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

The welcoming banquet was held at Ningcheng Hotel, the oldest state-owned hotel in Ningcheng. During the Republic of China era, Ningcheng Hotel was a place where high-ranking officials and dignitaries entertained their guests. The facade was not grand and was even a bit old, but it was low-key and had a lot of cultural significance.

When Chen Dong and Chen Zaixing arrived at the entrance of Ningcheng Hotel, Ma Liang and Ji Lianjun, the two mayors of Ningcheng, were waiting at the gate. As soon as Chen Dong got out of the car, they greeted him warmly.

"Mayor Ma, Mayor Ji, you're being too hospitable. There was no need for you to wait for me at the entrance," Chen Dong said, feeling a little embarrassed that the two mayors were making him wait there for him to go inside for the banquet.

"Of course, of course. You two are distinguished guests of Ningcheng. No amount of courtesy is too much. Secretary Liao and Secretary Cai are already waiting in the private room on the third floor. Let's go up quickly."

"Let's hurry up and go up, so we don't keep Secretary Liao and the others waiting."

Chen Dong and his group arrived at the private room on the third floor. The moment they pushed open the door, a wave of heat carrying the aroma of food rushed out. There were three round tables inside, each with eight seats, which was considered quite simple in the ostentatious banquets of officialdom.

As soon as Liao Yueming saw Chen Dong and Chen Zaixing enter, he stood up, laughed heartily, and extended his hand to them, saying, "You two distinguished guests have arrived. Please come in."

Liao Yueming insisted on giving Chen Dong the seat of honor, and Chen Dong hurriedly declined. Once seated, Liao Yueming sat to his right, Chen Zaixing to his left, and Cai Shengju, Ma Liang, and Ji Lianjun in that order, along with the provincial party committee secretary-general and the Ningcheng municipal party committee secretary-general, and other cadres at the same table.

The officials at the other two tables were the main leaders in charge of Ningcheng, including the Municipal Planning Commission, Finance Bureau, Industry and Commerce Bureau, and Land and Resources Bureau. They sat down in turn, all looking at the main table.

"Mr. Chen, Ningcheng is a small place. Although we don't have any delicacies, we do have a few dishes that are quite presentable," Liao Yueming said, pointing to the cold dishes on the table. There were four meat dishes and four vegetable dishes, and the presentation was exquisite but not ostentatious. "This is Ningcheng roasted vegetable. It is made by simmering local bok choy with soy sauce and sugar over low heat. It has a good balance of sweet and salty. Please try it."

Chen Dong picked up a piece with his chopsticks. It was soft and tender, with a rich soy sauce flavor. It was indeed delicious. Chen Dong couldn't help but nod, put down his chopsticks, and gave a thumbs up, praising it as "delicious." Liao Yueming's smile lines turned into chrysanthemum patterns.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the atmosphere at the main table was lively. The Ningcheng cadres from the other two tables began to raise their glasses and toast Liao Yueming, Chen Dong, and Chen Zaixing respectively. Gu Yonghua, the director of the Ningcheng Machinery Bureau, stood next to Ji Lianjun with a flushed face, raising his glass to Chen Dong.

"Mr. Chen, I am Gu Yonghua from the Municipal Machinery Bureau. If Xiaochi Company can establish itself in Ningcheng this time, you can choose any skilled workers you want, no questions asked," Gu Yonghua said, lowering his glass slightly to Chen Dong. "This glass is for you, Mr. Chen. I'll drink it all, please feel free to drink as you please!"

Seeing Gu Yonghua tilt his head back and drink, Chen Dong also finished his glass of baijiu. Only then did he stop Gu Yonghua from leaving, saying, "Director Gu, don't be in such a hurry. After what you just said, I, Chen Zaidong, must at least offer you a toast."

With that, Chen Dong picked up a bottle of Moutai, filled it to the brim, and presented it to Gu Yonghua, saying, "Director Gu, I'll drink this first as a sign of respect!"

"good!"

The other officials waiting to offer toasts all cheered. Chen Dong grabbed Ji Lianjun's hand and asked, "Mayor Ji, are there any machinery factories in Ningcheng that can produce cars?"

Ji Lianjun was taken aback by Chen Dong's sudden question. Gu Yonghua, the director of the Machinery Bureau, immediately replied, "Mr. Chen, Ningcheng has a tractor factory, an automobile factory, a forging factory, a mold factory, and even a miniature bearing factory. We are second to none in the field of machinery manufacturing."

"Hmm, tell me more about this tractor factory and car factory. I'd like to know more about them," Chen Dong said, his interest piqued, and pulled Gu Yonghua to sit down next to him.

Seeing that Gu Yonghua had taken Ji Lianjun's seat, Lai Zhanggao quickly moved another chair over for Ji Lianjun. As Ji Lianjun sat down, he heard Gu Yonghua say to Chen Dong, "Mr. Chen, our Ningcheng Tractor Factory has over 1500 employees, more than 600 machine tools of various types, and an annual production of over 3,000 tractors!"

"As for the car factory, the 'Zhejiang 130' trucks and 'Zhejiang 132' double-cab passenger and cargo vans produced by our Ningcheng Car Factory are important transportation tools for various cities in Zhejiang Province. Although the technology is somewhat outdated, they are sturdy and durable!"

"Hmm, not bad, Ningcheng has a very solid industrial foundation," Chen Dong said with a smile to Ji Lianjun after listening to Gu Yonghua's explanation. "Well then, Mayor Ji, my idea is that since Ningcheng has such a good foundation, let's not waste it."

"Our Xiaochi engine factory is located in Ningcheng. I think we can also cooperate with local tractor and automobile factories in Ningcheng on technology."

After Chen Dong finished speaking, Liao Yueming leaned over and asked, "Mr. Chen, what are your plans for cooperation? Could you elaborate?"

"Our Xiaochi Company happens to have a small-displacement car engine that's powerful and fuel-efficient. I plan to use this engine to form a joint venture with Ningcheng to start a car company specializing in export trade, selling our products overseas," Chen Dong said, blushing. "I've even thought of a name: 'Daji Auto'!"

"Daji Auto, hmm, that's a good name," Cai Shengju clapped his hands and said, "Mr. Chen, do you think exporting is feasible?"

"It's very feasible. Although Ningcheng's automotive technology is somewhat outdated and America doesn't think much of us, we can still capture a portion of the market in Southeast Asia and non-American regions thanks to our robustness, durability, and low prices. I think it has great potential."

"We won't make cars, we'll make pickup trucks, which happens to be the strength of tractor and car factories. If we use more solid materials, we can take over the market from small cars."

Liao Yueming and Cai Shengju exchanged a glance and nodded, saying, "Mr. Chen, we will carefully discuss your suggestion in a meeting. Tomorrow, I will have someone take you to Beilun District first, and then take you to the tractor factory and the automobile factory to see what the specific situation is."

Liao Yueming actually supports Chen Dong's proposal to only produce pickup trucks specifically for export to earn valuable foreign exchange, but it needs to be discussed in a meeting before it can be implemented.

The most important thing right now, as Liao Yueming knows, is to reach a preliminary agreement with Chen Dong's Xiaochi Company on the implementation of the project; everything else is secondary.

Only once the Xiaochi project is finalized can subsequent issues such as the joint venture with Daji Auto be planned. As long as the project remains unfinished, all other discussions are just castles in the air.