National Tide 1980.

He graduated from Beijing Forestry College and came to work at the Temple of Heaven at the age of 21. He raised roses and planted fruit trees in the greening class. As the deputy director, he served as a "tour guide" for dozens of domestic and foreign dignitaries. He also facilitated Pierre Cardin's move into the "Zhai Palace" of the Temple of Heaven.

It can be said that the current deputy director Chen Shuping has always been an extremely competent "senior salesman" of the Temple of Heaven Park.

Internally, he not only contributed his knowledge to the Temple of Heaven in terms of garden management.

Externally, he has also been doing his best to expand the fame and influence of the Temple of Heaven.

In fact, he was probably the first person in the leadership team of the Temple of Heaven Park to seek change and external financial assistance.

Ever since he first reached a cooperation with Pierre Catton on the lease of the Saigū Exhibition Hall, he has become increasingly determined to move closer to this foreign corporate alliance.

Behind the scenes, he not only helped Ning Weimin persuade the old director to invest in Tan Gong Restaurant.

It has also been actively cooperating with Ning Weimin to organize cultural activities, transform the park's infrastructure, and jointly form a business team to develop a variety of exclusive tourism projects and products.

It has to be said that Chen Shuping played a significant role in promoting the Temple of Heaven Park to the point where it is today, with the park being well received by citizens, favored by international guests, and earning an annual ticket revenue of tens of millions of yuan.

Therefore, he is not only the old director's most trusted deputy and most promising successor, but also the director successor that Ning Weimin most hopes to see.

You know, besides sharing the same ideals in developing the cultural connotations and commercial potential of the Temple of Heaven Park.

More importantly, Chen Shuping is only 38 years old this year, not even 40, which is the prime of his life.

In other words, as long as Chen Shuping successfully takes over the old director's job and becomes the next head of the Temple of Heaven Park, they will be the most tacit partners and will continue to complement each other in their careers.

With the premise of stable cooperation between the two parties, Ning Weimin is confident that both the Temple of Heaven Park and the Tan Palace Restaurant will develop better in the future.

Let them become the most valuable tourist resources of Beijing and one of the city’s beautiful business cards to the outside world.

And his own interests based on these two places will of course be more long-term and stable.

Apart from anything else, the current Temple of Heaven, excluding the investment in the Temple Palace Restaurant, has a higher profit from independent operations than Beihai.

In another five or six years, it won't be difficult for the operating income to exceed that of the Forbidden City.

For Ning Weimin, once the cake becomes bigger, it will of course mean that he will get more benefits.

For example, we can make more money from the sales of tourist handicrafts with the help of the Temple of Heaven.

Even in the catering business, we are leveraging the Gingerbread Man fast food chain brand to carry out broader cooperation.

That's all real, long-lasting money.

Therefore, Ning Weimin must be polite to Chen Shuping's proactive visit. It's just like how a popular live-streaming anchor treats the person in charge of a traffic platform. How dare he not take him seriously?

Therefore, as soon as Ning Weimin saw Luo Guangliang bringing Chen Shuping into the yard, he took the initiative to walk out of the house to greet him.

This attitude of hospitality was much more attentive and polite than when he sat in the room waiting for the officials from the Film Bureau and the Cultural Relics Bureau to come in and meet him.

"Oh, Director Chen, I didn't expect you to come and see me. Sorry for being so rude. I should be the one to wish you a happy new year."

"You are being polite. I know you are busy, but I am relatively free. Why can't I come to see you? Besides, since you gave the Temple of Heaven a dividend of 6 million RMB this time, I should come to express my condolences on behalf of the Temple of Heaven. You have worked hard and made great contributions. Do I have the nerve to put on airs and act like a big shot in front of you, the God of Wealth?"

The joke was just right; both sides laughed and walked into the house together in tacit understanding.

Ning Weimin did not bother Luo Guangliang this time, and personally picked up the thermos to make tea for Chen Shuping.

He also lit a cigarette for Chen Shuping, then sat down and chatted about family matters, asking Chen Shuping how he had spent the previous year.

