Chapter 375: A quick trip to Suxi

Mr. Liu's investment in Chunshan County pioneered the first influx of foreign capital since the founding of the People's Republic. This matter spread like wildfire in Chunshan County, and everyone said the foreign devil had a mental problem.

Other foreigners coming to China to invest were building factories and engaging in industry in coastal areas to make money, or at least engaging in entertainment projects in big cities to make money; no one ran to poor mountain gullies to throw money away.

Such a thing, either Chunshan County stepped in a pile of dog shit, or the foreign devil had ulterior motives.

I turned a deaf ear to such rumors; I knew better than anyone what Mr. Liu's purpose in coming to Chunshan was.

After the Foreign Affairs Office dinner, the City Foreign Affairs Office Deputy Director wanted to go back to report, but Mr. Liu refused to follow, stayed in Chunshan County, and begged me to let the county's Foreign Affairs Office Director send a car, playing in the mountains and water every day.

When I was called to his office by Secretary Liu Qimeng, Mr. Liu had already been in Chunshan for three days.

Liu Qimeng attached great importance to this investment and went straight to the point, asking me, "County Magistrate Chen, are you sure?"

I smiled noncommittally and said humbly, "Secretary Liu, investment matters are all things hanging in the clouds. No matter how well you say it, you have to see if the money can arrive in the account. Without money, investment is just empty talk."

Secretary Liu nodded and warned me, "No matter what conditions the other party puts forward, we should satisfy them as much as possible."

"Foreigners absolutely don't do business at a loss. If we want to make concessions, we must also pay attention to principles and pay attention to the bottom line. Don't you think so, Secretary?"

Liu Qimeng waved his hand at me impatiently and said, "Chen Feng, I'm not talking nonsense with you; if you mess this up, I won't spare you."

I laughed, my eyes drifting to a pack of tea leaves in his cabinet, and I said with a drooling face, "Secretary, this pack of tea of yours is not bad."

Liu Qimeng glared at me and cursed, "You kid has a poisonous eye, this pack of tea has a great background, it seems you have a thief's heart. Don't be guilty, I can still see your little tricks. Take the tea, get the work done, get out of here."

I took the tea leaves happily, slipped out, took out my phone, and called the Foreign Affairs Office Director.

"Old Yu, where are you?"

Foreign Affairs Office Director Yu Lin was also a man in his fifties who liked to wear suits and leather shoes every day. In our Chunshan County, his attire had always been a landscape.

"County Magistrate Chen? Do you have something for me?"

"Where is Mr. Liu?"

"At the hotel, he just called a moment ago, asking me to accompany him to shoot birds."

"Shoot his mother's birds!" I cursed with a laugh, "Old Yu, notify him, today I'm taking him to a place. You follow too."

Yu Lin was submissive on the phone, also laughing happily, "County Magistrate Chen, I thought you had forgotten about this Mr. Liu. It's been three days, I'm almost falling apart from accompanying him."

I didn't answer his words, hung up the phone, returned to the office, and just happened to see Zhu Hua Yu coming out, holding a stack of documents in her hand.

"Hua Yu, notify Yu Wei, prepare the car," I said, entered the door, and turned back to say, "Also call Township Head Liu of Suxi Township, we are going to her place now."

Zhu Hua Yu hesitated and said, "Boss, you still have to attend a meeting at the Urban Construction Bureau this afternoon."

"Don't attend, let them open it themselves," I said, my heart jumping at her calling me "Boss."

Since she became my secretary, she and Yu Wei had been calling me "Boss" when no one was around, and "County Magistrate Chen" when people were around. I originally wanted to correct it, but Yu Wei seemed to see my thoughts and said with a smile, "It's popular to call it that all over the country now."

From then on, I acquiesced. They were the people close to me; in the world of officialdom, I couldn't be unconventional and make them feel uncomfortable.

Going downstairs, I saw the Foreign Affairs Office Director accompanying the golden-haired Mr. Liu with a smile, talking. Seeing me, he ran over and asked carefully, "County Magistrate Chen, where to?"

