Chapter 238: Opposition from Young Master An

"Boss Zhou really has a wide network. I didn't expect you to know someone just casually coming down from the capital," Wu Shiping said to Zhou Ming and Su Han as they entered the private room.

"Director Wu, please don't say that. It was just a coincidence," Zhou Ming replied honestly. Even though he was a native of the capital, he couldn't recognize all the influential figures there. He had only been there once and had a lot to do, so he had only met a few influential people. Meeting Niu Jie here was indeed just luck.

"That's true, but at least you've met them!" Wu Shiping said. "I just wonder what kind of background this Young Master Jie has."

Zhou Ming had no habit of gossiping about others behind their backs and actually looked down on such behavior. Besides, there were many people who flaunted their connections with influential figures from Beijing to deceive people locally, not just Niu Jie. So, Zhou Ming answered Wu Shiping, "Director Wu, that's a tough question for me. You know that relationships in Beijing, especially in the upper circles, are very complex. Even they might not have a clear view, let alone me, an outsider."

Hearing Zhou Ming's response, Wu Shiping didn't press further, as he might already have his answer in mind.

The next day, the Jingchu Province People's Congress meeting was held at the Tanzhou Hotel conference room. Zhou Ming had received his representative badge the day before and arrived at the conference room early. Although the room was well-decorated and a red banner read "Warmly Celebrate the Successful Convening of the Provincial People's Congress," Zhou Ming knew that today's meeting was not a genuine People's Congress meeting but a preliminary survey by provincial leaders.

As Zhou Ming found his seat and was about to sit down, he heard a familiar voice from behind: "Oh! Isn't this Boss Zhou from Linyang's rural industry? Here so early?"

It was indeed Liang An, who was surrounded by several middle-aged men as usual. Zhou Ming wasn't interested in these people's relationships but greeted Liang An with a smile.

Liang An swaggered over and glanced at Zhou Ming's position, saying, "I didn't expect Boss Zhou to have such a prominent seat. It seems the rural industrial park you proposed must be quite favored by the province!"

Zhou Ming frowned inwardly, sensing something amiss, so he didn't rush to respond. Liang An continued, "But Boss Zhou, it's not that I'm criticizing you. Since you're running a business, you should stick to your own work and not pursue those crooked paths. What rural industrial park? I see it as just a way for you to make a quick profit under the guise of a new concept!"

"Young Master An, you might not understand the concept of rural industrial parks and have some misconceptions..." Zhou Ming started to explain but was interrupted by Liang An, who spat, "Hmph! Misconceptions? Since Boss Zhou is so fond of the rural industrial park, let's let you speak first at today's meeting. I'll inform Uncle Liu about this."

Zhou Ming knew that Uncle Liu referred to Liu, the Secretary-General of the Provincial People's Congress. Zhou Ming said, "Young Master An, this doesn't seem right. It doesn't appear to be in accordance with the rules."

Liang An waved his hand dismissively, "Rules can be changed at any time! Since Boss Zhou is so enthusiastic about your rural industrial park, we'd like to hear your views. Don't decline. Or are you afraid to speak first?"

Seeing Liang An's smug expression, Zhou Ming realized he was prepared and agreed, "Alright then, thank you for letting me speak first."

"You're welcome. Just make sure you prepare well for your speech and put in a good word for your rural industrial park!" Liang An laughed heartily, patting Zhou Ming on the shoulder twice before leaving with his group. Zhou Ming watched his departing figure, deep in thought.

As time passed, more people gathered in the conference room. By 9:30 a.m., Provincial Party Secretary and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress Jiang Wen walked into the room to applause.

The meeting began, and Jiang Wen started by reading out the spirit of the previous Central Committee's Second Plenary Session, emphasizing the need to implement the central economic development strategy, accelerate economic and political reforms, and call on all comrades in the province to continue to adhere to the central basic line, showing the courage to innovate, and further deepening and accelerating the reform process to build a strong, democratic, and civilized Jingchu Province with perseverance!

After Jiang Wen's opening remarks, Secretary-General Liu announced that Zhou Ming from Linyang would speak first.

