Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 727 Signing the Contract

The afternoon of the third day.

Beian Road, the small government auditorium.

Television stations, newspapers, propaganda department correspondents, government office correspondents—basically all the departments and units related to news or press releases were present. Government officials from all major bureaus were also there, along with relevant leaders from Kuancheng District and investment promotion personnel. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xiaowei and Mayor Mi signed the drafted investment cooperation agreement, then stood up to shake hands amidst applause and take photos for the crowd.

The agreement stipulates that the government will transfer 106 mu of land located between Wusong Road and Qima Road to Liaodong Brothers Group for 3.5 million yuan, for the construction of Brothers Group's Jibei headquarters and a large-scale integrated residential community, including but not limited to shopping malls, office buildings, hotels and residences, with a total investment of no less than 25 million yuan.

The government is responsible for the demolition, resettlement, and leveling work on the relevant land parcels, as well as coordinating the five connections (water, electricity, gas, and road access), and will hand them over to Brother Group for use by April of next year, 92. Brother Group will commence overall construction no later than the end of May 92, with a tentative construction period of two years, to be completed by the end of October 94. The reason for the two-year construction period being completed in 94 is to deduct the winter season.

After the project is completed and put into operation, entering the profit-making period, the Brother Group will enjoy a three-year tax exemption and a two-year half-tax exemption policy, priority treatment in business registration, and government green channel treatment. The company's leaders will become city representatives and city committee members, and the company will become a council member of the Jibei Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce. And so on and so forth, in short, more than ten pages of various details.

After the signing, Mayor Mi delivered a passionate speech to a group of media and officials that lasted for an hour and a half. He talked about Xidu's history and its current development, from enterprise reform to attracting investment, and from his time as a technician in a factory to becoming the mayor of a city. He described how arduous and difficult it was, how he worked diligently and cautiously, and how he was so concerned about development that he couldn't sleep at night.

Finally, he emphasized that he had gone through countless hardships, racked his brains, and exhausted his persuasive skills to secure this huge investment, precisely to tell his comrades that nothing in the world is easy; as long as one is willing to work hard and dedicate oneself, success is assured. He hoped that all comrades would devote themselves wholeheartedly to carrying out investment promotion activities.

"No matter who you are, no matter what department or position you hold, attracting investment is your responsibility. You may be in civil affairs, public security, or health, and feel that attracting investment is something far removed from you, something that has nothing to do with you. Wrong, it has everything to do with you, it has everything to do with you. I am the mayor, and I can even kneel down and pray to Buddha. Are you in a higher position than me?"

Attracting investment is something every cadre should actively participate in. Only when everyone gets involved can Xidu have a bright future and development. Only through development can each of us live a good life—it's that simple. I want to say here that we will reward those who work hard and achieve outstanding results, and we will severely punish those who are lazy, shirk their responsibilities, and lack ambition.

"When it comes to attracting investment, what kind of businesses and what kind of investment do we want? Let me tell you, as long as you invest money, it's good business and good investment. Tens of millions is not too big, hundreds of thousands is not too small. We can reduce taxes, we can reduce land use, we can streamline procedures, we can help with difficulties, we can help with loans if funds are insufficient, and we can coordinate workers if costs are high. We have only one goal: to attract investment."

……

After waiting for Mayor Mi to finish his speech, Xiao Wei, feeling dizzy and lightheaded, arrived at the small conference room, where Chen Hui had been sitting and waiting.

"He's so eloquent, really, I'm impressed. The phrase 'eloquent and persuasive' was definitely coined for him. He truly deserves to be the mayor; he doesn't even need to write a draft, he can talk for two hours straight." Xiao Wei sighed as he sat down on the sofa.

Chen Hui took the agreement from Xiao Wei and flipped through it, saying, "Which leader can't talk? This is just basic skill. You haven't seen anyone more eloquent. I still feel that 3.5 million is a bit high. Actually, we can definitely negotiate it down a bit."

Xiao Wei took a sip of water and said, "Forget it, we're not short of money. It's not worth leaving any future troubles. We need to think about your husband, Lao Chen. This is fine."

Chen Hui said, "Is this all we have to do? Nothing else?"

Xiao Wei said, "That's all, it's done. The leader from the planning bureau told us to wait for him here, but I don't know why."

The two waited for about twenty minutes while talking. Mayor Mi, accompanied by the planning bureau official and several unfamiliar people, walked in and warmly shook hands with Chen Hui and Xiao Wei, saying, "With the contract signed, I feel relieved. I've accomplished a great task. Now it's up to you. I wish you both great success at Xidu Caiyuan Xiangtong."

Xiao Wei and Chen Hui thanked him profusely.

Mayor Mi said, "Here are a few documents for you two to take a look at. If you think they're acceptable, I'll arrange for them to be processed." He took a few documents from the planning bureau official and handed them to Xiao Wei, saying, "I have some things to attend to. You two take a look first, and I'll come back later." He then turned and left with the few unfamiliar officials.

Xiao Wei, Chen Hui, and several other cadres from the planning bureau sat down. Xiao Wei opened the documents and saw that they contained introductions to several old buildings.

The Manchukuo Ministry of People's Livelihood (Chemical Engineering Design Institute). The Manchukuo Water Conservancy and Electricity Construction Bureau (Site of the Municipal People's Congress). The Manchukuo National Defense Women's Association (Mingyue Cinema). The Manchukuo Broadcasting Bureau (Site of the Post and Telecommunications Bureau). The Manchukuo Ministry of Finance (Xidu Taxation College). Also, the former site of the Jilin-Heilongjiang Salt Transport Bureau (later renamed the Manchukuo Anti-Smoking Bureau) (Provincial Finance Department) adjacent to the south of the Taxation College.

Six old buildings are arranged from north to south along Renmin Avenue, from Victory Park all the way to Ziyou Road.

In 1931, Japan established the puppet state of Manchukuo. In March 1932, it installed the deposed Qing emperor as regent, adopting the reign title of Datong. The reason it's called "Manchukuo" is not to belittle it, but because the League of Nations did not recognize it as an independent nation; it was a puppet regime unrecognized by the world.

At that time, Japan considered Northeast China as its territory, calling it Kwantung, and the army stationed there was called the Kwantung Army. In 31, the Kwantung Army Command decided to refuse to implement the cabinet's decision to support pro-Japanese forces, believing that pro-Japanese forces were unstable and that it would be better to directly establish a controllable regime. Therefore, without obtaining domestic permission, they launched the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo and secretly sought to depose the emperor in the Tianjing camp and send him to Xidu.

In 32, the puppet state of Manchukuo established its capital in Xidu, which was then called Xinjing. In 33, a "Greater Xinjing City Plan" was drafted, aiming to develop Xinjing, which is today's Xidu, into the largest city in Asia. In the same year, it received the support of the Japanese cabinet. In reality, it was futile to refuse; they had already gone ahead with it. At that time, Japan was unstable, and there were deep conflicts between the Army Ministry and the cabinet.

(End of this chapter)