"Old Wang, you’ll preside over today’s meeting. We’ve already discussed the main content of the planning with you. I’m going to meet this number one person in the country."
"Xiao Li, you’re responsible for notifying the cafeteria. Comrades from each county and district will eat in the cafeteria today. If we have a harvest this time, there might be an emergency meeting tonight."
"Everyone, be prepared. If our Jinling Administration for Industry and Commerce can seize this opportunity and learn valuable experience, everyone must implement it as quickly as possible."
Seeing Zhao Weimin attach so much importance to it, he left a group of stunned county and district administration leaders and walked out.
Li Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he hadn't misjudged this time.
In Director Zhao's eyes, the significance of the owner of the first private business in the country far outweighed the perfunctory meeting that had just taken place.
"Xiao Li, is he really the boss of the 'Dream Recall Radio' from An Province?"
"Is he planning to open a radio store in our Jinling? We have a radio factory in Jianye. If they need any technical support, we can help solve it. Make sure he comes to Jianye first."
"Our Jiangning can provide the best commercial spaces. As long as they come to open a store, our Jiangning Administration for Industry and Commerce will cooperate fully with promotional work."
...
Once Zhao Weimin left, everyone's thoughts began to stir.
Those who can reach the position of head of an administration for industry and commerce in a county or district are not stupid. They are very aware of what achievements the leader wants to see now.
Don't think it's absurd for officials to beg you to do business. Let alone now, when the individual economy is just starting, even in the 1990s or the 21st century.
In many inland provinces, leaders of investment promotion bureaus would grovel to attract foreign capital and funds from developed regions to do business and establish enterprises locally.
They offered land, policies, anything.
There was no choice. As the reform and opening-up deepened, GDP became the most important indicator for assessing the performance and capability of leading cadres.
Who doesn't want to be promoted, who doesn't want to move up?
Although it wasn't as exaggerated as it would become later, it was obvious that someone who had achieved success in An Province had been personally received by a high-level leader.
Such honor might be unattainable for those present in their entire lives, and someone who achieved success might even be promoted with a word from the leader.
Everyone with a clear eye knew that the individual economy must be developed on a large scale and achieve results. Everyone wanted to be the first to seize this opportunity.
"Stop, stop, everyone hold on."
"Whatever ideas you have, report them after Director Zhao has met the guests. For now, let's continue with the original meeting agenda."
Wang Dechao cleared his throat. Zhao Weimin had specifically asked him to preside today; otherwise, he, as a deputy, would absolutely not have taken on this role.
Rules are rules. With so many heads of county and district administrations for industry and commerce present, no one except Zhao Weimin had the qualification to preside over this meeting.
"Let's first summarize the progress of each county and district in various aspects of work in the past year. Liu Dafa, let's start with Jianye."
...
As Wang Dechao began to preside over the meeting, Li Ming quickly followed Zhao Weimin out. With so many county and district heads present, he had to hurry and instruct the cafeteria to prepare meals, and also ensure the guesthouse had its rooms cleaned.
If the meeting ran late, these leaders definitely wouldn't be able to go back. Although Zhao Weimin hadn't assigned this task, if there were no rooms when they needed to stay, it would be his dereliction of duty.
"Director Zhao, is this the owner of 'Dream Recall Radio,' Chen Yang? These two gentlemen are also from 'Dream Recall Radio.' This is Zhang Weiyang, and this is Lei Baoguo."
As a basic skill, Li Ming was responsible for receiving them. Before finding Zhao Weimin in his office, he had already learned about the three of them. Otherwise, how could he introduce them to the leader?
In fact, he was suited to be a secretary. Zhao Weimin had placed him in the reception role primarily to train him, and also because the Administration for Industry and Commerce had just been established and was severely understaffed.
If he were to specifically assign someone as a secretary, it would mean one less person working in the bureau, so Li Ming was handling reception duties and sometimes assisting him with work matters.
"Chen Yang, is it? I've long admired your great name. Come, let's go to my office and sit for a while."
"And these two comrades, I believe I spoke with the leaders of your An Province Feishi Administration for Industry and Commerce on the phone. These two are in charge of the business there."
Zhao Weimin warmly invited Chen Yang and the others to his office. The administration's premises were too small, occupying the former site of the Municipal Management Committee. Besides the conference room, there wasn't even a decent reception room for clients.
Otherwise, Zhao Weimin wouldn't have taken Chen Yang and the others to his office for a talk.
"Director Zhao, since you have some understanding of our 'Dream Recall Radio,' I won't beat around the bush."
"Our 'Dream Recall' has basically completed its store rollout across An Province. The next step is to expand our business scale by venturing out of the province."
"Coincidentally, I am from Jinling. I came back to my hometown for the Lunar New Year and felt that our Su Province has great potential. My fiancée, Comrade Li Jing, mentioned she knows Brother Dehan."
"Yesterday, I asked Brother Dehan to introduce us to you, Director Zhao. That's why we've come to disturb you today without prior appointment."
Chen Yang was very respectful. The attitude of this official towards his business would directly affect his expansion plans in Su Province.
Opportunities like this weren't as readily available as before. He had just saved the children of the head of the Qinghe City Administration for Industry and Commerce.
"This little rascal, he went straight to sleep when he got back yesterday and didn't say a word. I'll break his legs when I get back! He didn't tell me about something so important."
Zhao Weimin's face almost turned green upon hearing Chen Yang's words.
This little brat! If he had said something yesterday, Zhao Weimin wouldn't have arranged a meeting for today.
Chen Yang's heart sank upon hearing Zhao Weimin's words. Why was Director Zhao suddenly losing his temper? Was he a stubborn traditionalist, firmly opposed to the individual economy?
Otherwise, why would he be so angry, even taking it out on his son?
"Director Zhao, if you have any misunderstandings about the individual economy, we can find another place to cooperate. Please don't blame Brother Dehan. He's treating us as friends, which is why he offered to help."
Chen Yang became slightly wary. If Jinling didn't permit it, no matter how much money there was to be made, he wouldn't dare to offend the head of the administration for industry and commerce.
He didn't want to end up in jail before his child was even born.
"Find another place? Jinling has plenty of places. We are precisely hoping you will invest in Jinling."
"No question about it. Take our Jinling Department Store building. We can satisfy whatever storefront you want."
"Now, I want to establish a commercial pilot program in Jinling. I refuse to believe that Jinling's individual economy cannot develop."
Zhao Weimin declared with conviction. Upon hearing his words, Chen Yang's suspended heart finally settled.
So, it turned out he was on their side.