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

The cold autumn wind, mixed with raindrops, swept across the square of Jingzhou High-tech Industrial Park like a knife.

A muffled "clang" was heard.

The large iron gate was violently kicked open from the inside.

George William, like a stray dog ​​with its spine broken, stumbled and rolled over the threshold.

He clutched a worn-out briefcase tightly in his hand and plunged headfirst into a muddy puddle by the roadside.

That custom-made white suit, originally worth over ten thousand yuan, was now covered in black mud and shoe prints.

Golden hair lay disheveled on his scalp, emitting a sour smell that suggested he hadn't showered for days.

George lay prone in the mud, his eyes fixed on the new "Lingxiao Technology" sign on the gate.

Just half an hour ago, he was on the rooftop of the office building in the science park.

Shen Pojun lifted him up with one hand to the edge of the rooftop, with most of his body dangling in the air a hundred meters above the ground.

The cold wind below blew up through his trouser legs, making George's crotch feel warm.

Lin Yubing, wearing high heels, slapped a bankruptcy liquidation document written entirely in English directly onto his face.

"Sign it, and the Lingxiao Consortium will take over your mess."

Lin Yubing's voice sounded particularly clear in the wind on the rooftop.

"Don't sign? There are three thousand workers outside demanding their wages, plus the European distributors' cross-border claims of two hundred million euros, enough to keep you in federal prison for the rest of your life."

George had no choice but to hold the pen with trembling hands and sign the humiliating contract of servitude on the rooftop.

"Tap, tap, tap."

The crisp sound of high heels stepping on the puddles stopped in George's ears.

Lin Yubing held up a black umbrella, looking down at the Wall Street tycoon in the mud.

She pulled a one-dollar bill from her Hermès bag and tossed it lightly at George's face.

"This is the payment for the remaining 20% ​​of the shares of your William Consortium."

Lin Yubing parted her red lips slightly and exhaled a breath of cold white air.

"Master Yan said he'd buy it as scrap metal, not even a single yuan would be too much."

George suddenly raised his head, his sea-blue eyes filled with ferocious bloodshot veins.

"This is robbery! Wall Street won't let you get away with this!"

He screamed hysterically in the mud, his voice hoarse and broken.

"You've seized our equipment using thuggish tactics! I'm going to report you to the International Securities and Exchange Commission when I get back!"

"Go ahead and sue, as long as you can scrape together the money for the plane ticket."

Lin Yubing scoffed, looking at him as if he were a clown jumping around.

"Your offshore accounts were completely locked by Su Jianxin yesterday. The parent company is struggling to survive itself; who has time to care about a discarded pawn like you?"

She bent down and disdainfully lifted George's chin with the tip of her umbrella.

"Remember, in the land of Handong, Lord Yan's rules are the law."

"Get out of China before the people smash your head in with bricks."

George shuddered, the last trace of madness in his eyes completely drained away.

He scrambled out of the mud and water, like a rat running away with its head in its hands, and stumbled and disappeared into the rain.

Across the street, an old Volkswagen Santana with peeling paint sat quietly in the shade of a tree.

The car window was rolled down halfway, and cold rain drifted into the car.

Li Dakang stared intently at George, who was crawling like a dog in the rain, his lips trembling.

His once sharp eyes were now as murky as two dry wells.

His gray hair was wet and stuck to his forehead, making him look as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"This is the foreign capital savior you brought in at all costs."

In the passenger seat, Yi Xuexi wore that faded old jacket, his tone flat and devoid of any emotion.

He handed a document that had just been stamped with a red seal directly to the back seat.

"Secretary Li, the Lingxiao Consortium's investment has been fully received, and the back wages owed to the three thousand workers have been paid in full."

Yi Xuexi didn't turn around, but his voice struck Li Dakang's heart like a heavy hammer.

"The factory production line will be restarted soon, and people will be able to eat meat tonight."

Li Dakang tremblingly reached out and took the document.

The document clearly states that the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee fully cooperates with the Lingxiao Consortium in resuming work and production.

His political skills, which he was so proud of, and his perfect plan to use foreign capital to check and balance Yan Qingfeng.

At this moment, they have become the biggest laughing stock in the officialdom of Handong.

They let the wolf into the house, but the wolf was killed by Yan Qingfeng as if it were a dog.

"Old Yi, have we really made a mistake...?"

Li Dakang leaned back in the worn-out chair, his throat emitting a dry, whistling sound.

"The grand scheme of Jingzhou has completely fallen out of the Li family's hands."

Yi Xuexi looked out the window at the workers who were cheering and running around with their pay cards, spreading the news.

"Whether it's right or wrong, the people have their own judgment."

He pushed open the car door and strode towards the science park in the drizzle, his back straight.

"All I know is that whoever feeds everyone is the master of this land."

As night falls, the lights are on.

The chairman's office on the top floor of the Lingxiao Building, the tallest landmark in Jingzhou.

Outside the panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, the city's neon lights resemble a dazzling sea of ​​stars.

This sea of ​​stars now shines only for one man.

Yan Qingfeng was wearing a well-tailored dark-patterned suit and holding a glass of freshly brewed Romanée-Conti.

He stood quietly by the window, looking down at the crouching, trembling steel behemoth at his feet.

Behind him, the eight Vajra Guardians stood in a neat row.

Su Jianxin rubbed his hands together, his eyes burning with a frenzied, wolf-like fervor.

"Master Yan, that idiot George has already been thrown onto a black ship to smuggle people out of the country."

He grinned, looking like a complete scoundrel.

"We've also completely destroyed William's overseas operations; Zhong Xiaoai even lost all the money she had to buy a handbag."

Lin Yubing stepped forward in her high heels and handed over a gold-embossed summary report with both hands.

"The reshuffling of officialdom is complete; all forty-seven positions of real power have been filled by capable and disciplined individuals."

She pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses, her tone radiating absolute pride.

"With the franchise rights, the core of high-end manufacturing, and the restructured financial pool, the economic lifeline of Handong Province has been fully incorporated into our control."

The old butler, Afu, stood with his hands behind his back, his wrinkled face beaming like a blooming chrysanthemum.

"Now, even when Sha Ruijin signs a document, he has to call and ask for the opinion of our legal department first."

He bowed slightly and let out a heartfelt sigh.

"Young Master, foreign capital has been destroyed, political enemies have been purged, and the powerful and wealthy have bowed down. Handong has now truly entered our Lingxiao Era."

Yan Qingfeng didn't speak, but simply gently swirled the wine glass in his hand.

The scarlet wine left a perfect streak on the crystal glass.

He raised his glass and slowly brought it to his lips.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he downed the expensive glass of red wine in one gulp.

The spicy and mellow aroma of the liquor spreads between the teeth and cheeks, bringing a sense of exhilarating dominance.

Yan Qingfeng turned around, his deep, unfathomable eyes sweeping over everyone present.

That aura that transcended the rules instantly made everyone hold their breath.

He casually placed the empty wine glass on the rosewood desk.

A crisp "clang" echoed softly in the quiet office.

Yan Qingfeng put his hands in his suit trouser pockets and turned his gaze back to the boundless night sky outside the window.

He curled the corners of his mouth into a haughty, disdainful smirk.

"This game in Handong is too small; it's not even enough to fill a tooth gap."

Yan Qingfeng turned his head and looked at the fanatical faces reflected in the windowpane.

"Notify the overseas department to prepare for boarding. It's time to set some rules for the whole world."