Seeing that the matter had been settled, Liu Xiuwen took his leave first.
There were only three of us left in Zhang Xiaodong's office. Zhang Xiaodong came up to me and patted my shoulder sincerely: "Hongjun, I apologize for getting angry at you just now."
A warm current surged in my heart, and I quickly responded, "Mr. Zhang, your words are very serious. I failed to understand your intentions and caused trouble when you were worried about your official duties. I deserve to be scolded."
Wang Yanshu saw this and joked, "Okay, you two grown men are acting out a sentimental scene here. Should I, the only female audience member, laugh or cry?"
Her words made the three of us look at each other and smile.
I continued the topic and said, "There is a solution to the logistics park issue. The steel construction plant should go through the normal bidding and auction procedures to obtain the land without any major problems. After all, it is industrial land and there will be no unnecessary trouble. Now there is also the issue of the two plots of land in the new city. How does Mayor Zhang plan to solve it?"
Zhang Xiaodong said without hesitation: "The new city planning scheme has been approved. As for who will get the development rights, let's speak for ourselves when we bid. This matter must be handled impartially and there is no room for negotiation. Yu Zhiming and Fangyuan Real Estate want to participate and win by bidding. Hongjun, although this matter was originally proposed by you, you have nothing to do with it after all, so don't make trouble for yourself."
I said frankly, "I am not looking for trouble, but I really feel it is difficult to explain to Zhiming. I thought that the problem could be solved smoothly through the transfer agreement, so I didn't pay much attention to the progress. However, now I am blocked by the new policy. If we don't lend a hand to solve this problem, I am afraid it will affect the reputation of the county government. Who will be willing to invest here in the future?
Have you ever thought that if we adopt the land bidding method, the situation that may emerge is not a flourishing of all flowers, but these two companies may choose to withdraw, and finally put us in an awkward situation of having land but no developer. To be honest, I inspired the investment enthusiasm of these two companies, but I am not completely sure about the sales prospects of the residential market. Are other real estate companies blind? Can't they see the potential risks here? "
They all heard what I said and felt worried.
A hint of doubt suddenly flashed across Zhang Xiaodong's eyes. He looked at me coldly and asked in a questioning tone, "You are not taking advantage of Zhiming, or do you have any leverage over him?"
I couldn't help but chuckle when I heard this, and tried to defuse this sudden and unwarranted accusation with a relaxed tone: "County Governor Zhang, how can you be so distrustful of your revolutionary comrades? I have never received any benefits from them, and I have never slept with their wives, so what can I use to justify it?"
As soon as I said this, I realized that I had said something wrong, and I was filled with regret. My cheeks turned red involuntarily, as if the secret in my heart had been accidentally revealed. It really fits the old saying that when you have something to hide, the more you try to cover it up, the easier it is to reveal it. I used someone else's car and slept with someone else's wife. I confessed all of this myself.
However, Zhang Xiaodong did not seem to notice my subtle change in expression, but my words caught the attention of Wang Yanshu. Her sharp eyes saw my gaffe.
In order to cleverly divert attention, I quickly shifted the focus of the discussion to the topic of merging the main factory of Daxun with the factory. I briefly told them about Chen Kai's experience in Tongxiang and the reasons why Lin Xun decided to merge the factories. Finally, I asked, "What do the two leaders think?"
Zhang Xiaodong immediately responded: "County Governor Wang is also the director of the development zone, so why not be the first to express his views."
After careful consideration, County Mayor Wang Yanshu said: "The recent implementation of the new land policy has made me deeply realize that land, as a rare and precious resource, has a growing potential for value-added. If Daxun abandons the Tongxiang plant at this critical moment, it is equivalent to giving up the huge value-added potential of that piece of land in the future. From a long-term perspective, the current land transfer income is far less than the future value prospects."
