Chen Feng listened carefully as Fang Shan explained the matter of sending money within the coastal power circles.
To be frank,
This aspect was slightly different from sending money in the inland power circles.
It turned out that the major players in the coastal power circles had their families abroad.
And they had made arrangements for this long ago.
China's power circles had explicit regulations stating that officials holding important positions could not easily send their immediate family members abroad.
Even if there was a genuine need to go abroad, strict approval was required.
This was not only a strict regulation in China's inland power circles but also in its coastal power circles.
However, this point did not pose a problem for the coastal power circles.
This was because the major players in China's coastal power circles had made arrangements long before.
Simply put, before becoming major players in the coastal power circles, these individuals had sent their families abroad under various pretexts.
This way, they could cleverly bypass the strict regulations of the power circles.
Since the families of the major players in China's coastal power circles were abroad, it was much more convenient to send them money. They could directly wire funds to their families overseas.
After listening to Fang Shan's patient explanation, Chen Feng directly remitted a large sum of money overseas to the daughter of the top official in Wenzhou.
"Boss Chen, you are truly decisive in your actions," Fang Shan exclaimed.
"The opportunity to build a good relationship with the Wenzhou top official is not something that everyone can have. Once it arises, one must seize it quickly and decisively," Chen Feng replied truthfully.
"Boss Chen, I'm starting to have a strange feeling. You don't seem like someone from inland China. Your vision, perspective, and ideas... they are even more coastal than those of the coastal people," Fang Shan commented subconsciously.
Chen Feng did not respond further, merely smiling modestly.
In the evening, Chen Feng followed Boss Fang to a three-star hotel in Wenzhou to wait for the Wenzhou top official.
Initially, Chen Feng was a bit bewildered.
Were the major players in the coastal power circles really this low-key?
They weren't going to six-star or five-star hotels, but directly to a three-star hotel.
Three-star hotels were generally not frequented by ordinary people.
However, upon entering the hotel lobby, Chen Feng's perception instantly changed.
His first thought was that he was still too naive.
How could people with power and money truly not care about enjoying themselves?
It turned out that although the hotel had a three-star facade, its actual operations and renovation were all done according to seven-star hotel standards.
As an old hand in the power circles, Chen Feng naturally understood the hidden reasons behind this.
Simply put, it was to prevent the higher authorities from knowing about the extravagant lifestyles of the Wenzhou power circle bigwigs.
It had to be said that this stratagem, "mending the bridge while crossing it," was indeed brilliant.
The coastal power circles were quite sophisticated and safety-conscious.
"Boss Chen, you are too kind. To help my daughter out so much on our first meeting. To be honest, my daughter has had her eye on that villa overseas for several years, and I've been reluctant to buy it for her because it was too expensive. Little did I know, you just came along..." Zhou Kun, the top official of Wenzhou, said enthusiastically.
Chen Feng took a brief look at Zhou Kun and felt he was very approachable.
There was no pretense at all.
Much like the power circles in the United States, their every move was not significantly different from ordinary people.
Chen Feng couldn't help but sigh again.
In the inland power circles, even a minor section chief carried himself with an air of superiority.
Not to mention the major players in the inland power circles; their bearing suggested they were heads of state.
All of this indicated one thing.
The more economically developed a region, the more down-to-earth the power circle officials were.
The less economically developed a region, the more detached the power circle officials were from the common people.
In the remote mountainous areas of China, a township head acted like a local emperor, wielding power and acting recklessly.
Conversely, in China's developed coastal cities, one could often see power circle officials inspecting factories and mines, then engaging in friendly conversation with the workers after the inspection.
This was also why the gap between developed and underdeveloped regions continued to widen.
The power circle officials in underdeveloped areas were preoccupied with displaying their authority, seeking illicit gains, and engaging in fraud.
The power circle officials in developed areas, however, were focused on attracting investment and strengthening enterprises within their jurisdictions.
To give a small example, developed coastal power circle officials would personally drink with bank presidents to help enterprises secure loans.
Such actions were absolutely unheard of in China's inland power circles.
"Old Zhou, you are too kind. I happened to have a villa overseas. It was very cheap when I bought it; it wasn't worth much," Chen Feng said with a modest smile.
"Boss Chen, rest assured, Boss Fang has explained your situation to me in detail, and there shouldn't be any major issues," Zhou Kun said with admiration.
This man before him, though not very old, carried himself with the demeanor of an experienced operative. He was meticulous in his dealings, and cooperating with such a person offered many advantages.
"Old Zhou, with your assurance, the regulating valves for the rocket recycling project are settled. However..." Chen Feng said, hesitating.
"It's alright, we are all friends now, so feel free to speak your mind," Zhou Kun said with a smile.
"Old Zhou, my point is, there is a part of the rocket recycling project's regulating valves that conflicts with Sanshi Province's policies. If this issue cannot be resolved, it will be difficult to mass-produce the regulating valves needed for rocket recycling," Chen Feng stated directly, without reservation.
"Boss Chen, frankly, I wasn't aware of such a serious issue with the regulating valves. Please elaborate," Zhou Kun said with surprise.
He was the top official in Wenzhou's power circles, an experienced veteran, and he certainly knew more than this young man, Chen Feng.
However, Chen Feng had identified an obstacle related to the regulating valves that he himself had not noticed.
"Old Zhou, it's like this: five years ago, Sanshi Province enacted a local regulation prohibiting the import of special steel from Germany. I've investigated and found that Sanshi Province implemented this local regulation because the German government had maliciously banned trade for several products in Sanshi Province's foreign trade transactions. As retaliation, they enacted this local regulation," Chen Feng explained.
"Boss Chen, tell me honestly, who exactly are you?" Zhou Kun asked, scrutinizing Chen Feng intently.
"I am just Boss Chen, Old Zhou," Chen Feng replied, feigning composure.
"Chen Feng, based on my years of experience in the power circles, you are definitely not just a simple businessman," Zhou Kun stated seriously, word by word.
"Old Zhou, your insight is truly sharp; you've seen through my disguise at a glance. In fact, I'm not a boss at all; I'm the Deputy Mayor of Mingshan City," Chen Feng admitted, no longer pretending.
"What? You are Chen Feng, the political rising star of Sanshui Province in recent years?" Zhou Kun asked, visibly shocked.
"Old Zhou, you flatter me," Chen Feng replied with a modest smile.
"Hmm, now that I think about it, your every word and deed during your visit to Ou Bei, Wenzhou, are indeed not something an ordinary person could achieve. Alright, let's not beat around the bush. Since you are the Deputy Mayor of Mingshan City and possess astonishing political talent, tell me, how can we resolve Sanshi Province's ban on German special steel?" Zhou Kun asked expectantly.
To be frank, Wenzhou had lost considerable money over the years due to Sanshi Province's ban on German special steel. If Chen Feng could find a way to break this deadlock, Wenzhou's economy would reach a new level.
But the problem was, how could a formally enacted provincial ban be so easily resolved?