Chapter 285: The Great Development (Part 2)
Chapter 285: The Great Development (Part 2)
Back in the New Management Committee office, Hou Weidong had barely warmed his seat when he received a call from Zhu Yan.
“Find some time this afternoon to come to Lingxi. Arrange dinner at the Jinxing Hotel. There will only be six or seven of us.”
This was the first time Zhu Yan had summoned Hou Weidong to Lingxi since joining the Party School. Hou Weidong knew Zhu Yan’s temperament well; this certainly meant something important was afoot. He didn’t ask further questions. Instead, he called his driver, Wang Bing.
“Let’s head to Lingxi at 2:30. Make sure to fill up the tank.”
He then called Shen Yonghua in the finance office. “Prepare twenty thousand yuan. Have it delivered to my office before 2:00 PM.”
Hou Weidong spent a while reviewing documents. As the clock neared twelve, a commotion erupted outside the courtyard. The sound of a car horn blared—a deep, resonant tone distinctly different from that of a sedan. Standing by the window, Hou Weidong saw a brand-new large bus parked in the yard. About twenty cadres from the New Management Committee were gathered around it, their faces alight with excitement.
Hou Weidong couldn’t resist going down to see what was happening.
“Thank you, Director Hou.”
“I’m not afraid of rain anymore.”
“I won’t have to ride my bicycle tomorrow.”
The office workers crowded around Hou Weidong, expressing their gratitude in a chorus of voices. Seeing their smiling faces, Hou Weidong felt a surge of satisfaction. Noticing Wang Bing standing nearby, he asked, “I recall you have a license for large vehicles. Can you drive this?”
Wang Bing replied with confidence, “It’s a piece of cake.”
Hou Weidong turned to the cadres gathered by the bus. “Those of you who are free right now can get on. Let’s take a drive around the city to enjoy the ride.”
The crowd responded enthusiastically, climbing into the spacious, bright interior of the bus. They waited until Hou Weidong was seated before settling in beside him. The bus sat much higher than a sedan. From this vantage point, they could look down on pedestrians outside, a sensation that delighted everyone. As they gazed at the street scenes—both strange and familiar—the group fell into a comfortable silence.
After circling the city and making a brief stop at various sites managed by the New Management Committee, the bus pulled smoothly back into the committee’s courtyard.
Yang Liu, holding the meeting minutes, approached as soon as Hou Weidong stepped out. “Director Hou, I just received a notice from the Committee Office. There is a meeting at 3:30 PM today in the Standing Committee Conference Room.”
“What kind of meeting?”
“The Committee Office said Secretary Yang will preside personally. The specific agenda is unclear.”
Hou Weidong called Ren Xiaowei. “Xiaowei, this is Hou Weidong. What is the agenda for this afternoon’s meeting? Can I request leave?”
Ren Xiaowei responded with her usual burst of laughter before speaking seriously. “It’s a meeting on further promoting real estate construction in Yiyang. Secretary Yang will attend. As the top leader of the New Management Committee, you should request leave from him directly.” She lowered her voice. “Secretary Yang places great importance on this.”
Hearing that the meeting wasn’t specifically about the New Management Committee, Hou Weidong felt slightly relieved. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to go to Lingxi. After all, Zhu Yan was the Party Secretary of Yiyang County. Following his lead should not be a major error.
Hou Weidong thought for a while before formulating the most suitable excuse. He called Secretary Yang.
“Hello, Secretary Yang. This is Hou Weidong. I need to visit the Qingda Group this afternoon.”
“This afternoon’s meeting is very important. It is best not to request leave.”
Hou Weidong quickly explained, “Qingda Group has a major project they wish to relocate to the New Management Committee. We have made contact several times, and their investment intent is strong. We have scheduled a discussion on specific details for this afternoon.”
This statement was half true and half false. The truth was that Qingda Group did have a project with potential to settle in Yiyang. Previously, when Zhang Mushan visited the Shangqinglin Tiejianshan Cement Plant to inspect construction, he mentioned during a tour of the New Management Committee that Qingda Group wanted to move its bearing factory out of Lingxi’s urban core to develop real estate on the old site. Hou Weidong had then strongly invited Qingda Group to relocate the bearing factory to the New Management Committee. Thus, visiting Qingda Group was a legitimate move.
