The next morning, Wen Liang and Zuo Yuxi went to Lingyang together. Huo Jinghao prepared a large table of sumptuous meals to entertain them. Zuo Jing did not talk about work during the meal, but talked about interesting things in the officialdom, which allowed Wen Liang to fully see his other side. After the meal, Huo Jinghao took the reluctant Zuo Yuxi to the kitchen to wash the dishes, while Wen Liang and Zuo Jing went to the study on the second floor.
For Chinese people, the study has always been a very important place, combining both privacy and public elements; and for those in power, allowing you to enter his study is equivalent to allowing you to enter his core circle, which represents extraordinary significance.
"Sit down, what's your tea?"
Wen Liang waited for Zuo Jing to take a seat, then said with a smile, "That depends on what kind of tea Uncle Zuo has..."
Zuo Jing pointed to the bookcase against the wall and said, "Go look for it yourself. I don't really like drinking tea, so I really don't know what's in it."
Wen Liang was not shy and opened the cabinet door on the bottom floor. There were boxes and jars of tea. He picked a can of Huainan Maojian tea and rinsed it with water. The tea turned green and fragrant. It turned out to be the best Bailu tea. Bailu means the tea picked around the Bailu season. It is not as tender as spring tea, nor as dry as summer tea, but has a unique sweetness and is loved by old tea drinkers.
"I've heard that the best tasting Maojian tea is Bailu tea. This is the first time I've had the authentic taste. Thank you, Uncle Zuo."
Zuo Jing said nonchalantly, "Take it if you like it. It would be a waste to leave it here. It would be better to give it to a connoisseur so that its value can be reflected."
"Then I'll be welcome."
Wen Liang put the teapot on his side, making it clear that he would pack it up and take it away. Zuo Jing shook his head and laughed, "Are you afraid that I will regret it? If there are any you like, just take them."
"Next time, I feel a little embarrassed to take too much at once."
Zuo Jing laughed heartily. Both of them were masters at controlling emotions and atmosphere. The seemingly simple question about tea had invisibly resolved the embarrassment and knot in their hearts from the last incident.
Wen Liang walked over to the desk and sat down, saying, "Uncle Zuo, is there something important that you want me to do?"
"It's nothing serious. I just want to tell you that I have already warned Luo Yun. What happened last time is over. There won't be any more trouble. If you have time, come to Lingyang more often. Yuxi and Yuting are not around. I am busy with work. Your Aunt Huo is bored at home alone. She will be happier with you young people around."
"Aunt Huo cooks delicious food. I'd love to come visit more often, but I'm afraid it will disturb your rest... But since Uncle Zuo said so, you're not allowed to be angry if I come to eat more often in the future."
Zuo Jing laughed again and said, "Don't worry, your appetite is not enough to make me poor, so come and have peace of mind."
Afterwards, Zuo Jing asked about Chuangtu Technology and said, "... After the expert appraisal meeting, where are you going to start? Besides Lingyang, if there is a need in other cities, I can give them a call and ask."
"Don't bother Uncle Zuo. Next, Chuangtu plans to focus on developing the market in Xichuan. We will also open a few experimental offices there. If there are no major problems, we should be able to take root there!"
Zuo Jing didn't expect that Wen Liang actually gave up Jiangdong Province. No matter from which angle, his connections and resources in Jiangdong far exceeded those in Xichuan. He gave up the near for the far and the easy for the difficult, which was not what a businessman should do.
"Xichuan? Good, you have ambition!"
Wen Liang certainly did not do so to show off. He chose Xichuan instead of Jiangdong for various reasons. The most important one was that because he had too deep roots in Jiangdong, if there was any mistake in the strategy of the joint venture, he would be easily framed.
But there was no need to explain this in detail to Zuo Jing. Wen Liang changed the subject and said, "Uncle Zuo, I heard that the province is planning to build a crude oil terminal?"
Zuo Jing nodded and said, "It's still in the planning stage. There are still disagreements among various parties as to whether it should really be launched. How come you heard the news just a few days after returning from the capital?"
"It's hard not to hear about it. It's spreading everywhere. It's said that Guanshan and Lingyang are fighting fiercely, and several provincial leaders almost got into a fight..."
Zuo Jing sighed slightly and said, "A little disturbance will cause things to go wrong if it gets out. Some people are not focused on serving the people and put personal interests above public interest. In the end, it is the image of the government that is damaged."
"Do you think Lingyang Port has a good chance of getting this project?"
"Of the 2 billion yuan investment, 1.3 billion yuan will be raised and allocated by the Provincial Planning Commission and the Department of Finance, and will be gradually allocated in three phases over three years. The city where the city is located will bear the other 700 million yuan. Lingyang's advantage is that it does not lack this money, but its disadvantage is also that it does not lack this money."
Although Zuo Jing did not give a clear answer, Wen Liang expressed his understanding. Lingyang has developed rapidly in recent years and has become the largest economy in Jiangdong Province. However, in a country that emphasizes common prosperity, those in power often have to consider how to make the rich drive the poor and achieve an overall breakthrough in the province's economy. Therefore, Lingyang's advantages have become disadvantages at this time. It is conceivable that there will be people gossiping and saying strange things such as "If you eat the meat, you have to leave some soup for others" and "You can't take all the benefits." Since the majority of the investment this time was made by the Planning Commission and the Finance Department, they also have to consider fairness and cannot ignore the voices from all sides.
This is business, but also politics!
