National Tide 1980.

On March 4, 1991, a fresh joy permeated the streets and alleys of Beijing.

On this day, the Beijing municipal government officially announced the elimination of the limited supply of matches and soap, two commonly used commodities, which previously required ration coupons and vouchers, and fully implemented open market supply.

The era of ration coupons has faded once again, and people are cheering for the convenience it brings to their lives.

On the same day, another major event that had gripped the nerves of many businesses and government departments also quietly came to an end.

The equity transfer of Beijing Amusement Park has finally been finalized.

However, the ending was far beyond everyone's expectations.

The termination of cooperation between the district government and Japan-China General Co., Ltd. was a foregone conclusion long ago and no one questioned it.

But everyone assumed that the company that would take over the shares was Kumagai Gumi Port City Company, a powerful entity recommended by the municipal government.

The final contractor turned out to be Ning Weimin, whom most people had previously believed had lost its competitive edge and was destined to waste their time.

This result was enough to shock everyone who was following the matter.

It must be said that the script of history always loves to hide unexpected twists and turns, adding a touch of surprise and shock to the multi-act drama of social development.

What's even more perplexing is the subsequent announcement of the detailed rules for the equity transfer, and the significant regional changes that this series of arrangements will trigger.

According to the "Agreement on the Transfer of Registered Capital and Other Related Issues of Beijing Amusement Park Co., Ltd." signed on March 4, this equity transfer is not a simple handover between the two parties, but a complex arrangement involving five parties and achieving a win-win situation for all.

Ning Weimin's Daguo Guanguang Travel Agency, registered in Hainan, as Party C, acquired all the equity of Jingcheng Amusement Park held by Party B, "Rizhong Zonghe". After the agreement took effect, Rizhong Zonghe completely withdrew from the operation of Jingcheng Amusement Park.

After the equity transfer is completed, Daguo Tourism will become the absolute controlling shareholder of Beijing Amusement Park with a 60% stake.

Longtan Tourism Company (representing the Chongwen District Government), as Party A, still holds 40% of the shares.

More importantly, after the change of shareholders, Longtan Tourism Company will jointly establish a joint operation company with Crystal Palace Aquarium (owned by Ning Weimin) and the management of Longtan Lake Park, realizing the integrated operation and management of Beijing Amusement Park, Crystal Palace Aquarium and Longtan Lake Park, breaking the previous pattern of each operating independently.

The price for this equity transaction remains at 22 billion yen.

However, the payment method has a hidden meaning—4 million yen will be transferred directly to the Shigefumi Ward government account, bypassing the Japan-China General Association, as compensation for the Japan-China General Association's failure to generate profits during the operation of the amusement park.

This arrangement not only protected the interests of the district government, but also served as a deterrent to unscrupulous businessmen who wanted to make easy money in China.

It's worth mentioning that the Kumagai team, which voluntarily gave up the fight for control of the company, did not leave empty-handed.

Ning Weimin's new development plan, which he submitted to the district government, gave them an unexpected reward—a project order covering large-scale expansion and development.

The scale of this plan is so grand that it is enough to shock the entire capital city.

Ning Weimin's latest plan for the Beijing amusement park and aquarium covers a total area of ​​nearly 300 hectares.

He not only wants to expand the existing Longtan Lake Park and Jingcheng Amusement Park, but also relocate the surrounding residences, government offices and other units.

Ultimately, a large-scale integrated resort area encompassing Longtan Three Lakes Park, Gymnasium Road, and other areas will be created.

The exclusive park will add six or seven theaters, more than a dozen specialty restaurants, and a four-star resort hotel.

He also plans to build parking lots, high-end commercial and residential communities, and resettlement housing around the park to ensure the smooth relocation of residents and businesses.

The main contracting rights for this series of projects undoubtedly fell into the hands of Kumagai Gumi (Minato City Company).

Undoubtedly, for Chongwen District, which is small in area, lacks pillar industries, and has limited space for development, this plan affects almost one-fifth of the district's land.

