Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 438 An Invitation to a New Place

"Representative Zhou, it's an honor to finally meet you in person."

Liu Xinguo smiled and shook hands with Zhou Xianyang, saying, "I have long admired Representative Zhou, and I am finally able to meet you in person today."

Now, individual business owners are gradually becoming private business operators, and influenced by Hong Kong, they are gradually being addressed as bosses or owners.

His status has improved considerably, and Zhou Xianyang is still the most successful individual business owner in mainland China, almost a leader.

Not only do many government officials want to see him, but many private business owners also request to meet with him every day, either to ask for investment or to borrow money.

However, Zhou Xianyang has another, even better identity: a representative of the district people's congress.

Zhou Xianyang also likes to hear others call him Representative Zhou, especially since he might become a municipal people's congress representative in a few years when it's his turn to serve the next term.

"Oh, Director Liu, you're too kind. I feel a little embarrassed by what you've said. Come, come, sit here and let's sit down and talk."

Zhou Xianyang said with a smile that although he did not know what Director Liu was here for, he would also treat him politely if he was so polite from the start.

After his assistant brought over two cups of tea, Zhou Xianyang finally spoke, asking, "Director Liu, what brings you here today? If there's anything I can help with, I'll certainly do my best. After all, whether it's a public or private matter, it's all for the sake of social development."

"Representative Zhou, let me first introduce myself. I currently serve as the director of the Sijiucheng New Technology Industrial Development Experimental Zone. Our zone mainly aims to promote the development of high-tech industries."

Liu Xinguo introduced himself with a smile, and quickly explained the role of his new technology industry development pilot zone.

The main point is to open a door for private enterprises, allowing them to enjoy many development policies, the most important of which are probably industry-academia collaboration and talent introduction.

After all, this place is close to many universities, and it used to be very difficult for private companies to recruit college students. Zhou Xianyang has such good conditions and offers good salaries, but he still hasn't been able to recruit many.

In the end, he offered a high price and inquired about research technicians who were short of money at home before he was able to recruit some talented people to his factory.

Upon hearing about this new technology development and testing zone, Zhou Xianyang became somewhat interested.

While listening to Liu Xinguo explain the policy, they also poured him tea and water.

After Zhou Xianyang had a good understanding of the benefits of their experimental development zone, Liu Xinguo spoke up, "Representative Zhou, I recently heard that you are planning to build a personal electronics research institute, and you are currently looking for a location?"

Zhou Xianyang was taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded and said, "Director Liu, you're really well-informed. You even found out about this kind of thing."

Yes, I do have that idea, but I'm still undecided. As you know, I have quite a few factories, and they're scattered around. I also have two important industries in Shandong Province, so Lushi City is also inviting me.”

Although this statement sounds somewhat boastful, Zhou Xianyang does indeed have that kind of influence now.

Even disregarding his father, Zhou Fengnian, his influence is still enormous; Motorola's digital phones are selling very well, and are booming in several developed countries such as the United States.

By mid-year, new mobile phone order contracts had been signed, and the number was even higher than last year.

A rough estimate suggests that even after deducting all costs, Zhou Xianyang's revenue from Accelink mobile phones alone this year is nearly 300 million yuan.

This surprised Zhou Xianyang quite a bit; he hadn't expected Motorola to want so many phones. But no matter how surprised he was, he had to accept it. He even converted two production lines at Yangfei Electronics Factory in Beijing just to fulfill Motorola's order.

Moreover, the success of the Guangxun mobile phone factory made Zhou Xianyang understand his father's words: unique technology can make a lot of money. His two opportunities for his net worth to skyrocket were both brought about by his unique high technology.

That's why Zhou Xianyang thought of setting up a personal electronics research institute, and even negotiated a loan of 60 million yuan with the Bank of Communications, which he would invest in the institute in three installments.

His actions were quite significant. Zhou Xianyang was no exception when others heard the news, but the fact that he was able to find out about Director Liu, whom he hadn't heard much about before, showed that he was quite capable.

Zhou Xianyang cut to the chase and asked, "So, Director Liu wants me to build the Electronics Research Institute in the New Technology Development and Testing Zone?"

“That’s right. As one of the first batch of individual high-tech enterprises to settle in, I will help Representative Zhou fight for the best policies. Moreover, when it comes to universities and talents, how can Dongshan Province compare with us?”

When he said the last sentence, Director Liu lowered his voice slightly.

