Chapter 885

Zhang Kaishan said, "Secretary, I think we shouldn't be in a hurry to report this to the higher-ups. We can clarify the situation first."

Comrade Ji Tao said, "Then how do we clarify the situation?"

Su Xinghui said, "How about I go to Jiangcheng and check out the situation?"

After pondering for a moment, Comrade Ji Tao nodded. "Fine, you go to Jiangcheng."

Comrade Ji Tao knew that reporting this to the higher-ups now wouldn't be easy. Shangjun County hadn't reported the Hou family's return to the higher-ups. Why? It was for fear of this kind of investment-snatching incident. For overseas tycoons like the Hou family, which city wouldn't want to pull them to their side?

If Shangjun County had told the city about the Hou family's return, who knew if the two districts in the city would come to snatch the investors? These two districts were sparing no effort in snatching various resources; after all, they were close to the water and got the moon first, and in terms of various conditions, they were still much stronger than the counties below.

Therefore, Comrade Ji Tao hadn't reported this to the city at all. He was prepared to let the Hou family return to Shangjun County first, cultivate a good relationship with them, and once the investment intention was finalized, then report it to the city. By then, it would be a done deal, and there would be no need to fear anything.

He hadn't expected that while they guarded against the two districts in the city, they hadn't guarded against Jiangcheng City itself. Now that Jiangcheng City had stuck its oar in, things were a bit troublesome. In terms of investment environment, Jiangcheng City was, of course, much better than Shangjun County—it could be said to be a world of difference. If the Hou family truly wanted to invest and make money, investing in Jiangcheng City would naturally be much better than in Shangjun County.

This matter was, of course, Jiangcheng City's fault, but who could Shangjun County report it to? If they reported it to the city leaders now, the city leaders would certainly have their own thoughts: "Well, you didn't report to us when there was good news, but now that there's trouble, you come to us?"

Whether the city leaders would mediate with the province for this matter after having their own thoughts was hard to say. Even if they didn't hold a grudge and stood up for Shangjun County to mediate with the province, it was hard to say how the province would rule. In Hudong Province, basically the vast majority of resources were tilted toward Jiangcheng City; it could be said that the entire province's strength was used to build Jiangcheng. In the past, when similar situations occurred, the province generally sided with Jiangcheng City.

The province doing this had fostered Jiangcheng City's somewhat overbearing habits. They had snatched investors from the cities and counties below more than once. In the past, Shangjun County didn't have many people coming to invest, so they hadn't encountered it. This was the first time they had encountered it, which naturally made Comrade Ji Tao somewhat furious.

It should be known that this was a critical moment for Comrade Ji Tao. If the Hou family could invest in Shangjun County, or even just have an investment intention, it would add a heavy weight to Comrade Ji Tao's promotion. Therefore, Comrade Ji Tao absolutely didn't want to lose this opportunity.

Having thought through the cause and effect, he knew that reporting the situation to the city now was definitely not a good choice. It was better to let Su Xinghui go to the province to check out the situation. After all, Su Xinghui was the person the Hou family trusted most right now. No matter how Jiangcheng City snatched, ultimately, where the Hou family wanted to invest would still depend on their own wishes.

As long as Su Xinghui could play the emotional card well, Shangjun County still had a good chance. After all, the Hou family were Shangjun people, not Jiangcheng people.

Comrade Ji Tao could also be considered a very decisive person. After confirming that Su Xinghui would go to Jiangcheng, he immediately informed the Standing Committee members present of the situation and told them that today's welcoming ceremony was canceled.

Jia Hequn said somewhat sourly, "This is too unreasonable. So many people are waiting for their family, and they just don't come."

Comrade Ji Tao said irritably, "This can't be blamed on the Hou family. If you want to blame someone, blame those people from the Jiangcheng Investment Promotion Office."

Jia Hequn said, "Who knows what's going on? It's all what they're saying now, and we don't know either. Even if it really was the Jiangcheng Investment Promotion Office, we have to go reason with them. This is too underhanded, isn't it?"

Comrade Ji Tao said, "Fine, County Magistrate Jia, the County Party Committee will send you to Jiangcheng to reason with them, how about that? If you can get this done, the county will give you a big credit."

Jia Hequn said sullenly, "I have a lot of other work these few days, so I won't go."

Comrade Ji Tao said, "Then fine, please don't speak. Everyone, don't crowd here, disperse."

