Chapter 282 The Age of Daring to Venture: No Choice But to Burn the Boats

It had just rained, and the roads were still very muddy. Everyone was kind enough to say that at least they could wear rain boots and walk in the fields.

Wang Xiao, being the only one in a wheelchair, would be deliberately torturing himself and causing trouble for others by getting out of the car now.

She would never do such a thing.

So the car only circled the construction site, which was originally a reed field, twice, and that was considered her survey of the site.

When the car stopped, Boss Zhao jumped out to check the situation himself, and Wang Xiao also got out, but his target was the phone booth next door.

This is a temporary telephone line installed on the construction site to facilitate communication with the outside world. Otherwise, given the current situation in Pudong where one construction site is connected to another, you couldn't even shout to communicate with the outside world.

The rumbling of pile drivers, the chugging of tractors, the roar of concrete mixers, and the sizzling of welding machines rose and fell in waves, so loud that you could only hear someone speaking face to face.

Against this backdrop, Wang Xiao was pushed into the phone booth, picked up the receiver, and began dialing a long-distance call to Beijing.

Once connected, she didn't bother with small talk and simply gave the task: "How many skilled workers do you have on hand? What are their jobs and skill levels? Do a good job of finding out. Don't believe everything you hear. Even the honest working class can lie. You need to see their certificates and have written proof from their original employer. Otherwise, they might arrive in Singapore and turn out to be unqualified."

Yang Tao on the other end of the phone was taken aback. She was still racking her brains for a solution when her boss had already found a way out for the technicians.

For a moment, she didn't know whether she should be happy or disappointed.

The fact that the boss is personally handling things indicates that she is quite dissatisfied with her own efficiency.

Her heart, which had been boiling with excitement from her resounding victory at the negotiating table with academicians and experts, had now completely cooled down.

All that remained was the response: "I'll go through it again right away."

Mr. Zhao, on the other end of the phone, was equally surprised and hurriedly emphasized, "Mr. Wang, I need to think about it some more. I have never worked as a real estate agent before, and I don't know which companies might need my services."

Wang Xiao hung up the phone decisively, smiling broadly: "It's alright, you can take your time to plan, while the preparations in Beijing get started. When the demand comes, they can select the right people as soon as possible."

Mr. Zhao opened his mouth, but he couldn't bring himself to say, "I haven't said I absolutely agree yet."

This forced him to rack his brains to figure out which organizations might need people and who in his existing network of contacts could be of use.

Ivanov stood quietly to the side, watching him frown and ponder, secretly amused.

Haha, how could Wang possibly wait for you to slowly think it through?

She will definitely try every means to force you to take immediate action.

Well, people are inherently lazy, and truly top-notch execution skills are extremely rare. Unless it's an urgent matter, most people tend to postpone it.

However, as social animals, humans are often embarrassed to intentionally hold others back.

So when everyone in a team is moving around, influenced by the surrounding environment, even if they want to take a break, they can only grit their teeth and keep going.

Thousands of years ago, the Chinese people used the story of "Mencius' mother moving three times" to illustrate the influence of the environment on people.

Ivanov glanced at Boss Zhao with sympathy. Heh, the days of having a whip constantly urging you forward are still ahead.

Comrade Ivan, who experienced it, said it was a painful yet pleasurable experience.

Xiao Gao and Xiao Zhao both felt a bit sorry for Boss Zhao.

Especially the latter, who shares the same surname and was one family eight hundred years ago. If this guy, who is completely unrelated to us, had been willing to send workers from the ribbon factory and the machinery factory to work in Singapore back then, he would have already acquired land in Beijing and would probably be starting construction by now. Why would he need to go through all the trouble of coming to Pudong, Shanghai?

Since we've already come all this way, why are we turning back now, and having to find ways for Beijing workers to go to Singapore to work?

Thinking about it that way, what is he after?

After all that trouble, we're back to square one.

Sigh, if he had any connections, he wouldn't have had to be so definitive in the first place.

Compared to the two bodyguards, Zhang Junfei has indeed acquired the basic qualities of a leader, and he doesn't have as much excessive sympathy.

Mr. Zhao is already middle-aged, in his forties or fifties. Singapore is such a small place; it's not even comparable to the area of ​​Pudong, let alone the entire city of Shanghai.

