Chapter 494: Nie Kai Takes the Initiative to Issue a Battle Challenge!

Before getting off work, Nie Kai dialed Hu Mingsheng's number.

"Boss Hu, are you free this evening? I'm hosting a banquet at the Mingdu Hotel to treat you, and I'd like to introduce a few friends to you while I'm at it."

Hu Mingsheng knew why Nie Kai was inviting him, so he politely declined: "County Magistrate Nie, I'm sorry, but I'm out of town at the moment and it's not convenient for me to attend. Once I return to Hanzhou, I'll be the host and invite you and your friends to dinner then."

Nie Kai was somewhat surprised, as he could tell Hu Mingsheng's tone was off: "Boss Hu, you're too kind. By the way, regarding that project I mentioned earlier, I wonder how you've considered it? The Provincial Development and Reform Commission has already allocated the funding subsidies. If the Haihua Group doesn't take the first step, the competition later on will be intense."

Hu Mingsheng paused for a moment and sighed softly: "County Magistrate Nie, I will report to you truthfully: the plan to invest in the Old City has been rejected by the board of directors. However, Haihua has great confidence in the economic situation of Suiyuan and is preparing to invest a large amount of capital into the West City Development."

Nie Kai's expression shifted from full of joy to shocked surprise!

"Boss Hu, didn't we discuss it quite well before? I help you get the policies, and you support my project." Nie Kai tried hard to control his emotions and complained in a low voice.

"Please understand! I have a meeting to attend here. Once I return to Hanzhou, I will invite you to dinner and apologize in person then." Hu Mingsheng gave a perfunctory reply and hung up the phone.

Nie Kai hung up the phone in anger, the whole person sinking into fury and depression.

He hadn't expected his little maneuver to be neutralized by Tang Ye again.

……

After getting off work, Nie Kai took a car to the Mingdu Hotel.

Not long after entering the private room, people arrived one after another.

After Xiao Zi'an sat down, Nie Kai instructed the waiter: "Start serving the dishes!"

Xiao Zi'an looked at Nie Kai in surprise: "Didn't you say you also invited Hu Mingsheng from the Haihua Group today?"

Nie Kai waved his hand: "Don't mention it, Hu Mingsheng isn't coming."

Xiao Zi'an frowned and said: "If he doesn't come, how are we going to handle the Old City renovation project?"

Nie Kai said dejectedly: "The Haihua Group changed their mind and is preparing to concentrate all their efforts on investing in Suiyuan's West City."

Rage erupted in Xiao Zi'an's eyes; this meant that the upcoming Old City renovation in Suiyuan would be reduced to a tasteless chore.

He had originally intended to use his father Xiao Jingyu's influence at the Provincial Development and Reform Commission to help the Suiyuan Old City renovation secure a sum of funding, and then use this funding as bait to win a portion of the project outsourcing from the Haihua Group.

That way, his own company in Suiyuan could make a huge profit.

Now that the Haihua Group would not invest in the Old City at all, this meant the plan to use the Development and Reform Commission's support funds as bait had failed.

Feng Kun said softly at this moment: "Young Master Xiao, I have a suggestion. Although the Haihua Group isn't interested in the Old City, the Old City has obvious locational advantages and is definitely more promising than the West City. We can absolutely take it on, finance it ourselves, and make it big and strong. Our company actually has the strength to independently take on such large projects."

Nie Kai's eyes lit up, and he flattered him softly: "With Young Master Xiao's strength, you can definitely do the Old City project very well. By then, the Haihua Group will surely regret it."

Xiao Zi'an had always been involved in municipal engineering outsourcing and had also invested in some real estate projects, all of which ended in profit.

Encouraged by Nie Kai and Feng Kun, Xiao Zi'an felt a surge of heat in his heart.

He picked up his wine glass, his eyes filled with determination.

