217: Chapter 217 Completely Shameless

Qin Chuan looked relaxed and smiled.

"Don't worry, this is just Mayor Zhang's wishful thinking. He can't take away what belongs to us."

County Mayor Sheng Huaian was half-doubting.

He thought to himself, 'He's the mayor; if he really insists on placing this investment in Ningzhou instead of Wanshun County, there's nothing we can do.'

But sensing Qin Chuan's confidence, he kept his thoughts to himself. After all, it wasn't good to speak ill of a mayor behind his back.

Neither of them knew that at this moment, Zhang Qun had found Liu Lianghai.

With no third party present, it was convenient to speak freely.

"Director Liu, now that today's inspection of Wanshun County is complete, what do you think?"

Liu Lianghai shook his head slightly. "I don't know why the group leadership arranged for me to inspect Wanshun County, but after today's tour, I'm very disappointed. Wanshun County is too ordinary. Such counties are everywhere; it has no appeal."

Hearing this, Zhang Qun felt relieved.

"Director Liu, Wanshun County is a bit lacking, but our Ningzhou isn't. Our conditions are much better than Wanshun's in every aspect, especially our Ningzhou High-tech Development Zone..."

He spoke eloquently, doing his best to introduce the various conditions of the Ningzhou High-tech Zone.

After finishing the introduction, he suggested directly, "Director Liu, you could consider placing this investment in Ningzhou. As long as the New Energy Vehicle Factory is built in the Ningzhou High-tech Development Zone, I can promise a series of preferential conditions. We can even provide the land for the factory for free, along with tax incentives..."

He lobbied hard, including promising a series of preferential terms.

To be honest, Liu Lianghai was a bit tempted.

As the Director of the Strategic Investment Department, a middle-management official, he knew very well that the group was indeed planning to choose a site to build a factory within several provinces in Central-South China.

Since they were going to build a factory anyway and Ningzhou City's terms were so good, why not consider it?

Liu Lianghai said, "Mayor Zhang, it seems you are very sincere, but I don't have the decision-making power for a twenty-billion-yuan investment; I only have the right to make recommendations."

Zhang Qun nodded slightly. "Director Liu, then I'll have to trouble you to recommend to your company's senior management that the factory be placed in Ningzhou. This is a small token of appreciation for your hard work. I hope you won't find it too little. Once the matter is settled, there will be another heavy reward."

After speaking, he took a bank card out of his briefcase and pushed it in front of Liu Lianghai.

Seeing the bank card, Liu Lianghai's eyes lit up slightly, but he said, "Mayor Zhang, you're trying to make me commit an error. This won't do, this won't do."

Zhang Qun stuffed the bank card directly into his hand. "It's not much money, just a small token for your hard work. If Director Liu doesn't accept it, you're looking down on me, Zhang."

After some polite refusal, Liu Lianghai "reluctantly" put the bank card into his pocket.

Seeing this, Zhang Qun was completely at ease. "Director Liu, for tomorrow morning's inspection summary meeting, I hope you'll mention that Wanshun County's conditions are too ordinary and recommend placing the investment in the Ningzhou High-tech Zone."

"That's no problem."

Having accepted the bribe, Liu Lianghai agreed immediately, adding, "After I return, I will also recommend to the group's senior management that the investment be placed in Ningzhou instead of Wanshun County."

"Thank you, thank you very much," Zhang Qun said happily.

At ten o'clock the next morning.

Ningzhou City organized a summary report meeting for the field inspection of Wanshun County. Secretary Kang Kewu, Zhang Qun, and several other city leaders attended. Wanshun County's lineup was quite large, with almost the entire leadership team present.

It was clear that many members of the leadership team were beaming with joy.

The field inspection was complete, and if nothing went wrong, the investment would settle in Wanshun County.

It was a twenty-billion-yuan investment.

A super automobile factory would not only bring massive tax revenue to Wanshun County but also provide tens of thousands of jobs.

Just thinking about it was exciting; some county leaders were so thrilled they hadn't even slept well the previous night.

