National Tide 1980.

During the Spring Festival of 1991, Gong Mingcheng was busy organizing the Spring Festival garden party at the Temple of Heaven when he unexpectedly heard some unsettling news—Ning Weimin had snatched the management rights of the Beijing Amusement Park from the Japanese.

Although the news may have been relayed by others and some details may have been distorted, the source was his former colleague from the tourism bureau, so the channel was relatively reliable and the information was largely accurate.

Upon hearing this, Gong Mingcheng was like a fox unable to reach the grapes, his feelings extremely complicated.

Ning Weimin's demonstrated profitability and investment scale were truly astonishing. He had to admit that the gap between himself and Ning Weimin was now enormous.

It must be admitted that Ning Weimin's personal career foundation has far surpassed that of the Temple of Heaven Park.

Even if he stayed in the position of kindergarten director for his entire life, he would never have the ability of Ning Weimin to come up with astronomical sums of money and accomplish such an earth-shattering feat.

When Gong Mingcheng first heard the news, he couldn't believe his ears.

Ning Weimin actually wants to merge the Beijing Amusement Park and Longtan Lake Park, and plans to expand the park to 300 hectares.

It's worth noting that the entire Temple of Heaven Park covers only 200 hectares!
Right next door, such a behemoth that will steal customers is about to emerge from nowhere. Such a move is truly earth-shattering.

What pains him even more than the pressure of fierce competition in the future is that he actually drove away this "god of wealth" who could create miracles, and now he is in a situation where he can hardly live a stable and prosperous life.

To be honest, what's troubling Gong Mingcheng the most right now is the severe shortage of cash flow.

Last year, he had a surplus of seven million yuan in his accounts, enough for him to invest in building a high-end hotel belonging to the Temple of Heaven.

This year, however, the domestic revenue surplus is less than two million. If the losses from overseas investments are taken into account, there is almost nothing left, which means that a year's hard work has gone down the drain.

Gong Mingcheng couldn't help but complain in his heart: The Japanese are really ripping people off. They are clearly a developed country, so how come their economy is so fragile and collapses so easily? They can't even afford to eat delicacies anymore.

He had no idea how to proceed with the Temple of Heaven Hotel project, let alone explain it to his superiors.

Despite a highly profitable first half of last year, the company experienced a sharp decline in the second half.

He had originally planned to deliver an impressive report card to the tourism bureau, but now he faces the risk of the hotel project becoming an unfinished project and a tight cash flow.

"If only Ning Weimin hadn't left..."

This thought kept swirling in his mind.

If Ning Weimin were still alive, he would never have fallen into such a predicament of lack of money, nor would he have had to worry about the commercial operation of the Temple of Heaven.

Only now did he truly understand the principle of "specialization in one's own field." Making money was far from as easy as he had imagined, and Ning Weimin was an absolute gem.

Unfortunately, there's no going back; everything is irreversible.

To be honest, Gong Mingcheng now envies Chen Shuping, who has been transferred to the top position at Longtan Lake Park.

He still remembers the helpless look on Chen Shuping's face when he was forced to leave the Temple of Heaven; that was the proudest moment for him after taking over as director.

At that time, no one in the entire Temple of Heaven thought that Chen Shuping would have a good future. They all believed that this person, who was originally expected to take over as director, would only become a "poor director" who would worry about the employees' salaries after leaving.

But no one expected that it was Ning Weimin, whom he had driven away, who extended a helping hand, gave Chen Shuping a large investment, and even after leaving the Temple of Heaven, personally created an imaginative cultural tourism project like the aquarium for Longtan Lake Park.

Gong Mingcheng had secretly visited Longtan Lake Park several times and witnessed its rapid changes firsthand.

He was particularly frustrated when he saw the massive scale of the Longtan Lake Aquarium island construction project.

Even if I were to live in a prime location like the Temple of Heaven, I would never have such a city-wide sensation or such glory in my lifetime.

What frustrated him even more was that no matter how well he did, his superiors always saw it as just his job.

Even if Chen Shuping makes some mistakes in his work in the future, the merit of facilitating the aquarium alone will be enough for him to live on for half his life.

After all, reaping the benefits of others' labor and relying on one's own efforts are two different things, and even if superiors are biased towards you, you can't deny that.

"It's all because of Ning Weimin that everything's been messed up!"

Gong Mingcheng secretly thought to himself that things shouldn't have turned out this way.

He even absurdly compared the matter to the struggle between legitimate and illegitimate children in large feudal families.

He considered himself like a legitimate son born to the principal wife, while Chen Shuping was like a son born to a concubine.

Logically speaking, no matter how great a son's contributions are, his status is predetermined and he can never surpass that of a legitimate son. It would be good enough if he could even get a title.

