However, when he saw the upgrade conditions for Lv4, he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
[Upgrade to Lv4]
[Requirements:]
[1. Cumulative business points reach 100 billion.]
[2. Complete a flagship project with significant nationwide influence.
1. The project must solve a long-standing social or industry pain point;
2. The project must receive positive reporting and recognition from national-level official media;
3. Bring at least 10,000 new jobs to the City and significantly enhance the City's comprehensive strength.]
[3. The Host's personal social prestige reaches the 'Highly Respected' level.]
"Pfft!"
The water he had just taken a sip of almost sprayed out!
"If I remember correctly, going from Level 2 to Level 3 only took five million business points, right?"
Lu You counted the number of 'zeros' again in disbelief.
"Four... there really are four extra 'zeros'!"
Could the unit at the end be wrong? Did they label 'ten thousand' as 'one hundred million'?
One hundred... billion! business points!!
"My god! You really think highly of me!"
How long would it take to earn that much from the system's price difference!
However, he quickly recovered.
Though one hundred billion was far off, at least there was something to look forward to.
But what on earth were these other two conditions?
Solve a social pain point?
National media recognition?
Personal prestige 'Highly Respected'?
"System, do you have some kind of misunderstanding about me? I'm just a Hardware Store owner who wants to make money quietly!"
These upgrade conditions were simply beyond ridiculous!
...Just as Lu You was feeling overwhelmed by the road ahead.
A small storm targeted at him began to brew.
General Manager Qian, who had been publicly escorted out.
He was currently sitting in the back seat of his Maybach, his face ashen and his eyes full of malice.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He was the CEO of a listed company.
To be so humiliated by a small Hardware Store owner!
He dialed a number and said in a cold voice: "Hello, old classmate? It's Qian Ming."
"I need a favor. Look into the Old Lu Hardware Store in Wutong Alley, in the old district of Yangcheng City."
"Yes, just say you received a public report. It's suspected of operating beyond its business scope—selling everything. Also, there's definitely something wrong with the accounts. Report them for tax evasion! Investigate them to death!"
Almost at the same time, he dialed another number.
He called the Taxation Department, also reporting Old Lu Hardware Store.
In his view, it was impossible for such a massive commercial activity not to have something shady behind it.
As long as they investigated, they would definitely find problems!
When that happened, he would settle all old and new scores together!
At the Industry and Commerce Department of City, the operator, Little Wang, had just hung up the phone, his brow furrowed tightly.
"Old Lu Hardware Store? Operating beyond scope? Tax evasion?"
A colleague next to him heard this and looked at him as if he were an alien:
"Did I hear that right? Someone reported Old Lu Hardware Store? Is this whistleblower from out of town? Do they not use the internet?"
Now, in all of City, and even in Liaoning Province.
Who didn't know that Old Lu Hardware Store was the future hope of City?
Little Wang didn't dare to be negligent.
This was a report, after all, and according to procedure, it had to be submitted.
He immediately reported the situation to his supervisor, who then hurriedly reported it to the Great Leader.
In the office, after hearing the report, the leader slammed the table in anger and laughed out loud.
"What? Reporting Old Lu Hardware Store for operating beyond its scope? Nonsense! That is absolutely preposterous!"
"Without our department taking the lead and processing the change in business scope overnight, could those media outlets have made such a big fuss right under our noses? Does he think we're all blind and deaf?"
"Tell that whistleblower to go look at Old Lu Hardware Store's current business license himself."
"The business scope column says: 'Except for projects prohibited by law or administrative regulations and those requiring specific permits, the entity may independently choose business projects and carry out business activities'! This is the greatest support we can provide!"
On the other side, the situation at the Taxation Department was exactly the same.
After receiving the report, the taxation leader's reaction was even more intense: "Slander! This is blatant slander! How dare they slander our City's tax-paying benchmark and outstanding enterprise?"
"All transaction flows of Old Lu Hardware Store are conducted under our real-time monitoring and guidance! Every single one is legal, compliant, and transparent!"
"Investigate! Find out who this whistleblower is! I suspect him of malicious defamation and damaging our City's business environment!"
Old Lu Hardware Store was now the locomotive that could drive the development of the entire City!
Now someone wanted to come and pick the fruit and cause destruction?
Not a chance!
Everyone knew that Old Lu Hardware Store was now the precious darling of all of City.
It was the golden hen that could drive the entire City's economic development!
Want to touch him? Ask the several million people of City if they'll allow it first!
In the end, Qian Ming's malicious report was like a stone sinking into the ocean, failing to cause even a single ripple, and was simply dropped.
And Lu You was completely unaware of this.
He was busy and happy, throwing himself back into the heated work of signing contracts.
The feeling of making money was simply wonderful.
Especially watching the rapidly scrolling business points and account balance on the system panel.
He was filled with inexhaustible energy!
What gave him the most peace of mind was that the moment he put pen to paper and signed his name on every contract.
The system prompt would sound on time.
[Ding! Contract with Huasheng Group signed successfully! The total value of the contract goods is 320 million yuan, all of which have been generated and stored in warehouse, ready for delivery at any time!]
LV3 was just the beginning.
That seemingly unreachable LV4 seemed... perhaps not so unreachable after all.
At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun was like spilled orange soda, gently drenching the streets of City.
The doors of "Old Lu Hardware Store" finally slowly closed.
Cutting off the reluctant big shots outside the door.
Lu You let out a long sigh of relief, his whole body feeling as if his bones had been removed.
From opening in the morning to closing at night.
He had worked almost seamlessly, receiving the heads of nearly twenty companies one after another.
"Everyone, let's call it a day," Lu You said with an apologetic smile to the remaining group of big shots who were still waiting expectantly.
"My energy is truly limited; my brain is about to burn out. We'll continue with the remaining contracts tomorrow, I guarantee efficiency."
Though they were unwilling.
The big shots also knew that negotiations of this level were indeed mentally taxing.
Seeing the unconcealable fatigue on Lu You's face, they could only nod helplessly and agree to return tomorrow.
After seeing off the last batch of guests, Lu You immediately locked the door.
He collapsed onto the soft sofa in the VIP room like a pile of mud.
These people were all the shrewdest of the shrewd, old foxes of the business world.
Their words were airtight, and they dug traps invisibly.
They wanted to split every quote into eight pieces to haggle over the details with you.
Even though Lu You had the optimal pricing strategy provided by the system.
He was still exhausted by this high-intensity mental labor and war of words.