Handong: Sha Li wants political achievements? I'll shut down the entire province.

Yan Qingfeng slowly stubbed out his half-smoked Goosebah cigar in the pure copper ashtray.

A soft "click" sounded.

He steadily pushed a thick kraft paper document bag along the rosewood tabletop to Yi Xuexi's side.

Yi Xuexi paused for a moment, quickly wiped the sweat from his palms on his trouser leg, and then picked up the document.

He untied the white thread and pulled out a stack of A4 papers printed with dense clauses.

Just reading the headline made Yi Xuexi's eyelids twitch.

Memorandum of Understanding on the Acquisition and Patent Licensing of the William Consortium's Handong Branch.

He flipped down two pages and read the core terms.

"hiss--"

Yi Xuexi gasped in shock, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

"Eighty percent?" Yi Xuexi suddenly raised his head, his voice cracking.

"Mr. Yan, do you want the William Consortium to transfer 80% of its absolute controlling stake free of charge?"

He gripped the paper tightly, his hands trembling so hard they rattled.

"This...this is tantamount to swallowing the entire science park whole!"

Yan Qingfeng picked up the purple clay teacup and gently blew away the floating tea leaves.

The steam enveloped his sharply defined face, revealing a composure that remained unchanged even in the face of imminent collapse.

"Swallow? Mayor Yi, that's not the right word."

Yan Qingfeng took a sip of tea and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"This is called patent licensing and ecological usage fees."

He placed the teacup on the table, making a crisp sound.

"They stole my underlying code, forcibly connected to my inverter power grid, and caused all the equipment to lock up."

Yan Qingfeng leaned forward slightly, a cold mockery flashing in his deep eyes.

"Now you want me to unlock the firewall and get those scrap metal running again? You can't do it without paying a price!"

Yi Xuexi swallowed hard, feeling as if his throat was stuffed with cotton.

This isn't a business negotiation; it's blatant robbery with a knife to George's throat!

"It's not just about equity." Yan Qingfeng dusted off his cotton-linen sleeves, speaking as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Even the power to appoint and dismiss personnel and the power to audit finances must be handed over."

He leaned back in his armchair, his domineering gaze so intense that no one dared to look him in the eye.

"From now on, the William Consortium will only be able to do the lowest-end OEM assembly in Handong."

"Who to hire, how much to pay, and where to source raw materials are all decided by the general manager appointed by our Lingxiao Consortium."

Yi Xuexi's mouth was agape, and he couldn't close it for a long time.

Those high-and-mighty capitalists on Wall Street usually have to be extremely frugal, even splitting a coin in half.

If I really sign this agreement, won't I become a high-level employee of the Lingxiao Consortium?

Foreigners are only entitled to a 20% share of the profits; they are completely stripped of even the right to speak.

"President Yan, George is, after all, the president of a multinational conglomerate, with Western capital backing him up."

Yi Xuexi wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and tentatively asked a question.

"Isn't this condition a bit too harsh? What if he fights to the bitter end, or even goes international to complain to foreign countries?"

"Is that so?" Yan Qingfeng sneered.

He casually picked up the tablet on the table, opened a video, and threw it directly into Yi Xuexi's arms.

"Look at yourself, what kind of person is this once arrogant President George now?"

Yi Xuexi hurriedly caught the tablet and looked down.

In the video, George's once flamboyant white suit was now wrinkled like a clump of sauerkraut.

The tie was missing, and two buttons on the shirt were torn off.

He was being cornered at the office door by a dozen or so local building materials business owners who were chasing him for debts.

"Mr. George, stop trying to fool us with English! Give us the money!"

"The factory is shut down, when are you going to refund your deposit for the silicone and screws?!"

George was sweating profusely and huddled in a corner like a rat in the street, desperately trying to explain in broken Chinese.

As Yi Xuexi watched the disheveled Wall Street tycoons in the video, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

"See?" Yan Qingfeng leaned back in his chair and placed his hands on his abdomen.

"His international lawsuits, which he was so proud of, were completely destroyed by Lin Yubing in court."

Yan Qingfeng's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"With the daily expenses of several thousand foreign engineers, plus the penalties for breach of contract, his cash flow won't last more than three days."