However, Chen Shuping's trip was not for family matters.

After a brief greeting, he took the initiative to state his purpose.

"Wei Min, although the gathering before the New Year was rather rushed, you must have remembered it. The old director told you that he couldn't delay his retirement any longer, and he would probably retire officially in May this year."

"I heard about it, and I was very reluctant to let him go. The old director helped me a lot. Without his support, there would be no Tan Gong Restaurant today."

"Oh, yes, the old director has always been the guiding star of the Temple of Heaven Park. With his departure, not only will everyone lose their backbone, but many things may change..."

"That's not the case. Although the old director's prestige is unmatched by ordinary people, he's gone, but doesn't the Temple of Heaven still have you? Everyone knows that the old director preferred you to take over. And hasn't the old director already reported to the Tourism Bureau and recommended you to take over? Then your promotion from deputy to full-time is a foregone conclusion. Can't we just continue to deepen our cooperation?"

Unexpectedly, Chen Shuping shook his head after hearing this and said bluntly, "It would be great if I could really take over, but the situation has changed now..."

"How could that be? Could it be that the Tourism Bureau rejected the old director's favor?"

Ning Weimin was extremely surprised and said in confusion, "The old director has told me more than once that he can only feel relieved if the responsibility is handed over to you. Everyone else should know this too. Isn't this the consensus of everyone in the entire Temple of Heaven? Even if the Tourism Bureau disagrees, the old director will come to them with his temper. Who dares to upset him? How could this matter change?"

"To be honest, it was the Tourism Bureau that rejected the old director's proposal."

Chen Shuping smiled bitterly. "That's right. The old director originally agreed with the bureau that I would take over. Logically, no one in the bureau dared to disrespect the old director's wishes. But the problem is that the old director himself has people he can't refuse. You don't know that the old director's platoon leader saved his life on the battlefield. Although that man has retired and returned home to enjoy his old age, his sons are still working hard to pursue their careers. One of them is in the tourism system. I don't know when he set his eyes on this position. Not only did he secretly arrange everything, but he also specially held a banquet at home the day before yesterday and asked his father to ask the old director for his approval in person..."

It is true that plans cannot keep up with changes. After Chen Shuping's detailed account, Ning Weimin finally understood what had happened.

It turns out that too much is as bad as too little. The problem is that the Temple of Heaven Park is developing too well.

In recent years, the rapid development of the Temple of Heaven Park has been witnessed by almost everyone.

Not only has the ticket revenue been increasing, but even after several ticket price increases, the park has still maintained a rapid growth in tourists and a good reputation.

The cultural activities held throughout the year are well-known and have even attracted emulation from major parks in the capital.

Moreover, the increase in sales of tourist products and the further increase in revenue have not only increased the income of Temple of Heaven employees, but also provided the ability to upgrade park facilities and protect cultural relics.

Now, not only have all the facilities in the Temple of Heaven been renovated, but they can also fully meet the tourists' needs.

Even the pile of rubble formed by the excavation of air-raid shelters in Beijing in the past, which was piled up on the west side of the Danbi Bridge at the Temple of Heaven, has now been cleared away in batches.

In particular, the reconstruction of the altar wall of the Temple of Heaven, the North Kitchen, the South Kitchen, the Imperial Vault of Heaven, and the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, all of these ancient buildings have been completed year by year.

And all of this was accomplished by the Temple of Heaven Park relying solely on its own strength without requesting any funding from higher authorities.

This shows what?

This shows that the Temple of Heaven has improved social and environmental benefits, boosted the economic benefits of tourism, and tourism income has fed back to cultural relics protection. The three benefits have been in a virtuous cycle and are on the road to "supporting cultural relics with cultural relics."

It is entirely foreseeable that as the Temple of Heaven gradually reclaims occupied land, repairs old buildings, and restores exhibits, it will get closer and closer to the goal of a "complete Temple of Heaven."

What an incredible job achievement!

Not to mention Beijing, even among tourist attractions across the country, it is unique.