According to the operational model and investment scale proposed by Ning Weimin, the expanded Beijing Amusement Park and related supporting projects will bring an additional investment of about RMB 12 billion to the district government in the next three years, and are expected to generate at least RMB 100 million in revenue for the district-level finances each year.

Moreover, this revenue will account for about 30% of the district's total fiscal revenue in the future.

This has become the core trump card for Chongwen District to achieve rapid economic growth, and it is destined to help the Chongwen District government break through the bottleneck of economic growth.

For this reason, Secretary Zhao, the top leader of Chongwen District, and District Mayor Zhang, the second-in-command, have listed Ning Weimin's idea of ​​opening an amusement park as a top priority in their economic work for the next few years.

To expedite the implementation of related matters, the district government has introduced significant land incentive policies.

The decision was made to extend the land lease for the amusement park and the demolition and reconstruction area from the original 15 years to 25 years, demonstrating the utmost sincerity in ensuring the project's progress and providing the greatest security for this investment.

The news of the change in shareholding was immediately shocking to the participants who had been deeply involved in the power struggle.

Inside the municipal government building, a man in charge of investment promotion had just finished listening to his secretary's report when he slammed the pen he was holding onto his desk with a "thud."

His brows furrowed, his face filled with disbelief and surprise, as he looked up at his secretary.

"What? In the end, a private company took over the shares? And it was someone favored by the district government, not the Kumagai Gumi?"

The secretary nodded quickly, handed over a copy of the equity transfer agreement, and respectfully added an explanation.

"Yes, the relevant agreement has been officially signed. However, according to feedback from Chongwen District, it was Kumagai Group that voluntarily relinquished the contract. This private enterprise proposed a win-win plan, not only securing controlling interest for itself but also giving the main contracting rights for the expansion project to Kumagai Group, which can be seen as giving an explanation to the company we recommended. Moreover, its plan is very ambitious, and in the long run, it can bring an additional 12 billion yuan in investment to Chongwen District, with an estimated annual increase in fiscal revenue of over 100 million yuan. The entire Chongwen District government approves of this plan."

Someone picked up a copy of the agreement, quickly flipping through the key clauses, still unable to believe the fact.

After all, private enterprises have only been legally registered in China for two years, and having assets of over a million is already considered quite good. To someone, the secretary's words sounded like bragging.

They weren't just making empty boasts; they were the kind of boasts that could fly.

However, the documents submitted by the district government included Ning Weimin's detailed resume and actual information about his investment in an aquarium in Chongwen District.

When they saw that Ning Weimin held a high-ranking position at Pierre Cardin and had achieved remarkable success with his restaurant investments in Japan.

After returning to China, he also took the initiative to invest in an aquarium with popular science significance to help Longtan Lake Park. Hundreds of millions of yuan have already been transferred to his bank account.

The official, who had initially been wary, gradually relaxed his brow.

He leaned back in his office chair, sighed softly, his tone full of emotion.

"I never expected that such a business genius would emerge from Chongwen District in Beijing... That's good, though. It's good that this matter was resolved so amicably, saving us from getting upset. I must say, Ning Weimin is quite shrewd; he managed to turn 'competition' into 'cooperation.' By obtaining the operating rights to this amusement park, he not only gained the approval of foreign companies but also secured tangible benefits for Chongwen District. He's very good at getting things done."

At this point, he chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I've been a fool for nothing, worrying about things for no reason."

The secretary standing to the side observed every word and expression of her superior.

He instantly grasped the leader's "contradictory" attitude, assuming that the leader was hesitant to directly lash out due to concerns about a satisfactory outcome, and couldn't help feeling annoyed with those in Chongwen District who had acted on their own initiative. After all, it was these people who had caused the unexpected incident, making the whole matter spiral out of control, and making the municipal government appear to have given misguided instructions, thus losing face.

The secretary immediately had a plan in mind and quickly echoed his words, her tone deliberately flattering.

