I was reborn without dreams

Chapter 102 Is this appropriate? !
When Uncle Zhang heard the news, he felt like he had been struck by lightning. How could he be the director of some group? He should at least be someone in a high-ranking position in the city.

He's just a good-for-nothing. He's not even qualified to be the vice president of an education investment company, yet they put him on a pedestal. It's utter nonsense.

So he went to the "director" of the Education Bureau to inquire first, and then started acting up.

"How could I be suitable? I've never done any educational assistance. And what's this 'targeted educational assistance'? I'm not suited for it; I know absolutely nothing about it!"

"It's targeted assistance in education, with the focus on education, not just on specific locations. There are many other places that are targeted, but education is the main and core task."

Seeing that Zhang Zhengdong was acting like a complete idiot, the top leader got up, took out a cigarette and handed it to him. Then the two of them sat down next to each other and started chatting.

"First of all, this matter wasn't initiated by the city, but by the province; secondly, Zhengdong, your nephew donated three million yuan, plus twelve volunteer service stations. If you don't help oversee it, what if outsiders squander it? Besides, there's a publicity task involved. Shouldn't you do something for yourself, for the city, for the Education Bureau, or at the very least for the Education Investment Company?"

"..."

"Fine! Even if we take a step back and consider your own interests, for the sake of your nephew and the rapid development of Xindongweigang Middle School, you must also want Xindongweigang Middle School to have a good reputation, right? You are currently serving as the principal of Xindongweigang Middle School!"

"What kind of publicity are you going to do? I haven't heard Zhang An mention this before."

"Of course. A few days ago, someone from the provincial youth development foundation came over. It wasn't something that was arranged in advance. It was just a coincidence."

"So that's it..."

Uncle Zhang took a puff of his cigarette and nodded. "Then I have no problem. I'll do whatever the organization arranges. If I lack ability, I'll make up for it with my strength."

"You don't need to work too hard. After all, you're juggling multiple roles now. Just make sure you maintain a good work-life balance."

In fact, Uncle Zhang didn't understand what work-life balance meant at all. His position as principal of Xindongwei Port Middle School was just a title, mainly to show off in front of his former principal colleagues, especially Xu Xingchu from Taizi Port Middle School, who would occasionally drive his 1.8-liter black manual Volkswagen Santana around for a couple of rounds.

The work of the Private Education Section...

It's really just a matter of signing and stamping. The main project that I'm currently working on with the department is the Xindongweigang Middle School and a bunch of projects that have evolved around it.

Where else can I find private educational capital to come to Shazhou City?

As for the deputy general manager of the education investment company... he's just a figurehead; there are only a handful of him in the entire company.

Boss Qiu Jianmin's workday consists of nothing more than reading a newspaper and drinking tea; he doesn't accomplish much.

Retirement homes are just that dull and boring.

So, while Uncle Zhang claims to hold multiple positions, he's essentially just a slacker.

To their colleagues in other regions, Qiu Jianmin and Zhang Zhengdong were simply outstanding figures: role models, exemplars, pioneers of reform, and experts in their fields.

The success of education investment companies is all thanks to the leadership of their top executives.

How fast a train goes depends entirely on the locomotive!
Package.

Many departments in Shazhou City were actually unaware of the situation. Apart from those with inside information and good relationships with the Education Bureau, they could only get a general idea, but even that was difficult to grasp the whole picture. They more or less assumed that Zhang Zhengdong played a key role in it.

Only those within the municipal bureau knew that Zhang Zhengdong, who only experienced his first career breakthrough at the age of forty, had truly been betting everything on his nephew for the past twenty years.

But to be honest, the rate of return... is too high!

How tall is it?
Zhang Zhengdong has accomplished in a year what others take more than ten years to achieve, and he might even have to avoid taking the same detours next year.

There was no way around it; his nephew was even more extraordinary. It was one thing to have built a business worth over 100 million in just two and a half years, but now he was aiming for 500 million or even 1 billion.

The city's leaders are well aware that the combined debts of "Zhang An Education," "Zhang An Culture," "Zhang An Media," "Zhang An Food," and "Zhang An Health" certainly exceed 500 million, but whether it exceeds 1 billion is hard to say.

Even five hundred million is still quite terrifying; this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The "Zhang'an Education" development plan in 1946-1998 clearly outlined the "10+20" construction plan for the Mazhou campus, while the Jianggao campus was built concurrently with the Mazhou campus.

