Chapter 232: A Gentleman’s Word

Sun Weimin had just scolded Liu Weihan, leaving him deeply embarrassed.

"Secretary Sun..." Liu Weihan, looking at the young county head, sighed. "I came here to see what Bangye is really like. But when I arrived in Bangye, all I saw were streets filled with people cleaning donkey dung. Do I not know what Bangye is like? Back in '83, I visited four or five times a week, and the most vivid memory I have is the donkey dung all over the roads. When we reached a road fork and the driver couldn't find the way, I told him to follow the donkey dung and he wouldn't go wrong. What's the fuss about? Do you think I've been an official in the province for too long?"

Liu Weihan and Liu Wanfa exchanged glances and lowered their heads. "Secretary Sun, we only wanted to leave a good impression and show you that Bangye is different now."

"Different? How is it different?" Sun Weimin replied with a smile. "Have you removed the poor county label, or have you replaced crops with gold?"

Sun Weimin waved his hand dismissively, not intending to continue the conversation. He pointed at the bustling liquor factory and said, "This is what's different. You officials are so out of touch. Don't bother with these superficial things in the future, understand?"

After this mild rebuke, Sun Weimin signaled to the crowd and continued his tour.

While the city and county leaders were arriving, Li Xian had already taken Sun Weimin on a comprehensive tour of the factory. However, as the factory manager, he didn't want to draw too much attention to himself.

Seeing the city and county leaders arrive, Li Xian slowed his pace, letting Liu Weihan and Liu Wanfa accompany Sun Weimin. He then took Sun Weimin to the new liquor industry base under construction, where the steel-framed factory buildings, workshops, and drying fields had already been completed.

Compared to the Bangye liquor factory, the new site could only be described as grand.

The millions spent were not in vain. The newly allocated land, comparable in scale to a city-level national grain depot, was vast and made one imagine the scene when such a project would be fully operational.

Standing in front of the vast construction site, with all the construction vehicles moving about, Sun Weimin's mood lightened somewhat.

Previously, he had been worried about the economic positioning of the three northeastern provinces, with Longjiang Province being an old industrial base with a heavy industry orientation. If the related enterprises couldn't be revitalized, it would be a huge burden for Longjiang's future economic development.

However, seeing the liquor factory, an enterprise in the food industry and the fermentation product sector, reach this scale in a short period, Sun Weimin saw a different possibility.

Even though he felt his own expectations were unrealistic, he hoped that someone could clearly tell him that Longjiang Province, once glorious, would not fall into decline.

Listening to Liu Wanfa's continuous introduction about the city's support for the liquor base, Sun Weimin waved his hand and looked at Li Xian, who had been introduced to him earlier. He pointed at Li Xian, who was playing with some grass, and called him over.

During their brief exchange, this young entrepreneur had left a deep impression on him.

"Li, come over here."

Li Xian threw the grass away and walked up to Sun Weimin under everyone's gaze.

"Secretary Sun."

Sun Weimin nodded, "Li, I heard from Mayor Liu that besides investing in the liquor factory, you've also invested in a paper factory in Beilin. Is that true?"

"Yes," Li Xian replied, unsure of the purpose behind this question from the provincial leader and hesitant to speak further.

"You're engaged in light industry. You just mentioned that if you don't plan for the long term, you can't achieve short-term goals. I'd like to hear what kind of long-term vision you have."

Li Xian was momentarily stunned.

The advance preparation of technical staff for the liquor factory was a lesson learned from the shortage of management talent after Sina Paper Industry's acquisition of a smaller company. Li Xian had exaggerated a bit, not expecting Sun Weimin to take his boast seriously.

However, the question itself was not difficult to answer.

In twenty years, any business without a vision is not a competent entrepreneur.

From internet companies to street vendors, even stores selling condoms near universities, if they don't have a vision like "how we plan to dominate the earth in the next decade," their boss is likely over fifty.

In such an environment, Li Xian was quick to answer about his vision.

Li Xian straightened up, looked up at the sky, and then down at the ground. With a deep breath, he spoke with conviction, "Industry leader, industry model!"

The declaration was met with a brief silence before applause broke out.

"We are in a time of great change. The reform of the system and the disappearance of prejudice against wealth have placed us entrepreneurs at a historical turning point. The changes in the next decade will be beyond anyone's imagination. With the right direction, hard work, and government support, we firmly believe that Bangye Liquor can become one of the top 500 companies in the country or even the world!"

Seeing the excitement around him, Li Xian got carried away.

Sun Weimin clapped him on the shoulder, "Good idea. But young man, aiming too high isn't good."

Li Xian smiled, thinking that making a liquor company one of the top 500 in the world was indeed a bit far-fetched, but being among the top 500 in China seemed possible.

Currently, Bangye Liquor was only a step away from being among the top 500, with the addition of a CCTV advertisement.

Li Xian grinned and pointed to the new liquor base under construction, "Secretary Sun, the funds for this base were secured with your help. Bangye Liquor is like your child. By the end of this year, we'll have a big surprise for you! Whether it's too ambitious or not, you'll see then."

Sun Weimin leaned back, squinting at the crowd. "Oh, now the young people have big words! So tell me, what's this big surprise?"

Li Xian chuckled, "It's a secret. If I tell you now, it won't be a surprise."

"Still keeping it a secret!" Sun Weimin pointed at him and laughed.

Lai Yunhao, who hadn't seen Sun Weimin this happy in days, decided to interject, "Secretary Sun, it's already August, and there are just over three months until the end of the year. If Li doesn't want to reveal it, you might as well wait and see. Think of it as buying a lottery ticket for the end of the year."

Everyone laughed at Lai Yunhao's light-hearted comment.

"Alright, we'll see then!" Sun Weimin signaled Liu Weihan over and said in a serious tone, "To be honest, I came to Bangye today to relax. But seeing this liquor factory makes me very happy. I hope that one day, as Li just said, Bangye Liquor will become an industry leader and model. When that day comes, Bangye might really be different."

Seeing Sun Weimin in a good mood, Liu Weihan also relaxed. "Secretary Sun, will there be any rewards if we achieve that?"

"Ah," Sun Weimin paused, then laughed, "Of course! When you brought Bangye Liquor to the province to block my car and forced me to grant you a loan, and then promoted Bangye Liquor at the provincial hotel. If one day Bangye Liquor becomes the industry leader... No need to be the industry leader, just being a leader in the northern market would be enough. I will follow your example, take Bangye Liquor to block the Prime Minister's car, and deliver Bangye Liquor to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. How about that?"

"Let's make a deal! A gentleman's word!" Liu Weihan extended his hand.

"Swift as a horse!" Sun Weimin, ignoring Lai Yunhao's frantic gestures, clapped his hand with a snap.

Seeing this, Lai Yunhao, the provincial office director, sighed.

He had said before that people shouldn't make empty promises, but how quickly he had forgotten when the moment came?

**Note:** In the 1990s, the liquor industry was confusingly classified, belonging both to the food industry and light industry. It wasn't officially separated until 2001, becoming part of the food industry under the fermentation category.