“Sir, although Ning Weimin has presented a plan, private enterprises are ultimately too shallow in their foundation. It’s hard to say whether they can support such a large project, and problems are bound to arise later. Do you think I should communicate with Chongwen District again to see if there is any room for discussion on this matter?”

Before he could finish speaking, someone frowned, waved their hand to interrupt him, and said, "Hey, what are you talking about? If we keep meddling, we'll really become a nuisance."

The secretary's heart skipped a beat. She immediately realized that she might have misunderstood her superior's intentions, so she quickly stopped talking and stood with her hands at her sides. "It was my oversight. Please correct me, sir."

The man put down the copy of the agreement and said solemnly, "Chongwen District made the right choice in this matter. This private enterprise has the courage and responsibility. If it can really get things done, it will be a good thing for the city's economic development. We should encourage it and show our support."

At this point, he changed the subject, his tone becoming more dissatisfying.

"If there's a problem, it actually lies with the Kumagai Group. They approached us directly, and we only gave them a chance because they're a well-known international company with a significant investment in Beijing. And what happened? They couldn't even compete with a private entrepreneur, and in the end, they had to rely on the company to secure a project order to save face. It's really unreliable. It makes one wonder if such a company truly has the capability. In the future, we need to be more vigilant when they apply for projects, and our vetting process must be rigorous and based on facts."

The secretary was startled and instantly understood the leader's true attitude.

It wasn't dissatisfaction with Chongwen District and Ning Weimin, but rather disappointment with the performance of the Kumagai Group.

He quickly nodded in agreement, saying, "You're right, I misunderstood. The Kumagai Group's performance this time was indeed disappointing."

The man waved his hand, indicating that he understood. "Alright, you can go now. Compile a detailed report on the amusement park in Beijing, and also the aquarium. Call the Chongwen District office later to express the city's support."

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away." The secretary replied respectfully, turned and left the office. The moment he stepped out of the room, a thin layer of sweat broke out on his back. He secretly rejoiced that he had stopped himself in time and hadn't said anything wrong.

At the same time, I secretly made a decision: in the future, when dealing with foreign companies, especially Japanese companies, I must be more reserved.

Unreliable groups like the Kumagai group are simply terrible teammates; it's best to stay as far away from them as possible.

As the municipal government's stance became clearer, other staff members within the district government who had participated in the equity negotiations were also excited and in an uproar.

In the district government office, several staff members were gathered together, discussing the matter animatedly.

The veteran staff member who had previously assumed Ning Weimin was "out of the picture" sighed repeatedly. "Hey, I really misjudged him! Who would have thought that this Manager Ning from Pierre Carton would be so incredibly capable? Not only did he manage to acquire the shares, but he also came up with such a grand plan? This is far more impressive than simply taking over an amusement park!"

The office director was even more excited.

"That's real skill! They not only resolved the legacy issues of the Japan-China alliance and brought us tens of millions in profits, but also attracted large investments to the district and stabilized a major company like the Kumagai Gumi. Their methods are absolutely brilliant! Thanks to them, our district is truly flush with cash this year."

As another beneficiary, Qiao Wanlin from the Service Bureau was the first to receive the news from Deputy District Chief Xu that "he will be promoted to deputy director of the District Commerce Commission".

As the liaison between Ning Weimin and the district government throughout the entire process, he conveyed the demands of both sides under pressure from all sides. Now, his promotion after the matter was successfully completed is well-deserved.

After hanging up the phone, this usually calm and capable middle-aged man found his fingertips trembling slightly.

He strode to the office window, looked down at the bustling street, and took several deep breaths to calm his excitement. On the desk lay piles of documents from previous negotiations, each page a record of his tireless efforts and perseverance. Looking at them now, all his hard work seemed to have paid off.

He raised his hand to straighten the slightly disheveled collar of his Zhongshan suit, his eyes filled with anticipation for the future, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up—he was about to take up a position of director.

This is not only a promotion, but also an affirmation of his work by the organization. From now on, he will be able to participate more deeply in the major project of the amusement park expansion. This honor is something he will remember for a long time.