So, based solely on direct operating revenue, the Mazhou campus on both sides of the boundary river, plus the Jianggao campus, will directly surpass the Shazhou main campus.

The total direct operating revenue of the three campuses will exceed 300 million, because the tuition fees for the 4698 high school re-examination classes will increase.

The price increase was announced directly in the admission brochure, which clearly states that the tuition for the high school retake class will be raised to 88,000 yuan. The increase for the middle school retake class is limited, but the middle school retake class has an advantage: if you choose to come to Xindongweigang Middle School for your college entrance exam preparation, the price will be the same as the high school retake class price of the same year.

So don't be fooled by the current popularity of the "Little Top Scholar Series"; when it comes to stability, it's really not as good as the "Top Scholar Tutoring Class".

Among the several "product development teams" that Zhang Da'an prepared, the "Top Scholar Tutoring Class" is the most solid and stable IP, with a much higher value than "Little Top Scholar".

Ultimately, the "Little Champion Series" is a derivative product attached to the "champion".

So, Uncle Zhang's problem is that he knows his nephew is very strong, but he doesn't know exactly how strong his nephew is.

The city was well aware of this, which is why Zhang Da'an was a guest of honor at the Shazhou City Entrepreneurs Annual Meeting. Although he was the youngest, he was already a key figure who controlled the core power.

The end of the year is usually a summary meeting, but it also sets the tone for the coming year's development.

The key word for the end of this year is "talent". At the end of October, Beijing held a talent training and introduction conference on "strengthening the construction of a high-level talent team", and other places followed suit and held similar conferences.

Various units in Shazhou City are also establishing role models of talent.

The Education Bureau is no exception.

Comrade Zhang Zhengdong must be an extremely outstanding talent.

The Civil Affairs Bureau also acknowledges this.

The Cultural Bureau, Police Bureau, Water Resources Bureau, Industry and Commerce Bureau, and others all applauded and praised it.

However, the atmosphere changed a bit when it came to the business leaders' meeting.

On November 7th, the day of Lidong (the beginning of winter), Zhang Da'an originally planned to audit a large math class, but he ultimately chose to watch a video recording later. In the morning, he went to the resort to attend the Shazhou City Entrepreneurs Conference.

The process was quite fast. First, I'd like to commend the leaders from various industries in the area, such as steel metallurgy, textiles and clothing, hardware processing, and electromechanical equipment.

The only leader in the cultural industry is Zhang Da'an.

However, this was not a meeting where parents sat in rows listening to each other speak; it was a large round table meeting, and everyone who could bark was given a microphone.

"We're all doing business together for the development of Shazhou, so of course we're aiming for profits. Sometimes, it's not that we can't be considerate of others, but when a company is growing rapidly, we need to reduce unnecessary cutthroat competition. It's best if we all discuss salaries and benefits beforehand so we can be prepared. Mr. Zhang, you may be young and have good ideas, but the wages of your workers must follow market rates; we can't just arbitrarily set them..."

"Ok?"

Zhang Da'an, who was just drinking tea, reading the newspaper, and drawing turtles, suddenly paused: "Hey buddy, in this situation... you're calling me?"
Zhang Da'an raised his head slightly and saw a middle-aged man in a suit and tie with a slicked-back hairstyle across from him. He smiled and nodded at him.

Zhang Da'an, whose eyesight was good, looked at the sign, which read the other party's name: Fan Wencheng.

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Da'an never took the initiative to speak at meetings, but this time he was suddenly called upon, and his lifelong habit of "there are always treacherous subjects trying to harm me" naturally kicked in.

"It's nothing, Mr. Zhang, don't be too nervous. It's just that your food factory previously set the basic salary at 1,800, doubling it. Before, it was only a bit of a stir in the bonded zone. Now, people here in Luyuan know about it too. Every day, workers come to complain, saying that 'Zhang An Food Factory's' basic salary is 1,800, not including bonuses and piecework. It's outrageous, Mr. Zhang. Keep a low profile so that everyone's business can continue. Otherwise, if everyone raises salaries by 800 or 1,000, how much profit can you make in a year?"

