Mayor Ziv smiled and said, "Everyone, no need to be nervous. Please, take your seats."
Secretary Winnie explained, "Mayor Ziv heard from his colleagues in the office that Fyren was holding a meeting here, so he immediately put aside his work and rushed over to listen to your discussion. Please, continue."
The secretary pulled over a chair, and Mayor Ziv sat down beside Fyren.
Mayor Ziv let out a sigh. "Fyren, to be honest, I'd thought of this plan before too." He shook his head. "When the idea first came to me, I was excited too. But… it remained just an idea. Our finances are far too tight. Unless all four major families are like you, willing to make such selfless contributions to Crystalpeak City, relying solely on Dasheng Group to pull this off is incredibly risky."
Fyren nodded. "Money… it always comes down to money."
"After all, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear! Fyren, my opinion of you has changed a great deal lately. I used to think you were a businessman who put profits above all else. But today, the Fyren I see is an extraordinary person—one who cares about the people, about his hometown's development, about the future, about the nation's well-being."
Mayor Ziv sighed again. "If you insist on pushing this project forward, I'll find a way to scrape together 8 billion yuan for you, even if it's just a drop in the bucket. But if you decide to abandon this plan and stick to the original one, I'll understand. Personally, I'd support you taking the cautious route."
Fyren's gaze turned intense. He slowly stood up, and the room fell silent, everyone waiting for his final decision.
"First, I need to make one thing clear! The disagreement between the chief engineer and Maggie is a professional one, not a personal grudge."
"Moreover, both of their perspectives and ideas have their merits and their flaws. My decision isn't about picking the 'correct' path, nor is it about opposing the other side's opinion! It's simply a choice—a choice between two paths, and I'm choosing one of them."
Tension hung thick in the air. Maggie clenched her fists tightly, silently urging herself: Stay calm! Don't act rashly, Fyren! Please, don't act rashly!
Fyren said, "Begin overall planning immediately. Start recruiting workers nationwide at once. The engineering teams must be of the highest quality and caliber. Don't rush to hire just any random group of amateurs!"
Maggie suddenly felt all the strength drain from her body. She sank back into her chair in despair, the light in her eyes dimmed to a lifeless disappointment.
Fyren went on, "Internally, we need to prepare for the transition. Temporary housing, food supplies, temporary restrooms, and living facilities for the employees must be built right away."
The chief engineer's face lit up with excitement. "Fyren is wise! To follow Fyren is truly an honor!"
Fyren asked, "What should the first step be?"
"You've already laid excellent groundwork," the chief engineer replied. "Engineering Department One will handle recruitment and personnel allocation, as well as distributing tools, equipment, and raw materials to each construction team;"
"Engineering Department Two will immediately contact all building material suppliers across Northlandia and procure materials at full capacity—sand, cement, rebar, hollow bricks, composite bricks, alloy building materials… all supplies must be guaranteed."
"Engineering Department Three will start work right away, beginning with paving several main roads to ensure transportation and construction vehicles can access all work sites…"
Maggie stood up in a daze, her eyes brimming with tears. She couldn't understand it. This project would be lucky to break even, and now they wanted to launch full-scale construction? Was that not sheer madness?
This wasn't the kind of decision-making or thinking a businessman should have.
What on earth is Fyren thinking?
Mayor Ziv immediately declared, "Inform all colleagues in the office! Dasheng Group's shantytown project is now designated as a top-priority project for our city! Anyone who hinders Dasheng Group on this project will be dismissed immediately!"
Secretary Winnie quickly responded, "Yes, sir. I'll have the office draft the documents at once and distribute them today."
"And! Anyone caught embezzling project funds, extorting bribes through documents or permits, or lining their own pockets will be severely punished—no exceptions!"
"Yes, sir!"
Fyren and Mayor Ziv shook hands.
"Fyren, now you can tackle this project with bold resolve! You've sacrificed yourself to light the way for others—you're a great man! Please accept my deepest respect!"
"Oh, please, Mayor Ziv, you're too generous. I'm just an ordinary hero who's set aside personal interests to selflessly serve the greater good of the people. I don't deserve such praise!"
"Hmm!" Mayor Ziv clasped Fyren's hand firmly. "You're far too humble! I can arrange an interview for you to explain the project details and showcase your kind, upright, and decisive entrepreneurial spirit!"
Mayor Ziv was beside himself with excitement. If this project accelerated... the local government's situation would be as if heaven itself were lending a hand!
"Look at Fyren! What integrity! He's the most honest, pure, impartial, selfless, outstanding, great, and conscientious entrepreneur I've ever known! Let's give Fyren a round of applause!"
Fyren smiled, humbly waving his hands in response to the clapping. "You're too kind, really too kind."
