Scholars in the courtyard.

Chapter 3007 Stimulating Domestic Demand? Let the comrades eat more!

With Yang Xiaotao's involvement, the progress of the middle section of the project accelerated dramatically.

The supplies arrived faster than usual, and the cooperation from local personnel has also increased.

Yang Xiaotao spent two days in Yanzhou, learning about the project's progress and checking on Yanzhou's development.

This place has profound significance for China.

Countless people have left this place and gone to all corners of the country.

Many people dream of this place, even in their dreams.

And countless others, having heard the legends of this place, yearn for everything here.

Now that Yang Xiaotao has arrived, he naturally wants to walk around and take a look.

Then I'll go back and tell my wife and kids.

I also want to talk to Old Chen, my uncle, and Old Qing about the changes in Yanzhou over the years.

"Minister Yang, this is the place."

Shi Yi stood in front of a cave dwelling and said with a smile. There was a sign outside the cave dwelling that clearly indicated whose residence it was.

Around the cave dwelling, several guards in military uniforms stood at attention.

Yang Xiaotao stood at the door, straightened his clothes, and looked solemn. He then nodded to Shi Yi before going inside with Liu Lixue.

"This is where I used to work. It doesn't look big, but I wrote many books here."

Shi Yi acted as a guide, while Yang Xiaotao and Liu Lixue looked at the cave dwelling, which was less than ten square meters in size. There was an old table, a chair without a backrest, and traces of time visible on the walls. Sunlight streamed in through the window, shining on the table and then scattering outwards, as if it were locked in space and frozen into soft colors.

The two unconsciously slowed their pace and breathed, as if afraid of disturbing the profoundness of this moment.

Looking at everything in front of me, it was just a simple desk setup, just like an ordinary home, or even simpler.

But here, Yang Xiaotao felt a strange peace, as if his mind was empty, without any desires or wants.

The beam of light in front of him resembled the smoke from a cigarette on his finger, while the person holding the cigarette was deep in thought.

click
The camera started clicking, and Yang Xiaotao turned his head to look. He saw Liu Lixue constantly adjusting the camera angle to capture everything.

"Get me a copy when you get back."

Yang Xiaotao spoke up, and Liu Lixue nodded before continuing to take photos.

"This is a place to rest."

"Who's next door?"

The two followed Shi Yi's footsteps to an ordinary cave dwelling. Yang Xiaotao immediately noticed the jujube tree in the yard and then smiled, "I've heard of this tree."

Shi Yi glanced at it, then nodded and said, "Whenever the jujube tree bears fruit, everyone gathers here, eating green jujubes while discussing the future of the revolution."

"It's a pity, if you had come earlier, you could have still gotten some."

"Now we can only eat dried dates."

Yang Xiaotao didn't mind, "It's okay, we'll come again later, specifically when the dates are ripe."

Shi Yi nodded happily, and then led the two of them into the tour.

After completing the entire loop, everyone boarded the bus to prepare for the return trip.

Yang Xiaotao and Shi Yi sat in the back seat of the car, chatting about the scene they had just witnessed all the way back to their base.

Liu Lixue got out of the car with the driver, but Yang Xiaotao and Shi Yi stayed in the car.

"Secretary Shi, you've accompanied me all this way."

"To be honest, I would feel guilty if I didn't ask."

Hearing Yang Xiaotao say this, Shi Yi, who had been talking non-stop just now, suddenly became a little hesitant.

However, since Yang Xiaotao had already spoken, he knew that if he didn't say anything, he might really miss his chance.

Thinking of this, Shi Yi turned to the side and said solemnly.

"Minister Yang, there are indeed some things I'd like to tell you."

"Of course, I'm just telling you, not saying you have to do it."

Shi Yi spoke with caution, and Yang Xiaotao's expression also became serious. "Secretary Shi, what is it you want to say first?"

"it is good!"

Shi Yi took a breath before explaining his purpose for coming.

"Minister Yang, the Changyan Railway will be open to traffic soon. I am truly grateful to you for this, and I thank the comrades of the Ninth Ministry of Machinery Industry for their support."

"Without the Ninth Department, I dare say it would have taken at least five years longer to build this railway."

Yang Xiaotao waved his hand, "Secretary Shi, there's no need to say more about these things."

"We are all doing this for the people here, for the revolution to be better, and to do what we can for our fellow villagers."

"If one does something only for the sake of others' gratitude or respect, then that is a desecration of the revolutionary will."

Yang Xiaotao made his stance clear, and Shi Yi didn't say much more.

"Minister Yang, the opening of this railway has brought vitality to local exchanges and allowed goods to circulate quickly."

"But we also face a problem: where do the goods come from, and how do they circulate?"

