The Rich Man's Life Begins with a Comeback

Chapter 224 A Gathering of Big Shots (4k)

Inside the banquet hall, a huge crystal chandelier hanging high in the ceiling emitted a dazzling light, illuminating the entire venue.

Although it was called a dinner party, it was more like a cocktail party.

There were no fixed round tables inside, only long tables placed on both sides, on which various pastries, cold dishes, and a small number of hot dishes were placed.

Besides that, there are all kinds of alcoholic beverages.

A wide variety of alcoholic beverages, including baijiu, red wine, champagne, and spirits, are available, some neatly arranged on long tables, others carried by passing waiters.

According to the time stated on the invitation, the dinner for entrepreneurs from Kyrgyzstan Province was scheduled for 7 p.m., but it was only 6:30 p.m. and the banquet hall was already packed with guests.

It's hard to imagine that any one of these people could be a super-rich individual with assets exceeding 500 million yuan.

Gu Heng used to think that Jilin Province was very poor.

In retrospect, he was indeed a bit like a frog in a well.

"Oh, Chairman Chu, it's been a long time!"

"Chairman Lu, why are you so late!"

"Happy New Year, Chairman Gao!"

"Chairman Zhao, how come you're aging in reverse? You're getting younger and younger!"

……

Gu Heng was escorted into the banquet hall by Chu Zhengxiong and others. After walking a few steps forward, many people surrounded him with wine glasses and took the initiative to chat with Chu Zhengxiong and the others.

Meanwhile, many people were secretly observing Gu Heng, who was surrounded by Chu Zhengxiong and others in the center. They were all secretly alarmed by Gu Heng's extremely young face.

The Kyrgyz Entrepreneurs Dinner was a business dinner organized by the Kyrgyz Provincial Department of Commerce, not the kind of unofficial gathering they organize privately. They always insisted on one invitation per person.

Want to bring people in?

Want to bring your children in?
There is absolutely no possibility of that.

Even the top figures in the province have to follow this rule, let alone this group of people.

Since the possibility of bringing people in has been ruled out, this young man in front of them is obviously an entrepreneur from Kyrgyzstan who was invited by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Commerce, and his assets exceed 500 million.

Soon, a dialogue similar to the one that had just taken place at the entrance of the Northeast Asia International Financial Center was staged again here.

Introductions, small talk, exchanging business cards, mutual flattery...

It involves going around and stopping, and then repeating this process over and over again.

In just over twenty minutes, Gu Heng had a thick stack of business cards in his pocket.

From the entrance of the banquet hall, we gradually walked to the front of the middle of the banquet hall.

Having reached this point, Chu Zhengxiong and the others stopped going.

At this moment, Gu Heng could see that there were far fewer people at the very front of the banquet hall compared to where they were now.

“Chairman Gu, those people in front are the real top circle in the business world of Jilin Province.”

Chu Zhengxiong whispered to Gu Heng, "Look at that old man surrounded by the most people in front of you. That's Xiu Laigui, the richest man in Jilin Province and the chairman of Xiuzheng Pharmaceutical. He's worth billions and has been on the Hurun Rich List for many years."

"Look at the middle-aged man next to Xiu Laigui. He is Li Jinyang, chairman of Chifeng Gold Group. His net worth should be less than 10 billion, but it is not far from 10 billion. He has been among the top three in our province for many years."

Chu Zhengxiong has been invited to the Kyrgyz Entrepreneurs' Dinner for three consecutive years, and he already knows the people in the Kyrgyz elite circle very well.

Xiuzheng Pharmaceutical, Chifeng Gold, Yongda Group, Haoyue Halal, Zhonggong Education, Changjiu Logistics, Haiwang Group, Defang Nano...

Looking around, almost all of them are CEOs of listed companies.

"Chairman Gu, although we are all invited guests from the Jilin Provincial Department of Commerce, the gap between the circle above and us is too big. If we want to integrate into the circle above, the threshold is at least five billion."

Chu Zhengxiong whispered to Gu Heng, "We can only stop here, but with your wealth and social status, Mr. Gu, you can go to the front and don't need to stand here with us."

"fine."

"I'm quite happy here."

"I don't know any of those people, it would be rather boring to go up there."

Gu Heng waved his hand, his attitude somewhat casual.

He was invited tonight simply because he was curious about the occasion. As for whether he could make some new friends or expand his network, he was really taking a wait-and-see approach.

In just six months, he was able to transform from a poor boy into a super-rich A10 level tycoon. If he works a little harder and gets a little help from his father, he might receive invitations to national-level entrepreneur banquets by this time next year.

In this situation, he wonders if he can get to know those people. If there's an opportunity, he'll try to get to know them; if not, he won't bother trying to curry favor with them.

"all good."

"Then let's have a drink, Mr. Gu."