However, these are not decisive factors. In China, people make the final decision. Wu Wenyue is the head of a province after all, and his words carry more weight than Yin Qingquan. If Yu Peidong remains silent, and Chen Zongzhi, Gu Shitong, and Zhuang Shaoxuan participate, Lingyang's chances of getting the project are much lower than Guanshan's.
Zuo Jing certainly knew this, but he had to fight for it. If Yu Peidong really stepped down in the next term, whoever could get this big project would have more bargaining chips in his hands when the term changed, and there would be more hope for further progress!
“Instead of trying to eat from the same pot, it is better to start a new stove…”
Zuo Jing looked at Wen Liang in confusion, not knowing what he meant by his incoherent words, and said, "Hmm?"
"In the final analysis, this piece of cake still belongs to the province. Who eats and who doesn't, who eats more and who eats less, is a matter of life and death. There are too many aspects to consider as a head of a family, and they are too complicated. In my opinion, it is better to leave the province aside and let the municipal government introduce other funds to jointly build the crude oil terminal. It doesn't cost you a penny, and it is beneficial to economic development. No one can say anything, right?"
Zuo Jing looked calm, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking. This was the reserved attitude that a superior should have. He thought for a moment and said, "That's an idea, but private companies and individuals are not allowed to invest in port construction. Where can we find state-owned enterprises with the strength and willingness to participate in the short term? A few hundred million is not a small amount..."
"There is a Hengsha Mining Company in Huanghuai Province. I wonder if Uncle Zuo has heard of it?"
Zuo Jing paused, and his eyes finally lit up. He didn't know much about Wen Liang's true strength, and he just felt that this young man was very mysterious. After all, being able to get in touch with someone like Yan Qixiu was not something that ordinary people could do. But what really surprised him was the Hengsha Mining mentioned by Wen Liang at this time. If he hadn't had a friend working in Dongming City, he would have accidentally chatted with him in a casual conversation, and he would have learned that the Hengsha Mining that caused the unrest in Dongming City seemed to be behind the Ning and Lei families.
But from the gentle tone, it seems that he is familiar with the other party
"Hengsha Mining in Shahe County?"
"That's right. I have some connections with the person in charge of Hengsha. I can try to get them to invest in Lingyang..."
Hengsha Mining is affiliated with the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources, but it is a state-owned enterprise, and it is also an energy-related industry, involving import and export trade, so it is reasonable for it to invest in the construction of a wharf. At most, it can make some minor adjustments in the details. For the two crude oil terminals, one crude oil terminal can be built, and another ore terminal can be built. No one can find fault with it.
After leaving Zuo Jing's house, Chang Cheng had already driven the Lexus back from the traffic police team. Although it was an accident car, it was actually no different from a new car, with the same graphite pearl color, and all the necessary procedures had been completed, so it could be driven on the road immediately.
Wen Liang looked at his watch and asked, "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat in the city or on the way to Shahe?"
When Chang Cheng heard that they were going to Shahe, he almost jumped up with excitement and said, "I'm not hungry, I'm not hungry, let's eat on the way, let's eat on the way!"
"Is this car safe for long distances? Don't let us get stuck on the road..."
"It's okay, it's a good opportunity to train the car and calm its temper!" Chang Cheng has always believed that a car is like a woman, and must be tamed before it will be obedient. However, with Zhuo Min's toughness, if the two of them really get together, it's hard to say who will be the one to take care of whom.
They were silent all the way until they arrived at the development zone on the outskirts of Dongming City. They stayed at the Huanghuai Hotel where they had stayed the first time. The proprietress greeted Wen Liang in a familiar manner. Her enthusiasm was mixed with complaints as she said, "Brother, you haven't been here for a long time. Do you think my sister's place is not presentable?"
"What are you talking about, boss lady? If I weren't so busy traveling all over the country, you could just come once a day." Wen Liang joked. When he was away from home, these verbal compliments were easy for him.
The lady boss's beautiful face, which was a little dark, was still filled with shyness that was rare on this road. She said, "That's nice, but you look like a man who does big things. How can you really come here every day? Don't fool me with these lies!"
Wen Liang smiled but said nothing. What he said next was a bit awkward. He found a seat by the window and sat down. Chang Cheng looked at the proprietress pouring tea skillfully and said with a smile, "The proprietress has good eyesight. My boss is a distinguished guest that many five-star hotels cannot invite. Why don't you give him a 20% discount when he comes to eat here?"
The lady boss rolled her eyes at Chang Cheng and said, "You rich people handle tens of millions of dollars every day, yet you insist on deducting our hard-earned money... But I like your boss, so I'll give you a 50% discount on tonight's meal, and I'll pay for the compensation!"
Chang Cheng said, "I knew the boss lady was straightforward. Just wait and see. Next time we pass by here, even if the boss isn't hungry, I will definitely drag him in for a meal!"
"You said so. If I see you entering another house, I will block the traffic and not let you leave!"
After the lady boss left with her back twisted, Wen Liang said with a smile, "Old Chang, you've been really irritable these past few days. Why do you flirt with everyone you meet? Do you want me to report to Zhuo Min later?"
Chang Cheng said with a bitter face: "Isn't it because I am too nervous because I am close to home? I speak nonsense when I am nervous. Boss, please be merciful and forgive me this time!"
(Thanks to Huayuan Liuyan for becoming the leader, thank you very much)
(Thanks to Feiwu's protein 1888 for the reward)
(As for this book, you cannot search it on the site. It is best to register an account to add it to your bookshelf, or bookmark the URL. The previous link will become invalid. You can clear the cache and bookmark the URL after finding the book again) (To be continued)