After Shi Yi finished speaking, Yang Xiaotao took out a cigarette from his pocket and offered one to Shi Yi.

Shi Yi took out matches and the two lit them.

"You mean, the road is open, but there are goods available for each type of vehicle?"

Shi Yi nodded, "The situation is pretty much the same everywhere now. The best commodity is grain, but these days grain is a controlled commodity. Besides, even the people in the countryside don't have enough to eat."

"Without goods, how can they circulate?"

"Also, there are some products that are really not affordable for the average person."

Shi Yi briefly explained the situation, and Yang Xiaotao asked curiously, "Secretary Shi, just tell me, what do you want us to do?"

Shi Yi smiled, took a deep drag on his cigarette, and then said, "Minister Yang, the reason these goods aren't circulating is simply because there's a lack of consumers."

"So, I'd like to ask you for a favor."

"Let's see if we can purchase some supplies from Qinxi. It would be best if we could do it regularly, every year."

Yang Xiaotao crossed his arms, now he understood completely.

This guy just wants me to help him. With the size of the Ninth Division, as long as they purchase Qin Xi's supplies, the other side can use the influx of funds to vigorously develop agriculture and industry.

In other words, the blood of the nine tribes is used to nourish the land of Qinxi.

Seeing Yang Xiaotao's expression, Shi Yi knew that his request might be a bit excessive, but it was the best solution he and the officials in Qinxi could think of.

Today, Qinxi has fallen to the middle position in the national economic development rankings, and there is even a risk of it falling to the bottom.

In terms of resources, they are not as good as the neighboring Shanxi province, whose coal reserves are the envy of everyone.

In terms of arable land, Hanzhong in the south couldn't compare to Shu Han at all; there, you could easily dig up a lot of land there.
In terms of population, they are nothing compared to the eastern region.

We are inferior in resources, arable land, and demographic dividend.
If Qinxi wants to develop now, relying solely on a long and winding railway is far from enough.

Even if you brought the prosperity of Chang'an here, it wouldn't work.

Therefore, they can only focus on external factors and seek sponsorship to help them.

The nine companies that had previously collaborated with me donated a billion dollars in one go, and then provided another five or six hundred million dollars in support. If there were no special feelings involved, I doubt anyone would have replied.

So when they heard that Yang Xiaotao was going to visit his former residence, they knew it was an opportunity to 'get sponsorship'.

So Shi Yi personally took on the role of commentator.

This was all to deepen Yang Xiaotao's 'special feelings' for this place.

Now is the time to test the purity of this 'emotion'.

After Shi Yi finished speaking, Yang Xiaotao had his answer.

“Secretary Shi, I can understand what you’re saying.”

Shi Yi was delighted to hear this, and then Yang Xiaotao said, "To be honest, we have similar practices in factories all over the place."

"It's like a machine factory cooperating with a textile factory. I buy your stuff, and you buy our stuff. It's a two-for-one exchange, nothing wrong with that." "However, as you know, if we, the Ninth Department, are to make the purchases, we can't let our comrades suffer any losses. We can't let them feel like we're just trying to fool them with some random stuff."

"Am I right."

Shi Yi understood the meaning behind Yang Xiaotao's words.

When it comes to doing business, it doesn't matter who you do it with.

But we must uphold integrity and conscience.

Shi Yi was prepared for this. "Minister Yang, don't worry, we are familiar with the rules of the Nine Ministries."

Sincerity begets sincerity.

"A 100% sense of responsibility."

"Since we are going to cooperate, we certainly can't let our comrades suffer losses. As long as you agree, we will definitely provide the best items from Qinxi."

Yang Xiaotao was speechless; the slogan was spreading incredibly fast.

He then took a deep drag on his cigarette. "I think this place is relatively close to Harbin in the northwest."

"It's closer to send the goods there than to places like Beijing."

"And there is also train transportation, which makes travel convenient."

Do you think it's feasible?

After thinking it over, Yang Xiaotao decided that it was still necessary to strengthen the development work in the Northwest.

Moreover, that place was also an important base for him.

"Okay, okay, that's great."

Shi Yi said happily, "Then we'll send you the list later. Once it's confirmed, we'll send it over."

Yang Xiaotao nodded, "Okay, I'll let them know in the Northwest."

Shi Yi's smile grew even brighter.

After finishing their cigarettes, the two got out of the car and walked together toward the office building.

“Secretary Shi, I think it’s a bit difficult for you to develop by relying solely on a railway.”

As they approached the office building, Yang Xiaotao recalled a saying: "To get rich, build roads first!" He then said to Shi Yi.

