I'm reborn and I'm an international student again?

While Chen Xi was still sitting on the bed, Chen Yifeng was sitting in a chair in the Xinlu Municipal Conference Hall, complaining in a sarcastic tone.

"President Chen, I heard you were too busy to attend the meeting a few days ago. What brings you here today?" Songquan joked.

"We've been robbed these past few days, and my house was burgled last night." Chen Yifeng showed no respect for his new leader, instead continuing to complain.

"Hey, what are you talking about? What era are we living in? You're talking as if our public security is substandard. I'll call the police from the Public Security Bureau over later and ask them what's going on. Besides, you should report a robbery to the police first."

"They're unfamiliar faces from out of town, otherwise they wouldn't dare touch me; they would have run away long ago." Chen Yifeng snorted irritably, giving the other party no friendly look whatsoever.

"President Xu hasn't arrived yet. Could he have been robbed as well? Or is there a security problem in Yuezhou?"

"I don't know about that."

"It's one thing if this person doesn't come, but this building..."

"They're probably afraid the steel bars on the construction site will be stolen. After all, even my home was robbed, so who would dare to keep pouring money into this quagmire?" Chen Yifeng chuckled.

At this point, the people in the conference room gradually dispersed, leaving only the two of them facing off.

Today's topic is set on a very high level: to forcibly steer Xinlu, an industrial city, onto the track of becoming a technology-driven city.

As a local technology leader, Huade should have been treated as an honored guest, but Chen Yifeng's current demeanor was more like that of someone coming to collect a debt.

"Mr. Chen, your company is a high-tech enterprise and a key focus of the city."

"Yes, I've certainly been under a lot of scrutiny, to the point that my factory is gone. The second factory is a domestic company, producing all domestically made equipment. The people at the main factory can't take it away, since it's a foreign company. Trying to mess with me? No way! I'm telling you, all you people are fighting each other for all day, and in the end, it's us business people who suffer the most..."

Chen Yifeng continued to complain, leaving Song Quan at a loss for words.

The situation is quite complicated now. At the meeting just now, Songquan proposed to support high-tech industries.

In other words, state-owned assets will step in to support companies with potential, such as by injecting capital into Future Auto.

Just a few days ago, Chen Yifeng's second factory suddenly disappeared, and now that the matter has been brought up again at the meeting, it's inevitable that he'll have some doubts.

"Leader, boosting Xinlu's economy isn't something we do for show; the only standard is public satisfaction." Seeing that the other person remained silent, Chen Yifeng added sarcastically.

In his eyes, Qin Feilong, Wu Wanrong, and Song Quan were all the same. They talked about developing the economy all the time, but weren't they just trying to make the GDP figures look good and report back to their superiors?

“I don’t agree with what you’re saying. The proper measure of a good job is one that satisfies both the higher-ups and the people,” Songquan finally said.

"Isn't it all the same? The higher-ups' principle is to serve the people. If the masses are satisfied, how could the higher-ups not be satisfied? Do you mean that if the masses are not satisfied, the higher-ups will be very satisfied?" Chen Yifeng chuckled.

“Some people are not very conscious and have a short-sighted view. They often only see the money in front of them and cannot see the long-term future.”

"If you can't even guarantee the safety of the little money in your pocket, what future are you talking about? Business people value integrity in their dealings; reckless actions won't drive economic development. Our company manufactures high-precision CNC equipment. We previously said we would raise the export tax rebate rate for our products multiple times to cope with external trade frictions, but I haven't seen that happen yet."

Chen Yifeng leaned back in his chair and replied lazily.

"After all, it takes time to implement a policy."

"Hey, I heard a joke before. It said there are all sorts of subsidies and allowances, which seem like a great deal, but why aren't there subsidies for gas prices? You're the one who's asking why?"

After Chen Yifeng finished speaking and saw that the other party couldn't answer for a long time, he grinned and said, "That's because you really need to replenish your energy!"

This hour later.

"Hmph, if even garbage companies like that can get state-owned assets to bail them out in the future, what will happen to Huade? Trying to get involved in my company? Dream on." After leaving the meeting room, Chen Yifeng got into his car and snorted coldly.

Just as he was about to start his car and leave, an old acquaintance suddenly appeared in the corner of his eye.

"Oh, isn't this President Shi? Are you here to see President Yang? I haven't seen him lately." Chen Yifeng opened the car door and waved.

"Looking for him? Why would I look for him?" Shi Danai walked over with a dark face.

He has been incredibly unlucky lately. Huge overseas debts coupled with the collapse of his domestic business have plunged him into a quagmire of debt.

He returned to Xinlu this time to resolve a problem.

Shi Danai has a subordinate who is also a shareholder of Dwarf Financial. He previously attempted a P2P backdoor listing but failed miserably, causing his reputation in Jianghuai to plummet. After all, Shi Danai was a notorious figure in this situation.

"Hey, weren't you two best buddies before? I heard that President Shi even became a shareholder in two banks with President Yang's help..." Chen Yifeng teased.

Stalin was indeed a shareholder in two banks, and a major shareholder in one of them. However, due to a conflict with the bank some time ago, he ultimately chose to withdraw his shares and leave.