The false part was that Hou Weidong was not going to Lingxi to visit Zhang Mushan of Qingda Group, but to meet Zhu Yan.
Yang Senlin hesitated slightly. “What is the project?”
“The Lingxi Bearing Factory,” Hou Weidong replied. “It is located in the main urban area of Lingxi and wishes to move out of the city. This can be considered an industrial transfer.”
Yang Senlin finally relented. “In that case, go ahead. Today’s meeting is important. When you return, have Director Da Jin personally brief you on the meeting’s spirit.”
Having dealt with Yang Senlin, Hou Weidong immediately called Wang Bing and they hit the highway early to avoid any further explanations if the county government raised issues.
Since the Lingxi Expressway had opened, the trip from Yiyang to Lingxi was no longer considered a long journey. It took half an hour to reach Shazhou, and another hour to drive from Shazhou to Lingxi.
They arrived at the Jinxing Hotel just after 4:00 PM.
Wang Bing was surprised to see they were staying at a five-star hotel. “Director Hou, I won’t stay here. The Power Hotel is right across the street, and the conditions are quite good.”
Hou Weidong did not allow for argument. “That makes no sense. I will be accompanying Secretary Zhu for dinner tonight. You find a place to eat on your own.”
Hou Weidong went personally to the restaurant on the tenth floor and booked a large private room with floor-to-ceiling windows. He then returned to his room. Standing by the window, watching the crowds on the street below like ants, he called Zhu Yan.
“Secretary Zhu, I have checked into the Jinxing Hotel. Dinner is arranged at the Pacific Restaurant on the tenth floor.”
Zhu Yan instructed, “Tonight’s guests are all heavyweights, so the standard should be high. I will arrive at 6:00 PM. Also, remember to arrange a separate table for the driver.”
At 5:40 PM, Hou Weidong was waiting in the lobby when Zhu Yan arrived.
Zhu Yan said, “Director Jiang from the Provincial Finance Department, Zhang Mushan, and Zheng Chaoguang, Chairman of the Lingxi Development Bank, will be joining us. The main guest today is Zheng Chaoguang. He intends to send an inspection team to Yiyang. If the inspection passes, he will grant Yiyang County a credit line of one billion yuan, disbursed over four years, to be invested in the infrastructure of the New Management Committee.”
Hou Weidong had been worrying about Yiyang County’s lack of fiscal capacity for land remediation. Hearing that one billion yuan might be invested in the New Management Committee, his eyes lit up. Excitedly, he said, “Secretary Zhu, if one billion yuan is truly invested, the New Management Committee will surely take off. We will rank among the top in Lingxi.”
Zhu Yan cautioned, “Has the new plan been finalized? You must show it to me. If it is poorly designed, the overall value of the New Management Committee will not increase. Be careful, or we may not be able to repay the loans from the Development Bank.”
Just then, Zhu Yan’s mobile phone rang.
“Hello, Standing Committee Member Huang. I am at the Pacific Restaurant on the tenth floor of the Jinxing Hotel. We agreed on 6:00 PM. Secretary Changquan is available? That is excellent. I will come down to welcome him.” He added, “The attendees include Director Jiang from the Finance Department and Zhang Mushan from Qingda Group. They are the intermediaries.”
After hanging up, Zhu Yan rubbed his hands together with joy. “Secretary Changquan is attending a meeting in the province and will come for dinner tonight. With Secretary Changquan present, we are giving Zheng Chaoguang ample face.”
Hou Weidong thought to himself, Fortunately, I insisted on coming to Lingxi today. Otherwise, I would have missed a golden opportunity.
After standing in the lobby for a while, Deputy Director Jiang of the Finance Department and Zhang Mushan arrived at the hotel one after another. As they were just shaking hands, Secretary Changquan entered the lobby accompanied by Huang Zidi.
