78: The 78th richest man in Zhangze City

The Alphard in front had already started moving slowly, smoothly sliding into the lane. Chen Jianjun, as if waking from a dream, hurriedly shifted gears to follow, muttering to himself, "Goodness, you really can't judge a book by its cover. Li Hang usually looks so simple-minded, I never expected his family background to be so substantial. And that Lin Yu... he doesn't seem simple either..."

"Jianjun," Wang Xiufen cleared her throat, her tone softening unconsciously. "When we get to the restaurant later, you must be polite. After all... we're going to be one big family, we can't afford to be rude."

Chen Jianjun glanced at her, laughing inwardly at how quickly the old woman changed her tune, like flipping a page in a book, but he replied, "Got it, got it, just set your mind at ease."

The three cars drove one after another toward Min Shi Wei Tian.

The cars pulled up steadily into the underground parking lot of the Min Shi Wei Tian flagship store in the ancient city. Lin Yu led everyone up the stairs to the first floor with familiar ease.

A beautiful figure was already waiting at the entrance. Seeing Lin Yu, she stepped forward to meet him. She took his arm with extreme naturalness, her posture so intimate it was as if she were welcoming her own husband home.

"Hello, Uncle and Auntie. Fatty and Huihui are here too. Your family is all together again." Xia Xiaotang smiled and greeted Fatty's family and Chen Huihui.

"Hehe, I want to come to your restaurant every day. I can never get enough of the braised pork!" Fatty replied first.

"Hello, Sister Xiaotang. Don't mind him, he's just a glutton all day long." Chen Huihui greeted her with a smile.

"Haha, alright, it's hot outside, let's go in." Xia Xiaotang led the way inside while turning her head to look at Lin Yu. Her eyes shimmered, and her tone carried a hint of coquettishness and admiration: "You're a big shot in Ze City now. It was just on the news. How does it feel to be the richest man in Ze City? Heehee."

Lin Yu was a bit dazed by her outburst. He instinctively tried to pull his arm away but couldn't, so he could only smile helplessly: "Xiaotang, what are you talking about? How did I become the richest man? Don't make fun of me."

"You don't know? Here, see for yourself!" Xia Xiaotang said, handing over her phone.

It turned out that today's local news was no longer a press release about city leaders inspecting work, but was dominated by the same photo: at the opening ceremony of Junlin Capital, Lin Yu stood side-by-side with Secretary Wang of the Municipal Committee, with bright lights and countless flashing media cameras in the background. The headlines all pointed to the same theme without exception: "Junlin Capital Officially Sets Sail, A New Giant Arrives in Ze City's Economy," "The Low-Key Chairman Lin, High-Key Ambitions," and "The Junlin Era, Officially Arriving."

At the same time, explosive news was spreading wildly on social media and throughout the streets: the former richest man in Ze City, Zhang Tieshan, who had single-handedly built the "Tieshan Industrial" empire, had been sentenced to a heavy prison term in the first instance by the court for involvement in multiple economic crimes, bribery, and corruption.

This news was shocking enough on its own, but what truly caused an uproar across the city was the "inside information" that followed.

"Have you heard? The reason Zhang Tieshan fell so quickly and so thoroughly this time is because he didn't know his place and offended Junlin Capital!"

"I have a friend who works at the court, and he said that much of the evidence of Zhang Tieshan's crimes was provided by Junlin Capital—a fatal blow!"

"Exactly! Zhang Tieshan used to run rampant in Ze City and wouldn't give anyone face, but he never expected to hit a steel plate this time. What kind of background does Junlin Capital have? Even Secretary Wang personally went to support them; Zhang Tieshan is nothing!"

These unverified "insider revelations" swept through all of Ze City in a very short time like a virus. People linked the fall of Zhang Tieshan with the rise of Junlin Capital, constructing a dramatic narrative of "the fall of the old king, the ascension of the new." Zhang Tieshan, a name that once symbolized wealth and power in Ze City, had become synonymous with "being oblivious to the times" and "bringing about one's own destruction" overnight. As for Junlin Capital, it was shrouded in a mysterious and powerful veil, and the energy it represented made people afraid to underestimate it in the slightest.

The public's exclamations and awe were not without cause.

People began to re-examine the footprint of Junlin Capital and were surprised to find that this massive business empire had already quietly permeated every aspect of their lives.