But Ning Weimin insisted on being the troublemaker who would watch the eldest son make a fool of himself.

Not only did she bestow wealth and honor upon the illegitimate son, but she also helped him gain fame and fortune, enabling him to achieve a future that even the legitimate son could not, thus making everyone see the incompetence of the legitimate son.

Gong Mingcheng knew that he could still use changes in overseas markets as an excuse to fool his superiors this year.

But things won't be so easy in the next few years.

If he can't improve the Temple of Heaven's financial situation, he might not be able to keep his position as director, and could even face ruin.

So, on the Lantern Festival of that year, Gong Mingcheng spared no expense in preparing lavish gifts and visited his patron, Deputy Director Hua of the Tourism Bureau, to offer New Year's greetings.

He had intended to pour out his grievances and ask his former superior to help him out again. But to his utter surprise, Deputy Director Hua not only didn't stand by his side, but also didn't offer a word of comfort out of consideration for the gift and past favors. Instead, he praised Ning Weimin and Chen Shuping throughout the entire conversation and bluntly criticized his unwise move of offending people in the past.

"Mingcheng, you're so foolish!"

Deputy Director Hua leaned back on the sofa, his tone heavy, “What kind of talent is Ning Weimin? Now you know. He’s a business prodigy who has earned praise from city leaders and the full trust of the Chongwen District leadership! Look at how he handled securing the Beijing Amusement Park project—snatching it from the jaws of defeat and still managing to do it steadily. Even the Japanese admire him. You can’t find many with that kind of courage and ability in the entire industry. And then there’s Chen Shuping. When he was transferred to Longtan Lake, everyone was worried for him. But he seized the opportunity and cooperated perfectly with Ning Weimin, turning what was originally an ordinary place into a flagship project like the aquarium.”

At this point, Deputy Director Hua picked up his teacup, took a sip, and spoke with great approval.

"Let me tell you, everyone in the bureau is looking forward to this project. Ning Weimin's plan to merge the Beijing amusement park with Longtan Lake is incredibly visionary! A 300-hectare scale that combines the entertainment of an amusement park with the educational and scenic aspects of an aquarium, creating a complementary effect—this idea is so forward-thinking. They're also building a dedicated hotel for the park, catering to tourists from all over the country. Imagine coming here and being able to ride roller coasters and Ferris wheels, see marine life, and visit themed exhibits—you couldn't possibly see everything in a day! If he actually pulls this off, he'll be a VIP of the municipal government. The entire Beijing economy will likely see a significant boost. Even foreign investors won't contribute as much. It's a great thing for our tourism bureau, the parks bureau, and even the culture bureau—we'd all be happy to see it happen."

"And that aquarium, you'll know how terrifying it is if you see the planning scheme. Its scale and specifications are top-notch in the country. Once completed, it will definitely be a new landmark in Beijing. To be honest, I can't even imagine it being built like a dragon palace, where you can see live sharks. It won't just be a highlight of our tourism system, but also a calling card for the entire city of Beijing!"

As Deputy Director Hua spoke, he became more and more excited, and then turned his attention to Gong Mingcheng.

“You need to learn more from other people’s strengths, especially their project planning! Don’t just focus on the small amount of money in front of you. What’s needed in cultural tourism is a long-term vision, core projects that can retain tourists and build a brand. Look at what you’ve done to the Temple of Heaven. You’ve ruined a great signature event, and the catering and tourism products are all declining. If you don’t think of a solution, you’ll really be left far behind by Longtan Lake! I’m ashamed for you.”

Deputy Director Hua's words struck Gong Mingcheng like a heavy hammer.

All the grievances and demands he had prepared were stuck in his throat. His face flushed red and then turned pale. He could only lower his head awkwardly, without even the courage to refute them.

He then realized that even in the eyes of the superior who had supported him, Ning Weimin and Chen Shuping had become popular figures and key targets for support from above.

As for myself, due to poor management, I have long lost the capital to compare with others.

…………

Gong Mingcheng was only concerned with his own difficulties, and just as he was feeling sorry for himself and regretting making the wrong decision,

Little did they know that the employees of the Temple of Heaven were feeling even colder as they watched the increasingly deserted park and their declining income.

Many capable veteran employees have started to plan their departure, while those who didn't intend to leave are mostly just going through the motions, living like salted fish, without their former drive.

What Gong Mingcheng didn't expect was that at the same time he left Deputy Director Hua's house looking disheveled, Chen Shuping's house was a different scene altogether.

…………

On the night of the Lantern Festival, every household is lit up with lights.

The courtyard where Chen Shuping lived was filled with bicycles, and people carrying heavy gifts kept coming to his door.