As the host and top leader, Secretary Kang Kewu spoke on behalf of Ningzhou City. Naturally, it was polite talk, such as welcoming Shenlong Automotive Group to invest, followed by a speech from Zhang Qun.

After the city leaders spoke, the main event arrived: Liu Lianghai gave the inspection summary.

"Everyone, yesterday, under the leadership and accompaniment of Mayor Zhang, we completed the investment inspection of Wanshun County. After a day of inspection, to be honest, I am quite disappointed with the conditions in Wanshun County..."

Hearing such negative words, the people from Wanshun County looked at each other in dismay. Their faces, originally full of joy, were now filled with shock and then slowly turned into worry.

From the looks of it, they hadn't taken a liking to Wanshun County; the investment was about to fall through.

After speaking for a few minutes, Liu Lianghai began to draw a conclusion. "Based on the inspection results, I do not recommend placing the investment in Wanshun County. After I return, I will also make this recommendation to the group's senior management."

What!

Was this investment really going to fall through?!!!

This was twenty billion yuan!

The originally quiet conference room gradually became noisy, filled with various buzzing discussions. Some were anxious, some were worried, and a few were even gloating.

Qin Chuan appeared very calm, showing no emotion, because he had already learned of this situation from the system's messages this morning.

Secretary Kang Kewu's expression also changed slightly as he asked, "Director Liu, does Wanshun County really not meet your group's investment requirements?"

Liu Lianghai didn't give Secretary Kang Kewu any face. Even though he was the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, Liu Lianghai shook his head directly and said, "From a professional perspective, it indeed doesn't meet the requirements. For a twenty-billion-yuan investment, our requirements for all aspects are very high. I hope Secretary Kang can understand."

Hearing this, Secretary Kang Kewu felt a wave of disappointment.

At this moment, Zhang Qun spoke up. "Director Liu, Wanshun County's conditions are a bit poor, but our Ningzhou High-tech Development Zone's conditions aren't bad. I believe it can meet the investment requirements in all aspects. I suggest placing the investment in Ningzhou and choosing a site in the Ningzhou High-tech Zone to build this super New Energy Vehicle Factory. What do you think?"

When this suggestion was made, some people's eyes lit up.

This move was brilliant! If Wanshun County wasn't good enough, the Ningzhou High-tech Zone was. As long as the investment stayed within Ningzhou City and didn't fall through, it was fine.

Only Qin Chuan shook his head in disdain. 'Mayor Zhang, you really have no shame at all. This investment was clearly brought in by me, and yet you're trying to intercept it halfway.'

He spoke high-sounding words; those who didn't know better would really think he was trying his best to keep the investment. If Wanshun County wouldn't work, staying in Ningzhou was also an option.

In reality, the two of them had already conspired in private and were putting on a double act here.

Sure enough, Liu Lianghai nodded and said, "Mayor Zhang, we can indeed consider your suggestion. If Ningzhou meets our investment conditions, we can keep the investment here."

Hearing this, many people quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Especially the leaders of Ningzhou City; as long as the investment could stay, they didn't care whether it was in Wanshun County or Ningzhou.

Zhang Qun took the opportunity and suggested, "Our investment environment in Ningzhou is first-class, and our various hardware facilities are also top-notch. It absolutely meets your company's investment requirements. After Director Liu returns, you can recommend to your group's senior management that the investment be placed in our Ningzhou High-tech Development Zone."

Liu Lianghai agreed immediately, "Mayor Zhang's suggestion is good. I also think the conditions in the Ningzhou High-tech Zone are indeed quite good. Then the conclusion of this inspection is that Wanshun County does not meet the investment conditions, and I recommend placing the investment in the Ningzhou High-tech Zone."

Zhang Qun was delighted, nearly giving Liu Lianghai a thumbs-up.

A while later, the meeting ended. The conclusion was that Liu Lianghai recommended placing the investment in the Ningzhou High-tech Zone instead of the subordinate Wanshun County.