Power and Wealth

Next day.

In the early morning, around six o'clock, Dong Xuebing, after getting up, went to the hotel's second floor for breakfast. The restaurant was quite crowded, mainly with domestic investors, but there were no signs of any investment promotion staff.

"Mr. An."

"Oh, Mr. Liu."

"Why haven't the others finished eating and left yet?"

"Yeah, waiting for Director Ma from the Investment Promotion Bureau."

"Well, they're not at my place, and I can't reach Director Chen either."

"Phones can't get through. We agreed to go to their county for an inspection at six in the morning, and now it's past six."

"Yeah, they promised yesterday, and it's delaying how much time."

"What annoys me the most is people who don't keep their word. We had an agreement yesterday. How can it take so long?"

"Mr. An, calm down. I don't see anyone but us. It seems the investors who were supposed to inspect today can't reach the investment promotion department either. The cars haven't arrived. Hmm, did something happen? It seems like everyone disappeared overnight."

"If there's an issue, they should still arrange for someone. How can we be left waiting like this?"

"Yeah, that's not right. Well, that seems to be a leader from Zhen Shui County."

"Let's go, ask what's going on. I still have things to deal with in my company. I have to go back the day after tomorrow. How can I just wait here like a fool?"

"Hi."

"Are you County Mayor Dong from Zhen Shui County?"

Several investors found Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing shook hands with them, "Yes, what's the matter?"

Mr. An, in a bad mood, said, "I want to ask where the people from Yangli County Investment Promotion Bureau have gone. I've been waiting for over half an hour and haven't seen anyone."

Dong Xuebing sighed, "I'm not very clear about the specifics. Maybe something came up."

Mr. An was unhappy, "If they have something, then we don't have anything. Everyone's time is precious. Where can you find people who work like them?"

Someone else approached, "Where have the people gone? I've been waiting for a long time, too."

Another investor said, "Are we inspecting today or not? If there are sudden issues, at least inform us. This is too disrespectful."

"Exactly, couldn't get through to them with a single phone call."

"I think we should all go back. Once they have foreign investors, they won't care about us."

Many investors had arranged to inspect various districts and counties at six o'clock in the morning following yesterday's appointments. However, no one showed up, and there was no communication about the delay, leaving everyone in a bad mood.

Dong Xuebing blinked his eyes rapidly, seizing the opportunity. Seeing the situation, he immediately said, "Listen to me, listen to me. The Investment Promotion Bureau you all contacted might have an urgent matter. I believe they don't disregard your importance. Otherwise, here's the deal. It seems like they won't be able to make it for a while. You can go to our Zhen Shui County for inspection first. Not to boast, it's well-known that many of the foreign investors this time were invited by our Zhen Shui County. Our county's projects are not inferior to others. Waiting is just waiting. We've already prepared the vehicles and can depart immediately."Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn ɴo(v)elꜰɪre.ɴet

Upon hearing this, the crowd started discussing.

Mr. An was the most relieved. He said, gambling with his temper, "All right, let's go to your county."

Mr. Liu smiled bitterly, "Sure, they won't make it. Mayor Dong, consider me in. Do you have any livestock farming projects?"

"We have them all, we have them all," Dong Xuebing suddenly said cheerfully.

No one from the Investment Promotion Bureaus of the various districts and counties, nor anyone from the City Investment Promotion Bureau were there. Only Zhen Shui County’s people were still "alive." They had no other choice. Although some people chose to wait at the hotel, most were prepared to go to Zhen Shui County. They had no other options, and there was also a herd mentality – so many foreign investment groups were inspecting Zhen Shui County, there must be a reason. Those were large conglomerates with tens of billions in assets, naturally having a better perspective than them. With this mindset, everyone thought it would be good to go and take a look at Zhen Shui County. Since those people were unreliable, some were still waiting at the hotel, but most were getting ready to go to Zhen Shui County. Under these circumstances, the Investment Promotion Expo venue would likely have only one booth – Zhen Shui County.

Dong Xuebing couldn't close his mouth, "All right, let me contact the vehicles immediately. By the way, please inform your friends, don't let them wait. If possible, just go to our county. In this situation, the Investment Promotion Expo venue will likely have only our Zhen Shui County booth."

"Okay, I'll check."

"I'll call Old Zhang too."

"Yes, don't wait any longer. These people have no sense of time."

In just ten minutes, Dong Xuebing contacted more than fifty domestic investors. And there might be more. If we include Zhang Longjuan's inspection team, the scale is almost close to a hundred. Without saying a word, Dong Xuebing excitedly skipped lunch and left the lobby, making a call to notify Chang Juan, "Come to the hotel entrance immediately."

Chang Juan, Chen Yunsong, and others arrived half a minute later. They were arranging vehicles, which Dong Xuebing had instructed to prepare for foreign investors yesterday.

Dong Xuebing immediately said, "The cars are all prepared."

Chang Juan acknowledged, "They're all in the parking lot."

Dong Xuebing ordered, "Prepare to depart, everyone, let's get moving."

"Depart?" Chen Yunsong was surprised, "Aren't the foreigners scheduled for eight o'clock? There's still over an hour."

"Don't worry about the foreigners for now," Dong Xuebing said. "I've contacted more than fifty investors. Can your cars accommodate them? If not, squeeze in."

"Fifty or more?"

"Mayor Dong, what's going on?"

Chang Juan and Gong Na were also a bit stunned by this surprise.

Dong Xuebing laughed, "All the people who drank yesterday are from all the Investment Promotion Bureaus participating in this Investment Promotion Expo. Liquor is different from beer; alcohol doesn't leave the system easily. After drinking so much last night, it's only been a few hours, and not a single one of them has gotten up. Many scheduled investors haven't been sent down on time, and all contact has been cut off. Now, in the hotel, only our Zhen Shui County remains."

Chen Yunsong was excited upon hearing this, "Ah, I'll immediately arrange for the cars to come over."

Dong Xuebing instructed, "The cars will not be enough. There will likely be more later. Also, the foreign investors' cars must be ready before eight. Can you manage?"

Chen Yunsong clenched his fist, "I'll contact a rental company. It should be possible, but the price might double if we need the cars urgently."

Dong Xuebing opened his bag and pulled out fifty thousand RMB in cash, "Take this money. I'll advance it. Don't worry about doubling; even if it's ten times the price, we'll pay as long as the cars arrive on time. Make sure to get the people to our county first. It'll be too late once the city leaders arrive or those people wake up. At this time, acting decisively is crucial, and we can't be afraid of offending people."

Dong Xuebing had the courage to do this.