Chapter Thirty-Nine Return to Hometown

  Arriving at the municipal government's administrative office, Chen Gong found someone who wasn't too busy and asked, "Comrade, hello. I'm Chen Gong, Deputy Director of the Investment Service Center of Fuhai Industrial Park Management Committee. Was it your department that notified me to come this morning?"

  The young man immediately dropped what he was doing, "Oh, sorry boss, I didn't notice you earlier. Come with me quickly, Deputy Director Feng of the government office said that if you arrived, to let you wait in his office first."

  "Comrades, no need to call each other leaders, we're all buddies." Chen Gong didn't expect the staff member to react so strongly. After the staff member's explanation, he finally understood that the director of the industrial park management committee was Mayor Wei, and the heads of various departments within the committee were at the same level as the bureau chiefs in the city government. This meant that Chen Gong could be considered a deputy bureau chief in the city, or even a deputy district chief? It's really funny, actually he himself was just a newly appointed town mayor, and being able to become a bureau chief in the district was already not bad.

  After Chen Gong arrived at Deputy Director Feng's office, he also received a warm welcome from Deputy Director Feng. Now Chen Gong is also beginning to suspect that the positions in the Management Committee are really on the same level as the deputy director of the government office?

  Chen Gong was sitting and thinking, dazed for dozens of seconds. "Director Chen, the leader asked us to go down. Let's go." Deputy Director Feng addressed Chen Gong according to his position in the management committee.

  Chen Gong came back to his senses, "That Director Feng, which leader is he?"

  Deputy Director Feng suddenly remembered that Chen Gong might not know what was going on, so he told him the situation. Today, Mayor Wei and Deputy Mayor Qi led a team, along with several bureau chiefs, to visit Hua Xia Steel Group to discuss introducing industrial parks.

  Chen Gong heard that it's a good thing, this Huaxia Steel Group is one of the top ten steel enterprises in the country and one of the top 100 in the nation. If we succeed, it will be a golden signboard for our industrial park, and then we can easily attract other companies.

  On the way, Wei Chengxu inquired about the progress of demolition and relocation in the next three villages and the preliminary work arrangement of the industrial park. Chen Gong answered very fluently because the villagers were highly motivated, and with the strong support of municipal funds, the three villages would be basically demolished within three months, and the land acquisition indicators would also return half a year later, which can fully guarantee the development of the park.

  Wei Chengxu told Chen Gong that the scale of the industrial park would be gradually expanded in the future, and the three villages are only enough for one or two years now. Let Chen Gong continue to conduct a survey around the area, with a scale of at least three times the current size.

  On the bus, Chen Gong also congratulated Vice Mayor Qi Ziwai on his new appointment. Qi Ziwai had no prejudice against Chen Gong and was now very willing to improve their relationship. From then on, they would be "partners" for half a year.

  Wei Chengxu continued to introduce the situation of Hua Xia Steel Group. Today, they are going to meet their Vice President Sun, who is also surnamed Sun and is the younger brother of the CEO. The older brother is in charge of the company's headquarters in Beijing, while the younger brother, Vice President Sun, is handling a business deal in the southern province. The city government has also received news about this and is actively inviting them to come to Fuhai Industrial Park, which would be a great achievement if successful. The city government has promised to offer the greatest preferential treatment in terms of land area and price, as well as tax breaks. In short, even if it means losing money for five to eight years, they want to bring Hua Xia Steel Group into the park at all costs.

  Huaxia Steel Group Vice President Sun stayed at Fuhai Hotel, everyone was on time. At 3 pm in the afternoon, all parties arrived at a small conference room booked in advance at Fuhai Hotel.

  Wei Chengxu's secretary stood up, "Director Sun, hello, this is Mayor Wei of Fuhai City, and this is Vice Mayor Qi..." After the introductions, people from both sides sat down on either side of the table.

  Wei Chengxu got straight to the point, first introducing the purpose of this visit, hoping that their steel group could enter Fuhai Industrial Park. Everyone on the business scene is a sharp person, and Vice President Sun didn't beat around the bush either, directly asking what preferential policies Fuhai City could offer them.

