Marry a female star at a bargain price

Chapter 309, Section 310: A town mayor who can't write a divine song isn't a good top influencer.

When Lin Xiao got to the point, Jiang Bohan's excitement instantly cooled, and he became serious and focused.

Lin Xiao said, "Xingguang Town is going to build a batch of affordable housing, about 1200 units. It's not a large-scale project, but it's a key project for the town this year, so the quality must be guaranteed. The construction company in Mashan County has limited qualifications, and they've already built one phase, but the quality..."

Lin Xiao paused, seemingly quite familiar with the situation, before continuing.

Jiang Bohan, representing Dijin Group, has dealt with leaders at all levels for many years, yet he doesn't even understand this basic business. It's a waste that his father entrusted such a large company to him.

"Hahaha, I understand, I understand!" he mumbled incoherently.

Everyone understands this, so there's no need to explain it too clearly.

Lin Xiao continued, "So for the upcoming projects, I plan to find a qualified, reliable, and responsible company to undertake the construction. That's why I immediately thought of President Jiang!"

Jiang Bohan tactfully burst into laughter.

The leader has said so many nice things, whether they're true or not, he'd better take them as true.

"It's an honor for us, Mayor Lin, to appreciate our Dijin so much!" Jiang Bohan said with a smile.

"It's not an honor, it's well-deserved!"

"Thank you for your care and guidance, leaders!"

Jiang Bohan's tone calmed down.

Having finished the pleasantries, he stated directly, "Mayor Lin thinks so highly of Dijin, even thinking of me when there's a project. I absolutely cannot let you down! Rest assured, I will complete this project to the highest standards, exceeding expectations. Giving you face is giving Dijin a way out..."

His words were bold and forthright, yet they did not contain the slightest hint of shirking responsibility.

Lin Xiao smiled.

He knew that this General Manager Jiang had misunderstood, thinking that he had chosen Dijin to undertake this project for his own political achievements and reputation.

It's normal for him to understand it that way.

After all, he was a minor official, and what official wouldn't want to be promoted?

Besides being an official, he is also an internet celebrity.

The top-tier kind.

This identity further demands that I always pay attention to my image and reputation, so I naturally seek stability and innovation in my work, while maintaining quality and efficiency.

Lin Xiao didn't explain further, but smiled and said, "President Jiang, I might not have explained it clearly earlier. This project is different from commercial housing communities like Xuefu Yaju. This is an affordable housing project, funded by a special allocation from Mashan County."

"You should know the economic situation of Mashan County, as you're a local from Yizhou, so the funding won't be very sufficient. I also need to strictly ensure the quality of this project, so..."

Lin Xiao didn't finish his sentence; he himself felt that the request was a bit excessive.

Jiang Bohan replied nonchalantly, "I understand, of course I understand! We, Dijin, have been undertaking government-subsidized housing projects for years, which is a way of fulfilling our corporate social responsibility! Rest assured, Dijin is definitely not the kind of company that only cares about making money. We have never stopped our charitable work in giving back to society and caring for the underprivileged!"

"Even if you hadn't said anything, we would have done our job properly, especially ensuring the quality of the houses. Now that you've called me specifically, there's nothing more to say. I'll personally oversee this project in Xingguang Town. If there's a shortage of funds, Dijin will even subsidize it to ensure it's built to a high standard and high quality, becoming a benchmark community in Xingguang Town. This is my way of thanking you for your previous care and support!"

Jiang Bohan's words were very generous and bold.

However, this display of generosity, compared to his earlier expression of gratitude for the Chaobai Town Xuefu Yaju project, was noticeably less sincere and more hypocritical.

This is also normal.

After all, Lin Xiao is now asking for a favor, and the one being asked is putting on airs and saying nice things to get something from the other party.

This is the most obvious thing to do.

Although Xincun Garden is just an affordable housing project with a low budget, the developer can still make a profit no matter how low the budget is.

This is beyond doubt.

If the budget is too low, so low that the only way to build a house is to cut corners on the quality of the building. Doesn't that mean that the government didn't intend for the people to live well and comfortably when it was pushing policies and projects to be implemented?

This logic is absolutely flawed.

In fact, the funding for this type of affordable housing, while not enough to build luxury homes, certainly has no problem meeting basic needs, ensuring no leaks or power outages.

The reason why the first phase of Xincun Garden has become the current quality, and why so many affordable housing projects have various problems.

It's simply that developers think one cent is too little and want to earn three or even five cents.

Digging any deeper would involve the interests of too many people, making it impossible to say anything more.

Lin Xiao knew the ins and outs of this, and so did Jiang Bohan.

