Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

"We must contact the central government immediately!"

Wang Huaimin walked back to the small room with light steps. As soon as the door closed, his eyes immediately turned to Zhou Bingguo, the group leader, with a fervent gaze. His voice trembled as he said, "Minister Zhou, you must go to the Municipal Party Committee immediately and report this matter to the Central Committee via the official hotline. There is no time to lose!"

"We must go immediately!"

"Yes, I understand," Zhou Bingguo snapped his notebook shut, gestured for Wang Huaimin to sit down, then leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Reporting is a must. I'll go to the Municipal Party Committee and report to the leaders of the Planning Commission and the Equipment Development Department via the red hotline. You immediately draft a top-secret briefing, then come to the Municipal Party Committee and meet me!"

"Just list the core points: the F100 or F110 turbofan engine prototype, the complete set of technical data, five million US dollars in cash, and Comrade Chen Zaidong's secret channels. Can you give them to me in one hour?"

Zhou Bingguo nodded emphatically, "Understood! I will highlight its strategic value and unique role in the briefing. As for Comrade Chen Zaidong... he is unfathomable, but his demonstrated ability and 'sincerity' are, at present, quite real."

"Okay, let's split up now," Zhou Bingguo said, putting the notebook he was writing in into his briefcase, scrambling the password, and then opening the door and walking out of the small room.

Upon seeing the two leaders emerge, Zhong Dequan greeted them, saying, "Minister Zhou, Director Wang, the food at the restaurant is ready; you may dine now."

Zhou Bingguo gave a deep "hmm" and said to Zhong Dequan, "These things aren't urgent. Xiao Zhong, contact the guesthouse immediately and arrange a car for me. I need to go to the municipal party committee now and inform Secretary Haimin that I need to go to his office to see him immediately!"

Without any hesitation, Zhong Dequan, who had been working in foreign trade for many years, nodded and agreed almost instinctively, then walked out of the meeting room to arrange transportation and call Zhou Haimin, without getting involved.

While the others were eating in the restaurant, Wang Huaimin, the deputy group leader, locked himself in a small meeting room and wrote furiously, detailing his previous conversation with Chen Dong, hoping to be concise and to the point when reporting to the central leadership.

Inside the office of the municipal party secretary, Zhou Haimin did not go to the cafeteria for lunch. Instead, he sat in his office smoking and waiting for his old leader, Zhou Bingguo, to arrive.

He had just returned from listening to a lecture at the guesthouse when Zhou Bingguo called. Zhou Haimin wondered if his former superiors and Chen Dong had talked about something after he left, and whether they had disagreements and he needed to mediate.

Two knocks sounded on the door. Before he could even say "come in," Zhou Bingguo pushed the door open and walked in with a serious expression, carrying his briefcase. Zhong Dequan and his secretary were gestured to wait outside.

Zhou Bingguo closed the door, and Zhou Haimin, smiling, stood up from his office chair. "Old boss, is there something important you need me to discuss?"

"Um, Comrade Zhou Haimin, in my capacity as Vice Minister of the Planning Commission, I need to use your special red telephone line (as the Party Secretary of Tuocheng City) to relay a top-secret report to the Central Committee. Please recuse yourself!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Haimin immediately straightened up and replied to Zhou Bingguo with equal seriousness, "Understood! I will follow the organization's arrangements!"

After saying that, Zhou Haimin opened the door and walked out without looking back, personally standing at the office door to prevent others from eavesdropping.

Zhou Bingguo picked up the red telephone on his desk, dialed the number, and a female voice immediately came through, "Hello, where would you like to connect?"

"Please transfer me to Minister Wang of the Planning Commission!"

After a moment of silence, the woman replied, "Hello, based on your dedicated line level, we are currently unable to transfer you to the Planning Commission. Would you like to be transferred to the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee?"

"I am Zhou Bingguo, Vice Minister of the Planning Commission. I have urgent business to attend to and need to contact Minister Wang immediately," Zhou Bingguo said in a calm tone, showing no anger at the female operator's refusal.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, perhaps she was inquiring about her superior. Zhou Bingguo waited a short while before a middle-aged male voice answered, "Hello, Vice Minister Zhou, I'll transfer you immediately!"

"Hello! Who is that?"

Zhou Bingguo didn't have to wait long before a familiar voice came through the receiver. He immediately stood up straight and said in a deep voice, "Sir, this is Zhou Bingguo!"

"Comrade Bingguo, why are you calling me all of a sudden? Have you arrived in Tuocheng yet?"

"Leader, the members of the special task force and I have arrived in Tuocheng and have met with Comrade Chen Zaidong," Zhou Bingguo replied.

"Is there something important? Did the meeting with Comrade Chen Zaidong not go smoothly?"

"Everything is going well, boss!"

"Um!"

"Leader, after the meeting with Comrade Chen Zaidong, Director Wang Huaimin of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation and I secretly inquired about the issue of military procurement with Comrade Chen Zaidong. We received a definite answer from him. He said that he could arrange for us to obtain the F100 turbofan engine currently in service with America or the F110 turbofan engine still under testing, along with the complete set of blueprints!"

"However, each unit requires five million US dollars in cash, and we do not accept any raw materials or installment payments!"

Minister Wang remained silent for a long time. Zhou Bingguo heard the faint sound of a match being struck and the heavy breathing of Minister Wang as he smoked. Zhou Bingguo did not speak again, but waited quietly for Minister Wang to finish processing the news he had reported.

"Yes, I understand, Comrade Bingguo!"

"I will report this to my superiors. Do you currently have a summary of your conversation with Comrade Chen Zaidong?"

"Boss, it's urgent. I've already asked Director Wang Huaimin to draft it. He'll be here in half an hour."

"good!"

After Minister Wang said "okay," he hung up the phone. Zhou Bingguo sat in his office chair and waited quietly for the call until there was a knock on the office door and Wang Huaimin walked in. Minister Wang did not return the call.

"How is it?"

Wang Huaimin sat opposite Zhou Bingguo, placed the newly drafted briefing document on the table, and looked at Zhou Bingguo to ask questions.

"It's already been reported to Minister Wang. I estimate the minister is reporting to the old man now and will get back to him soon," Zhou Bingguo said, offering a "special" cigarette to Wang Huaimin across from him, while he lit his own with the embers from the butt.

Ring ring!

The red phone rang, and Zhou Bingguo grabbed it almost reflexively. "This is Zhou Bingguo!"

"Comrade Bingguo, I have already informed the old man about this matter," Minister Wang's voice on the phone was devoid of any emotion. "After hearing about it, the old man praised you and Comrade Huaimin. He said, 'This matter...'"

"Absolutely necessary!"

"clear!"

"The Central Committee will allocate special funds for the conditions proposed by Comrade Chen Zaidong. Go ahead and do it boldly!"

"clear!"