stonecrandall Chapter 112 Meeting with the Leader
Chapter 112 Meeting with the Leader
The banquet ended when the guests and hosts had eaten and drunk their fill. The banquet hall was littered with cups and plates. The waiters quickly cleaned up after everyone got up and left. Several college student translators who had been temporarily brought in followed behind the group, talking in hushed tones.
Lin Zhou followed the Hong Kong inspection team, walking silently towards his guest room. He walked slowly; ever since he made those remarks on the train, he no longer wanted to be in the limelight and preferred to keep a low profile.
As he walked, he pondered the words of the top leader at the banquet: "Reform and opening up is an inevitable trend. We welcome insightful people from home and abroad to invest and start businesses on this fertile land in the mainland."
Those words were resounding and powerful. To others, they might have sounded like polite welcome remarks, but to Lin Zhou, they were like a stone thrown into a deep pool that had been calm for many years, creating ripples. These were not just polite words; they were genuine and heartfelt words.
Lin Zhou silently returned to his assigned room, closed the door behind him, shutting out the noise outside.
This is the best room in the Beijing Hotel. The walls are covered with wallpaper, a small crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling, and there is a rectangular tea table with a set of exquisite porcelain teacups on it.
Lin Zhou found the kettle under the tea table, unscrewed the thermos cap, and poured more than half a cup of hot water into the cup. The rising steam blurred his features.
He sat on the soft sofa, holding a water glass, his fingertips touching the warm glass, but his mind was in turmoil.
During his few days in mainland China, he saw many places on the train. He saw construction sites bustling with activity amidst the dust, farmers toiling away in the fields, and street vendors setting up stalls on the streets and alleys of the city.
These scenes are both strange and familiar. Strange because of the poverty and simplicity of the 1980s, and familiar because of the vigorous, upward-looking, and burgeoning vitality.
He wasn't from this era. His soul came from decades later, from a time of towering buildings, bustling traffic, and China having already become the world's second-largest economy. He knew all too well what a golden opportunity lay hidden in this seemingly backward era.
For more than a decade after illegally immigrating to Hong Kong, he started by acquiring a newspaper and worked his way up step by step to build a large conglomerate with tens of thousands of employees.
Now he has amassed a considerable fortune. Although this money was not earned through his sweat and tears, every penny reflects the hardships of living far from home.
Among the delegation members who came to inspect the area, many Hong Kong businessmen were taking a wait-and-see approach. Some felt that the mainland was too poor, its infrastructure was underdeveloped, and the investment risk was too great.
Some people verbally agree to heed the call, but secretly they have ulterior motives, wanting only to make a quick buck and run. After all, it's their life's work; investing in it is like a high-stakes gamble.
But now that Lin Zhou was here, how could he possibly let the opportunity slip by? He thought of those entrepreneurs in later generations who seized the opportunities presented by reform and opening up and soared to great heights. He thought of those once insignificant small workshops that gradually grew into industry giants.
He recalled how those barren lands had risen to become bustling cities. He clearly remembered the saying, "If you stand on the cusp of a trend, even a pig can fly."
And now, it's that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Lin Zhou raised his hand and drank the hot water in the cup in one gulp. The scalding liquid slid down his throat, soothing his restless heart. Hesitation and doubt vanished in that instant.
Hesitation and timidity will not lead to great achievements. Since we know the direction of the future and understand the potential of this land, why should we keep a low profile?
He suddenly stood up, quickly went to the restroom, took care of personal hygiene, and then quickly washed up.
Then he walked to the mirror, took the suit jacket off the rack, carefully straightened it and put it on. He looked up at the man in the mirror with sharp eyes, revealing a resolute determination.
Without further hesitation, he turned around, opened the door, and strode towards the hotel lobby.
The corridor was dimly lit, and occasionally a few other businessmen from Hong Kong would appear, chatting in small groups. Seeing Lin Zhou hurrying along, someone casually called out to him, "Zhou, where are you going so late?"
Lin Zhou didn't stop walking. He turned around, raised his chin, and said with a hint of certainty in his voice, "I have something to do. I need to find the restaurant manager."
As he spoke, he had already reached the lobby. The manager of the Sijiucheng Hotel was a middle-aged man in his fifties, wearing a well-fitting Zhongshan suit, and was busy instructing the staff on the final arrangements for the banquet.
Lin Zhou stepped forward, took out a pack of Hong Kong cigarettes, and offered it to him, saying politely but respectfully, "Manager, hello."
The manager turned around and saw Lin Zhou from the Hong Kong inspection team. A friendly smile appeared on his face as he reached out and took the cigarettes. "Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
Lin Zhou took a deep breath, his gaze earnest, his tone firm: "Manager, I'd like to ask you for a favor. Could you please help me get in touch with that high-ranking leader who spoke at the banquet tonight? I have some ideas about investing in mainland China and would like to discuss them with him in person."
Upon hearing this, the manager's smile faltered slightly. He sized up the young man before him; he was dressed in a suit and tie, his eyes bright, suggesting he wasn't just making things up. After all, that high-ranking leader was incredibly busy, not someone just anyone could see.
The manager hesitated for a moment before carefully speaking, "Sir, the senior leader's schedule is very full, and..."
"I know this is presumptuous," Lin Zhou interrupted him, his tone still sincere, "but I genuinely want to invest in the mainland, it's not just a passing fancy."
I am the owner of Hong Kong Zhonghua Group. The idea of investing in mainland China has been on my mind for a long time, and I feel that only by discussing it face-to-face can I explain it clearly. Thank you for your help; I will be extremely grateful regardless of whether it works out or not.
His gaze was unwavering, and the sincerity in his tone seemed genuine. The manager looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally nodded: "Okay, I'll ask around for you. Wait here for my news."
Lin Zhou's heart leaped with relief, filled with anticipation. He bowed deeply to the manager: "Thank you!"
The manager waved his hand and turned to walk towards his office.
The manager went to his desk, picked up the phone, dialed a number, and waited a moment for the call to connect.
"Hello! This is Wang Wenhua from the Beijing Hotel. Is this Secretary Li? Is the big boss available right now?"
"Manager Wang, is there anything I can help you with? The big boss isn't too busy right now; he'll be taking a break soon. If you have something important to say, I can pass it on for you." The implication is that if it's not important, there's no need to take up the boss's rest time.
"Here's the thing, the owner of Hong Kong Chung Wah Group said he wanted to meet with a senior leader alone. He's planning to come and invest, and he'll be investing all by himself. That's all, there are no other issues."
"Okay, I'll go ask the boss now!" Secretary Li put down the phone and walked towards the boss's study.
A moment later, Manager Wang's voice came through the phone again, "Manager Wang, the boss has agreed. Please bring him over!"
"Okay, Secretary Li, I'll take him there right away." Manager Wang hung up the phone and left the office.
Seeing Lin Zhou still waiting, he immediately stepped forward enthusiastically, "Sir, the leader has agreed to meet with you. Let me take you there!"
"Thank you, manager!" Lin Zhou quickly followed him out of the Beijing Hotel.