C10 An Unprecedented Investment of Five Billion!

An investment project worth fifty billion is truly unprecedented for the modest Cangzhou City! It's poised to bring transformative changes to Cangzhou.

Yet, what really sent shockwaves through the Cangzhou business community was the identity of the project's leader: the Chen Family!

The preeminent Chen Family from the capital!

Their influence spans the military, political, and commercial sectors, placing the Chen Family at the pinnacle of Huaxia's elite.

Numerous merchants, green with envy, scrambled to find out if they could get involved in the development of Mount Yuquan.

After all, this was a venture backed by the Chen Family!

With the Chen Family's visionary foresight and wealth rivaling that of nations, it was a given that this project would not fail. It was destined to be profitable, and immensely so!

Moreover, with the involvement of Cangzhou's wealthiest, Shen Hongchang, the deal seemed even more secure, acting as a calming agent for the eager merchants who were now convinced that the Mount Yuquan Project was a surefire win.

If they could just get a piece of the action, they believed they would make a fortune.

Because of this mindset, by the next day, the doorstep of Dingfeng Corporation was worn down by the influx of merchants seeking collaboration, their demeanor exceedingly deferential. Some companies even declared they'd forgo dividends for the mere opportunity to be involved.

Upon hearing this, Chen Feng was dumbfounded; he had not anticipated this frenzy!

To everyone, the Mount Yuquan investment seemed like a guaranteed moneymaker.

But Chen Feng alone knew the truth: the investment was merely a whim, a part of his plan destined for loss.

He had never intended to turn a profit.

Yet, these merchants were all in, taking the project at face value.

It just goes to show, the Chen Family's reputation was so formidable that it led these businesspeople to disregard any potential risks.

At the Xia Family Headquarters, within the conference room at the top of Yunsheng Building, an urgent meeting was convened.

Less than thirty minutes after the announcement of Dingfeng Corporation's development plans, the Xia Family gathered.

Xia Yunsheng, with a steely gaze, took his place at the head of the table, flanked by rows of solemn-faced family members.

"Everyone's up to speed on the Mount Yuquan Resort situation, right?" Xia Yunsheng opened his eyes and spoke with a calm authority.

A chorus of nods came from the group, though their expressions varied widely.

"Within the next three days, I expect you to use whatever means necessary to ensure our Xia Family is involved in the Mount Yuquan project," Xia Yunsheng said, sweeping his gaze over them, his tone brooking no argument.

The Xia Family members exchanged uneasy glances, remaining silent.

"Dad, that might not be very realistic," Xia Qichao finally said, his voice subdued. As Xia Yunsheng's eldest son and the heir apparent to the Xia Family leadership, he understood their current predicament better than anyone.

The Xia Family had long since fallen to the status of a second-tier family in Cangzhou.

Since the arrival of real estate giants Country Garden and Evergrande in Cangzhou, the Xia Family's property business had been hit hard, its value plummeting dramatically.

Several of their properties were languishing, ignored by the market.

In truth, the Xia Family was now little more than a shell, with nothing to show but a few professional engineering teams.

In such a state, seeking a partnership with Dingfeng Corporation seemed almost impossible—they might not even get past the front door.

"Unrealistic..." Xia Yunsheng's fingers tapped lightly on the table, a gesture that sent a ripple of tension through the room.

"Then let's cut everyone's year-end bonus in half," he stated flatly.

The room erupted in dismay. A fifty percent cut to their year-end bonus? That was a blow to their livelihoods!

The Xia Family ran a family enterprise, and every employee was tied to the family's fortunes.

A cut to the bonus was tantamount to slashing their salaries in half.

Xia Qichao, who would normally receive twenty million yuan annually, would now see only ten million. The message was clear: Xia Yunsheng was furious.

If the Xia Family failed to secure a role in the Mount Yuquan Resort project, he would make good on his threat.

And they would be the ones to bear the brunt of it.

Anxious and desperate, the Xia Family members buzzed with conversation, scrambling to devise a strategy that would allow them to stake a claim in the Mount Yuquan Resort development.

It must be said, the task was tougher than scaling the heavens!

The Xia Family's current standing was simply too feeble to even consider a partnership with Dingfeng Corporation.

Xia Hao shot Xia Qichao a resentful glance, baffled by his father's eagerness to stick his neck out. Now that Xia Yunsheng was provoked, the whole family was in for it.

Noticing the crestfallen looks among the family members, Xia Yunsheng seemed to realize he might have been overly stern. Softening his tone, he announced, "Any member of the Xia Family who secures a partnership with Dingfeng Corporation will be rewarded with the property on the city's east side."

"The east side property?!"

Eyes within the Xia Family widened in disbelief.

"Grandfather's really going all out this time. That east side property could fetch at least 30 million yuan if sold well, couldn't it?"

"True, but it's unlikely Dingfeng Corporation would want to work with us."

After Xia Yunsheng's declaration, the family's reactions were mixed. Some were electrified, as if invigorated with newfound energy, while others were disheartened, viewing the task as insurmountable.

Xia Yunsheng was known for his strategy of applying pressure before dangling a carrot as incentive.

The prospect of winning a property worth over thirty million yuan spurred a wave of enthusiasm among the Xia Family members.

Xia Mengyao's eyes sparkled momentarily, but the thought of her father's meager assets quickly dimmed her excitement.

Of Xia Yunsheng's three sons, Xia Weiguo was the least regarded.

Xia Qichao's construction teams were the Xia Family's seasoned veterans, with a wealth of experience and responsible for building most of the family's properties.

In contrast, Xia Weiguo's team, made up of the family's rejects, would likely be a laughingstock if they attempted to negotiate with Dingfeng Corporation.

Thus, Xia Qichao and his lineage were the most probable candidates to fulfill the mission.

Just as Xia Mengyao predicted, Xia Qichao confidently stepped forward, assuring Xia Yunsheng that he would camp out at Dingfeng Corporation's doorstep tonight and secure a partnership at any cost, seizing the opportunity for the Xia Family to ascend to the ranks of Cangzhou's elite.

Xia Yunsheng nodded with satisfaction.

Xia Mengyao let out a sigh, feeling detached from the unfolding events.

However, it was then that Xia Hao interjected, "Grandfather, for the sake of caution, I propose we take control of the few engineering teams currently managed by Third Uncle. With them on our side, we'll enter negotiations with Dingfeng Corporation on much stronger footing."

Xia Mengyao's expression darkened at once. The 'Third Uncle' Xia Hao referred to was her own father, Xia Weiguo.

Xia Weiguo's engineering teams, though a ragtag group, were his sole asset. If they were indeed transferred to Xia Hao, it would be akin to a lamb walking into a lion's den. Regardless of the outcome with Dingfeng Corporation, they would never regain control of the teams.

Going forward, Xia Weiguo would be cut off from any family dividends, and they would be utterly marginalized within the Xia Family.

"I disagree!"

Xia Mengyao instantly objected. She was appalled by Xia Hao's audacity, attempting to usurp her father's only assets while he lay in a coma, effectively cornering their family into a desperate situation..