20: Chapter 20: Tail Docking

October.

Inside the City Hall building in Shanghai, there was a secret meeting room with no door sign.

The room was oppressively quiet.

Red Phoenix was not wearing the flashy clothes she usually wore at Lanting Mansion today.

She had changed into a properly tailored, deep black professional suit.

Her signature bright red lipstick was toned down, and she had reined in the underworld aura she usually carried.

Sitting across from her at the desk was a middle-aged man in a white shirt and rimless glasses.

He was the leader in charge of the handover for the Great Hongqiao planning area.

The air of professional competence that came from long-term high-ranking status made Red Phoenix, who had spent years on the fringes, feel a sense of oppression.

In front of the man lay a thick summary sheet of online signed assets in the Great Hongqiao area.

He did not engage in the usual pleasantries or pour tea as one would in typical negotiations.

As soon as he sat down, he reached out and tapped on the document.

He looked up and fixed his gaze on Red Phoenix.

"Hong Yun."

The man did not beat around the bush and addressed her directly by name.

His tone carried the unquestionable authority of someone in a high position:

"Let's not mince words. The timing of your entry into the Great Hongqiao area with over 60 million in assets these past few days was far too precise."

Red Phoenix's eyelids twitched, and her hands, resting on her knees, subconsciously clenched.

The man leaned forward slightly, his gaze behind the lenses filled with scrutiny, and continued to press her:

"Over 60 million in cash, precisely sweeping up all the key core plots about to be finalized. Hong Yun, this money of yours is like a thorn, piercing exactly into the vital point of this policy."

The approval documents for Great Hongqiao were top secret.

Countless eyes from above were watching, lining up to get a piece of the pie.

As a woman with a shady background, for her to sweep up goods with massive capital at this juncture and occupy the most core resources...

From the perspective of those above, this was no longer a matter of good investment vision.

It was reaching her hand onto the table of power and snatching a cake that others had already set their sights on.

If she didn't spit out what she had swallowed, these 60-plus million in assets, along with herself, could be crushed by this torrent of interests at any moment.

Faced with this blunt pressure, Red Phoenix felt turmoil inside, but maintained her composure on the surface.

Before coming here, Shen Du's words, "You understand what I mean," had already stripped away any false hope she might have had.

She did not show the panic of being exposed, nor did she offer any pale excuses.

She took a deep breath, lowered her posture, and spoke with a sincere tone:

"You have misunderstood, sir."

"I have many old acquaintances in the Hongkou District. They advised me that a woman should have a stable home, and encouraged me to settle down in Shanghai permanently."

She lowered her head slightly, appearing humble: "So, I took out all the savings I've accumulated over the years. I bought these old houses not to get rich, but just to settle down as a landlord and collect rent, living a peaceful life for the rest of my days."

Red Phoenix said this flawlessly.

She both hinted at her connections in Shanghai and expressed her harmless intention of just wanting to go straight and retire.

The middle-aged man opposite her remained expressionless, clearly unmoved by her platitudes.

Just then, Red Phoenix changed the subject.

She played the trump card Shen Du had devised.

"However—"

Red Phoenix looked up, her eyes resolute:

"Since the authorities have notified that these blocks are key national planning projects, then I, Hong Yun, as a woman who hasn't read many books, would absolutely never dare to hinder national development."

"These properties in the core areas, when calculated, aren't worth that much."

Red Phoenix watched the man opposite her narrow his eyes slightly, and stated her offer:

"Hong Yun is willing to transfer all these key plots to your side at the historical average price of 2005, based on the area."

As soon as these words were spoken, the middle-aged man, who was accustomed to political and business maneuvering, paused his fingers holding the fountain pen.

Rolling back five years.

At 2005 prices, the total price of these currently core market assets was forcibly slashed to less than 10 million.

This wasn't a transfer; it was a clearly priced "tribute."

The meeting room fell into a brief silence, with only the sound of the air conditioner's airflow remaining.

A trace of astonishment flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes.

He had seen countless people.

Before coming, he had prepared a whole set of tactics combining kindness and severity, ready for the other party to stubbornly cling to the policy dividends.

After all, this was tens of millions in profit; no one would be willing to easily spit out the fat meat they had already swallowed.

But he hadn't expected that the woman before him wouldn't put up a desperate fight, but instead would decisively cut her losses.

Not only did she not use the 2010 market price, but she actually took the initiative to roll the price back five years.

Such decisiveness and awareness made the middle-aged man involuntarily think a little higher of the woman before him.

Since the other party had voluntarily served up the vital cake, the authorities naturally wouldn't look too greedy.

The authorities' goal was to control the market and reclaim the land, to resolve this thorn within the red line, not to drive someone into a dead end.

The middle-aged man's expression softened, the pressure dissipated, and a trace of satisfaction appeared.

He nodded slightly, his tone carrying a condescending appreciation:

"Ms. Hong Yun, you have excellent political awareness."

"Of course, since this is a key national project, naturally we won't let you work in vain, nor will we let you suffer a loss."

As the man spoke, he pulled a transfer contract from the black briefcase beside him:

"Based on the area calculation, the quote of over 10 million is too unfair to you."

"We have studied the matter and decided. We are willing to use a comprehensive compensation price of 35 million to collectively reclaim the property rights of the core areas under your name."

From a floor price of over 20 million, it was directly increased to 35 million.

Red Phoenix understood clearly.

This extra 10-plus million was not money for buying land.

It was a direct reward and compensation from those above for her "knowing the times and understanding the rules."

The man pushed the contract in front of Red Phoenix and handed her a fountain pen, his tone straightforward:

"Take a look at the contract, and if you have no objections, sign it."

"Once signed, this transaction will be considered complete. The funds will be wired to your personal account via a dedicated line this afternoon."

Looking at the white paper and black ink before her, which symbolized the cutting of interests, Red Phoenix did not hesitate.

She uncapped the pen and signed her name at the bottom.

The moment the pen tip touched the paper, this political-business transaction was settled.

Until the final stroke was made, Red Phoenix pushed the contract back to the table.

Her tense back finally relaxed slightly.

She looked at the middle-aged man opposite her, her face showing gratitude and a sense of relief:

"You are too kind. In that case, Hong Yun will humbly accept this compensation."

The middle-aged man put away the contract and locked it into his black briefcase.

This transaction of interests, which originally had a high possibility of causing big trouble, was concluded in less than twenty minutes because of Red Phoenix's "sensibility."

Just as Red Phoenix picked up her handbag and stood up to leave, the middle-aged man suddenly stood up as well.

He took out a small metal business card holder from the inside pocket of his suit.

Under Red Phoenix's puzzled gaze, he pulled out a white card and, across the wide desk, handed it to her.

That could not be considered an ordinary business card.

It had no position, title, or unit name printed on it, not even the owner's name.

On the entire white-background card, only a lonely internal landline number was printed in black Song typeface.

"Ms. Hong Yun."

The middle-aged man looked at her, his tone becoming deep, his words carrying authority:

"You readily provided convenience to those above today, so naturally, they cannot let you pay such a high price for nothing."

"Take it."

The middle-aged man gently pushed the business card to Red Phoenix's hand and solemnly instructed:

"In the future, in Shanghai, whether you encounter obstacles in your capital chain or trouble that endangers you personally,"

"call this number, and someone will naturally come forward to help you settle it."

Upon hearing this, Red Phoenix's pupils shrank sharply.

"But the promise of this number only has one chance."

The man's eyes were as sharp as a hawk's: "Please, use it wisely."

A white card without any header.

It represented an amulet from the pinnacle of power, something that couldn't be bought even by throwing hundreds of millions outside.