Chapter 395: Departure

"Lans!"

"Come over here!"

Councilor Williams stood in the crowd and waved at him.

Councilor Cleveland was not very convenient to talk to Lans at close range, but Councilor Williams didn't care at all.

He didn't intend to go to the Assembly, nor did he intend to stand under a magnifying glass to accept scrutiny from the whole country and even the world.

In the place of New Jincheng, no one could stop him now, so he didn't care if others would say he was with someone like Lans and still showed a very familiar look.

Lans held his wine glass and temporarily said goodbye to William, and walked toward that side.

"I'll introduce you. This is Brand, Brand Jeffrey, Secretary of State."

Lans put the wine glass on the tray of the passing waiter. He took the initiative to reach out and shake hands with the Secretary of State. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Jeffrey."

Brand kept the hypocritical smile that only politicians had on his face. He shook Lans's hand twice. "I've also heard of you in the capital!"

This was obviously a lie. Lans's influence hadn't expanded to the capital, but in such social occasions, and it was positive social interaction, one had to say something interesting.

He couldn't say something like "Who the fuck are you, how come I've never heard of you, and I'm not that happy to meet you," that would mess everything up.

Appropriate hypocrisy helps social interaction proceed effectively.

Lans returned a warm smile. "It is my honor to let the big figures in the capital know my small name!"

Councilor Williams held his wine glass and looked at the two of them being hypocritical, both with smiles on their faces. "Alright, alright, let's talk about some serious business."

The three walked to the corner, and the people around took the initiative to avoid a distance to avoid misunderstanding.

In today's social occasion, there was no doubt that Councilor Cleveland had the highest status, but the Secretary of State's status was not low either.

He was the third-ranking figure in Licalai State, second only to the Governor and the Deputy Governor, and if there were no accidents, he would continue to work here for a while, and maybe he would have the opportunity to become Deputy Governor or even Governor.

No matter how strong the guests were, they were only guests. Only the owner of the house could decide the living conditions of the people in the house.

"I heard you have a very interesting company called Wanli Labor Introduction Agency?"

The men walked to the corner and naturally lit cigarettes.

Lans nodded and said yes. "We try to solve some employment problems and the conflict between local workers and immigrants. You know, not everyone likes immigrants."

Secretary of State Brand nodded in agreement. "That's right, they have been thinking that the bad social environment is caused by immigrants."

"Immigrants grab their medical resources, grab their educational resources, grab their job opportunities, and even don't let their wages rise!"

"However, we found in some studies that this is actually just an excuse and reason they find for their own laziness."

"I have seen immigrants who work three jobs but can only get thirty or so dollars a month, and I have also seen federal people who get angry if they work five minutes more every day and get the same wages."

He paused as he spoke. "I am very interested in your business model. Perhaps we can cooperate in some aspects."

Councilor Williams said on the side, "We have many construction projects, but the labor price of local workers in the Federation is relatively high, and those refugees..."

He seemed to be looking for how to describe this problem. After thinking about it, he found a relatively mainstream word. "It may involve moral risks if we use them directly."

People fled to the Federation as international refugees, which in itself was trust in the federal government.

As a result, the federal government sent them to do the most bitter and tiring work, and even dangerous work, which would cause certain moral risks for the federal government in the international community.

Simply put, they didn't intend to hire these refugees personally. They intended to "be deceived" into using a company that was not so compliant, and then this company hired these refugees.

If something happened, it had nothing to do with the state government.

Lans thought for a while. "Why me?"

"Many people can do this, and we all know that there will be great profits in it!"

The profit mainly comes from the labor cost difference. The state government pays remuneration according to the federal average wage, but in fact, Lans may only need to pay half of the cost to those workers, which saves more than twenty dollars in labor costs.

Ten thousand people, more than two hundred thousand difference in a month. If you add the deduction from food, even if the heart is not so black, you can put thirty thousand into your pocket in a month.

Anyone can do this. Lans wanted to know why they chose him.

Councilor Williams showed a smile on his face. "We plan to start the construction of the Xingang District. Before that, we need a more mature team."

"Xingang Pier?" When Lans said the name, Councilor Williams smiled.

"Yes, Xingang Pier."

Xingang Pier and the New Bay Area were the differences and the core of the conflict between the mayor and local forces, but this didn't mean that people in the Bay Area really couldn't see the necessity of building the Xingang District and Xingang Pier.

The mayor's biggest mistake was that he hoped to introduce other capital so that more people could also share some benefits from the era trend of New Jincheng's rapid development.

Therefore, the investors of the Xingang District and Xingang Pier were basically foreign capital, which seriously damaged the interests of local capital.

