Chapter 63: I Want to Go Home and Not Stay

The entire conference room fell silent, with everyone staring at Zhou Ming as though he were an alien. Zhou Ming's recent statements had stunned everyone into silence, as if they had been petrified by a spell. To them, even a child could understand what Chen Yunfei's dual role as Vice Governor of Lingnan and Mayor of Nanjing signified. It was an opportunity to gain immense benefits in Nanjing with minimal effort. Chen Yunfei's personal invitation was more valuable than any official document.

Despite this, Zhou Ming had still declined the offer. Given his apparent political sensitivity, he must have been fully aware of the implications. Yet he refused Chen Yunfei's invitation, a move that seemed excessively bold. After all, reality is not like a novel; there are some things you can play with, and some you cannot. Chen Yunfei was not Liu Bei, and Zhou Ming was certainly not Zhuge Liang, who would perform the "Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage" act. Miss this opportunity, and it would be gone forever.

Everyone in the room was bewildered, especially since even Chen Yunfei seemed perplexed. After a long pause, Chen Yunfei said with a smile, "It seems you have some of your own thoughts."

Zhou Ming, feeling somewhat embarrassed, scratched his head and replied, "Mayor Chen, I'm not as capable as you might think. My understanding of the economy isn't as deep as some experts."

He continued, "To put it plainly, everything I've done so far has been speculative. Thirty years ago, that would have gotten me into serious trouble. I'm just someone who assesses situations and takes chances. I don't have the capability to guide development. Moreover, I plan to return to my hometown in Linyang. If I were to take the role of development advisor in Nanjing and not contribute, I'd feel unworthy, and it wouldn't be fair to you."

In summary, Zhou Ming's response was, "I'm going home, so I won't stay here." This left everyone stunned once again. They felt like their brains couldn't keep up with Zhou Ming's reasoning.

Not only were Dupeng and Hu Yujin puzzled, but even Chen Yunfei seemed bewildered. High-ranking officials like Chen Yunfei usually had excellent control over their emotions, but Zhou Ming's rejection had clearly affected him deeply. 

After a long pause, Chen Yunfei managed to regain his composure and said, "It seems you wish to contribute to the development of your hometown. That's a commendable mindset. If you ever want to return to Nanjing for better opportunities, we will always welcome you."

After a few polite exchanges, Chen Yunfei and the other officials quickly left. Even someone as seasoned as Chen Yunfei struggled to follow Zhou Ming's unconventional approach. 

Once they were gone, Dupeng immediately confronted Zhou Ming, pushing him down onto the table and angrily demanding, "Zhou Ming, what's wrong with you? Why did you turn down Uncle Chen's offer? Do you think the position isn't good enough, or what? I never realized you had such high moral standards!"

Zhou Ming, not used to being manhandled, quickly turned the tables, pinning Dupeng beneath him. He replied, "It's not about having high moral standards. The issue is that the political situation here is still unstable. I don't want to get involved in these complications. I just want to quietly make my money and avoid political entanglements."

Zhou Ming's response was not arbitrary; with his previous life's experience, he knew that being a development advisor in Nanjing could be problematic. Dupeng, realizing the depth of Zhou Ming's understanding, asked, "So you think there will be policy reversals from the central government?"

Zhou Ming shook his head, "Reform and opening-up is an irreversible trend. However, the forces of conservatism are always more significant than one might expect. If things go wrong, those in power will leave, but we will be the ones who suffer. So I prefer to stay out of these issues and focus on making money."

"That's great wisdom!" Dupeng admired.

Zhou Ming then mentioned that he needed Dupeng's help with his business in Linyang. Dupeng agreed to help with that as well.

After Dupeng left to handle the stock purchase, Zhou Ming noticed that Tang Ran, who had been sitting silently, looked downcast. Concerned, he asked, "Ranran, what's wrong?"

Tang Ran timidly asked, "Are you really going back to Linyang, Ming Ge?"

"Of course, my family is there, and I can't stay away," Zhou Ming said.

Tang Ran then asked, "Can I come back with you?"

Zhou Ming was surprised, "Why would you come with me? You're doing well here in Nanjing, and you've just resolved your work situation. You should stay and focus on your job."

"But I'm your girlfriend. I want to be with you," Tang Ran said.

Zhou Ming tried to reason with her, "There's a saying, 'Familiarity breeds contempt.' Sometimes, distance creates a sense of appreciation. Besides, I've invested a lot here, and if I don't come back, who knows what might happen?"

Tang Ran thought about it seriously and agreed, "You're right. If Dupeng isn't reliable, the money you invested might be at risk. I'll make sure to keep an eye on it."

"You're understanding, as always," Zhou Ming praised her.

If Dupeng were still present, he would be in tears. Despite being a well-educated and influential figure, it seemed that Zhou Ming and Tang Ran's relationship and decision-making were beyond his comprehension.