Chapter 1640

Old Grandma tightly gripped Secretary Kong's hand, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word, tears once again welling up in her eyes.

Seeing this scene, not only Zhou Andong, but Zhang Shengui, Wu Hongkang, Xiao Bei, and Gu Bing also felt a pang of sourness in their hearts.

Especially Zhang Shengui and Wu Hongkang, their purpose in donating money and supplies was actually for publicity. But at this moment, their hearts were touched in a way that could not be expressed.

Thinking that the supplies he donated were a bit insufficient, he wondered why he hadn't thought to buy some cold-weather supplies at the time.

After leaving Old Grandma's house, they directly left the village and went to another severely affected township.

Over the next two days, they wandered through the disaster area. By the third night, after everyone had finished eating, Zhou Andong suddenly noticed that Secretary Kong was missing.

He searched around and found him behind a tent, Secretary Kong sitting on a rock, leaning back against a pile of straw bundles.

"Secretary Kong, why are you alone here?"

Zhou Andong also sat down, gazing at the pure sky and the evening glow in the west.

"In Ali, as long as you calm your mind, you will discover that every place is very beautiful, very beautiful."

"Yes!" Secretary Kong said, panting: "Ali is truly beautiful, and the people of Ali are truly kind and simple; they deserve to live a good life."

Upon hearing Secretary Kong speak, Zhou Andong realized something was wrong: "Secretary Kong, what's wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

Secretary Kong leaned on the straw bundle and weakly waved his hand: "I feel a bit short of breath, it's nothing, just rest a while and I'll be fine."

Zhou Andong frowned, seeing Secretary Kong's poor complexion: "Are you really okay?"

Secretary Kong gave a silent smile: "Even if there is something wrong, there's no doctor here, don't worry, I'm used to it, I'll be fine after resting a bit."

Zhou Andong nodded, saying nothing more, but he continued to observe Secretary Kong.

After a while, Secretary Kong seemed to feel a bit better, his complexion also improved.

"Director Zhou, do you know what 'shou zhong zheng qin' means?"

Zhou Andong was stunned for a moment; he seemed to have heard such words somewhere before.

Before Zhou Andong could answer, Secretary Kong continued: "Shou zhong zheng qin means dying on one's own kang bed, parents seeing off, children raised to adulthood.

People, to reach that level, is not easy…… If I don't make it through these few days, at most it's just a shou zhong, not a zheng qin.

Parents not seeing off, children not raised to adulthood, suffering your sister-in-law for a lifetime……"

Zhou Andong remembered: in his previous life, he had seen a movie where Secretary Kong, during disaster relief, got trapped, and in extreme hypoxia, he said those words to the driver.

"Secretary Kong, we cannot stay here too long. Tomorrow we'll go check the school here, then return to Shi Quan River, rest for a day, and then we'll leave."

Originally Zhou Andong planned to just look around, but Secretary Kong's condition made him truly uneasy.

So he decided to check the school's situation tomorrow and then leave; Secretary Kong would surely follow back, as long as they return to Shi Quan River, Secretary Kong would be fine.

Secretary Kong was startled; last night Zhou Andong still said they should stay a few more days, why suddenly leave now.

But he soon came to terms with it: with such a large enterprise as the Gong Gong Group, Zhou Andong as chairman must be busier than him, a mere secretary.

"Alright, we'll go to the school tomorrow morning, and head back at noon. However, purchasing those frozen cattle and sheep will still take several days, plus quarantine and disposal, which also need time."

"That's easy to handle." Zhou Andong said: "I'll leave the truck and driver behind, and bring all the security personnel back. Also, after I leave, the driver will have to pay for his meals."

"No no no!" Secretary Kong waved his hand: "How could I accept money?"

Zhou Andong said with a smile: "After we leave, the task is considered complete; those staying behind are waiting for cargo pickup, which is commercial activity, and the regional and county authorities have no need or obligation to host them for free."

These past few days, several hundred people eating and drinking have indeed brought great pressure to the regional committee.

But in Secretary Kong's view, they brought nine million yuan in living supplies and over thirty million yuan in donations.

So no matter how great the pressure, even if the officials tighten their belts, they must still receive the guests well.

Secretary Kong firmly said: "I don't care what commercial activity it is; as long as the people of Gong Gong Group stay here for one day, I will manage their meals for one day."

Zhou Andong opened his mouth, still wanting to say something, but seeing Secretary Kong's firm expression, he knew saying anything would be useless, so he yielded.

"When I return, I will immediately arrange people to come over for negotiations and market inspection simultaneously, and get the bottling plant started as soon as possible, aiming for production by the end of next year."

At this time, domestic equipment manufacturers were already numerous, capable of producing bottling production lines.

Although they cannot compare to the advanced automation level abroad, Ali needs more job opportunities.

Therefore, Zhou Andong decided to purchase bottling production lines domestically, arranging as many workers as possible.

However, whether it's the brewery or the Zhumaidian bottling base, or the new factory of Jiang Xiaobai and Gong Gong Liquor Industry, they are all using imported equipment.

He is not familiar with domestic equipment manufacturers, so he needs to ask Wu Hongkang and Zhang Shengui, who should know.

Upon hearing this, Secretary Kong felt his body instantly filled with strength upon knowing Zhou Andong would arrange people to come talk after returning.

His spirit and energy were better than before, and he wished he could send Zhou Andong off right now.

Moreover, he had made up his mind: as long as the people of Gong Gong Group come, as long as the conditions proposed are not too excessive, the regional committee will give full support.

As soon as possible, let the project take root, let the bottling base start production early, so that the people of Ali will have a source of income, and their lives will improve.

Zhou Andong and Secretary Kong talked a lot until the sun completely disappeared and the temperature dropped rapidly.

"It's too cold, go rest." Zhou Andong helped Secretary Kong up: "We still need to get up early tomorrow."

Secretary Kong patted the dust off his trousers, then inhaled a mouthful of cold air.

"Director Zhou, although I've already said too many thanks, I still want to say once more: thank you, for bringing hope to the people of Ali."

Zhou Andong shook his head: "I am a businessman, not as great as you say. Building a bottling plant in Ali is normal commercial investment, to sell products to the Tibetan region and fill market gaps."

"I don't understand business much, you say it's to sell products to the Tibetan region that you built the bottling plant in Ali. But Ali's transportation environment and geographical location, are they really suitable for investing in and building a bottling plant?"

Secretary Kong laughed: "I have a scale in my heart; if Ali were truly suitable for investment, over these many years, besides minerals and agriculture, how could no enterprise have come here to invest?"