This announcement shocked everyone. All eyes turned to Zhou Ming. In an era without the internet or mobile phones, where transportation was still underdeveloped, information was very closed. Even though Zhou Ming's products had appeared on CCTV and the provincial governor Xu Qingping had visited Linyang, many people still didn't know Zhou Ming. They were surprised that this young man, who suddenly appeared and was the first to speak, had such prominence.

In the People's Congress, being the first speaker usually indicated a significant status. They had expected Liang An, the manager of Linchu Machinery Company, to be first, but it turned out to be this relatively unknown Zhou Ming. Did he have some notable identity?

Despite the surprised gazes from the entire room, Zhou Ming shook his head and smiled bitterly: While being first is an honor for others, it might not be a good thing for him.

But no matter what, he had to proceed as planned.

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to speak first. What I want to discuss today is the significance of the rural industrial park."

Zhou Ming took out a prepared document and continued, "As the name suggests, a rural industrial park is an industrial park established in rural areas. It's a development approach that focuses on the rural area, with emphasis on planning and development, ultimately aiming to achieve common prosperity."

"According to general economic development patterns, in the early stages of a country's industrialization, priority is usually given to developing industry and urban economy. As industrialization progresses, it naturally transitions to a stage where industry supports agriculture and cities drive rural development. This has been confirmed abroad."

Zhou Ming then shifted his tone, "However, in our country, the situation is different. Due to the poor foundation at the beginning of the founding of our country and the special period surrounded by global enemies, we had to adopt a strategy of using agriculture to support industry and rural support for urban development. This forced strategy has resulted in the widening gap between industry and agriculture, and between urban and rural areas, severely hindering the coordinated development of the national economy. To change this situation, rural economic development must be promoted, and the gap between industry and agriculture must not be allowed to widen further."

"Since the central government proposed reform and opening-up, rural economy has seen some development, and some small rural enterprises have begun to emerge. However, these are mostly primitive small workshops. This production mode not only has low efficiency but also lacks a sustained development potential."

"Looking at economic development abroad, there are industry clusters. As industries continue to develop, industrial production becomes more specialized. However, these rural small workshops clearly lack such specialization. They are mostly self-taught production methods, which are unscientific, inefficient, and easily disconnected from the times."

"Moreover, these rural workshops are scattered across different areas, making it difficult to concentrate resources and increasing transportation costs. These are the drawbacks that constrain rural economy."

Zhou Ming concluded, "All of these issues can be corrected through planning rural industrial parks, which can effectively concentrate resources for development and accelerate rural progress!"

As Zhou Ming finished his speech, there was a warm round of applause. Secretary-General Liu then announced that the next speaker was Liang An, the manager of Linchu Machinery Company.

"Hello, Secretary Jiang, leaders, and representatives. I'm honored to speak at this grand meeting. After hearing Representative Zhou from Linyang, I have some thoughts I'd like to share," Liang An said. "Firstly, I agree with Representative Zhou's idea of developing the rural economy. However, what he has planned is completely illogical!"

Liang An's opening statement caused an uproar. Other representatives looked at Liang An with surprise, not understanding why he was deliberately trying to embarrass Zhou Ming in this meeting.

However, this also stirred up interest among the other representatives. Regardless of Liang An's reasons, the meeting promised to be engaging.

Enjoying the attention of the entire room, Liang An looked at Zhou Ming with satisfaction and said, "Firstly, I agree with Representative Zhou's idea of developing the rural economy, but focusing on rural industrial parks goes too far. As Representative Zhou himself said, industrial development follows a certain pattern, and the initial workshop production is just the earliest form of industrial development."

"So, I believe what we should do now is protect these workshops and encourage their free development, rather than forcibly centralizing them. This would be like trying to help the seedlings grow faster by pulling them up!"

Liang An continued, "Moreover, the drawbacks of collective economy have become evident over time. Rural poverty is a result of this model. Now, Representative Zhou is not making progress but is returning to collective economy under the banner of industrial parks. Isn't this reversing history? Isn't this contrary to the main theme of reform and opening-up? This is absolutely unacceptable!"