It's just a small place with such a small population.

If Mr. Zhao, who has lived in Singapore for decades, is half-buried in the ground and still can't build up a network of connections, then it only proves that he's a good-for-nothing, and that's his limit.

Zhang Junfei really needs to reassess his strategy for dealing with Boss Zhao in the future. He doesn't want to be intimidated by the Singaporean tycoon's reputation and underestimate his true strength.

Boss Zhao was unaware that he had been put on the scale and weighed by a young upstart, and was still racking his brains trying to figure out how to move this matter forward.

The construction workers, who were taking a break in the afternoon and replenishing their energy with soup and snacks, came over to Zhang Junfei to ask, "Manager Zhang, are you still hiring for Japan? Do you think I'm any good enough?"

Before Zhang Junfei could answer, the people around him burst into laughter: "They recruit pretty girls to study in Japan and then sell clothes. Why would they recruit you? If you sell clothes, even if they're pretty, people will be too scared to buy them if you wear them."

The crowd around him burst into laughter, but the man who was being ridiculed straightened his chest and said, "I don't sell clothes. I can go to Japan and work as a laborer, carrying bricks and cement. I'm strong, after all."

The people who were laughing and joking suddenly felt a surge of warmth in their hearts. Yes, they were now carrying bricks and doing odd jobs on construction sites, earning several times more than they used to earn farming.

If you were to build a house in Japan, wouldn't the money you earn in a day be equivalent to a month's salary now?

They're all doing manual labor like carrying bricks, so why can't they go to Japan?

Everyone chattered amongst themselves, surrounding Zhang Junfei.

Even though he repeatedly emphasized that he didn't have the connections, everyone insisted, "Manager Zhang, please help us think of a way. You're a really good person."

Zhang Junfei was forced to retreat, and instantly empathized with Boss Zhao. It turned out that being forced into a corner really felt like being roasted over a fire.

Wang Xiao watched with amusement, and, not wanting to miss out on the drama, even fanned the flames, saying, "Manager Zhang, don't you want to think of a solution?"

Zhang Junfei almost knelt down before his boss on the spot. What had he done to deserve such a kick to the bone?

The unscrupulous capitalist seemed completely unaware of how utterly immoral he was, and continued to explain leisurely: "In 1993, which was last year, Japan officially implemented the 'Foreign Technical Intern Training Program,' allowing foreign workers to enter the construction, agriculture, and other fields as trainees."

This is quite normal.

Following the Japanese economic crisis, starting in 1992, the Japanese government adopted a large-scale economic stimulus policy, issuing new government bonds for public works investment to stimulate the economy, known as the "Big Infrastructure Project."

Infrastructure projects naturally require construction workers. However, Japan has been experiencing a declining birthrate for many years, and fewer and fewer people are willing to engage in the arduous and strenuous work of construction. Therefore, it is necessary to import foreign workers to fill the labor shortage.

The construction workers in Pudong were unaware of the intricacies involved, but that didn't stop them from instantly becoming excited.

Construction workers, isn't that what they're doing now? If the Japanese need them, they can pack their bags immediately and head to Japan.

Wang Xiao shook his head: "If you don't want to work illegally and get deported, you have to go through the proper trainee route. At the very least, you have to pass a Japanese language exam, otherwise you won't be allowed in."

That statement alone is enough to make many people back down.

They're strong enough for physical work, but when it comes to studying, well, it's a real pain.

Someone frowned: "Everyone says that our Shanghainese is similar to Japanese, but I really can't learn that gibberish Japanese."

“You still need to learn the basics.” Wang Xiao gave them a second-best option: “If you really can’t improve your Japanese, then you can improve your construction skills.”

Before she traveled through time, she had seen the news. The students at the vocational school had built a wall that was incredibly beautiful and won a world championship. They were highly sought after by employers.

Wang Xiao didn't know those technical terms either, so he just gave an analogy: "For example, you are actually a master craftsman, but if you go to someone else's territory and are willing to work as a laborer and take a laborer's salary, then the employer will be willing to hire you, and you will have a competitive advantage."

Nobody is complaining, "Why am I the senior worker and I'm the junior worker?"

Hey! You're just a servant, so you have to obey. When you're on someone else's turf, isn't it only natural to keep your head down and do your job?

