His parents could never leave their old home and go with him to the Magic Capital; they wouldn't be able to adapt. Since they would be remaining in Dream City, they would need to rely on relatives and friends there to look after them. His eldest brother and sister-in-law were excellent choices. Aside from being a little stingy like his father, they were dutiful, steady, and meticulous, which quite reassured Han Lie.

Finally, only Han Er was left, gazing at Han Lie with eager eyes.

Han Lie waved his hand lazily and said nonchalantly, "If there's a suitable opportunity for advancement, call me directly. If you need to get something done, gather detailed information first, and I'll help you handle it."

And that was that.

Han Er and his wife immediately trembled as if they had been electrified. Han Er's wife was so happy she felt like she was going to explode, but she still had a tiny bit of doubt. She timidly asked, "Little Brother, can you really do it?"

Han Lie glanced at Han Dongwu with a face full of disdain. "With his current level, I'd be embarrassed to ask my real friends for help."

Despite Han Dongwu's daily swagger and connections in every department, he was currently just a section-level cadre, not even a deputy division chief yet...

Han Er, crestfallen, tugged at his wife's sleeve and then proactively raised his glass to Han Lie. "Little Brother, from now on, you are the backbone of the Han Family! Second Brother toasts you, wishing you a future of boundless success, soaring ever higher!"

"Spare me the formalities when we're at home!" Han Lie chided with a laugh, but he still drank the wine.

Thus, the atmosphere grew even more harmonious. Han Lie had officially taken over the reins of the Han Family, becoming the one whose word was law.

Sigh, too easy. Absolutely no challenge...

"Come, come! Auspicious events call for celebration! Drink up, drink up!" His eldest uncle started urging everyone to drink, treating Han Lie with particular care. In the end, Han Lie didn't drink much, but Han Yong managed to drink himself unconscious. Once thoroughly drunk, he wasted no words, simply collapsed onto the bed, and fell fast asleep.

In the evening, relatives from his mother's side also came over. In total, there were two families, four people.

First, there was his eldest maternal aunt, Ma Yulian. She ran greenhouses in the suburbs, growing vegetables, and her family was quite well-off. Her husband, Lu Dayou, was a typical countryside man—a man of few words but a hard worker. Their child, Han Lie's cousin, Lu Xiaoyou, was currently working in Deep City. (His name had originally been Lu Xiaoyou as well, just written with different characters. He'd later changed it himself because he found the original unappealing, though the pronunciation stayed the same.)

Then there was his younger maternal uncle, Ma Long. He couldn't play table tennis to save his life but was quite skilled in a fight. At thirty-five, he was still unmarried.

Making arrangements for them was even simpler.

His eldest maternal aunt and her husband didn't need any help; their life was quite good.

As for Lu Xiaoyou, he studied computer science. I'll take him to the Magic Capital and place him in the company's quantitative department to gradually gain experience. My younger uncle enjoys being a social operator; in the future, any fixer-type jobs can be handed over to him. If I can genuinely establish one or two ABS projects in our hometown, it should be enough for him to make his way into Dream City's upper echelons.

Han Lie had just finished discussing this with his uncle when, the very next day—the twenty-ninth of the lunar calendar—some influential figures began to arrive.

The first group consisted of a deputy plant manager from a mining group, responsible for logistics. He was accompanied by the union chairman, a key figure from the arts and culture department, and an officer from the propaganda department. Their visit was ostensibly a random employee welfare check, but their conversation revolved entirely around Han Lie.

Brother Lie displayed a moderate degree of arrogance, his unspoken message clear: Your rank isn't quite high enough. If it's a serious matter, please send someone who can actually make decisions.

The deputy plant manager left, satisfied, after this attitude was conveyed.

Why was he satisfied? His judgment was that Han Lie was a big fish!

Hmph, I wonder what that arts and culture lead was thinking, slyly leaving me a little note. She's in her early thirties, ripe as a peach, her clothes fitting snugly over her ample figure, her face as radiant as peach and plum blossoms. Her looks and physique could both score over 90. Too bad I heard she's already married and also somewhat involved with a certain plant manager... What a nuisance! And they use this kind of woman to test me, the upright Brother Lie?

Han Lie had just crumpled the note when another visitor arrived: a bank president.

It was Shen Cheng, the top man at the Agricultural Bank's Dream City branch. Good heavens, that gave even me a start! For ten million, do they really need to go to such lengths?!

