I'm in the county town, and you say I'm a big shot?

Chapter 243 The Argument at the Executive Meeting

Since that's the case, Fang Qingye decided not to meddle any further.

The three parties involved in the Nanxin Lake renovation and investment have reached a consensus and decided to go to the County Development and Reform Bureau this afternoon to formally propose the Nanxin Lake development plan to the county.

The main offices of the government and county party committee are located in a seventeen-story office building. Behind the compound, there is a four-story white building, which is mainly where the county heads work. It is commonly known as the County Head Building. It is a semi-independent courtyard with lush greenery, making it very quiet.

A government executive meeting is being held in a conference room on the third floor.

The county government's executive meeting is one of the most important meetings of the government. It usually discusses major issues, including projects that affect people's livelihoods. Of course, after a decision is made on a major project at the executive meeting, it will be submitted to the county standing committee meeting.

Today's executive meeting will discuss the plan for Country Garden Group to renovate Nanxin Lake and establish Nanxin Lake Park, as well as the development of surrounding land.

The meeting was chaired by Hu Huaiwen, the county head and the top official in charge.

"Comrades, the development plan for Nanxin Lake by Country Garden was distributed to you yesterday. Now, let's give our opinions on this matter."

A brief silence fell over the meeting room, but soon a middle-aged man began to speak. He was Lu Junhai, the executive deputy county head in charge of development and reform and urban construction.

Lu Junhai is not a local; he was transferred from Wuyang County, a neighboring county. This area is under his jurisdiction, so it is most appropriate for him to be the first to speak.

“I have reviewed Country Garden’s proposal. Director He of the Development and Reform Bureau has also reported to me. In addition, Vice President Liu of Country Garden’s Jiangsu Regional Company made a special trip to Nanxin to discuss this project with me.”

County Head Lu spoke at length, concluding by saying, "The details of this plan are all in the plan itself, so I won't go into them again. What I want to say is: Country Garden is essentially exchanging the renovation of Nanxin Lake for land. Have we lost out? No! Has Country Garden lost out? No! Because it's a win-win situation. We gain a beautiful scenic area, the people of Nanxin gain another place for leisure and recreation, and Country Garden gains land to develop into a high-end residential community, while also improving the overall quality of the city!"

When the executive county head said this, the other attendees expressed their agreement, but Miao Hongbin looked at the plan but did not immediately express his opinion.

"Old Miao, what's your opinion?" Hu Huaiwen noticed Miao Hongbin's furrowed brows and asked.
“County Chief Lu is right. Transforming Nanxin Lake and improving the living environment is indeed a win-win situation. But I have a question: can an investment of 7000 million yuan really improve Nanxin Lake?”

"As you can see, the treatment plan for Country Garden is to dredge the silt out of the lake, purify the lake water to meet the national Class IV standard, and build a small island in the middle of the lake. Is this the scenic area?"

At this point, Lu Junhai chimed in: "Old Miao, can't you just follow the county's requirements for developing the Nanxin Lake development plan? It's good, but it requires an investment of over 200 million yuan. Which company would be willing to do that?"

“But Country Garden invested 7000 million yuan in the renovation of Nanxin Lake, yet they want to take 240 acres of land from us for nothing! Isn’t that too greedy?” Miao Hongbin retorted.

"240 mu of land, at the current average price of 40 yuan per mu for real estate in our county, that's 9600 million yuan. From this alone, Country Garden made 2400 million yuan!"

"Old Miao, you can't do the math like that! Land around Nanxin Lake can sell for 40 yuan per mu now? Nobody wants it even at 20! Even if we calculate it at 20 yuan per mu, Country Garden is losing 2200 million yuan!" Lu Junhai retorted without any politeness.

Miao Hongbin was not to be outdone:
"But the problem isn't the land. I think 7000 million is simply not enough to develop Nanxin Lake! According to the planning scheme provided by Country Garden, is this a scenic area or a park? It doesn't even completely solve the water flow problem of Nanxin Lake. In a few years or ten years, it will become a stinking reservoir again!"

