Chapter 1969: Don't Laugh at Me

At Liu Jianguo's suggestion, everyone's wine glasses were raised in unison toward the center of the table. Since the table was truly massive and Deputy Secretary Yang was the most powerful person present, everyone's glasses were directed toward him. Zhao Desan, sitting opposite, stretched his arm out but still couldn't quite reach; it was truly embarrassing for him. He had to stand on tiptoe to reach, feeling for the first time that his height was a bit insufficient. With a tremendous effort, he finally managed to clink his glass, and then the whole group tilted their heads back in unison, downing the wine in one gulp.

"Leaders, please, eat some food. Have some food." After the first drink, the atmosphere at the table loosened up, and Ma Lan said, playing the hostess.

"Eat, eat. Director Zheng, Deputy Secretary Yang, everyone, please eat." Liu Jianguo chimed in, supporting Ma Lan's invitation.

Zheng Zheng Tulu intentionally glanced at Zhao Desan sitting opposite, then gave a cunning smile. The old guy naturally knew full well the purpose of Ma Lan organizing such a large dinner today. So, while eating, he smiled at Ma Lan and said, "Ma Zong, how is your real estate company coming along now?"

"It has already entered the right track," Ma Lan replied with a smile.

Liu Jianguo had been a bit worried about how to bring up this topic in front of so many people. Since Zheng Zheng Tulu had taken the initiative to talk about it, he could now open the floodgates. He continued, "All the paperwork for Ma Zong's real estate company has been completed for a long time, but there is one thing that still gives her a massive headache..." Liu Jianguo began to build suspense at the right moment.

Deputy Secretary Yang, while eating, turned his head and slightly raised his eyebrows, asking with apparent interest, "What kind of matter could possibly stump Ma Zong?"

Ma Lan gave a slightly embarrassed smile and said, "Please don't laugh at me when I say this, Deputy Secretary Yang."

Deputy Secretary Yang chuckled, set down his chopsticks, and looked at her with keen interest. "Go ahead, Ma Zong. There's nothing to laugh about. If the leaders present here can be of any help, we will certainly do our utmost to assist." The reason Deputy Secretary Yang said this was because he had already been smoothed over by Liu Jianguo and had received quite a few benefits from Ma Lan.

"To be honest with you, Deputy Secretary Yang, the company's paperwork was finished long ago, but the key issue now is that we lack land, and there's no way to get on the right track with development." Following the plan, Ma Lan threw out the most critical problem, wanting to see the reactions of these people who had already promised to help her in private.

After she stated this difficulty, she saw the leaders present look at each other, then simultaneously shift their gaze toward Deputy Secretary Yang, wanting to see his thoughts first. After all, if their private promises didn't align in such a public setting, it wouldn't be convenient to reveal them.

Deputy Secretary Yang nodded while listening to Ma Lan, feigning deep thought as he said, "That really is a problem. For real estate development, the most important thing is to have land; you can't do it without land. However, the Municipal Committee and the Provincial Committee have jointly issued a document to vigorously develop a piece of land in the Chanba Development Zone. I wonder if you have any interest in that?"

"Yes, yes, I am definitely interested. But the competition for land is fierce now, and if I may be blunt, the connections are too complex. If you leaders don't help me, I certainly won't be able to get the land." Ma Lan's words were very smooth, and she looked at everyone with an expectant smile.

"Since Ma Zong has this idea, I can certainly inquire about it for you. But regarding cooperating with our government on primary development, I wonder how strong Ma Zong's own capabilities are? You'll need to front a lot of capital in the early stages; this is different from secondary development," Deputy Secretary Yang said.

Liu Jianguo quickly chimed in with a smile, "Deputy Secretary Yang, you can rest assured about that. I am quite clear about Ma Zong's financial strength. She has been in the coal business for ten or twenty years, and her Xingmao Mining is a major taxpayer in the province. Capital is absolutely not an issue; not an issue at all."

At this point, Zheng Zheng Tulu suddenly remembered something and cast a strange look at Zhao Desan, which made Zhao Desan feel a chill down his spine. He thought, *Could this old guy be thinking about bringing up my time at the Yuyang Coal Bureau again? Does he suspect that I know Ma Lan? Damn it! I must not admit it, even if it kills me! *

Zheng Zheng Tulu cast that strange look, then turned his face and said to Ma Lan with a smile, "Ma Zong's capital should not be a problem. As far as I know, Xingmao Mining is the number one taxpayer in Yuyang City. They pay over a billion in taxes alone each year; their financial strength must be very robust."

Seeing that Zheng Zheng Tulu did not put him on the spot in such a large setting, Zhao Desan finally breathed a sigh of relief. To butter up the old guy and appease him, he chimed in with a fawning smile, "Yes, Director Zheng is right."

Perhaps because Zhao Desan's rank was too low, this interjection didn't earn him Zheng Zheng Tulu's favor; instead, he was glared at. Having been snubbed, Zhao Desan realized that in such a grand setting, given his status and seniority, it was best not to interject. It was better to just prick up his ears and listen quietly. So, he quieted down and stopped talking, only occasionally helping the leaders refill their wine, light their cigarettes, and perform the menial tasks of a small fry—pouring tea, serving water, lighting cigarettes, and patting backs—without expressing any of his own opinions on their conversation.

Unknowingly, the topic at the table continued to develop according to plan under Liu Jianguo's guidance. Because Ma Lan had already smoothed things over with everyone present in private through Liu Jianguo, although no one had made a clear commitment, the subtext almost expressed the same meaning: they would certainly do their utmost to help Ma Lan obtain the land. ===== CHAPTER 1970 =====