The crowd was excited, and everyone gathered around, asking all at once, "Is it really possible?"

Wang Xiao didn't give a specific answer, but smiled broadly and said, "Practice your skills first. If you don't have any skills, you won't be able to find a job or earn any money even if you go to Japan."

The foreman came over and urged, "Hurry up, the buckets will be taken away soon, go and have some soup!"

Everyone laughed and went to drink soup and eat red bean buns. If they didn't eat now, their stomachs would be empty and they wouldn't be able to hold out until dinner time.

Distracted by this, Boss Zhao forgot his troubles and even asked curiously, "The workers here are easy to talk to; they didn't make a fuss about wanting to be the main laborers."

Unlike Beijing workers, who are picky about working abroad and insist on becoming skilled workers.

Ugh, I'd better not think about it anymore; it just gets annoying.

Wang Xiao smiled and said, "Because they are farmers. China has long had a dual urban-rural structure, with workers being the elder brother and farmers the younger brother. Their self-perception is different, so their demands are also different. To put it simply, for a long time, it was basically impossible for farmers to work as permanent employees in factories; they could only work as temporary workers. So everyone has become accustomed to this situation."

These words were somewhat like exposing a family scandal, but she still insisted on speaking her mind.

Since Boss Zhao is already her partner, if he doesn't understand the labor market situation in China, then she will also share in the losses.

Boss Zhao may lack a strong pioneering spirit, but he is by no means lacking in the keenness of a businessman. He immediately said meaningfully, "If that's the case, it may be difficult to find a job as a worker in Huaxia City in the future."

Why? Because for foreign businessmen like him and private business owners like Wang Xiao, their cost-effectiveness is low.

One reason is that migrant workers demand lower wages than urban workers.

On the other hand, the workers have an overly strong sense of ownership.

This will cause management problems for the boss, who is working for whom?

Ironically, the technology they are so proud of is not considered very valuable by their boss.

The most attractive aspect of China for foreign investment is its vast consumer market brought about by its huge population, as well as its cheap labor force.

This means that the capital entering the market will be engaged in basic labor-intensive industries.

They don't require advanced technology; what they need are a large number of assembly line workers who can start working after simple training.

The globalized division of labor in the market will severely impact the existing industrial systems of every country willing to open its doors.

Wang Xiao smiled, his gaze lingering on the construction workers who were laughing and munching on soup and steamed buns.

Just then, the sun reappeared in the sky.

Even though the sun's temperature was limited at the end of February, the wind couldn't defeat it. The sunlight always shone on the construction site, gilding everyone's faces and warming everyone's smiles.

She sighed softly: "Times are changing, and everyone's circumstances will change accordingly."

As for which direction to change, only the tides of time will provide the answer.

Mr. Zhao was also filled with emotion and offered his blessing: "I hope they can get their wish and become laborers in Japan."

Wang Xiao then defeated him with one sentence: "If they really can't pass the Japanese test, then going to Singapore is not an option."

Even though Mr. Zhao is in his forties or fifties, he almost jumped up on the spot and splattered himself with mud.

He was shocked: "What does this have to do with Singapore?"

Wang Xiao said seriously, "Doesn't Singapore need construction workers? As far as I know, it seems they do. Mr. Zhao, we need to do both things well. We have mid-to-high-end skilled workers and a large number of construction workers. In the future, Singapore will have to consider your opinion when it comes to hiring workers."

Xiao Gao and Xiao Zhao felt deep sympathy for Boss Zhao once again.

See? Once you're on that pirate ship—or rather, once you've connected with the boss—you can forget about being content with a modest life. The boss always has a way, so you should maximize your advantages.

What? You're saying that's not your strength? Are you kidding me? Understanding is knowing, knowing is mastering. Even if it's not your strength, you should turn it into one.

So, after inspecting a large construction site, when they went to the science park development company to formally sign the contract, the bodyguards all felt that no one could blame President Zhao for his solemn expression.

Anyone who suddenly found themselves carrying such a heavy burden and didn't collapse on the spot would be hailed as a hero.

However, Mr. Hu, the general manager of the development company, was quite suspicious and even quietly asked Wang Xiao, "Does this Boss Zhao have any objections?"