Upon hearing this, those present were astonished. What's going on?

Did County Chief Miao and County Chief Lu clash today?

Hu Huaiwen remained silent, lost in thought.

He knew in his heart that Miao Hongbin had some truth to him; Country Garden's plan was too shrewd!
However, there is a practical problem: the county lacks funds to renovate Nanxin Lake, which has drawn criticism from the local people. Every year when the county holds its annual "Two Sessions," representatives and committee members raise their opinions about Nanxin Lake.

The two sessions are about to convene again, and who knows what troublesome things will come up again?

Hu Huaiwen sighed softly as he thought about this: "To be honest, Country Garden's plan to renovate Nanxin Lake is indeed a bit perfunctory, but the problem is that no company has stepped forward to compete with them. You know, there are more than a dozen real estate developers of all sizes in our county, how come none of them have the vision and courage of Country Garden?"

"Yeah, that's right." "Hey, we developers only care about making money, who cares about social benefits? We should be grateful if we don't cut corners!"

There was a lot of discussion in the meeting room.

Miao Hongbin hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Yes, how come you don't have any?
Wasn't Fang Qingye teaming up with Song Qingdong to try and win over this project?

They invested 1.43 million yuan and doubled their investment!
But what's wrong with this kid?

So many days have passed, why hasn't the plan been submitted to the Development and Reform Commission yet?

Miao Hongbin wanted to speak, but he swallowed the words back down.

I am not in charge of urban construction or real estate development, nor do I oversee the Development and Reform Bureau. Since Fang Qingye's plan has not been submitted through official channels, if I were to speak out now, whether it's good or bad, people would assume there's some insider deal between me and Fang Qingye.

Besides, many people already know that he and Fang Qingye have a good personal relationship, so they should avoid this suspicion even more now.

Just then, Secretary Duan Anping hurriedly entered the conference room and whispered a few words in Hu Huaiwen's ear.

"Oh? Let Director He in."

As Duan Anping left, he soon saw He Xiaoqi, the director of the Development and Reform Bureau, carrying a briefcase and entering the conference room, placing a document in front of Hu Huaiwen.

Hu Huaiwen flipped through the papers and immediately beamed with joy: "Director He, are there any more? Give everyone a copy."

"Yes, yes, I was just photocopying these documents, that's why I'm a little late." He Xiaoqi took out another stack of documents from his briefcase and placed them in front of the county head who was in the meeting.

"Look everyone, someone from our county has finally stepped up to do this project!" Hu Huaiwen picked up the documents: "Tuofang Investment, Kerry Group, and Tenglong Industry have joined forces to develop Nanxin Lake, investing 1.43 million yuan!"

1.43 billion!

The meeting room immediately erupted in discussion. Everyone hurriedly flipped through the contents of the plan and, sure enough, saw that the three newly established Nanxinhu Development Companies would complete the transformation of Nanxinhu within two years, with a total investment of 1.43 million yuan!
"It's twice as good as Country Garden! If it's really as they say, Nanxin Lake could be developed into a scenic area for our county!"

"Huh? They want 300 acres of land."

"Country Garden has more? But their investment is 1.43 million yuan, which is twice that of Country Garden, so it's reasonable for them to take 60 mu more."

Everyone was talking about it.

Miao Hongbin also carefully looked at the contents of the plan, which were basically the same as what Fang Qingye had told him. But why did this guy bring Tenglong Industry into it again?

I understand. With such a large investment, there's a significant risk in recouping the investment, so it's normal for another party to share the burden.

It seems these three companies will have to form a united front in the future.

Fang Qingye didn't have that idea for the time being. She was currently having tea and chatting with a woman in the nursery. The woman was Luo Yan, the vice president of Kerry Group, a board member and general manager of the soon-to-be-established Nanxinhu Development Company.

(End of this chapter)