"Old Fan is right, Mr. Zhang. You started out running a school, so you don't know how hard it is to run a factory. We used to do processing, and we had to work ourselves to the bone all year round just to earn a little more money. Now that you've done this, the workers' minds aren't on the factory anymore; they're all thinking about raises and bonuses, which is a real headache." "The basic wage is generally around four hundred yuan, maybe five hundred at most, and even doubling it wouldn't be more than a thousand. Mr. Zhang, a thousand eighteen is too much. If your business is good and you're willing to pay more, we certainly have no objection. But you should have discussed it beforehand. Besides, it's better to handle these things discreetly. Now even our competitors across the Yangtze River are asking us if we're going to raise wages collectively, if we're going to steal their business. It's very difficult for us, Mr. Zhang."

Zhang Da'an was about to respond, but before he could even speak, one after another joined in to support Fan Wencheng.

They come from all sorts of businesses: hotels and restaurants, wool and cotton textiles, water conservancy equipment...

Zhang Da'an, without batting an eye, picked up the thermos on the table, opened it, took a sip, and then picked up the microphone, looking at Fan Wencheng across from him: "You son of a bitch, you rely on your cousin to contract the water conservancy station and make that money. You should be laughing to yourself behind closed doors. You motherfucker, you actually have the nerve to talk nonsense in front of me. Who do you think you are, daring to call me by name here?! And you lot, you're done with your business. Go back to your backers today and start fighting. I'll make sure your businesses are completely ruined, or I'll change your names. What kind of nobodies dare to jump out like this? You're all animals, you have the nerve to speak?"

"Zhang An! We're trying to discuss this with you! Don't spew such foul language!"

"You, you, you, and you, especially you... Fan Wencheng, wait until I report you by name. If your businesses can stay open until the New Year, you must have powerful backers. I'm impressed."

"Zhang An! We're discussing this, not threatening you. Don't get so agitated. We can talk things over!"

"Discuss my ass, you bitch! You think you can get away with this? Just wait to die."

After saying that, Zhang Da'an stood up, grabbed the microphone, and threw it directly at Fan Wencheng on the other side.

Boom!
hum-

A high-frequency beeping sound rang out briefly, then stopped abruptly.

Zhang Da'an didn't even glance at them, nor did he acknowledge the few who had come all the way from the city to attend the meeting. He simply swaggered away.

"That's outrageous!"

"Youthful arrogance leads to trouble sooner or later! Only after suffering the consequences will you realize that this isn't how you should behave!"

"Secretary Chen, Secretary Guo, you've seen it for yourselves. Zhang An has absolutely no willingness to negotiate, not even a shred of leeway. This isn't us complaining; his actions are genuinely affecting the company's development. Foreign companies don't usually offer frontline operators a base salary of 1800, do they?!"

Fan Wencheng didn't take Zhang Da'an's threat to file a formal complaint seriously. However, things took an unexpected turn. While he was still basking in his own self-satisfaction, Zhang Da'an made a phone call to Qiu Jianmin.

"Uncle, do you know Fan Wencheng, the owner of Wencheng Water Conservancy Equipment Company?"

“He has a brother in the city, who used to work at the Water Resources Bureau.”

"Here's the thing, I want to take him down. As for his brothers, you pretend to be a peacemaker and stall them for now. I'm going to buy evidence from the contractors who outsource the water conservancy station's projects."

"..."

"What? Is it too difficult? Then forget it."

"Nothing of the sort! You can trust me to handle things."

It was a matter of a split second. Qiu Jianmin immediately agreed and said, "I know all the bosses who contracted projects a few years ago. I have their phone numbers, they're all written in my phone book. I'll tell you."

"Okay, you tell me and I'll write it down."

“In Wangdongzhuang, next to your brigade, there’s a guy named Cai Wangfeng who started out as a bricklayer and has been contracting construction sites for over ten years. Now he owns a construction engineering company on Renmin West Road. In the last two years, he divorced his wife because he was keeping a mistress, and his business isn’t doing very well. He’s definitely short of money. You can start with him and use him as a breakthrough.”

"Ah."

“In Donggang, there’s a brigade called Liwangzhuang. All the people in the eighth team are surnamed Li. If you go in, you can see the brigade’s primary school. There’s a row of houses to the west. The second house belongs to an old man named Li Xingfa. His eldest son is named Li Jianjun. He’s been contracting the agricultural technology station, drainage station, and sluice gate in Liwangzhuang for three or four years. He used to gamble with the owner of a wool sweater business and lost all his assets. Now he lives with his daughter and the old man Li Xingfa. They are definitely short of money. If you ask him for evidence, it will be absolutely solid.”

