Chapter 159: Project Signing (Third Update, Asking for Monthly Tickets)_1
Translator: 549690339
The office of Nie Zhenbang in the county governnt building.
The gathering yesterday didn’t affect Nie Zhenbang’s work today. After sipping so tea, Nie Zhenbang began reading the news in the party paper of the autonomous region. Secretary Jiang Zhenquan had recently emphasized during an autonomous region party eting the importance of ticulously conducting the handover elections among current party committee governnts. He pressed on maintaining the stability and unity of the Xibei Autonomous Region.
Upon reading this news, Nie Zhenbang was taken aback. This year was one of frequent turnover at the local level, especially at the level of Dizhou City, with over sixty percent of the top two leaders in the Xibei Autonomous Region’s district-level cities potentially being replaced. Jiang Zhenquan’s speech served as a warning to the party’s cadres across the entire region.
At this mont, Yi Jun walked in from outside, placing a stack of docunts on Nie Zhenbang’s desk and saying, “Director Nie, according to the originally planned schedule, the plan for this afternoon was to hold a field office eting at the Education Departnt to discuss the issue of compulsory education in our county. However, yesterday Mr. Zhao chose a mining site, and he wants to set so ti aside today to negotiate in detail and sign a cooperation agreent.”
“Hmm, compulsory education.” Nie Zhenbang repeated this before saying, “In Xibei, the issue of school dropout rates is quite serious, especially in Lixian. The scattered population distribution is challenging, with so herders leading a nomadic life, making supervision difficult. As a result, Lixian’s literacy rate and compulsory education compliance rate rank low in the entire city. Originally, Nie Zhenbang planned to organize an on-site office eting at the Education Bureau today. But now, Zhao Xinglong and Li Hua had chosen a site.”
After pondering for a mont, Nie Zhenbang finally agreed, “Hmm, alright. In that case, call the director of the Education Bureau and postpone the eting to tomorrow morning. The negotiation with Zhao Xinglong and others will be arranged for the afternoon.”
It didn’t take Nie Zhenbang long to figure out the relative importance of these two issues. Although the Education Bureau also had its own problems, education issues were troubleso and costly. Maintaining school buildings, paying teachers’ salaries, and the provision of teaching equipnt all require funding. Instead of going today with insufficient funds, it’s better to negotiate with Zhao Xinglong and others in the afternoon. After that, with money on hand, Nie Zhenbang would be much more confident.
2 p.m.
In the small eting room of the county governnt, Zhao Xinglong and Li Hua represented the newly registered Longhua Mineral Energy Company. On Nie Zhenbang’s side, led by Nie Zhenbang himself and including the other two vice county chiefs and Li Lin, director of the County Party Committee Office, a team of four ford the negotiation team, with Yi Jun serving as the eting assistant for note-taking.
Surveying the array on Nie Zhenbang’s side, Zhao Xinglong smiled and said formally, “Nie County Chief, first of all, on behalf of all shareholders of Longhua Mining, I would like to express my gratitude for the warm hospitality of the Li County Party Committee, the generosity of the County Governnt, and their support for our work. Nie County Chief, shall we begin the negotiation now?”
A formal occasion required an equally formal attitude. Zhao Xinglong knew very well that it wasn’t the right ti to be excessively friendly. Otherwise, regardless of the result of the negotiation, it might give the impression that Nie Zhenbang had assisted them.
Nie Zhenbang exchanged glances with his vice county chiefs before replying, “We can start now, Director Zhao, please.”
Unlike his normal gentlemanly and approachable style, when it ca to significant matters, Zhao Xinglong beca a completely different person. He was highly serious, gestured to his associate Li Hua to hand out a set of docunts to Nie Zhenbang and the rest, and then said, “Nie County Chief, leaders, over this period, our company’s mining experts have conducted a detailed, in-depth study on the vermiculite mineral resources in Li County. Overall, we are pleased with the amount and reserves of the vermiculite resources. Hence, we initially plan to locate our facility in Yuanche Township in Li County. The first phase will cover an area of one-and-a-half thousand acres, with an estimated investnt of 30 million yuan to build a deep processing plant for vermiculite and related companies like a vermiculite compound fertilizer factory. Once the construction is completed, it will provide at least three thousand jobs for Li County.”
Hearing Zhao Xinglong’s words, Nie Zhenbang frowned slightly. He was ruthless in business by emphasizing job opportunities for the people of Li County. It was almost like him saying that the mining operation in the county would provide a significant boost to the local economy.
Without any delay, Zhao Xinglong continued, “For so follow-up procedures in Li County, we will need the help of the County Governnt for coordination.”
