Chapter 80

Chapter 19, The Investor's Visit

Lin Ruoshui's face was flushed as she spat at Yang Zixuan, saying, "You're still the county magistrate's man, yet you act so improperly. Are you going to tell me or not?"

Yang Zixuan smiled but said nothing.

"Refusing to speak, huh?" Lin Ruoshui's eyes widened as she glared at Yang Zixuan and sat down on the sofa.

Suddenly, Yang Zixuan wrapped his arms around her slender waist from behind, leaning in close and whispering, "Do you really want to know?"

Although she had experienced being held by Yang Zixuan in the wilderness until dawn, being tightly embraced from behind again made her blush and her heart race. Her body trembled slightly, and she struggled to break free from Yang Zixuan's grip, but found his arms only tightened around her.

Yang Zixuan buried his head in Lin Ruoshui's luxurious hair, sitting quietly as he recounted how he had blackmailed Su Nan and pressured the forces behind Su Nan to act.

"You are truly cunning, making Su Nan swallow his teeth and suffer in silence!" Lin Ruoshui, sensing Yang Zixuan's calm demeanor, said softly.

"That's called wisdom, not cunning," Yang Zixuan laughed.

The two sat there, quietly embracing.

...

Lin Pei took a file from the drawer and handed it to Xu Yinjia, who was sitting opposite him, speaking in a calm tone, "Yinjia, I called you here today to ask for your opinion on the Honghe Economic Development Zone. This is the revised application submitted by Hongshui County. Take a look."

Xu Yinjia took the file, which he had already read at least ten times. After all, this was his biggest bargaining chip in his struggle against Tang Lu, so he had studied it in great detail.

Xu Yinjia glanced through the file and placed it on the desk, smiling, "Secretary, I've already read this file. Hongshui County previously submitted it to the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government."

Lin Pei nodded, "What's the opinion of the Municipal Government?"

"Personally, I think it's a good idea for Hongshui County to develop the Economic Development Zone," Xu Yinjia opened the file and pointed to some text, "Hongshui County has several important railway lines passing through it, and the province's first expressway, the Ziyu Expressway, also runs through the northeastern part of Hongshui County. The Hongshui River, a tributary of the Honghe River within Hongshui County, has strong navigational capabilities and a wide waterway, which can be developed into an excellent port. Geographically, it also controls the gateway to our Luofu Province entering Sichuan and Chongqing."

"So, in terms of transportation, Hongshui County has the conditions to build an economic development zone, and the potential is great."

Lin Pei nodded slightly, "Indeed, Hongshui County's transportation location is good. But Yinjia, don't overlook the economic foundation and scale of Hongshui County. It is also a microcosm of our Daming City's economic development. In the past few years, Hongshui County's development was quite good, almost matching Hong County in economic output. But in recent years, it has been on a downward trend and is now almost at the bottom of our Daming City's districts and counties. Can such a county bear the responsibility of the Economic Development Zone?"

Xu Yinjia thought for a moment and said, "Secretary, I don't think this is important. Whether the Economic Development Zone can be developed well does not depend on the strength of the economy. Even the best-developed Jingyang District in our Daming City, without the city's financial support, would not have the economic strength to undertake the construction of the Economic Development Zone. The initial investment alone would be enough to bankrupt the Jingyang District's finances."

Lin Pei was taken aback for a moment, then nodded and smiled, "That makes sense! Indeed, without the city's financial support, neither Jingyang District, Hong County, nor Hongshui County would be capable of developing the Economic Development Zone."

"Then, according to your own view, what is the key to developing the Economic Development Zone?" Lin Pei continued to ask.

"People!"

Xu Yinjia answered firmly.

"People?" Lin Pei frowned, a bit puzzled. He himself was not particularly skilled in economic work.

Lin Pei's previous work had mostly been in party affairs, and he had not done much administrative work. So, his likely promotion to vice-governor next year would also be an important supplement to his resume, lacking experience in government work, laying the foundation for future promotions.

Xu Yinjia nodded, "People! It actually refers to the quality of cadres and their reform spirit. The most important thing to develop the Economic Development Zone is the thinking of local cadres. Cadres with an open and clear economic development mindset can develop the Economic Development Zone well."

Xu Yinjia did not dare to be coy in front of Lin Pei, as it would be counterproductive if Lin Pei thought he was showing off. He continued, "The Hongshui County government has many cadres with open and clear thinking, and County Magistrate Yang Zixuan has a strong reform spirit and boldness. Even before our Municipal Party Committee proposed the idea of the Economic Development Zone, the Hongshui County government had already drafted the initial plan."

"So, I think Hongshui County is relatively suitable for developing the Economic Development Zone." Xu Yinjia expressed his stance at the end.

Lin Pei looked deeply at Xu Yinjia.