Wang Xiao readily agreed and immediately shifted the blame: "He's worried that road construction won't keep up, the 'Three Links and One Express' (referring to transportation, logistics, and express delivery) won't be realized, and the subway won't be able to open."

Mr. Hu immediately patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, it's definitely there. The subway plan has been approved and construction has already started. We'll each take charge of one side: infrastructure and policy. You just need to build the factories, shopping malls, and hotels that need to be built."

Wang Xiao then turned to Zhao and said ingratiatingly, "President Zhao, did you hear that? Our President Hu is a good friend of the leaders of Shanghai. He guaranteed that there would be absolutely no problem."

Mr. Zhao could only give a simple "hmm" twice.

What should we do? If he doesn't answer, they might think he has a bad attitude and give him a revised plan.

But if he acts too enthusiastically, people might think he's enjoying it and then cause him more trouble.

Good heavens! He's already this old, all he wants to do in China is go back to his old profession and open a hotel.

Fortunately, he didn't say it aloud, otherwise, if it had fallen into Wang Xiao's ears, he would have said that no matter how old he was, he was at the age where he should be making a name for himself.

Back at the hotel that evening, Wang Xiao called Xiang Dong again to inquire about the progress of Michael's concert.

Xiang Dong was also in a bind. It wasn't that he wasn't proactive, but rather that his proactiveness was futile.

The official Spring Festival holiday is indeed only three days, but you won't see everyone in government departments until after the Lantern Festival.

One thing can be broken down into thirty or forty steps, and if any step is missing a person, you're in for a world of trouble.

Even with Xiang Dong racking his brains, the program is still stuck.

The relevant authorities believe that Michael Jackson's concert in China will have a negative impact on teenagers. The current idol worship craze is already very serious and should be cooled down, not fueled.

Wang Xiao, too lazy to listen to nonsense, directly offered a solution: "Tell them that all the box office revenue from Michael Jackson concert movies, after deducting expenses, will be donated to Project Hope. Let the cinemas that made money and Project Hope negotiate with them. If they don't agree, make them pay for it themselves!"

Without hesitation, Xiang Dong immediately agreed: "Okay!"

There are so many organizations that are short of funds these days—education, healthcare, infrastructure—where isn't there a funding gap?

He didn't even ask how they would make money from the concert after donating the money.

When doing things, you always have to focus on the big picture and let go of the small details. Right now, for them, the key is to use the opportunity of Michael Jackson's concert to build brand awareness.

Michael has fans, and his concert movies have fans who buy tickets.

What about singers from Hong Kong and Taiwan? Their songs are even more widely circulated in China, and their fan base is much larger. Do you think no one would watch their concert movies?

Cast a long line to catch a big fish; sacrificing a little money is for the sake of making big money.

She hung up the phone, and Ivanov rushed in excitedly, unable to suppress his laughter, and winked at her: "Wang, the Zhao family has arranged for Zhao Xiuzhi to study abroad."

Wow! That's pretty fast.

Wang Xiao pushed the wheelchair to the window and looked at Shanghai on the night of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month.

The chilly spring night wind, carrying the dampness of the Huangpu River, shattered the neon lights of the Bund.

Across the street, a makeshift food stall billowed out thick steam. The sizzling oil on the griddle mingled with the white breath of those queuing, weaving a shimmering net under the streetlights.

The long queue was caught in the net.

Those were people who queued overnight, hoping to get their visas approved and leave the country smoothly the next day.

On a February night, a man wrapped in a military overcoat and a woman wearing a red and blue checkered scarf, with flashlights in hand, were still memorizing vocabulary and repeatedly practicing their answers to questions the visa officer might ask.

The chimes of the customs clock tower, striking and swaying in the night, represent their unknown future and fate.

What you might struggle to achieve even with all your might is easily attainable for others, and they might not even bother with it.

Wang Xiao sighed softly, "As expected of the young lady, even her exile is to study abroad. Where is she being exiled to?"

Ivanov's expression was priceless, his face full of anticipation: "Japan, she's going to study in Japan on a government scholarship."

Hahaha, he really couldn't hold it in anymore.

He could easily imagine just how lively it would be.

Because Wu Haoyu is in Japan.

Tsk tsk tsk, what a melodramatic prime-time soap opera that would be.