As for Ning Weimin, he also gained more reliance and trust from Deputy District Head Xu.

At the celebration banquet held by the Chongwen District Government that evening, Deputy District Head Xu, holding a wine glass, went to Ning Weimin's side and solemnly toasted him.

The deputy district head, who had consistently supported Ning Weimin during the equity dispute, now wore a relieved smile. "Mr. Ning, on behalf of the district government, I sincerely thank you!"

His voice was loud and clear, filled with heartfelt sincerity: "Back then, when Kumagai Gumi competed with you, we were caught in the middle, torn between the two sides. We were afraid of offending the city leaders, yet we also regretted your brilliant plan. It was you who, with your great wisdom, turned a 'life-or-death' competition into a 'win-win' alliance. You not only secured the shares but also pulled Kumagai Gumi into the construction, allowing the district government to completely escape its predicament. We sincerely admire your vision and ability!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. The ease and satisfaction in his eyes were clearly visible to everyone present.

Ning Weimin also felt an indescribable warmth in his heart.

In stark contrast to the cheerful atmosphere at the Chongwen District government office, the office of Beijing Amusement Park was shrouded in gloom.

Sugimoto and Sato were silently tidying up their personal belongings on the desk, a heavy, oppressive atmosphere filling the air.

"A 4 million yen penalty for breach of contract, damn it, they've really driven us to the brink. How are we supposed to explain this to the head office? And those bastards from the Kumagai Group are unreliable too. They actually treated us like a pawn, abandoning us..."

Sato shoved a stack of documents into a cardboard box, his tone filled with resentment and indignation, yet also with a sense of helpless powerlessness. Sugimoto's face was ashen, his fingertips digging into his brow. His plan to make a quick buck through the share transfer had completely fallen through, and now he would likely have to return to Japan bearing the stigma of "poor management."

"Stop complaining, it's just that we're not as skilled as others." His voice was hoarse and tinged with fatigue. "The district government has issued an ultimatum: the handover must be completed within three days."

"Hurry up and pack our bags. We need to buy the earliest flight back to Japan. Staying here even a day longer would be a disgrace."

The two didn't say another word. Only the rustling sound of packing their things echoed in the empty office. Their former arrogant attitude was gone, leaving only the embarrassment of slinking away.

That's not all. What truly caused a sensation was the social sphere, where the news generated overwhelmingly positive reactions. For Beijing's business community, Ning Weimin's successful takeover and the strong support from the Chongwen District sent a clear policy signal.

The Chongwen District government is actively optimizing the business environment and encouraging capable and innovative enterprises to participate in regional development.

Many foreign-invested enterprises and local private enterprises have taken the initiative to contact the Chongwen District Government to inquire about the supporting policies for the development of the park and to express their investment intentions.

For a time, Chongwen District became a "hot commodity" for investment attraction in Beijing, and this popularity even spread to the surrounding areas.

Residents living near Longtan Lake are discussing the relocation and return plans, and are full of expectations for their new life in the future.

Residents who were initially worried about the hassle of relocation were reassured after learning that there would be well-equipped resettlement housing and actively cooperated with the government's preliminary research work.

The media rushed to report on the incident.

Especially after learning from Ning Weimin that the new amusement park would use classic characters and stories from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio as its cultural background, and that the final planned area of ​​the entire amusement park would be one-third larger than Tokyo Disneyland.

The media went almost crazy. Reports such as "Beijing now has a real Chinese Disneyland" quickly resonated with the public. Parents looked forward to bringing their children to the amusement park for a better experience, and various cultural authorities also wrote articles praising this innovative model of mass entertainment.

For a time, amusement parks in Beijing not only became a hot spot for economic investment, but also a focus of heated discussion on the inheritance of national culture.

No one questioned Ning Weimin's initial confidence anymore, and no one lamented the Kumagai Group's "withdrawal".

This seemingly unexpected change in shareholding ultimately resulted in a win-win situation for all parties, marking a significant milestone in the development of Beijing. (End of Chapter)