The crowd dispersed. Comrade Ji Tao said to Su Xinghui, "How about this, I'll have the office send you a car."

Su Xinghui said, "Fine, there's no need to send a driver. I'll drive myself and set off immediately."

Comrade Ji Tao nodded. "What else do you need? Do you need money? If you need money, have the County Magistrate approve it for you."

Su Xinghui said, "No need, I have money on me. If there are any expenses during the process of handling this, I'll get the invoices and come back for reimbursement. By the way, I'll make a few calls first."

Comrade Ji Tao said, "Go make them in my office, and close the door."

Comrade Ji Tao knew that Su Xinghui was most likely going to call Lu Zhenghong. Such calls were, of course, best made in the most secret places, and in the County Party Committee compound, the most secret place was none other than his office.

Su Xinghui entered Comrade Ji Tao's office. After closing the door, he first called Lu Xiaoya's office. At this time, Lu Xiaoya had just started work. She answered the phone, and upon hearing it was Su Xinghui, she asked, "Xinghui, why are you calling at this time? Aren't you supposed to be receiving the Chinese merchants from France?"

Su Xinghui said, "Sigh, don't mention it. These French Chinese merchants were intercepted halfway at Jiangcheng Airport by people from the Jiangcheng Investment Promotion Office. Now they can't even come. I'm about to rush to Jiangcheng to check out the situation."

Lu Xiaoya said happily, "You're coming to Jiangcheng? Are you coming now? That's great!"

Su Xinghui smiled bitterly. "Our county has encountered trouble, and you're saying it's great."

Lu Xiaoya said, "Do you know how long it's been since we've seen each other? It's great that you can come. Come to think of it, I should thank the Jiangcheng Investment Promotion Office."

Su Xinghui said, "Alright, when I get to Jiangcheng, I might have to see Uncle Lu first. After I meet him, I'll call you again."

Lu Xiaoya said, "Fine, then I'll wait for you in the office. I was originally going to go out this afternoon, but I won't go out today."

After calling Lu Xiaoya, Su Xinghui called Lu Zhenghong's office. He said he was going to Jiangcheng this afternoon to handle some business and had something to tell Lu Zhenghong. After hearing this, Lu Zhenghong said, "Then come over. I should be in the office after three-thirty."

After Su Xinghui finished his calls and came out, Comrade Ji Tao had the County Party Committee Office Director Gu Kangping arrange a Santana for Su Xinghui. He handed it to Su Xinghui and said, "Then go ahead, and let us know if there's any situation at any time."

Su Xinghui nodded and started the car.

In about an hour, Su Xinghui arrived in Jiangcheng. He went directly to the Provincial Party Committee compound and met Lu Zhenghong in his office.

Come to think of it, this was Su Xinghui's first time in Lu Zhenghong's office. After Lu Zhenghong let him in, he smiled and intended to make tea for him. Su Xinghui hurriedly made the tea himself, refilled Lu Zhenghong's teacup, and sat down.

Lu Zhenghong said, "Why did you come at this time? Did something urgent happen?"

Su Xinghui told Lu Zhenghong about how their Shangjun County had done a lot of work to invite the Hou family back to the country, but when the Hou family got off the plane, people from the Jiangcheng Investment Promotion Office had intercepted them.

After telling Lu Zhenghong about this, Su Xinghui didn't show much anger, because with the relationship between him and Lu Zhenghong now, he didn't need to put on such an act. He knew Lu Zhenghong could understand what he meant.

Sure enough, Lu Zhenghong furrowed his brows. He was, of course, very clear about Jiangcheng City's overbearing style. Such things happened more than once, and the cities and counties below often went to the province to complain. However, he hadn't looked into this matter; it was within the scope of the provincial government's responsibility, and the provincial government generally tended to favor Jiangcheng City. He knew this, but if he intervened, it would be overstepping his authority.

However, this matter involved Shangjun County and, even more, Su Xinghui, which made Lu Zhenghong have to intervene. Regardless of closeness or distance, just in terms of right and wrong, Shangjun County was in the right. What's more, Su Xinghui was already Lu Zhenghong's prospective son-in-law.

Lu Zhenghong said, "The Jiangcheng Municipal Government is indeed somewhat unreasonable and increasingly overbearing. What do you intend to do?" ===== CHAPTER 887 =====