Shi Yi escorted Yang Xiaotao and the other man to the building and was about to leave when he heard Yang Xiaotao say this. He immediately nodded and said, "We understand that the smooth operation of the railway is only the first step. There are other plans to follow."

"tell me the story?"

"That is the general plan, such as planting forests, reclaiming farmland, building fertilizer plants and power plants, etc. These are all in our construction plan."

"Well, it's fine."

Yang Xiaotao agreed, then jokingly added, "But I think we could add one more thing to this plan."

Shi Yi was taken aback, then said seriously, "Minister Yang, please speak."

"Building roads."

"Road repair?"

"Yes, build roads and connect the villages with cement."

"Only in this way can goods truly circulate."

After listening to Yang Xiaotao's explanation, Shi Yi pondered for a moment before nodding, "Okay, we will definitely consider it carefully."

Yang Xiaotao didn't say anything more. This was just a suggestion; whether the other party did it or not was their business.

After watching Yang Xiaotao and the other man leave, Shi Yi turned and got into the car, ready to tell his comrades the good news.

With the help of the Ninth Division, Qinxi will enter a period of rapid development.

When Yang Xiaotao returned to the rest area, he immediately saw Xie Jiarong, who was busy.

"Director Yang, Director Ji and his team have arrived at the scene, and the equipment is gradually being put into place."

Xie Jiarong reported the situation in detail. After listening, Yang Xiaotao casually asked, "Teacher Xie, what else do you think we need to do here?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Jiarong pondered for a moment, then looked up and smiled, "Minister Yang, we've done everything we could. Now it's their job."

Yang Xiaotao was satisfied with the answer, so he smiled and said, "Today is the 27th. If we hurry, we can still go home for the New Year."

"So, how about we leave tomorrow?"

Liu Lixue, who was organizing documents behind her, immediately smiled and said, "I think we should leave today, since it's not dark yet."

Yang Xiaotao shook his head, "That won't do, I have to finish explaining things first."

"At the very least, we should tell Director Ji."

Xie Jiarong was also aware of Yang Xiaotao's purpose in coming here.

To put it bluntly, it's about making the final decision on major issues and setting the direction.

He is not needed to handle the following matters at all.

On the contrary, his presence here may bring pressure and cause unnecessary accidents.

"Then let's leave tomorrow. I'll go and tell the comrades right now."

Xie Jiarong didn't want to be out and about during the Lunar New Year, so he got up to arrange work.

Yang Xiaotao then picked up the phone and called Li Chengjun.

When Li Chengjun received the call, he was unaware that Yang Xiaotao had come to Yanzhou and thought he was still in Beijing.

It wasn't until Yang Xiaotao explained the situation that Li Chengjun realized what was going on, and then he extended an invitation.

“Minister Yang, you’ve already been to Yanzhou, you should at least come to Hami City.”

"Old Fang has been saving this sorghum liquor for you for several years. If you don't come and drink it soon, we'll really have to be polite."

"Minister Yang, since you're passing by, the comrades would like to see you."

Li Chengjun kept talking on the other end of the line, as if it would be a huge loss for Yang Xiaotao not to go.

But how could Yang Xiaotao possibly agree?

Returning home for the Lunar New Year and reuniting with family are essential.

"Alright, Lao Li, if I go, how am I going to go home for the New Year?"

"And another thing, don't think I don't know. Old Fang already said that he'd bring back some supplies for me next time he delivers them. You still want to drink? Dream on."

"Oh dear, that old Fang."

Seeing that his 'scheme' had been exposed, Li Chengjun smiled twice and then said, "Alright then, but Minister Yang, you really have to come."

"The Northwest is developing better and better!"

Yang Xiaotao's smile faded, and he said, "I know these are the results of our comrades' hard work."

"I'll go and take a look after the New Year."

Li Chengjun nodded, "Then we need to prepare a welcoming ceremony in advance."

Yang Xiaotao smiled.

Yang Xiaotao then talked about the situation in Qinxi.

"Simply put, it's about encouraging you to spend more, letting comrades eat more, stimulating domestic demand, and promoting the development of Qinxi."

"From now on, you can purchase more fruits and by-products from here, and the supply and marketing cooperative should also offer a wider variety of products, instead of just the same two. You can also trade with Kazakhstan and transport goods inland, just like canned goods."

"If all else fails, I'll ask headquarters to subsidize part of it."

Li Chengjun, hearing Yang Xiaotao's words, had no more concerns. "Since you've said that, wouldn't it be disrespectful of you if we didn't help out with their business?"

"Right? We have to give them face."

The two of them laughed again.

After hanging up the phone, Yang Xiaotao called Li Hongfeng again and told him that he would be returning to Beijing the next day.

Then Liu Lixue and I started packing our things to go home!