodyguards in black.

The six financial tycoons who were sitting on the sofa stood up almost reflexively, their movements perfectly synchronized, their postures revealing an undisguised sense of restraint and unease.

Li Xiao, dressed in a well-tailored black bespoke suit, walked in with one hand in his pocket and an expression of nonchalance. Zhou Yanhuai and Lao Lin followed behind him, one on each side, like two intimidating figures.

"Please sit down."

Li Xiao walked to the single sofa in the main seat and sat down casually. Facing a group of financial tycoons, Li Xiao showed no signs of stage fright.

The six bigwigs exchanged glances, none daring to sit down first. It wasn't until Li Xiao glanced around at them that they reluctantly sat down, half-huddled against the edge of the sofa.

"Young Master Li... we've already heard about the Tianshui City commercial concrete mixing plant. As for this plot of land in the High-tech Zone, let's just say we've already bought it..."

Vice President Zhou didn't continue, but his meaning was clear: since you've already taken away the shovels and spades for building the house, what's the point of us bidding? Even if we win the bid, the infrastructure costs are just a matter of your word, aren't they? Just name your cut.

Looking at these bigwigs who usually wield great power in the provincial capital but are now trembling with fear, Li Xiao's lips suddenly curled into a gentle smile.

"What? You think I seized control of Tianshui City's infrastructure overnight just to raise prices and slaughter you like pigs?"

The group of people, whose secrets had been exposed, turned pale and repeatedly said they dared not.

Li Xiao chuckled, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, "You underestimate my narrow-mindedness. In business, I, Li Xiao, never hog the spoils. My Lansheng Capital has always had only one rule—if there's meat, we all share it."

The moment those eight words were uttered, the air in the lounge seemed to thaw a little. The six bigwigs were all stunned, looking at the excessively young chess player in front of them with disbelief.

"The High-tech Zone is too big a market, worth tens of billions. My Lansheng family can't handle it, and I have no interest in doing the hard labor of laying bricks and building buildings." Li Xiao put down his teacup, making a crisp clinking sound. "I went to Tianshui City overnight to buy up assets at rock-bottom prices, not to strangle you all, but to clear the field for you."

"Clear...clear the area?" Vice President Zhou's eyes widened.

"Once the High-tech Zone breaks ground, how many local thugs and unscrupulous material dealers will want to pounce on it and bleed it dry? Today they'll cut off your sand supply, tomorrow they'll block your construction vehicles. You're a dragon from the provincial capital, and you understand better than I do the principle that even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake."

Li Xiao's gaze sharpened as he surveyed the entire area. "But with Lansheng controlling the ready-mixed concrete and earthwork, not a single snake will dare to show its face on your construction sites in Jiangyang and Tianshui! Lansheng will supply all building materials to you at market prices, without a single penny markup. If anyone dares to cause trouble on your construction sites, Lansheng will smooth things over for you!"

"hiss--"

The six bigwigs gasped simultaneously, their previously dull eyes suddenly shining brightly, their hearts pounding wildly.

Supplying at market price? And then using Lansheng's prestige to shield them from all the thugs and gangsters?! This isn't a noose around their necks, it's an unbreakable protective umbrella! If they develop in this absolutely safe environment, without disputes or work stoppages, given the policy benefits of the High-tech Zone, the profits they make will be astronomical!

"Young Master Li is so generous!"

A tycoon from Wenzhou, his voice trembling with excitement, slapped his thigh. "With your words, we'll take this land today, even if it means paying a premium! But... you've given us such a huge advantage, what does Lansheng Capital want?"

There's no such thing as a free lunch, and everyone here is shrewd enough to understand that.

"What I want is very simple." Li Xiao interlaced his fingers and rested them on his knees. His tone remained calm, yet it carried an unyielding imperial aura.

"You invest in land acquisition, construction, and take your share of the development profits. However, the planning of the high-tech zone, which plots of land to build office buildings, which plots to build commercial centers, and even when to launch sales and what the prices will be, cannot be decided by you on your own. This huge piece of meat must be stewed in my pot."

Li Xiao's eyes turned completely cold: "In this business, Lansheng Capital is the central controller. You can eat your fill, but you must follow my rules. Anyone who dares to engage in cutthroat competition, cheat, or jeopardize the overall planning of the High-tech Zone..."

"I can shut down all his commercial concrete and earthwork overnight, turning his construction site into a weed-covered graveyard! At that point, I won't even need to lift a finger; the millions in bank interest and penalties every day will be enough to drive him to jump into the river!"

Li Xiao's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a cold polar wind, whistling through everyone's eardrums.

The six financial tycoons' expressions shifted as they frantically calculated their gains and losses.

Relinquishing pricing and planning rights is tantamount to surrendering the developer's core essence, turning them into a mere senior construction agent for Lansheng Capital.

In return, they gain an absolutely risk-free construction environment, a highly monopolized market, and guaranteed exorbitant profits! In this alliance, there's no need to fight price wars or contend with local bullies; as long as you obediently follow orders, you can comfortably pocket hundreds of millions or even billions in profits.

"We understand Young Master Li's rules." Vice President Zhou took a deep breath and was the first to make a decision. He stood up abruptly, picked up the slightly cooled Longjing tea from the table, held it out to Li Xiao with both hands, and bowed deeply. "Being able to follow the aircraft carrier Lansheng is a blessing we couldn't ask for. This cup of tea is for Young Master Li, and also to wish us a pleasant cooperation!"

With someone taking the lead, the remaining five bigwigs did not hesitate any longer. They all stood up, picked up their teacups, and bowed their arrogant heads to the eighteen-year-old boy sitting in the main seat with utmost respect.

"Respectfully, Young Master Li!"

"Everything is entirely at the mercy of Lansheng Capital!"