Hu Kui felt a darkness descend before his eyes, leaving only a buzzing in his ears.

Chen Zhiyuan was the first to react.

"Director Ma, the one million per acre you mentioned... is it mandatory?"

"Of course, it's mandatory." Director Ma clasped his hands behind his back, speaking with a steady tone. "It's national policy, clearly written in black and white. Changing industrial land to commercial use requires paying the land transfer price difference. This price isn't set by me; it's the guiding price from the Provincial Department of Natural Resources. Yunmeng County is relatively cheap. In neighboring counties, it starts at 1.2 million."