Chapter 54

"Director Cai, I don't think the conditions are ripe enough to pull me into an investment yet!" Li Xuan said with a smile.

"Oh? We welcome our Hong Kong compatriots to offer us all kinds of valuable opinions and suggestions!" Cai Yongmin had only mentioned it casually, without really expecting Li Xuan to invest.

But when he heard that the other party did not outright refuse and instead showed some room for negotiation, Cai Yongmin's eyes lit up. He had been in contact with Lin's Real Estate recently, hoping to persuade them to participate in the urban development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. However, things were not going well, and he had already been turned away several times.

Cai Yongmin did not give up. He heard that there was a cocktail party at the Lin family mansion tonight. After many twists and turns, he managed to get an invitation from a friend at the Investment Promotion Bureau, hoping to take a chance and see if he could directly lobby a high-level executive of the Lin Group.

"Building a factory requires land. I guess the special zone hasn't even started large-scale infrastructure development yet. You can't expect me to build a factory in a barren field or farmland without water or electricity! Even if the factory is built, hiring workers will be a huge hassle. In Hong Kong, I just need to place an ad in the newspaper or find a labor intermediary, and I can quickly fill the positions.

But the situation on the mainland is much more complicated. The former Bao'an County, which is now the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, is purely an agricultural county with little industrial foundation, so it cannot provide a large number of skilled workers. If the factory needs to hire workers, it will have to choose from the rural population.

But this will involve the household registration issue. On the mainland, there are agricultural and non-agricultural household registrations. If I hire farmers as workers, how will their food and oil coupons be handled? Without these coupons, life on the mainland is impossible.

Even if the government can help us solve these problems, what if one day my factory's performance is poor and I need to lay off workers, or if some workers' efficiency does not meet our requirements and need to be dismissed? Will this issue escalate to a political level?

In Hong Kong, as long as I notify the workers in advance according to the terms of the contract and pay them half a month's salary, I can ask anyone to pack up and leave at any time. But on the mainland, everyone is eating from the same pot. If we kick someone out, will we be seen as heartless capitalists who are oppressing the people?"

Li Xuan spoke a long string of points, and Cai Yongmin was momentarily at a loss for words. He realized that he had encountered a capable person today. This young Mr. Li Xuan seemed to have a thorough understanding of the mainland situation.

The other party's insights were very sharp, hitting the nail on the head with each question. The issues Li Xuan raised were precisely the most pressing problems the special zone was facing. The infrastructure development funds for Shekou Industrial Zone were borrowed from Hong Kong banks by the Investment Promotion Bureau, but the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone did not have such conditions.

The household registration issue for migrant workers was not easy to solve, and even if there were ways to circumvent it, a specific solution would require a meeting of city leaders.

Regarding the issue of whether workers could be dismissed, Cai Yongmin himself felt a chill when he heard it. The working class is the master of the country. If factory owners were really allowed to dismiss the masters of the country at will, would the capitalists really be able to make a comeback and oppress the people?

Cai Yongmin did not dare to answer this question casually. He could only give Li Xuan an awkward smile, trying to say something but not knowing how to explain.

Cai Yongmin was a former military officer who had been responsible for training in the army and had not done much work that required brainpower or smooth talk. However, after he was transferred to the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Housing Bureau, his primary task was to solve the housing problem for the large number of cadres and staff who had come south to support the special zone government.

Building houses required a large amount of money, but the higher-ups only issued tasks without providing the necessary funds. This left the Housing Bureau in a difficult position, forcing Cai Yongmin to seek help from all directions, which led to his desire to attract Lin's Real Estate to invest in the special zone.

The establishment of the special economic zone was a step-by-step process, with the central leadership feeling their way forward to accumulate valuable experience for comprehensive reform and opening up. Attracting investment was not Cai Yongmin's primary responsibility, and he had no answer to the issues raised by Li Xuan.

Although Li Xuan's few words had stumped Cai Yongmin, he had a very good impression of him. He had traveled to Hong Kong many times and was most struck by the condescending attitude of Hong Kong people, who always looked down on the mainland with disdain, which made him feel very frustrated.

Even when he was being ridiculed and cold-shouldered, he had to force a smile because the mainland was behind Hong Kong, and this frustration he could only hide in his heart. However, from Li Xuan's words and eyes, Cai Yongmin did not sense any condescension or discrimination, as if they were just two friends discussing matters.

"Director Cai, I'm sorry, let's talk later!" Li Xuan suddenly smiled apologetically at the other party, not waiting for a response, and rudely left.

"Your mother, who was a dancer, must have taught you a lot of tricks to hook girls. You've only been gone a few days, and you've already caught such a beautiful girl!"

Li Xuan was still a few steps away from Lin Yuhao and Zhong Chuhong when a harsh voice reached his ears. The obvious sarcasm made Lin Yuhao and Zhong Chuhong's faces turn red. Lin Yuhao clenched his fists tightly, repeatedly telling himself to stay calm to suppress his anger.

"Mr. Lin Guotai, a wealthy man of Hong Kong, can't afford toothbrushes and toothpaste at home? Some people never brush their teeth, and I can smell the bad breath from afar! Ah Hau, isn't your father too stingy?" Li Xuan countered mercilessly.

"Ha ha!"

Zhong Chuhong was amused by her boyfriend's vicious words, and her anger vanished instantly. Feeling her boyfriend's arm around her waist, she leaned into Li Xuan's chest like a gentle bird.

The man in front of Lin Yuhao and Zhong Chuhong, wearing wire-rimmed glasses, had a mocking and arrogant expression a moment ago, but now his face turned dark, and his eyes coldly stared at Li Xuan.

Li Xuan met his gaze without fear. The Lin family was a big name, and if the self-made Lin Guotai were standing in front of him, Li Xuan would have to think carefully. But for this spoiled brat, he did not take him seriously at all.

"What's the matter, Ah Xin? I heard that you were recently cheated by a model. Even if your feelings are hurt, you shouldn't be jealous of the beautiful companion by your brother's side. You're being too petty! Old Lin is such a generous and magnanimous person, and everyone in Hong Kong and Kowloon knows that he can hold a grudge like a prime minister. Aren't you disgracing him?" Li Xuan took another half-step forward, refusing to back down.

At this point, the attention of the people nearby was drawn to them. Li Xuan did not lower his voice but deliberately raised it. His words immediately added a hint of playful curiosity to the way others looked at Lin Yuhao and Lin Xin.