What's more important is that the popularity of the Temple of Heaven has been rising as this situation has changed, and its reputation has even spread abroad with the help of foreign media, making the Temple of Heaven now a must-visit tourist attraction for almost all domestic and foreign public figures in Beijing.

Foreigners who come to China not only say "You are not a true man if you haven't been to the Great Wall, and it's a pity if you haven't eaten Peking duck", but they will also feel very sorry if they don't visit the Temple of Heaven or try the imperial cuisine at the Tan Palace Restaurant.

In 1985, 1986 and 1987, for three consecutive years, the great man came to the Temple of Heaven to plant trees.

While promoting the greening progress of the Temple of Heaven, it also praised the significant improvements in the infrastructure of the Temple of Heaven Park.

In 1985, the American band Wham! visited China and came to the Temple of Heaven, showing great interest in the Echo Wall. Later, Matsumoto Keiko, Miura Tomokazu, Utsui Ken, Teresa Teng, John Lone, Alain Delon, Catherine Deneuve, and American movie star Gregory Peck came to China one after another, visited the Temple of Heaven and dined at the Temple Palace Restaurant, which left many of their fans with a good impression of these two places.

In October 1986, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited the Temple of Heaven. Not only were they attracted by it, but they were also reluctant to leave several major buildings. They publicly told many foreign media that the Temple of Heaven was a magical place and they had not seen enough...

Just think about it, a district park that supposedly only has large pine and cypress forests and a few sacrificial halls has become a place that important guests from home and abroad compete to visit.

It has even surpassed the major royal palace complexes of Beihai and the Forbidden City, overshadowed the Summer Palace and the Old Summer Palace, and gained considerable international fame. This is something hard to imagine.

As glorious as it can be, as glorious as it can be, as prominent as it can be.

But precisely because of this, the Temple of Heaven, which stands out from the many district parks in Beijing, inevitably becomes the first to stand out and is bound to attract covetousness from all sides.

In fact, the few "mother-in-laws" above the Temple of Heaven Park have always been eyeing the purse of the Temple of Heaven Park.

If the old director was not a senior person with a bad temper and was not a hardliner, he would not allow anyone to pick peaches.

Even those with higher positions than him dare to slam the table and curse in front of him.

Moreover, under Ning Weimin's suggestion, the Temple of Heaven has also made some appropriate compromises since the opening of the Tangong Restaurant in Japan.

Every year, we begin to proactively provide hundreds of thousands of dollars of funding to several superior units, thus maintaining a delicate balance.

In fact, someone should have already made a move on the position of the top leader of the Temple of Heaven Park.

But what goes on? What is meant to come will come.

Even though the old director guarded the gate tightly, thinking that guns could not penetrate and water could not get in, he would be able to hand over the position smoothly to someone he trusted.

But there are people who have such great ability that, at the most critical moment, they can find an opportunity to destroy this iron barrel-like situation and thus change the course of the whole thing.

Look, the savior came to the old principal in person to beg him humbly for his son’s future, and he didn’t ask him to do anything, just asked him not to object and let things take their own course.

What should the old director, who has always been known to repay kindness and avenge hatred, do choose?

How could the old principal, who always valued friendship and camaraderie, object to this?

For a moment, Ning Weimin remained silent.

He finally understands.

No wonder he called the old director yesterday to wish him a happy new year, but the old director was not in the mood and didn't even say a few polite words.

He proposed to pay a home visit, but the old director refused, saying he was not feeling well.

It turns out that the root of the problem lies here.

Du Yuesheng was right.

In life, there are three bowls of noodles that are the hardest to eat: dignity, feelings and scene.

Even the old principal had no choice but to retreat in the face of such a situation.

Perhaps the old director himself didn't realize that he was the biggest flaw in this matter?

Ning Weimin could empathize with the old director's feelings and choices. He could fully imagine what the old director felt at the time and how difficult it was for him to make the choice.

However, he was more aware that the person in front of him was Chen Shuping, and this person was undoubtedly the most unlucky person in this matter.

Something went wrong with the promised promotion, and the promised things cannot be fulfilled. Who can bear it?