  Wei Chengxu directly threw out the municipal government's bottom line: 80,000 yuan per mu of land, with a maximum of 600 mu available. Tax exemptions will be granted for three years, and from the fourth year onwards, enterprises will pay 50% of the standard tax rate each year, increasing by 10% annually until the ninth year when normal tax payment standards are restored. For the first two years, the park management committee will invest 2 million yuan together with the enterprise to cover publicity expenses.

  After a more detailed exchange with Wei Chengxu, Vice President Sun confirmed the strong support of the Fuhai Municipal Government for their enterprise. "Mayor Wei, I can represent our group in thanking you for the conditions you have offered. I can tell that Mayor Wei is a straightforward person, and I won't beat around the bush either. Our group's headquarters is in Shanghai, and my brother is currently in Beijing, where we are also in contact with the Jianyi Industrial Park. I guarantee to you that if our project doesn't settle in Beijing, it will definitely be in Fuhai."

  Vice President Sun's expression of this attitude is already his limit, both parties can feel each other's sincerity, but since Huaxia Steel Group has not yet settled on Fuhai Investment, they politely declined the city's dinner party. Vice President Sun said he needed to rest early that night and would fly to Beijing the next day to meet with his brother.

  Wei Chengxu knew that this project might not be introduced, and he sighed. An enterprise of such a large scale could compete with first-class industrial parks.

  On the way, Chen Gong asked some details and asked why the management committee had to spend 2 million yuan on corporate propaganda. Wei Chengxu scolded Chen Gong for being stupid, saying that a large enterprise had settled in Fuhai, and the sign of Fuhai Industrial Park would be immediately erected, achieving two goals at once.

  Qizi Wei watched as Wei Chengxu continued to instruct Chen Gong, he could see that it was a kind of concern and guidance, didn't expect Chen Gong had already gotten so close with the mayor.

  Chen Gong hesitated for a few minutes before speaking up, "Mayor, I have an idea. I hope you will approve it."

  "What's going on? You tell me."

  Chen Gong originally told Wei Chengxu that he wanted to go to Beijing and do his best to get the Hua Xia Steel Group project, anyway, there was little hope, so it's better to try, who knows if they succeeded, no matter how tired or humiliated they were, it would be worth it.

  Wei Chengxu knew that Chen Gong had gone in vain, but he didn't want to discourage him. "Alright, let's assume I help you and ask Secretary Huang for a favor. Two weeks from now, no matter what the outcome is, you must come back. There are many things waiting for you to take care of in the park."

  After bidding farewell to Wei Shuqin and Song Huiyun, Chen Gong set out on his journey back to his hometown.

  "Dad, do you think Chen Gong can bring back the project from Beijing?" Wei Shuqin asked Wei Chengxu.

  "Just pretend he's going on a trip." Wei Chengxu never thought that Chen Gong would succeed, but Wei Shuqin was not happy about it. She had confidence in Chen Gong anyway, and Chen Gong promised to bring back a gift for Wei Shuqin when he returned.

  The capital of Hua Xia, the city is bustling with cars and horses, high-rise buildings blocking the view of the distant scenery. Chen Gong stepped off the plane, looking at this familiar city, suddenly his blood was boiling, "Ah, people's faces are unknown where to go, peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze."

  Mother Li Xiuzhen locked her son Chen Gong in the crowd from afar, and as they walked into each other's arms, Li Xiuzhen's eyes were blurred with tears. It had been more than three years since she last saw her son. As a mother, it was like losing something most precious, but now that thing has been found again.

  "Mom, I'm back, don't cry anymore, let's go home first."

  On the way, Li Xiuzhen said to Chen Gong, "Your dad has just become the mayor, and the work pressure is even greater. He's busy with things and often sleeps in the office. He also goes out a lot. It happens that your dad will be back home tonight, so you can have a good chat with him later. Your dad misses you very much too."

  "Is grandpa at home?"

  "Your grandfather and the chief went to Europe for a visit, they won't be back until at least next month. After you left, it's been quiet around here too. By the way, son, have you met any girlfriends in these two or three years abroad?" Li Xiuzhen didn't ask about Chen Gong's career at all, because many things would be mentioned on their monthly phone calls and text messages, but Chen Gong had never mentioned anything about dating, so Li Xiuzhen specifically asked him this question face-to-face.