Chu Zhengxiong raised his glass of red wine: "I wish Chairman Gu a New Year that surpasses the last, that all your wishes come true, and that the new year brings great success and new glories!"

"Thank you, Chairman Chu."

Gu Heng bumped into Chu Zhengxiong and said with a smile, "I remember that our Shenglang store on Guilin Road, since it was upgraded from version 1.0 to version 2.0, is today its first day of reopening?"

Chu Zhengxiong downed his red wine and nodded in agreement: "That's right. Today is the first day of the reopening of Shenglang Guilin Road store. We started our promotion half a month in advance and even dispatched the best singers and bands from Xingchuan International. We hope to have a great start tonight."

"After this is all done, I'll bring my girlfriend over to take a look."

Gu Heng handed the empty glass to a passing waiter and said with a smile, "Young ladies like lively atmospheres, so I think this is the perfect place for a New Year's Eve celebration."

"Okay!"

"It would be an honor for our humble abode if Chairman Gu could attend!"

"I'll call the manager of Shenglang Guilin Road store right now and ask him to reserve the best spot for Chairman Gu in advance!"

As he spoke, Chu Zhengxiong began to take out his phone.

"It's New Year's Eve, all the good seats are probably already booked, right?"

Gu Heng smiled and said, "If they're all booked, just find me any spot."

"How can you just find any spot?"

"It has to be the best location!"

While on the phone, Chu Zhengxiong said very seriously, "The reservation has been made, so let the store manager find a way to coordinate with the customer. If he can't even handle this small matter, what kind of store manager is he? He should just pack his bags and get out of here."

In fact, the other party answered the phone immediately when Chu Zhengxiong dialed it. However, they didn't dare to interrupt Chu Zhengxiong while he was talking, so they heard everything Chu Zhengxiong said at the end.

"I am Chu Zhengxiong, and I have something to tell you..."

After speaking with Gu Heng, Chu Zhengxiong immediately gave instructions to the person on the other end of the phone, his tone completely commanding, leaving no room for discussion.

Seeing this, Gu Heng had no choice but to let Chu Zhengxiong make the arrangements. The entire phone call lasted less than a minute; after Chu Zhengxiong finished giving instructions, he hung up immediately.

"Chairman Chu, I'm going to the Shenglang Guilin Road store to celebrate the New Year tonight. I'll take this opportunity to see the effects and atmosphere of the upgrade. If it is indeed significantly different from the 1.0 version of Shenglang, I will approve the proposal regarding the industry upgrade at the next board meeting."

After a month-long comprehensive overhaul, Xingchuan International Group has undergone a complete transformation, with its leadership team almost entirely replaced from top to bottom.

The capable ones go up, the mediocre ones go down.

This time, even those veterans who had followed Chu Zhengxiong from humble beginnings to where they are today were dismissed by Chu Zhengxiong using ruthless methods.

Gu Heng saw all of this and witnessed Chu Zhengxiong's determination and courage to make Xingchuan International develop better.

Under these circumstances, it would be inappropriate for him to continue hindering Xingchuan International's progress, so it was time for him to give Chu Zhengxiong a clear answer.

"Chairman Gu, don't worry."

"The sound waves upgraded from version 1.0 to version 2.0 will definitely not disappoint you in terms of effect and atmosphere. Even someone my age feels much younger when I'm in it, let alone you young people. You will definitely love it."

Chu Zhengxiong was overjoyed that Gu Heng suddenly agreed.

"I am looking forward."

Gu Heng smiled slightly.

Just as everyone was toasting and exchanging drinks, the time quietly arrived at seven o'clock.

As the side door of the banquet hall opened, a number of middle-aged men in executive jackets walked out one after another, all looking quite sophisticated and elegant.

After they appeared, the scene became much quieter.

"The man at the head of the group is Tan Guocheng, our deputy senior official in charge of finance and fiscal affairs. The middle-aged man to his left is Wei Zegong, the director of the Jilin Provincial Department of Commerce, and the middle-aged man to his right is Song Zhikai, the director of the Jilin Provincial Development and Reform Commission."

Chu Zhengxiong knew that Gu Heng was new to the area and this was his first time being invited to a dinner for entrepreneurs from Jilin Province. So, as soon as these leaders appeared, he quietly introduced them to Gu Heng to avoid leaving Gu Heng confused.

"The leadership team is huge."

After listening to Chu Zhengxiong's introduction, Gu Heng sighed softly.

According to Chu Zhengxiong, leaders from departments related to economic development in Jilin Province were basically all present tonight.

The National Development and Reform Commission, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Finance, the Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Department of Culture and Tourism, the Market Supervision Bureau, the Federation of Industry and Commerce, and so on—it was all quite overwhelming for Gu Heng.

After the leaders took the stage, everyone stood in a row.

The lowest rank is department-level, while deputy department-level officials can only stand in the audience.

Such a scene was indeed quite shocking for Gu Heng, given his extensive experience.

