Chapter 28: Everyone's Jaws Dropped!

Dou Fanggang nodded happily and patted Tang Ye on the shoulder. "I have always wanted to thank you in person, but I never managed to run into you. Today, I finally got the chance."

Du Chengfeng quickly regained his composure and said with interest, "No wonder President Dou kept emphasizing that Tang Ye must attend the symposium!"

"It was just a small favor, not worth mentioning."

Tang Ye knew that Yao Mei's son-in-law was an entrepreneur, but he had never connected him to Aiou Electric.

Seeing the confusion on Xu Yiping's face, Dou Fanggang held Tang Ye's hand and explained with emotion, "A few days ago, my mother-in-law collapsed on the side of the road due to a cerebral infarction. Fortunately, she was met by Town Mayor Tang. His father is the Neurosurgery Director at the City People's Hospital and performed the surgery on my mother-in-law himself. Otherwise, even if she could have been saved, she would be in a wheelchair and unable to speak. She emphasized repeatedly that I must thank you properly."

"Even if I had met a stranger, I could not have stood by and watched. Besides, I used to work in the veteran cadres' office and am very familiar with Yao Nainai. She was especially kind to me. Oh right, she even gave me a suit once!"

At this moment, Tang Ye's brain remained clear!

Strictly speaking, Lin Ziyang was the one who had truly saved Yao Nainai's life.

Dou Fanggang laughed out loud, "I know, I know! That suit was one she had an old tailor make for me ten years ago. I only wore it once, and because I gained some weight, I never wore it again. She felt it was just gathering dust at home, so she gave it away. My wife even blamed her at the time, but I never expected it would be given to the right person!"

Du Chengfeng was in a pleasant mood; at this very moment, a business negotiation had turned into a session of repaying favors and reminiscing!

Once the emotions are in place, why worry about not accomplishing great things?

After going around in circles, they finally returned to the main topic of investment.

Du Chengfeng shifted in his seat, "President Dou, it is clear that you are determined to place the project in Pinghu! Although the economy of Pinghu Town is average, with a young cadre like Tang Ye, the potential is infinite."

Hearing Du Chengfeng say this, Xu Yiping wore a smile on his face, but he was cursing in his heart; old Du was treating him as if he were air!

Dou Fanggang said with a chuckle, "The words Town Mayor Tang spoke during the symposium earlier reduced my concerns. In business investment, policy and environment are important, but the most crucial thing is to choose the right person. Because things are done by people. I trust Town Mayor Tang's character."

Du Chengfeng beckoned to the Secretary, "Bring over the map of Tianling County."

The Secretary carefully placed the map on the table.

Du Chengfeng used a red oil-based pen to draw a path on the map.

"President Dou, the construction time for the factory is about two years. If you are willing to place the factory in Pinghu, we will have this road repaired within those two years."

Dou Fanggang had originally been worried about the inconvenient transportation in Pinghu Town, but upon receiving Du Chengfeng's promise, his face lit up with joy, "If the transportation problem can be solved, the project can be implemented and put in place even faster."

Du Chengfeng stood up abruptly, his eyes gleaming with light, and extended his hand, "President Dou, let's strike while the iron is hot; let's set a time and sign the project!"

Dou Fanggang shook hands with Du Chengfeng, glanced at Tang Ye, and said with a smile, "We will sign the contract this Friday."

Du Chengfeng was overjoyed!

An investment project of over two hundred million was an extremely rare achievement for the entire city, and he had not expected Dou Fanggang to agree so readily.

In the past, to sign a project of the same scale, Du Chengfeng would not only have to run his legs off and wear out his tongue, but more importantly, he would need to pull strings and mobilize numerous resources.

Xu Yiping could not get a word in, and his feelings were a complex mix; he had not expected that a two-hundred-million project would actually settle in Pinghu Town.

The key was that the county would also pay to repair the road.

If you want to get rich, you must first build a road; he had reported this to the county many times.

Once the road was repaired, why would Pinghu Town worry about not developing?

He felt as if he were dreaming.

At the same time, Xu Yiping felt endless regret in his heart.

If he had known that Tang Ye could bring such a large investment project, why had he made their relationship so stiff?

