Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 979 The Big Eater

District Chief Li said, "Of course it's the whole thing. This is just one project, only it occupies a large area. The total investment for this project is the sum of all the funds used to build it. The main body of the project is this transit warehouse. Since your transit warehouse is located here with me, it means your project is here, understand? The land in the cities below will be handled by the Provincial Investment Promotion Bureau, and you will still enjoy all the policies here."

Xiao Wei said, "Then how are land prices determined? They're different in every city."

District Chief Li said, "My policy here is that large-scale projects with a one-time investment of over 50 million yuan will be exempt from land fees, and will enjoy two years of tax exemption and three years of tax reduction. We will also be responsible for roads, water, electricity, communications, heating, and gas connections. How about it? Are you in?"

Xiao Wei said, "Come on, wouldn't it be silly not to come? It's really free!"

District Chief Li said, "It's really free, as long as the project is implemented."

Xiao Wei asked, "What about the city below?"

District Chief Li said, "The Provincial Investment Promotion Bureau will coordinate. You don't require it to be in the city center; as long as the traffic is smooth and it's sufficient, that's fine, right?"

Xiao Wei nodded: "Yes, not the city center, just convenient transportation and sufficient water, electricity and gas."

District Chief Li said, "Okay, you prepare an investment plan, and I'll go to the provincial government."

After exchanging a few more polite words and hanging up the phone, Xiaowei said to Chen Hui, "The land is free."

Chen Hui said, "It's worth a few dollars, just a piece of undeveloped land. But it's good that he can help with things in the surrounding cities and prefectures; that's been giving me a headache."

Xiao Wei said, "What's bothering you? If it's really that bad, just ask the directors in each city to help out."

Chen Hui said, "That would make us look so unknown. We had no choice at first, but now that we've reached this level, there's no point in going down that route. This incident has served as a wake-up call. Our vision is still too narrow. Take Zhongjie, for example. We could have gone to the Provincial Investment Promotion Bureau; they would have been 100% sure to approve some policies."

Xiao Wei shook his head and said, "Don't even think about Zhongjie and Taiyuan Street. Even if they give us some policies, it won't change much, and we'll only offend the people below."

Chen Hui said, "Didn't you say you wanted my wife to sell TVs and motorcycles? Why is she in the general affairs department now?"

Xiao Wei said, "Things over there aren't very formal yet, so let's just muddle through for now. We're short-staffed here, and Li Na is going crazy with work. Chen Xiao, take over the general affairs department, and let Sister Jin go help Li Na."

Chen Hui said, "In novels, it's always the case that with a single command, heroes from all directions flock to him, and all the heroes of the world fall into his hands. Why is it so difficult for us to find someone truly capable? Actually, half of the people here are just faking it."

Xiao Wei said, "I'll get used to it quickly, no problem. It's not like working in a shopping mall or a food factory where you have to be an expert. In our food factory, we have Brother Long, and in the shopping mall, we have Manager Zhang and Sister Liu, which is more than enough for me."

Chen Hui said, "We'll have to wait and see. We'll gradually separate these people after things get better here. I'm too worried about putting them all together."

Xiao Wei smiled and nodded, saying, "I've told Gao Zhijun to keep an eye on things and observe. There's still more than a year to go, no rush. We'll definitely treat those who are useful fairly, and we won't hold back those who aren't."

Li Na pushed open the door and looked in: "Xiao Wei."

Xiao Wei said, "Here, what's wrong?"

Li Na stepped aside to let the person behind her in and said, "This is David Wang, the hotel manager introduced by Aunt Chen. I just asked Uncle Shan to pick him up from the airport. David, this is our Chairman Zhang."

Xiao Wei stood up and said, "Hello." He sized up the other person, who was about 1.7 meters tall, slightly overweight, with loose, middle-parted hair, wearing a casual suit and leather shoes, exuding the air of a successful man with a slightly protruding belly. He was Chinese.

Upon hearing Xiao Wei's greeting, David Wang nodded in acknowledgment, "Hello."

Xiao Wei gestured with his hand: "Come on, sit here. Do you want to rest a bit after just getting off the plane?"

Chen Hui stood up from the sofa and sized up the big eater.

Xiao Wei said, "This is our General Manager Chen." Chen Hui nodded in greeting, and the four of them sat down on the sofa.

Chen Hui asked, "Are you a British or Hong Kong citizen?"

David said, "Hong Kong citizenship, Hong Kong citizenship and British citizenship are the same."

Chen Hui chuckled and said, "How could they be the same? Hong Kong is about to return to China, and Hong Kong citizens are Chinese citizens. You have a Chinese name, right? This English name is too awkward."

David said, "Yes, David Wang."

Xiao Wei burst out laughing, and Chen Hui froze, his hand reaching for a cigarette. He stood there for several seconds, looking at Wang Dawei and asking, "So it's just read backwards? Right side up it's David, and backwards it's David, right? You're something else. That's convenient."

Xiao Wei said, "The person who introduced you here is his mother. We're not strangers, and we'll be working together in the future, so let's not be too formal with each other, okay?"

Chen Hui asked Wang Dawei, "Where did you work before? Uh, which company did you work for?"

Milina and Shi Li brewed some tea and brought it over, gently placing it in front of the group.

Wang Dawei turned to Shi Li and asked, "Is there any deduction for non-compliance?"

Shi Li was stunned: "Huh?" She looked at Xiao Wei, who waved his hand and smiled, saying, "He said coffee. We don't have any, sorry David, it's not popular here now. It's only available in hotels catering to foreign guests. We'll have it when our hotel opens. We'll have coffee and Western food too."

David Wang said, "I'm sorry, we're used to drinking coffee outside. I used to work at the Mandarin Oriental and the Peninsula. I've been in the hotel business for 23 years, working my way up from doorman to executive assistant manager. But as you know, in Hong Kong, big businesses are mostly family-run. It's very, very difficult for outsiders to really get ahead."

Chen Hui said, "Your Mandarin is quite good. Did you study it specifically?"

David Wang said, "I worked in Kyoto for a while, and that period was very happy. Don't laugh at me, but I wasn't used to the food, clothing, and accommodation. When I had free time at night, I felt like I was going to die. I wanted to escape many times. But it was no use. I was just a wage earner."

Xiao Wei and Chen Hui both nodded. They could imagine that at that time, for the upper class who were used to life abroad, life in China was indeed torture. In the 80s, when reforms had just begun, China was practically dirt poor. It had nothing, and resources were scarce. The life that we considered high and mighty was incredibly difficult for these people.

Even the upper class are still human beings, and they only live for basic human needs: food, sleep, entertainment, bathing, and spiritual enjoyment. Moreover, the higher a person's status, the higher their demands for these basic things.

But unfortunately, China lacked these aspects at that time; what we were talking about was spiritual strength.

Why are we so resilient? Because we were poor. If you let today's kids experience life back then, see how many of them wouldn't break down.

When I was little, I used to crawl and roll around on the kang (a heated brick bed) and sleep in the doghouse. Now, I can't even sleep on the kang anymore, let alone in the doghouse; it hurts all over my body.

Material things change life; life changes spirit.

"Have you resigned yet? Resign." Chen Hui handed Wang Dawei a cigarette and lit it for him with a lighter.

(End of this chapter)