"Ah."

"In your aunt's family home, Gujiawei, there's a guy named Gu Delong who specializes in producing pipes. Later, his business was taken over by Fan Wencheng. He has a grudge against Fan Wencheng, but he's easy to talk to. Oh, his son is sixteen years old this year. He was in the first year of high school in Houcheng before, and his grades were very average. He even asked me before if I could pull some strings to get his son into Xindongweigang Middle School."

"Hmm, this one is fine too."

"There were also two accountants who retired the year before last and the year before that, both from the Water Resources Bureau, one of them named..."

As Zhang Da'an's staunch "ally," Qiu Jianmin is now completely open and fearless, having already skipped two ranks in his retirement application.

If the education investment company makes further progress next year, Wudu City will not be able to list it; it will definitely be placed in the provincial capital.

Thinking about it this way, Qiu Jianmin felt that his desire to promote Zhang Zhengdong over the past ten years was simply too great, wise, and correct.

Even if Lü Buwei were to be resurrected, that would be the end of it.

Bah! Lu Buwei, whose whole family died, doesn't even deserve to be compared to me!
With his "Immortal Points the Way" move, Qiu Jianmin, this veteran, is quite skilled at fighting like a god.

After selling Fan Wencheng's backer to Zhang Da'an, Qiu Jianmin went to the city under the pretext of reporting on his work.

The reasons are valid; the education investment company still needs guidance from the relevant leaders of the publicity department on how to carry out its publicity work next year.

Anyway, the leader surnamed Fan was quite happy. He felt that even if Lao Qiu didn't get in, he didn't put on airs. He was a true veteran, and he gave people a very pleasant feeling.

Qiu Jianmin also displayed a flexible and submissive demeanor, first asking for advice on how to conduct next year's publicity work, then turning around and saying that Zhang Da'an, this young man, was just too young, impetuous, and prone to saying hurtful things and doing extreme things, hoping that the elders would not hold a grudge against him...

They were all very polite and friendly, but lifeless.

Zhang Da'an pondered, if he wasn't hot-tempered... would he still be a young man?!
That very night, they gathered all the contractors and local bosses who had taken on projects over the past few years.

Previously, renting a small station would cost around five or ten thousand yuan, but Zhang Da'an doubled that, making them hand over all their savings.

After the matter is accomplished...

There are also benefits.

As the saying goes, a person's reputation precedes them. In Shazhou City, Zhang Da'an is first and foremost a "literary star" who has achieved the highest rank in the imperial examinations three times; secondly, he is a young and successful businessman who makes money like water.

When Li Jianjun, a gambling addict, came for a late-night snack, he clutched an envelope containing 40,000 yuan and wouldn't let go. He then shamelessly asked Zhang Da'an if he wanted a young girl, but Zhang Da'an politely declined and sent him away.

The materials were prepared overnight. The office secretaries, all young people from the system, were skilled writers and had no shortage of talent. They originally just wanted to make money, but they didn't expect their boss to be so crazy. They got excited and stayed up all night writing and proofreading the materials.

After making the backup, the unlucky guys in the legal department who were working overtime had to go with Zhang Da'an to the disciplinary inspection unit the next day to file a formal complaint.

On the way there, Zhang Da'an had his family members take his "cousins" to keep watch on Fan Wencheng's company and home, and they recorded all the license plates.

Nowadays, many people prefer to celebrate Christmas before New Year's Day, believing that Christmas is the most festive occasion.

However, Zhang Da'an did not believe in "Santa Claus". He directly took out a firecracker and said he would blow up the reindeer sleigh if it flew.

The real-name report came early in the morning, along with a huge amount of evidence. The man's outburst, which could easily escalate into a table-flipping outburst, left the disciplinary inspection personnel completely bewildered.

They promised to verify the information within 48 hours, then provide feedback in person, and carefully listen to the demands of the whistleblower, Zhang Da'an.

A written response will be provided within fourteen days of the telephone reply…

While things were in full swing on one side, things were in complete chaos on the other. Not only Fan Wencheng, but all the bosses who had been pointed at by Zhang Da'an at the meeting that day were terrified.

Is this guy fucking crazy?!

We just asked you not to raise the workers' basic wage to 1,800, it's not like we're going to fight to the death, why are you turning around and saying you want to send us to work on sewing machines for two and a half years?!
Is this appropriate?!
(End of this chapter)