"I've decided: I'm investing in the Suiyuan Old City. I don't believe that a godforsaken place like the West City can be mentioned in the same breath as the Old City of Suiyuan."

Nie Kai breathed a sigh of relief. Although he hadn't secured the Haihua Group, if Xiao Zi'an was willing to place a heavy bet on the Old City renovation, it would also be an important political achievement for him.

Although Xiao Jingyu's strength was not what it once was, Xiao Zi'an could still wield great power by relying on his father's remaining connections in Hanzhou.

A few glasses of wine entered their bellies.

The group's conversation became more casual.

Nie Kai held his wine glass and said regretfully to Feng Kun: "Old Feng, we've known each other for many years. I never expected that you would choose to go into business. In fact, you were only one step away from the position of Director of the Finance Bureau."

Feng Kun smiled bitterly and helplessly: "I was forced into a dead end."

Nie Kai patted Feng Kun on the shoulder: "The child Feng Lin is exceptionally smart, but he was undermined by Tang Ye."

Rage erupted in Feng Kun's eyes: "Sooner or later, I will make Tang Ye suffer the consequences!"

Nie Kai said to Xiao Zi'an with a smile: "Tang Ye has too many enemies. A while ago, he was intercepted and attacked by three people on the road, and his car was wrecked. If it weren't for his good luck, he probably would have lost his life."

A confidant sitting next to Xiao Zi'an said triumphantly: "Those who offend Young Master Xiao generally don't have a good end."

Nie Kai looked at Xiao Zi'an in surprise: "Could it be..."

Xiao Zi'an waved his hand to change the subject: "Everyone sitting here today is one of our own. We have common enemies and common goals. Next, we must focus on the Suiyuan Old City project and strive to make this project the best it can be. When we make money then, we definitely won't treat everyone unfairly."

The group laughed and raised their glasses.

"With Young Master Xiao's words, we are full of motivation."

"Under Young Master Xiao's leadership, everyone has many opportunities, and things will definitely get better and better."

……

County Party Committee Standing Committee.

What surprised Tang Ye quite a bit was that, in addition to securing the Haihua Group's investment project, there was also a company willing to take over the Old City Commercial Reform.

On the surface, this was a win-win situation that made everyone happy.

But Tang Ye felt some concern.

With Suiyuan's current strength, it did not yet possess the ability to open up two battlefields at the same time.

If the entire county's government system were compared to a large sect, having to conquer two large dungeons simultaneously would inevitably disperse their energy, very easily leading to both projects failing to meet expectations.

However, Tang Ye also understood Han Guangyao.

Standing from the perspective of the top leader, simultaneously pushing forward the Old City renovation and the New City development was equivalent to holding two fulcrums for political achievements.

Han Guangyao wore a smile: "First, I want to give high praise to the County Government's recent work. Investment promotion is the top priority for Suiyuan's economic development. Whether it is the Haihua Group's investment in the West City District or the Anyu Group taking on the Old City renovation project, both will inject vitality into Suiyuan's economy. Next, we must do a good job with supporting services to ensure the steady progress of both projects, striving to achieve significant development for Suiyuan within one to two years."

Gao Hong stroked his chin and glanced at Nie Kai, thinking to himself: Nie Kai is going to use the Old City project to officially square off against Tang Ye.

Previous bouts had mostly been hidden in the undercurrents.

Now, they were going to judge superiority based on political achievements.

In Gao Hong's view, the Old City Commercial Reform indeed occupied a clear advantage compared to the West City Development.

For one, it aligned with the administrative direction of County Party Secretary Han Guangyao.

For another, although the Old City was difficult to renovate, it had dense foot traffic and a better commercial atmosphere; once renovated, the foundation would be solid and the returns better.

Nie Kai's active "issuance of a battle challenge" this time made many people, including Gao Hong, feel quite surprised.

For Tang Ye, if the results of the West City Development fell short of expectations, he feared he would be overshadowed by Nie Kai in terms of political achievements.