Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 426 Xunfeng Automotive Parts Industrial Park Settles in

Wu Zhiyuan said, "President Zhou, that's not what I meant."

Zhou Qiming was taken aback: "What does that mean?"

Wu Zhiyuan asked, "Mr. Zhou, what did you see during your walk around the village?"

Zhou Qiming remained silent.

Wu Zhiyuan asked himself and answered: "What I see is that there are almost no young people in the village."

All that's left are the elderly and children. Where have the young people gone? They've gone to the city to work.

Why go to the city to work? Because you can't earn enough money in the village to support your family.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Qingyan is an impoverished county, and Shahe Town is one of the poorest towns in Qingyan."

The per capita income here is less than half the national average.

What can young people do if they stay at home instead of going out?

Farming? The income from one acre of land for a year is less than what you'd earn doing odd jobs for a few days outside.

Zhou Qiming fell into deep thought.

"Mr. Zhou, I'm not saying this to pressure you into investing."

I just want to tell you what Qingyan needs.

What Qingyan needs is not charity or donations, but industry and jobs.

To enable young people to find decent jobs and earn decent wages right in their hometowns without having to leave their homes.

"Mr. Zhou, when I visited your company last time, I told you that I wouldn't discuss investment or projects, and that was the truth."

Because I know that, given your personality, the more I want something from you, the less willing you are to give it to me.

I'm accompanying you on this trip today not to solicit investment.

I just think you should see for yourself what the real situation is like in the village.

Zhou Qiming smiled and said, "County Chief Wu, you're quite an interesting person."

"You flatter me, Mr. Zhou."

"I'm not praising you. I'm saying you're different from other officials."

Other officials, when they see me, are eager to shove their project lists into my hands. Just like your Secretary Liang.

And you? You wrote a letter and traveled all the way to the south to tell me you wouldn't discuss projects or investments.

I came back today, and you walked around the village with me, but you didn't mention the project at all.

"Because I know that projects can't be rushed."

"When will you get anxious?"

"Wait until you feel the urgency yourself."

Zhou Qiming was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "County Chief Wu, you have a very sophisticated way of speaking."

As the two walked back, they passed the village entrance and saw several children squatting by the roadside playing.

His clothes were a bit old and his body was a little dirty, but he had a childlike smile on his face.

Zhou Qiming stopped and looked around for a while, as if he were looking back on his childhood.

"County Magistrate Wu, what will happen to these children in the future?"

Wu Zhiyuan said, "They are now studying at the village primary school. The village primary school has only three teachers and about thirty students."

Children in fourth grade and above will have to board at the town's boarding school.

"What about the teaching quality?"

"We can't retain excellent teachers, and the facilities are inadequate. You can imagine how bad the teaching quality is."

Zhou Qiming was silent for a moment, then asked, "What do the young people in the village do when they go out to work?"

"Most of them are in construction sites, electronics factories, and garment factories."

They do manual labor, the income is low and unstable.

"Have you ever thought about keeping them?"

"I've thought about it. But retaining people isn't about feelings, it's about their livelihood."

Without industry and jobs, all the talk is just empty words.

The two reached the village entrance, and Chunhua chased after them.

"Qiming, you'll have lunch at my house. I'll cook a few home-style dishes."

Zhou Qiming hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

Chunhua's cooking skills are quite good; although the dishes are home-style, they are delicious and visually appealing.

Zhou Qiming ate with great relish, finishing two bowls of rice.

"It's delicious, it tastes just like home."

Chunhua smiled and said, "Qiming, come back often if you like it. I'll cook for you."

After dinner, Zhou Qiming sat at Chunhua's house for a while, chatting with her about everyday things and asking about the village.

Zhou Qiming is leaving.

Wu Zhiyuan specially got into his car to give him a ride.

"County Chief Wu, I've been thinking a lot about this trip to the village today."

Wu Zhiyuan remained silent, listening quietly.

"You're right, what keeps people around isn't sentiment, it's their livelihood."

Without industry and jobs, all the talk is just empty words.

Xunfeng Motors has an investment plan for a parts industrial park in Jiangdong City, with an investment of 800 million yuan and an area of ​​500 mu. Once completed, it will provide 2,000 jobs.

The terms in Jiangdong City have been mostly agreed upon.

Land, taxes, and supporting facilities—everything that should have been provided has been given.

My trip to Jiangdong was specifically for this project.

But after walking around the village today, I changed my mind.

