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

"Director Yang, you're not going to wait here for me forever, are you? That can't be!"

As if he had seen a savior, Yang Guoliang went up and grabbed Chen Dong's free hand. "Mr. Chen, you're finally back. Come, let me introduce you."

"This is Guo Yifu, our top official in Shanghai, and this is Gao Yueming, our mayor. These two leaders have been waiting for you for almost two hours!"

"Oh dear! I feel so guilty about this," Chen Dong said, feigning apology. Guo Yifu walked over with a smile on his face, but the cold wind had made his smile look a little stiff. "Mr. Chen, I apologize for the intrusion."

Chen Dong grasped the hands of Guo Yifu and Gao Yueming respectively. They were even colder than when he had come back from outside. It seemed that the wind had been blowing for quite some time. Considering that the two men were in their forties or fifties, Chen Dong worried that they might fall ill. He quickly suggested that they go upstairs to talk. "Secretary Guo and Mayor Gao, let's go upstairs to talk. I don't want them to catch a cold. That would be a huge mistake on my part."

The group went up to the eighth floor and entered the room. Chen Dong invited the three of them to sit down. Chen Zaixing poured several cups of tea and placed them in front of them. Guo Yifu picked up a teacup, but put it down without drinking it. He looked at Chen Dong and said, "Mr. Chen, the city already knows about the land issue. I'm here today to ask you to give Shanghai another chance."

"Secretary Guo, it's not that I'm not giving you a chance, it's just that your Shanghai has repeatedly made me unable to trust you," Chen Dong said, offering a round of cigarettes before sitting back down on the sofa and looking at Guo Yifu.

"The first time, we were negotiating with Shanghai Automobile Group, your municipal government intervened and gave us 20%. The second time, your city only gave us 2%. Secretary Bai came to see me, and I also received calls from higher-ups, all demanding that I concede!"

"Now, the land issue is stalled again, Secretary Guo, Mayor Gao. I am an investor, and too many uncertainties force me to carefully consider whether I should continue investing in your Shanghai!"

After hearing Chen Dong's words, Guo Yifu took a deep breath, suddenly stood up, and bowed deeply to Chen Dong. "Mr. Chen, on behalf of the Municipal Party Committee, I want to apologize to you!"

Guo Yifu's bow stunned everyone in the room. Gao Yueming's mouth dropped open, and Yang Guoliang almost dropped his teacup. It was not unheard of in Chinese history for a ministerial-level official to bow and apologize to a businessman, but it was extremely rare.

Chen Dong stood up and took Guo Yifu's arm. "Secretary Guo, please don't do this."

Guo Yifu straightened up, his eyes a little red. "Mr. Chen, Shanghai needs this project. The Ministry of Industry, the Planning Commission, and the city government all expect the Xiaochi project to drive the development of Pudong New Area in Shanghai. If the project fails now, I won't be able to explain to my superiors, let alone to the people of Shanghai."

Chen Dong looked at him, remained silent for a while, and then sighed, "Secretary Guo, it's not that I'm not giving you face, but if the land issue isn't resolved, there's no use for me staying in Shanghai."

Seeing Chen Dong change his tune, Guo Yifu quickly said, "The municipal party committee will definitely find a way to resolve the land issue. I've already sent someone to communicate with the National Land Bureau. If that still can't be resolved, I'll go to Beijing myself. Mr. Chen, could you please wait a few more days?"

After thinking for a moment, Chen Dong said, "Three days. I can wait a maximum of three more days. If the land issue can't be resolved within three days, I'll return to Tuocheng. As for this project, we'll have to deal with it later."

Guo Yifu gritted his teeth, "Fine, I'll give you an answer in three days!"

Stepping out of the Peace Hotel, a biting north wind, carrying the icy rain typical of southern China, hit them in the face. Guo Yifu stood on the steps, his hands trembling with cold as he waited for his car. Gao Yueming stood beside him and cautiously asked, "Secretary Yifu, who exactly is blocking things at the State Council's Land Bureau?"

Guo Yifu didn't say anything, but just tugged at the collar of his trench coat to stop the cold wind from blowing in. Of course he knew who was blocking him, but he couldn't say it. If he did, it would mean a complete falling out.

Tearing each other apart will benefit no one.

"Comrade Yueming," Guo Yifu glanced at Gao Yueming, "no matter who is blocking this project, we must solve the problem. Minister Zhou has said that the Xiaochi project is approved by the old man. Whoever is behind this will suffer the consequences in the end."

Gao Yueming's eyes lit up. The old man had agreed to this project! No way! This means I, Gao Yueming, have found a new path to success! Hahaha!

Guo Yifu looked at Gao Yueming's strange expression, as if he wanted to laugh but was forcibly holding it in. The car arrived, and after Guo Yifu got in, he rolled down the window and said to Gao Yueming, "Comrade Yueming, come directly to my office tomorrow."

"Okay, Secretary Yifu," Gao Yueming watched Guo Yifu's car drive away, his smile finally widening. He grinned and patted Yang Guoliang on the shoulder, "Old Yang, you really are my lucky charm!"

Yang Guoliang was completely bewildered. How did I become Mayor Gao's lucky charm again? Without giving Yang Guoliang a chance to ask, Gao Yueming got into the car and drove off. The two big leaders left in their special car. He looked around and had no choice but to ride his old bicycle home in the rain and snow.

As he rode, Yang Guoliang encouraged himself, "I, Yang Guoliang, need to achieve more political accomplishments and try to earn a title that allows me to ride in a special car."

Unlike Chen Dong and Chen Zaixing, who stayed at the Peace Hotel on Nanjing Road on the Bund, Ji Lianjun and his secretary Lai Zhanggao, who came with him, could only stay in an old state-run guesthouse and eat steamed buns and pickled vegetables.

Ji Lianjun, as the vice mayor of Ningcheng, Zhejiang Province, came to Shanghai to learn from Shanghai's advanced work experience. He was just going through the motions and would be back home after a few days on business. Unexpectedly, his secretary, Lai Zhanggao, overheard a big piece of gossip.

Chen Zaidong, the boss of Xiaochi Company in Tuocheng, Guangdong Province, is also in Shanghai. It seems he came here to invest and set up a factory, but it seems the project is not progressing well and he is planning to leave.

"Boss, I inquired this afternoon. Chen Zaidong of Xiaochi is staying at the Peace Hotel on Nanjing Road on the Bund," Lai Zhanggao adjusted his glasses. "Should we go and meet him?"

"Xiao Lai, have you found out what kind of factory Chen Zaidong plans to invest in and set up in Shanghai?"

"I heard that they're going to jointly open an engine plant with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), and it's going to be a large-scale operation. They'll need 1.7 kilometers of land initially," Lai Zhanggao told Ji Lianjun in detail about the information he had gathered. It was about the Shanghai municipal government interfering in the negotiations, and SAIC and the municipal government being constantly at odds.

Ji Lianjun was so envious he was practically drooling. 1.7 kilometers—that's a huge project worth hundreds of millions! No wonder the Shanghai municipal government wanted to get involved. If they could get Chen Zaidong to invest in their Ningcheng, the mayor and secretary would be bringing drinks to thank Ji Lianjun.

"Xiao Lai, let's stay up all night and make a report on the projects we've gathered in Shanghai. We'll meet with Chen Zaidong tomorrow!"

"Yes, sir!"