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

Municipal Party Committee Secretary's Office

Zhou Haimin looked at Lin Deying, the Party Secretary of Nanshan County, sitting beside him, and said with a smile, "The country is short of foreign exchange, but our country must consider the overall picture when doing things. It's not that we should be impatient for quick results just because we lack foreign exchange!"

"I will communicate with the provincial party committee as soon as possible regarding Comrade Chen Dong's 100 million yuan in foreign exchange. Since you're already in the city, don't rush back. I'll have the Municipal Land and Resources Bureau and Comrade Hong Quan come over for a small meeting to discuss the specific land acquisition issues related to the Guangdong Company's construction of the highway leading to the city!"

Lin Deying nodded and stood up. "Okay, Secretary, I'll go to the guesthouse first and come back later."

"Hmm," Zhou Haimin grunted and watched Lin Deying leave his office. The clerk outside came in, and Zhou Haimin instructed, "Xiao Ran, call the Land and Resources Bureau and Zhaoyang County Committee later and tell them that I need to hold a meeting about the expansion of urban roads. Tell them to come over at 2:30 this afternoon."

"Yes, Secretary!"

After giving his instructions and waiting for the clerk to leave the office, Zhou Haimin picked up the red telephone on his desk and said to the operator, "This is Zhou Haimin from the Municipal Party Committee. Transfer me to the Provincial Party Committee!"

The phone rang for about five or six seconds before a deep voice came from the other end, "Who is that?"

Upon hearing the voice on the other end, Zhou Haimin immediately sat up straight and politely said into the phone, "Secretary Ding, this is Zhou Haimin!"

"Oh, it's Secretary Haimin. What's the matter?"

"That's right, Secretary Ding..."

Zhou Haimin spoke into the phone, explaining in detail to Secretary Ding of the Provincial Party Committee about Chen Dong's family's arrival and their planned investment in Lianzhai Village, Jiping Commune, Nanshan County, especially mentioning that Chen Dong would initially invest 100 million US dollars.

However, Zhou Haimin did not directly mention Lin Deying's suggestion. After speaking, Zhou Haimin fell silent and waited for Secretary Ding of the Provincial Party Committee to reply.

Secretary Ding remained silent for a long time on the other end of the phone, so long that Zhou Haimin thought the operator had been inconsiderate and had disconnected the line between him and Secretary Ding.

"Secretary Haimin, what is the Tuocheng Municipal Party Committee's view on this matter?"

Zhou Haimin waited for a long time before Secretary Ding finally spoke. Zhou Haimin immediately said, "Secretary Ding, the central government is now strongly advocating attracting high-quality foreign investment to invest in China. After careful consideration, the municipal party committee believes it is a good idea!"

"Well, since your Tuocheng Municipal Party Committee thinks it's feasible, I respect the opinion of your local comrades," Secretary Ding said on the phone, paused for a moment, and then asked, "Is there anything we need the Provincial Party Committee's support for, Secretary Haimin?"

Zhou Haimin had been waiting for Secretary Ding to say this, and immediately explained the difficulties of cross-border fund transfers: "Secretary Ding, our country is currently quite strict about the inflow of funds from abroad. If we follow the proper procedures, it would take at least six months for Comrade Chen Dong's $100 million to be transferred across borders!"

"There is a high probability that the waiting period of six months will change. Local comrades are very worried about this, fearing that Comrade Chen Dong will shift his investment intentions," Zhou Haimin said cautiously.

"Hmm," Secretary Ding hummed in agreement, then asked Zhou Haimin, "Secretary Haimin, do you have any good suggestions?"

"Secretary Ding, my suggestion is, could we have Comrade Chen Dong directly transfer the 100 million US dollars that is to be remitted to China to Switzerland's international account, and then have our central bank release the loan to expedite Comrade Chen Dong's investment?"

Secretary Ding remained silent for a moment, but quickly said, "Secretary Haimin, I will communicate your suggestion to the Foreign Investment Committee exactly as it was!"

"Okay, Secretary Ding, if there's nothing else, I'll hang up now," Zhou Haimin said, not daring to waste any more of Secretary Ding's precious time after finishing his important business.

"Okay, sure!"

Inside the provincial party committee compound in Huadu, after hanging up the phone with Zhou Haimin, Provincial Party Secretary Ding Zhuo leaned back in his chair and remained silent for a long time, digesting the news reported by Zhou Haimin.

An investment of 100 million US dollars is a huge investment, unlike the hundreds of thousands or millions that other overseas Chinese returnees make!

Ding Zhuo mentally rehearsed his lines before picking up the red phone. The operator immediately transferred him to the Foreign Investment Commission, and the call was quickly answered. "This is the Foreign Investment Commission office. Who is this?"

"This is Ding Zhuo. Please transfer me to Elder Gu's office. I have important work to report to him!"

The person on the other end of the phone immediately replied, "Okay, Secretary Ding, I'll transfer you right away, please wait!"

"Hello, who is this?" A familiar, elderly voice came from the other end of the phone. Ding Zhuo greeted the person on the other end with a smile, "Mr. Gu, it's me, Ding Zhuo!"

"Oh, it's Xiao Ding. What made you think of calling me?"

Ding Zhuo smiled and said, "Mr. Gu, it's like this. In our southern Guangdong region, a Chinese from America has returned to China to find his relatives in Nanshan County, Tuocheng City."

"Um!"

"After investigating the situation in Nanshan County, he decided to invest in boosting the economic development of his hometown and plans to make a series of investments there!"

The old man on the phone chuckled and said, "That's great news! The local comrades must treat them well. The central government is now vigorously promoting economic development, and we can't be careless when it comes to attracting foreign investment!"

"Mr. Gu, you're right. The comrades in the local areas deserve recognition for their work, especially those in Nanshan County," Ding Zhuo replied with a smile.

"What exactly are you planning to invest in?"

"Comrade Chen Dong plans to invest in his hometown of Lianzhai. He will make a joint venture with the Lianzhai village collective. Because the infrastructure in Lianzhai village is relatively backward, a series of basic constructions will be carried out first."

"The plan is to build a four-lane, two-way road leading to Tuocheng city, and also to construct a small thermal power plant around Jiping Commune!"

"This will put a huge burden on local finances!"

"Mr. Gu, all the construction projects I mentioned above will be funded by Guangdong Company, a joint venture between Comrade Chen Dong and Lianzhai, and will not involve local government funds!"

"You mean Comrade Chen Dong is fully funding local infrastructure development?" Old Gu asked in surprise on the other end of the phone.

"Yes, Elder Gu!"

Such foreign investment is rare. The initial investment in just the construction of the highway and power plant alone was no less than tens of millions of Chinese yuan, with the small thermal power plant accounting for the majority of the expenditure.

"So, how much does Comrade Chen Dong plan to invest? Based on what you've said, plus the production line equipment he plans to install after the factory is built, it will probably cost at least sixty or seventy million yuan!"

"Comrade Chen Dong informed the Tuocheng City government that they plan to directly invest 100 million US dollars as initial construction costs!"

"Xiao Ding, are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"Xiao Ding, the country desperately needs Comrade Chen Dong's 100 million yuan in foreign exchange!"