Originally, they could eat 90% of the profits themselves, but if the Xingang District was completed and formed competitiveness with the New Jincheng Pier, then maybe they could only eat 45% of the profits.

Another 45% of the profit would be eaten by the Xingang Pier, and this was also inevitable!

Those long-distance ships certainly wanted faster replenishment and then left. For these ocean-going giants, every day faced huge maintenance costs. Being able to unload and fill goods faster and earlier meant that their profits might be more.

Now the New Jincheng Pier has begun to operate near full capacity.

The war on the Tanfei Continent has caused many international trade transport routes to be diverted. It can be foreseen that with the increase in the intensity of the war and more areas affected, the business volume of the New Jincheng Pier will also be more.

Kicking the mayor away, and then they eat the Xingang District and New Jincheng Pier themselves, continuing to let the profits stay in their mouths, this is the result of Councilor Williams and some people in the Bay Area after consultation.

They will fully support Councilor Williams to win in the mayoral election. Similarly, Councilor Williams must also ensure that in the distribution of interests in the Xingang, at least 60% of the profits remain local.

The state government side also has some interest transport problems. They divide the remaining 40%.

This is a result that both sides can accept.

Maybe some people will feel, how can 40% be enough for so many people to divide?

Having this idea is actually wrong in itself, because there are not so many people in this 40%. Only after satisfying the interest demands of the top level, will the extra residue and debris fall to the bottom.

The interest demands of the upper level are satisfied, and the people at the bottom, except for complaints, will not really do anything.

They can't smash the old man's dinner just because they are not full, right?

No one is really that stupid, right?

If it is a project in New Jincheng, then Lans can understand why they are looking for him.

Watching him still in contemplation, Councilor Williams took the initiative to say, "Lans, you have also contributed a lot to this matter. You have maintained the common interests of all of us."

"So...", he glanced at the Secretary of State, "Xingang Pier also has a share for you!"

Lans came with some interest. "How much?"

"One percent."

"No, three percent." Lans directly rejected the proportion proposed by Councilor Williams. "I don't know how much one percent is, but I don't like this number!"

"It is the smallest in percentage, and I...", he looked at those upper-class people in the Bay Area who were socializing around, "can do no worse than them!"

Councilor Williams might have been moved by him and added a little. "One point two percent, just such a little, will bring you millions of income every year!"

Lans shook his head. "Two percent, I have made the biggest concession."

Councilor Williams frowned and thought for a while. "Every cake is decided who can get which piece before it is served."

"Everyone is like this, it was decided from the beginning!"

"If you want to get more, someone must give up their interests to you. This is not a small number. No one will give it to you so easily."

Lans still maintained his position. "I can accept that you don't give it to me, but I can't accept that you give me so little. I am not a homeless person, Councilor."

"And I believe that my role and my value are much more than these people who only know how to spend money!"

Councilor Williams's eyes stayed on Lans for a moment. "I take out my private 3%, 1.5%, no more."

Lans also showed a smile. "Deal...", he let out a heavy breath. "Whether it is in New Jincheng or Licalai State, if the state government needs labor, contact me anytime, anywhere."

"Including the problem of responding to the strike this time, I can also help you solve it."

Licalai State does indeed have some construction tasks. As the largest port in the northern hemisphere, New Jincheng also faces great pressure and potential risks.

The Assembly side discussed that there should be troops stationed in New Jincheng, so naturally, there are also a large number of construction tasks.

And if the war spreads to the East Ocean and affects the East Coast and the southern coastal areas of the Federation, Licalai State has the necessity to be prepared to respond to the war passively.

Some defensive fortifications, although it is not certain that anyone will come to provoke the Federation, and it is even less certain that they can hit the land, but what if?

These all need people to work. If the state government wants to save expenses, it can only use cheaper labor.

After determining this matter, the two exchanged business cards, and then the Secretary of State took the initiative to leave.

Councilor Williams said to him, "After the state government's order comes down...", he looked at Lans and didn't continue, but Lans understood what he meant.

The profits generated by government orders certainly cannot all be his own. If he couldn't even figure out such a simple thing, then he wouldn't be qualified to live in a small room.

"How much can I eat?"

Councilor Williams showed an appreciative expression. "30%, but I personally suggest you keep 20%, or even 15%."

"There will certainly be your share in various large-scale constructions. Although your profit is not high from a single project, they will have many projects."

Although Lans knew these, he still nodded and thanked him, because ordinary people would definitely not tell you these.

Even if they wanted to tell you, it must be after you fell heavily, they would run out like a good person and tell you what you should do, not before you fell and hurt.

