Chapter 2729: The Seeds of Hope

The meeting ended, and aside from the foreigners leaving, everyone else stayed put, buzzing with discussion about what Zhou Andong had said, especially the private enterprise bosses, who were discussing it very heatedly.

What kind of chemical reaction would government power + state-owned enterprise strength + private enterprise vitality produce? No one could say for sure for now. But everyone was optimistic—if it could be implemented, private enterprises would benefit the most. As long as private enterprises rise, the domestic economy will at least climb a step, and employment rates will increase significantly.

The hum of discussion in the venue never ceased, while the four big shots also chatted in low voices, and Zhou Andong was surrounded by a group of people including Liu Xiangchun, Maxianli, Wang Maogun, etc., asking him questions.

Seeing that it was almost twelve o'clock, Zhou Andong stood up and said: "Alright, alright, if there's anything to say, we can talk tonight—hurry up and go eat, don't delay the afternoon meeting."

"Exactly!" Wang Maogun said: "Come on, let's go eat—we can talk about anything tonight."

"Zhou Andong!" Just as Zhou Andong was about to leave, a big shot called out to him: "Come eat with us."

"Got it!" Zhou Andong shrugged at Wang Maogun and the others: "You guys go eat—I need to attend to the leaders."

Wang Maogun and Liu Xiangchun and the others laughed and left, chatting as they went.

Zhou Andong and the four big shots waited until most people had left before standing up and walking toward the main gate. After exiting the conference hall, they went straight into the reception room diagonally opposite. The waiters had already brought the food over and placed it on the coffee table.

Zhou Andong had no sense of decorum—the leader hadn't even sat down yet, and he had already seated himself, picked up his rice bowl, and taken a bite: "Leader, I'm hungry—I'll eat first."

"We're hungry too—let's eat first, then talk after." The four big shots laughed. What Zhou Andong had just said had completely opened a new door for them, inside which lay the seeds of hope.

They knew that once this seed bore fruit, it could feed countless people. But how to plant it—how big a hole to dig, how much water to pour, how much fertilizer to apply—they still had many questions for Zhou Andong. So they decided to use this midday break to chat with him.

The afternoon meeting started at 1:30 PM. Zhou Andong and the four big shots talked until 1:20 PM, then entered the conference hall together.

Ye Zhen remained seated in the back, by the aisle. As soon as Zhou Andong entered, her eyes followed his every step until he sat down, at which point she withdrew her gaze.

The afternoon meeting was just a few leaders giving summaries. Zhou Andong kept slipping out, thinking about his wedding. It's already the third—preparations for the wedding must begin soon.

But he has no time—the wool factory reform is imminent, and once the city meeting approves it, implementation must begin. Besides, he also needs to go to Guangdong Province. First, get the wedding attire and jewelry; second, meet the siblings from his great-grandfather's lineage; third, resolve the matter of his cousin Shen Wenqiang—no matter what, he must first get that person out.

At four o'clock, the meeting ended on schedule. The four big shots had many things to do, so after adjourning, they left directly. Zhou Andong had just stood up when Guan Shengjie and Du Youwei approached him.

"Andong!" Guan Shengjie said: "These past two days—do you have time? I want to do an interview with you!"

Zhou Andong asked doubtfully: "What kind of interview?"

Guan Shengjie said: "Just about what you said in this morning's meeting—I think it's absolutely necessary to do a special feature on it, to talk about it."

Zhou Andong shook his head bluntly: "No time."

"No time during the day? Midnight works too." Guan Shengjie said with a smile: "How about tonight, after the networking dinner?"

"No way!" Zhou Andong said impatiently: "I'm very regular with my rest—I must be asleep by ten o'clock at night."

"Cut the crap!" Guan Shengjie snapped: "We two have drunk together until the early hours more than once—just tell me, when do you have time? Stop beating around the bush with me."

Zhou Andong turned and walked away: "I'll call you when I have time."