This can't be said openly, as it would be seen as disparaging our neighboring provinces, even though it's true.
After thinking for a while, Zhou Xianyang said, "Director Liu, I can't give you an answer to such an important matter immediately, but I will give it serious consideration, and I will also investigate before making a decision."

"Okay, it's good to investigate, after all, practice makes perfect."

Director Liu said with a smile that the fact that they agreed to go for the inspection meant there was a chance. As long as they could bring Zhou Xianyang, the largest private entrepreneur in the country, over, their new technology experimental development zone would become famous.

Having a reputation allows you to attract more people and enter the development stage more quickly.

"Representative Zhou, that's all for today. If you come to visit, please be sure to give me a call, and I'll be your guide."

Director Liu said with a smile, then gave Zhou Xianyang his office phone number before taking his leave.

After seeing Liu Xinguo off, Zhou Xianyang quickly summoned his assistant and asked him to investigate the matter of the new technology experimental development zone.

Zhou Xianyang started traveling around after the Chinese New Year at the beginning of the year. This time he stayed in Dongshan Province the longest, and didn't return to Beijing for almost eight months.

If Bai Qing'an hadn't returned for a few months, their children might have really forgotten about their unreliable parents.

Zhou Xianyang is even better than Zhou Fengnian at forgetting his son.

He had just returned from Shandong Province not long ago. Besides visiting his children, he also wanted to see the factories and department stores in Beijing.

The problem with industry being too fragmented is that it needs to be distributed more evenly.

Fortunately, the energy storage battery factory was relatively close to Beijing, and Zhou Xianyang even took a look at it before returning.

Although he doesn't interfere in the operation, Zhou Xianyang is the largest shareholder of the energy storage battery factory, and he has to take charge of the matters that need to be managed.

Moreover, even if he himself doesn't go, he will frequently send people over to check the accounts and conduct inspections; now Zhou Xianyang is a little afraid that the managers will act recklessly, otherwise no matter how much money or how good the technology is, it won't be able to withstand the managers' recklessness.

Besides the people he sent to inspect the factory, there were also workers who spontaneously supervised the operations, since they also owned shares in the factory.

Fortunately, the incentive mechanisms for energy storage battery factories are quite good. As long as you are not particularly greedy and run the factory well, you can earn a decent income and rewards.

In recent years, the profits of energy storage battery factories have been steadily increasing. With orders from factories such as Guangxun Mobile Phone Factory and Feiyang Electric Factory, they have made a lot of money almost every year.

The main reason was the quality of the products they produced. Motorola employees even visited the energy storage battery factory and were very interested in and impressed with its products, quickly expressing their intention to purchase them.

They initially wanted to acquire or purchase shares and technology, but Zhou Xianyang refused without hesitation; after his refusal, Motorola, seeing little hope, decided to order batteries.

However, the battery factory's schedule is already full, and it will be at least next year before they can discuss cooperation with Motorola.

After arranging the investigation, Zhou Xianyang went to the factory to check on the recent production and financial reports. He's getting busier and busier; he'll have to go to the department store and supermarket in the next three days, then meet up with Ren Zheng and the others, and after that, he'll be busy with the implementation of the electronics research institute project.

Zhou Xianyang was busy until the end of the workday before getting into his driver's car to go home.

He hadn't been back for half a year, and if what had just happened hadn't been so important, he would have been itching to go home long ago.

Following Zhou Xianyang's car was another vehicle, filled with gifts he had brought back from Dongshan Province, including a considerable amount of frozen seafood, which he had transported back by train.

When Zhou Xianyang returned to Nanluoguxiang, he saw a courtyard with a similar style to his own home. It seemed to be the No. 76 courtyard, but it was now the home of his uncle, Zhou Weitian.

It cost a lot to buy this courtyard. His uncle Zhou Weitian and cousin Zhou Xianzhe together contributed 700,000 yuan to buy it.

The government introduced real estate policies some time ago, which boosted the housing market significantly. If they had bought a year earlier, the father and son could have saved 200,000 yuan, but because they bought a year later, they ended up spending so much more.

However, they have now moved back to Nanluoguxiang. The second uncle, Zhou Jia'an, has also bought a courtyard, two months later than Zhou Weitian, so it is currently being renovated.

Once Uncle Zhou Jia'an's courtyard is renovated, his entire family, except for his aunt and uncle, will live in Nanluoguxiang.

Zhou Xianyang secretly wanted to buy the whole street, but he knew it was impossible. Many of the properties were owned by the public, and they could only buy those that were entirely privately owned.