The vegetables, meat, and eggs they ate every day largely came from the 3,000-mu "Min Sheng Junlin Food City"; the clean, tidy, and reasonably priced "Vegetable Basket" chain supermarkets near their homes were backed by the big boss, Junlin Capital; their children were learning to drive at "Junlin Pengcheng Driving School"; their single friends looking for a partner were likely using Zhou Li's matchmaking company; the restaurants where they gathered on weekends were likely "Min Shi Wei Tian" under Xia Xiaotang's banner; even their safety when out and about was likely being quietly guarded by Director Wu's security company.

What they couldn't ignore even more was Junlin Capital's huge investment in the field of charity. Whether it was sponsoring impoverished students, helping to build rural hospitals, or providing job positions for vulnerable groups, the presence of Junlin Capital always appeared where it was needed most. Those real monetary donations and those tangible livelihood projects won people's hearts more than any flashy advertisement.

Thus, a consensus quietly formed in Ze City: Junlin Capital was no longer a newcomer, but the undisputed leading enterprise in Ze City. It was not just a commercial institution, but a behemoth whose lifeblood was intertwined with the city itself; every breath it took affected the economic pulse of Ze City.

And the man standing at the top of the empire—Lin Yu, the young chairman who had been low-key, humble, and unpretentious at the opening ceremony—naturally became the new "Richest Man in Ze City" in people's hearts.

This title of "richest man" was no longer just about the amount of money, but also about power, influence, and popular reputation. Zhang Tieshan's era as the "richest man" was accompanied by tyranny and greed; whereas Lin Yu's era as the "richest man" was pinned with expectations of hope and order.

"Indisputable."

These four words became the most precise summary of Lin Yu's status in the streets. His rise was not based on trickery or plunder, but on solid industrial layout, contributions to public livelihood, and a powerful political background. His wealth was visible, tangible, and benefited the people.

From this day on, the business rules of Ze City were completely rewritten. Any enterprise or individual wanting to make a mark in Ze City had to re-evaluate their position and think about how to coexist with this new behemoth. The name Junlin Capital was deeply imprinted in every corner of Ze City, becoming a symbol of an era.

And after reading all this, Lin Yu just smiled faintly; this was only his first goal.

The hall was bustling with noise, and the noisy environment became the best cover. The words Xia Xiaotang said while holding Lin Yu's arm were drowned out by the surrounding clamor and clinking of glasses, and Chen Jianjun and his wife, who were trailing behind, only caught a few vague keywords and didn't hear them clearly.

"3,000-mu Food City project," "Ze City's top leader," "richest man"... These words drilled into Chen Jianjun's ears like fragments.

The lights in the private room were soft, the lazy Susan in the center of the round table turned slowly, and two bottles of Moutai gleamed with a warm luster under the warm yellow light. Fatty's father was surrounded by everyone and pushed to the seat of honor. He rubbed his hands, a nervous smile on his face: "Oh my, how can I accept this? Me sitting here..."

"Dad, you should sit here." Fatty pressed down on his father's shoulder, his voice loud and clear. "You're the most important person today!"

Xia Xiaotang carried the teapot and poured tea for the guests one by one. After pouring the tea with gentle movements, she smiled apologetically at everyone: "You guys chat for a moment, I'll go to the kitchen and rush the dishes."

Before long, the waiter brought in the cold dishes: crystal pork knuckle, jellyfish salad, spiced beef...

Fatty's father took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping over the Moutai on the table, then looking at the guests filling the table. The nervousness on his face was gradually replaced by a smile: "Alright, I'm happy today, let's have a good drink." He raised his hand to beckon the waiter: "Young lady, open the wine, don't waste this good liquor."

The hot dishes were served quickly, and the "Good Fortune" braised pork and "Golden Soup Beef," both fragrant and delicious, were placed on the table. Chen Jianjun sat on his chair like he was on pins and needles, his mind filled with Xia Xiaotang's words, "Richest Man Lin."

He pulled out his phone with trembling hands, and taking the opportunity while keeping it under the table, he quickly searched for "Richest Man in Ze City" in his browser.

The moment the webpage loaded, Chen Jianjun's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

The news headline was striking: "Shocking! The Mastermind Behind 'Junlin Capital' Exposed, Mysterious Tycoon Lin Yu Tops the Ze City Rich List." The accompanying photo was of Lin Yu shaking hands with the city's main leaders at the project launch ceremony, and next to it was a high-definition silhouette of him attending a charity gala—that face was clearly the same Lin Yu sitting across the table picking up food!