"Fine, you go." Guan Shengjie said resentfully: "Since you left today, we brothers have nothing left to do."

Zhou Andong stopped, sighed, and said: "Alright then—after the networking dinner ends, let's go to the first bar."

"That's more like it." Guan Shengjie laughed, reached out, and said: "Give me your room key—I'll go to your room and organize today's manuscript."

"You're not going to eat?" Guan Shengjie shook his head: "Time is tight, the task is heavy—we'll just grab a bite in your room."

"How is time tight? How is the task heavy? It's not like we're missing a few minutes for a meal." Zhou Andong pulled Guan Shengjie, then turned to Du Youwei and said: "Sister-in-law, come on—let's go eat."

Previously, Zhou Andong had always called Du Youwei "older sister," but today this one "sister-in-law" made her blink in surprise. But it made Guan Shengjie overjoyed—he gave Zhou Andong an approving look, then hehe-laughed: "Come on, let's go eat."

The banquet hall is on the third floor. Aside from the four big shots not having time to attend the networking dinner, no one was absent—including those foreigners.

As soon as Zhou Andong entered the banquet hall doors, someone noticed him—first to approach was the giant's boss, Shi Lao Ban.

"Zhou Dong!" Shi Lao Ban stretched out his hand from afar, smiling broadly: "I've always wanted to find a chance to chat with you, but every time I see you, you're surrounded by people—I, with my small frame, can't squeeze in, so I can only stand regretfully in the back."

Zhou Andong's mouth curled into a barely perceptible cold smile—everyone knows the relationship between this Shi Lao Ban and Lian Xiangzhi; both are members of the Taishan Club. If he really wanted to talk to him, how could he not find an opportunity? Now he suddenly comes over to find me—he must be trying to dig up information about Yuzhou Technology.

"This damn bastard!" Zhou Andong cursed inwardly—Lian Xiangzhi really won't die with his ambitions. Just wait—one day, I'll kill you.

Seeing this, Guan Shengjie helplessly said to Du Youwei: "Come on, let's go eat first."

After saying that, Guan Shengjie lightly patted Zhou Andong's arm: "We'll go get something to eat—you guys keep chatting."

"Go ahead!" Zhou Andong nodded, then laughed heartily as he shook hands with Shi Lao Ban: "For Mr. Shi, I've long admired your name. Just as you said—I've wanted to find a chance to talk to you, but couldn't."

Shi Lao Ban burst into a hearty laugh: "Zhou Dong, you're too kind. If you really want to find me, I'm available anytime—I'll come running when called."

Zhou Andong picked up a glass of red wine from the nearby table, gestured slightly toward Shi Lao Ban, then took a light sip and praised:

"Mr. Shi, last year Giant Group sold only handwritten Chinese computers and software—yet still made 3.6 billion. Incredible."

Shi Lao Ban waved his hand humbly: "Zhou Dong, when others say that, I'd certainly be proud. But when you say it, I don't dare feel even a bit of pride. My achievements, compared to yours, are nothing."

Just then, the boss from Ordos, Wang Lao Ban, came over holding a cup of juice: "Zhou Dong, Mr. Shi—did I interrupt you?"

"No!" Zhou Andong laughed, reached out, and shook hands with Wang Jingrui: "Today this is a networking dinner—it's meant to create opportunities for us to communicate."

Wang Jingrui then shook hands with Shi Lao Ban, then turned to Zhou Andong and said: "I've always wanted to find a time to have a drink with you, Zhou Dong, and see if there's any chance for cooperation. But these past few days have been so busy, so I thought I'd use tonight's networking dinner to chat with you."

Shi Lao Ban said he hadn't found a chance to talk with Zhou Andong, and Zhou Andong didn't believe him—but when Wang Jingrui said it, Zhou Andong believed: "Mr. Wang, Mr. Shi, let's go over there and sit down to talk."