Chapter 664: Experts Have Arrived

The next morning, I contacted Zhu Sheng and asked him to arrange for the experts to come.

Zhu Sheng agreed.

He told me,

There are fifteen experts in total, covering environment, safety, ancient architecture, geological survey, urban planning, rural development, and so on.

All experts who could be useful were included.

That put my mind at ease.

The experts will come by car to Zaocheng the day after tomorrow.

Then they will go to Xue County for an on-site inspection.

I immediately reported to Tian Shi, who said the reception work would be handed to me to handle, because he has to go to the Provincial Capital for a meeting tomorrow.

I had no choice but to agree.

I quickly contacted Cui Chengshan and Li Jia, asking them to go to Zaocheng Xin Cheng so we could together receive the expert team's arrival.

Time quickly arrived at the day after tomorrow.

The experts arrived in two minibuses. Secretary Qin conducted the welcoming ceremony on behalf of the city.

I, together with Cui Chengshan and Li Jia, was responsible for the specific reception work.

These people are experts from all walks of life.

After they arrived, they first had to hold a symposium.

Each expert had to speak; it seemed as if not speaking would mean they weren't experts.

I couldn't understand what they were saying.

The fifteen experts held a symposium that lasted a whole day.

Then we entertained them at the Reception Center.

These experts are all heavy drinkers and have a deep knowledge of food.

For every dish served, they could expound on it knowledgeably.

Clearly they are experts—great eaters.

After the meal, we let the experts rest at the Reception Center, but they requested to go take a bath and get a foot massage.

The Reception Center does not have such facilities.

Cui Chengshan quickly arranged for a large bathhouse in Xin Cheng to suspend its external business.

So the experts could bathe comfortably in the evening.

The experts went to the bathhouse, and after bathing,

they sat in comfortable lounge chairs and began to enjoy a full range of services.

Looking at these experts with their drunken, hazy eyes,

I really wondered what these guys think about all day.

Some of them are university professors or heads of certain projects.

They brazenly made demands.

We could only satisfy them.

In the private rooms of the bathhouse, they began to flirt with the service staff.

I admit defeat before them.

What opinions could such experts have?

Sigh, one can easily imagine what kind of report they will produce.

Only after the experts had enjoyed themselves did they return to rest.

The next day at noon we went to Xue County.

Upon arriving in Xue County, we first went to have a look at the ruins of the Ancient Xue Kingdom, then we went to Gourd Village.

We set off toward the mountainous area in a mighty convoy.

When we reached the mountainous area, the vehicles drove up the slope.

Li Jia was explaining the scenery of the mountainous area to these experts.

These experts kept staring at Li Jia's chest,

No matter the mountain scenery, it was not as good as Li Jia's explanation.

Many experts deliberately asked Li Jia some irrelevant questions,

Li Jia answered with a smile.

Some even told Li Jia vulgar long jokes, which Li Jia did not avoid,

but instead she joked with the experts.

These experts all laughed heartily.

They circled around the mountainous area.

Cui Chengshan had already arranged for staff to pose as ordinary people,

prepared the local specialties of the mountainous area,

so the experts could sample them.

After eating, the experts were very satisfied, saying these were green products and they wanted to take some away.

Upon hearing that, I just shook my head.

It's too ruthless—eating and drinking, and even taking things; they don't even let agricultural products go.

There's nothing to be done; then we'll prepare.

So we prepared fifteen portions of agricultural products and loaded them onto the vehicle.

Experts, in a grand entourage, followed Li Jia up One Line Sky to have a look.

Soon Li Jia called Cui Chengshan.

Saying the experts wanted to have a barbecue in the mountains at noon.

Damn, are these experts' brains really squeezed by the door?

Having a barbecue in the mountains,

You know we haven't prepared for this at all.

Moreover, having a barbecue in the mountains is dangerous and can easily cause a fire.

They really can do it.

No choice, Cui Chengshan quickly contacted someone, letting the owner of a famous barbecue restaurant in Xue County bring chefs and mutton up the mountain,

to prepare a barbecue feast for the experts.

We arranged people to first level a place; with so many people, we needed tables for eating.

Also need someone responsible for safety, especially the fire department on standby down the mountain.

The barbecue grills were finally set up, and the experts also came back from One Line Sky.

They sat again at the tables, drinking beer, admiring the deep autumn scenery in the mountains, waiting for the mutton skewers to be served.

As soon as the mutton skewers were served, these people rushed like dogs smelling feces,

and actually started grabbing them directly.

They ate with oil dripping from their mouths and eyes shining.

They drank until they were staggering, some began to talk nonsense, some started to complain and curse their mothers; each felt unappreciated talent, each felt they were pillars of society.

Watching them, I and Cui Chengshan shook our heads.

At first, Cui Chengshan greatly respected these people, speaking very carefully.

When he saw the true nature of this batch of people,

contempt appeared in his eyes.

I smiled at Cui Chengshan,

"Chengshan, you now know how formidable the experts are, right?

"They are experts, yet they actually grabbed for the mutton skewers.

"Sigh, enough, almost done; after we send them away later, I'll be at ease."

"Mr. Zhao, I used to feel that experts were quite sacred in my heart, but upon contact I discovered they're even not as good as me.

"Really unexpected."

"Chengshan, you don't know, they really aren't as good as you; you are a county leader with real authority, while they are just nominal, and in the Provincial Capital they get no real benefits,

"they can only occasionally come down for inspections, getting a little profit, and usually just live off their salaries.

"Hmph, from their eating manner you can tell they've been starving for a long time." I patted Cui Cheng's shoulder.

Cui Chengshan sighed.

"Mr. Zhao, is preparing a 50,000 yuan red envelope for each of them too little?"

"No need that much, giving them 25,000 yuan each is enough; they're only worth that much money. If we give too much, they'll have other ideas, thinking the project's profits are too little,

"if we give too little, they'll feel unbalanced inside."

"This number 25,000, I've investigated; previously Da Heng Group always gave experts 25,000.

"Don't give the experts more than this number."

"Being with Mr. Zhao I've learned a lot; this is the first time I've heard experts are only worth 25,000.

"However, judging by their performance, they really are worth that much; they came just to eat, drink, and play, doing nothing else."

"If they wanted to do anything, it would be troublesome.

"If we encounter a serious expert who seriously investigates and seriously writes a survey report,

"whether our project can pass review is unknown.

"They know this in their hearts,

"we're all just putting on a show; the superiors need these things.

"they also know these things are useless,

"the superiors also know the experts' things are useless,

"but they still use them.

"Because this is one of the means to appease experts. Otherwise, how would we manage these people?"

After hearing me finish, Cui Chengshan pondered briefly,

"Mr. Zhao is right; I suddenly understood many things. That's how it is." Cui Chengshan laughed.

I said to Cui Chengshan: "Watch Li Jia a bit; don't let those experts take advantage and grab a handful.

"Li Jia's dish is not for them to enjoy."

"I understand; I'll have Li Jia restrain herself. Don't get too close to the experts; they're too dangerous—wolves in sheep's clothing." After saying that, Cui Chengshan hurried over to Li Jia's side,

leaning close to Li Jia's ear, whispering something.

After Li Jia heard Cui Chengshan finish speaking,

she immediately put down her glass and stopped drinking with them.