The black Mercedes-Benz performed a clean drift and came to a smooth stop at the entrance of the Luohu Municipal Compound.
In mainland China in the 1980s, Mercedes-Benz was a rare sight, immediately attracting the attention of many pedestrians.
Ning Yuan got out of the car and looked up at the two-story building with a yard in front of her.
A sentry stood ramrod straight at the gate, his eyes fixed straight ahead, exuding a serious air.
Ning Yuan straightened her clothes.
"Miss Ning, this way please." A young secretary in a white shirt was already waiting at the door.
Upon seeing Ning Yuan and her group, he immediately came forward and politely gestured for them to enter.
Ning Yuan nodded, and led Pei Shan, Awei, and the others, following the secretary across the courtyard, directly up to the second floor.
Upon reaching the second floor, the secretary gently knocked on the door of an office, then pushed the door open, gesturing for Ning Yuan to enter.
Ning Yuan immediately spotted Director Qiao sitting behind his desk—oh, no, he should be called Mayor Qiao now.
Uncle Qiao, who voluntarily transferred from Shanghai to Shenzhen, gave up his peaceful life in Shanghai and devoted himself to the construction of the pioneering reform and opening-up experimental zone.
The office environment and conditions are far inferior to those in Shanghai.
Mayor Qiao was engrossed in reading documents when he heard the noise and looked up.
He looked Ning Yuan up and down, clicked his tongue twice, and shook his head: "You little girl, it's been two years, and you're starting to look more and more like a small capitalist!"
His tone was clearly sarcastic: "What, have you been corrupted by the sugar-coated bullets of capitalism? That won't do!"
Ning Yuan burst out laughing at his joke.
She walked up to Mayor Qiao and plopped down on the seat: "Uncle Qiao, what are you saying! I may wear Western clothes, but my heart is always turned towards the sun!"
She tilted her head and said with a smile, "Besides, you know perfectly well that I'm here to offer you 'sweet treats,' so what do you think, do you want them?"
Mayor Qiao was taken aback, then shook his head with a chuckle: "You little rascal, you're still so sharp-tongued! Fine, I'll see just how big of a 'sugar-coated bullet' you can send me!"
The two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere immediately lightened considerably.
It was like a reunion of long-time friends, with perfect understanding between them.
Mayor Qiao leaned back and asked with a smile, "Seriously, girl, have you thought it through? Are you really going to invest in Bagualing in Shangbu Management District? Investing in the industrial zone, not in those pretty commercial properties near Luohu Port?"
He raised an eyebrow and had someone serve Ning Yuan tea: "I know that selling houses to Hong Kong government officials is much more profitable than building factories and running businesses all the time!"
Ning Yuan nodded lightly and sipped her tea: "Uncle Qiao, you don't need to test me. I'm not joking with you! I just want to vote for the Shangbu Management District."
She knew that the land use fees for investing in housing construction and investing in factory construction were different.
But it is even clearer that Shangbu Management Area is the future Futian District, and this place will become as valuable as Pudong in Shanghai.
Moreover, if you don't invest now, the price will rise significantly if you do invest later.
Mayor Qiao's face showed approval, and he stood up and smiled—
“If you really want to come back and do something meaningful, and you’ve thought it all through, then let’s go! As we agreed before, I’ll take you to see the place in person so you can have a better understanding!”
After saying that, Mayor Qiao called out, "Officer Li, Officer Lin, you two come with me."
When their names were called, Secretary Li and Secretary Lin immediately responded and followed behind Mayor Qiao.
The group got into the two Mercedes-Benz cars that Ning Yuan and her companions had driven, and headed towards Bagualing in the Shangbu Management Area.
Mayor Qiao looked at Ning Yuan's car and couldn't help but exclaim, "You've really upgraded from a slingshot to a cannon!"
Ning Yuan smiled and said, "I heard that Uncle Qiao still rides a bike to work? How about I save one for you?"
Mayor Qiao rolled his eyes at her: "Cadres should be frugal and simple. Don't try to bribe me with sweet talk. On matters of principle, I won't accept anything from you!"
Ning Yuan chuckled.
As the car drove out of the city, the scenery gradually became desolate.
Ning Yuan looked out the car window at the scenery rushing by.
At that time, Shangbu Management District, which later became Futian District, was still completely like a "country girl".
Everywhere there are villages, hills, wastelands and fields.
It is incomparable to the towering buildings and precious land of later generations.
The car bumped along the potholed dirt road.
Ning Yuan noticed that there were many docks along the way, most of which were still mudflats with only some simple facilities.
However, some docks are bustling with ships coming and going.
These docks are not on the sea, but on the Shenzhen River.
Mayor Qiao's secretary, Xiao Lin, sat in the passenger seat. He adjusted his glasses and dutifully explained:
"In 1982, in the Shangbu Management Area, there were two building material wharves on the Shenzhen River: Xingang Wharf and Shangbu Wharf. Most of the steel bars, cement, red bricks, and river sand needed for the construction of the Special Economic Zone were transported by boat to these two wharves and then transferred to various construction sites."
Ning Yuan listened and nodded to herself, realizing how it was.
Bagua Ridge is located at the foot of Bijia Mountain on its southeast side, next to Nigang Village.
The car finally stopped at the edge of the village. The group got out and walked through the village and various construction sites, attracting curious glances from many villagers.
Mayor Qiao pointed to the busy construction site in the distance and said to Ning Yuan, "Now the villagers are also actively involved in the construction of the special economic zone. After all, working outside can earn more than toiling in the fields. Who doesn't want to live a good life!"
Ning Yuan thought for a moment and then asked, "Uncle Qiao, how much money do the villagers here earn in a month?"
Mayor Qiao smiled and said, "Here, we don't count work points anymore. We have a household contract responsibility system. In some communes here, a family with three able-bodied members can earn more than 8,000 yuan a year from planting after completing the grain purchase task and adding various agricultural and sideline products."
“During the off-season, they can work on construction sites and their families can earn over 10,000 yuan a month, which is much higher than the income of urban residents in inland areas.”
Ning Yuan thought for a moment and said, "That's really great."
Back when we lived in Sitang Village, a family was considered lucky if they earned a little over 100 yuan a month.
Officer Wang pushed up his glasses and suddenly said, "Comrade Ning Yuan, you want to ask about the wages of the people here, right? During the off-season, farmers from the production brigade can earn 140 yuan a month by working as temporary workers in nearby factories; or they can earn 500 yuan a month by assisting with sawing wood at the shipyard."
Upon hearing this, Ning Yuan couldn't help but exclaim, "It's so much higher than in the mainland! I remember asking a friend to check before, and last year the average monthly income of urban workers was just over 100 yuan, and even lower for farmers."
If she remembered correctly, Uncle Qiao's salary was only a little over three hundred yuan a month, which was less than that of a wood sawer.
Mayor Qiao asked with a smile, "Many people here have been working for the Hong Kong government to make money these past few years. What, do you think the wages are too high and you can't afford to hire people?"
Ning Yuan shook her head: "No, compared to the Hong Kong government, the wages of mainlanders are still too cheap."
It's about the same price as cabbage.
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