242: Chapter 242 High-speed rail project

Chairman Chen Zhixun and his entourage arrived very quickly.

Zhang Qun personally led a team to the Provincial Capital Airport to welcome them.

"Chairman Chen, welcome to our Ningzhou."

In the reception room, Zhang Qun and the various officials of Ningzhou surrounded him like stars around the moon, uttering words of flattery and sycophancy.

Chairman Chen Zhixun had a very haughty air.

This was very consistent with the persona of someone with his astonishing background; he remained indifferent, spoke very little, and occasionally just nodded.

After some fawning and flattery, Zhang Qun personally introduced the situation in Ningzhou and then enthusiastically extended an invitation for investment, "Chairman Chen, Ningzhou opens its arms to you. We eagerly hope for your investment. As long as you invest here, you will be given the green light, and all policies will be tilted in your favor..."

He promised a whole host of favorable conditions.

The goal was simple: he hoped Chairman Chen Zhixun would invest in Ningzhou.

In Zhang Qun's view, this was not just a simple investment; the most important thing was that he could establish a connection with the Beijing Chen Family.

Just thinking about it was enough to make one excited.

Hearing this series of preferential conditions, Chairman Chen Zhixun finally showed a bit of interest, "Mayor Zhang, I do indeed have an investment plan worth 20 to 30 billion on hand, but I must conduct an inspection before making a final decision."

Good heavens!

An investment of 20 to 30 billion!

Some people's hearts were pounding; the attraction was too great. If it really settled in Ningzhou, it would be a huge political achievement.

Zhang Qun suppressed the excitement in his heart, "Chairman Chen, our sincerity is absolute. Next, I will personally accompany you throughout the inspection. We in Ningzhou are confident that we can meet your investment requirements."

Secretary Kang Kewu, the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, did not appear here.

Zhang Qun believed that since he had attracted this investment through his own efforts, why should he let others share the credit? He deliberately avoided Secretary Kang Kewu, the top leader, fearing that the other party would steal his thunder.

Next, the biggest event in Ningzhou was Chairman Chen Zhixun's investment inspection. Zhang Qun brought a large group of officials to accompany him throughout, making a grand display every time.

This also became the biggest hot topic in all of Ningzhou.

Although Qin Chuan was in Wanshun County, he had heard some things, but he didn't take it too much to heart, at most just smiling about it.

If Zhang Qun could really attract a large investment for Ningzhou, that would be a good thing.

It was just that...

He heard they were being a bit servile; a dignified mayor of a prefecture-level city acting like a sycophant in front of Chairman Chen Zhixun.

He also heard that the reception standards were extremely high, staying at the best hotel in Ningzhou, arranging presidential suites, and every reception banquet cost tens of thousands, which was extremely extravagant and wasteful.

Today.

Qin Chuan went to the Jigong Mountain Gold Mine again.

Seeing the smelted gold, he put on white gloves, picked up a piece to examine it, and looked at it for a long time with great joy. It was heavy and glistening gold; the more he looked, the more he liked it.

Besides gold, there were also large silver ingots and large copper ingots.

After returning and sitting in his office, the scenes he had seen there kept playing in his mind. He thought to himself that this world-class gold mine was enough to be mined for decades, and Wanshun County would not have to worry about economic development for the next few decades.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

A knock sounded at the door. Qin Chuan pulled his thoughts back and said loudly, "Come in!"

The person who pushed the door open was Director Hu Bing, the Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee.

"Boss, it's spread everywhere now. The whole Ningzhou officialdom is talking about it. They say Chairman Chen Zhixun's background is heaven-reaching, from the Beijing Chen Family. I don't know if it's true."

Qin Chuan nodded and said, "Chairman Chen Zhixun is indeed the third generation of the Beijing Chen Family."

Director Hu Bing was slightly surprised, "Really? Then that background is truly impressive. I also heard he plans to invest 20 to 30 billion in our Ningzhou to start a big project. It seems to be mobile phone assembly and OEM, which could solve employment issues for tens of thousands of people in the future..."

He told him everything he had heard and knew.

"Secretary, if that's the case, our Ningzhou economy is going to take off."

Qin Chuan said, "If our Ningzhou really has such a large mobile phone foundry, that would be a good thing. You came at the right time; let's talk about the high-speed rail."

Mentioning the high-speed rail, Director Hu Bing immediately showed great interest.

Everyone had heard that the higher-ups were planning to build a new high-speed rail line that might pass through Ningzhou.

As a leader of Wanshun County, he naturally hoped it would pass through Ningzhou, and even hoped for a high-speed rail station to be set up in Wanshun County; that would be even better.

The two chatted about the high-speed rail for a while when Qin Chuan's phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was the number for the Municipal Party Committee Secretary's office.

Once the call connected, the voice of Secretary Kang Kewu came through.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, prepare yourself. Accompany me to Beijing this afternoon."

Although he was a bit surprised, since the Municipal Party Committee Secretary had called personally, Qin Chuan agreed immediately, "Okay, I'll come over right away."

After tidying up a bit, Qin Chuan arrived at the Municipal Party Committee to meet with Secretary Kang Kewu.

Besides Qin Chuan, there were several other relevant leaders. Seeing that everyone had arrived, Secretary Kang Kewu did not hold anything back.

"Everyone, you should all have heard about the Jianhai high-speed rail. Currently, there are two main proposals. The first proposal is to pass through our Ningzhou, and the second proposal is to pass through the neighboring Yi'an City..."

Everyone listened carefully to Secretary Kang Kewu's explanation.

The Jianhai high-speed rail, with a total length of over 600 kilometers, was a key high-speed rail project this year and one of the most important branch lines in the domestic high-speed rail network.

If they could fight for it to pass through Ningzhou, it would greatly improve Ningzhou's traffic conditions. This project was a must-win.

Especially since Zhang Qun had brought in such a large investment, he, as the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, could not be outdone. If he could secure this high-speed rail project, it would be a huge achievement.

Logically speaking, if a mayor brought in a large investment, the Municipal Party Committee Secretary would also share in the glory, but Zhang Qun's approach was a bit underhanded; he always intentionally or unintentionally avoided Secretary Kang Kewu, the top leader, as if afraid he would steal his credit.

After explaining, Secretary Kang Kewu said, "We will set off for the Provincial Capital Airport after lunch, arrive in Beijing today, and visit the leaders of the relevant ministries tomorrow."

Everyone nodded, understanding the purpose of this trip.

After the short meeting, Secretary Kang Kewu specially asked Qin Chuan to stay behind, closed the door, and quietly asked.

"Comrade Qin Chuan, I heard you have some connections in Beijing. Can we make use of them this time?"

Qin Chuan smiled, "Secretary Kang, I will try my best, but I can't guarantee it will be effective."

He certainly couldn't reveal his trump cards, so he could only speak in such an ambiguous way.

The more he acted like this, the more mysterious others found him. Regardless, Secretary Kang Kewu nodded, placing high hopes on Qin Chuan, which was also the important reason why he had specifically called Qin Chuan to accompany him to Beijing.

At around two in the afternoon, Secretary Kang Kewu personally led the team, including Qin Chuan, and the group of seven left Ningzhou for Beijing.

Zhang Qun had naturally heard about this. After hearing his secretary's report, he curled his lips and thought to himself, this time they were destined to do useless work. He had heard from Deputy Secretary Tang of the Provincial Party Committee that the high-speed rail plan was basically finalized; it would not pass through Ningzhou but would pass through the neighboring Yi'an City. It just hadn't been officially announced yet.

Since the higher-ups had basically decided, running to Beijing now meant they were destined to return empty-handed and humiliated.