The more humble Fyren acted, the more enthusiastic the applause grew.
Just then, Eason burst through the door. "Fyren! There you are! Ha ha! Come in, come in—everyone, come in!"
The room fell silent, stunned.
Eason called out, "Line up, line up!"
Ten beautiful women filed in one after another, each heavily made up, sexy and alluring. They wore high heels, stockings, and low-cut tops, their eyes roaming playfully. Lining up, they lifted their skirts to show their legs and chimed in unison, "Hello, Fyren!"
Fyren's face turned green.
"Eason, what the hell are you doing!? This is my company!"
Eason laughed loudly. "Oh, come on, you think I don't know you? These ten are carefully selected, the cream of the crop! Perfect for your taste, bro—get it?"
Fyren ground his teeth, whispering, "I'm supposed to be the most upright, pure, impartial, self-disciplined... outstanding, great..."
"Save the act for the small fry. This is just a token of goodwill. Help me handle my sister, and I'll arrange this for you every day!"
Fyren forced an awkward smile at Mayor Ziv. "Just a joke—my brother, he loves teasing me."
Mayor Ziv looked equally uncomfortable. "Oh, right, right... quite the... cough... sense of humor, ha ha."
Eason added, "The club owner was thrilled when he heard you might want some company. Said the girls there have been pining for you, even crying! They called you heartless—so many of them are lovesick over you. You really should take a break to visit! Leave the work to your subordinates! Why stress yourself? Skip out today—take them and come with me!"
Fyren clenched his teeth. "Are you out of your mind? Mayor Ziv is here!"
"Huh?"
Eason glanced around. Mayor Ziv forced a smile. "You're Eason, aren't you?"
"Oh my! Mayor Ziv!"
Eason was completely stunned, his mind going blank. He was the second-generation heir of the Chen family, and everyone knew he was close friends with Fyren. Once, when he'd come to the company, Eason had gotten into an argument with a deputy manager of questionable competence—and proceeded to beat him up right there at Dasheng Group. After Fyren intervened, the deputy manager was fired. The incident had left a strong impression: first, that Fyren treated his subordinates like dirt, which disheartened many; second, that Eason was not to be messed with, and no one at Dasheng Group dared to cross him after that.
Now trouble had walked in the door. He'd strolled into the meeting room with ten beautiful women, and no one had dared to stop him.
Eason reached out to shake Mayor Ziv's hand. "I'm sorry, Mayor Ziv, I didn't know you were in a work meeting."
Mayor Ziv pulled his hand back, feeling that shaking hands with this man would demean him. But Eason stubbornly refused to let go. "I really had no idea! If I had, I'd never have done this! Fyren's the same, you know—he was with my sister for years, then bailed without taking responsibility. Now she's taking all her anger out on me. What did I ever do to deserve that? I just met a girl who's perfect—no, not that kind of girl, a really pure one. I want to marry her, but my sister won't agree. So I need Fyren to go talk to her—no, handle her. If he cozies up to her, she'll lighten up, and then I can go after the girl I want…"
Mayor Ziv's face turned as dark as night.
Fyren shoved Eason aside and pointed a finger at his nose. "Shut up!"
Mayor Ziv frowned. "Fyren, I'll leave the project in your hands. I have a meeting to get back to."
Eason waved him off. "Take your time, Mayor! Take your time! Why not take five of the girls with you?"
Fyren dragged Eason aside. "Are you insane!? Bringing these women to my company—don't you care about the fallout?"
"What? You never cared about fallout before!"
Fyren froze, thinking to himself, I really am a sinner.
"Eason! Let me make this clear: stop coming to my company for no reason! And if you do come, why bring a bunch of women? I, Fyren, am now a respectable gentleman, a conscientious entrepreneur—part of the elite, the kind who can appear on TV and attend high-end events. Besides, these girls…" He glanced back. "Hmm? This one's not bad. What's the little lady's name?"
"Lily."
"Ah, Lily!" Fyren broke into a wide smile, taking her hand. "Oh, your little hands are so soft…" He let go suddenly, turned to Eason, and snapped, "How could I have lost my focus! It's all your fault, Eason! Take them all away! A man of virtue like me, led astray by someone like you!"
Eason, his attempt at flattery falling flat, looked a bit deflated. "Let's go, everyone. Out."
The girls knew that when these two rich brats bickered, they didn't even dare breathe too loud. They filed out obediently.
Fyren pulled Eason aside. "Send Lily to me tonight."
Eason looked confused. "Aren't you… supposed to be very upright…"
"Am I doing you a favor for free!?"
Eason laughed. "Then what about my sister…"
"Where is she now?"
"At your place."
Fyren's eyes bulged. "At my house!?"