Tokyo Knights: The Odd Jobs X Files

Michael shrugged.

Zhao Liqiu suddenly felt a toothache; it turned out that he and his staff had wasted time visiting the villagers in Shibalipu Village and missed the opportunity.

That won't do!

He was determined to secure the investments from the Heinz Foundation and the Kagura Group, even if he couldn't get all of them, he had to get the majority, so that his political record would look good.

Zhao Liqiu immediately said, "Oh, I see. Then I won't bother you any longer. Goodbye."

Normally, Zhao Liqiu wouldn't mind staying to connect with Michael, after all, he was the father of the CEO of the Heinz Group and knew Yan Shuangying, making him a very valuable connection.

But right now, Tia Heinz and Chizuru Kagura are in Keikai City discussing investment with the Keikai City government. If he arrives late, all the meat will be gone!

With this in mind, Zhao Liqiu left in a hurry, without even saying goodbye to the staff accompanying him, heading straight for Jinghai City.

When he arrived at the Jinghai Municipal Government, Vice Mayor Wang of Jinghai City spread his hands in front of Zhao Liqiu and said, "Ah, Secretary Zhao, you missed it. Miss Heinz and President Kagura went to Jingzhou City."

"You went to Jingzhou?"

Zhao Liqiu was stunned for a moment.

In order to attract investment, he traveled from Jingzhou to Shibalipu Village, and then from Shibalipu Village to Jinghai. Now he is told that the two big investors have gone to Jingzhou. What has he been doing all morning?

Suddenly, Zhao Liqiu thought of something, and his expression changed.

"Who are they going to Jingzhou to see?"

Zhao Liqiu asked Vice Mayor Wang:

Vice Mayor Wang shook his head: "How would I know? They must be looking for the person in charge of investment in Jingzhou!"

Who's in charge of investment in Jingzhou? Of course, it's the top official of Jingzhou City!

Although he doesn't personally oversee any specific project, he leads all projects.

Since Zhao Liqiu is not in Jingzhou, who will receive Dia Heinz and Kagura Chizuru?

....................................

"Miss Heinz, President Kagura, please have some tea."

In Kyoto City, a middle-aged man is warmly welcoming Rui Kisei and Chizuru Kagura.

"Thank you, Mr. Liu."

Rui Kisei and Chizuru Kagura nodded their thanks to the middle-aged man.

After serving tea to Rui Kisei and Chizuru Kagura, the middle-aged man looked at the two and said, "My two foreign guests, I would like to ask you, is what you just said true?"

As the person in charge of political affairs in Handong Province, the middle-aged man's work is extremely busy. Moreover, for someone in his position, engaging in things like dry investment is simply too beneath him. The reason he is sitting here to receive Rai and Kagura Chizuru is because the two of them just proposed a cooperation that he cannot ignore.

"Of course it's true. I don't think anyone would joke about something like this, right?"

Lai Sheng Lei smiled slightly.

Although Lai Shengrui said that, the middle-aged man still couldn't easily believe it.

Because the cooperation project proposed by Kishou Rui was to build an automobile production line in Handong Province, while the cooperation project proposed by Kagura Chizuru was to open a semiconductor factory in Handong Province.

Both of these collaborative projects allow... no, they invite the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Handong Province to participate in the joint venture!

You are utterly traitors!

The middle-aged man wanted to angrily rebuke Rui Kisugi and Chizuru Kagura, but since they were foreigners and he was the buyer, he could only say: "Good sale!"

Are you sure you want to pursue this kind of cooperation?

The middle-aged man cautiously sought confirmation from Raiichiro and Chizuru Kagura.

Both of them nodded without hesitation and said, "Exactly."

"reason."

The middle-aged man looked at the two of them very seriously.

He certainly wanted such a collaboration, which involved car production lines and semiconductor factories!

It is important to understand that the automotive industry is highly valued for its long industrial chain, high degree of correlation, wide employment opportunities, and strong consumer demand. A strong automotive industry has always been one of the important standards for a country to become an industrial power.

More than a decade ago, Chung Yuan traded market access for technology, barely managing to acquire the capability to mass-produce domestically made cars, but only able to compete in the low-end market. The automotive production chain that Lai Sheng Lei wants to build, while not the most advanced, is very close to the high-end, which is exactly what Chung Yuan needs most at this time.