The Dijin Group could have made a profit from this project, but in President Jiang's mouth, it was described as paying back Mayor Lin's favor... This art of eloquence, where one benefits while feigning innocence, was truly astounding to Lin Xiao.

Fortunately, he wasn't "moved" by Jiang Bohan's sincere thanks earlier, so he doesn't feel particularly hurt now.

In fact, for Dijin Group, with its billions in assets, to take on such a tiny project as Xincun Garden was indeed a huge favor to Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao smiled calmly and said, "Since President Jiang is so straightforward, then I won't stand on ceremony. On behalf of the villagers of Xingguang Town who are about to move into their new homes, I thank Dijin Group and President Jiang!"

Jiang Bohan politely declined, saying he dared not.

The conversation became lively for a while.

After a moment, Jiang Bohan said mysteriously, "Mayor Lin, it's definitely no problem for Dijin to take on your project. But in our industry, it's generally about taking big bites from big bowls and small sips from small bowls... Dijin is known for taking big bites, so taking on big projects is fine, but if we're going to fight over even the scraps, that's a bit unreasonable. Of course, Dijin has always been known for its aggressive style and isn't afraid of offending local powers; we'll finish the project and walk away. But Mayor Lin, you still have to serve in Xingguang Town... You understand what I mean, right?"

Jiang Bohan didn't spell it out, but the meaning was already quite clear.

He knew that the smaller the place, the more serious factionalism and the more terrifying the local forces were.

Otherwise, how did the term "county town Brahman" become so popular online?

Small projects like Xincun Garden, which are also affordable housing projects that don't participate in market profits, are obviously meant to be reserved for the local Brahmins. No matter how wealthy or powerful outsiders are, they won't get a share!

So Jiang Bohan should actually ask: "What gives you the right, Mayor Lin, to make this decision and let Dijin undertake the project?"

But he didn't ask that.

Because they knew that Mayor Lin's background and abilities were far more than just those of a "town mayor".

If he wanted to, suppressing the local bullies wouldn't be a problem.

Jiang Bohan firmly believes this.

Even so, he firmly believed that Lin Xiao's initiative to provoke a struggle against local forces would not be an easy victory.

It can be very tiring and dangerous.

It was precisely because Jiang Bohan saw through this that he couldn't help but give Mayor Lin some pointers. After all, he genuinely admired this talented young man who had crossed many boundaries and had even given him a big piece of the pie.

Some people may seem nonchalant, but they are actually working hard to change the world.

Some people may seem to have a glamorous life, but they are nothing more than parasites who live off their parents.

Jiang Bohan is the latter, so he envies the former and sincerely hopes that the former can win more easily and with more dignity.

……

Lin Xiao had already prepared for Jiang Bohan's reminder.

Although the second and third phases of the Xincun Garden project are located within Xingguang Town, the village-town merger project has always been led by the county, and the funds have been allocated from the province level by level and are now kept in the county.

Once the project actually starts, the funds will flow directly from the county and will not pass through Xingguang Town at all.

In other words.

Lin Xiao, the town mayor, was only fit to do the work; he didn't even have the right to drink soup, let alone eat meat.

Although he never intended to eat meat or drink soup, and looked down on mosquito legs and spider urine.

But Jiang Bohan's reminder was correct.

Ultimately, this project had to go through the county government, so his decision alone was useless. Only when the county head approved the construction of the Dijin Group could it be considered a real project.

But this step is very difficult.

Just look at how arrogant and domineering Yu Yaofa is within the territory of Mashan County, and you'll get a glimpse of it.

The affordable housing project for merging villages and towns was originally Yu Yaojun's for the taking, but now it's being given to outsiders for no reason. This is equivalent to taking away the cake from the entire Brahman community.

The resistance involved is considerable.

Lin Xiao had anticipated this when he played the Emperor's Brocade card, and he didn't even dare to guarantee that he would succeed.

But as my mother-in-law said.

To persuade the villagers to willingly leave the abandoned village and move to the new buildings in the town, no amount of persuasion, no matter how hard you try, will work. The most effective method is to present them with decent, comfortable, and high-quality houses and have them drawn by lot on the spot, without deceiving anyone.

That's the only possibility.

Otherwise, no matter how much policy advice or work is done, it will all be in vain.

Lin Xiao was absolutely unwilling to resort to violent governance, and even less willing to waste time and energy negotiating with Yu Yaofa.

This led to a stalemate.

To break this deadlock, the only solution is to introduce a third party, as the saying goes, "a monk from outside is better at chanting scriptures."

The monk has been invited.

