Chapter 847: Discussing Qi He Kuang

I and Zhu Sheng strolled back to Qi He Kuang.

Of course, our conversation need not be taken seriously.

Zhu Sheng also only learned some things from newspaper news.

We merely observed them from afar; we aren't clear on the specific details.

The above talk is just for everyone's entertainment.

No need to take it seriously.

After returning to Qi He Kuang, Xiao Feng had already arranged for the cafeteria to prepare dinner; since the past two days, Zhu Sheng and I had been drinking heavily.

Our bodies were already feeling unwell, so we didn't drink any more alcohol.

We were like ordinary workers, holding trays and eating the big‑pot dish and steamed buns.

Zhu Sheng was very happy,

"Jianqiang, actually eating this big‑pot meal is not bad, it's fragrant. Before, do you still remember? When we inspected your construction site, we ate big‑pot meals."

"I certainly remember, Zhu Sheng."

"Look at our current life, it's really good; we can eat steamed buns and rice as we like."

"Everyone's food and clothing problems have basically been solved." I said to Zhu Sheng.

Zhu Sheng nodded,

"Jianqiang, what you said is not bad; only here, you are willing to put in effort to work,"

"basic living security still exists, but compared to those developed countries, we still have much room for improvement."

"For example, our current management is inadequate; especially in some industries, it's all rough‑and‑ready management, lacking refinement."

"Likewise, our products also need upgrading,"

"we can't keep making low‑end products,"

"and our resources cannot continue to be overexploited in the future."

"otherwise, what will our descendants eat?"

"Zhu Sheng, I understand what you're saying. Look at our Qi He Kuang; we've been mining for many years, and the longer we mine, the greater the difficulty and cost."

"Some coal seams are no longer suitable for mechanical operation."

"They can only be mined manually."

"Moreover, after mining, if the backfilling is not done well, it will cause collapses."

"You just saw the large subsidence pit behind the mine."

"It not only damages farmland, but also brings hidden dangers to the villages."

"Regarding Qi He Kuang, I have considered before wanting to temporarily halt mining."

"But the people here have no other recourse."

"I also cannot but support them."

"Sometimes I also feel conflicted."

"Just as you said, we should carry out industrial upgrading."

"But some places are difficult to upgrade." I finished speaking and started eating the steamed bun.

Zhu Sheng finished drinking the soup in his bowl,

looking at me he said: "This is not only your problem, but a common problem for all resource‑based enterprises."

"Including Chief Ji of the Zaocheng Mining Group, who also once discussed coal mine matters with me."

"So many workers,"

"cannot all end up unemployed, can they?"

"We are forced to choose between two difficult options."

"There's no way around it; who made our enterprises bear such heavy burdens?"

"Jianqiang, your Xue County tourism project is an innovation,"

"if it succeeds,"

"it can also be extended to other places, such as mine tourism,"

"and we can even organize tourists to go down the shaft to experience miners' lives."

"You should know that for mines, many people are unfamiliar with them,"

"people travel precisely to satisfy their curiosity."

"Here we have a large number of abandoned mines,"

"with just renovation and upgrading, we can fully carry out tourism development."

"Could we also build a small museum inside the mine, to introduce to everyone the history of coal mining in our Zaocheng?"

"Actually, many things could be utilized, but nobody does."

"Jianqiang, the innovation we discussed at the Ancient City Wall,"

"actually tourism can also be an innovation."

After listening to Zhu Sheng finish speaking, I kept nodding.

"Zhu Sheng, you are absolutely right."

"I will give this matter careful thought."

"For now, we will first develop the tourism project in Xue County."

"Then,"

"we will proceed with other projects."

"By then, I will talk with Chief Ji, then invite some experts to argue and see which mines are suitable for tourism development."

"I believe that if this mine tourism is developed well, we will be one of a kind in the world." I laughed.

"The old way of thinking is no longer suited to this era."

Some of us remain stuck in the old patterns.

If we cannot innovate in some aspects, development will stall.

Deng ta guo has been number one in the world these years because they have constantly innovated in technology.

They have no historical baggage, and their thinking is lively,

so they can achieve something in technology.

This is what we need to learn from.

We are in great need of innovation.

The main reason is still our small-scale peasant economy,

In the past, three-tenths of an acre of land could feed a family; just holding onto that plot was enough to get by, requiring neither innovation nor external plunder.

An agrarian society is stable, and its thinking is stubborn.

Why is our development here far behind that of the south?

Because the people here cannot open their minds,

Their eyes see only that little plot of land. Actually, once the mindset opens, it will create a different situation.

Jianqiang, let me put it this way,

If one day you close the Qi He Kuang mine, these people will still have work.

They will find something to do, but now they have developed a dependence.

They believe that leaving the Qi He Kuang mine means death.

How could that be? If this occupation disappears, other industries will appear."

Zhu Sheng, looking at the workers eating, said,

I also finished my steamed bun,

Hearing Zhu Sheng say that, I suddenly felt that Zhu Sheng had left some things unexplained.

Is he trying to get me to give up the Qi He Kuang mine?

I probed and asked, "Zhu Sheng, do you mean that I should abandon the Qi He Kuang mine and focus solely on developing the tourism project?"

Zhu Sheng smiled,

"It's not that I want you to give it up, but I'm reminding you,

you should know in your mind that the higher authorities are preparing to shut down some low-output small mines.

I looked at your mine's output, and it should fall within the shutdown scope.

But exactly when it will be carried out is still unknown.

Anyway, I'm not optimistic about the long-term development of the Qi He Kuang mine."

I then said to Zhu Sheng,

"Zhu Sheng, let's go out for a walk; it's not appropriate to discuss these things here."

Zhu Sheng naturally understood what I meant,

that is, letting the workers hear it and then spreading rumors privately would easily affect their morale.

Zhu Sheng and I left the cafeteria, found a quiet spot, and sat down.

I took out a cigarette and passed it to Zhu Sheng,

Zhu Sheng took it,

"Jianqiang, what I just said was only a reminder; as for when the higher authorities will act, that's hard to say."

"No wind, no waves; if the higher authorities have such a plan, there will be action.

Zhu Sheng, regarding the Qi He Kuang mine, your reminder was excellent; why must we keep mining coal, why not link it with tourism?

I will first get the Xue County project underway, then I will handle the Qi He Kuang mine affairs. I want to turn it into the nation's first underground tourism project." I took a puff of smoke.

"Jianqiang, what I want is your daring spirit to eat crab."

"You need to think this through carefully."

"As for personnel matters, later you can talk with General Manager Ji; they have many mines and are lacking underground workers."

"Moreover, these workers, if promoted from local mines to state-owned mines all at once, would be overjoyed."

"Of course, this is only our preliminary plan."

"If one day the authorities order a shutdown,"

"we will stop,"

"we will not desperately beg for help, but will give the Qi He Kuang mine another way out." Zhu Sheng said happily.

"Exactly, be prepared and avoid trouble. Regarding the workers' future, I can talk with General Manager Ji."

"At the same time, we can also cooperate in development."

"Zhu Sheng, your visit this time has opened up my ideas for development." I also said happily.