"What shareholders? That's nonsense. Why would I cooperate with those scumbags at the bank..." Shi Danai completely denied it.

He's seething with anger right now.

Previously, he and Yang Dingtian spent tens of billions to acquire a Middle Eastern online gambling company, intending to package it into their listed company, but the matter was delayed for some reason.

Dwarf Networks' stock price plummeted, and coupled with huge bridge loan interest, it caused Stuart a heavy loss.

Yang Dingtian's sudden switch to hide-and-seek annoyed Shi Danai.

"By the way, I heard that President Chen's factory was sealed off by the authorities. I'm quite curious about that." Mocking his old rival, Shi Danai immediately launched a counterattack.

Sure enough, Chen Yifeng's expression darkened immediately upon having his wound reopened, and he quickly launched into a rant: "Let me tell you, these bandits..."

Two unlucky guys who used to dislike each other started chatting away in the parking lot.

Jiangcheng.

Since resigning from her job at the securities company due to dissatisfaction, Li Yuqing has been staying at home for quite some time.

Li Yuqing is under increasing pressure because she has to make monthly payments on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class she bought with a loan, and she also spends a lot on medical aesthetics and fitness memberships.

She had borrowed almost all the loans online, and her credit card limit was being reduced. Through her family's introduction, Li Yuqing got a job at a Chinese company that did real estate development.

Jiangcheng is a city with a large number of Chinese-owned businesses, and the company Li Yuqing works for isn't very well-known. The gas cost of commuting by car is a significant expense every month, and although there's a subway, it takes a long time. Finally, she came up with a solution: shamelessly hitch a ride with a colleague.

Li Yuqing seemed happy with her stable job, and she often chatted and laughed with her colleagues. However, only she knew that this was not the life she wanted.

The first reason I came here to work is to pay off my loan, and the second is to avoid my family nagging me.

In Jiangcheng, a city teeming with Chinese-owned businesses, a secure, stable job is the top choice in the eyes of the older generation.

"Damn it, this is so boring. Every day I either stare at the newspaper or wash cups, and I only get five thousand yuan. That's not even enough to cover a small portion of my car loan..." Li Yuqing muttered to herself as she looked at her phone while standing at the company entrance.

"Boss, give me a pack of Blue Tower!" At this moment, a familiar voice made Li Yuqing's ears perk up. She turned her head and her eyes lit up. "Hey, Shi Tao! What are you doing here in Guanggu, just loafing around?" Li Yuqing ran over and slapped the man on the back.

Shi Tao was startled and turned around, about to hurl a curse. But upon seeing it was Li Yuqing, he immediately added another sentence.

"Damn it, you scared the hell out of me. Your grip is so strong, I think you've messed up your training at the gym. If you keep going like this, what man with bones can withstand your abuse?" Shi Tao sized up Li Yuqing.

Compared to when she first returned to China, Li Yuqing is now noticeably heavier, and with her fitness routine, she looks somewhat...muscular.

"Get lost! There's a line of guys chasing after me stretching from Hankou to Guanggu, but nobody wants you. I've been practicing archery lately, so what if I'm a little stronger?"

"Goodness, it's the 21st century already, and you still want to go back to Shennongjia to hunt? What are you doing hiding here?"

"Of course I'm going to work, but I don't want to go in, it's just too boring. What about you?" Li Yuqing said, truthfully revealing her current situation.

"I found a real estate agent to do it for me," Shi Tao said, scratching his head.

Having been scammed out of hundreds of thousands of yuan while working with others on a loan assistance company, which drained my family's savings, I naturally had to go out and work.

"Seriously? He came back with a double degree, and now he's going to work as a real estate agent?" Li Yuqing rolled her eyes.

“Returning overseas students are as common as cabbages these days, my double degree is nothing. I saw a returnee delivering food the other day. Not everyone has a family member who can help them get a good job like you.” Shi Tao curled his lip.

Just as the two were hurting each other, a crowd suddenly gathered at the entrance of the nearby shopping mall, creating a noisy scene.

The two followed the gaze of the crowd and peered over.

A huge display stand had been erected in the small square at the main entrance of the mall, and under the spotlight, a streamlined and highly aggressive concept car model was prominently displayed.

With its low-slung front, iconic frog-like grille, and sleek fastback design, it looks exactly like a German luxury sports car that costs millions.

The host, microphone in hand, shouted himself hoarse on stage, spittle flying everywhere under the lights.

"Dear fellow citizens of Jiangcheng! Dadao Group is about to officially enter the field of new energy vehicles! As you all know, our chairman of Dadao studied at Jiangda University and is a native of Hubei Province! He has always been concerned about the development of his hometown, and this time he has invested heavily to acquire land in Guanggu and build a magnificent headquarters building in Jiangcheng!"

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.

Amid cheers, a tall, thin middle-aged man wearing a dark casual shirt and jeans strode onto the stage.

He had neat short hair, a refined and cultured demeanor, and a signature smile that was slightly naive yet extremely approachable.

The man took the microphone, cleared his throat, and scanned the entire room.

