"Elder Cheng, speaking of repayment, there's actually something I need your help with."
Chen Feng thought for a moment before speaking his mind.
"Tell me whatever you need help with."
"I hope you can issue a document on behalf of Jiangcheng City to reduce the financial subsidies for the headquarters buildings of all project constructions in Mingshan City."
Chen Feng said, word by word.
"Chen Feng, did I hear you correctly? Mingshan City is a developed county-level city directly managed by the provincial capital. The reason Jiangcheng City provides financial subsidies to the headquarters buildings of all projects in Mingshan City is, frankly, to allow Mingshan City to develop on a larger scale. If Mingshan City develops, Jiangcheng City will definitely benefit a lot. Also, you are from Mingshan City, so this is a small gesture of consideration for you."
Cheng Liren explained.
"Elder Cheng, although those project construction headquarters in Mingshan City are beneficial for Mingshan City's development, in the long run, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. It would be better to relocate the headquarters buildings of all project constructions in Mingshan City to Wuzhou District."
Chen Feng said calmly.
"Chen Feng, setting aside for a moment the long-term impact of the headquarters buildings of all project constructions in Mingshan City on Mingshan City's development, you, as a local of Mingshan City, are trying to move your hometown's projects elsewhere. Doesn't this go against the unwritten rules of the power circles? Don't power brokers try to invest more in their hometowns? You, on the other hand, want to move so many project headquarters buildings out of Mingshan City. Aren't you afraid people will call you an ungrateful wretch?"
Cheng Liren looked at Chen Feng with a complex expression.
"Elder Cheng, I'd like to correct two points. First, I'm not suggesting Mingshan City move its project constructions, but rather its project construction headquarters buildings. These are two entirely different concepts. Project constructions are the real economy, with the focus on the construction sites. Project construction headquarters buildings are the financial industry, with the focus on office buildings. Second, I am indeed a local of Mingshan City, but my premise is that I am a person of Jiangcheng, and a Chinese. Therefore, one must view issues from a broader perspective."
Chen Feng continued to speak calmly.
"With your explanation, I understand. Ultimately, your current awareness in the power circles far surpasses mine, and you see further. Mingshan City is primarily based on high-tech industries. If the proportion of the financial industry is too large, it will indeed affect the development of Mingshan City's technology industry. Simply put, if one can make hundreds of millions by just waving a white glove, who would bother working hard in high-tech industries?"
Cheng Liren said smoothly.
"Thank you for your understanding, Elder Cheng."
Chen Feng said gratefully.
"You're welcome. Don't forget, I am the top leader of Jiangcheng. If Mingshan City and Wuzhou District develop, I, as the top leader, will also benefit. However, to be fair, even if Jiangcheng City cancels the subsidies for project construction headquarters buildings, it doesn't necessarily mean they will move to Wuzhou District."
Cheng Liren probed.
"Elder Cheng, I am confident they will move to Wuzhou District."
Chen Feng said confidently.
"Tell me more."
"Ten years of tax exemption!"
Chen Feng calmly uttered four words.
"What? Ten years of tax exemption? How is that possible? To put it bluntly, you won't even be in Wuzhou District for ten years. With a single statement, you're exempting project construction headquarters buildings from taxes for ten years, aren't you just dumping the mess on your successor? From what I know of you, you're not an irresponsible person like that."
Cheng Liren asked with confusion.
"Elder Cheng, actually, cities primarily based on the financial industry do not primarily focus on tax collection. Therefore, a ten-year tax exemption is not a significant loss."
Chen Feng replied calmly and composedly.
"Chen Feng, to be honest, before meeting you, I thought I was quite knowledgeable in economics. However, after you appeared, I feel like a country bumpkin, unable to understand many economic phenomena. For example, what you just said, that cities primarily based on the financial industry are not primarily focused on tax collection. That's strange. Whether it's China or the United States, aren't all levels of government primarily reliant on tax revenue?"
Cheng Liren asked with curiosity.
