Chapter 995

The speeches ended, and Lu Qing walked onto the stage to start introducing the economic development situation in Guangdong Province since the reform and opening up, policy adjustments, and the preferential efforts for local investment enterprises, which were greater than before.

Then came the answers to some existing problems; it was full of solid information. Not only the entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, but also local business owners were listening carefully, because this also concerned their interests.

Lu Qing spoke for a full hour, and the time had already reached 10:30. The beautiful host walked onto the stage and announced that the morning activities were over, inviting all guests to the banquet hall for lunch.

Just as everyone was getting up to leave, dozens of reporters rushed to the front and surrounded Zhou Andong.

Originally, the afternoon arrangement was for interviews with guests, but the list of interview guests they received, besides entrepreneurs from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, included two heads of state-owned enterprises from the mainland, but not Zhou Andong.

How could this be? Today, Zhou Andong's speech was simply too explosive and too topical.

If they didn't block him now, if they let him go, it would definitely be very difficult to make an appointment for an interview later, and they would have to wait in line.

"Chairman Zhou, do you have any prejudice against Mr. Zhuo Qihua?"

"Mr. Zhou, how do you view the issue of blind worship of foreign things?"

"Chairman Zhou, isn't it a fact that the West is more advanced and developed than we are? Isn't it a fact that China has no world-class inventions? Mr. Zhuo Qihua not donating to the mainland is his personal freedom; what qualifications do you have to curse and humiliate him?"

In an instant, the noisy scene quieted down, and everyone looked at this young reporter.

"Hmm?"

Zhou Andong looked at the reporter who asked the question; he was a young man in his thirties, clean and handsome, wearing glasses.

A suit, a white shirt, black leather shoes—a typical elite outfit of this era.

"Which newspaper are you a reporter for?"

The young man smiled and said very proudly: "Yangcheng Evening News."

"Oh!"

Zhou Andong said "Oh": "I will answer your question."

After speaking, Zhou Andong pushed aside the people blocking his way, jumped onto the stage, and then waved his hand towards the backstage.

"Microphone!"

The sound equipment had already been turned off, but the staff heard Zhou Andong's shout and hurriedly ran out.

"Chairman Zhou!"

Zhou Andong said: "Turn on the sound equipment and give me the microphone."

The staff didn't know what had happened, but seeing that the leaders hadn't left yet, they didn't say anything, nodded, turned and ran to the backstage to turn on the equipment, then came out and handed the microphone to Zhou Andong.

Zhou Andong held the microphone and said: "Just now, a comrade reporter from Yangcheng Evening News asked me three questions in a row. First, is it a fact that the West is more advanced and developed than we are?

Second, is it a fact that China has no world-class inventions? Third, Mr. Zhuo Qihua not donating to the mainland is his personal freedom; what qualifications do I have to curse and humiliate him?"

People who were already prepared to leave heard Zhou Andong's words and sat back down one by one.

Those who had already left the venue found that the people behind hadn't come out, so they ran back to see the situation.

Lu Qing whispered to the secretary beside him: "Notify the banquet hall, the luncheon is delayed by half an hour."

"Okay!"

The secretary nodded, then glanced at Zhou Andong on the stage; he also wanted to hear what Zhou Andong had to say.

But there was no help for it; he had to handle the things the leader arranged.

"Now I will answer your first question." Zhou Andong looked at the reporter: "Chinese civilization is long-standing and is one of the earliest ancient civilizations in the world; its civilization originated earlier than Europe's and was brilliant and magnificent.

However, by now, Chinese civilization has fallen behind. What is the reason for this? It is because we Chinese ourselves abandoned traditional culture, blindly believed in Western learning, and added to that, Western political, economic, and cultural aggression.

There were also constant invasions by foreign powers and unequal treaties that restricted our development. From the Opium War in 1840 to Japan launching a full-scale war of aggression against China, the powers launched thousands of wars in our country; every war significantly weakened China's national strength, while conversely, the powers' national strength became even stronger.

They controlled China's financial and economic lifelines, used political and economic privileges to crazily plunder our country's resources, and suppressed and attacked our Chinese national capitalist economy, causing our country to be poor and weak for over a hundred years.

And the West achieved the so-called advanced Western civilization you speak of by plundering. In my eyes, their so-called advanced civilization is just a robber gene already carved into their bones."

"Well said!"

Someone shouted, and applause erupted instantly.

When the applause died down, Zhou Andong continued: "I have said more than once that our China possesses five thousand years of civilization and has been the world leader more than once. Is the Tang Dynasty's prosperity, where all nations came to pay tribute, fake?

We won't talk about competing with the West for another five thousand years; that would be bullying them. Just fifty years, no, thirty years—I think most of the people here can live until then—let's look again and see what China will look like then.

Here, I ask everyone to remember what I said today; thirty years later, it will give you an answer. At that time, you will definitely give a thumbs up and say, 'Zhou Andong is awesome, China is awesome.'"

Laughter, applause, and whistles erupted; several leaders smiled bitterly; this had become Zhou Andong's personal speech show.

Although many people thought Zhou Andong was bragging—catching up with the West in thirty or fifty years—no one believed it.

But listening to it was just satisfying, just inspiring; they felt their blood burning throughout their bodies.

"Comrades, I can tell everyone very responsibly: no country or group of countries can defeat China."

Having said this, Zhou Andong felt a bit thirsty, picked up an unopened bottle of Yili mineral water on the lectern, and took a sip.

"Although Yili is a Shenzhen enterprise and a famous brand, I still express regret, because here, besides Yili mineral water, there should also be a bottle of Iced Bing Hong Cha."

Along with the laughter, the applause that had just died down erupted again.

He Jingyuan turned to Lu Qing and said: "Tomorrow's visit activities and the day after's symposium, prepare some Iced Bing Hong Cha."

Lu Qing smiled bitterly: "Zhou Andong is worthy of being a businessman; no matter when, he is thinking about advertising."

Zhou Andong placed the mineral water on the lectern and looked at the young reporter whose face didn't look very good.

"Before I answer your second question, I also want to ask you a question, and I hope you can answer me."

The young man suddenly became a bit nervous, but not wanting to lose face, he shouted loudly: "Okay, ask."

Zhou Andong asked with a smile: "Which university did you graduate from?"

The young man was stunned, then said proudly: "Tsinghua University, Department of Chinese Language and Literature."

"That surprises me." Zhou Andong's words made the young man even prouder.

"But how can I not understand," Zhou Andong looked at the proud young man, "did your teacher not teach you, or did you not learn it yourself, that China has the Four Great Inventions?"