Chapter 36
Amidst the hustle and bustle, December arrived.
December is the season for travelers to return home.
People from Hongqi Village who work away from home are gradually returning home for the Spring Festival. After a year of hard work, they can finally go home to rest and catch their breath during the Spring Festival.
People who went out to work could feel the difference right from the town.
"Why are they starting road construction?"
"What? You're saying the government thinks the roads were too bad before, with cracks in some places, and that it affected the city's appearance, so they want to renovate them?" These roads have been in bad shape for years, so why didn't they think it affected the city's appearance before, but now they suddenly care?
"Why is the riverbank also dug up like a mess? Let me see, a riverside park is under construction..."
"A park is going to be built in our town? That's great, the elderly in the family can come and stroll around when they have nothing to do. But the name, tsk, I can't comment on it."
"And why are all the perfectly good houses starting to get their exteriors repainted and renovated? Are the people in town so rich that they spend thousands just to make their houses look better from the outside?"
What are they repairing here again?
“When the station was being repaired, the government said that before, buses would stop in front of people’s supermarkets, which affected people’s business and made it difficult for people who were not familiar with the town to find the station to pick up passengers.”
"Hey! That's thoughtful, but it's been like this for the past few years. Why didn't the government think of fixing up the bus station?"
"What's that being built over there? And what's that over there too?"
"Oh, you mean that? That's the township hospital being renovated, and over there a businessman is investing in building a shopping mall and hotel, which are under construction."
People who had just returned home stared wide-eyed at the row of buildings under construction, their thousand words condensed into one sentence:
"Building this and that, when did our township government become so rich?"
When did you become so rich?
Hongqi Piao had been around since the first month after its establishment, but at that time Hongqi Piao had not yet opened up the international market. Half of the tax revenue was handed over to the central treasury, 10% to the province, 10% to the city, and 5% to the county. The township could only keep the remaining 5%. Although Hongqi Piao paid a lot of taxes, after this division, the town did not have much left.
But this already made the township government leaders very happy, after all, this was the first time they had received tax payments in so many years.
The town was poor. It was located in the mountains and had no outstanding resources. No one came to set up factories or invest. There were only farmers who were struggling to make ends meet.
If a region fails to develop, it will naturally be difficult to collect taxes, and it usually relies on government funding to keep operating.
But this year is different. This year, a company called Hongqi Piao came out, and with the taxes it pays, the government can finally have some surplus.
The government received a large amount of tax revenue after Hongqipiao opened up the international market. The revenue generated by such a huge global market was unimaginable. As Hongqipiao's revenue increased, the taxes paid naturally increased as well. Although 95% of the large amount of tax revenue was handed over to higher levels, the township government could only retain 5%, which was still a considerable sum of money.
The government leaders are delighted, hoping that the red flag will fly high and prosper for a long time.
For this reason, the relevant leaders also went to see General Manager Xia of Hongqi Piao. After all, such a capable person had emerged from their jurisdiction, and even the higher-ups valued her. It was always good to visit her more often and build a relationship.
Don't say he lacks backbone. He's the highest-ranking leader in town, so why would he actively try to befriend a girl in her early twenties? That's just easy for him to say when he's not in the same position. If he were in that position and experienced the helplessness of having an empty wallet, he wouldn't be able to utter such simplistic words.
The news of the leaders visiting Hongqipiao Company, touring Hongqipiao's exhibition hall, and discussing the company's future development plans with General Manager Xia of Hongqipiao appeared on the township government's official WeChat account on the same day.
After receiving the tax payment, the leaders decided that the money should be used for the benefit of the people. So they decided to use it to tidy up the town. The town was attracting more and more people from other parts of the country and even the world, and the town couldn't be left in a dilapidated state, lest these elites look down on it. Besides, improving the infrastructure would also be a great thing for the local residents.
When tax revenue increases next year, they can consider developing other industries for the village and generating some income for the villagers.
Half of the older people working at the Hongqi Piao Industrial Park and the company are from other provinces. Many of them are visiting Xi'an for the first time, visiting the town for the first time, or visiting Hongqi Village for the first time.
The leaders felt that as a transit point to Hongqi Village, the town absolutely could not fail and could not leave outsiders with a dirty and chaotic impression. Although they were not that rich, they also loved cleanliness.
So the road repairs and exterior wall painting came about.
