Chapter 626: Attending the Reception

Xiao Long heard me say that,

and smiled happily,

"Sir, I'll leave this matter to you. If you can persuade my father, I'll treat you to a good drink."

"Alright, that's settled." I patted Xiao Long's shoulder.

The two of us finished smoking,

Fang Rui came out of the hotel, and Xiao Long drove away with him.

I'm heading back as well.

I returned to the Zaocheng Grand Hotel,

and happened to run into Hou Laoban,

"Jianqiang, has that honored guest from Sijiucheng arrived yet? Why haven't I seen him?"

I told Hou Laoban, "He has already arrived; he's staying at the Golden Light Hotel."

"What? Why not stay at our Zaocheng Grand Hotel but at that shabby Po Guang Hotel? Honestly." Hou Laoban said, irritated that the guest didn't stay at his hotel.

"Hou Laoban, I can't decide that; it's the guest's own choice. Anyway, there will be plenty of opportunities." I said.

"Jianqiang, our relationship is perfectly in sync, right?" Hou Laoban asked.

I nodded.

"Alright, then tell me, who is this honored guest, what's his name? Can you let me know?"

"Hou Laoban, I can tell you, but will you promise not to tell anyone else?" I smiled.

"I promise." Hou Laoban said, patting his chest.

"Fine, I promise too. Goodbye, Hou Laoban." I waved at him,

then hurried into the elevator.

Hou Laoban, angry, stamped his foot.

I went back into the hotel,

thinking that some matters need Hou Laoban to know, while others I prefer he not know.

I had just arrived at the hotel and was about to take a nap when my phone rang,

and I saw it was Wen Han calling,

so I answered hurriedly,

"Brother Jianqiang, has Wang Ge left Zaocheng?"

"Mr. Wen has already left Zaocheng. I haven't had time to report to you yet. By the way, Mr. Wen took Director Qi away."

He had someone investigate the cause of Director Qi's illness.

It turned out to be an overdose of medication," I said on the phone.

"Oh, nothing else, right? He didn't say anything else," Wen Han asked.

"No. He left Yang Tao in Zaocheng. He first treated Director Qi's illness.

He was in Zaocheng for less than two hours in total, and didn't discuss Da Heng Group's debt matters." I didn't want to tell Wen Han about Wang Ge's negotiations for the time being.

Wen Han said, "Alright then, I have nothing else."

"Did Zhao Xiaohua tell you? I can leverage connections to have Da Heng Group acquire a plot of land in the Provincial Capital,

and if the development goes smoothly, the profit should be good.

That way Da Heng Group can expand out of Zaocheng and move on to develop in the Provincial Capital.

Brother Jianqiang, although you've left Da Heng Group, I think once Da Heng Group prospers, it must include your retirement fund.

"I'm thinking about that," Wen Han said on the phone.

"Mr. Wen, thank you for thinking of me. I've already left—truly left—Da Heng Group has nothing to do with me now. We'll discuss the retirement money later," I said, not really wanting to accept the money Wen Han offered.

"Brother Jianqiang, I know it feels uneasy. Let's drop this for now; when you have time, come to Sijiucheng for tea," Wen Han said.

"Alright, Mr. Wen, goodbye," I hung up.

I thought to myself, Wen Han is just using small favors to patronize me.

Then he tries to win me over.

I don't like that very much.

To be honest, I'm glad Da Heng Group is doing well; after all, it's the company I founded single‑handedly.

But the dissatisfaction inside me is genuine, since Da Heng Group has no ties to me anymore.

There's a tinge of jealousy.

I lie on the bed.

thinking about the things I need to do in the future,

dealing with Wang Ge's side, and also Wen Han,

none of which are easy to provoke.

Forget it, I won't think about those guys; I need to handle the matter at hand,

which is the tourism project development in Xue County.

I've already submitted the proposal.

Next, I must proceed step by step.

I fell asleep quickly.

At seven the next morning I got up, went for a run, then had breakfast at the hotel.

Today I have an appointment with Tian Shi to receive Zhuang Shi from Huaihai City at the Reception Center.

Honestly, I don't really enjoy attending such receptions.

Being with people I don't know, saying things I don't like,

It's utterly meaningless; if it weren't for Tian Shi's compulsory invitation, I really wouldn't want to attend.

Fortunately, the boss of Tian Shi Zaocheng Mining Group also attended the reception; I strive to meet him and settle the matter of Qi He Mine.

Then I would have no worries.

I soon arrived at Zaocheng's Reception Center,

Zaocheng's Reception Center is built behind the office building of Zaocheng City, in Gui Shan Park.

This reception center was also built when Kong Shi was in office; he hired a renowned design expert to design it,

Built to the highest standard.

It is a Chinese-style garden, very beautiful.

Ordinary people basically cannot enter.

After parking my car, I quickly came to a three-story small white building at the reception center.

It is modeled after the White House architecture.

Putting a Western-style building inside a Chinese garden is utterly mismatched, very uncomfortable.

Some people's worship of the West is already engraved in their bones.

Including architecture, food, art, etc., all are according to Western aesthetic views.

Perhaps that generation was more influenced by the West.

I estimate modern children should be better, because they grew up in an era of the motherland's prosperity and flourishing,

Thus their psychology would not be inferior, nor would they blindly worship.

Actually, people's self-confidence is strongly tied to the economy. Like people from the 50s-60s, the generation that most worshipped the West—it would be best if they died out.

At this moment, Secretary Qin waved at me,

"Mr. Zhao, come over quickly."

I hurriedly ran to Secretary Qin's side.

"Secretary Qin, what arrangements do you have?"

"Tian Shi, let me tell you,"

"You will have a speech in the meeting room shortly."

"You need to prepare now."

"Your language must be concise and clear. Mainly talk about developing tourism in Xue County."

Upon hearing that, my head buzzed.

"Secretary Qin, Tian Shi really, you didn't tell me yesterday. What am I supposed to say? They're all leaders, what can I say?"

"Mr. Zhao, prepare now; I have no time to discuss this. Zhuang Shi's car will soon arrive at Zaocheng; I need to go to the highway entrance to meet them." Secretary Qin said that and then got into a car.

He went to pick up Zhuang Shi.

Tian Shi is also impatient; I only made a suggestion yesterday.

Because I said it was just a rough idea,

Suddenly asking me to speak, I got a bit flustered.

I need to sort out my thoughts.

It seems Tian Shi pushed me out to directly establish contact with Zhuang of Huaihai and then connect relations.

Strive for Zhuang Shi's side's support.

This matter cannot be messed up; otherwise I would be too sorry to Tian Shi.

I did not directly go into the office building.

I walked into a grove in the park and found a pavilion to sit down.

I took out a cigarette; I know smoking is allowed here.

Other areas are no-smoking.

I need to think carefully about what to say.

I smoked two cigarettes in the pavilion, sorted out my thoughts.

I also had Xiao Shitou prepare some data, print it out, and have him bring it over.

At this moment I saw the motorcade entering; no need to ask, Zhuang Shi of Huaihai has arrived. The vehicles stopped in front of the white building.

These people got out of the luxury cars.

Tian Shi was already waiting for them in front of the white building.

The TV station reporters began busily filming these people.

They were also busy showing off their lofty image in front of the camera.

One person got out of the car; this person is thin and tall, with a very broad forehead, combed in a big pompadour, wearing glasses; the camera mainly followed this person—no need to ask, this person is Zhuang Shi.