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

Chen Dong and Chen Zaiguang followed Vice President Guo Kun to his office, which was decorated in a very simple style.

There was only an old wooden desk with an iron filing rack next to it. At the entrance was a set of cedar wood benches and coffee tables, which were obviously worn smooth from being used so many times.

Guo Kun politely said to Chen Dong and Chen Zaiguang, "Please have a seat, I'll go get the tea."

Chen Dong sat in the center of the bench, Chen Zaiguang sat to his right, and Feng Yuanshen sat on a separate chair next to the kettle. He didn't speak, but instead started fiddling with the tea set, waiting for Chen Dong to ask him questions out of curiosity.

But Chen Dong didn't blurt it out first. Instead, he took out two packs of cigarettes from his suit pocket, casually placed one on the coffee table, tore open the wrapper of the other, tapped it, and held it out to Feng Yuanshen. "Director Feng, do you smoke?"

Feng Yuanshen originally wanted to refuse, but after seeing the Huazi cigarettes that Chen Dong handed over, he still reached out and took one. Chen Dong then handed one to Chen Zaiguang next to him and took one for himself.

"bite"!

Just as Feng Yuanshen struck a match, Chen Dong's Zippo lighter popped open with a ding, and a flame shot out. He lit Chen Zaiguang's cigarette first, then lit his own, exhaled a smoke ring, and looked at Feng Yuanshen.

Feng Yuanshen then brought the nearly burnt-out match to his cigarette, took a couple of puffs to cover his slight embarrassment. Chen Zaiguang was just a lowly dispatcher in the water transport industry and had never had a face-to-face conversation with such a high-ranking cadre before. His palms were sweating. He glanced at Chen Dong and saw him sitting there calmly smoking. His tense mood gradually relaxed.

"What kind of business does Mr. Chen run in America?"

Seeing that the three were just sitting and smoking without talking, Vice Dean Guo Kun took some tea leaves and walked over, smiling as he asked Chen Dong a question, which was also a way of getting Feng Yuanshen started.

"Supermarkets, hotels, and I've invested in quite a few companies. Basically, I do whatever makes money," Chen Dong said, tapping his cigarette ash into the dark glass ashtray.

"I heard that you, Mr. Chen, are interested in investing in and opening a processing plant in Nanshan County," Guo Kun said, brewing the tea and pouring it into small teacups, placing the first cup in front of Chen Dong.

Chen Dong politely placed his hands on the coffee table in front of him. "I do have this plan, but the infrastructure in Lianzhai is not quite satisfactory. I am still investigating whether or not to invest in Nanshan County."

"Mr. Chen, our Nanshan County is a place of outstanding people and abundant resources. You've probably been to Lianzhai, right? Their red sweet potatoes are a famous local specialty of Nanshan County!"

Guo Kun kept praising Lianzhai, and Chen Dong smiled and nodded, but did not respond to Guo Kun's words. Feng Yuanshen then spoke up, "Comrade Chen, I am here on behalf of the Nanshan County Party Committee to discuss matters with you."

Chen Dong simply nodded, and Feng Yuanshen continued, "You've been to Jiping Commune, and the infrastructure in Lianzhai is indeed quite poor. As the director of the Nanshan County Administration for Industry and Commerce, if you really intend to invest in and set up a factory in Nanshan County, I suggest that you open the factory near the county seat."

Chen Dong shook his head and said, "Director Feng, I know your suggestion is the most appropriate, but there's something you don't know."

"The only reason I want to invest in Nanshan County is because my aunt and uncle live here," Chen Dong said, taking a sip from his small teacup before placing it back on the tray. "Tuocheng is a large city, and China is preparing for economic reforms. Even outside of Tuocheng, there are plenty of places to invest in, like Shanghai and Shenzhen!"

"And me," Chen Dong pointed to himself, "invested in Lianzhai solely for the sake of my family's well-being; everything else is secondary!"

After listening, Feng Yuanshen fell silent. Chen Dong had already succinctly stated his demands. He bluntly told you that his investment there wasn't really an investment; he had US dollars in his hands, so he would be treated like an honored guest by the local officials.

He wanted to invest in Lianzhai, specifically for the sake of his aunt's family, so they could live a better life, and to help his relatives in Lianzhai.

You say that the facilities near Nanshan County are complete, but don't you think Shanghai has them too? Shenzhen is close to Hong Kong and has unique advantages, so why should we invest near Nanshan County?

To put it bluntly, they only chose Nanshan County because of their kinship. After taking a deep breath, Feng Yuan said, "Mr. Chen, I understand what you mean, but the county's finances are indeed a bit tight right now. Building this 15-kilometer stretch of road from Lianzhai to the county seat is really quite a challenge!"

"Moreover, even if the road is repaired, setting up the power infrastructure will require a significant portion of the government's budget, and the county committee simply doesn't have the resources to do so!"

Chen Dong smiled and picked up the Huazi cigarettes in front of him again, took out two, and handed them out. Feng Yuanshen quickly caught them, and Guo Kun also took them with a smile. After lighting the cigarettes, Chen Dong said to Feng Yuanshen, "I don't plan to build directly to Nanshan County, but to Tuocheng City."

Feng Yuanshen frowned. Building the road towards Tuocheng city would be a long and winding road, with mountains separating the two sides. Wouldn't that be going the long way around instead of going where it's closer?

Feng Yuanshen was genuinely puzzled by Chen Dong's plan. "Comrade Chen, isn't that even further away, and with Linshan Mountain in between, the construction will be even more difficult and costly!"

Chen Dong gestured for Feng Yuanshen to listen to him finish speaking. "Director Feng, after I invest in and set up the factory, all the products produced will be shipped to America by sea and sold in my chain supermarkets."

"Nanshan County is not located by the sea and has no port. Do you understand what I mean?"

hiss!

Feng Yuanshen suddenly realized what they were planning. He had been thinking of building a road to the county town and then using the national highway passing through the county town to transport goods directly to Tuogang.

Chen Dong, however, wanted to build a highway leading to Tuocheng City, bypassing Nanshan County, this "roadblock." Just as Feng Yuanshen frowned, thinking about how to persuade Chen Dong, Chen Dong spoke again, "Nanshan County won't need to use a single penny of its fiscal expenditure for the road construction!"

"I've also learned about some of the policies that China has introduced these past few days. I will be partnering with my cousin Chen Zaiguang to start a Guangdong Food Company."

"The company plans to make a series of investments in Lianzhai Village, Jiping Commune, including the construction of a four-lane dual carriageway road leading to Tuogang Port and a small thermal power plant!"

Feng Yuanshen was dumbfounded after hearing this. Chen Dong had specially prepared the filling, kneaded the dough, and made dumplings just for this bottle of vinegar!

This isn't investing in a factory; it's having money to burn!

A 30-kilometer-long, four-lane highway and a small thermal power plant—this is the Tuocheng Municipal Committee. To acquire such a large-scale project, it would take several years of frugal living.