You didn't fall and hurt, their advice and experience wouldn't be so valuable, and the effect wouldn't be better than telling you after you fell and hurt.

Councilor Williams could speak so bluntly, it was seen that he was continuously laying the foundation for James, or for the Williams family.

"Thank you for teaching me the experience, Councilor Williams."

Councilor Williams laughed out loud. He took two glasses of wine from the waiter's tray, one of which was given to Lans. "Happy cooperation, Lans."

"Happy cooperation!"

On the way back, Lans saw William chatting with Charlie. When they saw Lans walking over, they even took the initiative to greet him.

Hunter shook hands with Lans, and then Charlie.

"We cooperated well this time!" Hunter's face showed some smiles. They handled this terrible riot, and Councilor Cleveland also praised the execution ability of the New Jincheng police system.

Charlie's face was full of smiles. "I just chatted with William and exchanged some insights and experiences."

"This election for municipal councilor is a rare opportunity for us, Lans."

He glanced at William. "You, me, William, we are all...", he lowered his voice, "not qualified to enter here. For them, they may not be willing to accept us."

"So we have to unite. We don't intend to hurt anyone, but we can't be hurt by others!"

Lans nodded. "Yes, you are very right." He looked like he also agreed with this point of view.

Charlie was full of smiles. "You, me, we cooperate together, we can definitely manage a stable New Jincheng!"

They didn't talk much, and Charlie and Lans didn't have much to say.

After they left, the smile on William's face converged. "I don't like his appearance, not likable."

Lans quite agreed with his point of view. "Charlie has been a dog in the Bay Area for too long, so he doesn't know how to be a person now!"

"Even if he can run for success, he won't last too long."

William came with some curiosity. "Do you have any inside information?"

"I just saw you chatting with the Secretary of State and Williams over there."

His eyes showed a kind of amazing look. He knew Lans's situation very well. In one year, he changed all this, and even could stand in front of the Secretary of State and the next mayor for equal communication!

This young man has a kind of magical power he can't say!

Lans shook his head and took a sip of sparkling wine. "Because I intend to rectify and integrate the entire New Jincheng police system, Charlie will be a stumbling block in my plan."

"You encountered a stone blocking your progress, the only thing you will do is move it away!"

William's slightly open mouth didn't know what to say. He could only raise his wine glass and touch his glass. "Wish you... uh... achieve your wish!"

Two "little people" stood in the corner, looking toward the hall. Under the brilliant lights, these upper-class ladies and gentlemen stood together in groups of three or five.

In their constantly opening and closing mouths, one after another exchange of interests was reached.

This scene happened in every corner here, countless interests were exchanged and arranged at this moment. Ordinary people find it difficult to imagine that the operation of society is actually not that complicated, because in these exchanges of interests, many things have already been decided.

This party was held very successfully. Although the Labor Union and the Pier Workers' General Union were still protesting to the federal government, their hope of inciting a nationwide strike was shattered.

This matter will definitely have aftermath, and the destructive power caused by the aftermath is within the acceptable range.

Councilor Cleveland still has a lot of work to do. He serves as a member of two committees and is very busy.

The morning after the party ended, he took the train back to the special zone and left.

The whole city seems to have become a little easier because of this.

The state police on the street are also constantly withdrawing, and the order of the city seems to be rapidly "recovering."

At this time, Lans had already taken over more than half of the port area, and there were still some people with unclear brains in the remaining territory.

After returning to the office, he first handled the work matters, and then he found Helam and told him that he could do it...

The leisurely afternoon sun sprinkled on the street. On a street near the triangle area, a small gang leader and his men were playing cards at the door of a delicatessen.

There were seven or eight people watching around, they were coming for money.

Everyone had a small money box in front of them, basically five-cent and ten-cent coins, and twenty-five-cent and fifty-cent coins were not very common.

Sometimes people watching around would also take out one or two dollars to participate, and after losing, they would watch for a while before leaving.

The leader caught a bad hand again. I don't know why, he had been losing money since lunch today, and he couldn't catch any very good cards.

Sometimes he caught good cards, but there were always people whose cards were bigger than his, which made him very annoyed.

He couldn't afford to lose so much money. This money might not be small for ordinary people, but for him, it could only be drizzle.

What he hated was the frustration of losing money, not the money lost!

"I fucking caught the shit pulled by God with these hands, and I didn't win a card once!"

The round ended, and it started again.

When he got the cards in his hand, the smile finally appeared on his face that had been depressed all afternoon.

This time, it was a good hand.

So good that he couldn't even hear the sound of car brakes ringing in his ears! ===== CHAPTER 396 =====