Chapter 1789: Drunk as Mud

Fortunately, Zhang Hui didn't linger by his side for long, otherwise Zheng Tulu felt he would have been a bit unseemly in his agitation. After filling Zheng Tulu's glass, Zhang Hui turned to He Liping's side, also filled her glass, then filled the glasses for Zhang Jiayin and Lin Dafa in turn, before returning to her seat.

After the first glass of wine, the atmosphere at the dinner table gradually became relaxed and pleasant. A table of people ate and found topics to chat about. After a while, Zhang Jiayin put down his chopsticks, picked up his wine glass, and said respectfully to Zheng Tulu: "Come, Old Zheng, let's have a drink, I toast you." As he said this, he raised his wine glass.

"Why are you being so polite, Old Zhang." Zheng Tulu put down his chopsticks, also picked up his wine glass, and raised it. Zhang Jiayin leaned forward slightly, raised his glass to gently clink it against Zheng Tulu's, producing a crisp sound, and then tilted his head back to finish the second glass of wine.

Zheng Tulu did the same, drank the wine, and ate a few bites of food. Zhang Jiayin toasted He Liping again, and then it was Lin Dafa's turn, who toasted Zheng Tulu and He Liping in turn. Finally, it was Zhang Hui, who also toasted the two of them.

Zheng Tulu knew that this drinking party today was not just about eating and drinking. As a businessman, Zhang Jiayin could think of inviting him to this meal and drink, so there must be something he was asking for. However, after several glasses of wine, the topic still hadn't entered the main point. In the past, Zheng Tulu would have taken the initiative to ask, but because he had already promised to help Ma Lan get the land, the old man learned to be smart today. Zhang Jiayin and Lin Dafa didn't talk about the main business, so he and He Liping tacitly didn't ask about it.

After three rounds of drinking and five flavors of food, the atmosphere at the dinner table became increasingly relaxed and pleasant. Under the continuous bombardment of Zhang Jiayin and Lin Dafa, Zheng Tulu and He Liping were flushed and talked more. At this time, Zhang Jiayin steered the topic to the main point. He took a puff of his cigarette and said to Zheng Tulu: "Old Zheng, I heard that the government intends to carry out primary development on a piece of land in the Chanba Development Zone. I don't know if you have heard about this?"

At this time, Zheng Tulu, because the alcohol had gone to his head, had thrown his previous idea of playing dumb to the back of his mind. He looked at Zhang Jiayin drunkenly, nodded with a flushed face, and said: "Of course I've heard of it. You, a person outside the system, have heard of this matter, so how could I, a leader in a government unit, not have heard of it?"

Zhang Jiayin hurriedly accompanied him with a smile and said: "Yes, yes, you are such a big leader, Old Zheng, you must have heard of it. The development prospects of the Chanba Development Zone are very good, and many people are eyeing the land there now."

Zheng Tulu looked at him drunkenly and laughed: "That must also include you, President Zhang?"

"Old Zheng, you are wrong there. I really don't have that plan. Our Beichen Group has too wide a layout, and the projects are all in prefecture-level cities and counties. We don't have the energy and manpower to compete with other companies for the Chanba Development Zone project. However..." Speaking of this, Zhang Jiayin deliberately paused and intentionally looked at Lin Dafa beside him.

Sure enough, Zheng Tulu followed his gaze and looked at Lin Dafa, then laughed at Zhang Jiayin with a flushed face: "Is it that Old Lin has this intention?"

"To tell you the truth, Director Zheng and Deputy Director He, I really do have this plan. I only have the Moon Bay project on hand, and I want to develop a few more projects at the same time. But now land is very scarce, so I just happened to hear from Old Zhang that the government has the idea of carrying out primary development in the Chanba Development Zone, so I thought about fighting for it," Lin Dafa said with a smile.

He Liping, who was more sober than Zheng Tulu, heard Lin Dafa finally state the true purpose of today's meal. She looked at Zheng Tulu, her face flushed, and said to Lin Dafa with a coquettish look: "But this news is only heard; the Construction Committee here doesn't have any news yet. I'm afraid we can't help Old Lin with anything, right?"

Zhang Jiayin saw that He Liping didn't want to accept this request, so he continued to laugh: "The government has this idea, that's probably correct. Now it's just a matter of time, seeing when the specific documents will be issued. However, the land in the Chanba Development Zone is very competitive now. But once the government issues the documents, I'm afraid Old Lin won't have the chance to develop it, as it will have been fought for by others. It just so happens that we are drinking together today, so I'm telling the two leaders, please consider Old Lin more in this matter and try your best to help Old Lin."

He Liping laughed twice and tactfully declined: "The key is that the Provincial Construction Committee doesn't have any news yet. As you said, once the competition is so fierce, it is most effective for you to find relationships from the Provincial Government or the Municipal Government. The power of the Construction Committee is too small. I'm afraid Old Zheng and I can't help much."

"Deputy Director He, then you underestimate the power of your Construction Committee. It's not small at all. When the government issues documents, they will certainly ask your Construction Committee to submit opinions. Things like planning approval must certainly be done by the Construction Committee. It's primary development, after all. The initiative is in the hands of the government and you leaders of government units, right? Anyway, there is no need for public bidding, so the initiative is very large." Zhang Jiayin persuaded He Liping.

Zheng Tulu was a bit drunk, but he heard these dialogues very clearly. He said drunkenly: "This matter, when Old He and I have news here, we will certainly consider Old Lin. However, the competition is very fierce. As for whether you can succeed, it depends on whether you have any relationships in the government, Old Lin."

"Old Zheng, you can rest assured about this. Old Lin will still handle the relationships that need to be handled. You also know his character; he will repay a drop of kindness with a gushing spring." Zhang Jiayin tactfully indicated that Lin Dafa would have a heavy reward for Zheng Tulu after the matter was accomplished.

"Old Zhang, I know your and Old Lin's character, you are reliable. But this matter, let me... let me and Deputy Director He discuss it carefully when we go back, and then see the government's movement." Although Zheng Tulu was a bit drunk, his words were still very smooth.

"Alright, then I'll leave this matter to you and Deputy Director He, Old Zheng." Zhang Jiayin saw that Zheng Tulu and He Liping didn't express much, and insisting on this topic at the dinner table would likely cause resentment. Zhang Jiayin still had a way of figuring out the mentality of these leaders at the dinner table.

Then they chatted about other things, toasted each other, and went back and forth. Among the five people at the dinner table, except for Zhang Jiayin's eldest daughter Zhang Hui, who was sober because she didn't drink much, the other four were all drunk. Everyone looked flushed and dazed, and even the sound of their voices became much higher. The atmosphere in the private room was exceptionally lively and pleasant.

As the alcohol kicked in, the high-pitched atmosphere began to become increasingly low. After a while, no one was talking. The half-drunk Zhang Jiayin saw that it was about time, so he tried his best to sit up, picked up his wine glass, and said loudly: "Come, Director Zheng, Deputy Director He, Old Lin, come, let's have a reunion drink. This is the last glass of wine. After drinking, let's go back. I see Director Zheng and Deputy Director He are a bit sleepy." ===== CHAPTER 1790 =====