But after chatting for a while, Han Lie discovered something surprising. Hey, it turns out we actually have a bit of a connection?

This senior figure, Shen Cheng, was considered one of Tang Yue's father's people. He wasn't high-ranking enough to meet Old Tang directly, but he had ways of finding things out. He was one of the few in Dream City with insider knowledge about Han Lie's true influence.

He didn't discuss any serious business during his visit, just engaged in enthusiastic small talk and casually complimented Du Qingqing.

Look at that, he really came thoroughly prepared. Very thoughtful of him!

Shen Xing didn't stay long. After making his acquaintance, he left his gifts and departed promptly.

Han Lie's father and Ma Honglian were dumbfounded. They could understand the deputy plant manager visiting, but the head of a major bank coming to pay New Year respects... How is this so surreal?!

Ma Honglian decisively reciprocated with a large box overflowing with seafood. Luckily, Shen Xing had brought a driver; otherwise, his old back might have given out right there at the Han Family's home.

Later, the head of Dream City's municipal commercial bank came with a specific agenda. However, Han Lie skillfully evaded his points with Tai Chi-like deflections, leaving the man dizzy and empty-handed. This was soon followed by a tentative visit from a deputy general manager of the Urban Investment Company.

Then the neighborhood committee director dropped by for some small talk, asking Han Lie a series of utterly pointless questions: whether he had a girlfriend, what kind of girl he was looking for, if someone two years older would be acceptable...

I felt incredibly uneasy, not because of the gossipy director, but because Comrade Ma Honglian was getting all revved up! You're pushing me to find someone, and I'm not even twenty yet? How is this life even more terrifying than my previous one...

「By evening, the main event arrived.」

Two real estate developers came knocking.

This truly puzzled me. Was Section Chief Guo's network really that extensive? News on the grapevine certainly travels fast... 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Actually, Section Chief Guo had nothing to do with it. The primary source of the information was the banking system.

Off-balance-sheet financing, for banks, is an extremely sensitive matter. If one bank pulled off some unconventional maneuver, it wouldn't take a month for every bank, large or small, across the country to learn the specific details. Whether they could replicate it was one thing; whether they knew about it was another.

It's no exaggeration to say that deputy presidents from Mining Province's banks had already booked their flights, planning to visit banks in the Magic Capital for "study exchanges" right after the New Year. Don't assume this circle is that large; the upper echelons are actually quite interconnected. For example, President Jin of Magic Capital Bank was originally a deputy president at the Construction Bank, and the top executive of Mining Province's bank was also formerly a deputy president at the Construction Bank. That's what you call internal mobility within the system!

The things Han Lie had done were like high-level operations shrouded in mist and mystery to outsiders, but to certain insiders, they were as clear as the lines on their own palms. So, this money-making opportunity wouldn't last long. Across the country, countless industry experts were already rubbing their hands in anticipation, preparing to enter the field, or had already done so.

But before these methods became widespread, Han Lie was still a leading expert in this domain.

So, the two real estate developers who visited were reputable local tycoons from Dream City. They couldn't compare to the national real estate giants, but they were still major figures, the kind Han Lie's parents couldn't have fathomed interacting with. However, their deferential mannerisms clearly told Han Lie's parents: your son is even more formidable.

One of them even brought his son along, which took Han Lie by surprise.

Wait a minute, weren't you my classmate? What was your name again... Xiao Xiao?!

He and Han Lie had only a superficial acquaintance; they were never in the same circle during high school. Xiao Xiao was one of those exceptionally dashing, dynamic, and popular "chosen ones"—rich, handsome, and athletically gifted. Though a bit arrogant and overbearing, no one seemed to mind. In short, he was school-hunk material.

Han Lie, on the other hand, had been practically invisible in class, with only a couple of friends who were similarly nobodies. His sole moment of glory in high school was during a team game when they'd utterly crushed Xiao Xiao with a 3-0 victory.

And I wasn't even the main carry in that game... Oh, right. But I was one of those who got an earful for it afterward...

Now, meeting again under such different circumstances, Han Lie suddenly felt that things were starting to get interesting.

Xiao Xiao is just a minor player, not worth too much attention. But the real question is... Uncle Pan, are you planning to join this lively scene? If you do decide to come, when you visit, will you bring my 'good buddy' along?! That 880,000... it's about time I returned it to you...