Chapter 555: Going with the Flow, Human Feelings

Chen Yang stayed in Lianzhou for three days, visited some local enterprises; overall, it was not much different from Qingshui City. Most enterprises had poor performance, workers often had wages withheld, and work enthusiasm was low.

In this situation, Yan Feng wanted to achieve results quickly, so he could only push hard on infrastructure construction.

The problem is that other prefecture-level cities in Dongjiangsheng are also doing infrastructure construction and are short of funds. Even if Liu Jianghua wanted to help Yan Feng, it would be inappropriate to show too much favoritism.

So Chen Yang quickly understood the intentions of Liu Jianghua and Yan Feng: they wanted him to invest all the money from selling the ordinary people's meat industry limited company into Lianzhou City's infrastructure construction.

Although developing real estate in Lianzhou could be profitable, from an investment perspective its cost‑performance ratio is very low.

With this funds, casually undertaking a project in Shencheng or Yangcheng could multiply several times; even if not, going to Xingcheng could at least double it.

But having come this far, if he didn't undertake a project, aside from offending Yan Feng, Liu Jianghua would have no way to explain things. After careful thought, Chen Yang decided to go big.

"Mayor Yan, the land at the intersection of Red Flag Road and Zhongshan Road is not bad; I can invest to build a large commercial plaza."

Yan Feng, upon hearing this, felt both happy and worried. He was happy that Chen Yang finally took the initiative to mention investment; he was worried because the land Chen Yang had his eye on was relatively complicated, and demolition had already caused two major accidents.

"Chen Yang, the situation of that plot on Red Flag Road is rather complicated; why not change the location? The city actually has several other good golden spots suitable for a commercial plaza."

"No, I want this plot." Chen Yang's attitude was very firm. When the return on investment is uncertain, the best hedge is to take the most sought‑after land.

Yan Feng lowered his head to think for a while, then said to Chen Yang: "Chen Yang, to be frank, that place has more than a dozen extremely difficult households. Persuading them to relocate will exact a very high cost."

Chen Yang replied: "As long as it's a problem that money can solve, it's not a problem."

Seeing that Chen Yang was not intimidated by the demolition households' lion‑sized demands, Yan Feng also felt somewhat moved.

"Chen Yang, if you truly don't mind spending money, I can hold a meeting with the relevant officials to discuss handing that land over to you."

"Alright, then I'll wait for your good news." After reaching an agreement with Yan Feng, Chen Yang left the city government with Su Mingyue and drove straight to the intersection of Red Flag Road and Zhongshan Road.

This is the most prosperous area of Lianzhou City, but aside from a few newly renovated street‑front shops, the surrounding buildings are quite old; they are said to have been built in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Lianzhou City Government has planned to demolish this area since 2001, but it has never reached an agreement with local residents on compensation.

According to information gathered by Chen Yang's bodyguard, the original developer here was also a well‑known local bully who had tried to force the holdout households to submit through violent demolition. Unexpectedly, these residents were very united; after two incidents, they gained no advantage.

Chen Yang actually wasn't worried about the holdout households making lion‑sized demands. At present, housing prices in Lianzhou are only a little over two thousand; even if they were greedy, getting one million would already be the limit.

As long as Yan Feng can resolve the land‑use rights issue, he can launch the demolition negotiations.

Of course, Chen Yang is only responsible for the investment; the subsequent development work still needs to be done by Liu Shijie, who purposely came here to meet up with him.

After about half an hour, a Mercedes‑benz and a Jinbei large minivan from the direction of Xingcheng slowly approached and finally stopped near Chen Yang's car.

From the Mercedes‑benz stepped a man and a woman. The man was Liu Shijie; the woman, about twenty, dressed very flamboyantly, quickly linked arms with Liu Shijie after getting out—obviously they were lovers.

Behind them, three men and two women walked out of the Jinbei; all were dressed in formal suits and looked very solemn.

Chen Yang glanced and saw they were all Liu Shijie's confidants; so he and Su Mingyue got out and greeted them.

Seeing Su Mingyue get out of the car together with Chen Yang, Liu Shijie let out a soft sigh and said: "Chen Yang, I really admire you. Others guard against fire, theft, and female friends; you directly took in the female friend."

Su Mingyue had been helping Liu Shijie with stock agency; their relationship was very close. Upon being teased, she was dissatisfied and defended: "Manager Liu, don't talk nonsense; we are innocent."

Liu Shijie laughed: "Su Mingyue, what are you afraid of? I won't tell Qingqing, and I certainly wouldn't sneak a report to Lin Wei."

"We really are innocent!" Su Mingyue didn't believe Liu Shijie and decided to stand firm to the end.

"Alright, even if you are innocent." Liu Shijie, seeing Su Mingyue not admitting it and not wanting to dwell on the topic—after all, Su Mingyue is his god of wealth—pointed at the old residential area on Red Flag Road and said to Chen Yang: "This location is not bad; the surroundings have been developed, but this spot remains untouched. It looks like the water here is deep!"

Chen Yang replied dismissively: "Whether the water is deep or not, it's merely a matter of whether the funds are in place. I will handle the land‑use rights and demolition issues; you just need to see that the subsequent work is done well."

"No problem, roughly when can we start work?" Liu Shijie's favorite thing is cooperating with Chen Yang—lots of money, little trouble, and he never withholds project payments.

Chen Yang said: "I have already asked Mayor Yan to settle the land‑use rights issue. Once that is settled, the demolition negotiations should proceed quickly."

Liu Shijie suddenly gave Chen Yang a flirtatious smile and said: "Chen Yang, could you introduce me to Mayor Yan?"

Chen Yang immediately understood his meaning and reminded: "You still have many unfinished projects in Xingcheng and Qingshui City; if you come to invest in Lianzhou, can you handle the workload?"

"Don't worry!" Liu Shijie said confidently: "I have bought my ex‑wife's company and recruited a new batch of workers. Now even if three places start work simultaneously, there is no problem."

Chen Yang's main concern was that Liu Shijie's blind expansion would affect the schedule of the Dongjiang New City and Dongjiang Second Bridge old‑city renovation projects. Since the other side had already made preparations, he was also happy to go with the flow and return the favor.

Yan Feng needs more investment to boost his political achievements, while Liu Shijie needs more projects to expand his business. If they can mutually accomplish each other's goals, Chen Yang can then disengage from Lianzhou City sooner.

Chen Yang brought Liu Shijie around Lianzhou City; only in the evening did they reach the Lianzhou Grand Hotel and book a large private room. Then he called Yan Feng: "Mayor Yan, I have a friend who does real‑estate development and would like to meet you; is now convenient?"

"Convenient, where are you? I'll come right away!"

"We're at the Lianzhou Grand Hotel!"

"Alright, wait fifteen minutes."

Yan Feng had asked Liu Jianghua to invite Chen Yang to Lianzhou for the purpose of attracting investment. Now Chen Yang not only wants to invest himself but also brought a friend along; how could he possibly neglect this? He immediately had the secretary call the relevant officials to go together to the Lianzhou Grand Hotel.