Oh dear, poor Wu, he'll most likely have to pack his bags and disappear from Wang's world forever.

Ivanov couldn't help but laugh at the thought of this scene.

"What?" Wang Xiao couldn't laugh. If she weren't still in a wheelchair, she would have definitely gone berserk on the spot. "Bastards, the Zhao family has completely lost all shame."

Ivanov was still feigning concern, saying, "Your Majesty, it's alright, this one is too troublesome, let's move on to the next one."

"Is this the next question?" Wang Xiao was furious and slapped him on the neck.

He was squatting down talking to her.

"Use your brain!" the angry woman roared, yelling at the dumbfounded man, "The Zhao family is going all in."

"Anyway, Zhao Xiuzhi's reputation is already ruined in the industry. She confessed her feelings to Wu Haoyu in public and was rejected. If she tries to find other suitable partners in the future, people will feel awkward. She is no longer the best choice."

"After what happened in Jiangdong, everyone will know that she is stupid, short-sighted, arrogant, and doesn't know how to respect her elders. She's already on the blacklist of marriage partners. No family wants to find a daughter-in-law like her."

"She's in the Hong Kong gossip newspapers again, and it's been revealed that she even skipped her training course for young cadres to go shopping in Hong Kong. Her career prospects are hopeless. Even families of lower social standing wouldn't want her as a daughter-in-law."

"In this situation, the one who tied the knot must untie it. If she goes to Japan and wins over Wu Haoyu, it would be the simplest, most convenient, and most effective method. As long as she gets married and has children, she will be bound to the Wu family. Then all the past events will become a light and breezy statement. Youthful impetuosity is just a passionate expression of love among young people."

Ivanov comforted her, who was still agitated: "Hey, Your Majesty, it's nothing. He's just a passerby."

"You idiot!" Wang Xiaozhen couldn't help but hit him. "Is it Wu Haoyu's problem? Secretary Fang, the key person is Secretary Fang!"

Even a hundred Wu Haoyus tied together wouldn't be as good as one Secretary Fang.

"Our cause in Jiangdong must receive the strong support of Secretary Fang."

"There's an old Chinese saying that goes, 'Even if you break a bone, the tendons still connect it.' If Wu Haoyu is Secretary Fang's son and Zhao Xiuzhi is her daughter-in-law, then the situation is completely different."

"Why have major families been so keen on intermarriage since ancient times? Because it is the simplest way to express their stance, representing that they have formed an alliance."

"The Zhao family arranged for Zhao Xiuzhi to go to Japan with this in mind."

Ivanov, whose mind had been completely absorbed in gossip, finally snapped out of it.

He was taken aback: "The Zhao family has played such a big game."

They can indeed be ruthless.

This means that Zhao Xiuzhi has been thrust into the spotlight of their circle. Countless people, like him, will be watching the spectacle unfold.

If she fails to win over Wu Haoyu, she will become a complete joke, a joke that will be dragged out and whipped for years to come.

Her reputation in the industry is completely ruined.

This situation could have been completely avoided.

If she goes to another country and starts a new life, in a few years, who will remember the past?

The Zhao family's arrangement only shows that for a family in such a high position, every member can be used as a resource.

Ivanov was almost filled with awe; ruthlessness and the constant pursuit of maximizing profits were the hallmarks of those in power.

For them, superfluous emotions are useless garbage.

"Your Majesty, what are you going to do?"

The quickest solution to this love triangle is for Wang to completely bind Wu Haoyu to her, leaving Zhao Xiuzhi with no opportunity to make a move.

But Ivanov wouldn't say something so foolish; if he dared to humiliate the king like that, he'd be finished. He could forget about living the life of a kept man.

Sure enough, Wang Xiao narrowed his eyes, his voice colder than the February night breeze in Shanghai: "Then we might need to speed things up."

What do you do when your enemy is looking for allies, and those allies are also people you want to win over?

Should we offer more favorable terms to attract allies?

No, Wang Xiao is a staunch non-marriage advocate; she would never be tied to anyone.

Therefore, she only had one choice left: to completely eliminate the enemy before they formed an alliance.

This left her with no choice but to try and win over the allies she wanted.

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Good morning! Yes, this is Mr. Wang.