Zhang Xiaodong nodded in agreement and added: "County Governor Wang has analyzed it from the strategic height of maintaining and increasing the value of corporate assets, and I would like to put forward a view from another dimension: If Daxun decides to withdraw from Tongxiang and adopts a strategic contraction strategy, then our original grand blueprint of building an automotive parts industry economic belt with the Economic Development Zone as the core and the county seat and Tongxiang as the wings will be greatly discounted. In addition, the specific implementation plan that Director Xu of the Policy Research Office has devoted a lot of effort to carefully plan may be wasted and become an empty talk. Isn't it a pity to have such a result?"
I felt a deep resonance in my heart. Indeed, that was the ideal blueprint that we all dreamed of and worked tirelessly for. If we destroyed it with our own hands, it would be like strangling a thriving life with our own hands. The cruelty was beyond words. I said slowly, "The two leaders' implication is that we don't recommend giving up easily, right?"
Zhang Xiaodong nodded, his expression solemn: "The final decision still lies with Daxun's own strategic planning and decision-making considerations. We cannot make decisions for the company. The views of Mayor Wang and I are only for the reference of the company, aiming to provide a more comprehensive dimension of thinking."
Wang Yanshu said firmly: "Regarding Tongxiang Town's violation of the county party committee and county government's investment promotion policy and its arbitrary divestiture of resident enterprises, County Mayor Zhang and I will definitely intervene and deal with it. We must not only manage it, but also manage it to the end to ensure that the problem is fundamentally resolved. This determination must be felt by General Lin, so that he can believe that we are capable of maintaining a fair and just investment environment."
After leaving Zhang Xiaodong's office, Wang Yanshu quickly came forward and almost pulled me into her office. She carefully closed the door, and her expression became very serious: "Now, there are only two of us in this room, you have to tell me the truth, have you ever received any favors from Yu Zhiming?"
I answered firmly, “No.”
She snorted coldly, as if she didn't completely believe me: "Don't think I didn't notice that your face was red in the county governor's office."
I explained helplessly, "That's because I accidentally said something not very nice, like 'sleeping with someone's wife'. Of course, such words will make people blush, which is normal."
She nodded, not seeming to be too worried about this: "I'm not worried about this. After all, even if you have that evil intention, Dr. Yang won't be interested in you. But what I'm really worried about is that you're accepting his things."
She walked to the window and pointed to the parking lot of the government compound downstairs, with a hint of doubt in her tone: "Tell me, where did the car you are driving now come from?"
I answered frankly: "That was a used bike I bought with my own money. It is completely legal and can withstand any investigation."
She turned around, her eyes revealing a trace of worry: "Hongjun, I have to remind you, never extend a hand that you shouldn't extend, or you will be caught. You must have a ruler in your heart, and never take risks with your political future."
Back in my office in the development zone, I slowly leaned my back against the back of the chair, then raised my legs and gently folded them on the desk, almost lying down, trying to relax my tense body for a moment. Although my physical fatigue was relieved to a certain extent, the tiredness in my heart was like a dark cloud that lingered for a long time. From the unpleasant farewell with Yang Ruining, to the sudden resignation of Lao Ba from Daxun, to the successive problems of corporate land use, these events seemed like an endless storm, making it almost impossible for me to find a moment of peace.
As I closed my eyes and tried to calm my thoughts, Yang Ruining's image quietly emerged like a phantom. She was wearing a white coat, lace panties and stockings. Although the picture was hazy, it was full of temptation, making my body react involuntarily, and the sleepiness that had just sprouted disappeared instantly.
I picked up the phone helplessly, my fingertips dancing rapidly on the keys, and sent her a poem by Gu Cheng: "From the hem of your raised skirt, I smell the south wind, from your trembling eyelashes, I pick the stars."
I thought I would have to wait for a long time, but she quickly replied with a text message: "Don't bother, I'm in a meeting."
Seeing her reply, I couldn't help but smile, as if this text message had satisfied some of my emotional needs. So, I closed my eyes again, trying to let my mind sink into peace. However, Yang Ruining's willow eyebrows and almond eyes appeared again, and her cold face revealed an indescribable charm. I finally understood that coldness has its own soul-stirring beauty.