Chapter 196: Chen Lao Requests a Meeting! Want to Hear Qing Shan

The silence in the living room lingered for a while, and Lu Qingshan felt the deep meaning in his father's words, his heart both shocked and uneasy.

The attention of the top state leadership, the report from the Hong Kong and Macau Office, Chen Lao's interest… these words hammered his heart like a heavy hammer. He commands the winds and rains on Hong Kong Island, never faltering before billion‑dollar business magnates, yet now, faced with this news, he feels unprecedented pressure.

Lu Hua noticed his son's tension, his expression softened a bit: "Do what you have to do. The state's attention isn't to restrict you, but to learn from you." He walked back to the coffee table and sat down, lifted his teacup and took a light sip, "Anyway, since you're back, there's a dinner gathering the day after tomorrow; come with me."

"What dinner gathering?" The whole family held their breath.

"Chen Lao wants to see you." Lu Hua said as if it were casual, but the sentence hit like a heavyweight bomb, freezing the air in the living room.

Wang Guilan's teacup trembled again, Lu Xiaoyu's mouth opened wide, and Lu Fang and Lu Qingyuan stared with bulging eyes. That's Chen Lao! One of the top leaders in charge of the nation's economic work!

Lu Hua continued, "He's very interested in your wealth‑building experience in the countryside and curious about your financial operations on Hong Kong Island. This dinner also invites Minister Lin, Minister Liu of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, and Director Wang of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange; everyone wants to hear your views on financial reform."

Boom!

Lu Qingshan felt his head buzz, as if countless voices exploded beside his ears. Chen Lao, Minister Lin, the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange… he knows exactly what those names signify. They are the helmsmen of the nation's economic construction!

"Dad, isn't this too… I'm just an ordinary person, how can I give advice to those leaders?" Lu Qingshan swallowed, his voice trembling.

"What ordinary person?" Lu Hua set down his teacup, a flash of pride in his eyes, "Being able to stir the Hong Kong Island stock market, earning tens of billions in a day—someone like that isn't ordinary. Qing Shan, what you do on Hong Kong Island makes many people look at you anew. The state is still exploring the path of financial reform; your experience is highly valuable to everyone."

Wang Guilan listened in a haze, but she knew what kind of figure Chen Lao was, and quickly rose from the sofa, "Then I'll go to Wangfujing tomorrow and buy Qing Shan the finest clothes! We can't embarrass our family!"

"Mom, I have a suit," Lu Qingshan said with a wry smile, his inner tension unchanged.

"Suit good! Suit looks impressive!" Wang Guilan nodded repeatedly, then walked to her son, reached out to adjust his collar, worry filling her eyes, "Qing Shan, when you meet such high‑ranking leaders, don't be nervous. Treat them as ordinary people; say whatever you need to say."

"I won't, Mom," Lu Qingshan reassured, though his heart roiled. Having been reborn, he'd seen many grand scenes, but a meeting of this caliber was truly an unprecedented challenge.

Lu Qingjun rubbed his hands beside him, excitedly saying, "Second brother, you're becoming a national adviser! From now on I'll brag to others that my brother once served as a staff officer for the state leaders!"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Lu Qingyuan glared at his fourth brother, then looked at Lu Qingshan, admiration in his eyes, "Qing Shan, you're truly remarkable. From a sent‑down youth to now dining at the same table with state leaders—that's a legend."

Early the next morning, Lu Qingshan paced back and forth in the courtyard, mentally rehearsing every possible scenario for tomorrow. Lu Qingjun couldn't stand it any longer and suggested, "Second brother, stop brooding at home; let's go out for a walk to clear our heads."

The two brothers strolled through Fuqiang Hutong, and Lu Qingshan was surprised to find that in just over a month, the place had changed quite a bit.

"Second brother, look over there!" Lu Qingjun suddenly pointed into the depths of the hutong, "Looks like they're demolishing a building?"

Lu Qingshan followed the direction and indeed saw several workers clearing a courtyard. The two approached and discovered it was Fuqiang Hutong No. 1 courtyard, the former Sweetener Factory dormitory building.

A thought flashed through Lu Qingshan's mind like lightning.

Before his rebirth, this area had become one of Capital City's most bustling commercial districts in the '90s, with property prices soaring. Now is the prime investment moment!

"Master, is this place being demolished?" Lu Qingshan suppressed his excitement and asked casually.

"It's not being torn down, just being vacated," the worker stopped his work, wiped his sweat, "The Sweetener Factory was shut down, so the dorms are empty. I heard they'll do real‑estate development; the whole area will be replanned."

Lu Qingshan's heart raced, and he asked, "What about our No. 23 courtyard?"

"A portion will also be vacated," the worker said, pointing toward the direction of the Lu Family, "That whole block used to be the Wang Mansion's courtyard, later turned into a mixed‑use yard, and now it's being unified into a high‑end residential district."

The brothers exchanged a glance, and Lu Qingjun saw the familiar spark in his second brother's eyes—the excitement of spotting a business opportunity!

"Let's go to the Planning Bureau and inquire about the situation," Lu Qingshan said, pulling Lu Qingjun outward; his steps were much faster than usual.

Inside the Planning Bureau's office building, Lu Qingshan quickly located the Deputy Director Wang that Minister Lin had previously contacted.

"Comrade Lu!" the official greeted enthusiastically, "You've arrived! How can I assist you?"

"Director Wang, no need for formalities," Lu Qingshan replied politely, then got straight to the point, "I'd like to learn about the development plan for Fuqiang Hutong."

"Oh, you mean the No. 1 and No. 23 courtyard area?" Director Wang immediately understood, excitement on his face, "Comrade Lu, you truly have vision! This time there's indeed a big move. The No. 1 courtyard contains three three‑story buildings, two three‑entrance traditional courtyard houses, and the remaining parts of the No. 23 courtyard will all be developed together."

Lu Qingshan nodded, his plan becoming clearer, "That location is indeed good, just one wall away from the Wangfujing Building; its future potential is huge."

"Your insight is excellent!" Director Wang gave a thumbs‑up, "We thought the same. This development is mainly to complement the surrounding commercial plan, creating a high‑end residential area. In ten years, this place will be a gold‑mine of land value!"

Lu Qingshan chuckled inwardly; not just ten years, within five the value will skyrocket! He feigned casualness, "May I ask which real‑estate firm is undertaking the project?"

"Capital City First Construction," Director Wang replied.

Lu Qingjun's eyes lit up at the name, and he quietly tugged Lu Qingshan's sleeve. Lu Qingshan understood, thanked Director Wang promptly, and left with Lu Qingjun.

"Second brother, the elder brother was with First Construction before he went down to the countryside, and he got along well with the people there. He was supposed to return to his unit this time, but you convinced him to go to the construction site outside Jianguo Gate."

"That's great!" Lu Qingshan's eyes flashed with a sharp gleam, "That juicy piece of Fuqiang Hutong I'll claim for myself! Come, let's hurry and find big brother!"