The dinner was of high standard, hosted by relevant municipal departments. A senior figure in charge of finance and economics attended the banquet, along with a group of people from the city who were responsible for attracting investment.
The person who came forward from the bank was President Gao of the city branch, while the only people who came forward from the branch were President Hou and Li Cheng.
In the largest banquet hall of Pengfei Hotel, more than 20 people sat around a large round table.
Li Cheng had attended this kind of banquet many times and knew that the more people came, the less likely it was to talk about business.
This kind of banquet usually just expresses the host's enthusiasm, and specific matters are negotiated in a small circle.
After a few glasses of welcome wine, the boss looked at Li Cheng, then at Weng Shirui, and said, "You are all young talents! Seeing you, I seem to have become a lot younger, hahahaha..."
Everyone laughed. To create a lively atmosphere, people need to express themselves appropriately.
The boss added: "I've recently figured out one thing: how can I make my mentality younger."
Everyone looked at him. No one asked any questions, but there was a questioning look in everyone's eyes.
The boss added, "That means you should spend more time with young people like Mr. Weng and Mr. Li Cheng!"
Everyone laughed. Then, the boss pointed at the sea cucumber on his plate and said, "One time, Li Cheng told me that eating sea cucumbers nourishes the body, but not the mind. Ever since then, I've been wondering how I can make my mind younger, so I can keep up with Li Cheng's pace."
After the boss finished speaking, the scene suddenly became even quieter. Some of them looked at the boss, some at Li Cheng, as if they couldn't figure out whether the boss's words were a criticism or a compliment.
The boss glanced at everyone and then set his sights on President Gao. "President Gao, you and I are the oldest among those present. As two old men, sitting among these young people and feeling their overwhelming youthful aura, don't we feel younger too?"
President Gao smiled, then nodded and said, "Yes, yes, I do feel like I've returned to my youth."
The boss laughed, and everyone laughed too.
After laughing, the boss said, "Li Cheng's rhythm always makes me a little dazzled. I feel a little unprepared and a little unable to keep up with his pace. But when I think about it, I feel that what he said is right and makes sense."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and the boss continued, "For example, last time, Li Cheng said that the saline-alkali flats in the north were a treasure trove. Later, he turned out to be right. When provincial leaders visited, they saw the battery factory there and said that this place could be expanded and even turned into an industrial town.
Afterwards, the city submitted a report to the provincial government, proposing to develop the northern saline-alkali flats into an industrial zone. The province quickly agreed and provided the city with a special development fund. Furthermore, the province also provided substantial support for electricity and other supporting facilities.
Before the boss finished speaking, everyone present started clapping their hands.
After the applause died down, the boss said, "If Li Cheng hadn't done the hard work to get the battery factory moved there, there wouldn't have been the prototype of the industrial zone. You could say Li Cheng was the founder of that industrial zone."
Everyone applauded again, and Li Cheng felt a little embarrassed. When the applause died down, he stood up and said, "This is all thanks to the city leaders, especially you, the mayor in charge of finance. You have the vision and courage to support our work decisively, which has led to today's results.
If I am the founder, then you are the one who personally placed the foundation stone on that salt marsh. You are the one who should be recorded in history, and this incident should also be recorded in history..."
This flattery made the boss feel extremely comfortable. But this was a banquet to welcome Weng Shirui after all, and Li Cheng's achievements were always mentioned.
Li Cheng raised his glass and continued, "Today, we will join forces with Mr. Weng, General Manager of the Weng Group, to make the textile industry flourish even more beautifully on that saline-alkali beach. Here, I propose a toast to the future of our city and a brighter tomorrow for all of you."
Everyone stood up, raised their glasses, and drank them all in one gulp. The next moment was much more casual, with the leader reiterating the city's position: support, to the best of their ability.
President Gao also expressed his support on behalf of the municipal branch and sub-branch, stating that he would definitely coordinate funding to support the textile group. Representatives from other departments present also expressed their support.
In this way, the atmosphere at the banquet was like waiting for Weng Shirui to nod in agreement to the investment.
However, Weng Shirui behaved very low-key at the banquet. He never took the initiative to speak, but he was definitely not rude either.
After the banquet, Li Cheng personally sent the Weng brothers and sisters to Shibaqu Lane.
This was what Weng Shirui meant. Although he had never lived here, he and Weng Xiaozhu had often heard their mother talk about this place when they were young.
The so-called childhood memories are those that I have experienced personally and those instilled by my mother.
But as soon as Weng Shirui walked into the alley, he felt that this place seemed to be too different from his memory.
Although he had never been here before, the appearance of this place in Weng Shirui's memory was very real.
He looked at Weng Xiaozhu and asked in confusion, "Little sister, isn't this grandma's house..."
Weng Xiaozhu smiled. She understood what her second brother meant. When their mother talked about this place to them, although she spoke of the beauty of this place with deep affection, she always sighed in the end and cursed the road in the alley viciously.
I guess their mother fell down here many times, so she hates the road surface in the alley.
But what Weng Shirui saw was a very neatly paved stone road. Not only was it neat, but it was also clean, and it glowed coldly in the moonlight.
Weng Xiaozhu pointed at Li Cheng and said, "Brother, it's all his fault. He put this place..."
Afterwards, Weng Xiaozhu told Li Chengrang about relocating the seafood market and applying for Shibaqu Lane to be listed as a cultural relic protection unit.
Weng Shirui looked at Li Cheng, his eyes full of approval. He took a few more steps forward, then looked around and down at his feet. He said to Weng Xiaozhu, "If my mother knew what had happened here, she would be very happy."
Weng Xiaozhu also said, "Yes, what she disliked most was the road in front of the door. Now that it has become like this, it is probably what she wants to see the most."
Seeing their sighs, Li Cheng suddenly said, "She knows. She must know."
This was said at a really inappropriate time. As soon as Li Cheng finished speaking, a gust of wind suddenly blew through the alley.
It was already the end of October, and the autumn was chilling. Weng Xiaozhu and Weng Shirui felt an inexplicable chill.
Both of them looked at Li Cheng, with some fear in their eyes.
Seeing this, Li Cheng hurriedly said, "Let's go, there's still some distance to go!"
So, the three of them quickened their pace and walked together towards the depths of the alley...
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