dmims Chapter 111 Welcome Dinner
Chapter 111 Welcome Dinner
After the train stopped at the station, Lin Zhou and the rest of the inspection team stepped off the train and were greeted by several cadres in smart Zhongshan suits.
The man in the lead was about fifty years old, with a kind face and just the right amount of enthusiasm in his eyes. He reached out his hands from a distance and took the initiative to shake Old Huo's hands.
His voice was loud and friendly: "Mr. Huo, Mr. Bao, fellow overseas Chinese businessmen, you must be tired from your journey! I am the Director of the Commerce Department, and I have come here to pick you up. Let's go to the Sijiucheng Hotel to settle down and get some rest."
The group had been crammed onto a slow, green train for days, enduring three days and three nights of bumpy travel, and were all somewhat weary from the journey. Hearing that there was a place to rest, a sense of relief appeared on everyone's faces.
Several cars that had been waiting outside the platform lined up in a row. Although they were simple, old-fashioned models, they were polished to a shine, exuding a sense of solemnity.
Once in the car, Lin Zhou rolled down half the window and looked out. The streets of Beijing were wide and smooth, and there were still many pedestrians on the road. Fortunately, their convoy was being led by police cars, so no cars or people were blocking the road. Most of the pedestrians were wearing blue and gray work clothes or cloth clothes.
The cyclists formed a magnificent sight, their bicycle bells ringing incessantly, giving the whole city a slow-paced vitality, quite different from the fast-paced life in Hong Kong.
Occasionally, a few buildings with Soviet-style features flash by, their gray walls and red roofs exuding solemnity and grandeur, a stark contrast to the towering skyscrapers of Hong Kong. These buildings may have been constructed during the Soviet Union's aid efforts.
Before long, the car stopped in front of the Sijiucheng Hotel. It was a fairly large building, with a clean and tidy entrance that wasn't flashy, and the red lanterns hanging at the entrance gave it a festive feel.
As soon as we got off the bus, the hotel staff came up to us. They were all dressed in white shirts and black trousers, with shy but attentive smiles, and led us to our rooms.
The room was simply but neatly furnished, with a large bed made up, a coffee table, two sofas, and a potted green ivy on the windowsill. Although it lacked the luxurious decor of a Hong Kong hotel, it was bright and clean, exuding a refreshing and reassuring atmosphere.
The leaders of the Commerce Department personally escorted everyone to their rooms and gave them a few more words of advice: "You must all be tired from your journey. Take a hot shower and rest for a few hours."
At 7 PM, a light meal will be served in the hotel banquet hall to welcome everyone. Several colleagues from different departments will also be there to meet and chat with you all.
After saying this, he exchanged a few more polite words, then took his leave with his entourage, without causing any further disturbance, demonstrating a perfect sense of propriety.
Lin Zhou also saw the leader off, returned to his room, sat on the bed, rested for a while, then took out his toiletries and clothes from his spatial storage and went to the bathroom to take a good shower. After coming out, he felt that most of the fatigue from the journey had disappeared in that instant.
As evening approached, Lin Zhou woke up from his bed. After a restful afternoon, his fatigue from the journey had lessened somewhat.
Lin Zhou changed into a clean shirt and trousers, tidied his hair, and headed down the corridor towards the banquet hall. Just as he reached the entrance, he heard bursts of hearty laughter coming from inside.
Old Master Huo and Ship King Bao had already arrived and were chatting happily with several officials. Lin Zhou quickly stepped forward and greeted them one by one. Before long, the other overseas Chinese businessmen in the inspection team also arrived one after another, and the small banquet hall gradually became lively.
At 7:00 PM sharp, the banquet officially began.
The senior leader of the Commerce Department stood up, raised his wine glass, cleared his throat, and his voice, amplified through the loudspeaker, resounded throughout the hall: "Fellow overseas Chinese, friends, welcome to Beijing from Hong Kong!"
You are all virtuous and wise individuals who have your hearts set on our motherland. We are deeply moved and grateful that you have taken time out of your busy schedules to return and conduct this inspection! I propose that the first toast be to your hard work on your journey, and also to the deep-rooted kinship we share!
