88: What did you do last night?

Lu Fan spread out the map and spoke plainly.

"The northern suburbs of Changsha. The area is large enough and faces the river, though the pier is small right now."

"But expanding it into a deep-water port won't be a problem. There are power lines passing nearby, so the electricity issue will be relatively easy to solve."

Tang Jifeng examined the map closely. The location was chosen exceptionally well; there was no more ideal spot in all of Changsha.

"Fine! Leave it to me. Most of this land belongs to my family." He slapped his thigh and agreed.

Then a question popped into his head. "For such a large industrial zone, there will be plenty of workers, right? How will housing be arranged?"

"It's quite a distance from the city and across the river, making commuting very inconvenient."

"That's exactly what I'm going to talk about next." Lu Fan picked up a pen and drew a circle next to the industrial zone.

"In this mountain valley, a supporting residential town will be built simultaneously. The planned permanent population is... around a hundred thousand people."

"How... how many?!" The teacup Tang Jifeng had just picked up hit the table with a "clatter," splashing tea everywhere.

He jerked his head up, his eyes wide as copper bells, his voice changing pitch. "A hun... hundred thousand people?"

"Brother Fan, say that again. Building a town? For a hundred thousand people? Are you crazy!"

Tang Jifeng began to doubt his own ears.

A hundred thousand people—that was almost equivalent to building another medium-sized county town!

"Yes, a hundred thousand," Lu Fan nodded affirmatively. "Once the industrial zone is operational, there will be workers plus their families."

"And supporting businesses, service industries, schools, hospitals... It won't work without a sufficient residential area."

"The town needs well-planned roads, water and sewage systems, schools, markets, and hospitals. The infrastructure must be in place from the start to create a virtuous cycle."

Tang Jifeng could no longer sit still. He stood up and paced a few steps around the study.

He suddenly turned back and stared at Lu Fan, his face full of shock and disbelief. "Brother Fan, this... how is this just building an industrial zone?"

"You're trying to build a new city! A town of a hundred thousand people... do you know how big of a project that is? How much investment it requires?"

"This... this is simply..."

He sputtered for a long time, unable to find the right words to describe the grandeur and madness of the plan.

Lu Fan smiled slightly and dropped the final bombshell.

"The initial land, infrastructure, and factory construction for the entire industrial zone and the supporting town..."

"...the preliminary budget is about five million US dollars. I've already prepared the funds, and you'll have a twenty percent stake."

"Five... five million... US dollars?!" Tang Jifeng gasped, feeling his scalp tingle.

As a provincial Garrison Commander, he had seen the world.

But five million US dollars in this era was an astronomical sum, enough to equip several elite divisions!

With a twenty percent stake, he would be set for the rest of his life.

This brother of his had a style that was simply terrifyingly grand!

He sat back down in his chair and looked at Lu Fan's calm face, speechless for a long while.

After the massive shock came uncontrollable excitement and a hint of worry.

He was excited because if it truly could be built, it would be a monumental political achievement and an industrial foundation.

He was worried because such a massive plan involved too many aspects and carried immense risks.

"Brother Fan..." Tang Jifeng's voice carried an unprecedented solemnity. "This project of yours... is too big! It's frighteningly big!"

"This is only the beginning. Given time, I can transform Changsha into a city that rivals the Shanghai."

Lu Fan's demeanor was quite relaxed, carrying the air of a strategist planning within a tent to win a battle a thousand miles away.

Tang Jifeng looked at Lu Fan, and a soldier's pride and determination gradually ignited in his eyes.

"I'll handle this personally. The provincial government, the local authorities—I'll clear all the hurdles."

"This New Port in the northern suburbs of Changsha is assigned to you. We brothers will join forces and do something big."

"In this chaotic world, we'll build a true industrial new city!"

Lu Fan reached out and shook Tang Jifeng's hand firmly. "Good! It's a deal. I'll handle the funding, technology, and planning."

"The land, coordination, and security will be up to you."

"Production, sales, and finance—I'll handle those!" a clear, cold voice abruptly chimed in.

The two looked up at the sound and saw Sheng Aiyi, dressed in an exquisite strapless gown, walking gracefully into the study.

As soon as she sat down, Sheng Aiyi turned her gaze toward Tang Jifeng, her eyes as sharp as knives, staring straight at him.

Her questioning words blurted out, "Fourth, where the hell were you when I looked for you for a meeting last night?"

Tang Jifeng was caught a bit off guard by this sudden interrogation.

But he quickly regained his composure and explained, "I had some matters to attend to and really couldn't get away."

Sheng Aiyi frowned slightly and exposed his lie directly. "You had time for Paramount Hall, but no time for a meeting?"

Tang Jifeng's face looked a bit awkward, and he quickly explained, "Isn't it the same as telling Xiao Feng? It was a good chance for her to learn."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Aiyi's eyes flashed with a cold light as she scolded him, "You let Xiao Feng show her face in public while you, a grown man, indulge in wine and women? Have you no shame!"

Intimidated by Sheng Aiyi's aura, Tang Jifeng's voice instinctively dropped an octave. "Eldest Miss, I understand! It won't happen again."

Sheng Aiyi opened her briefcase and took out a stack of documents. "Sign these, then head back immediately to settle the land issue."

Three days from now, Xiao Feng will return with the industrial zone's design blueprints and the workers.

Remember, start work immediately. I want to see the basic structure within three months."

In front of Sheng Aiyi, who was in full command, even though Tang Jifeng was a Garrison Commander, he still had to obey her orders submissively.

Before the Queen, they were all just little brothers.

"Brother Fan, that's how it is. I'll head back right now to implement it."

After signing, Tang Jifeng hurriedly stood up, wanting to quickly escape this tropical high-pressure zone.

"Wait a moment!" Lu Fan stood up to see him off. "A-Cheng, put those boxes in Fourth Young Master's car."

"Understood~~~" Zhao Chengqiang replied, lifting the boxes with considerable effort.

Lu Fan solemnly entrusted him, "Fourth, I've been entrusted with this money to aid the construction of the industrial zone."

"A total of forty-eight thousand silver dollars plus twenty small gold bars. Take them back and make good use of them."

This money had been won from the Xinli Casino the previous night.

Sending it back with Tang Jifeng for the industrial zone's construction was effectively Zhang Fayao supporting national industry—nothing wrong with that.

"Got it. Don't worry, the accounts will be absolutely clear! I'm off."

Tang Jifeng couldn't stay a moment longer and took his leave immediately after receiving the money.

As soon as Lu Fan stepped through the door of the study, he felt a powerful aura rushing at him.

Sheng Aiyi was sitting upright at the desk, her aura not only unyielding but even stronger than before.

"Eldest Young Master Lu, it's your turn. Sign!" Sheng Aiyi's voice was icy, devoid of any emotion.

She spoke while taking a thick stack of documents from her bag.

*Slap*

The documents were slammed down onto the desk.

Sheng Aiyi stared at Lu Fan with a serious expression and asked, "Confess honestly. You didn't come home all last night. Where did you go?"