As for the hospital renovation, the leaders thought that whether they were locals or people who came to work in Hongqipiao, they would inevitably get sick from headaches or fevers. The previous township hospital was dilapidated, and the doctors and nurses there were not professional enough, which led people to choose private clinics or go to the county for medical treatment.
When there was little money and few people, things were fine. But now that the town is developing and the red flag is flying high, and the population is increasing, it's not feasible for people to go to small clinics on the street or travel all the way to the county for medical treatment when they get sick.
The level of medical care is an important indicator that can determine whether a person chooses to work and live in a certain place.
Even if a township hospital doesn't reach a very high level, it should at least be above the passing grade.
Therefore, the township hospital must be renovated, and new staff must be recruited after the renovation.
The town leaders were delighted that businessmen from other places had come to build shopping malls and open hotels, and they offered the businesses the greatest possible discounts and benefits.
They believe that once the first company invests in the town, a second will soon follow, and the government's job is simply to provide policy support.
When businessmen come to town to do business, they not only generate revenue for the local area, but also bring convenience and job opportunities to the local residents. This is a win-win-win situation for the township government.
The situation regarding receiving investment in Hongqi Village is even better than in the town.
The once impoverished village has become the most prosperous place among the surrounding towns thanks to the presence of the red flag.
...
Xia Yan dragged her suitcase and hailed a motorcycle from town back to the village.
Looking at the familiar scenery along the way, my wandering heart gradually returned to peace.
However, there are so many people at the village entrance.
As soon as you enter the village, you can see a newly built four-lane road next to the national highway that runs through the village. The new road is full of traffic. A little distance away from the road is a small square with shops all around and many stalls in the middle.
Xia Yan asked the motorcycle driver, "Is this the newly opened flying car factory in Hongqi Village?"
"That's right, this factory has been bustling with activity every day since it opened."
When the village was planning to build a factory, Xia Yan's family called her and asked her to come back and develop her career. However, at that time, she did not believe that a small factory in a village had much development potential. Besides, she had studied hard for more than ten years and did not want to work in a factory to tighten screws, so she did not come.
When Hongqipiao was recruiting later, she also submitted her resume, but unfortunately she didn't get the job.
To be honest, she and Xia Ke are actually related by blood, but unfortunately, their relationship is quite distant. She's too embarrassed to ask for favors or ask Xia Ke to pull strings to get her a job.
After passing the factory area, we officially arrived at the village.
The village has changed a lot, just like the town.
Many of the uncles and aunts she knew had converted the ground floor of their self-built houses into small businesses, including small supermarkets, food stalls, and even converted their homes into guesthouses.
She had heard her mother mention these things before. Now, many people work in the Hongqipiao Industrial Park. They are used to eating the communal meals on the construction site, so they come out to improve their meals. Therefore, she heard that the businesses run by their families are doing quite well.
Xia Yan's house is at the end of the village, not far from Xia Ke's house. A few steps diagonally across from her house is the Hongqi Piao Industrial Park. Originally, her mother wanted to learn how to do some small business from the villagers, but unfortunately, there was no one at home, so she never got around to it.
Xia Yan's mother now works in the canteen of Hongqi Piao. Because Hongqi Piao has a lot of people now, she has to cook a lot of food, and her salary has just increased to seven thousand yuan a month.
Xia Yan's father works at the Hongqi Piao factory. The factory pays by piecework. Her father is quick and efficient, and he can earn up to 8,000 yuan a month, and even on the quietest days, he earns more than 7,000 yuan.
The two elderly people can earn at least 14,000 yuan a month at home. Her salary is not bad, but after deducting rent and living expenses, she can only keep 3,000 to 4,000 yuan at most each month.
Her income is even less than that of her parents, who are in their fifties.
As Xia Yan looked at the changes in the village, she seriously considered her parents' suggestion that she stay at home and work.
She could try submitting her resume to Hongqi Piao again. Besides Hongqi Piao, there are two other companies that seem to specialize in making parts for Hongqi Piao flying cars. If she can't get into Hongqi Piao, she could try these two companies.
If neither of these two companies works out, she can convert her self-built house into a restaurant and start her own business. Her house is in a good location, and as long as her cooking skills are decent, she'll definitely have a good business.
Xia Yan is not alone in sharing this sentiment.
Especially when they know that their parents earn more at home than they do, they are even less willing to go out and work themselves to the bone for little money.
I didn't stay in my hometown before because I didn't have the opportunity, but now that I have the chance, I definitely want to give it a try.
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