Compared to the automotive industry, which can create a large number of jobs and play a significant role in stimulating the economy, the semiconductor industry is undoubtedly of greater importance.

This is a true strategic core industry, a symbol of high technology. It not only has high profit margins, but also has comprehensive significance for national security and international competitiveness.

Even if it's just about building a factory without handing over the technology, it can still cultivate countless highly skilled talents. For Central China, which already has large-scale automobile production capabilities, this is more attractive than the automobile production chain.

To be honest, a middle-aged man could barely believe that Rui Kisugi proposed building a car production line in Handong Province, but when Chizuru Kagura said she wanted to build a semiconductor factory there, a middle-aged man simply couldn't believe it.

He felt that these two collaborations were beyond his control.

"It's very simple, we are all very optimistic about the development potential of the Central Plains."

Lai Shenglei said to the middle-aged man, "I know that the Central Plains is currently economically backward, but I don't think it will stay like this forever. In recent years, the Central Plains' economy has changed almost every year. I believe that before long, the development of the Central Plains will surprise everyone."

“Miss Heinz, you don’t need to speak so highly of the Central Plains just because your boyfriend is from the Central Plains.”

Although the middle-aged man said that, he was still very pleased with himself.

Lai Sheng Lei smiled slightly: "I didn't say that because of my boyfriend. Love is love, and business is business. If it were because of my boyfriend, I could donate 1 billion or 2 billion to Zhongyuan without any problem. But investment is a different matter. If I didn't have confidence in Zhongyuan, I wouldn't make such a big bet."

"It's better to offer help in times of need than to add flowers to brocade."

Kagura Chizuru also spoke up, saying, "We still maintain a technological advantage over the Central Plains, but as far as I know, the Central Plains actually leads the world in many technologies. The penicillin technology goes without saying; decades ago, the Central Plains was already the world's number one exporter of penicillin, occupying over 90% of the global market. And as far as I know, the Central Plains has also reached an internationally leading level in rare earth refining technology, not only achieving high purity but also costing only one-tenth of that of other countries..."

"There are many similar situations, and I won't list them all. What I'm trying to say is that I have complete faith in Central China's technological research and development capabilities. If we don't seek cooperation while we still have a technological advantage, and our technology is surpassed by you, then all that awaits us is death."

The reasons given by Rui Kisei and Chizuru Kagura were both reasonable and convincing, and the middle-aged man was almost convinced by them.

But he still had concerns.

Such collaborations are no longer something an individual can decide. Even though Rui Kisaki and Chizuru Kagura are both influential figures in their respective groups, the countries behind them would never allow them to sell their technology in this way.

“I understand Mr. Liu’s concerns, but that’s our business. I just want to know if Mr. Liu is willing to accept our cooperation.”

Lai Sheng Lei stared into the middle-aged man's eyes and said.

"This……"

The middle-aged man's throat bobbed, but not because of the beauty of Kisei Rui and Kagura Chizuru, but because...

If he can secure these two collaborations, he might even go further in the future!

The middle-aged man was well aware that with his political resources, his current position was pretty much the limit.

He wasn't a "daring" type like Zhao Liqiu; he was more inclined to maintain the status quo. Maintaining the status quo often meant neither making any major mistakes nor achieving any great success. However, given his position, if he wanted to rise further, without a powerful background, he could only rely on outstanding achievements. Without a background and without achievements, he could only stay in this position until retirement.

He's not even fifty years old yet, and he still has nearly twenty years until retirement!

Although to outsiders he was already a powerful regional official with extensive influence and connections, and could be content, how high of an official position is considered truly high? Is there ever a time when a person can be content?

After much deliberation, the middle-aged man finally made up his mind and did it!

The path to heaven is right before him; if he gives up now, he will spend the rest of his life in regret.

"Miss Heinz, President Kagura, I..."

Just as the middle-aged man opened his mouth, the phone rang suddenly. Lai Sheng Lei apologized to the middle-aged man, "I'm sorry, my boyfriend is calling me. I'll go outside to answer it."

Forget about boyfriends; at this moment, even a call from your own father should be put aside!

The middle-aged man roared inwardly, then revealed a warm and welcoming smile: "Miss Heinz, please make yourself at home."

"Thank you."

