Chapter 212: Securing the Zhang Group's Project

Chen Yang, the sausage produced by your meat company is really good. Now your products are available all over Qingshui City's streets and alleys; it looks like the first-year target of the five-year plan will be achieved ahead of schedule. Kong Jie praised Chen Yang's achievements at the People's Meat Industry Company as soon as they met.

A food processing plant on the verge of bankruptcy was transformed into a star enterprise of the whole city in just over a month. Across the entire Qingshui City, he couldn't find a second person like that.

Chen Yang said humbly: "Leader, the People's Meat Industry Company's rebirth from dire straits is thanks to your wise leadership. Without your many good policy supports, the company might not have today's good days."

Kong Jie waved his hand. Although he felt pleased hearing that, he didn't want to take credit. "Supporting struggling enterprises is the government's responsibility. Doing well in business is your ability. By bringing together this project in the southern district this time, I also want to see how much undeveloped potential you still have."

"Leader, your words put a lot of pressure on me. Actually, for this project I'm just an investor; the specific matters are handled by Director Yao." Seeing Kong Jie get to the main point, Chen Yang immediately passed the buck to Yao Xia. After all, she had done the preparatory work and knew how to respond.

Kong Jie shook his head slightly. He had already talked with Yao Xia; everything that needed to be understood was clear. At this moment, he was more interested in Chen Yang's inner thoughts.

"Chen Yang, you're the only one from Qingshui City in your team. How to build a community suitable for Qingshui citizens, I still want to hear your opinion."

Chen Yang thought for a moment and said: "Ordinary people naturally hope their lives keep improving. To build a new community, we definitely need upgrades in all aspects. The low-rise stairwell housing for workers' families will surely fade away, to be replaced by well-equipped, superior-environment high-rise and super high-rise elevator apartment complexes."

Kong Jie nodded; Chen Yang's idea suited him. He paused, then asked: "Building high-rise elevator apartment complexes will increase investment costs, and correspondingly raise housing prices. Given Qingshui City's current per‑capita income level, I'm afraid ordinary people may find it hard to afford."

Chen Yang certainly knew most ordinary people couldn't afford it. But as a Reborn Person, he knows that the later one buys a house, the higher the cost.

"Leader, the people have a deep‑rooted family mindset. Whether you buy a house early or late, you'll end up buying one. The domestic real estate market is still in development, with relatively stable prices. If housing prices rise later, ordinary people may become even less able to afford them. Better to suffer first and enjoy later than to enjoy first and suffer later."

"What a fine 'suffer first, enjoy later'!" Kong Jie looked at Chen Yang with new respect. From the data he's seen, domestic housing prices are indeed slowly rising. Even the newly developed residential projects in Qingshui City have seen prices double. Still, he wasn't fully satisfied with Chen Yang's answer: "Chen Yang, you haven't directly answered my question. If ordinary people can't afford the high‑priced elevator apartments, how will you solve it?"

Chen Yang said: "Leader, ordinary people not being able to afford houses isn't our problem—it's the government's. If the government could introduce policies that let banks give home loans to groups with stable income, this problem could actually be solved."

Kong Jie fell into thought. After a while, he countered Chen Yang: "If ordinary people still can't get loans, what then should be done?"

"Leader, your worry is actually unnecessary." Having once been a mortgage slave, Chen Yang speaks with authority. He said: "Anyone who truly wants to buy a house will work hard to earn money to repay the loan. Human potential is limitless; they will always find a solution. Even if some people encounter natural or man‑made disasters and can't repay loans, that's a problem for the banks to solve. Since they want to earn interest, they should bear some risk, right?"

"Makes sense!" Kong Jie felt Chen Yang was right; many people in Qingshui City now lack pressure and just drift along. Adding some life pressure and motivation might really stir up this stagnant pool.

"Then when will you talk again with the Zhang Group?"

"Leader, I can't decide on this; better ask Director Yao!" After saying that, Chen Yang turned his gaze to Yao Xia.

Yao Xia said: "Mayor, we've already quoted sixty million to the Zhang Group and are waiting for their reply."

Kong Jie was speechless upon hearing that. The Zhang Group had spent one hundred million to acquire that land, yet they offered only a sixty percent discount—no wonder Deputy Mayor Meng complained to him with nothing good to say. This really is a bit excessive.

"Comrade Yao Xia, sixty million is a bit low. The Zhang Group, as the leading private enterprise in our city, also has several thousand employees to support. You should also take their difficulties into account."

Yao Xia said: "Mayor, out of respect for you we'll add another ten million. Any more and we'd have to give up."

"Then seventy million." Kong Jie was pleased with Yao Xia's attitude, immediately hammered out the price. Worried that Yao Xia might change her mind, he added:

"You go back and prepare; I'll immediately notify the Zhang Group's people to come and sign a new contract with you."

Chen Yang and Yao Xia immediately stood up to say goodbye.

After leaving the government building, Chen Yang bid farewell to Yao Xia.

Although the Zhang Group might already know he is also a shareholder of Stellar Brilliance Financial Investment Company, to keep the negotiation smooth it's still best for him to stay out of sight.

After returning home, the morning stock market had already closed. The Liu Group's shares, after being jointly smashed by Chen Yang and Qi Yunxiang, returned to calm.

Meanwhile, Xingcheng Heavy Industry, after successive withdrawals of capital, entered a downward trend. If this continues, it's also good news for Chen Yang. Once the Liu Group's theme has been played out, he can make a comeback.

Chen Yang went to the kitchen to cook a meal, then waited for Lin Wei to come home and finish eating before he started waiting for news from Yao Xia.

Around 2:30, Yao Xia's call finally came, her voice very excited.

"Chen Yang, the contract has been signed; we've secured seventy million."

"Good! Don't give all the money at once; drag it out as long as possible." Chen Yang knew the Zhang Group urgently needed money now. The more so, the less he could let them feel comfortable.

"Don't worry, my sister‑in‑law has already given instructions." After receiving Yexin's instructions, Yao Xia deliberately added some installment‑payment clauses to the contract. The full amount can only be paid to the Zhang Group once the relevant conditions are met.

Chen Yang heard that Yexin had considered everything thoroughly, and he relaxed completely. Although Zhang Jun has been arrested, his grudge against the Zhang Group is not over.

Zhang Daguo lost so much assets; his son and nephew are in prison, so he will surely seek revenge,