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

"But we need to address each specific issue with a specific explanation!"

"Then I don't understand, Director Fan, Secretary Bai," Chen Dong spread his hands and leaned back on the sofa, looking at the two of them, "I'm not an unfeeling person, but you have to understand me. We've already reached an agreement with the municipal government on 20%."

"Now you want me to overturn the agreement with the municipal government and sign a 30% deal with your Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation? Secretary Bai, Director Fan, listen to this yourselves! Don't you think I, Chen Zaidong, have too much money and am therefore feeling uneasy? Why should I waste this money!"

Bai Jianbo pursed his lips and remained silent. He knew that Chen Dong would never renegotiate the deal on his own at this point. Xiaochi had the technology and the funds, so it had no shortage of partners.

Chen Dong also felt that this negotiation was inexplicable. At this time, it should be the municipal government and Shanghai Automobile Group that were begging him, Chen Zaidong. Instead, it was as if he, Chen Zaidong, needed Shanghai Automobile Group and the Shanghai Municipal Government.

Fan Guotao was still trying to persuade Chen Dong, "President Chen, you see, there has to be a solution to this matter, right? We at Shanghai Automotive have spent so much time and effort on this; we can't just leave empty-handed!"

Chen Dong picked up his teacup and took a sip slowly. "The solution is simple. I won't change the agreement with the municipal government! Snapdragon will take 80%, and the municipal government will take 20%. That's already been agreed upon."

"As for your Shanghai Automobile Group, you can get 20% of the revenue from the city government. How much is a matter between you and the municipal government; I won't interfere!"

Bai Jianbo frowned, his eyebrows furrowed. If the city government split the profits, then Shanghai Automobile would go from being the dominant party to being passive, and would have to watch Gao Yueming's expression. Fan Guotao also looked very unhappy, and the atmosphere became somewhat silent for a moment.

Chen Dong stood up and said to the two men, "Secretary Bai, Director Fan, Fifth Brother and I have some things to attend to later and need to go out. You two go back and discuss with the municipal government how to divide the shares. Once you've reached an agreement, we'll see you at the signing ceremony!"

Bai Jianbo and Fan Guotao had no choice but to get up and leave. Chen Dong saw them to the door, smiled and waved as the four of them entered the elevator before closing the door.

Chen Zaixing chuckled and said, "Adong, these cadres in Shanghai are too unreliable. If this were in our Tuocheng, Secretary Zhou would have scolded Gao Yueming's mother so badly that she ended up in the hospital."

"I seriously doubt whether these people are actually communicating with each other. They're so unreliable, I don't even want to run a supermarket here anymore."

Chen Dong shook his head with a helpless smile. If this had happened under Zhou Haimin's rule in Tuocheng, the municipal government would not have taken it upon itself to come and talk to him about equity matters.

Despite his seemingly kind and honest appearance, Zhou Haimin is actually quite assertive. In response to Gao Yueming's actions, Zhou Haimin would immediately summon Xiaochi and bring both Shanghai Automotive and the municipal government to a meeting room for a face-to-face discussion.

Instead of what is happening now, where Secretary Guo Yifu doesn't even call him, but pushes Bai Jianbo from Shanghai Automobile Group over, hoping that Chen Dong will suffer some losses and make some concessions.

Chen Dong said you're overthinking it. If you push me too far, I'll just stop setting up this factory in Shanghai. There are plenty of land options in Suzhou, Kunming, and Changzhou next door. Why would I need to put up with your attitude?

Outside the hotel, in their car, Bai Jianbo and Fan Guotao weren't in a hurry to leave. Instead, they sat inside smoking. Fan Guotao asked, "Secretary, what should we do now? Chen Zaidong is adamant about only accepting the 20% shareholding. Are we really going to have to argue with the municipal government?"

Bai Jianbo remained silent, staring at the hazy sky outside the car window. Only one thought kept running through his mind: Chen Dong was unwilling to change things, and the municipal government probably wouldn't allow it either. Shanghai Automobile was caught in the middle, pleasing neither side.

"Go straight to the city government," Bai Jianbo said in a hoarse voice to his secretary who was driving. "I'm going to meet Gao Yueming!"

The car stopped at the main entrance of the municipal government building. Bai Jianbo took a deep breath, got out of the car, and Fan Guotao followed behind. The two went upstairs one after the other. Gao Yueming was looking at documents in his office. When his secretary told him that Bai Jianbo had arrived, a hint of surprise flashed across his face. But when Bai Jianbo and Fan Guotao entered, he immediately put on a smile, "Comrade Jianbo, what brings you here?"

Bai Jianbo, not wanting to beat around the bush, went straight to the point, asking, "Mayor Gao, how does the city plan to allocate the Xiaochi Engine Plant project?"

Gao Yueming's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal. "Comrade Jianbo, wasn't this matter already decided? Xiaochi will take 80%, and the city will take 20%. The Standing Committee of the Municipal Government will approve it tomorrow, and then we can discuss the land planning issue with Chen Zaidong in more detail."

Bai Jianbo looked at him calmly, but his heart was pounding like a volcano about to erupt. "Mayor Gao, the city takes 20%, but what about Shanghai Automobile? Shanghai Automobile has been following from beginning to end, and now we can't even get a sip of the soup!"

Gao Yueming put down the documents in his hand, leaned back in his chair, looked at Bai Jianbo, and said in a neutral tone, "Comrade Jianbo, Shanghai Automotive is Shanghai Automotive, and the city is the city. The city provided the land for this project—1.7 square kilometers, which is no small amount!"

"What did Shanghai Automotive contribute? Workers? Or technology?"

"Comrade Jianbo, it's not that I'm being unreasonable, but the city also has its own difficulties. Pudong needs to be developed, and it needs funds and projects. This engine plant is Pudong's first major project, and the city must guarantee a certain level of revenue."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Shanghai Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. can have a share, and we can discuss how much. But Comrade Jianbo, you cannot ask for a high share just because you feel wronged, otherwise the municipal government will not agree."

Bai Jianbo stared at him and asked, word by word, "Mayor Gao, then tell me, how much will we get?"

"2%!"

Bai Jianbo's face changed. Looking at Gao Yueming's two outstretched fingers, he abruptly stood up, the chair rattling as he did so. "Mayor Gao, Shanghai Automotive has been working on this project for over half a year, and you just give us 2% with a single word?"

"Do you think this is appropriate?"

Gao Yueming also stood up, his smile gone, and looked at Bai Jianbo with a serious expression. "Comrade Jianbo, if you think it's inappropriate, that's your problem. The municipal government needs funds and projects to develop people's livelihoods. Does Shanghai Automobile Group want to take the lion's share?"

Bai Jianbo took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and turned to leave. Fan Guotao followed behind, his face also grim. The two were thinking of going to find Guo Yifu, but Guo Yifu was not in his office; he had gone out.

Fuming, Bai Jianbo returned to his office at Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and immediately picked up the phone to call his father-in-law again. "Dad, that Gao Yueming is a real scoundrel! He's only willing to give us 2% of SAIC's shares!"

"Jianbo, take your time. Does Chen Zaidong agree to renegotiate?"

"He disagreed, saying he would only accept the 20% agreed upon with the city government!"

"Fine, then I'll call Chen Zaidong myself and see if he'll still recognize me!"