79: Chapter 79 Ulterior Motives

"Chairman Lin Shicheng, you flatter me."

Xiao Bei replied with a smile, "It is our honor that you could come to our Bishi Town to inspect in person."

Chairman Lin Shicheng patted Xiao Bei on the shoulder: "Young man, you have ambition! I have looked over the plans for your Development Zone, and they are very forward-thinking!"

During the pleasantries, Chairman Lin Shicheng's gaze swept over Su Yun, who was standing behind Xiao Bei, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes: "Reporter Su? Why are you here too?"

"Hello, Chairman Lin Shicheng." Su Yun nodded politely, "I am here specifically to report on this inspection."

After a simple welcoming ceremony, the group moved to the conference room, where Xiao Bei used a PPT to introduce the Development Zone's plans, location advantages, and policy support in detail.

Chairman Lin Shicheng listened very attentively, nodding from time to time, and occasionally interrupting with questions that went straight to the heart of the matter.

"Secretary Xiao, your land prices... can they be discounted any further?" Chairman Lin Shicheng asked suddenly, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

The conference room fell silent. Xiao Bei had been well-prepared: "According to the latest policy from the County Party Committee, projects with an investment exceeding 50 million can enjoy a 50% rebate on land transfer fees."

Chairman Lin Shicheng shook his head: "It is not a rebate that I want, but a direct reduction."

He stared into Xiao Bei's eyes, "What if I could bring in an investment of 100 million?"

Xiao Bei's heart rate accelerated; 100 million was equivalent to the entire fiscal revenue of Bishi Town for one year.

But on the surface, he remained calm: "That would need to be discussed by the standing committee of the County Party Committee, but..."

"But what?" Chairman Lin Shicheng leaned forward slightly.

"If you can commit to creating 500 local jobs, I can fight for special policies." Xiao Bei was neither servile nor overbearing.

Chairman Lin Shicheng laughed out loud: "Good! I like dealing with straightforward people!"

He turned to his entourage, "Write it down: the employment commitment for the Bishi Town Development Zone."

After the meeting ended, the group headed to the Development Zone for a site inspection.

As the motorcade drove through the town center, a crowd of onlookers gathered by the roadside. Xiao Bei noticed several familiar faces—all of whom were people who used to work at General Manager Xiang Wenqiang's mine, now standing in the crowd in twos and threes with unfriendly glares.

A cordon had already been set up at the Development Zone site.

Deputy Secretary Xing Guoqiang, along with a dozen plainclothes officers, mingled in the crowd, vigilantly observing their surroundings, while Xiao Bei accompanied Chairman Lin Shicheng at the front, introducing the planned industrial layout.

"This area will be built into an intelligent logistics park, and over there is the supporting processing zone..."

Xiao Bei pointed to the open space in the distance, "Regarding transportation, the County Party Committee has already promised to build a connecting line to the national highway by next year."

Chairman Lin Shicheng nodded frequently. Suddenly, he stopped and pointed to a plot of land in the northwest corner: "What about there?"

Xiao Bei looked in the direction of his finger, his heart sinking; that was the planned ecological protection zone, adjacent to the upper reaches of the Yudai River.

"That is a water source conservation area and is not included in the development scope," Xiao Bei explained.

Chairman Lin Shicheng narrowed his eyes: "What a pity, that plot of land has the best location."

He gave Xiao Bei a meaningful look, "However, policies can always be adjusted, right?"

Xiao Bei did not respond immediately, instead changing the subject.

As the inspection neared its end, an accident occurred.

A drunken middle-aged man suddenly broke through the cordon and lunged at Chairman Lin Shicheng: "You black-hearted businessmen, stealing our land!"

The director of the Police Station, Bai Jinglin, reacted extremely quickly, lunging forward to pin the man to the ground.

The scene was in an uproar, and someone in the crowd incited: "They're hitting people! The government is hitting the common people!"

Xiao Bei made a prompt decision: "Fellow townsfolk, this comrade has had too much to drink; we will send him home to rest."

He signaled for Deputy Secretary Xing Guoqiang to take the man away from the scene, then raised his voice, "The construction of the Development Zone is for a better future for Bishi Town. All land requisition is carried out according to the law and regulations, and not a single cent of compensation will be missing!"

Chairman Lin Shicheng watched all this coldly, a faint smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

The commotion soon subsided, but Xiao Bei knew this was just the calm before the storm.

The banquet was held at a newly opened restaurant in town. Amidst the clinking of glasses, Chairman Lin Shicheng drank quite a bit, and his talkativeness increased.

"Secretary Xiao, I have inquired about you."

Chairman Lin Shicheng held up his glass, his voice not loud but every word clear, "Parachuted from the city to this poor town, and in one year you managed to topple the local bully—you have methods!"

Xiao Bei smiled: "Chairman Lin Shicheng, you flatter me; it was all done according to the law."

"The law?" Chairman Lin Shicheng chuckled, "The law is dead, people are alive."

He suddenly lowered his voice, "I heard that you used to be Mayor Qin's secretary?"

The wine glass in Xiao Bei's hand paused slightly, the amber liquid rippling under the lights.

Chairman Lin Shicheng's words were like an invisible knife, precisely stabbing at his most sensitive nerve.

"Chairman Lin Shicheng, you are very well-informed."

Xiao Bei calmly set down his glass, a perfectly measured smile on his lips, "I was indeed fortunate to have learned by Mayor Qin's side for a period of time."

Chairman Lin Shicheng's eyes lit up, like a shark that had caught the scent of blood.

He leaned forward, deliberately lowering his voice: "How is Mayor Qin's health recently? I saw her a while ago at the city's investment promotion meeting, and she is as elegant as ever."

"She is doing well. Mayor Qin has always cared about grassroots development."

Xiao Bei responded skillfully, deflecting the probe, "Especially regarding our Development Zone project; she has clearly expressed her support."

This sentence was like a shot of adrenaline; the wrinkles on Chairman Lin Shicheng's face smoothed out: "Good! That's great!"

He slapped the table hard, causing people around them to look over, "Secretary Xiao, just for Mayor Qin's support, I am definitely investing in this project!"

The atmosphere at the dining table instantly heated up; the staff of the Town Government showed joy, exchanging excited glances with each other.

"Secretary Xiao." Chairman Lin Shicheng personally poured a full glass of wine for Xiao Bei, "I will have my legal team come over tomorrow to sign the letter of intent, but..."

He changed the subject, "Some details still need further communication, for example, that water source conservation area..."

Xiao Bei raised his glass and clinked it gently against his: "Rest assured, Chairman Lin Shicheng; as long as the requests are reasonable and compliant, we will certainly cooperate fully."

His gaze passed over the wine glass, briefly meeting Su Yun's eyes.

After the banquet ended, Chairman Lin Shicheng insisted on taking Xiao Bei back to his dormitory.

Inside the black Rolls-Royce, the leather seats emitted a faint scent of sandalwood. Chairman Lin Shicheng took a bottle of mineral water from the car's refrigerator and handed it to Xiao Bei.

"Secretary Xiao is young and promising; after a few years of training at the grassroots level, your future will be limitless."

Chairman Lin Shicheng's tone suddenly became confiding, "I also have some connections in the provincial government; if you need, I can introduce you."

Xiao Bei unscrewed the cap, the cool water sliding down his throat, suppressing the burning sensation of alcohol in his stomach: "Many thanks for your kind offer, Chairman Lin Shicheng, but right now I only want to develop Bishi Town well."

"Good! You have ambition!" Chairman Lin Shicheng laughed, then lowered his voice, "Actually, the reason I came this time, besides inspecting the project, is also to ask you for a small favor."