Zhao Weiqiang jogged back, his forehead glistening, panting heavily.

He leaned close to Lu Ming and lowered his voice, "President Lu, the leaders have made a decision. Twenty million, the entire building along with the plaza land, all yours."

Lu Jianjun, standing nearby, grimaced, wanting to speak but swallowing his words.

"Are you free this afternoon?" Zhao Weiqiang offered a cigarette, "The bureau leaders want to meet with you to finalize the intentions. After all, such a large asset disposal is of great importance to the county."

"Alright." Lu Ming accepted the cigarette but didn't light it, "What time in the afternoon?"

"Three o'clock. Yunmeng County Government Compound, Finance Bureau, second-floor meeting room. Call me when you arrive."

At noon, Lu Jianjun was dropped off at the repair shop. Old Lu asked just one question on the way, "Are you really going to take over that unfinished building?"

After receiving a positive answer, he got out of the car, slammed the door shut, and walked back into the yard with a sigh.

At two-thirty in the afternoon, Lu Ming went home to change into a collared dark short-sleeve shirt and drove straight to the county government.

The access control system at Yunmeng County Government Compound was merely decorative. Normally, when outside vehicles entered, the gatekeeper would poke his head out to ask a few questions.

Today was different. A sleek, black Maybach stopped steadily in front of the barrier.

The old man glanced at the badge through the glass and, without a word, pressed the remote. The barrier lifted high.

Lu Ming parked the car in a marked spot under the office building. As soon as he got out, Zhao Weiqiang came out from the lobby, all smiles, walking briskly.

"President Lu, right on time. The leaders are waiting upstairs."

Following Zhao Weiqiang to the second floor, they opened the door to a small meeting room where three people sat around an oval conference table.

In the center was a man in his fifties, hair meticulously combed, wearing a white shirt. This was the head of the Finance Bureau, Director Wang.

To the left was a slightly younger man, wearing half-rim glasses, slightly chubby, the Deputy Director Liu in charge of state-owned assets.

On the right sat a young man with a laptop, dressed like a legal or clerical staff member.

Seeing Lu Ming enter, Director Wang stood up and extended his hand, "President Lu, young and promising. I am Wang Weiguo."

"Director Wang, you're too kind." Lu Ming shook his hand.

Deputy Director Liu also exchanged a few pleasantries, and everyone took their seats.

The clerk, with keen insight, served a freshly brewed cup of Maojian tea, the leaves standing upright in the glass.

In the past, this setup would have made Lu Ming break out in a nervous sweat.

The daily routine of a new media operator was typing away at a computer, never having seen such a scene.

But now, with over 120 million in his account, increasing by 60 million daily, money indeed gives courage.

He leaned back in his chair, blew on the floating leaves in the teacup, and took a sip.

"Good tea." Lu Ming set the cup down.

Wang Weiguo chuckled, "Indeed, the first batch of pre-Qingming Maojian. President Lu, doing big business outside and still thinking of investing back home, such sentiment is rare."

"Fallen leaves return to their roots. After making some money outside, I always feel more grounded in my hometown." Lu Ming followed the conversation smoothly.

The two exchanged a few rounds of polite conversation.

It was nothing more than Wang Weiguo probing Lu Ming's background, while Lu Ming used terms like "internet investment" and "early virtual currency dividends" to baffle the county leaders with familiar yet elusive jargon.

After a few rounds, Wang Weiguo had a rough idea: this young man had real money, and it was fast money.

"President Lu, let's be frank."

Wang Weiguo leaned forward, clasping his hands on the table, "The situation with that building, Xiao Zhao should have briefed you. The price of twenty million, to be honest, is a loss for the county. Just taking over and renovating back then cost nearly ten million."

Lu Ming listened quietly, not responding.

Wang Weiguo glanced at Deputy Director Liu beside him.

Deputy Director Liu understood, coughed, and pushed a printed document to the center of the table.

"President Lu, regarding the price, Director Wang has gone against many opinions to approve it for you, but as a transfer of state-owned assets, the county has its considerations. We hope the enterprise we introduce can truly drive Yunmeng's development."

Deputy Director Liu adjusted his half-rim glasses, his tone becoming more official, "Therefore, in addition to the transfer agreement, we need to attach three conditions."

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread.com".

Lu Ming raised an eyebrow, "Let's hear them."

"First, after your enterprise settles in, it must create no less than a hundred local jobs within a year, and social security must be paid."

This was already his goal, an easy task.

"Second, the company you register in the county must have its taxes fully retained locally, no tax evasion or shell transactions."

Lu Ming took another sip of tea.

His money would become worthless outside Yunmeng County, and the system wouldn't allow tax payments elsewhere, so this was also easy.

"The third condition, and the most important one."

Deputy Director Liu stared at Lu Ming, his tone more serious, "After your enterprise begins operations, thirty percent of the annual net profit must be allocated as special funds to support county infrastructure construction and economic development."

After stating these three conditions, the meeting room fell silent.

Wang Weiguo took a sip from his thermos, his eyes subtly observing Lu Ming.

Deputy Director Liu leaned back in his chair, waiting for Lu Ming to negotiate.

The young legal staff even had his hands on the keyboard, ready to record Lu Ming's objections.

These three conditions were essentially coercive terms.

Especially the third one, directly cutting away thirty percent of the enterprise's profit, was unheard of in attracting investment nationwide.

But the county had its difficulties. That building was a mess, and selling it for twenty million was indeed a giveaway. Without some additional conditions, the year-end audit would be tough, risking accusations of state asset loss.

However, difficulties aside.

Lu Ming sat there, fingers gently tapping the table.

He was doing the math.

A hundred jobs, at an average county salary of three thousand, would only cost thirty thousand a month, less than four million a year.

Not even a fraction of his daily expenses.

Local tax retention was only natural.

"Director Liu." Lu Ming stopped tapping the table, looking up.

"President Lu, if you have any concerns, feel free to raise them." Deputy Director Liu was prepared with responses.

Lu Ming smiled.

He leaned slightly forward, fingers interlocked on the table, meeting the scrutinizing gaze of the two directors, and spoke slowly, "Gentlemen, the first two conditions are reasonable."

"However, regarding the third condition, I personally... am very dissatisfied."