"Are you asking, or is he asking?" I pointed to Mr. Liu not far away. He was looking at Zhu Hua Yu, who was graceful and elegant behind me, with a smile.

"I have no problem. It's him," Yu Lin answered cautiously.

"Just follow me. We're going to find him a project."

Yu Lin ran to Mr. Liu's side happily again and told him the news.

Mr. Liu didn't seem to care much, came over to shake hands with me, and said with a smile, "Chen, are you not busy?"

"No matter how busy, I can't neglect you, the God of Wealth," I laughed, "You are the hope of our Chunshan County."

Just this one sentence made Mr. Liu fearful and trembling.

"If you are busy, go be busy. Don't worry about me," Mr. Liu looked back at Yu Lin and said, "I invited Yu today, we are going to shoot birds."

"What are you using to shoot?"

"Guns."

"Where did you get the guns?"

"Yu found them. In your China, finding a gun is harder than finding an American president," he giggled, looking innocent.

"Shooting birds here is also illegal," I said lightly, "Of course, shooting sparrows is still okay."

Mr. Liu was startled by me and hurriedly explained, "I've read your books, sparrows are the four pests, I'm helping you eliminate the four pests."

"That was in the past, not anymore."

I invited him into my car, we sat side by side in the back row, and Zhu Hua Yu got into the passenger seat.

Yu Wei knew where I was going, and after we all got in, he started the car and set off without a sound.

Yu Lin took the office director, drove a Santana, and followed behind our car.

The car left the city and turned onto the road leading to Suxi Township.

I had built this road with my own hands, and seeing it, I felt particularly close. This road carried too much of my youth, this road let me appreciate the impermanence of life and the changes of the world.

Of course, this road was also the only road to Zhu Hua Yu's home.

I fell silent, watching the scenery passing by, feeling a bit moist and a bit sad.

Mr. Liu was full of interest, asking questions from time to time. Every time he asked a question, Zhu Hua Yu, sitting in front, had to turn sideways to explain to him.

The road was a gravel road, and it hadn't been paved with asphalt to this day. Gravel roads have their advantages: flat and absorbent. The car wheels pressed on them, making a rustling sound, like a harp, soft and peaceful.

Far away, seeing the majestic figure of Laoyingzui, my heart jumped, and I turned to Mr. Liu, who was already showing signs of fatigue, and said, "Mr. Liu, we're here."

As soon as the car stopped, the roar of machines filled my ears.

The construction site at Laoyingzui was in full swing.

Yue Bai led a group of township cadres, standing by the roadside with a smile to welcome us.

Opening the car door, the township cadres swarmed over, competing to greet me and shake hands.

I invited Mr. Liu over and introduced him to them solemnly.

Mr. Liu didn't understand, staring with a pair of blue crystal eyes, spinning around. He didn't understand why I brought him to Laoyingzui.

I smiled and told him, "Mr. Liu, this place is called Laoyingzui. It is the territory of Suxi Township, Chunshan County. Cultural relics from the Three Kingdoms period were unearthed here, eighteen stone coffins."

Mr. Liu nodded repeatedly, looking around with wide eyes.

Wherever his eyes reached, red flags were fluttering everywhere. A few high-rise buildings were taking shape, and a few avenues were extending forward. The appearance of a city was gradually emerging.

"Now, this is the administrative office of Suxi Township, and it is also the trade, tourism, economic, and cultural center of Suxi Township. Starting from here, the original social life will give you a permanent memory."

Mr. Liu nodded non-stop, then hesitated for a while, and asked me, "Chen, what am I here to do?"

"Invite you to invest."

"I am engaged in tourism investment."

"That's right," I answered him with absolute certainty, "In the near future, this place will be the largest and most original cultural tourism area in the Hengyue region."

"What is it based on?" Mr. Liu looked for a long time, but really couldn't find anything that interested him in investment.

