Chapter 243: The Calm Jianghu Disputes

On December 10, 2014, in a private dining room at the Tanzhou Hotel, Zhou Ming and Su Han were having dinner with Liang Tian, Chairman of Linchu Machinery Company, and other company executives, including Liang An.

Liang Tian raised a toast to Zhou Ming and introduced him: "Zhou Ming is one of the entrepreneurs I admire most. Not only has he achieved success in South Jiang, but he has also returned to his hometown to create the nationally popular Eight Treasure Porridge and proposed the innovative idea of rural industrial parks. He aims to lead his hometown to prosperity. This is a spirit of advancement that we all should learn from!"

"Moreover," Liang Tian continued, "the rural industrial park is a place that concentrates superior resources for enhanced development, and it is a focus of provincial and even national attention. I believe that under Zhou Ming's leadership, this rural industrial park will certainly head towards a more brilliant future. Therefore, I've decided that our Linchu Machinery Company will collaborate with the Nan Hui Rural Industrial Park and establish a branch factory there!"

Liang Tian raised another toast to Zhou Ming. After drinking, Zhou Ming responded politely: "On behalf of all the colleagues in our Nan Hui Rural Industrial Park, I thank Chairman Liang and the Linchu Machinery Company for their strong support! Our industrial park's core, Factory 760, is itself a gold factory. I believe that with Linchu Machinery's involvement, we can complement each other's advantages and create a brilliant future together!"

Liang Tian replied, "Mr. Zhou is being too modest. I should be the one thanking you for giving me the chance to grow alongside the first rural industrial park in the country. This is a moment of witnessing a miracle!"

As the company manager, Liang An was also present. Watching his father and Zhou Ming praise each other in front of him made him feel like exploding.

To him, this was an insult. Why should his father be thankful when Zhou Ming had clearly tricked him into investing in that desolate rural industrial park? It felt as if his father owed Zhou Ming a huge favor.

But that wasn't the worst part. After all, Zhou Ming had dined with the President before. It was understandable for his father to flatter him. However, what bothered Liang An was Zhou Ming's lack of any smug expression. 

If Zhou Ming had been arrogant, even slapping him twice would have been better. But Zhou Ming ignored him completely, making Liang An feel like he had been defeated by being completely disregarded. The humiliation of being ignored made him feel as if he were bleeding inside.

Zhou Ming couldn't read minds, so he had no idea what Liang An was thinking. But if he had known, he would have simply called him a jerk.

The dinner lasted over three hours, but fortunately, it was at the Tanzhou Hotel. Afterward, Su Han was able to help Zhou Ming back to their room.

Once in the room, Su Han prepared a hangover tea for Zhou Ming and handed it to him, saying, "Zhou Ming, you're amazing. I didn't expect that just one meeting in Tanzhou would bring the first investment for the industrial park."

Zhou Ming took a sip of tea and said, "Speaking of which, Xiao Han, we really have to thank Young Master An. He's like a divine assistant! He randomly encountered Niu Jie, and then, guided by Niu Jie, came to trouble me. In the end, when his father came to apologize, Young Master An still expressed various grievances, pushing his father into a corner."

Zhou Ming shook his head and laughed, "How could there be such a person? It's like I wanted to eat, and he immediately prepared it for me. I can only say, well done, Young Master An!"

Su Han thought for a moment and said, "But Zhou Ming, I heard from Director Wu that Liang An's opposition to the rural industrial park at the meeting was not entirely influenced by Niu Jie; there were some other factors as well."

"That was to be expected," Zhou Ming said. "After all, Young Master An isn't very bright, and the people around him aren't likely to be any smarter. Besides, he already openly opposed the rural industrial park at the first informal meeting. His father isn't dead, so how could he not know? If he knows but doesn't speak out, it means there might be other motives."

Zhou Ming paused and then said helplessly, "It seems Governor Xiong's sudden rise in the province's hierarchy might not be so secure after all!"

Su Han immediately understood Zhou Ming's implication, "You mean Liang An's opposition was arranged? It's a provincial internal struggle…"

"Most likely. Of course, he might have just lost his mind," Zhou Ming interrupted Su Han. "But regardless, it doesn't matter. We're not officials in the province, so we can't interfere or need to. The central government supports us, and others have to step aside. The current outcome is just an unexpected surprise for us."