"Elder Cheng, let me explain briefly. Cities primarily based on the financial industry rely on land sales as their main source of income. The financial industry has high profits, and the bosses have money. Furthermore, the financial industry attracts a large number of white-collar workers, and white-collar workers are also the main force in buying houses. Naturally, if the financial industry is developed, real estate will also be very developed. And this is genuine development without any artificial inflation. At this point, the government can sell a piece of land for a price equivalent to several decades of total tax revenue. Not only that, but they can also charge management fees for every super high-rise building, which is also a significant source of income. Of course, whether it's selling land or charging management fees for super high-rise buildings, there's a prerequisite: the financial industry must be developed. In rural areas and factory districts, although land can also be sold, there's a lack of continuous momentum, and real estate is bound to collapse eventually. In cities with developed financial industries, real estate prices always remain high and do not fall."
Chen Feng patiently explained.
Cheng Liren was convinced.
One had to admit, Chen Feng was a truly qualified official.
His economic knowledge was profound and thorough.
Perhaps this was talent.
Just a few years ago, Chen Feng was merely a dedicated driver for a deputy town mayor. In the blink of an eye, Chen Feng had evidently become a macroeconomics expert.
Crucially, Chen Feng had not received professional training; he had learned and comprehended it through his practical experience in economic management at the grassroots level.
Unlike him, who attended international economic forums or specialized economic study classes organized by the Chinese government for city leaders every year, talent was simply talent.
After studying for so many years, the economic capabilities he had painstakingly accumulated were effortlessly surpassed by Chen Feng.
"Chen Feng, don't worry. I will definitely cooperate with you to move all the project construction headquarters buildings from Mingshan City to Wuzhou District, allowing Wuzhou District to develop into Jiangcheng's financial district, with towering buildings."
Cheng Liren said excitedly.
Mingshan District developing into a developed county-level city in China, and now Wuzhou District advancing towards becoming a strong financial district. Frankly, although these two major events were not directly related to him, as the top leader of Jiangcheng City, he would benefit to some extent.
It could be predicted that sooner rather than later, he would be promoted to the provincial capital.
One had to admit that Chen Feng, this young man, was truly his lucky star.
Before Chen Feng, his transfer to the provincial capital was a distant prospect.
However, with Chen Feng, the date of his transfer to the provincial capital was getting closer and closer.
Chen Feng chatted with Cheng Liren for a while longer before leaving.
He could have chatted for a while longer, but Cheng Lu had called him several times, urging him to leave.
Something major must have happened.
"Xiao Lu, what's wrong? You're calling so urgently."
Chen Feng asked directly.
"We need to go back to Wuzhou District quickly. Something big has happened to the Zhao family."
Cheng Lu said anxiously.
"Something big has happened to the Zhao family? What's going on?"
Chen Feng asked, sounding confused.
"Your phone was on silent, and Zhao Hongyan called several times without you answering, so she called me and told me to rush you back to Wuzhou District. There's been a mining accident at the Zhao family's mine."
Cheng Lu's face turned ashen.
No matter which power broker it was, the most feared thing was hearing about mining accidents or other incidents… Once these things occurred, it meant someone's position was in jeopardy.
"Let's go, we need to get back quickly."
Chen Feng didn't hesitate and drove towards Wuzhou District.
Rushing all the way, Chen Feng and Cheng Lu returned to Wuzhou District around noon. Without time to rest or eat, Chen Feng went directly to find Zhao Hongyan.
As soon as he entered Zhao Hongyan's office, Zhao Hongyan's whole body suddenly slumped into Chen Feng's arms.
Her body was trembling violently.
"Husband, it's over, it's really over this time."
Zhao Hongyan's tears flowed down uncontrollably.
"Miss Hongyan, tell me honestly, how many people died in this Zhao family mining accident?"
Chen Feng asked directly.
"Three... three... three people."
After hesitating, Zhao Hongyan replied with a guilty conscience.