In the car.
"Miss Liu, are we really going to let Sun Bo off the hook?" Yun Cheng was surprised that Liu Yutong had changed her mind at the critical moment.
Earlier, Zhao Tianyi had rushed over immediately after receiving the call, cooperating with the audit team. Combined with testimonies from other employees of the logistics company, it was basically confirmed that Sun Bo had embezzled company funds amounting to no less than 100,000 yuan.
Of course, if they were to charge Sun Bo solely with embezzlement, he might only face a sentence of less than three years. However, Zhao Tianyi had directly labeled it as theft.
That would push the penalty to over five years. In short, with Lawyer Zhao’s sharp tongue, the charges could be framed however he wanted.
But just as all the evidence was secured, Liu Yutong suddenly called for a halt at the last moment.
Not only did she not send Sun Bo to prison, but she also decided to keep him in the company.
This move left everyone baffled.
To outsiders, it might seem like Liu Yutong had backed down, afraid that Sun Bo would bring his brother-in-law into the fray to retaliate.
After all, as a logistics company, as long as their headquarters remained in the logistics park, they were somewhat at the mercy of the management. Bowing their heads slightly was just part of the game.
"This man still has some use for us. Before sending him away, let’s make the most of his remaining value."
Liu Yutong hadn’t acquired this logistics company just to establish her own transport network. More importantly, its location was within the logistics park.
This was the largest logistics park in the city, riddled with shady dealings—and it would play a crucial role in her future plans.
Sun Bo had connections within the park, and his identity might prove useful. Now that they had all his dirty secrets in their hands, he’d think twice before betraying them. Five years behind bars—was that something he could endure?
Apart from Sun Bo and the company’s accountant, everyone else was let go. While Sun Bo had led the embezzlement, falsified invoices, and stolen goods, were the others truly innocent?
Not sending them to prison was already an act of mercy on Liu Yutong’s part.
From now on, all employees in the logistics company would be recruited internally from the Wanlong Society, including the delivery personnel at the stations.
By the way, half a month ago, the Wanlong Society had already begun offering delivery services in the university district.
With so many resources in the university district and so many members stationed there, it would be a waste not to utilize this manpower.
For now, they mainly delivered daily necessities and snacks, all sourced from Wanlong Supermarket.
The daily sales from student orders alone reached nearly 70,000 to 80,000 yuan, and the numbers were steadily rising.
With over 100,000 students and faculty across the five major universities, the potential for this delivery business was enormous—just think of the later rise of group-buying platforms.
"Understood." Though Yun Cheng couldn’t fully grasp the deeper implications of Liu Yutong’s arrangements, given her track record, he chose to trust her unconditionally.
Just follow orders—the results would prove that Miss Liu was always right.
As the car passed through a planned development zone, Liu Yutong caught sight of a public notice board by the roadside and immediately called out, "Stop the car!"
Confused, Yun Cheng quickly pulled over at a safe spot.
Liu Yutong stepped out and walked up to the notice board. It displayed next year’s land development plan, clearly marking the areas to be developed along with their designated plot numbers.
Her eyes locked onto Plot 29, and an inexplicable restlessness surged within her.
She had been so preoccupied with company affairs that she had nearly missed this crucial piece of information.
"Get a construction company set up as quickly as possible—a shell company is fine, as long as it has all the necessary qualifications."
"Yes, Miss Liu!"
"Miss Liu, are we venturing into real estate now?" Yun Cheng was genuinely baffled by her sudden shift in plans.
If he didn’t trust that Liu Yutong never acted without reason, any normal employee would suspect their boss had lost their mind.
Jumping into a completely different industry without warning—it seemed like a whim.
But he wasn’t a fool. He could tell at a glance that she intended to bid for the land.
And the purpose of bidding for land was usually one thing—real estate development.
"We’re not getting into real estate development. Not now, not ever. This is just leverage." Liu Yutong’s expression remained calm.
At present, domestic infrastructure was booming at an astonishing rate. Within two years, high-speed rail—a pivotal mode of future transportation—would experience even more rapid development. Bright Pearl City would undoubtedly get its own high-speed rail station, and sooner than most expected—construction would begin in a year, in 2009, and be completed in about two years.
The timing and location of the high-speed rail station were crucial, as they would dictate the area’s developmental trajectory. Currently, most people assumed it would be built in the northern part of the city. After all, the north’s geographical position allowed direct connections to three surrounding counties. A high-speed rail station there would accelerate growth in those regions as well as the urban center.
Moreover, in the future, the north would also see the construction of a small airport and later, a viral light rail system.
Though these projects were still just rumors, even from the perspective of a local official, prioritizing the north made the most sense.
The north linked directly to three subordinate counties, while further expansion south would only connect to a neighboring city. Naturally, local leaders would prioritize boosting their own jurisdiction’s economy.
Liu Yutong wasn’t the only one who thought this way—real estate developers shared the same assumption. Take Qianda Plaza, for example. Aside from building one mall in the southern city center, their second location was in the north, precisely because they anticipated the high-speed rail station would be situated there.
However, reality would defy their predictions.
The high-speed rail project wasn’t something local officials could unilaterally decide. Higher-level leadership, considering the bigger picture, would prioritize maximizing connectivity and economic benefits for multiple cities—similar to how local leaders wanted to boost their counties.
Thus, in the end, at least 95% of people would guess wrong, placing their bets on the incorrect location. In all of Bright Pearl City, only Liu Yutong knew the true site.
In a way, she even knew the exact location before Qi Wei’s mentor did.
And so, Plot 29—she would secure it at all costs.
This was the core area of the future high-speed rail station. Across from it, Plot 28, was where the station itself would stand.
Liu Yutong had no intention of bidding on Plot 28. Even if someone secured it in advance, the land would eventually be reclaimed due to the construction of the high-speed rail station project. While compensation would be provided, it would only create unnecessary trouble for the authorities—something she always avoided.
Her real targets were Plots 29, 30, and 31, situated to the north, south, and west of the future high-speed rail station. Among them, Plot 29 was the most desirable, as it was slated for a planned school in the vicinity.
If conditions permitted, she would strive to acquire all three plots. But if that proved impossible, securing Plot 29 alone would suffice.
Of course, it’s worth reiterating—she had no plans to venture into real estate development. Obtaining these plots was merely a strategic move to strengthen her bargaining position.
