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

As Li Xiao had predicted, the subsequent land auction descended into utter frenzy. With Lansheng Capital backing them up in terms of building materials and security, these six institutions fought like mad dogs, driving the price of five marginal plots of land around the High-tech Zone to an astronomical level that even made Cao Weidong, the Party Secretary of Jiangyang County, shudder.

But all of this had nothing to do with Li Xiao anymore, and the land that Li Xiao, or rather Lansheng, held was sold for a good price. After all, if a provincial-level high-tech industrial park were to be built, that land would definitely be nationalized.

On the afternoon of the day the land auction ended, County Party Secretary Cao Weidong personally prepared top-quality Da Hong Pao tea in his office and invited Li Xiao to the county party committee compound in an almost "inviting a god" manner.

Cao Weidong had already mentally prepared himself to be ripped off by Li Xiao. The development costs of the surrounding land had been driven up to an astonishing level by the frenzied bidding of the six capital firms, not to mention the prime piece of land in Li Xiao's hands that was right on the central axis of the high-tech zone's planning.

If Li Xiao really wants to make an exorbitant demand, asking for cash compensation at the current highest market premium, Jiangyang County's finances wouldn't be able to scrape together such a huge sum even if they sold everything they owned and pawned their underwear at the bank.

Cao Weidong personally poured the tea.

He filled the teacup to seven-tenths full and pushed it towards Li Xiao, getting straight to the point without beating around the bush, "Mr. Li, everyone has seen the results of today's land auction. But you know the county's financial situation. The county must acquire that piece of land in the core area of ​​the High-tech Zone. If we go by the current market premium, the county's finances simply can't come up with that much cash. Let's not beat around the bush, what kind of compensation does Lansheng want?"

Cao Weidong stared at Li Xiao, already prepared to ask for an exorbitant price and then negotiate on the spot.

Li Xiao didn't touch the teacup. Instead, he pulled a document from his briefcase and pushed it towards Cao Weidong.

"Secretary Cao, I can return the land."

Li Xiao said calmly, "I won't use today's highest premium or the appraised value. Lansheng spent ten million to acquire the land, so I will return the land to the county government at the original price plus the bank interest for the same period, without any change."

Cao Weidong's hand suddenly stopped, and a few drops of tea splashed onto the table. He stared at the young man in disbelief.

Ten million plus interest is practically free in today's high-tech zone. But he knew very well that capital doesn't do charity, and Li Xiao was no saint either.

"What are the conditions?" Cao Weidong's voice turned somber.

"I don't want cash, but I want two things in return." Li Xiao held up two fingers. "First, Lansheng Capital wants a 50-year exclusive franchise for all the underground pipe networks, energy stations, and core data centers in the High-tech Zone in the future; second, Lansheng must be the first choice in the High-tech Zone Management Committee's corporate tax rebate policy for the next ten years."

"That's definitely impossible."

Cao Weidong refused without even thinking about it.

"A fifty-year franchise? That's handing over the lifeline of the High-tech Zone directly to private hands!" Cao Weidong slammed his fist on the table, his face ashen. "If I sign this today, the provincial discipline inspection commission's investigation team can be stationed in Jiangyang tomorrow! President Li, your appetite is too big!"

Li Xiao remained calm and composed, casually picking up the cup of Da Hong Pao tea he hadn't touched earlier, blowing away the foam, and speaking in his usual even tone: "Secretary Cao, don't rush to label me. A franchise right isn't property rights; nominally, these infrastructure facilities still belong to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. We're using a PPP model, a partnership between the government and private capital. Lansheng will cover all the initial investment of several billion yuan for pipeline construction and energy station building; the county finances won't have to contribute a single penny. Once the operating period ends, these facilities will be returned to the government intact. How can this be called selling resources? This is called introducing private capital to solve local infrastructure problems; it's a political achievement."

Cao Weidong sneered, "Don't try to fool me with these new terms. Pipeline networks and energy stations are monopolistic businesses. You're offering ten million yuan worth of land in exchange for decades of rent collection rights in the high-tech zone. That's a very shrewd calculation. I can't explain this to the city."

Li Xiao smiled. He knew, of course, that Cao Weidong would never sign that document.

Ask for the sky, then negotiate the price. In this circle, if you want to open a skylight in the roof, everyone will vehemently oppose it; but if you start by threatening to tear the whole roof off, those who were originally against it will come to you to smooth things over, and even beg you to open a skylight.

That franchise right for fifty years of basic infrastructure construction was just a pretext that Li Xiao threw out in preparation for tearing down the roof.

"Secretary Cao, please don't get angry. Since you feel that these vital projects like the underground pipeline network are too sensitive and easily cross red lines and cause controversy, then let's take a step back." Li Xiao calmly put the document away, and then pulled out a second, completely different agreement from the compartment of his briefcase and gently pushed it over.

"This is my backup plan; you can take a look."

Cao Weidong glanced at Li Xiao suspiciously, took a deep breath, and forced back his anger as he opened the second document. After reading only two pages, the muscles at the corner of his eye twitched violently.

"First, Lansheng Capital will return the core area plot, but demands that it be exchanged for two commercial plots on the south side of the high-tech zone at cost price for the exclusive development of the central business supporting area and large logistics warehousing center of the entire park, and that all corporate income tax for the first five years be exempted."

"Secondly, all infrastructure and municipal engineering projects in the first phase of the High-tech Zone must, under the premise of equal pricing, unconditionally prioritize the purchase of commercial concrete and sand from companies under Lansheng Capital, and give priority to the use of Lansheng's earthmoving machinery fleet."

Seeing Cao Weidong's ever-changing expression, Li Xiao leaned back on the leather sofa, crossed his arms, and looked deep and composed: "Commercial facilities and logistics warehousing do not involve national security or basic livelihoods. This is purely market-based commercial operation and will absolutely not cross your red lines. As for building materials and earthwork, I will not engage in forced sales. I will give priority to companies with equal prices. This can be considered a policy favor from the county government to high-quality local enterprises, which is both reasonable and legal."

Cao Weidong stared at the new agreement and remained silent for a full two minutes.

Having spent most of his life working within the system, he immediately understood that he had been tricked by this eighteen-year-old. The fifty-year pipeline franchise was just a smokescreen to draw attention! Li Xiao's real goal, from beginning to end, was to monopolize the commercial land and building materials for municipal engineering projects in the high-tech zone.

This move of lifting the roof and opening the window shows a shrewdness and precision that surpasses even those seasoned business swindlers.