Lai Sheng Rui took her cell phone and walked out of the meeting room. A few minutes later, she came back and whispered something to Kagura Chizuru, causing Kagura Chizuru's expression to change.

The way the two were whispering to each other made the middle-aged man uneasy. What was going on?

After whispering a few words to each other, Lai Shengrui bowed to the middle-aged man and said, "Mr. Liu, I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time. I think we need to carefully consider the joint venture."

"what?"

The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment.

No, my pants... oh no, I finally made up my mind, what are you guys doing?

The middle-aged man hurriedly said, "Ms. Heinz, President Kagura, has something unexpected happened? Didn't we agree on everything? Why have you suddenly changed your mind? Are you not going to invest anymore?"

Laisheng Lei hesitated for a moment, then suddenly sighed: "Sigh... I really don't know what to say. We originally planned to build a factory in Jingzhou, but I just heard from my boyfriend that he offended the top official in Jingzhou. He's afraid that our future investments in Jingzhou will be affected by him, so he told us to invest somewhere else."

“I think Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province are both good. I originally planned to choose one of these two places to build the factory. It was only because Handong Province is Ah Xin’s hometown that I decided to change it to Handong Province. But since this has happened, I’ll go to Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province to take a look.”

Kagura Chizuru echoed.

"Okay, then come with me after the New Year."

Tears of the Next Life echoed this sentiment.

"Wait, wait, wait! What on earth happened?!"

The middle-aged man became anxious.

Go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces? Dream on! This investment belongs to our Handong Province, and no one can take it away!

"Zhao Kurui... isn't that his name?"

Tears of the next life recall.

Upon hearing this name, the middle-aged man's heart skipped a beat.

Even he had heard of the "Little Tyrant of Jingzhou" reputation. He was usually lawless in Jingzhou, but he ignored him because he didn't want to provoke Zhao Liqiu. Now that he heard the name from the foreign guests, the middle-aged man knew he was in trouble.

"What happened to that kid?"

The middle-aged man asked a question, clinging to a sliver of hope.

“He flirted with my boyfriend’s colleague and got a beating, but my boyfriend felt that he would not let it go. However, his father has so much influence, so we can only stay away from him to avoid being caught in the crossfire.”

Laisheng Lei appeared very worried.

"Let's move even Ah Xin's relatives and friends away. There's an old saying in the Central Plains, something like, 'A prefect who wipes out an entire family, a magistrate who ruins a family...'"

Kagura Chizuru said softly.

"That's all we can do."

"Later Life Tears" nodded.

"Etc., etc!"

The middle-aged man said repeatedly, "Please don't panic, foreign guests. I will give you an explanation before the New Year, immediately!"

Clearly, Zhao Liqiu cannot be allowed to stay.

Previously, there was no conflict of interest, and even if Zhao Liqiu went a bit too far, the middle-aged man would pretend not to know. But now, if Zhao Liqiu were to ruin his hopes of advancing further, then he couldn't be blamed.

Chapter 651 You can't yell like that!

"Clap clap clap!"

Amidst the sound of firecrackers, the New Year arrived, and the entire Shibalipu Village was bathed in a joyful atmosphere.

On television, the middle-aged man who had previously spoken with Kisugi Rui and Kagura Chizuru was giving a serious speech. The content was extremely formulaic, basically just the same old anti-corruption rhetoric, nothing new, making the village chief want to change the channel.

"It's boring, really boring."

The village chief shook his head, but Li Xin, who was also watching TV, understood that the middle-aged man on TV was about to make a move, or rather, he had already made a move. His current remarks were a way of revealing information to the outside world.

That efficiency is truly remarkable.

Li Xin thought to himself.

Stepping outside, the village of Shibalipu was bustling with activity.

It's Chinese New Year, and the villagers of Shibalipu Village who went out to work have all returned home. With the pillars of their families back, every household is naturally different.

"Ah-Xin, you're back!"

As he walked along the road, the newly returned villagers greeted Li Xin, and Li Xin responded to each of them with a smile.

Some of these people had already met Lai Sheng Lei and the people from the agency, and knew that they had all returned with Li Xin, so they couldn't help but give Li Xin a thumbs up.

Bringing back so many beautiful women, including several foreign girls, really makes our village, Shibali Village, proud!

Yes, that's how simple and honest rural people are; it made Li Xin feel embarrassed.