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

"It's not shameful to be a supplier for Snapdragon! What's shameful is knowing there's a way to survive but choosing to stubbornly wait to die!"

Seeing that Chen Laisheng was speechless after Ji Shuzhi's words, Bai Jianbo pressed his advantage, saying, "How about this, Lao Chen, if you feel embarrassed, I'll go ahead and scout the way for you. Lao Ji, if you have some free time, how about... you come with me to Tuocheng?"

Seeing that Bai Jianbo had given him a way out, Ji Shuzhi immediately said, "Okay, then I'll go to Tuocheng with you. What do you think, Lao Chen?"

"Then...you guys go ahead!"

Bai Jianbo and Ji Shuzhi exchanged a glance, stood up, took the documents, and walked out of the conference room, gently closing the door behind them.

Chen Laisheng sat in his seat, listening to Bai Jianbo and Ji Shuzhi walking and talking outside in the corridor. He fell silent, staring blankly at the industrial layout map of China hanging on the wall, which was yellowed from years of smoke.

He recalled the day he first reported to FAW in 1956. He was just over twenty years old then, learning technology from his master in the final assembly workshop. The workshop was bustling with activity, with machines roaring and workers chanting slogans.

At that time, he thought that life would continue like this forever.

Thanks to the planned allocation under the socialist system, FAW lived up to its name as the eldest son of the Republic, producing the cars needed by the country. However, as the planned allocation proceeded smoothly, they also became complacent.

Industries that have become accustomed to planned orders from the state and the military have developed a sense of inertia and find it difficult to reform themselves from within. The bureaucratic system of management makes them think about how to make fewer mistakes rather than being enterprising!

Looking back, when I first became the director of FAW, I was so full of vigor and ambition, thinking about carrying out sweeping internal reforms. But I was met with a lot of cold water from both the inside and the upper-level cadres.

One small thing can affect the whole situation!

At the end of the corridor, Ji Shuzhi and Bai Jianbo walked and talked about their upcoming trip to Tuocheng. "Old Ji, do you think we should have Old Huang send us a letter first? We don't really know whether Chen Zaidong is easy to get along with!"

"We need to get Lao Huang to talk to them first," Ji Shuzhi said. "Regardless of whether we can get along or not, we have to go there as soon as possible. Lao Huang is right, we can't stop them!"

"Now that Lao Huang is speaking so enthusiastically for Xiaochi Motors, and the old man has also agreed, it goes without saying that Tuocheng will treat it like its lifeline, just like your Shanghai Automotive in Shanghai, or even better!"

Ji Shuzhi shook his head with a wry smile, "If a car like this, Xiaochi, develops well, it will soar to great heights. If we insist on stopping it, we'll only make enemies. It's better to go there as soon as possible, lower our stance, and negotiate as much parts share as we can for ourselves!"

"Old Ji, you've changed too quickly. I'm suddenly not used to it. Maybe you should take a break," Bai Jianbo teased Ji Shuzhi.

Ji Shuzhi glared at the unreliable old man, "The old man said we need to carry out economic reforms. In the future, it will be a free market. A free market is about doing business, and when doing business, it's natural to make money peacefully!"

"Hehehe!" Bai Jianbo chuckled.

Ji Shuzhi, ever the arrogant one, was still desperately trying to justify himself, "Besides, that was in front of Old Chen. If I had agreed in one go, where would Old Chen put his face? Xiaochi Motors is gaining momentum so much; if I couldn't even see this much of the situation, I'd have wasted all these decades!"

The two had already walked out of the Ministry of Industry building when Bai Jianbo suddenly stopped, looked back at the building, and asked, "Old Ji, do you think Old Chen can figure it out on his own?"

Ji Shuzhi followed his gaze, remained silent for a moment, and then sighed, "Whether he can understand or not is his business. FAW has a solid foundation and can hold on for a few more years. Maybe it can hold on for a few more years, but can it hold on for a lifetime? Under the current wave of reform, he will understand this sooner or later."

"Let's hope so!"

The construction site in Jinbu Township, Mianyang Commune, Zhaoyang County, Tuocheng City, is located next to the Nanzhao Highway. Although it is said that the land is being acquired from Jinbu Township, it actually also covers Miantong, Nantong and other townships, with a total area of ​​19.36 square meters.

The factory currently built by Xiaochi Automobile Company covers the production of complete vehicles such as cars and motorcycles, as well as the production lines for major components. Other components, however, need to be dispersed to other townships such as Nanshan County.

The main reason was that Lin Deying, the secretary of Nanshan County, personally visited Chen Dong several times, wanting Chen Dong to locate Xiaochi Automobile's industrial park in Nanshan County, and even letting him choose any piece of land.

When Hong Quan, the Party Secretary of Zhaoyang County, learned of this, he was so angry that he jumped up and down, cursing the county committee of Nanshan County for being inhumane, and "reported" it to Zhou Haimin, the Party Secretary of the Municipal Committee.

When Zhou Haimin learned that the two county secretaries had argued over the matter several times over the phone, and the phone lines had been disconnected by the operator, he had no choice but to call Chen Dong and the two county secretaries to the municipal party committee compound for a face-to-face discussion.

Hong Quan was a tough secretary who liked to take more than his share. He disagreed with Nanshan County's participation in their Zhaoyang County's automobile industry and refused to give even a single parts factory to Nanshan County.

Lin Deying was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table in front of Zhou Haimin, the municipal party secretary, and was almost cursing. He pointed at Hong Quan and started talking about the Nanzhao Highway, saying that since Chen Dong was from their Nanshan County, they should set up Xiaochi Automobile, this golden goose, in their Nanshan County.

Hong Quan then brought up historical issues, saying that Jiping Commune was originally under the jurisdiction of Zhaoyang County. If Secretary Lin holds this view, then please ask the Municipal Party Committee to return Jiping Commune to Zhaoyang County!

Lin Deying cursed on the spot. Chen Dong was caught between the two secretaries and wanted to move aside so that the two could have a proper argument. However, Secretary Hong Quan grabbed his hand and asked him to judge the matter.

"Well then, Secretary Lin, Secretary Hong, our Xiaochi Automobile plans to develop a comprehensive automotive industrial base. The current 298 mu of land is far from meeting our land needs," Chen Dong said to the two secretaries. "We are currently planning to manufacture complete passenger cars and motorcycles, as well as produce major components, in the Jinbu Industrial Park. For the future heavy truck and bus industrial park, I plan to locate it in Nanshan County!"

"Comrade Zai Dong, this will have a significant impact on the future industrial upgrading of your Xiaochi Automobile. Let's keep it all in Zhaoyang County. Tell me how much land you need, and I'll personally approve it for you!"

"Old Hong, I've noticed you're quite arrogant! You dare to spout nonsense right in front of Secretary Zhou? Do you think you're giving up on the farmland quota for Zhaoyang County?"

Hong Quan gritted his teeth. For the sake of Zhaoyang County's future GDP, the farmland quota could be deducted from elsewhere. "Our Zhaoyang County's affairs are none of your concern, Secretary of Nanshan County!"