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

After hanging up Huang Bin's call, Guo Yifu paced back and forth in his office for a long time, sorting out the whole story before picking up the phone again and dialing Gao Yueming's internal number. "Comrade Yueming, Minister Huang is arriving in Shanghai tomorrow. Please arrange for him to be picked up at the airport."

Gao Yueming was visibly taken aback, his voice rising several decibels, "Minister Huang is coming in person?"

"Hmm," Guo Yifu said in a nonchalant tone, "I'm here specifically to see Chen Zaidong. Prepare the materials on your end, and we'll go to the Peace Hotel together this afternoon."

"Okay, Secretary Yifu," Gao Yueming thought to himself. Huang Bin's arrival in such a hurry meant that the higher-ups couldn't wait any longer, and it also meant that things had been dragging on in Shanghai for too long.

The land bureau's approval document hadn't been issued yet, and he had called Yang Guoliang no less than ten times to inquire. The reply from the other end was always the same three words: "It's going through the procedures." These were the same excuses that local officials usually used to fool the people, and today someone else was using them on him. He couldn't have been more frustrated.

Xiaochi's current project is causing anxiety not only for Guo Yifu, the municipal party secretary, but also for Gao Yueming, the mayor. Two days have already passed, and the State Council Land Bureau still refuses to approve it. Gao Yueming is genuinely afraid that Chen Dong will simply run away after three days.

At 2 p.m., Guo Yifu, Gao Yueming and others arrived at Chen Dong's room on the eighth floor of the Peace Hotel. Chen Dong opened the door and let Guo Yifu and his group into the room. The Ningcheng planning document given by Ji Lianjun was still spread out on the coffee table. He did not deliberately put it away, but just left it there casually. Chen Dong seemed to care about it at all, not afraid that Guo Yifu and his group would think too much after seeing it.

When Guo Yifu's gaze swept over the document, his expression faltered slightly. He then looked away, but suddenly became alert. Why was there a Ningcheng project plan in Chen Dong's room all of a sudden?

Who sent it?

When was it delivered?

Guo Yifu had no idea what the document contained. He wanted to ask Chen Dong, but felt it was making a mountain out of a molehill. Of course, he knew that Chen Dong wouldn't put all his eggs in one basket. If he were in Chen Dong's position, he wouldn't just cling to the Shanghai connection either.

"Secretary Guo, when will the approval document from the State Council's Land Bureau be issued?"

Faced with Chen Dong's undisguised and direct question, Guo Yifu gave an awkward laugh and said, "Mr. Chen, the city has been following up on the land approval process, and I believe it will be approved soon."

As Guo Yifu spoke, he took a document out of his briefcase and pushed it over. "This is the city's latest commitment letter. The city will assign a dedicated person to handle all approval procedures to ensure that the project's progress is not delayed."

Chen Dong didn't take the documents from Guo Yifu's hand. Instead, he reached over and picked up a pack of Huazi cigarettes from the coffee table. He lit one after scattering it around. In Chen Dong's eyes, a letter of commitment was just a piece of scrap paper that was too hard to even wipe his butt with.

Seeing that Chen Dong did not take the documents, Guo Yifu's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. He placed the documents on the coffee table and said, "Mr. Chen, Minister Huang will arrive in Shanghai tomorrow. He will personally oversee this matter. I believe that with Minister Huang's involvement, the land approval will be completed soon. Mr. Chen, please wait a few more days."

"Secretary Guo," Chen Dong said calmly, a cigarette between his fingers, "Minister Huang is coming. I will definitely see him. I also want to hear the central leadership's opinion on this project."

"But, Secretary Guo," Chen Dong said to Guo Yifu with a sudden serious expression, "we had an agreement beforehand that if the approval came through within three days, everything would be fine; if not, then..."

"It's no use who comes; I'm leaving anyway!"

Guo Yifu frowned, pursed his lips, and felt that Chen Zaidong in front of him was being too pretentious. He, as the secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, had said a lot of nice things, but Chen Zaidong was still unmoved.

Gao Yueming had no choice but to step in and smooth things over, saying, "Mr. Chen, please don't worry. Things can always be resolved. You have to trust the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and Government!"

Do I look like I'm in a hurry?

Chen Dong turned his head to look at Chen Zaixing sitting next to him. Chen Zaixing smiled and shook his head, saying, "No, Secretary Guo and Mayor Gao, we've never been in a hurry. These days, what investor is in a hurry? Don't you agree, Secretary Guo and Mayor Gao?"

"Yes, yes, everyone, don't worry. The land approval will definitely be completed in three days," Gao Yueming continued to say with a smile to Chen Dong and Chen Zaixing, trying to fool them in this way.

After Guo Yifu and Gao Yueming left, Chen Dong picked up his mobile phone and called his captain, Charlie, asking him to apply for a flight route immediately so that they could fly directly to Ningcheng in two days.

After Chen Dong finished his call, Chen Zaixing asked him, "Dong, are you really planning to give up on investing in Shanghai and go directly to Ningcheng?"

"Yeah, the efficiency of things in Shanghai is too slow. You've seen it yourself. For such a big project, even the municipal party secretary Guo Yifu doesn't dare to make a direct decision. As soon as there's pressure from above, he comes over to try and appease us," Chen Dong said, his face full of disappointment. He had a very low opinion of the leadership team in Shanghai.

This is only the initial contact, and we've only discussed the basics. It's already this difficult. If the project is actually signed later, Chen Dong can imagine that his Xiaochi will be dragged down by these people in Shanghai.

With just a word from someone above, the decisions of the city of Shanghai can be directly influenced. Secretary Guo Yifu is too self-protective, just like a non-stick pan, lacking any sense of responsibility, let alone decisiveness.

If Ji Lianjun, who came today, were as slippery and ruthless as Guo Yifu, Chen Dong would have rejected him without hesitation. After all, Shanghai's geographical location is much better than Ningcheng's.

But a good geographical location doesn't mean that development can be achieved effortlessly. Chen Dong doesn't believe that with his $500 million investment, he can't revitalize the economy of Ningcheng. Is Shanghai really irreplaceable?

Chen Dong thought it was unlikely. With Chen Dong and companies like Huasheng Fund and Huaxingsheng continuously injecting funds into cities like Tuocheng and Ningcheng that he favored, Chen Dong didn't believe that the top leadership of China would ignore the rapid economic development of these cities and fail to provide them with generous policy support.

A city's development depends 30% on its geography, 30% on its ability to attract investment, and the most important 40% on the support of central government policies. If you don't believe me, just look at the provincial capitals; which one has developed worse than other non-provincial capital cities?

Is Shanghai truly blessed with exceptional conditions? Not necessarily. Without the support of central government policies, it wouldn't be able to attract talent from surrounding cities. If the central government wants to develop a city and provides it with favorable policies, even a pig can fly.

Chen Dong has already abandoned Shanghai. Perhaps he will continue to invest in Shanghai in the future, but at least for now, this engine plant is crucial to Xiaochi's important layout in China and overseas, and we cannot allow the people in Shanghai to slow down our progress.

No one can change Chen Dong's decision!