As Gao Zhenghao finished speaking, the air in the study seemed to freeze.
Gao Datong's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously lowered his voice: "Dad, do you mean... the Jiaxing Gang wants to take action against him?"
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Gao Zhenghao's eyes widened suddenly, and his tone instantly turned stern, "Remember who you are! Without evidence, any speculation is slander!"
Gao Datong was rebuffed and thought to himself, "You were the one who hinted at it first, and now that I've followed up with a question, it's become my fault."
"Alright, go out."
"...Okay, I'll go say hello to the guard at the gate."
Gao Zhenghao nodded and remained silent, his gaze returning to the documents on the table, his eyes deep.
It was exactly 5 p.m.
A black Cadillac, like a silent beast, quietly slid into the city government compound.
My colleague had already explained that the armed police at the gate were only conducting a routine check.
After a brief glance at the license plate and Zhang Cheng's excessively young face, he waved for him to leave.
The car came to a smooth stop in front of Building No. 3.
Gao Datong had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Zhang Cheng carrying several seemingly ordinary cloth bags from the car, he quickly went to greet him and said, half-jokingly:
"Brother Zhang, you're being a bit too blatant!"
Zhang Cheng smiled and handed over the bag, which was quite heavy.
"When visiting elders, it's never right to come empty-handed."
He said casually, "They're just some cheap local products. If you're worried, Brother Gao, why don't you open them and check them now?"
Gao Datong laughed and took the bag: "Come on, my dad's been waiting for you for a while!"
"good."
Inside, it was warm and cozy.
Gao Zhenghao had changed out of his Zhongshan suit and was wearing an ordinary white shirt, over which he wore a sweater.
He appeared gentle and mild-mannered, lacking any of the imposing presence of a mayor.
"Mayor Gao, I came in a hurry and brought some local specialties from Funing..."
"Xiao Zhang, you're too kind!"
Gao Zhenghao greeted him with a broad smile, taking Zhang Cheng's hand firmly in his grasp.
"It's good that you're here! Datong doesn't usually bring friends home!"
These words not only conveyed a sense of closeness but also clarified Zhang Cheng's status as a "friend".
"Dinner's just been served. Come on, let's have a drink together, you and me."
“Then I shall respectfully accept your offer!” Zhang Cheng grinned without flinching.
The dishes on the table were home-style yet exquisite, consisting of five dishes and a soup, with a proper balance of meat and vegetables.
Gao Datong's mother did not appear at all, seemingly deliberately avoiding the situation.
Gao Datong skillfully filled the glasses with wine for his father and Zhang Cheng; the wine was clear and viscous.
"Brother Zhang, try this wine."
He winked. "My dad wouldn't be willing to take it out for just anyone!"
"good!"
Zhang Cheng picked up his wine glass, didn't sip it, and drank it all in one gulp. A warm sensation ran through his throat, and he exclaimed with a satisfied expression, "Good wine!"
"Hahaha!"
Gao Zhenghao laughed heartily at his hearty manner and pointed at him, saying:
"You little rascal, you're just my type! You like to drink, take two bottles with you later!"
"Thank you so much, Mayor Gao!"
"Come on, start eating, don't just drink!"
Gao Zhenghao picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks first, and spoke seemingly casually:
"Xiao Zhang, Datong mentioned to me that you want to build an industrial park in Jiaxing?"
Zhang Cheng had just picked up the chopsticks, but he steadily put them back on the table.
This action instantly shifted the atmosphere at the dinner table from a family dinner to a negotiation table.
"Yes, Mayor Gao."
He sat up straight and said, "I hope that the construction of this park will receive strong support from the Jiaxing Municipal Party Committee."
“Support is inevitable.”
Gao Zhenghao's gaze swept across Zhang Cheng's face, his smile unchanged, but his eyes sharpened.
“I told Datong that our local government will welcome any entrepreneur who comes to Jiaxing to invest and build.”
The words sound nice, but the subtext is: we welcome "entrepreneurs," not "outsiders."
Zhang Cheng understood immediately.
"Mayor Gao, all I need is policy support."
He calmly looked back and said, "I will solve the funding myself. After the park is completed, I am willing to share the management rights with the Jiaxing government."
"Oh?" Gao Zhenghao raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. "You're here in Jiaxing to work on construction, how could the government possibly let you take on such a major responsibility?"
He hesitated for a moment, took a bite of his food, and slowly said:
"Okay, first come up with a specific site selection plan. Bring the plan to the city tomorrow, and we'll have a meeting to discuss it."
"Yes, Mayor Gao!"
Zhang Cheng knew that he had passed the first hurdle.
...
Just as Zhang Cheng was toasting and chatting with the mayor of Jiaxing, Zhang Cheng was enjoying himself immensely.
A Santana car was tearing through the night, speeding towards Jiaxing.
In the passenger seat, Li Yuanyuan closed her eyes to rest, but her mind was racing with calculations.
She was much more familiar with those out-of-town business owners in Jiaxing than Zhang Cheng was.
From the phone calls they made to inquire, Li Yuanyuan sensed a hint of unease and wavering.
Zhang Cheng's plan was groundbreaking, but it was also like a castle in the air.
Her purpose in coming here is to lay the most solid foundation for this pavilion!
"Forming alliances and counter-alliances!"
Li Yuanyuan parted her red lips slightly and uttered four words.
The business world is a battlefield.
Zhang Cheng threw out a large enough bait, but fish are naturally suspicious and will not easily take the bait.
What she had to do was to sprinkle another layer of irresistible honey on this bait!
"Sis, you're so rich, why are you still sighing and complaining like us?"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