However, Lin Xiao still needs to put in a lot of hard work to ensure that he can safely enter Mashan County.

He lacked complete confidence.

But now that the die is cast, he has no way out but to draw his sword and forge ahead.

The next two weeks.

Lin Xiao had no interest in following the online arguments and how far the public opinion was progressing, nor did he have time to communicate with the "Longing for Married Life" program team about the recording details. He didn't even have time to flirt with his wife or play with his daughter.

He devoted all his time and energy to working for the county.

This work has a great deal of artistic merit.

You can't just resort to barbarity and violence; after all, they are your leaders and superiors.

We can't just blindly flatter and beg for peace; after all, we have to take a cut from their waist.

He can't do it all by himself, after all, he's dealing with a group, not just a simple official title or a chair.

Therefore, this process inevitably involves borrowing power and maneuvering. It requires leveraging existing influence, creating a stir, and even employing tactics like the empty city ruse, the self-inflicted injury ruse, and using a beautiful woman… let's leave the beautiful woman ruse aside.

Anyway, they must have used at least a dozen of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.

Finally, the county reluctantly agreed to let Dijin Group take over the construction of the remaining projects in Xincun Garden.

The day the meeting minutes were released was a bright, sunny day.

The filming locations of the "Rebirth" program in Dafeng Village have just been fully renovated. The three dilapidated houses have been transformed in less than a month.

Lin Xiao was invited by the production team to check the results.

Although he is a contracted guest on the show, he is also the mayor of Starlight Town.

As a slow-paced lifestyle variety show, "Rebirth" also has the function of promoting agriculture and helping farmers. After the show airs, it will definitely have a positive impact on the development of local agriculture and tourism. Therefore, the support of the local grassroots government is also needed during the filming process.

The local government is also very happy to support it.

Therefore, both logically and emotionally, when the program team sent an invitation for a visit and inspection, Mayor Lin had to make time to go and support them.

We arrived at Dafeng Village.

The village clearly reflects the mountainous terrain of Xingguang Town, with fields of varying heights and houses of varying heights, all connected by winding, undulating slopes.

The three houses selected by the "Rebirth" program team form a wavy line, standing amidst lush green mountains and golden autumn rice paddies.

After renovation, the house is completely different from its original dilapidated state, and its overall style is simple and elegant.

Wooden house, bamboo bed, fenced yard, chickens, vegetables, and cooking fire.

Lin Xiao glanced at it and inexplicably felt all his fatigue disappear, with an urge to live in seclusion here forever.

Although the three houses look similar from a distance, each has its own unique characteristics when you get closer.

The thought that he and his wife would be moving into one of the rooms in just one week was incredibly daunting.

Lin Xiao was immediately filled with anticipation.

When the cameras are turned on, he'll arrive with his luggage and wife, ostensibly to earn extra money by filming a variety show, but actually on a honeymoon with his wife. In reality, he hasn't neglected his duties as town mayor...

Hehe, nobody knows time management better than me!

Lin Xiao was practically drooling just thinking about life a week from now.

After visiting the recording base, it was time to get off work.

Director Rutger suggested that Mayor Lin be treated to a casual meal to discuss the details of the upcoming recording.

Lin Xiao refused.

It wasn't that he was disrespecting Director Lu, but rather that he was simply too exhausted lately.

This exhaustion isn't physical, but mental.

Director Lu said it was a dinner invitation, but after Lin Xiao met this middle-aged businesswoman twice, he realized she was no ordinary person.

Although I have no conflict of interest with her, and we can even be considered to be in the same boat.

However, when talking to this kind of person, one has no choice but to be fully armed and on high alert.

Just thinking about it is exhausting.

So Lin Xiao refused outright, but to save face, he gave the excuse that he had to work overtime for a meeting.

Rutdam seemed to have expected this, and his face showed no embarrassment, but rather a knowing smile.

"I've been feeling how busy Mayor Lin is lately; he's a true public servant who cares for the people!"

Lutdan sighed with emotion, and several staff members nodded in agreement.

The atmosphere was a bit strange, but Lin Xiao couldn't quite put his finger on why. He felt that everyone's respect for him had gone beyond his roles as "town mayor" and "guest," and was now bordering on that of a "benefactor" or "great benefactor."

He found it a bit inexplicable.

I didn't bother with it at the moment, and after saying goodbye to the crew, I drove home.

As soon as I entered the urban area of ​​Mashan County, I passed a square and suddenly heard a dynamic and cool sound.

"You are my little apple, I can never love you too much..."

Lin Xiao drove, his body slumped with exhaustion.