"Clang!" Chen Jianjun's hand trembled, and his phone slipped from his fingers, hitting the corner of the table before bouncing onto the floor with a crisp sound.

"Jianjun, what's wrong with you? You're acting absent-minded!" Wang Xiufen scolded in a low voice.

Chen Jianjun's face was deathly pale. He bent down to pick up the phone, his hands shaking like a sieve. He turned the screen toward Wang Xiufen, his lips trembling, unable to say a single word.

Wang Xiufen stared at it, and the glaring headline came into view. She instantly felt a chill shoot from the soles of her feet straight to her skull. She covered her mouth tightly with her hand to keep from screaming. She trembled uncontrollably, looking at the calm and composed young man, as if she were seeing a lurking behemoth.

"This... this..." Wang Xiufen's teeth chattered, her eyes full of fear.

Chen Jianshe, sitting opposite, looked up with concern: "Jianjun? Xiufen? What's wrong with you two? Are you not feeling well?"

"No... nothing!!" Chen Jianjun almost jumped up, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead. "We... we're going to the restroom!"

Wang Xiufen also hurriedly stood up, her legs weak, and was almost half-dragged out of the private room by Chen Jianjun.

Until the door of the private room closed, blocking the view from inside, the two leaned against the cold wall of the corridor, only then daring to pant heavily, their hearts beating so wildly it felt like they were about to explode.

Wang Xiufen felt the calves of her legs cramping. She had originally thought Lin Yu just had some connections and was a high-level advisor hired by Fatty's family. Who could have imagined that this was actually a real big shot worth tens of billions!

"Oh my god... I was scared to death..." Wang Xiufen patted her chest, tears almost falling. "Jianjun, is that news true? That little Lin... is he really the richest man in Ze City? The big shot who even the city's top leader gives face to?"

"It's absolutely true!" Chen Jianjun's voice was hoarse, his eyes full of lingering fear. "That photo can't be wrong! We just... we just almost offended the richest man in Ze City to death!"

Thinking back to earlier at Fatty's house, Wang Xiufen's sarcasm and her showing off that her son-in-law was a second-generation rich kid, Chen Jianjun felt lingering fear.

"It's over, it's over... How is Huihui's boyfriend's... friend... so scary? If he holds a grudge and just flicks his finger, our whole family is done for! Will he come after us?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Although Chen Jianjun was tough with his words, his voice was full of weakness. "After all, we are Huihui's family... we are Fatty's elders... he... he wouldn't go that far, right?"

The two recovered in the corridor for a full ten minutes, their faces pale, and they just didn't dare go back into the private room. It wasn't until a waiter came over to ask if they needed anything that they looked at each other, supported each other, and like two prisoners waiting for a verdict, carefully pushed open the door.

After returning to the private room, Chen Jianjun and his wife were completely different people.

The previously arrogant Wang Xiufen was now submissive, not even daring to lift her head, only picking at the vegetables in front of her for fear of being annoying. Chen Jianjun was constantly toasting Lin Yu, holding his glass low, his face full of smiles, a smile filled with sycophancy and humility.

"Lin Yu... no, Mr. Lin, I toast you! I was very offensive just now. You are a big person, please don't hold a grudge, and please don't take it to heart!" Chen Jianjun finished his glass of wine without a drop left, putting himself in an extremely low position.

The meal was eaten with the host and guests "enjoying themselves," but only Chen Jianjun and his wife knew how agonizing this meal was. When they finally managed to wait until the end and the two families separated, Chen Jianjun and his wife almost fled into their Odyssey.

The car drove far away from the restaurant, and after confirming that the Alphard Lin Yu was riding in was out of sight, Chen Jianjun let out a long sigh of relief and collapsed into his seat as if exhausted.

"Second brother! What's wrong with you?" Chen Jianshe asked, looking at Chen Jianjun from the rearview mirror.

"Brother..." Wang Xiufen turned her head and looked at the clueless Chen Jianshe and his wife, her voice still trembling, and tears finally couldn't help but fall. "You... you really don't know what kind of background Huihui's boyfriend's... friend has!"

Chen Jianshe looked blank: "What's wrong? I think that young man, Lin, is quite good."

"Good? That's because he's magnanimous!" Chen Jianjun wiped the cold sweat from his face, his voice filled with a crying tone. "Brother, sister-in-law, you didn't see the news. That Lin Yu... is not some ordinary boss at all. He is the true..."