Power and Wealth

Before noon.

Information on more than a dozen foreign companies has been obtained.

Officials from various county investment promotion bureaus have received first-hand information.

This document confirms the companies' foreign status and details the shareholders and investment advisors from overseas conglomerates. Most of the companies are from the African continent. Moreover, it lists each individual's asset scale and business direction in the delegation. As expected, apart from two or three companies with assets in the range of a few hundred million RMB, the rest of the delegation represents large groups with assets reaching tens of billions of RMB. Many people correctly guessed one thing. The leader of the delegation, Ms. Zhang Longjuan, is surprisingly powerful. Her company's assets have reached over a hundred billion RMB, explaining why the other delegation members regard her highly. Not only do their companies have business dealings or friendships with Ms. Zhang's company, but her strength is also evident. This information immediately reassures everyone in Meihe City, making them even more enthusiastic about this group of foreign investors. "Enthusiastic" might be an understatement.

At the hotel.

In a small banquet hall.

Several dozen people entered one after another.

"Please, Ms. Zhang, you take the main seat."

"Hehe, Mayor Hua, don't be polite. You should take the seat."

"I'll pass. I just received a notice from the Party Secretary that the City Mayor will be here soon."

"Oh, the Mayor is coming here? How embarrassing, people in leadership positions are busy with official duties."

"The city attaches great importance to the research of your delegation. The mayor is coming. The secretary is on a business trip to another city and might rush back soon."

"In that case, I should not sit in the main seat. I'll leave it for the Party Secretary and the Mayor."

"By the way, should we order some Western cuisine or something for the dishes?"

"No need. We'll go with the local customs and taste the local dishes of Meihe City."

"Alright, we'll order according to the banquet standards, with each dish served once. If you don't like it, we can add some Western dishes later."

"Sure. We'll follow Mayor Hua's arrangement."

"Old Lu, let our people take their seats too."

Dong Xuebing was the last to enter. He blinked when he saw the scene in the banquet hall. Not only were Mayor Hua Li, Deputy Mayor Lu Weiguo, and officials from the City Investment Promotion Bureau present, but also investment promotion bureau directors from various counties and districts. Dong Xuebing even spotted Chen Mingming and Ma Yanfen, who hadn't been very friendly toward their Zhen Shui County before. However, with more than a dozen foreign investors and the presence of Mayor Hua and Deputy Mayor Lu at the main table, they had to leave a place for the secretary and the mayor, resulting in a crowded situation. These county and district bureau directors had to sit at the second table.

"Mayor Dong is here," a City Investment Promotion Bureau staff member noticed him.

Zhang Longjuan smiled and looked at him, saying, "Mayor Dong, come and join us."

Dong Xuebing glanced around. Since there would be plenty of opportunities for communication later, he didn't mind for now. His main purpose in coming to the banquet was to ensure that officials from other counties or districts wouldn't poach other investors from Zhang's team. Therefore, he came to supervise. Since the bureau directors from other counties and districts were already seated at the second table, Dong Xuebing didn't mind. He said, "No need. I'll sit at that table. There's no space left here."

Zhang Longjuan chuckled, "Sure."

Hua Li and Lu Weiguo didn't extend an invitation to Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing didn't mind and casually walked over to the second table.

At this moment, Ma Yanfen smiled, "Mayor Dong, please sit here. We've been keeping a seat for you."

It was the main seat, and Dong Xuebing didn't hesitate. After all, his position as the deputy county mayor was much higher than the bureau directors of these counties and districts. He went over and took a seat.ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novelenglish.net . ꜰirᴇ.nᴇt

Ma Yanfen sat beside him and teased, "Mayor Dong is quite low-key."

Chen Mingming, on the other side, also smiled, "Zhen Shui County is making headlines this time. Even Old Zheng did well. We've been friends for many years, and he kept it a secret from me."

Another investment promotion bureau director from a different district asked, "Mayor Dong, how many days is the foreign investment inspection team planning to research?"

Dong Xuebing didn't reveal any information, "I'm not sure about that. I haven't asked. It could be a week or a month."

Then, another bureau director probed for more information, but Dong Xuebing remained tight-lipped. He sat there, sipping tea and smoking, waiting for the dishes to be served.

Ma Yanfen couldn't hold back and interjected, "Mayor Dong, the foreign investment inspection team will probably start their inspection tomorrow. Our two counties are not far apart. After they finish inspecting Zhen Shui County, would you consider introducing them to our county? To clarify, it's not about snatching investments from Zhen Shui County. We just want the investors to come and take a look. With your good relationship with Ms. Zhang, your word could make it happen."

Dong Xuebing looked at her, "It depends more on Ms. Zhang and her team. My words might not have much effect. You can contact them directly if they want to inspect your county."

The bureau directors from the counties and districts naturally had similar thoughts. They wanted to contact those foreign investors directly and bring them to their countries. However, considering the large number of counties and districts in Meihe City and the busy schedule of these investors, inspecting all the regions in a month was impractical. Choices had to be made, and with the excellent relationship between Zhen Shui County's Dong Xuebing and the inspection team leader, Ms. Zhang, a word from him might determine the route of the investors' inspection. Everyone had their minds set on this, wanting Dong Xuebing to help mediate. In an instant, Zhen Shui County, which had been isolated by the city and all other county investment promotion bureaus, became a hot commodity. The attitude towards Dong Xuebing also made a complete U-turn, becoming warm and friendly. Only a few bureau directors remained silent, likely planning on how to attract investors.

"Uh-huh."

"I don't know."

"I can't decide."

"You can ask Ms. Zhang and her team."

Dong Xuebing suddenly adopted an official tone, repeating these four sentences almost verbatim from start to finish. His demeanor changed, and he didn't take their words to heart. The disappointment in Meihe City and the city's investment promotion bureau had thoroughly disillusioned Dong Xuebing. He also had a poor impression of the investment promotion bureaus of other counties and districts. Oh, when you don't need us, you're all indifferent, and now that you need help, you're all enthusiastic.

Bluffing.

Don't come at me with that.

Dong Xuebing didn't yield to their soft or hard approaches. When the dishes arrived, he focused on eating his meal, paying no attention to the words of these bureau directors.

During a joyous occasion, looking at the foreign investors seated at the main table not far away and at the county and district bureau directors being polite, Dong Xuebing's appetite surged for a moment…