"There are many things based on it," I laughed, "Mr. Liu, you are not only a China-hand, but now you are also our Hengyue-hand. Do you know, in the Hengyue region, what place has hot springs?"

Mr. Liu thought for a long time, shook his head and said, "None."

"Yes!" I sighed, "The Hengyue region covers 16,000 square kilometers and has a population of 8 million. Only Suxi has the only hot spring in the region. And it is one of the few high-quality water source hot springs in the country. Plus, the folk customs here are simple, ancient buildings, ancient cultural relics, ancient style, ancient tone, and ancient customs—isn't such a place exactly the paradise that people in the city dream of!"

Mr. Liu was stunned by me, his hairy eyelashes blinking.

Most foreigners have long eyelashes, which look good.

"Is this the hot spring resort you mentioned that day?"

"That's right," I laughed.

"Very good," Mr. Liu said, but didn't express his stance.

"Now, there are many people who want to come and develop this place," I said unhurriedly, walking toward the construction site.

Yue Bai was prepared; she had understood my intention from the phone call a few days ago.

She followed behind me, as if reporting to me, "County Magistrate, do you want to go see the hot spring outlet?"

I turned my face, as if asking for Mr. Liu's opinion, and asked him with a smile, "Want to go see?"

"Let's go see," Mr. Liu didn't seem to have much interest.

I didn't pay attention to his mood. I brought you to Suxi, naturally for a purpose. Whether you go or not is not up to you! As for whether to invest or not, it's not up to me.

But I was determined to fire this first shot.

To tell the truth, Chunshan County's tourism investment first choice is the Forest of Steles, the second choice is the Mao Shi Reservoir. Suxi Hot Spring is ranked third at most.

But I was determined to push Suxi Hot Spring out; implicitly, I felt that selfish psychology had the upper hand.

Suxi is my base, and I am still the Party Committee Secretary here to this day.

Walking along a newly built cement road, we commented on the buildings lined up along the road. Standing in front of the township government building, a wave of emotion suddenly surged in my heart.

While looking, Sun Demao drilled out of the building in a coat. Seeing our group of people, he stood still in surprise.

It wasn't until I called him that he seemed to be awakened, ran over in a panic, stepped on a wooden board, and almost fell face-first.

"It really is you! County Magistrate Chen is here," he shouted loudly, happily, beaming with joy.

Running to my side, seeing Yue Bai, he complained, "I said so! Old man, I saw Township Head Liu standing by the roadside with these cadres on the roof just now, and I knew something big was happening today."

Seeing Sun Demao, how could I not think of Qian Youyu? I asked casually, "Where is Old Qian?"

Before the words fell, I saw Qian Youyu appear timidly, with a stiff smile, "I'm here."

I laughed, "Old Qian, why are you hiding in the back? Are you afraid someone will cut off your balls?"

My words caused a burst of laughter from everyone. When you go to the countryside, you have to be grounded and speak rough words. Only in this way will these township cadres and common people feel that you are approachable and incredibly intimate.

Just as the words fell, I heard Zhu Hua Yu pull me quietly and whisper, "You are a County Magistrate now."

I laughed loudly, "I am even more of an ordinary commoner."

They didn't hear Zhu Hua Yu's words, but they heard my words very clearly, so someone applauded me and shouted well.

I had been in the countryside for seven years, didn't I know what they liked?

Mr. Liu, although a China-hand, still didn't understand my rough words. Seeing everyone laughing, he followed along with a silly laugh.

Looking at Yue Bai and Zhu Hua Yu again, both of them were blushing, pursing their lips, and laughing secretly.

These rough words were as natural as eating and drinking to them. In the circle they lived in, every day would be filled with countless such languages.

Only such joking would bring people closer together.

"Old Qian, lead the way! Hot spring," I ordered.

At this moment, my whole body felt comfortable; returning to Suxi, I felt like a fish entering the water, incredibly smooth. ===== CHAPTER 376 =====