There are too few courtyards like this. When Zhou Yan was the director of the street office here, she was unable to get all the residents to change their property rights. Most people still chose to rent.

There was still some hope of buying government-owned housing before, but it has become increasingly difficult recently, and this year the purchase channels have been completely blocked.

So this is something we can only dream about. If we actually let him buy an entire street, it might just cause trouble for our family.

Zhou Xianyang arrived at his parents' house quickly. After getting out of the car, he began to direct the driver and guards to help deliver all the gifts to their home.

The commotion in the front yard quickly alerted the middle and back yards. The two sisters, Zhou Yiyi and Zhou Linlin, soon arrived at the front yard: "Who's here, big brother? You're finally back!"

Zhou Linlin's attention quickly shifted from Zhou Xianyang to the boxes of gifts, and she hurriedly asked, "Big brother, did you bring me a gift?"

“You have everything you need at home, and now you even have a cell phone, so what else could I possibly bring you? Here, take this, and don’t let Mom and Dad find out.”

Zhou Xianyang took out a wad of cash, about two thousand yuan, and then handed it to his two younger sisters: "Yiyi, buy whatever you want. If you need more, just let me know."

"But Zhou Linlin, if you get caught, don't betray me. Just say it was given to you by Brother Xianzhe and Brother Xianrui."

"Brother, I don't need it."

Zhou Yiyi declined a little embarrassedly, saying, "I haven't finished spending the money you gave me last time, it's too much."

Her parents gave her a lot of money, and she's about to graduate. She has nearly 100,000 yuan in savings, but she doesn't know what to do with it.

"Take it if it's given to you. Learn from your little sister, what burdens do you have with your big brother!"

"That's right, big brother, don't worry, I definitely won't betray you."

Zhou Linlin accepted the money with a smile, counting it as she said, "Mom and sister-in-law took my nephew and niece to a medical check-up, they'll be back in a bit; they're not sick, it's just a routine check-up."

"That's good."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianyang felt a little relieved and then asked his two younger sisters to help him pack up the gifts.

Zhou Xianyang brought back a lot of things this time. All the food was sent to the kitchen, and the rest was stored in the storeroom in the front yard.

Just as the siblings finished settling in, Zhou Yan and Bai Qing'an returned with their two children.

"Qing'an, Mom, I'm back."

Upon seeing the two, Zhou Xianyang first happily hugged his wife for a while before looking at his son and daughter.

However, as soon as he walked over, Zhou Zeqian and Zhou Shuyu hid behind Zhou Yan at the same time.

Zhou Yan rolled her eyes at Zhou Xianyang, pushed him away and said, "Wait until later to be affectionate with the child. You've been gone for more than half a year. Do you expect the child to remember you?"

“I’m their father, so what?”

After Zhou Xianyang finished speaking, he tried to go forward again, but this time he scared Zhou Zeqian away. However, the little guy was smart and didn't forget to grab his sister's hand and run with her.

"Hey, these two kids."

"You still blame the child? When your father was little, he never went more than half a year without coming back."

Zhou Yan reached out and poked her son's forehead a few times. Not only did he go out, but he also kept urging his daughter-in-law to go find him.

If it weren't for Gong Lin taking care of the children, she would definitely be extremely busy right now.

"Call your dad and ask him if he can come home for dinner early today."

"Okay, I'll call Dad right now."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianyang immediately took out his phone and called Zhou Fengnian's phone.

When the call connected, Qian Zhi answered. Sometimes Zhou Fengnian would miss incoming calls, so he would leave his personal phone with Qian Zhi so that Qian Zhi could remind him when someone called.

However, this time Qian Zhi did not hand over the call, but answered it directly and said he would pass on the message to his superior.

Zhou Xianyang knew immediately that his father was too busy to answer the phone, so he told him about coming home for dinner and then hung up.

Zhou Fengnian was having an important meeting, and it was already past six o'clock when the meeting ended.

After leaving the meeting room, Qian Zhi immediately followed and handed over his phone, saying, "Boss, your son just called to ask if you can come home for dinner tonight. I answered for you, but he hasn't replied yet."

Zhou Fengnian glanced at his phone and said, "This kid actually knows how to come back, huh? Okay, I got it. Is there anything else today?"

Qian Zhi said, "There's nothing too important. You said if we came out before four o'clock, we should go to the Robotics Research Institute. It's already past six o'clock. Should I call Director Lu?"

Zhou Fengnian thought for a moment and said, "Let's make a call and tell him I don't have time today, I'll go tomorrow morning."

(End of this chapter)