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone raised their glasses, the clinking of the glasses producing a crisp sound. Lin Zhou took a sip of the liquor; it was authentic Fenjiu, its spicy flavor spreading across his tongue, yet carrying a mellow aftertaste that invigorated him.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the atmosphere at the table gradually warmed up. Leaders from various departments stood up one after another, taking the opportunity of toasting to share their thoughts with everyone.
The first person to stand up was an official from the Ministry of Industry. He was about fifty years old and had a simple and earnest expression on his face. He spoke directly and without any pretense: "Dear bosses, I am from the Ministry of Industry."
To be honest, the industrial base of mainland China is still weak. Many factories have outdated equipment, and workers are hoping to have more stable jobs.
If you are willing to invest and build factories, whether in light industry, heavy industry, or electronics, we welcome you with open arms! We have the most reliable and hardworking workforce; we can coordinate land according to your needs; and we will spare no effort to provide the necessary infrastructure!
His words resonated deeply, prompting many overseas Chinese businessmen at the table to nod slightly. Land prices in Hong Kong are incredibly high, and labor costs are rising daily, while the advantages of the mainland are undeniably real.
Immediately afterwards, a leader from the Ministry of Culture also came over with a wine glass in hand. His tone was much gentler, and he had a refined smile on his face: "You are all leaders in Hong Kong's business community, and many of you are also involved in the cultural and entertainment industry."
Our Chinese nation has a cultural heritage spanning five thousand years, and our ancestors left behind countless treasures, including opera, film, calligraphy, and painting—all of which are worth savoring.
I'd like to ask everyone if you could help build a bridge so that mainland Chinese films can also be shown on Hong Kong screens. Let more Hong Kong compatriots see the mountains and rivers of the mainland, and experience our local customs and culture.
These words caused a brief silence to fall over the room. Lin Zhou's heart stirred. He knew that the mainland's film industry was still in its infancy, quite different from Hong Kong's flourishing scene. If this could be facilitated, it would not only be a cultural exchange but also a win-win business deal.
Subsequently, officials from the tax and industry and commerce departments took turns speaking, and every word they spoke was practical and relevant. Especially when discussing tax policies, the tax official's words were particularly insightful.
The audience was astonished: "We will grant all overseas Chinese businesses investing in the mainland a three-year tax exemption and a five-year 50% tax reduction! This is our sincerity and our determination to revitalize the economy!"
"Three years of tax exemption, five years of 50% reduction!"
These words were like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples in everyone's hearts. Several overseas Chinese businessmen couldn't help but whisper among themselves, their eyes filled with emotion. In Hong Kong, taxes were heavy and competition was fierce; such favorable conditions were simply unprecedented.
Lin Zhou sat at the table, his fingertips lightly tracing the rim of his wine glass, his mind in turmoil. He could tell that there was not a trace of pretense in the leaders' words; every promise revealed a do-or-die determination.
This land desperately needs a vigorous development; these officials are eager to boost the economy.
Old Master Huo and Ship King Bao exchanged a glance, both of them looking thoughtful. Having weathered many storms in the business world over the years, they were naturally not one to make promises lightly.
After everyone had finished speaking, Old Master Huo slowly stood up, holding his wine glass, his voice steady and powerful: "We have all felt the sincerity of the leaders. To be honest, this trip north is not only to seek business opportunities, but also to trace our roots."
However, investing in and building a factory is no small matter; it concerns the livelihoods of thousands of employees and the long-term development of the company. We need to travel around more, observe more, and conduct on-site investigations of the conditions in various places before making a decision.
The shipping magnate nodded in agreement: "Old Huo is right. We came here with a sincere heart to learn and investigate. We can discuss the specific details of the cooperation later, later."
Upon hearing this, the leaders at the table were not disappointed at all; instead, they all laughed. The leader from the Ministry of Industry waved his hand, his tone still earnest: "What you all say makes sense! Major investments should be carefully considered before proceeding. In the coming days, we will arrange for you to visit factories and scenic spots in various places, so that you can truly understand the situation in our inland areas!"
The atmosphere at the dinner party grew increasingly lively. Amidst the clinking of glasses, there were no empty formalities, only genuine heart-to-heart talks.