Enlightenment: Attaining the Dao at Age 8

Chapter 271: Chapter 156: Openly Repairing the Plank Road, Secretly Crossing at Chencang

Su Ruobing was stammering.

Even over the phone, Li Chang’an could sense how conflicted she was.

Su Ruobing had always given Li Chang’an the impression of being a cold, aloof goddess; one would be hard-pressed to find a single flaw, even with a magnifying glass.

But now, because of the shares, she was so flustered she was stumbling over her words.

It was easy to imagine the intensity of her emotions.

Li Chang’an felt a laugh coming on. “Why wouldn’t it be appropriate?” he said casually. “I think it’s very appropriate! Unless… is Chairman Su not satisfied with the share?”

“I’m not dissatisfied!” Su Ruobing rushed to say.

The words had barely left her mouth when she suddenly realized she had misspoken.

She rushed to explain earnestly, “I can’t accept a reward I haven’t earned. You’re the one who built Cangxuan City. The Energy Particle Beam Cannon and Super Electromagnetic Cannon were also the fruits of your painstaking labor. Although I helped a bit on the side, for me, that was all within the scope of my duties… Besides, I’ve already been well compensated for mentoring you!”

“So I really can’t accept these shares!”

Hearing all her excuses, Li Chang’an again felt like laughing. “Chairman Su,” he began, “since you’re unwilling to accept them as a gift, I can rephrase the offer…”

He paused, and his tone became formal. “I plan to establish a company in Cangxuan City named the ’Night City Military Group’.”

“This company will be responsible for the production and R&D of all military technology in Cangxuan City. I am confident I can build it into a behemoth that rivals any of the top military-industrial corporations!”

“However, the company is still in the planning phase!”

“My personal resources are limited, both in terms of capital and political connections!”

“Therefore, I am formally inviting you to invest. If you believe in my abilities and believe this company can succeed, you can invest one million Rebirth Points for a twenty percent stake. You would then be an initial shareholder and angel investor in the Night City Military Group!”

Hearing it framed that way, Su Ruobing hesitated for a moment before she couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m just now realizing what a smooth talker you are,” she teased. “Since it’s a paid investment, I can accept!”

Li Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief. “In that case, Chairman Su, just come over and sign the contract when you have time!”

After hanging up, Li Chang’an called Xu Xiuyuan.

Li Chang’an used a different pitch for Xu Xiuyuan.

However, no matter what Li Chang’an said, Xu Xiuyuan refused to take a twenty-percent stake. In the end, he bought only ten percent for five hundred thousand Rebirth Points.

As the Governor of Xiangnan, Xu Xiuyuan commanded far greater resources and influence than Su Ruobing.

He wasn’t short on shares in high-quality companies, and he certainly wasn’t hurting for money. Thus, he only bought a symbolic ten-percent stake as a show of support for Li Chang’an.

Li Chang’an didn’t press the issue.

After all, given Xu Xiuyuan’s current status, his willingness to form a business alliance with Li Chang’an was already a significant gesture of respect.

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, and Li Chang’an was about to end the call.

Xu Xiuyuan suddenly spoke up with a reminder. “The ’Martial Arts Foundation True Understanding 2.0 Version’ you submitted has been sent to the Human Alliance. I’ve been pushing them repeatedly for the past few days, trying to get the Hua Country Association to process your reward as quickly as possible. With a higher Citizen Level, the privileges you’ll be entitled to are completely different…”

“But the Gu Family has been interfering, deliberately causing delays.”

“They’re up to no good. Now that your factory is almost complete, you have to be extremely careful they don’t try something underhanded. Those guys can’t win in a fair fight, so they love to play dirty. Understand?!”

Li Chang’an nodded.

For now, he didn’t really have a good way to deal with them. He would just have to react to whatever they threw at him.

After all, they had the accumulated wealth and power of several generations of Reincarnators.

That kind of fortune isn’t built overnight. Li Chang’an, on the other hand, was just an ordinary person from the bottom rungs of society who had been a Reincarnator for less than a year—and an orphan, to boot.

Faced with such an overwhelmingly powerful family, simply managing to react to their schemes and avoid being crushed would be an impressive feat in itself.

He hung up the phone.

Li Chang’an got up and went to the next room.

Li Jianfei and Li Siying had arrived in Cangxuan City the day before. Just then, Li Siying was about to drag Li Jianfei out for a tour of the city.

Upon seeing Li Chang’an, Li Siying said happily, “Brother Chang’an, is this really your city? It’s absolutely incredible!”

It was no wonder Li Siying was so shocked.

After all, the last time she had seen him, he was still living in a low-rent apartment, a complete unknown.

How many months had passed since then?

And now Li Chang’an was in control of this massive city.

The turn his fate had taken was truly dramatic.

Li Chang’an smiled. “Do you like it?”

Li Siying nodded honestly. “Of course! I’ve dreamed of having my own city!”

Li Chang’an laughed. “Done. As it happens, my secretary is overwhelmed right now and needs an assistant. Starting tomorrow, you don’t need to go to class anymore. You can learn how to manage a city directly from my secretary. But for now, let’s solve your brother’s problem first!”

There weren’t many people in this world whom Li Chang’an trusted.

Li Siying and Li Jianfei were two of the few.

Now that he had the power, it was only natural that he help them both get on their feet.

He was doing it to repay their kindness, but also for his own sake.