After the leaders had taken their positions, the prominent entrepreneurs from Kyrgyzstan at the front raised their hands and began to applaud, warmly welcoming the leaders.

Subsequently, the Director of the Commerce Department took over the presiding duties.

After a brief opening, Tan Guocheng, as the top leader of the day, naturally took on the task of delivering the first New Year's address.

"Clap clap clap..."

Amidst enthusiastic applause, Tan Guocheng slowly walked to the podium.

Good evening, fellow entrepreneurs!

"At this auspicious moment of bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new, we are honored to gather here together to celebrate the arrival of 2024. On behalf of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government of Kyrgyzstan, I would like to extend my sincere greetings and best wishes to all the entrepreneurs present!"

Tan Guocheng's voice was deep and steady, exuding an aura of imposing authority.

If classified by social status, this should be the most important person Gu Heng had ever seen in his life.

In any province, the deputy officials who assist senior officials in managing finance and fiscal affairs are almost always executive deputy officials, ranking third in the province, and are definitely high-ranking and powerful figures.

"2023 is the opening year for fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and also an extraordinary year in the process of revitalization and development of Jilin Province. Faced with a complex and severe external environment and arduous tasks of reform, development, and stability..."

When leaders speak, their perspective is naturally that of the entire province.

It was supposed to be a New Year's address, but the actual content was mostly related to the province's economic development. First, it was a summary, then a look ahead, and all sorts of data came out of his mouth one after another, which really made Gu Heng a little dizzy.

He glanced around discreetly and saw that the prominent entrepreneurs from Jilin Province all wore expressions of shared pride, and as Tan Guocheng announced numerous economic achievements, they would nod slightly in response.

'Awesome! '

'They're all such drama queens!'

Gu Heng felt a mix of emotions, while outwardly mimicking the expressions and reactions of those around him, trying his best to appear more serious and dignified.

"Dear entrepreneurs from Kyrgyzstan!"

"2024 is a crucial year for Jilin Province to achieve new breakthroughs in its comprehensive revitalization. We must adhere to the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability through progress, and establishing new systems before breaking down old ones. We must be proactive in transforming our development model, adjusting our economic structure, improving quality, and increasing efficiency, so as to continuously consolidate the foundation for steady and positive progress..."

Gu Heng initially struggled to concentrate, but after listening carefully and attentively, he actually began to grasp some of the points.

Today, although it was an official business dinner, Tan Guocheng's speech was somewhat formal. However, since the organizers of this event were not going to let everyone come for nothing, there was still some valuable content in his speech.

For example, Tan Guocheng just mentioned the topic of "technological innovation leading industrial upgrading," which clearly stated that next year, Kyrgyzstan will focus on its advantageous industries such as the automotive industry, equipment manufacturing industry, and pharmaceutical and health industry, and strive to promote digital transformation so that these industries can maintain their existing advantages and further expand them.

Meanwhile, Tan Guocheng stated that next year, they will cultivate and strengthen strategic emerging industries such as new energy vehicles, high-end equipment manufacturing, and biomedicine, and make forward-looking plans for future industries such as carbon fiber, satellite data, and hydrogen energy, providing targeted support in the field of science and technology.

It's worth noting that more than half of the many entrepreneurs invited today are involved in the automotive, equipment manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries. Tan Guocheng's ability to convey such a message at this particular event is undoubtedly a powerful boost for these group executives.

For the CEOs of these groups, whose businesses are all worth over 500 million yuan, the difference between having government support and not having it is enormous.

The specific benefits will be reflected in many aspects such as local policies, bank loans, and tax breaks. Sometimes the support may seem small, but if it is converted into real money, it can amount to a considerable sum.

In short, Tan Guocheng's speech is a bellwether for the economic development of Jilin Province next year, and listening to it carefully is quite useful.

Friends!

"The journey is long and the wind is strong; the mission is heavy and we set off again!"

"In the new year, let us strengthen our confidence, invigorate our spirits, and forge ahead with determination to achieve new breakthroughs in promoting the comprehensive revitalization of Jilin Province and make new and greater contributions to realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!"

"at last--"

I sincerely wish everyone good health, success at work, family happiness, and all the best in the new year!

Tan Guocheng spoke for about fifteen minutes, and his final words were quite concise and to the point. After he finished speaking, he returned to his original position, while Wei Zegong stepped forward again.

The applause was thunderous and lasted for a long time.

The prominent entrepreneurs from Jilin Province in front of them cheered loudly after Tan Guocheng's speech, raising their hands above their heads as if afraid that Tan Guocheng might not have seen them applauding.

Gu Heng, seated in the central, front section of the banquet hall, was also clapping along with the others. Looking at the eager expressions of the numerous prominent entrepreneurs before him, he sighed inwardly.

'It's all about interpersonal relationships and social skills; I still have a lot to learn...'

(End of this chapter)