Although the project was settled, it had nothing to do with him, and all the credit would be recorded under Tang Ye's name.

If he had handled the relationship well earlier, couldn't he have just sat back and relaxed, and perhaps even used this political achievement to advance further?

After chatting for a full two hours, Du Chengfeng and Dou Fanggang drafted the preliminary framework for the contract.

"Then we will sign the contract on Friday! I will arrange the ceremony and contact the City Leader and the media immediately to witness this moment together."

Dou Fanggang smiled, "Let us handle the media side!" Immediately after, he smiled at Tang Ye, "You must also be present at the signing ceremony!"

Du Chengfeng was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Don't worry, he won't be missing!"

Tang Ye and Xu Yiping left, but the other attendees did not leave, because everyone was holding onto a glimmer of hope.

Besides Pinghu Town, did they still have a chance?

The result was disappointing; they did not receive any notification.

"No way, the 200 million project was snatched by the tail-ender?"

"To be honest, the investment promotion video their town put out was indeed bluffing!"

"Sigh, the boss of Aiou Electric has been deceived! Pinghu's economy is at the bottom; the promotional video is completely deceptive. He will regret it sooner or later!"

Everyone left one after another with feelings of disappointment.

Jiao Deyi's mindset was unbalanced.

After leaving the hotel, he went straight to the County Magistrate's office to lie in wait for Du Chengfeng.

Du Chengfeng knew why Jiao Deyi had come.

He did not know how to appease Jiao Deyi for a moment, so he let him sit on the sofa to digest it himself.

Ten minutes later, Du Chengfeng finished signing a document, handed it to the Secretary, rubbed his temples, and said softly, "Deyi, the Aiou factory is confirmed to be located in Pinghu, and it will be signed on Friday."

Jiao Deyi widened his eyes in disbelief, "That's unfair! I've been eyeing Aiou Electric for so many years, only to have Pinghu pluck the fruit! I cannot swallow this bitter pill!"

Du Chengfeng gave a helpless, bitter smile, "You've misunderstood! Dou Fanggang decided to invest in Tianling not because of your invitation, but because of the instructions of his mother-in-law. His mother-in-law is the former Investment Promotion Bureau Director, Yao Mei, who was hospitalized not long ago due to a sudden cerebral infarction. Tang Ye's father was the former director's lead surgeon!"

After hearing Du Chengfeng's explanation, Jiao Deyi froze in place; after a long while, he slowly exhaled a breath toward the ceiling.

So, from the very beginning of today's symposium, he was destined to be a runner-up; it was a pity he had been performing so immersively and diligently.

For so many years, he had sent messages to Dou Fanggang during every holiday, showing concern and asking after him, only to find that licking boots until the end resulted in nothing but a bamboo basket to draw water.

Thinking about his own behavior, the more he looked at it, the more he seemed like a clown; it was laughable and pathetic.

He suddenly had a thought: if Tang Ye had chosen to be a temporary official in Zhugou Township back then, couldn't he have just sat back and reaped the rewards?

Unfortunately, his luck was bad, and it was all to the benefit of that old turtle, Xu Yiping!

Tang Ye returned to Pinghu Town accompanied by Xu Yiping and Xia Haiqiao.

The atmosphere in the car had changed compared to before.

Xu Yiping initiated topics with Tang Ye from time to time.

Tang Ye answered half-heartedly.

Xia Haiqiao noticed the change in Xu Yiping's attitude toward Tang Ye, and felt quite uncomfortable inside.

Arriving at the Town Government, Xia Haiqiao followed Xu Yiping into the office.

"Secretary, we just held a meeting, why has your attitude toward Tang Ye done a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn?"

Xu Yiping secretly thought Xia Haiqiao lacked discernment, and patiently exhorted, "Be more polite to Tang Ye in the future."

Xia Haiqiao was full of doubts, "Did Tang Ye grease the palms of County Magistrate Du?"

Xu Yiping was speechless at Xia Haiqiao, "Tang Ye once saved the mother-in-law of Dou Fanggang, so Aiou Electric decided to build the factory in Pinghu!"

"..."

It took a long while for Xia Haiqiao to snap out of it.

In just a few days' time, the investment attraction task assigned to Tang Ye had already been completed?

And, it was even completed ahead of expectations!