One day later, Chen Feng arrived in Wucheng.
After a brief investigation, Chen Feng was somewhat overwhelmed.
The exorbitant demands from Wucheng were even more exaggerated than he had imagined.
The railway demolition compensation in Wucheng was ten times the national standard.
This was clearly a reckless move.
"Elder Tan, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
Chen Feng got straight to the point with Elder Tan, the top official in Wucheng.
"Inappropriate? How is it inappropriate? The China-Europe freight train was originally Wucheng's, but you snatched it away to Mingshan City. You're getting such a large piece of the pie, and Wucheng is only getting a sip of soup. Is that too much to ask?"
Elder Tan stared intently at Chen Feng.
"Elder Tan, are you saying that Wucheng wants to participate in the construction of the China-Europe freight train?"
Chen Feng was taken aback.
At the same time, a heavy stone in his heart was lifted.
As long as Elder Tan wasn't completely out of his mind, there was a chance for things to turn around.
"Isn't that obvious? The China-Europe freight train is both a massive political project and a massive economic undertaking. Who wouldn't be covetous? Wucheng has been applying for years, but in the end, you, Mingshan City, intercepted it. Aren't you annoyed?"
Elder Tan said indignantly.
"Elder Tan, all of this is a misunderstanding. To be honest, Mingshan City never intended to hog all the benefits."
Chen Feng said with a slight smile.
"What do you mean?"
Elder Tan was also taken aback.
"It's very simple: Mingshan City is willing to cooperate with Wucheng to participate in the construction of the China-Europe freight train."
Chen Feng replied directly.
"What? Wucheng and Mingshan City participating in the China-Europe freight train construction together? I find that hard to believe. Does anyone voluntarily share their benefits with others?"
Elder Tan looked at Chen Feng with disbelief.
"Elder Tan, to be honest, you underestimate my vision. I don't like making small money; I like making big money. If only Mingshan City were to build the China-Europe freight train, it would only be small money. However, if Wucheng participates and we cooperate, it will be big money. To put it plainly, it's about win-win cooperation."
Chen Feng said with a smile.
"Win-win cooperation?"
"Chen Feng, are you trying to fool me? Across China, no two cities have ever cooperated on the China-Europe freight train; they all operate independently."
Elder Tan said with disbelief.
"Elder Tan, if I may say something I shouldn't, what you've described is precisely the weakness of Chinese people: focusing on immediate gains rather than long-term benefits. While acting independently might benefit each city in the short term, allowing them to monopolize the gains, in the long run, the profits from this monopoly will diminish. The China-Europe freight train is an international trade endeavor. Relying on a single Chinese city to support it is unsustainable. Over time, the profits will continue to decrease. Cooperation and mutual benefit are in line with long-term interests."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"Chen Feng, after hearing you say that, I feel my perspective is quite narrow."
Elder Tan said self-deprecatingly.
"Elder Tan, please don't say that. My vision was also narrow before, but as I experienced more, my perspective gradually broadened."
Chen Feng replied humbly.
"Chen Feng, if I may ask, how do you plan to cooperate?"
Elder Tan asked expectantly.
"Wucheng only needs to provide the land; Mingshan City will be responsible for all the funding. Of course, since Mingshan City is responsible for all the funding, Mingshan City's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission will be in charge of the entire project management. As for dividends, they will be distributed according to each party's land allocation. Wucheng can also send an accounting firm to oversee the entire process."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"Chen Feng, with this arrangement, isn't Mingshan City at a disadvantage?"
Elder Tan asked, confused.
"Not entirely. To be honest, neither in politics nor in business does anyone make a losing deal. There's a saying in China, isn't there? No one does a losing business. People will even do a business that risks their lives for profit. On the surface, Mingshan City does seem to be at a financial disadvantage. However, by investing money, we gain a steadfast cooperative partner for the project, and with the addition of a large amount of land, the scale of the China-Europe freight train will be unparalleled in China. From this perspective, Mingshan City has definitely gained. Another point is that Wucheng is strong in agriculture, and Mingshan City is strong in industry. Complementing each other is a good thing."
Chen Feng's explanation convinced Elder Tan.
This young man saw things with great foresight.
Thus, the two spent the afternoon discussing and settling the cooperation matters between Wucheng and Mingshan City.
After the agreement was reached, Chen Feng immediately returned to Mingshan City.
Less than two days later, an economic investigation team from the provincial capital suddenly descended upon Mingshan City.
Their purpose was to investigate Chen Feng's alleged misuse of Mingshan City's finances.
This matter was being conducted in secret, known only to Chen Feng and Qin Yan.
"Chen Feng, the provincial economic investigation team is targeting you. What are we going to do? To be honest, with the cooperation between Wucheng and Mingshan City, where Mingshan City's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission is fully funding it and Wucheng isn't contributing a penny, it's hard not to suspect you of having a deal with Wucheng."
Qin Yan said with a worried expression.
"Mayor Qin, that's not the problem. The problem is, how did the province get hold of the details of the cooperation between Mingshan City and Wucheng? No one will believe there's no shady business going on."
Chen Feng replied sternly.
"Is that important? Shouldn't the priority be to figure out how to deal with the provincial economic investigation team?"
Qin Yan asked tentatively.
"Dealing with the provincial economic investigation team is very important, but even more important is catching the mole. Otherwise, if we evade this time, there will be a next time."
Chen Feng said solemnly.
"Chen Feng, your idea is quite right. But the problem is, this mole is very cunning. Before we can catch him, the provincial economic investigation team will arrest you."
Qin Yan said with concern.
"Mayor Qin, you don't need to worry about that at all."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"The provincial economic investigation team has immense power. With one word from them, you could be out of politics forever. Isn't that frightening?"
Qin Yan said dejectedly.
"Mayor Qin, you still don't quite understand contemporary Chinese politics."
"Is there something more to it than that?"
Qin Yan asked doubtfully.
"Of course. As long as I can bring a major project to the province, they will naturally stop their investigation into me. In this day and age, as long as you attract investment, even if you've truly made mistakes, the higher-ups will turn a blind eye. This is the so-called money society. It doesn't matter if it's Chinese people or the Chinese government; interests come first. As long as there are enough benefits, nothing is a problem."
"You mean using the funds from your companies?"
Qin Yan asked tentatively.
"No."
"Then what?"
"This successful cooperation between Mingshan City and Wucheng on the China-Europe freight train is a super major project. We can appropriately share some of the industries with the province. In other words, let the province help us produce goods, and then we will ship them from Mingshan City to the European Union. This benefits all three parties."
Chen Feng explained with a smile.
"That's good, but it requires a lot of capital. Can Mingshan City's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission handle it?"
Qin Yan asked with concern.
"Given Mingshan City's current economic scale, it's absolutely impossible. But if we use economic leverage, it becomes very easy."
Chen Feng said casually.
"Economic leverage?"
"Yes, economic leverage. Let Li Hongling be responsible for the Mingshan City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission to raise funds, whether it's from the stock market or from private channels. With the China-Europe freight train as collateral for this major project, we can certainly obtain astronomical sums of money."
"That sounds good, but can Li Hongling, as a woman, handle it?"
Qin Yan asked, uneasy.
"Mayor Qin, we should trust our people. Since we've appointed Li Hongling as the head of the Mingshan City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, we must have faith in her to do the job."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"Chen Feng, don't be angry. I'm just saying, what if, what if Li Hongling messes things up?"
Qin Yan asked softly.