Wu Zhiyuan suppressed his elation: "What does President Zhou mean?"

"I want to move this project to Shahe Town."

"President Zhou, this decision is of great significance to Qingyan. But I have a question for you."

"you say."

"Did you make this decision out of sympathy for your fellow villagers?"

Zhou Qiming was taken aback for a moment, then smiled: "County Chief Wu, you are a really different person."

Others would be overjoyed to hear this news, but you're asking me if it's out of pity.

"Because I know that if it's done out of pity, this project won't last long. Businesses want profits, not handouts."

Zhou Qiming nodded: "You're right. I've been running a business for over twenty years, and I've never done anything that loses money."

The reason I placed the project in Shahe Town was not out of sympathy, but because I am optimistic about the development prospects of Qingyan.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "After the highway from Wuhe Town to Jiangzhou City opens to traffic, the transportation conditions in Shahe Town will be greatly improved."

Once logistics costs come down, the locational advantage becomes apparent.

Furthermore, if the provincial vocational college were to establish itself in Wuhe Town, and talent cultivation were to follow suit, Shahe Town would have a solid foundation for development.

He looked at Wu Zhiyuan and said, "County Chief Wu, I have carefully read all the materials you showed me when you visited my company last time."

The logistics industrial park, wildlife park, new campus of the provincial vocational college, and that road you planned form a complete industrial chain.

With these resources, the auto parts industrial park in Shahe Town has fertile ground for survival and development.

So I'm not giving alms, I'm investing. Investing in Qingyan's future.

"President Zhou, on behalf of the Qingyan County Party Committee and County Government, I thank you for your trust."

Zhou Qiming waved his hand: "Don't rush to thank me. Let me say a few more words."

"Mr. Zhou, please speak."

"First, the land acquisition for the project must be completed within one month of signing the contract. My time is very tight, and I can't afford to wait."

"Can."

"Secondly, the county has set up a special service team to ensure that all approval procedures are completed in the shortest possible time. I don't want the project to fall through because of waiting for approvals."

"Can."

"Third, this project will prioritize hiring people from Shahe Town and surrounding towns, especially young people who work outside the town and want to return."

I want them to be able to earn the same wages in their own neighborhoods as they would in the city.

Wu Zhiyuan nodded emphatically: "President Zhou, I agree to all three conditions. Rest assured, I will keep my word."

Zhou Qiming said, "I will donate to build a high-standard nine-year compulsory education school in Shahe Town to solve the education problem for the children of employees and nearby residents."

Meanwhile, the Xunfeng Scholarship and Teaching Award Fund was established in Qingyan County to provide long-term support for local education.

Wu Zhiyuan solemnly said, "On behalf of the children of Qingyan, thank you! The county will fully cooperate in allocating land and assigning teachers."

Zhou Qiming nodded: "Have the team coordinate the specific details as soon as possible."

I will have the head of the group's investment department stay behind to discuss this with you in detail.

I hope that when I come back next time, I will see a different Shahe Town.

Outside the car window, farmers were working in the fields.

"County Chief Wu, I've seen too many migrant workers during my years in the South."

They left their hometowns and could only return home a few times a year.

The children don't recognize their father, and the elderly have no one to care for them. But if they don't go out to work, how will they support their families?

Wu Zhiyuan listened quietly.

Zhou Qiming continued, "There are many migrant workers from other places working in Xunfeng's factory."

I asked them if they wanted to go home, and everyone said yes.

But what can you do if you go home? Farm? Can farming support a family?

After a pause, Zhou Qiming suddenly said, "County Chief Wu, I have another idea."

"Mr. Zhou, please go ahead."

"In addition to the auto parts industrial park, I also want to build a vocational skills training center in Shahe Town."

Free training is provided to local young people, teaching them practical skills such as car manufacturing, machining, and welding.

Those who pass the training will be given priority for employment in Xunfeng's factory.

The provincial vocational college trains junior college students and engineers.

However, an industrial park needs not only engineers, but also a large number of skilled workers.

Where do these workers come from? They come from the local area.

They may only have a junior high or high school education, but as long as they acquire skills, they can become qualified industrial workers.

Wu Zhiyuan was startled.

Zhou Qiming's thoughts were far more profound than he had anticipated.

"Mr. Zhou, this idea is fantastic!"

If it can be built, it will not only solve the labor problem of the industrial park, but also cultivate a large number of technical talents for Qingyan.

These people will have a skill or expertise no matter where they go in the future.

