Chapter 627

I hurried out of the pavilion.

I can't wait for Secretary Qin to be looking for me everywhere, knowing he's busiest now.

There were many people, I blended into the crowd.

Then I followed them into the conference room.

After everyone was seated, Tian Shi first gave a welcome speech,

"Good morning, everyone. Today is really bright sunshine. Yesterday it was still a bit overcast,

Zhuang Shi came today and brought sunshine to our Zaocheng as well. Thank you for Zhuang Shi's arrival."

After Zhuang Shi waited for Tian Shi to finish speaking, he immediately stood up, waved his hand and said: "Tian Shi, you don't need to be so polite; we are close neighbors. Our interactions are like visiting relatives. You should know that some of Huaihai City's eating habits and accents are hardly different from Zaocheng's."

"Tian Shi, you've made this too grand; it makes me feel uneasy to accept it."

Actually, Zhuang Shi and Tian Shi should be of similar rank. However, Huaihai City is much larger than Zao Chengshi, and its industrial output value is more than ten times that of Zaocheng.

Huaihai City can be described as wealthy and extravagant.

Therefore Zhuang Shi's position is obviously much higher than Tian Shi's.

Between cities, economic strength is also used as a measure.

There's nothing to be done; today's society just trends this way.

Tian Shi then introduced to Zhuang Shi the personnel participating in this reception.

Each time he introduced a person,

that person had to stand up and greet Zhuang Shi.

Zhuang Shi merely waved his hand symbolically.

Those participating were Zaocheng's most representative enterprises.

They all carried significant weight.

After Tian Shi finished the introductions,

Zhuang Shi then introduced his own entourage. They were also some enterprises with weight in Huaihai.

Everyone exchanged greetings.

After mutual introductions, the main figures' speeches followed.

I won't repeat them all here.

Anyway, they were all just saying platitudes.

I specifically watched the speech of the head of Zaocheng Mining Group.

Only then did I learn that this boss's surname is Ji.

He is about fifty years old, not tall, but very sturdy.

The most obvious thing is that he has no hair on his head.

Under the light, his head shone brightly; it looked like he had just shaved it yesterday.

When he spoke, he sometimes shook his head, as if saying "yes or no."

Upon seeing Zhuang Shi, he became somewhat excited,

because the enterprises Zhuang Shi brought have deep cooperation with Zaocheng Mining Group.

Therefore, in his speech he often occasionally asked Zhuang Shi.

Zhuang Shi just smiled listening to his speech, said nothing, and moreover he was quite talkative.

There were too many people; if Chairman Ji kept talking like this, he probably couldn't finish in a day.

Tian Shi signaled with his eyes for Chairman Ji to hurry up and finish his talk,

Chairman Ji understood Tian Shi's meaning and quickly concluded his speech.

Secretary Qin immediately said: "Next, please Chairman Zhuang inspect our Zaocheng enterprises."

Then everyone stood up,

then they boarded the business vehicles arranged by Zao Chengshi,

and they mightily headed toward Zaocheng enterprise development.

Some enterprises had already prepared reception work,

there were welcoming crowds and flower-presenting beauties; altogether it was very lively and pleasant to watch.

Zaocheng Mining Group had the most enterprises.

Chairman Ji ran about, attending to everything,

his mouth nonstop introducing to Chairman Zhuang

some of Zaocheng Mining Group's coal and non-coal industries.

Everyone glanced at them in a passing fashion.

Time quickly came to noon.

The Reception Center of Zaocheng Mining Group had already completed its reception duties.

Everyone had lunch at the Reception Center of Zaocheng Mining Group.

The lunch was simple, like a buffet; each person held a plate and served themselves some dishes and rice.

However, during the meal I didn't see Zhuang Shi, Tian Shi, or Chairman Ji; they must have gone somewhere private to discuss something.

The remaining people silently ate their meals in the Reception Center's restaurant.