  "I've just met someone, and it's still in the early stages. The other person has to go to work, so I'll bring them back for everyone to meet after things have settled down." Chen Gong thought about Wei Shuqin, who had promised to bring her gifts, as well as Song Jie's. What should he buy?

  At night, Chen Guohao entered the house and saw Li Xiuzhen and Chen Gong chatting while watching TV in the living room. "You stinky kid, you actually know how to come back."

  Chen Gong quickly got up to greet his father. Time is indeed a kind of medicine, it can make people forget happiness and worries. A family has no grudges, isn't it just a young man pursuing his ideals and leaving home? Now it seems like a small matter.

  "Guohao, would you like something else to eat?" Li Xiuqin asked.

  "Xiuqin, get some snacks to go with the wine. I'll have a chat with this unfilial son of mine and we'll drink a few cups." Chen Guohao was delighted to see his son healthy and robust, and couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. As parents, they didn't expect their children to achieve great things or make significant contributions; as long as they lived happily and contentedly, that was enough.

  Two men sat in the dining room drinking and chatting. Chen Gong saw that the wine was Maotai and asked Chen Guohao how many years it had been aged.

  "You young man originally didn't care about baijiu, but after becoming the head of a small town you've become like an official. This Maotai is 50 years old, 53 degrees, and might be worth around 30,000 yuan outside. Take six bottles back with you, let those leaders try some. In the living room, under the wine cabinet, there's also special supply Zhonghua cigarettes, take a few packs over." Chen Guohao knew that going out relied on friends and leaders.

  Chen Guohao knew that Chen Gong was coming back a few days ago, and he knew it was a work-related problem. He communicated with Chen Gong, and basically, there's nothing Chen Guohao can't handle in Beijing.

  Chen Guohao finally learned that Chen Gong wanted to pull the Huaxia Steel Group into their Fuhai City Industrial Park to build a factory. "Chen Gong, this is a small matter," Chen Guohao said. "Where they build the factory doesn't matter, as long as your policies are good, they will definitely go."

  Chen Gong continued to tell his father the meaning of their group's vice president, Chen Guohao smiled lightly, "Son, you ran all the way back home just for this small matter?"

  It's a small matter, Chen Gong deeply knows that his father is a big official and indeed sees the problem from a different level, he himself thinks this is a huge thing. Chen Guohao told Chen Gong that within two days he has a way to let Hua Xia Steel Group go to their Fuhai Investment.

  After chatting for a while, Chen Guohao lost interest in the trivial matter of where Hua Xia Steel Group invested and asked Chen Gong to talk about what major things he had done over the years. He also quietly asked if Chen Gong had accepted money or gifts from others.

  Chen Gong told Chen Guohao about the village's small reforms, disaster relief, road repairs, and industrial park site selection. Chen Guohao listened and sighed, "Chen Gong, do you know? In official circles, even the most basic things require being smooth and clever. When encountering issues, one must consider them from the perspective of higher leadership. Your previous achievements had luck involved; if you exclude luck, with your personality and way of thinking, you would definitely encounter obstacles."

  Chen Gong suddenly became displeased, "Dad, you just think I'm not capable. Don't worry, wait and see, I'll definitely continue to make a name for myself in my official career."

  Chen Guohao seems unable to persuade his son, so be it, let him take risks, suffer a bit, and eat some losses to mature.

  Fuhai City

  Wei Shuqin asked about Chen Gong's situation in the capital, and Chen Gong patted his chest and told her that he would be able to settle it within two days, but he had to stay a few more days before returning home, wanting to spend some time with his family.

  Wei Shuqin told her father, Wei Chengxu, about Chen Gong's boastful words during dinner. Mayor Wei didn't take it seriously and thought it was just a joke between two young people on the phone. However, two days later, Vice President Sun of Huaxia Steel Group personally called Wei Chengxu to say that he would visit Fuhai Industrial Park to see if it was suitable for their project.