Zhou Qiming said, "Therefore, we need to hurry up with this matter. Once the industrial park is built, we need people."

Where will the people come from? Recruiting and training them on the spot is too late.

We need to prepare and train them in advance. Once the factory is in operation, the workers can start working immediately.

Wu Zhiyuan nodded repeatedly: "President Zhou is right. The county will definitely cooperate fully in this matter."

We can coordinate everything, including the venue, the teachers, and student recruitment.

"You don't need to worry about the venue. I've reserved a piece of land in the industrial park specifically for building a training center."

In terms of teaching staff, Xunfeng can send technical personnel to teach courses, or it can connect with vocational colleges in the province.

What your county needs to do is to do a good job in student recruitment and organize young people who need help.

"That's no problem. Every year, a large number of junior and senior high school graduates in Shahe Town and several surrounding townships do not continue their education. These are the key targets for training."

Zhou Qiming nodded: "Then it's settled. I'll have my team come up with a detailed plan later, and your county will cooperate in its implementation."

The car continued on and entered the territory of Wuhe Town.

Zhou Qiming asked, "County Chief Wu, how is the wildlife park project progressing?"

"Land acquisition and resettlement have been completed, and the first installment of funds from the Municipal Investment Group has been received. Construction will officially begin next month. The park is expected to open before National Day next year."

Zhou Qiming nodded: "The progress is not slow. The opening of the wildlife park will bring a large number of visitors."

Some of these visitors will travel to Shahe Town.

Shahe Town can develop supporting industries such as agritainment, homestays, and fruit picking gardens.

Wu Zhiyuan said, "Shahe Town has geothermal resources, and we plan to attract investment and bring in strong companies to build a hot spring town."

Zhou Qiming chimed in, "I don't have the energy to run a hotel and tourism business. Everyone has their own expertise, and Xunfeng's main business is automobile manufacturing."

There are several reputable companies in China that develop hot spring resorts, and I have some connections with their owners. I can help you get in touch.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhou!"

"Don't thank me. In business, it ultimately depends on your own sincerity and terms."

"All I can do is act as a bridge and pass on a message." Zhou Qiming paused, then suddenly asked, "County Chief Wu, what's the progress on the new campus of the Provincial Vocational College?"

Wu Zhiyuan truthfully stated, "The plan has been submitted, and the Provincial Department of Education and the Development and Reform Commission are organizing experts to conduct a review."

Dean Fu Tingting highly approved of our proposal and clearly expressed her support for Qingyan in an internal meeting.

But the biggest problem now is that several other counties and districts in Jiangzhou are also competing for the same opportunity. One of them has set very high standards, promising to provide 500 mu of cultivated land free of charge and also willing to cover part of the infrastructure construction costs.

Zhou Qiming said dismissively, "Setting high conditions doesn't guarantee a win."

The provincial vocational college is looking for long-term development, not a one-off deal.

What are the advantages of Qingyan? They are its industrial support and employment prospects.

"By highlighting your strengths—the logistics industrial park, the auto parts industrial park, the wildlife park, and the hot spring tourism resources—you can demonstrate Qingyan's development potential and talent needs to the province. This is far more convincing than simply competing on land prices and subsidies."

Wu Zhiyuan nodded in deep agreement: "President Zhou is right. We are integrating these resources and preparing to give a special report to the province."

"Okay, if you need my help, just let me know. I'm not a big shot, but I do have a few acquaintances in the province."

Wu Zhiyuan quickly expressed his gratitude.

Indeed, when a well-known entrepreneur like Zhou Qiming visits a province, the top two officials there will personally meet with him.

Why? Because I want to invest.

Upon returning to the county, Wu Zhiyuan reported to Liang Dongming.

Liang Dongming was both surprised and delighted: "Zhiyuan, you did a great job. An 800 million yuan project and 2,000 jobs are a big deal for Qingyan, a really good thing. The county committee approves."

"Secretary Liang, you flatter me. This is the result of the collective leadership of the county party committee and the county government, not my personal achievement."

"Zhiyuan, it's good that you think this way. However, such a big project will involve a lot of follow-up work."

Problems in any of the following stages—land acquisition and relocation, approvals, and infrastructure—can affect the project's progress.

My suggestion is to establish a high-level project leadership team, with me personally serving as the team leader and you as the executive deputy team leader, responsible for coordinating and advancing the daily work.

Wu Zhiyuan sneered inwardly.

Liang Dongming is about to reap the rewards.