Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 739 Unveiling

Liu Sui waved her hand and said, "Don't even mention if you really want to invest. Even if you only have a slight interest, you can go directly to the investment promotion office to talk. Next year's plans are already quite reliable, understand? These days, there are people everywhere using the guise of investment to scam free meals, drinks, and hospitality. Some even scam money, and quite a few of them succeed. Do you understand? Attracting investment is a huge pitfall right now, and everyone is jumping in blindly."

Miler nodded and said, "Yes, Brother Liu is right. Everyone's gone crazy right now. Attracting investment is the only achievement. As long as you get involved with this, everything changes. My dad told me a few things. To be honest, these tricks might not work if you try to fool ordinary people. You might even get beaten to death. But they're sure to fool the government."

Chen Hui was taken aback: "Is it that strange?"

Miler slowly took a sip of tea: "It's even more bizarre than you think. Once people get involved in investing, it's like they lose their brains. They'll say and believe anything. Some people are genuinely fooled, while others are knowingly drawn in. It's incredibly complicated."

Xiao Wei said, "Then let's get in touch. Brother Liu, you can make the connection. Wouldn't that be an achievement for you too? Haha."

Liu Sui said, "That's no problem, let's do it together. I'll invite everyone over on the opening day, and you can talk to them directly. With this store as a foundation, your level of importance will be different."

Xiao Wei said, "Okay, you can arrange it. So when should we hold it? Where should we find an emcee company? If we're going to hold it, let's make it nice."

Liu Sui thought for a moment and said, "Let's look in Andong. Fengtian is unfamiliar with the area, and although they have strong capabilities, they might not be as good as locals. I'll help you find someone. I'll call them over tonight so you can discuss it. Where are you staying? Our guesthouse?"

Xiao Wei said, "We haven't settled in yet. We drove straight here and will find a place later."

Liu Sui said, "Then let's go to the Andong Hotel. I'll let you know. It'll just be the five of you, right?"

Xiao Wei said, "Yes, there are five of us. Why don't we go order it ourselves in a bit?"

Liu Sui waved her hand and said, "No need, I'll handle it. The investment promotion office will settle the bill in the end, so we'll all save money. Haha, I have to show my face in there so I can get some benefits."

……

That evening, at the Andong Hotel, Xiaowei, Chen Hui, and the others discussed the details with the emcee company that Liu Sui had found, and finalized the specific procedures. Actually, celebrations in this era weren't too complicated. They'd set up a small stage, a backdrop, print some flyers to distribute on-site, then cut the ribbon or unveil the curtain, release some balloons, float a few large helium balloons, and have a few people sing a song, and that was it.

Considering that some important figures from the city would be attending, Xiaowei decided that they should all come for the ribbon-cutting and unveiling ceremony, which would make it easier to arrange the personnel. Chen Hui had no objections and didn't care how things were arranged.

The ceremony was quick to prepare, so it was scheduled for the morning of the third day. Xiaowei called Xiaohong to explain, asked for leave for Chen Hui, and promised him a whole bunch of things. Chen Hui was listening and almost cried, haha.

The five of them spent the next day in Andong, but there wasn't much to do. Times have changed, and people's needs have changed too. In this era, it's just about strolling in parks, looking at the scenery, and taking a boat ride. In fact, even children wouldn't be interested in these things in later generations.

On the morning of the third day, the five of them got up, packed their things, and drove to the restaurant.

The stage was already set up and covered with a red carpet. The emcee company staff were adjusting the sound system, blowing up balloons, and hanging banners, while the waiters were cleaning and setting out tableware and tea sets. Everyone was busy inside and out.

At eight o'clock, Liu Sui drove over, looked around the house, and said, "The TV station might be coming over in a little while, so keep an eye on things and don't go on business trips."

Xiao Wei was taken aback: "A TV station? Really? Is it worth a TV station coming to my little shop's opening?"

Liu Sui said, "The top two officials in the city will come. The top one will unveil the event, and the second one will discuss investment with you. How could the TV station not come? The newspapers and all sorts of other media outlets will have to come too." She whispered, "Give them a few red envelopes, maybe two or three hundred yuan, and get to know them so it'll be easier to get things done in the future."

Xiao Wei nodded and sent Chen Hui to do it.

At 8:20, several cars stopped in front of the restaurant, and a crowd had already gathered. There were more people watching the spectacle back then than in later years; they had nothing better to do. Sure enough, it was a TV station. They started working as soon as they arrived, laying cables, setting up equipment, adjusting angles, and doing test recordings. Actually, even the equipment used by the provincial station at that time wasn't up to par; it was at most on par with the more professional home equipment of later years. But at this time, it was incredibly impressive.

Once the TV station finished its preparations, the newspapers and other organizations arrived as well. A group of people with huge cameras hanging around their necks gathered around the stage, instantly elevating the level of this small ceremony by several notches. Even the onlookers automatically stepped back.

At 8:40, the police arrived and pushed the onlookers to both sides of the road, even causing a few to stand on the other side. Then, several large Audis slowly drove up. Liu Sui pulled Xiao Wei and Chen Hui to the side of the road to greet them, while Wang Gang, Li Weibing, and Mi Le stood by watching the commotion.

"Come on, Xiaowei, Chen Hui, this is Secretary Wang, this is Mayor Guo, this is Director Lu, this is Director Ma," Liu Sui introduced them to each other. Everyone shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. There were seven or eight cadres present, and the attendants automatically disappeared at this point, not having time to pay attention to them.

Before they arrived, Xiaowei and Chen Hui's backgrounds had naturally been thoroughly investigated, so everyone was very polite, smiling as kindly as could be. The leaders arrived, said a few words, and the ceremony began. The emcee was quite excited; he'd unexpectedly landed a big deal. Although the money wasn't much, look at the scale of it—television, newspapers—such great publicity! It was practically an opportunity that fell from the sky.

Speech, ribbon-cutting, unveiling, and then the performance began. The waitresses were divided into two groups: the tall and beautiful ones served the leaders inside, while the rest handed out flyers outside. Although they were internally selected but not selected, their height and looks were still quite high. People who received the flyers subconsciously kept them—that's the essence of the "beauty economy."

In reality, almost none of the people watching the spectacle could afford to spend money here. The flyers also indicated the store's basic price range. But it was precisely because these crazy prices seemed unbelievable to people in this day and age that the news spread throughout the city, or even to the countryside, thus achieving its advertising goal.

Word of mouth, like rumors, spreads the fastest.

Xiao Wei and Chen Hui accompanied the group of leaders into the store and went to a private room on the third floor. As for the many entourage, they were naturally received on the second floor, including four cadres of lower rank.

Secretary Wang, Mayor Guo, Director Lu, Liu Sui, Xiao Wei, Chen Hui, and Wang Gang were enjoying drinks and conversation in the private room. Xiao Wei introduced Wang Gang, Li Weibing, and Mi Le to the leaders, and they shook hands to welcome them.

In officialdom, no one will easily offend another person, especially the sons, nephews, or other relatives of these officials. Although they may seem completely unrelated on the surface, they may meet again someday, and who can say what might happen in the future? It's always better to make a good relationship than to create an enemy.

(End of this chapter)