"There's a possibility. In business, whether it's private or government, there are always gains and losses, just like in Hefei, the provincial capital. The Hefei State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission has invested heavily in recent years, with most of it being successful. A small portion has failed. If it fails, it's fine; we start again."
Chen Feng replied calmly.
"You mean you've prepared for Li Hongling's failure?"
Qin Yan was stunned.
"That's normal."
"This is not normal. The investment in the China-Europe freight train is enormous. If Li Hongling fails to raise funds, the losses for Mingshan City can be controlled. Governments can simply renege on their debts if a business fails, treating it as bad debt, and it wouldn't be a huge problem. But the issue is that your businesses might collapse. How about we think of other ways? It's best not to try to please the provincial capital; the risk is too great."
Qin Yan earnestly advised Chen Feng.
"It's fine, Mayor Qin. In today's society, everything has risks, especially when undertaking major ventures. It's impossible to avoid all risks. At worst, if the business is wiped out, I still have you three women, and we can make a comeback."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"Are you truly not going to regret it?"
Qin Yan looked at Chen Feng with a complicated expression.
"Don't worry, there's nothing to regret. Besides, I believe in Li Hongling. If she weren't capable, how could she have been the head of the Mingshan City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission for so long without incident? Moreover, for Li Hongling to grow, she needs to be tested. I plan to hold a high-level position in China in the future, and I'll need an excellent economic hand as an assistant."
Chen Feng said with a serious expression.
"Alas, your trust in women... I truly don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing."
After a sigh, Qin Yan stopped pressing the issue.
At this point, they could only hope for the best.
Regardless, she had no way to deal with the provincial economic investigation team.
Chen Feng didn't hesitate and went directly to Li Hongling.
"Brother Feng, are you joking with me? The China-Europe freight train involves a massive scale of funds, and you want me to raise them?"
Li Hongling was completely taken aback.
"I believe in you."
Chen Feng said with a faint smile.
"Brother Feng, you believe in me, but I don't believe in myself. The funds to be raised this time are an astronomical figure; I really can't handle it."
Li Hongling looked troubled.
She wasn't afraid of anything else, but she feared dragging Brother Feng down and causing him to lose all his personal assets. She would regret it for the rest of her life.
"Xiao Ling, you know me. I can't be a second-in-command of a county-level city forever. I intend to enter the high ranks of Chinese politics. If your economic capabilities don't improve, how can you help me in the future?"
Chen Feng retorted.
"I can improve slowly."
Li Hongling said softly.
"There's no time to improve slowly. Moreover, such astronomical investment opportunities don't come around all the time. This time, the China-Europe freight train is a good opportunity."
Chen Feng persuaded Li Hongling.
"Do we really have to do this?"
Li Hongling asked with a solemn expression.
"Mhm."
"Brother Feng, I promise you, I will use the Mingshan City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission to find ways to raise funds. However, you still need to help from your end. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease."
Li Hongling said with sincere earnestness.
"Xiao Ling, hearing you say that, have you thought of a way to raise funds?"
Chen Feng's heart stirred.
To be honest, among their group, Li Hongling had grown the fastest.
"I do have a way, but I don't know if you're willing to do it."
Li Hongling asked cautiously.
"You are my sworn sister. Whatever you want to do, I will definitely support it. Moreover, this matter is of great benefit to Mingshan City and to me, so I will support it even more. Quickly tell me what you want me to do?"
Chen Feng asked excitedly.
"Brother Feng, it's like this. This time, Mingshan City wants to make the China-Europe freight train bigger and stronger, and also wants to delegate some projects to the provincial capital, which requires huge funds. Relying solely on Mingshan City's capital market is not enough; we must rely on the strength of the China Dragon Tiger Club."
Li Hongling revealed her true thoughts without any reservation.
"How do you know about the China Dragon Tiger Club?"
Chen Feng was momentarily stunned.
The China Dragon Tiger Club was a small group formed by several wealthy businessmen in China. They were usually very low-key, and it was impossible for ordinary people to know about its existence. He hadn't expected Li Hongling to know about it.
"Brother Feng, I didn't know about the China Dragon Tiger Club before. However, as I became the head of the Mingshan City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, and with your businesses growing larger, my horizons have broadened, and I naturally learned about it. However, knowing is as good as not knowing; with my current identity, I can't get into the Dragon Tiger Club at all."
Li Hongling replied earnestly.
"The crucial point is, I can't get into the Dragon Tiger Club either. Although my businesses are quite large, compared to those people in the Dragon Tiger Club, I'm still a junior."
Chen Feng said deliberately.
"Brother Feng, with your current identity, in both politics and business, you indeed cannot enter the Dragon Tiger Club. However, you have Miss Wang Ziwei..."
Li Hongling said earnestly.
"Li Hongling, you've become much more mature than when you were working in the electronics factory; you can think about problems now. Since you've brought it up to this point, I won't hide anything. Don't worry, I will arrange for Wang Ziwei to make arrangements, and both of us will enter the Dragon Tiger Club simultaneously. However, it will be as service staff. Then, it will depend on your ability to find an opportunity to persuade the Dragon Tiger Club to invest in the Mingshan City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission."
Chen Feng explained.
"Brother Feng, you can rest assured too. As long as I have the opportunity to join the Dragon Tiger Club, I will find a way to get these business magnates in the Dragon Tiger Club to agree to invest in the Mingshan City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission."
Li Hongling said confidently.
"Xiao Ling, you are my sworn sister, and I won't hide anything. Ask whatever you want. You're not planning to use your body as a bargaining chip, are you? If that's the case, I'd rather be sent to prison by the provincial economic investigation team than have you do something like that."
Chen Feng said with a serious expression.
"Brother Feng, are you underestimating me too much? Back then, when I was working in the electronics factory in Sanhai Province, I never thought about using my body to climb up. Now that I am the head of the Mingshan City State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, I would never consider using my body to climb up. I am your sworn sister, and with your high aspirations, how could I possibly hold you back?"
Li Hongling explained immediately.
She was not only Chen Feng's sworn sister but also his woman, so naturally, she didn't want Chen Feng to misunderstand her.
"Since that's the case, then we shall wait and see."
Chen Feng smiled with relief.
After chatting for a while longer, Chen Feng called Wang Ziwei.
Wang Ziwei naturally agreed.
The provincial economic investigation team was already investigating Chen Feng, so she had to step in to help him.
Currently, Mingshan City and Jiangcheng City were both at a critical stage of development and merger. At this time, Chen Feng absolutely could not have any accidents.
Once Jiangcheng City merged with a super large prefecture-level city, Chen Feng's political status would undoubtedly take a qualitative leap, marking a crucial step for Chen Feng towards the high ranks of Chinese politics.
Therefore, under Wang Ziwei's arrangements, Chen Feng and Li Hongling entered a seven-star hotel as service staff, waiting for an opportunity to encounter some business magnates from the Dragon Tiger Club.
After entering the seven-star hotel, Li Hongling directly told Chen Feng that they should not pretend to be service staff.
"If we don't pretend to be service staff, how can we get close to the Dragon Tiger Club magnates?"
Chen Feng asked tentatively.
"Brother Feng, if we are in the capacity of service staff, even if we get close to the Dragon Tiger Club magnates, we won't be able to speak to them, nor can we negotiate. In the end, it will all be in vain."
Li Hongling explained earnestly.