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

"This won't do! What will happen to Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC)?"

Upon hearing Bai Jianbo's words, Fan Guotao was so agitated he almost jumped up and cursed, "Isn't this utter nonsense? We from Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) were the ones who introduced Chen Zaidong, but the municipal government has reaped the benefits for us! We've already agreed on a 30% stake with Xiaochi, and now they're demanding 20%, putting us in an awkward position!"

Bai Jianbo, his face dark the entire time, went straight into his office, followed closely by Fan Guotao. "Secretary, we can't just swallow this injustice like this!"

"Then what do you suggest we do? Mayor Gao is a ministerial-level official, and I'm just a department-level official. Can I really go to his door and give him a piece of my mind?"

"Well," Fan Guotao was momentarily speechless. Hearing Bai Jianbo's words, did he intend to just let it go? But that didn't fit Fan Guotao's expectations of Bai Jianbo's style of doing things. Besides, Bai Jianbo had a father-in-law who was a vice-state-level official.

So Fan Guotao's eyes lit up, and he tried to speak, "Secretary, why don't we go directly to Minister Huang? Our Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation is, after all, a unit directly under the Ministry of Industry. Minister Huang has put in so much effort; he wouldn't let us suffer in silence!"

"Okay," Bai Jianbo actually wanted to call his father-in-law, Song Yuantao, directly, but since Fan Guotao had suggested calling Minister of Industry Huang Bin, having another person to speak on his behalf would give him more confidence when confronting the municipal government.

Bai Jianbo picked up the red phone on the table, dialed it, and said to the operator, "Connect me to the Ministry of Industry office."

The call went through several times, and Bai Jianbo had even smoked half a cigarette before finally answering. A young male voice on the other end asked, "This is the Ministry of Industry office. Who is this?"

"Xiao Di, this is Bai Jianbo. Is it convenient for Minister Huang to take the call now? I have important work to report to Minister Huang," Bai Jianbo said, his angry expression softening and his voice becoming much more amiable.

"Secretary Bai, Elder Huang is currently receiving Secretary Chen from FAW. Please wait a moment, I'll go in and ask him for you."

"Okay, okay, thank you for your help."

In Huang Bin's office, Chen Laisheng, smoking a cigarette, looked worried and complained to Huang Bin, "Old Huang, you have to help FAW with Xiaochi. These red-plated cars are a symbol of our country. Xiaochi is adamant and won't budge. Could you mediate?"

"How are you going to reconcile this? Back then, you wouldn't even go to Tuocheng with Lao Bai and Lao Ji to get acquainted with them, and now you're complaining to me," Huang Bin said, crossing his legs and shielding himself from falling cigarette ash. "Why should FAW be the only one authorized to supply the engine for their flagship luxury car, Xiaochi? Oh! Just because you want it, they have to give it to you?"

"No, Elder Huang..."

Chen Laisheng was only halfway through his sentence when there was a knock on the office door. His secretary, Xiao Di, opened the door and said to Huang Bin, "Mr. Huang, Secretary Bai Jianbo from Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation called and said he has important work to report to you. He's still online right now."

Huang Bin nodded, stood up protecting the cigarette ash, stubbed out the cigarette butt in the ashtray, then walked to his office, sat down, picked up the red phone, and said, "This is Huang Bin."

Bai Jianbo immediately said, "Old Huang, there's been a problem with the negotiations with Xiaochi."

When Huang Bin heard Bai Jianbo address him as "Old Huang," he knew that Bai Jianbo had connections on his side. He replied formally, "Comrade Jianbo, don't rush. Tell me what's on your mind."

"Mr. Huang, it's like this. We at Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) had already reached an agreement with Chen Zaidong, and we were just negotiating over whether it would be 40% or 30% equity. But then, the Shanghai Municipal Government sent someone to contact Chen Zaidong privately and only offered 20%. They even have a letter of intent ready for the Standing Committee meeting tomorrow to approve it. Mr. Huang, we at SAIC are not satisfied!"

"How can this be allowed!"

Huang Bin was furious when he heard this. He had gone to great lengths to persuade Chen Dong to go to Shanghai to form a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) to set up this engine factory. The Shanghai municipal government had received such a great benefit, so it should have quietly supported SAIC in facilitating this cooperation and gotten a share of the profits.

But now the Shanghai municipal government has taken everything away, pot and all! Oh! So all my efforts in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology have become a political achievement for Gao Yueming? Huang Bin can't tolerate this!

Huang Bin said to Bai Jianbo in a firm tone, "Go find Gao Yueming right now and tell him that this factory must be owned by you... Forget it, I'll call Guo Yifu myself and tell him. This is ridiculous!"

Bai Jianbo's expression relaxed when he heard Huang Bin personally call Guo Yifu, the Party Secretary of Shanghai. After exchanging a few more words with Huang Bin, he hung up. Fan Guotao stared at Bai Jianbo and asked, "Secretary, how did it go? What was Minister Huang's response?"

"Old Huang is very angry. He told us to stay calm and wait for his news," Bai Jianbo said, stubbing out the burnt-out cigarette butt in the ashtray and then taking out another cigarette to light.

After Huang Bin hung up on Bai Jianbo, Chen Laisheng wanted to continue the conversation, but Huang Bin waved him off, saying, "Old Chen, you go back first. We can talk about your business another day. I have something to take care of right now."

Helpless, Chen Laisheng picked up his briefcase, opened the door, and went out. Huang Bin picked up another phone and asked the operator to transfer him to Guo Yifu of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee.

"Old Huang, what made you think of calling me?" Guo Yifu answered the phone and, hearing the old man's angry voice on the other end, knew without asking who it was. "Do you have any work instructions?"

"How dare I give instructions to your Shanghai municipal party committee and government? On the contrary, I, as the Minister of Industry, need to hear your Shanghai leadership's work plans for the future!"

Guo Yifu, who had been smiling broadly on the phone, stiffened, sensing something amiss in Huang Bin's tone. He immediately adopted a more formal attitude and asked, "Mr. Huang, are there any aspects of the work done by our local officials that you find unsatisfactory?"

"Satisfied, I'm satisfied. How could I dare not be satisfied?" Huang Bin continued sarcastically, "Even the project that I, as the minister, introduced to Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) for investment and factory construction in your city, was bypassed by your Shanghai municipal government and our Ministry of Industry, and they talked directly with Xiaochi!"

"Comrade Yifu, the key point is that you not only negotiated with them, but you also negotiated down to a lower percentage. While Shanghai Automotive was still haggling with Xiaochi over 40% of the shares, your municipal government stabbed them in the back and settled on 20%!"

"Should I praise your efficiency or criticize your shortsightedness? Remember to praise Comrade Gao Yueming for me at tomorrow's municipal standing committee meeting. What a good comrade!"

Guo Yifu was stunned after hearing this. He didn't even know about it. Gao Yueming had taken care of it without consulting him, the municipal party secretary. Now, Huang Bin had come to his door with a knife, demanding an explanation.

"Mr. Huang, please listen to me. My understanding of this matter is not yet complete. I will have Gao Yueming come over right away, and he will definitely give you a satisfactory answer!"