Upon hearing this catchy and addictive music, my body sprang up like a spring, and my ears and eyebrows perked up.

"Hmm? This song... it's back in Mashan County again?"

Lin Xiao was surprised.

Although it was expected, it happened faster than anticipated.

It was a red light, and he looked towards the square next to him. In the amber light of the early autumn twilight, he saw a dozen or so middle-aged women dancing in unison to the melody of "Little Apple".

His energetic appearance made Lin Xiao feel inferior.

Of course, he had no interest in being envious.

Instead, they were surprised that their song "Little Apple" had been criticized online and was so bad that netizens wanted to crowdfund to send them razor blades. How did it suddenly become so popular in the square dance circle?

He was a little dazed.

But after waking up, I realized that it had been almost three weeks since "Little Apple" was released, which is a full twenty days.

Twenty days can change a lot of things.

It can make a piece of trash that everyone condemns acceptable to more people in another form.

Lin Xiao had experienced this process on Earth, so he wasn't surprised at all.

He was surprised by the speed.

After all, back on Earth, "Little Apple" took at least two months to spread and develop before it finally established itself as a hit song for square dancing.

But now that it's happened to me, all of this has only taken twenty days.

It must be said that their own top-tier popularity provided a powerful internal driving force for accelerating all of this.

Lin Xiao then understood the grateful looks that Lutdan and the entire production team had given him earlier.

Given the current nationwide popularity of "Little Apple".

It can be inferred that online attention and discussion about Lin Xiao have been ongoing for the past twenty days.

Lin Xiao is also a signed guest of "Rebirth".

His constant presence on the trending topics list means that this season of "Rebirth" has already garnered extremely high attention and buzz without spending a single penny on pre-release promotion.

Of course, if Lin Xiao's reputation continues to be as bad as it was when "Little Apple" was first released.

That level of attention and buzz isn't necessarily a good thing.

While being "black-red" (controversially famous) is still fame, it only applies to ordinary celebrities and ordinary programs.

When it comes to S+ level variety shows like "Rebirth," they can't really withstand being criticized. They'd rather have no attention and rely on the loyal fans accumulated from previous seasons to make a living than be criticized and trend on social media, causing a significant loss of fans.

Then the gain outweighs the loss.

So when Lin Xiao was being attacked online, Lutdan was excited and thrilled, but the rest of the production team were still very uneasy.

Even now, "Little Apple" has risen from the ashes after enduring criticism and has gained recognition from a wide range of middle-aged and elderly people as well as teenagers and children.

Even those who dominate the internet have followed suit, changing their tune while simultaneously being shocked by the popularity of the square dance anthem and reflecting on what magic it possesses.

last of the last.

Everyone put away their arrogant, domineering attitude and admitted that Lin Xiao truly deserved to be called the last genius in the music industry. Even those who didn't dare to admit it dared not criticize him anymore, at most stubbornly saying, "Anyway, I just can't appreciate it!"

Ha, that's hilarious.

Faced with overwhelming popularity and hype, these musicians no longer dared to represent all netizens and the people of the whole country, and finally honestly only represented themselves!

Lin Xiao found it a bit funny.

He had no intention of promoting himself, but the song was so powerful that it triggered a series of chain reactions after being released to the market. The ups and downs of the story were something even a screenwriter couldn't have come up with, let alone Lin Xiao himself.

This past month and a half.

In public, he actually did two things: signed on to join the show "Longing for Married Life" and released the song "Little Apple".

He has never publicly commented on either of these matters.

The official announcement of the program was spearheaded by the production team, while the release of the song was planned by the company and Tencent Music.

He didn't care about anything the whole time.

Yet, they managed to monopolize the trending topics for a month and a half without saying a word, turning the entire entertainment industry upside down.

Such immense popularity has made celebrities big and small in the industry envious and eager.

Especially those celebrities who rely on online traffic for their livelihood, they feel more than just envious and jealous; they feel a burning pain in their cheeks.

After all, the person who single-handedly stole the attention of the entire internet cannot be considered a true insider.

A group of so-called top celebrities were easily defeated by an outsider.

This dramatic turn of events is comparable to how smartphones killed film and food delivery killed instant noodles—unexpected yet perfectly logical.

In fact, this situation left Lin Xiao feeling extremely helpless.

His initial intention in doing these things was indeed to attract more visitors to Starlight Town.

But he never expected that his casual move would trigger such a massive surge in online traffic, almost completely disrupting the entire entertainment industry ecosystem.

This is a big deal!

Lin Xiao: A town mayor who can't write hit songs isn't a good top influencer?!

(End of this chapter)