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

Inside the small conference room of the Ningcheng Municipal Government, all the members of the Ningcheng Municipal Standing Committee had arrived, but the Municipal Party Secretary Cai Shengju had not yet arrived. They were all talking quietly, glancing occasionally at Ji Lianjun, who was looking down at his documents.

The current Ji Lianjun is different from before. He managed to snatch Chen Dong, a god of wealth, from the jaws of a tiger and bring him over from Shanghai, which has shocked many people.

Those with inside information know that Provincial Party Secretary Liao Yueming has already announced that Ji Lianjun will be included in the list of key nominees, something many people dream of but can't achieve. The Standing Committee members present at today's extraordinary meeting all know what they're here for.

The door to the small conference room was pushed open from the outside, and Cai Shengju, the municipal party secretary, walked in first with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face. Mayor Ma Liang followed behind him with a document in his hand, also smiling.

As soon as Cai Shengju and Ma Liang, the top two leaders of Ningcheng, took their seats, Liang Jun, the secretary-general of the municipal party committee, personally distributed documents to the standing committee members. The documents still smelled of ink; they were draft contracts that Lai Zhanggao had worked on all night to finish.

Seeing that everyone had received the documents, Cai Shengju coughed lightly and said, "Comrades, there is only one thing to discuss at this temporary Standing Committee meeting today: the cooperation agreement for the Xiaochi Automobile City project to be located in our Ningcheng Beilun Economic Development Zone."

"Everyone, please take a look at the contract first. If there's anything that needs to be added, please feel free to speak up."

As soon as Cai Shengju finished speaking, the Standing Committee members opened the draft contract in front of them and began to read it. When they saw that Xiaochi Company was willing to give up 30% of the municipal government's 3.9 square kilometers of land as shares, many of them showed their delight.

Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Zhao Qian turned to the last page, closed the contract, took off his glasses to wipe them, put them back on, and looked at Ji Lianjun, asking, "Comrade Lianjun, this 30% equity stake is worth 1.5 million US dollars. Have you verified this figure with Xiaochi Company?"

Ji Lianjun nodded, his voice steady and resolute, "It has been verified. Mr. Chen Zaidong's personal promise, and all of this written in black and white in the contract, are the results of repeated discussions between Mr. Chen Zaidong and me yesterday. There are no problems with the contract."

The Standing Committee members exchanged glances, some nodded, and some scribbled something down in their notebooks. Cai Shengju tapped the table and asked loudly, "What opinions do you all have? Please speak up."

Deputy Party Secretary Zhao Qian spoke again, "I have no objection to the promotion to Party Secretary. The conditions offered by Xiaochi are even more generous than the best outcome Ningcheng had anticipated. I approve!"

Other members of the Standing Committee also expressed their opinions, some in favor and some in seconding, with no one opposing. Such a unanimous vote is rare in the history of the Ningcheng Standing Committee.

Those top talents present all knew that once they received a benefit, they had to act compliantly. They absolutely could not think that since they could get 30% of the shares, they could try to get more, otherwise they would be met with the wrath of Provincial Party Secretary Liao Yueming.

They all knew how Ji Lianjun managed to poach Chen Dong from Shanghai. It was all because of internal discord within Shanghai's leadership team, with everyone pulling each other down and causing trouble. The dignified Party Secretary of Shanghai couldn't even control the second-in-command, the mayor. It was a laughing stock.

Cai Shengju, the Party Secretary of Ningcheng City, was the first to laugh at Guo Yifu. As for the others, whether they laughed or not, they certainly did. From the moment Xiaochi Company withdrew its investment from Shanghai and its employees flew to Ningcheng, some cadres within Jiang Province had already begun to laugh at Shanghai.

Once Xiaochi's car city project is officially launched in Ningcheng, it's estimated that officials from Zhejiang Province will join officials from Jiangsu Province in laughing at Shanghai.

"Since there are no objections, then this contract is officially finalized," Cai Shengju set the tone directly, looking at Ji Lianjun, "Comrade Lianjun, you need to finalize the specific communications with Xiaochi as soon as possible. The sooner the signing, the better!"

"I will follow up quickly, Secretary Shengju," Ji Lianjun nodded with a smile to indicate that he understood. Among all the Standing Committee members present, apart from Cai Shengju, Ji Lianjun was the most anxious.

Once the project is signed, 70% of the credit will go to Ji Lianjun. Of the remaining 30%, 10% will go to the provincial party committee and 20% to the municipal party committee. How could Ji Lianjun not be anxious?

"Alright, the contract is finalized. Next, let's talk about personnel appointments for the Beilun Economic Development Zone. I propose that the Municipal Party Committee take direct responsibility for the Beilun Economic Development Zone and appoint a director to liaise with Xiaochi Company and be responsible for implementing all responsibilities of the development zone," Cai Shengju said, glancing at Mayor Ma Liang and then at Ji Lianjun. "Does anyone have any good candidates to recommend to the Municipal Party Committee?"

Just as everyone was considering which good cadres under their command they could recommend, Ji Lianjun, the deputy mayor and full-time deputy secretary, raised his hand and said, "For the promotion of secretary, I recommend Comrade Lai Zhanggao to serve as the director of this development zone."

"Comrade Lai Zhanggao is conscientious and dedicated to his work. He also has a clear vision and often offers forward-thinking suggestions. When facing difficulties, he has the fearlessness of a newborn calf, daring to take risks and fight hard. Moreover, he is highly educated. I believe Comrade Lai Zhanggao is the best candidate!"

Ji Lianjun's words were resounding and made everyone present pause for a moment. Some of the people who knew Ji Lianjun were seeing him speak like this for the first time. Although Lai Zhanggao was his secretary, Ji Lianjun was a man who clearly distinguished between public and private matters when it came to work.

Although everyone knew his character and that he wouldn't abuse his power for personal gain, if this weren't a discussion about personnel appointments in the Beilun Economic Development Zone, and if Ji Lianjun recommended Lai Zhanggao for the position, the others would have reluctantly accepted it out of consideration for Ji Lianjun's recent achievements.

But this is the director of the development zone, a position at the level of a full-fledged division chief. Lai Zhanggao, a mere section-level "liaison officer," is being promoted directly to the level of a full-fledged division chief. Not only will the members of the Standing Committee have objections, but it will also damage the reputation of the municipal party secretary Cai Shengju and Ji Lianjun if word gets out.

"I object!"

Organization Minister He Mengsheng raised his hand and said, "Comrade Lai Zhanggao is not even twenty-five years old this year, yet he has been directly promoted from the level of section chief to the position of director of the development zone, which is equivalent to a division chief. Secretary Lian Jun, you are not recommending him, you are flattering him to death!"

"With so many outstanding cadres in the city, which of the deputy directors and vice-directors who have more seniority and longer tenure can truly accept him?"

"Comrade Mengsheng's words are somewhat biased," Ji Lianjun said, capping his pen and looking at Mengsheng. "Our Party has always selected cadres based on merit, with the capable rising and the incompetent falling, without regard to seniority. Length of service is not necessarily a reason for being recommended for promotion!"

"Secretary Shengju, Mayor Ma Liang, and fellow members of the Standing Committee, have you ever considered that the Beilun Development Zone will not be facing the state-owned factory directors within our system in the future, but rather companies like Xiaochi and foreign businessmen like Chen Zaidong who have seen the world?"

"Do those cadres who climbed the ranks through seniority even understand what negotiation, contracts, or international practices are?"