If anyone knew these people, they would find that their backgrounds were remarkably similar: they were all mid-level cadres at the Temple of Heaven Park who held real power on a regular basis.

"Director Chen, Happy Lantern Festival! I'm Old Li from the General Affairs Department of the Temple of Heaven. Please accept this small gift; it's nothing but a token of my appreciation..."

Old Li, his back hunched, held the gifts high with both hands, a fawning smile plastered on his face. He had barely finished speaking when he couldn't help but complain, "You have no idea how much of a spendthrift Gong Mingcheng is! He's turned the Temple of Heaven into a complete mess, ruined the book fair and lantern festival, and now the park is so deserted you could run a horse there! We lowly workers are suffering because of him, our wages are almost nonexistent, and if we stay any longer, we'll starve!"

"Section Chief Li is absolutely right!"

Xiao Zhang, standing nearby, immediately chimed in, his voice filled with resentment, "Brother Chen, I really don't want to waste my time over there anymore! Gong Mingcheng is a complete idiot, all he does is make money, he's nepotistic, promoting all those sycophantic good-for-nothings while those of us who do the real work get sidelined. Before, when we were working on the cultural and creative ice cream, he insisted on cutting costs, making it expensive and awful, and tourists were all complaining. We felt ashamed when we went out! I heard you're going to form a joint venture with President Ning, so you must be short of experienced people! Please, have mercy and transfer me over to work for you. I promise I'll work hard and never cause you any trouble!"

As soon as he said this, the other cadres sitting in the room echoed his sentiments, each taking turns to berate Gong Mingcheng.

"That's right! That guy only cares about money. He even dared to cut bonuses for security and fire protection. He wouldn't even set up a tent for the book market when it rained, causing booksellers huge losses. Who would want to hold an event at the Temple of Heaven now?"

"And those overseas projects were pure reckless investments, and now they're losing a fortune. All he does is complain and blame others, he can't do anything about it, and we have to take the blame too!"

"Director Chen, we all felt sorry for you when you left, but now it seems that leaving the Temple of Heaven was a blessing in disguise! With President Ning's support, your project is thriving, and we are truly envious. We just want to follow you and make a living, and do something practical!"

The officials who came to see him all had smiles on their faces, and their eyes revealed an almost pleading eagerness.

They didn't even care about the decorum of the Lantern Festival; they surrounded Chen Shuping, getting more and more agitated as they cursed, as if they wanted to pour out all the grievances they had suffered at the Temple of Heaven.

His words were filled with hatred for Gong Mingcheng, fear of the current state of the Temple of Heaven, and longing for the future of Longtan Lake.

After all, news of Ning Weimin's acquisition of the Beijing Amusement Park and its merger with Longtan Lake had already spread. Everyone wanted to seize the opportunity to ride the wave of such a large project and platform, and no one wanted to stay in the increasingly dilapidated mess of the Temple of Heaven.

Chen Shuping, dressed in a respectable Zhongshan suit, listened quietly to everyone's complaints with a gentle and proper smile on his face. He occasionally nodded and agreed with them, accepted everyone's gifts one by one, and warmly invited everyone into the house to drink tea and eat glutinous rice balls.

He slowly spoke after everyone had calmed down.

"You are all old acquaintances and colleagues. We worked together at the Temple of Heaven back then, and I know that you are all capable and competent people. I have also heard about Gong Mingcheng's work style, and I apologize for the inconvenience. We are indeed preparing to form a joint venture company, and we will definitely need manpower to expand our business. However, the transfer procedures involve the bureau and two units, and it is not something I can decide with just a word. But please rest assured, I appreciate your concern, and I have noted the situation. I will communicate with General Manager Ning and the relevant departments and do my best to help you get opportunities."

These words relieved the cadres present, and their faces lit up with smiles of relief. They all stepped forward to thank Chen Shuping, and the atmosphere in the room became even more enthusiastic.

Chen Shuping calmly responded to the crowd's enthusiasm, his every move exuding the composure and glory of a superior—a stark contrast to the dejected helplessness he felt when he was forced to leave the Temple of Heaven.

On one hand, Chen Shuping's family was bustling with activity and enjoying immense prestige, with cadres vying to join them and even publicly berating Gong Mingcheng in front of him.

On the other hand, Gong Mingcheng was isolated and helpless, having lost all popular support, and even his own backer was utterly disappointed in him.

On the same Lantern Festival night, two completely different situations occurred, which is a true reflection of the current situation of the Temple of Heaven and Longtan Lake, and also foreshadows the future fate of the two parks.

If Gong Mingcheng knew the state of the Chen Shuping family at this moment, how much regret and embarrassment would he feel? (End of Chapter)