More than ten years ago, Secretary Changquan and Director Jiang had been classmates in the Young Cadres Class at the Lingxi Provincial Party School. Upon seeing each other, Secretary Changquan said, “Old friend, you haven’t been to Shazhou in two years, have you? You’ve almost forgotten your old classmate.”
Deputy Director Jiang replied, “That is an injustice. In March this year, Mushan and I came to Shazhou, but you did not receive us and slipped away.”
Secretary Changquan laughed. “I went to Shanghai with Secretary Duan Ming.”
Secretary Changquan then shook hands with Zhang Mushan. “President Zhang, do you have any good projects that can settle in Shazhou? All departments and levels in Shazhou will fully support them.”
Zhang Mushan said, “Last time, I mentioned to Director Hou the matter of relocating the Lingxi Bearing Factory to the Yiyang New Management Committee. This project can be finalized.”
Zhu Yan quickly introduced, “This is Hou Weidong from the Yiyang New Management Committee.”
Hou Weidong stepped forward two steps and said respectfully, “Hello, Secretary Changquan.”
Secretary Changquan looked Hou Weidong over. “Such a young director of the New Management Committee. Which university did you graduate from?”
“I graduated from the Law Department of Shazhou College in 1993.”
Secretary Changquan turned to Director Jiang and sighed, “The younger generation is indeed formidable. The future belongs to their generation.”
Seeing that the leaders were still standing in the lobby, Zhu Yan said, “Distinguished leaders, let us go upstairs.”
Secretary Changquan joked, “Zheng Chaoguang is the God of Wealth. If things can be settled today, waiting a bit longer in the lobby is no harm.” He then said to Director Jiang, “Old friend, thank you for bridging the connection.”
Director Jiang took the opportunity to praise Zhu Yan. “This is Secretary Zhu’s merit. He visited the Development Bank five times before meeting Zheng Chaoguang. Upon meeting, Secretary Zhu presented five reasons for investing in Yiyang. Zheng Chaoguang was very interested and agreed to the inspection on the spot. This was said by Old Zheng himself to Mushan and me.”
Secretary Changquan instructed Huang Zidi, “Inform Comrades Yang Senlin and Ma Youcai. They must receive the inspection team with high-level hospitality. There must be no mistakes.”
At 6:10 PM, Zheng Chaoguang finally appeared in the lobby. He was burly and robust, looking less like a bank president and more like a military officer.
After greeting Secretary Changquan, Director Jiang, and others, he clasped his hands. “Old Zhu, you didn’t tell me clearly today. If I had known Secretary Changquan and Director Jiang were coming, I would have flown here.”
He explained to Secretary Changquan and Director Jiang, “You leaders took time out of your busy schedules to meet me, and I am late. I am truly sorry. I was in a board meeting, which delayed me.”
He then said to Zhang Mushan, “Brother Mushan, I have done my best this year. After the Thai Baht crisis, loans are not easy to come by.”
Hou Weidong, being a minor figure, walked at the back of the group, accompanying the leaders to the tenth floor.
During the meal, Hou Weidong sat with Zhang Mushan. When the drinking reached its midpoint, Zhang Mushan said, “Director Hou, the matter of the bearing factory is largely settled. In the middle of the month, I will send Huang Yishu over to discuss the specifics. You two are old friends.”
Hou Weidong had not expected the matter to be resolved so easily. He shook hands with Zhang Mushan and said, “All preferential policies will be fulfilled. Please rest assured.”
“Secretary Yang Senlin called me this afternoon regarding the bearing factory. I told him I would discuss it in detail after meeting you tonight.” Zhu Yan had connected with Zheng Chaoguang through Director Jiang and Zhang Mushan. During the dinner invitation, Zhu Yan casually mentioned that Hou Weidong from the New Management Committee would also attend. By a twist of fate, Zhang Mushan had inadvertently covered for Hou Weidong’s lie.
Hou Weidong was secretly startled. He thought, Secretary Yang Senlin was checking on my whereabouts. Fortunately, Secretary Zhu also invited Zhang Mushan. Otherwise, the situation would have been embarrassing.