He stared into Yi Xuexi's eyes, each word spoken with conviction.

"Foreigners who want to make money in Handong will have to wear my leash!"

"My standard is the only standard in Handong!"

Yan Qingfeng exuded an aura of power, like an uncrowned king who controlled life and death.

"Follow my rules, we'll all eat together."

"If he doesn't follow the rules, George won't even get a drop of soup!"

Yi Xuexi gripped the memo tightly, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.

He finally understood Yan Qingfeng's ambition.

This young tycoon godfather was not venting personal grievances, nor was he trying to compete with Li Dakang.

He is building an absolutely independent, impenetrable business ecosystem empire!

Once this net is woven...

From now on, whether it's an imperial envoy from the capital or a Wall Street tycoon, they'll all have to kneel down and beg for food when they arrive in Handong.

"But President Yan, I'm worried that we won't be able to get past Secretary Li Dakang."

Yi Xuexi gritted his teeth and poured out his concerns.

"He sees foreign investment as his lifeline. If I were to use such terms to pressure George, Secretary Li would devour me alive."

Yan Qingfeng let out a disdainful sneer.

"Li Dakang? He's just a figurehead now, whose orders can't even leave the municipal party committee compound."

Yan Qingfeng tapped his fingers on the table in a crisp rhythm.

"He created the unfinished Guangming Peak project, which has caused the entire city to curse him. Now that foreign investment has stalled, more than 3,000 workers are waiting to make a living."

Yan Qingfeng's gaze was sharp and pierced straight into Yi Xuexi's heart.

"If you, Yi Xuexi, can save the jobs of these three thousand people and get the factory machines running again."

"You are a living Bodhisattva in the hearts of the people of Jingzhou!"

Yan Qingfeng paused for a moment, then delivered the most fatal blow.

"At that time, will the district heads and bureau chiefs listen to Li Dakang's empty promises or to Mayor Yi's real money?"

A single word awakens one from a dream!

Yi Xuexi was jolted awake, as if enlightened.

Yes! In officialdom, who doesn't care about political achievements and public opinion?

As long as ordinary people can receive their wages and buy rice to cook.

Even if Li Dakang loses his temper, he can only rage helplessly in his office!

The purple clay teapot in the tea room was bubbling and steaming.

The smoke from the sandalwood incense drifted past the carved window frame and slowly dissipated into the air.

Yi Xuexi took a deep breath of the tea-scented air, and his previously hunched back gradually straightened.

He carefully folded the domineering memo and solemnly stuffed it into the inside pocket of his old jacket.

He even stretched out his rough, large hand and patted his chest twice.

"President Yan, I'll take over the people's jobs."

Yi Xuexi stood up and met Yan Qingfeng's gaze.

His eyes no longer held the fear of officialdom's rules, but instead showed a resolute determination to burn his bridges.

"I'll take care of this. Even if it means skinning George alive, I'll make him sign this transfer agreement!"

Yi Xuexi nodded emphatically.

Yan Qingfeng smiled faintly and picked up his teacup.

"Uncle Fu, see the guest out."

The old butler, Afu, appeared silently at the entrance of the tea room and bowed slightly.

"Mayor Yi, this way please."

Yi Xuexi zipped up his jacket and strode out of Lingxiao Manor.

The cold wind outside the door blew on his face, but he felt a fire burning in his chest, and his steps were ten times more determined than when he came.

After seeing the guests off, Afu tiptoed back to the tea table and helped Yan Qingfeng change his cup of hot tea.

"Young Master, this Mayor Yi does have some backbone. He's even willing to slap his superior's face for the sake of the people."

Afu smiled and shook his head.

Yan Qingfeng picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and his gaze was frighteningly deep.

"He's a smart man. He knows that the people of Handong no longer belong to the Li family."

As Afu tidied up the tea set, he spoke with a smile.

"Once this memorandum is signed, George will be completely our employee."

Afu raised his head, a hint of anticipation for watching a show flashing in his cloudy eyes.

"But young master, what do you mean when Mayor Yi slams this 80% equity transfer agreement on Li Dakang's table?"

"Won't our Secretary Li, who values ​​political achievements more than his own life, be so angry that he'll flip the table and start cursing?"