Lin Pei had originally thought that the deputy mayor's support for Hongshui County to develop the Economic Development Zone was entirely out of the need to struggle against Tang Lu. He did not expect Xu Yinjia to come up with such a convincing argument.

Xu Yinjia, who came from the provincial finance department, undoubtedly had a keen eye for economic matters. Being cultivated by the Daming faction as a new generation leader, he certainly had his unique qualities.

Therefore, Xu Yinjia's words carried significant weight, forcing Lin Pei to consider them seriously.

...

The Lantern Festival had just passed, and the Hongshui County government was once again in a festive mood. A few sanitation workers had swept the main street clean.

"Old Wang, what festival is it today? Why are the higher-ups being so strict about cleanliness?" one sanitation worker asked while sweeping.

"I know this. I heard a few people from the county government talking about it a few days ago when I was sweeping the floor at the county government building," Old Wang lowered his voice, "I heard that we are about to develop Tianma Mountain in Hongshui County, and a big boss from Taiwan is coming to invest today."

"Tianma Mountain? You mean that mountain in the Tianma Township? That place, which no one cares about, is actually going to be developed?"

Old Wang laughed, "You must not watch the provincial TV. You didn't know that the provincial TV station has been broadcasting advertisements for Tianma Mountain for ten days. It's really beautiful. Even my son, who just started elementary school, keeps pestering me to take him to Tianma Mountain!"

"Is the scenery really that good?"

"Really nice! You won't believe it until you see it. I didn't expect such a beautiful place to be in our Hongshui County."

"When is the big boss from Taiwan arriving?"

"Probably soon. They said they would arrive today. You can watch the news tonight to find out."

...

"Old Bai, when did the Xiangwan Group people say they would arrive?" Yang Zixuan stood at the entrance of the county government, asking Bai Yuan, who was anxiously looking down the road.

"They said they arrived in the provincial capital Zijin last night and would drive from Zijin this morning. They should have arrived by ten o'clock, but it's almost noon now!"

Today, Yang Zixuan personally led the county party secretary Lin Ruoshui, the county organization minister Huang He, and the vice-county magistrate Bai Yuan to welcome the Xiangwan Group's general manager, Zeng Jingzi, and her team at the county government entrance.

The standing vice-county magistrate Fang Ling was absent due to reporting work in the city.

Soon, a convoy appeared in the distance, led by a Toyota Land Cruiser, followed by several high-end off-road vehicles, with a particularly eye-catching Land Rover in the middle!

In comparison, the few Santana and Fukan cars parked in front of the county government seemed inferior and faded.

A few knowledgeable people in the cadre group were somewhat amazed by the lineup of mid-to-high-end off-road vehicles. These investors were truly wealthy and powerful!

The convoy stopped in front of the county government, and a tall man stepped out of the leading Toyota Land Cruiser, shaking hands with Yang Zixuan, "Hello, County Magistrate Yang, I am Zeng Ming, the assistant to the general manager of Xiangwan Group."

Yang Zixuan shook his hand and smiled, "Welcome, Assistant Zeng, and General Manager Zeng, to our Hongshui County."

Zeng Ming immediately noticed the calm and composed Lin Ruoshui beside Yang Zixuan and smiled, "This beautiful lady is..."

"My name is Lin Ruoshui, the county party secretary of Hongshui County. Nice to meet you, Assistant Zeng!" Lin Ruoshui deliberately kept her distance from the tall Zeng Ming, nodding but not shaking hands.

At this moment, a staff member opened the rear door of the Land Rover in the middle, and a fashionably dressed woman stepped out. Her age was hard to guess, wearing a classic black business suit that accentuated her slender figure, and a pair of pink-framed glasses that made her appear gentle and graceful.

She walked towards Yang Zixuan and his group, her high heels tapping on the ground.

Zeng Ming immediately turned his attention to her, introducing, "This is our Xiangwan Group's president and general manager, Zeng Jingzi!"

Yang Zixuan shook Zeng Jingzi's hand, feeling a soft and smooth touch, and politely said, "Welcome, President Zeng!"

Zeng Jingzi also shook Yang Zixuan's hand, her face beaming, "Hello, County Magistrate Yang. We were delayed on the road, so we kept you waiting!"

"This is Miss Lin Ruoshui of the Lin family, truly a remarkable beauty!" Zeng Jingzi then turned her gaze to Lin Ruoshui, who was standing beside Yang Zixuan.

Xiangwan had long entered the mainland market, with several large contract manufacturing plants in the Pearl River Delta and several more in the southeastern coastal region. Therefore, they were very familiar with the major political forces in the southeastern region, such as the Lin family.

So, before coming, Zeng Jingzi had reviewed the resumes of the key leaders in Hongshui County and was pleasantly surprised to discover Lin Ruoshui's identity.

The two groups exchanged a few pleasantries and then entered the welcome luncheon set up by the Hongshui County Party Committee and County Government at the Wangjiang Hotel.