"Good afternoon, friends from Jiangcheng. Hello, are you all alright today?" Chairman Dadao greeted everyone warmly, raising his hand in a mix of Mandarin and English with a slight hometown accent.

This highly distinctive opening remark instantly ignited the audience, who erupted in good-natured laughter and whistles.

“Standing here today, I am truly thrilled. This newly built building in Guanggu is not just an office space, but also the flagship headquarters of our Dadao Group's artificial intelligence and cloud platform. In the coming years, we will focus on developing core technologies such as AI, big data, cloud services, and IoT here. Jiangcheng has so many talented people. As a graduate of Jiangcheng University, I will never forget those who nurtured me. I have decided to donate a sum of money to my alma mater, Jiangcheng University, to express my gratitude to this city and my alma mater for their education…”

The audience erupted in applause once again, and Shi Tao, standing on the periphery, couldn't help but smack his lips.

"Wow, this boss is pretty generous, but this car looks so familiar." Shi Tao craned his neck to look at the model car.

The chairman on the stage happened to turn around, pointed at the model that looked just like a Porsche, and his eyes instantly became fervent.

"Of course, I also want to give you all a heads-up today. Many netizens have been complaining to me that electric sports cars are too expensive nowadays, with competitors' cars easily costing hundreds of thousands of yuan, which young people simply can't afford. I understand your pain! So I thought, since Dadao has decided to make cars, we must make a good car that everyone can buy without hesitation. In order to improve the car's configuration and bring the price down to everyone, last night, I worked through the night in the conference room to persuade all of Dadao's senior executives! I said, when we make cars, we can't just think about profits; we have to make friends!"

The chairman suddenly waved his arm, his emotions running high.

"Damn, that's some serious eloquence. It's a waste of his talent that he's not in sales." Upon hearing this, Shi Tao couldn't help but nudge Li Yuqing next to him with his elbow.

"Shut up, listen to how they introduce it." Li Yuqing glared at Shi Tao.

Li Yuqing, a native of Jiangcheng, felt a great sense of superiority.

She wholeheartedly supports anyone or anything that becomes famous in Jiangcheng, feeling immensely proud. She becomes unhappy whenever she hears someone say anything negative about people from Jiangcheng.

The chairman on the stage continued speaking as he walked to the car and gently patted the hood.

"Look at the streamlined design, look at the headlights! The features that our competitors sell for a million, we at Dadao will provide for you! I have only one goal: to make this car the first car that young people in Jiangcheng can drive for at least ten years!" The chairman swallowed back the brand name he was about to say and changed his words without batting an eye.

"As for the price, please rest assured. On the day of the official launch, I will definitely give you a price that will blow away our competitors overnight! Dadao Auto will always be your most trusted friend, thank you everyone!"

The chairman bowed deeply, and amidst a roaring cheer and flashing camera lights, walked off the stage with a satisfied smile.

As the executives of Dadao Group left, the crowd in the square gradually dispersed, leaving only a few staff members moving equipment in front of the booth.

"You live in Wuchang, do you have to squeeze onto the subway to get to work in Guanggu every day? That must take a long time." Li Yuqing looked away, put her hands in her pockets, and kicked a pebble at her feet.

“Yeah, it’s exhausting to go back and forth every day. So I’m planning to find a place nearby. But with that meager basic salary, I can’t even afford a single room.” Shi Tao sighed, took out a lighter from his pocket, and lit a cigarette.

"What should we do then?" Li Yuqing asked.

Shi Tao exhaled a smoke ring, flicked off the ash without batting an eye, and said, "So I'm planning to find a girlfriend who lives in Guanggu. That way I can just stay at her place and save on commuting, right?"

Li Yuqing rolled her eyes dramatically, her lips twitching slightly: "So, have you found a long-term meal ticket yet?"

"Not yet, we're just casting a wide net right now," Shi Tao said, spreading his hands.

Li Yuqing's eyes darted around, and she leaned closer, lowering her voice: "Look, we both work in this area, and our homes are far apart. Why don't we chip in and rent a place together?"

Shi Tao glanced at the other person sideways, looked them up and down, and let out a soft snort: "With your good qualities, why don't you just find a boyfriend from Kouya and get your rent waived?"

"Do you think everyone is like you, selling yourself for a few thousand yuan in rent? I'm a woman with principles, not someone who does things casually." Li Yuqing crossed her arms and turned her face away.

Shi Tao sneered: "Give me a break. We've been classmates for so many years, do you think I don't know your tricks? I bet you're just single and want to freeload off me. I'm guessing you don't even have enough money left for your roommate deposit."

Li Yuqing's face instantly turned bright red, and she became agitated as if someone had stepped on her tail: "Who...who doesn't have money to pay!"

The words had barely left her mouth when she slumped down like a little girl who'd done something wrong, her voice barely audible: "Talking about rent between old classmates is so hurtful... I see in those idol dramas, if the female lead can't pay her rent, she always pays by cooking for her..."

Shi Tao rolled his eyes speechlessly, his lips twitching violently twice.

I knew you were dirt poor!

You're going to cook for me to pay the bill?
Back in our school days, I've never seen you cook even a simple dish like scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Eating your food would probably mean never seeing the sun rise again. (End of Chapter)