Chapter 2685: Seeking Cooperation

Because many senior executives from foreign companies attended the symposium, lunch was served buffet-style in a medium-sized banquet hall next to the restaurant on the second floor.

After entering the banquet hall, the over one hundred Chinese and Western dishes dazzled everyone, also proving that the organizers had indeed spared no expense.

Zhou Andong took a tray, served himself some fried rice, picked up a lion's head meatball and several large shrimp, and finally held a bowl, filling it with bok choy and pork rib soup.

He had just sat down in an empty corner when Liu Xiangchun approached with his tray and plopped down beside him.

"Zhou Dong, I heard you invested in a farm?"

Zhou Andong smiled, knowing Liu Xiangchun would bring this up, since Hope Group still sold feed: "Indeed, but the scale is not large."

Liu Xiangchun said with a smile: "The scale not being large doesn't matter; with your financial resources and vision for the future, you will definitely expand the scale."

Zhou Andong said helplessly: "Director Liu, we have no problem cooperating, but you are in Sichuan Province and I am in Northeast China. Not to mention transportation issues, just the cost alone would be much higher."

Liu Xiangchun said: "I have considered this problem, so we can cooperate and build a feed factory in Jiangzhou."

Zhou Andong did not expect Liu Xiangchun to have this plan, and without thinking, said: "Sure, after the symposium, I will arrange for someone to talk with you."

"No need!" Liu Xiangchun said: "I plan to tour Sanbei Province, with Jiangzhou as the first stop, and I want to personally visit the farm."

"Okay!" Zhou Andong nodded: "I will call the farm manager tonight to inform him."

As the two were chatting, Ma Xianli approached with his tray, smiling humbly: "Zhou Dong, Director Liu, do you mind if I join you?"

Zhou Andong glanced at Ma Xianli, having never met him, but since he was invited to the symposium, he must be a person of some standing, though Zhou Andong was simply ignorant of him.

"Of course!" Attending the symposium is precisely to meet more people.

"Director Ma!" Obviously Liu Xiangchun knew Ma Xianli, he moved over to make space and said politely: "Please sit here."

After sitting down, Ma Xianli introduced himself: "My name is Ma Xianli, my hometown is Yueqing in Zhejiang Province. I went to Germany in early 1992 to develop my career and established the German Ma's Import and Export Company."

Zhou Andong politely shook hands with Ma Xianli: "Hello, Mr. Ma."

After shaking hands with Zhou Andong, Ma Xianli then shook hands with Liu Xiangchun: "Director Liu, we haven't seen each other for about three or four years, right?"

"Indeed!" Liu Xiangchun exclaimed: "Since you went to Germany, we haven't met. Time really flies—before we knew it, three or four years have passed."

After chatting with Liu Xiangchun for a few sentences, Ma Xianli turned to Zhou Andong: "Zhou Dong, last month at a light industry exhibition in Xiangjiang, I saw the Wencheng municipal government promoting some real estate investment projects at the exhibition, which are several plots of land near Wencheng Railway Station under construction.

I carefully studied these investment projects and found them very promising. Moreover, I am also optimistic about the development of domestic real estate, so I decided to accept the call from my hometown to return and invest there."

Zhou Andong said nothing, just listened quietly, occasionally taking a bite of rice, which gave Ma Xianli great confidence. Since he did not stop him from continuing, it proved Zhou Andong was still very interested.

Ma Xianli continued: "But I have no experience in the real estate sector, so I want to find a partner to develop together."

Zhou Andong understood, pondered for a moment, and said: "Cooperation is no problem, but I need to see the proposal first before I can decide."

Ma Xianli was stunned—did he just agree? He had no experience in real estate and no qualifications, so he must find a partner, and Yushi Real Estate is his first target.

However, Yushi Real Estate's development projects are spread nationwide; whether it's financial resources, scale, reputation, or experience, management, and technology, they are first-rate. One could say Yushi Real Estate in China's real estate sector is absolutely "Nanbo Wan." Of course, state-owned enterprises that can obtain municipal projects are excluded.

Moreover, Yushi Real Estate develops only large-scale projects, while he has only obtained a plot of land in the Wencheng Railway Station development project. In his view, convincing Yushi Real Estate to cooperate would be extremely difficult.

He also considered obtaining more plots of land, which would increase the possibility of cooperating with Yushi Real Estate. But his funds are insufficient, unless he sells his import-export company, but he cannot bring himself to go all-in on that.

Therefore, he had no confidence in persuading Zhou Andong. Yet it was unexpected that Zhou Andong agreed so readily, which made him feel somewhat unreal.

"Good!" Ma Xianli was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted and hurriedly said: "I will send the proposal to you as soon as possible."

Liu Xiangchun felt moved: "Director Ma, you are so optimistic about the future of real estate?"

"Of course!" Ma Xianli nodded and said: "I believe that with the development of the market economy, the era of welfare housing allocation will eventually pass, and the era of commercial housing will soon arrive."

Liu Xiangchun said with a smile: "I also have some spare funds. Zhou Dong, Director Ma, why don't we cooperate to establish a real estate company? That way we can also share the risks."

Zhou Andong laughed: "If Director Ma has no objections, I don't mind."

Ma Xianli certainly would not refuse; if it were only cooperation with Yushi Real Estate, he truly lacked confidence in gaining much influence. But adding a shareholder would not only dilute Yushi Real Estate's influence, but also ease his financial strain—why not?

"I welcome it with both hands." Ma Xianli even raised both hands to gesture: "With Director Liu's addition, our new company's strength will increase another notch."

The three were chatting when a low, oppressive voice came from behind: "Three bosses, what are you discussing?"

The three looked up simultaneously and saw one of the four central bigwigs, and quickly stood up: "Leader, please have a seat."

The bigwig held no tray, obviously having already finished eating: "Did I disturb your meal?"

This old man said that, but then sat down without any courtesy.

Zhou Andong, Liu Xiangchun, and Ma Xianli exchanged glances and silently sat down.

The bigwig chuckled and said: "You guys eat."

"You're sitting here—how are we supposed to eat?" Zhou Andong thought to himself, then put down his chopsticks and said with a smile: "We've almost finished eating."

"Exactly!" Liu Xiangchun echoed: "We've finished eating."

The bigwig chuckled, looked at Zhou Andong, and said: "I came over just to chat with Factory Director Zhou."

Zhou Andong sighed: "Do all these bigwigs lack situational awareness? We're eating here, and you old folks come over to chat with me?"

Regardless of what he thought, he said: "Leader, if you have something to say, please speak."

The bigwig said: "Regarding the recent internet news, did you see it?"

Zhou Andong nodded: "I saw it."

The bigwig asked: "What do you think of the internet?"