You can imagine how he feels.

To be honest, Ning Weimin felt very sympathetic and wanted to give some advice.

But this sudden incident made him a little overwhelmed, and he couldn't think of the right words for a while.

And more importantly, he now had no idea why Chen Shuping came.

What on earth was he thinking?

Why are you looking for me now?

Especially, was he dissatisfied with the old director? Was he...

"Why do you look like that? Weimin, are you sympathizing with me?"

Chen Shuping obviously understood Ning Weimin's expression, and he also behaved in a very relaxed manner.

Instead of showing any sign of loneliness, he seemed somewhat relieved by Ning Weimin's reaction and smiled.

"You don't have to worry about me. To be honest, I have been in the Temple of Heaven for nearly 20 years. I have been working hard with the old director. It has always been my dream to develop the Temple of Heaven Park, make it complete, and restore the glory of the old royal garden as soon as possible. In the past two years, we have finally started to make progress. It seems that we are just one step away from success. I really can't give up at this time..."

There was another turning point at the critical moment, and Chen Shuping's tone became increasingly calm.

"But I have to say that the old director treated me well. I am where I am today because of his promotion. And he didn't hide anything from me. After this incident happened, the old director told me everything at the first time, apologized to me in person, and said sorry to me. You know the old man's character. When has he ever bent his back to others? But he actually bowed to me and apologized for this matter. I can't bear it. Whether from an emotional or a favor, I can really understand him, and I should understand him. So I have no complaints..."

Ning Weimin was also quite pleased with Chen Shuping's reaction.

You can't judge a person without experience.

He did not harbor any resentment towards the old director because he failed to be promoted, and he did not forget the old director's usual care for him. This is enough to prove that this person is trustworthy and at least not a short-sighted person.

If he really has any request, I would be happy to help him to the best of my ability.

On the other hand, if he wanted to drag me down and try to fight against the appointment of the new director.

If I expect to be used as a gun by him, it would seem narrow-minded, and I won't be fooled.

"You are very generous to think so. I admire you. Then... do you know what kind of person the new candidate is? Will it affect our cooperation?"

"That's definitely not the case. The old director sent me here to talk to you because he was afraid that you would think too much. The old director was a little embarrassed to communicate this to you in person, you should understand. However, the premise for him to agree to hand over the position to the other party is that the other party must agree to follow the old rules after taking over, and not to change our cooperation and layout at will, so as not to ruin our current good situation. Although I don't know the other party's character and background, I think with his father's personal guarantee and the old director's supervision at any time, he can't do anything out of the circle, unless he is not afraid of the old director coming to his door. Even though the old man has retired, he will still be able to command a lot of people if he returns to the Temple of Heaven, and he really dares to beat him with a belt..."

Hearing Chen Shuping say this, Ning Weimin couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips.

He knew the old director's temper very well, and it was exactly as Chen Shuping said.

So I felt very calm.

As long as it does not affect the cooperation between the two parties, it doesn’t matter to him who the new director is.

But that was not all, Chen Shuping then told him another good news.

"Besides that, there is one more thing I have to tell you in advance. Although I have no chance of becoming the head of the Temple of Heaven, I was still promoted. It may be that the old director and the future new director have put in a lot of effort behind the scenes, so it can be regarded as a kind of compensation for me. Also in May next year, I will be transferred to Longtan Lake Park to serve as the director. Let me make it clear first, for the sake of our friendship, you can't turn your face against me when the time comes. After I sort out the internal situation over there, I still want to continue to cooperate with you in business. What do you think? Manager Ning, you have to give me this face? You can't just watch me go to a hard place and eat coarse food again, right?"

Ning Weimin was immediately overjoyed, "Of course, of course, Dean Chen, you are too polite. This is not me giving you face, but you trust me and give me face."

It was indeed a real surprise, and it is true that misfortune may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

At least that's how it is for him.

There is no doubt that he has Chen Shuping as his support.

In the future, Ning Weimin will be able to occupy another base in the rapidly developing tourism industry in Beijing and get a bigger share of the pie. (End of this chapter)