160: Overt strategy...

That afternoon, downstairs at the Haoyun Building on Dezheng West Road in Changan Town.

Although it was sunny, the January air still held a chill...

Li Zhan was wearing a long black cashmere coat, standing tall and straight by the roadside.

Chen Ziqiao stood respectfully half a step behind him, holding a folder.

Lin Xia stood close to Li Zhan, almost leaning her entire body against him, seemingly not feeling the cold at all.

She was wrapped in a slim-fitting long white down jacket, but the zipper wasn't pulled up, revealing a tight black turtleneck cashmere sweater underneath, outlining her full, proud chest and slender waist.

On her lower body, she wore thickened black velvet leggings, tightly wrapping her straight, slender legs and pert buttocks, and on her feet, she wore ankle-high black boots, which were both warm and stylish.

She had her long hair put up, revealing her fair neck and exquisite profile, looking at Li Zhan from time to time with undisguised attachment and tenderness in her eyes.

"Are you cold?" Li Zhan asked, lowering his head, his arm naturally wrapping around her waist.

"Not cold, it's warm being close to you." Lin Xia smiled and shook her head, pulling him tighter.

"The bureau is still processing the paperwork, and I probably won't get my new work assignment until after the New Year. I'll be pestering you every day during this time, don't find me annoying..."

She spoke in a coquettish tone, as if she wanted to make up for the time they had been apart these past few days.

Big Ox stood a little further away, hands in his jacket pockets, seemingly casually looking at the surrounding traffic and pedestrians, but his eyes were sharp, keeping alert at all times.

Before long, a black Audi A6L drove up smoothly and stopped in front of them.

The window rolled down, revealing Zhou Mingyuan's smiling face.

Zhou Mingxuan in the passenger seat was more lively and pushed the door open to get out.

"A-Zhan! Waited long?" Zhou Mingyuan got out of the car and greeted them, his gaze sweeping over the arms tightly linked by Li Zhan and Lin Xia, revealing a knowing smile.

"Xia Xia, you're getting clingier and clingier."

"Mind your own business, Brother Mingyuan..."

Lin Xia retorted playfully, but her face was full of smiles. She looked at Zhou Mingxuan, "organization name related to Zhou familys overseas assets, long time no see!"

"Sister Xia Xia! Brother Zhan!" Zhou Mingxuan called out enthusiastically.

He was still that sunny big boy, his eyes full of curiosity and excitement seeing the intimacy between Lin Xia and Li Zhan.

After a few pleasantries, Chen Ziqiao stepped forward and said respectfully, "Team Leader Zhou, Mr. Zhou, the office is ready, please this way."

The group walked into the building and took the elevator directly to the ninth floor.

As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, they could feel an atmosphere completely different from half a month ago.

The office area was crowded, with phone calls, keyboard tapping, and discussions rising and falling, appearing unusually busy and vibrant.

The workstations were almost full, and there were many new faces.

"Mr. Li, Team Leader Zhou..." Chen Ziqiao introduced from the side, "Since the successful acquisition of the Nancheng plot, the company has rapidly expanded its team."

"Currently, recruitment is mainly focused on the preliminary development, design management, and cost control departments."

"Look, the newly established project department over there is working on the preliminary planning scheme and market research for the plot."

He pointed to an area where several employees were gathered around a computer discussing blueprints.

"That is the newly formed reporting and planning team, which is sorting out the approval processes and nodes for the Nancheng plot to ensure that subsequent procedures can be promoted quickly."

He pointed to another place.

Zhou Mingyuan looked at the busy scene and couldn't help but nod, "Moving very fast."

Chen Ziqiao humbly said, "It's all according to Mr. Li's instructions to seize the time."

"We have just completed the team building and preliminary investigation of the plot."

"The geological survey unit will enter the site next week, and the design bidding documents are also being prepared."

"It is expected that the design unit bidding work will start after the Spring Festival."

The group walked and looked, and finally arrived at Li Zhan's office on the tenth floor.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows brought in plenty of sunlight, and the view was excellent.

Zhou Mingxuan walked quickly to the window, looking at the center of Changan Town not far away and the Nancheng plot that belonged to them in the distance, his face showing excitement.

"Wow, this view is great! Brother Zhan, your office is really impressive!"

He suddenly turned around, his tone filled with expectation and pleading, "Brother Zhan, I have nothing to do after graduation anyway, and I'm almost molding at home. I really don't want to go to the unit to read the newspaper."

"Why don't I come and intern with you? Being your little brother is fine too!"

Li Zhan smiled upon hearing this, walked to the wine cabinet, poured a few glasses of water, and handed them to them.

"Sure... The company is just starting, and we are short of hands."

"Especially in the legal department, there will be a lot of contracts, agreements, and bidding documents coming up, so we need reliable people we can trust."

"You can come over, set up a legal department, and learn practical operations from Zi Qiao and Brother Jiang."

"Great! Thank you, Brother Zhan!" Zhou Mingxuan was so happy he almost jumped up.

Zhou Mingyuan also walked over, took the water handed by Li Zhan, and his tone became more serious.

"A-Zhan, this piece of land in Nancheng is just the beginning."

"I have put some effort into research recently. There are quite a few good plots in the city's land transfer plan this year, and the location and planning conditions of several plots are even better than this one in Nancheng."

He looked at Li Zhan meaningfully.

How could Li Zhan not understand his meaning? He patted Zhou Mingyuan on the shoulder, his tone steady and confident.

"Don't worry about the funding. I have prepared sufficient ammunition through some safe channels."

"You see how much land there is; as long as the conditions are suitable, we can eat it all."

He paused, looked at the bustling street scene outside the window, and continued, "This year, I will let Zi Qiao continue to expand the scale."

"Zhengyang Real Estate will be the main force, and two new real estate companies will be registered to participate in land acquisition with different entities to avoid being too conspicuous."

"At that time, you will have to worry more about the coordination and grasp of all aspects, Mingyuan."

Hearing that Li Zhan already had a comprehensive plan and strong financial resources, a glimmer flashed in Zhou Mingyuan's eyes, and his smile deepened.

"Good! With your word, I am relieved!"

"Our brothers join forces, and we will definitely be able to make a name for ourselves in the Dongguan real estate market..."

Just as Li Zhan and The Zhou brothers were talking about the future real estate blueprint facing the window on the top floor of the Haoyun Building in Changan Town.

In Tiger Gate, dozens of kilometers away, inside a private teahouse box, smoke was curling, but the atmosphere was completely different from the sunny side, appearing exceptionally heavy.

In the box, tea fragrance and smoke were intertwined.

Bai Shaqiang was silently washing the tea set, Prince Hui was slowly wiping his gold-rimmed glasses, Brother Chang from Houjie was unconsciously tapping on the table with his fingers, and Brother A Ming from Changping was looking out the window, his eyes dim and unclear.

"Hoo—" Bai Shaqiang exhaled a long puff of smoke, finally breaking the silence.

"Li Zhan's words yesterday... what do you two brothers think?" He swept his gaze over Brother Chang and Brother A Ming.

The usual smile on Brother Chang's fat face disappeared, replaced by a rare seriousness and struggle.

"What else can I think? The words have been made clear."

"This guy Li has a big ambition..."

"Either follow him, fight for a bigger future, but from now on, you have to look at his face to eat..."

"Or... stick to your own little territory, but you might be marginalized, or even swallowed by him or some other force."

He sighed, "This kid... slapped a multiple-choice question on our faces."

Prince Hui put on his gold-rimmed glasses, the look behind the lenses calm and sharp.

"This is not a multiple-choice question, this is an open conspiracy..."