Nie Zhenbang pondered that the situation of Longhua Company was different from that of the Farr Welfare Company. The latter involved much more comprehensive factors, especially land. Not only may Liu Kun not afford such a large area of land, but the governnt wouldn’t permit such extensive land transaction in one location. Due to this, collaborating with the governnt was the best choice for the Farr Welfare Company. Conversely, for Longhua Company, it would be inappropriate for the Lixian Governnt to hold shares. Following this line of thought, Nie Zhenbang smiled and said, “Of course, we welco the investnt from Longhua Company in Li County. The county governnt will coordinate the work of the comrcial, tax, land and resources, safety and environntal protection, and public security departnts. However, we hope that Longhua Company will arrange for the resettlent and compensation of the local villagers before requisitioning the land for lease. At the sa ti, the intention of our County Party Committee and County Governnt is to sell the 30-year land contract rights to Longhua Company at a price of 24 million yuan.”
Originally, Nie Zhenbang’s idea was to jack up the price; however, what Nie Zhenbang didn’t anticipate was Zhao Xinglong, after a mont of consideration, said quite decisively, “Alright, a total of 1,500 acres of land, a thirty-year lease, if it’s twenty-four million then it’s twenty-four million, let’s just consider it as establishing friendship with Director Nie.”
Off to the side, hearing Zhao Xinglong’s words, joy flashed across the faces of Bekri and Bayaer. As locals of Li County, they were well aware of the County Governnt’s situation. They had been getting by year after year; both the County Party Committee and the County Governnt were housed in old buildings. They always wanted to reconstruct but never dared to do so due to lack of funds. The county treasury probably never had more than ten million in it, and now with this money, the days for Li County Governnt will be much more comfortable.
Li Lin took a aningful look at Nie Zhenbang. As for Nie Zhenbang, Li Lin has always found it hard to see through him. He was too mysterious. His background was profound, many big shots in the city were looking after him, he had extensive connections. Investors usually had an excellent rapport with him. This ti, whatever price Nie Zhenbang said, that’s the price they accepted. They didn’t even think about bargaining, which is highly unusual. It was apparent that they were giving money to Li County.
Nie Zhenbang, however, could sowhat grasp Zhao Xinglong’s intention. The lepidolite mining, for Zhao Xinglong, was only a start. Zhao Xinglong’s aim was not here but the future petroleum extraction. Nie Zhenbang had little contact with him. This was probably a courtesy gift from Zhao Xinglong as a preparation for the future. After all, even if petroleum in Li County wasn’t under Li County’s jurisdiction, if they maintained good relations with the local governnt, they would have an advantage over others. With this in mind, Nie Zhenbang imdiately said, “Director Zhao, since you are so straightforward, let’s proceed to the formal contract signing. I hope we’ll have a great cooperation in the future.”
The next day
Reporters from Li County TV Station, Li County Daily, Bazhou City TV Station, and Bazhou Daily all gathered at Li County Hotel. There, in a decorated hall, Nie Zhenbang and Zhao Xinglong, each representing Li County Governnt and Longhua Company, signed the cooperation agreent.
“Director Zhao, here’s to a successful future cooperation.” The mont the contract was exchanged, Nie Zhenbang and Zhao Xinglong shook hands. Below the stage, nurous caras flashed.
Interviewers from Bazhou TV Station also ca. A young reporter, about 21 years old, could already independently cover news at such a young age. Especially such a formal event as the signing ceremony of the Li County Governnt, surprised Nie Zhenbang.
“Director Nie, my na is He Xinyan, a reporter from Bazhou News of Bazhou TV Station. Director Nie, may I ask, the investnt from Longhua Company in Li County is your second grand move since you took office. Does this signify a significant economic developnt in Li County?”
It was a standard question; Nie Zhenbang thought for a while and replied with a smile, “It’s not quite a significant developnt yet. Right now, Li County is rely trying to take its first steps in economic progress by leveraging its own advantages. Currently, either it’s the environnt or specialist personnel, there’s a lack in the latter. People cannot be retained, and this is a common problem in our Northwest Region. An investnt in agricultural and pastoral developnt, mining developnt, these are all attempts. A trial carried out for Li County’s future growth. We will have to wait a few more years to see the results.”
The sa was with the news dia. Those ranked upfront were naturally TV dia. Bazhou Daily and local dia outlets in Li County naturally fall behind.
The next day, Li County Governnt and Longhua Company signed an agreent. The news about Longhua Company making a two hundred million investnt to solely develop lepidolite reserves in Li County was published on the front page of Bazhou Daily. The news of the county treasury receiving twenty-four million also began circulating.
All this money – for a mont, the gate of the Finance Bureau was packed with people asking for money. Almost all the officials and the second in command from the various townships had managed to nearly ruin Lin Weimin’s office.
At this mont, Nie Zhenbang decided to stay away in his office; this situation was sothing he absolutely could not get drawn into. If he did, the twenty-four million would probably be distributed within a month.
Then, the phone on Nie Zhenbang’s desk rang. The red internal line – this phone was only installed between several standing committee mbers of the county party committee. As soon as he picked up the phone, the voice of Zhang Chubin ca across, “Director Nie, this is Chu Bin. There’s sothing I’d like to discuss with you. Do you have ti now?”
PS: Brothers and sisters, our place in the monthly ranking is under threat again. Does Elder Nie really only have the fate of being third? Those who have already given out the second monthly ticket, please vote for Old Cai. Thank you.
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