I thought to myself, let me speak,

I waited all morning, and the result was nothing.

Really boring.

If not speaking, then not speaking.

I followed them to share a meal.

I had no chance to meet General Manager Ji privately.

This reception is truly damn boring.

After the meal, the reception center had already prepared rooms for us.

Let us rest a bit so we can arrange the afternoon's activities.

Every room had tea and fruit. Very thoughtful.

I ate fruit, thinking, if we go to other companies to visit this afternoon.

I'm leaving now; staying here is truly a waste of time.

I still have a lot of things to do.

But before leaving, I must tell Secretary Qin so he can inform Tian Shi.

I can't leave secretly.

I checked the time and decided to send Secretary Qin a message at two.

I'll rest on the bed first.

I had just rested on the bed for a moment when the phone rang.

When I saw it was Secretary Qin's call,

"Hello, Secretary Qin."

"Mr. Zhao, come up to the tenth floor of the reception center now. Have you prepared the speech I asked you to prepare?" Qin Secretary asked.

"I've prepared it; I thought I wouldn't have to speak." I said.

"All right, I'll wait for you on the tenth floor." Qin Secretary said and hung up.

I quickly got dressed and went to the tenth floor.

When I reached the tenth floor, Secretary Qin was indeed waiting for me at the conference room door.

"Mr. Zhao, Tian Shi is waiting for you inside."

"You have a ten-minute speaking slot; this afternoon those leaders will go to Shanghu to inspect the main mines of Zaocheng Mining Group." Qin Secretary arranged.

I nodded and pushed the door into the conference room.

There weren't many people in the meeting, just six or seven.

There were Tian Shi, Zhuang Shi, General Manager Ji, and others.

Tian Shi saw me come in, immediately stood up, and introduced me to these people.

"Zhuang Shi, let me introduce you: this is Zhao Jianqiang, former chairman of Zaocheng Da Heng Group, now my private consultant. Jianqiang, this is Zhuang Shi."

Zhuang Shi stood up.

"Hello, Mr. Zhao, Da Heng Group is very famous. I've heard of it many times in Huaihai; I've long admired you, Mr. Zhao."

I quickly reached out my hand and shook Zhuang Shi's hand, saying, "Zhuang Shi, thank you for the praise. Da Heng Group is nothing compared to Huaihai City's enterprises."

Please have a seat.

Zhuang Shi sat down.

Tian Shi then introduced General Manager Ji to me,

"Old Ji, this is Zhao Jianqiang. You've always wanted to meet him; here's your chance."

General Manager Ji looked at me and said, "Mr. Zhao, it's great to meet you here, right?"

"General Manager Ji, you said it; I should be the one saying it—I'm glad to meet you. That's right." I said.

Tian Shi laughed, patted my shoulder, and then introduced me to the others.

After the introductions were finished,

Tian Shi gestured for me to sit on a sofa.

He then said: "This morning we visited some enterprises in Zaocheng. They are high-tech companies and also industries of sustainable development."

Zhuang Shi was very pleased; he thought the enterprises of our two cities should deepen exchanges and learn from each other.

A city's development requires broad unity with surrounding brother cities; Huaihai City is Zaocheng's elder brother, a model for us to learn from.

General Manager Ji, this afternoon's activity is to visit your coal operations. Know that Zaocheng was once known as Coal City, and the history of coal resource extraction here is very long.

It has already lasted hundreds of years; just now General Manager Ji also said that Zaocheng Mining Group faces development difficulties—this is because the coal industry has a life cycle.

Zaocheng Mining Group employs over a hundred thousand workers; if there's no coal left to mine, what then? I'm not alarmist—the reality is right there.

Besides coal, do we have any other ways to develop?

Yesterday I discussed this topic with Jianqiang; his words instantly opened my mind.

Today I specially arranged for Mr. Zhao Jianqiang to add a side dish during our lunch, and now please welcome Mr. Zhao Jianqiang to speak.