"Will there be issues in future meetings?" Su Han asked, still worried.

Zhou Ming thought for a moment and said, "With Liang Tian's attitude now, there shouldn't be any more problems. After all, Chairman Du has already expressed support. If it escalates further and something really goes wrong, it would be troublesome."

"That's good," Su Han sighed in relief but still had some lingering emotions. "I really don't understand why they have to be like this. Can't we just discuss things properly at the meeting? Why all the behind-the-scenes tricks? It's really annoying!"

Zhou Ming smiled and pinched Su Han's little face, "It's unavoidable. As the saying goes, where there are people, there are disputes. In the bureaucratic world, where various conflicts and grudges accumulate, if a meeting seems calm on the surface but lacks any undercurrents, that's the real problem."

After this philosophical remark, Zhou Ming put down his teacup, "Alright, enough about this. It's getting late. We should wash up and go to bed."

Su Han nodded, "You should go wash first."

Zhou Ming pursed his lips, clearly feeling that Su Han had misunderstood. He then said, "But Xiao Han, I'm drunk, and washing myself is a bit difficult. Could you help me?"

Su Han's face flushed with two shades of red as she hesitated, "How can that be?"

"Why not?"

Zhou Ming responded, kissing Su Han's lips and silencing her protest.

During their time in Tanzhou, Zhou Ming and Su Han had been enjoying their private moments. With Zhou Ming's kissing techniques well-practiced and a bit of alcohol in his system, when he parted Su Han's lips and gently explored, she melted into his embrace. When she came to her senses, they were already in the bathroom.

Shyly, Su Han looked at Zhou Ming's mischievous smile and reluctantly undressed, applying shower gel to him, as they took a romantic bath together.

…

The provincial People's Congress meeting had reached its seventh day. Due to some other reasons involving President Du Zhongyuan, Zhou Ming's proposal for the rural industrial park had been temporarily included as a discussion topic for the Congress.

At 8:30 AM, Zhou Ming arrived at the People's Congress and was greeted by many people.

"Hello, Mr. Zhou. Congratulations on having your proposal supported by Chairman Du and confirmed as today's discussion topic… Mr. Zhou, you are truly an outstanding entrepreneur who created the Eight Treasure Porridge miracle. Your advanced ideas and pragmatic business spirit are worth learning from… Mr. Zhou, you are a model for all of us entrepreneurs in Jingchu…"

Amidst the flurry of compliments, Zhou Ming merely smiled and thanked them. He didn't take the flattery to heart; taking such verbal praise seriously would be foolish.

At 9:00 AM, the meeting began, chaired by Secretary Jiang Wen. Governor Xiong Qingping and other key provincial leaders attended. As for Du Zhongyuan, being the national President, it was already rare for him to visit Jingchu Province. Expecting him to stay for an entire week just for a provincial People's Congress was unrealistic, even if Zhou Ming were his grandson.

Even in Du Zhongyuan's absence, the presence of other provincial leaders signified the high regard for the rural industrial park concept.

As the proponent of the rural industrial park, Zhou Ming was the first to speak.

"Secretary Jiang, Governor Xiong, and esteemed provincial leaders and representatives, hello. Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to speak. Although I proposed the rural industrial park, my ideas are still not fully developed. To refine this concept, we need everyone's collective wisdom."

Zhou Ming continued, "Since it's called an industrial park, relying solely on local rural workshops is insufficient. If we depend on government investment, we'd lose the market's role and return to the planned economy of the past, which is undesirable. I believe the best approach is to attract investment. We should invite external enterprises to come to the industrial park and let them develop freely, with the Party committee and government only serving a supervisory role."

Zhou Ming paused and then added, "I know many people might think that Jingchu Province lacks advantages compared to coastal regions. But advantages need to be discovered by ourselves."

"Currently, the number of people from Jingchu working in places like Lingnan is increasing, indicating that we are hardworking and have strong work ethics. So, why can't we reverse the situation and invite enterprises and factories to our province?" Zhou Ming said. "Everyone knows about South Jiang. The development there was due to opening up and attracting foreign investment. Why can't our rural industrial park receive policy incentives and become a small South Jiang within Jingchu Province?"

Upon finishing, there was a wave of enthusiastic applause.