Liu Yutong chatted with the visiting officials for another half hour or so.
After seeing them off, the smile she had been wearing gradually faded from her face.
The situation she dreaded most was probably going to happen after all.
The development of the southern district was now essentially confirmed, following the finalization of the high-speed rail station plans.
Liu Yutong had learned long ago that a large industrial park was planned to be built east of the station.
This park was originally intended to attract tech industries, but due to some approval loopholes and other issues, it ended up hosting a batch of chemical plants instead.
Some chemical plants, to save on waste disposal costs, had even secretly built hidden pipelines to discharge untreated wastewater directly into nearby rivers, causing the water to deteriorate and even contaminating farmland.
Liu Yutong had made her moves early, even offering favorable terms to invite high-quality suppliers to invest and build factories in Mingzhu City, all to secure the best plots in the park's core area ahead of time.
As long as the initial tenants were a large number of environmentally-conscious, socially responsible legitimate enterprises, creating a strong industrial cluster effect and a healthy development atmosphere, then there would be no place for chemical plants in the entire industrial park.
This was her public-spirited motive, so to speak.
Of course, she also had a private motive. With so many businesses connected to her, all joining the Mingzhu Chamber of Commerce in the future, she would gain an extra layer of protection.
If anyone then wanted to move against her or the Wanlong Group, they would inevitably affect the entire industrial chain. Pulling one hair would move the whole body—enough to make anyone with ill intentions against her seriously weigh the consequences.
Besides this, she also planned to add a second layer of protection in the future: charity.
She intended to establish her own charitable foundation. This foundation would not solicit donations from the public, and she would make all its charitable deeds completely transparent.
However, that would have to wait until after she made some money from abroad.
Right now, she had no funds.
By the time Liu Yutong reached her car, Zhou Muchen and the other two were standing by their vehicle, chatting and laughing.
When they saw Liu Yutong, they immediately stepped forward to greet her.
"Sister Yutong."
"Sister Yutong, we've been waiting for you for ages."
"........"
Among the three, Zhou Muchen and Lu Hong's address of "Sister" was quite sincere.
After all, they had nearly tasted Li Xiaohui's iron fist, and having witnessed Liu Yutong's capabilities firsthand, they were genuinely convinced.
Gu Yebai's greeting was a bit more perfunctory. Ever since his first meeting with the "big sister" his friend kept talking about, he had been quite skeptical.
What was this all about? Actually acknowledging a girl younger than all of them as the big sister?
Would that mean the Yunshan Society would also be under her sole command in the future?
What would that make them?
His thoughts, and those of the other two top-tier rich kids who were meeting Liu Yutong for the first time, were quite similar.
Originally, this little circle Zhou Muchen had formed, the Yunshan Society, was all fun and games.
Now, suddenly having a seemingly somewhat domineering big sister looming over them, it was only natural they wouldn't feel comfortable.
If not for Zhou Muchen saying that Liu Yutong was going to help them make a huge profit, they might have considered disbanding right then and there.
Besides, they still harbored doubts about the rate of return Zhou Muchen had mentioned.
But ultimately, it would come down to the results.
If they ended up losing money instead of making any, they wouldn't spare Zhou Muchen or Li Xiaohui any face either.
Liu Yutong was well aware of their thoughts, but she didn't mind.
She knew that to truly win the genuine respect of these proud second-generation heirs, she would indeed have to demonstrate real capability.
As long as she delivered on her promise, she believed these people would have no further objections.
"Sister Yutong, why did you shoo us away earlier?" Zhou Muchen asked.
Liu Yutong shot him an exasperated glance. "What do you think? Let's talk at my place first."
With that, she was about to get into the car when she saw Manager Li walk out of the banquet hall.
He was holding a small box—the very item he had just won at auction for twelve million.
She couldn't help but take another look.
Zhou Muchen noticed her gaze and asked, "Sister Yutong, what are you looking at?"
Liu Yutong didn't hide it. "The thing in Manager Li's box... I originally wanted to bid for it...."
Before she could finish, Zhou Muchen actually strode straight over to Manager Li and blocked his path.
"Hey, can you lend that thing in your hand to my sister to have a look?"
Manager Li, holding the box and about to get into his car to go home, was suddenly confronted by a young man in a flashy suit who rudely demanded the multi-million dollar collectible he had just acquired. His face instantly darkened.
Frowning, he looked Zhou Muchen up and down. Seeing the young man's frivolous demeanor, the very picture of a spoiled rich kid, only added to his irritation.
"Young man, we don't know each other, do we? Is it not terribly impolite to approach me and ask for the collectible I just spent over ten million on?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Muchen's brow furrowed. "Hey, why are you so stingy? My sister taking a liking to your thing is doing you a favor!"
"Just say, will you give it or not?!"
Manager Li: "And if I don't?!"
Zhou Muchen reached up with his left hand and scratched the back of his neck. "Don't? Then I'll have your Li Group shut down!"
Manager Li grew even angrier. "Such insolence! I—"
"What's lending it for one night, or even a month?!"
Then, with an air of defiance, he thrust the box into Zhou Muchen's hands. "Take it!"
Zhou Muchen took the box and waved dismissively. "Alright, alright, off you go."
Manager Li maintained his defiant posture as he got into his Rolls-Royce. Only after closing the door did he let out a sigh of relief and wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Dammit, just because you're the province's second young master, think you're so great? Always picking on us old folks!"
"What are you waiting for? Drive!"
.........
Meanwhile, Zhou Muchen directly handed the box to Liu Yutong.
"Sister Yutong, got it. Here you go!"
Liu Yutong was speechless. She truly hadn't expected Zhou Muchen to obtain the badge in this manner.
It was less like asking and more like seizing.
However, she didn't refuse. She planned to take it back and study it first, to see if it was really as important as rumored or just a fictional item.
If it was genuine, she could directly buy it outright later.
If it was useless, she'd return it.
When the group arrived at Liu Yutong's villa, they explained the purpose of their sudden visit.
The trader was found!
The funds were ready!
The location was arranged!
Everything was set; all they needed was the final go-ahead.
.........
