Saved a meal's cost, even the accommodation fee.

What's more important is that I only had a little pocket money on me. If I had to host the event myself, I would need to apply for funds from my seniors. Now there's no need to ask my seniors for money. Han Yu felt quite pleased inside, just as the Management Committee's Party and Government Office called, informing that Secretary Ye and Mayor Qian accompanied Vice Mayor Qin to the city district, and Deputy Mayor Shen was back.

Han Yu locked the door and hurried to the Management Committee. Han Xiangning was preparing to return to Bailong Port when he arrived, so they went upstairs together into the Secretary's office.

"Salted Fish, Xiao Chen said you came back early?"

"Mhm."

"Knowing that we were accompanying Mayor Qin for the inspection, why didn't you come find us?" Deputy Mayor Shen asked, feigning displeasure as he gestured for them to sit down.

Scratching his head and with an embarrassed look, Han Yu replied, "With so many leaders accompanying, why would I crowd around? Besides, after patrolling the East Sea for over twenty days, the task on the water is over; I need to go back and check on the police station."

Han Xiangning couldn't help but laugh, "Deputy Mayor Shen, his master didn't like hosting leaders when he was alive. It can be said that not liking to entertain leaders is a tradition."

"That's not a good tradition, it needs to change."

"If it could change, then it wouldn't be a tradition."

Han Yu grinned, curious, "Deputy Mayor Shen, what did Mayor Qin come to inspect this time? Did he say anything?"

Sitting down, Deputy Mayor Shen said, "He came to inspect the construction of the development zone and put forward many requirements. He also reported a situation that has placed a lot of pressure on us."

"What situation?"

"It's not just us Linghai people who have a Yangtze River coastline; Changzhou does too. They not only plan to build a port like us, but Mayor Hou, who I mentioned to you last time, personally led a team abroad for investment attraction. Mayor Qin said they are nearly in agreement with a major South Korean shipbuilding company; the company intends to invest there to set up a shipyard. The investment is in the billions, and they aim to build big ships!"

Changzhou has a 25.9-kilometer-long Yangtze River coastline, which is the segment from Yingchuan Port to Lingda Car Ferry, located between the Binjiang Economic and Technological Development Zone and the Linghai Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Geographically speaking, although their coastline is not long, their location is far better than Linghai Economic Development Zone. I heard Binjiang is planning to build the Yangtze River Bridge, which will be on their side.

Whether as a member of Linghai Development Zone Party Working Committee or as one of the Linghai people, Han Yu felt pressure the same as Deputy Mayor Shen and asked in surprise, "Changzhou started their port construction two years later than us, how come they are moving so fast?"

"They have a competent Deputy Mayor."

"Mayor Hou?"

"That's Hou Xiu Feng, formerly the director of Si Gang Silk Weaving Factory, very famous in light textiles, particularly silk industry. He was among the first batch of university students post the resumption of college entrance exams, graduated from East Sea Traffic University, not only understands management and business but also has seen much of the world."

Han Xiangning didn't have a favorable view of Si Gang's silk industry, only knew about their monopoly on buying up silkworm cocoons, and couldn't help but ask, "Seen much of what kind of world?"

Facing a formidable opponent, Deputy Mayor Shen was truly frustrated and said helplessly, "He's not only been received by the central commanders but also accompanied the central commanders as a delegate on foreign visits. He speaks several foreign languages, even better English than your family's Salted Fish."

"That impressive!"

"In recent years, Si Gang's silk has been one of the main export products in our province, just like Linghai's eel fry, even the national standards for silk production were set with their participation. He really has the capability, so when provincial leaders come to Binjiang to inspect and research the economy, they all make a point to see him."

"Now he is not doing silk, but turning to learn from us to develop port economy?"

"That's why we need a sense of crisis."

Deputy Mayor Shen took a deep breath and got to the point, "Salted Fish, after you assisted the Fishery Administration in apprehending those engaged in illegal eel fry fishing, I called a meeting with the heads of the local ship repair enterprises by the river. Initially, I thought they would not be interested in repairing sea-going vessels, particularly foreign vessels since they had never done it before and lacked the technical capability, but to my surprise, they were very interested."

"Really?" Han Yu asked with a smile.

"Not only are they interested, but after reporting to Secretary Ye and Mayor Qian, both Secretary Ye and Mayor Qian are very interested as well. They requested that we fully support the local ship repair enterprises in upgrading and transforming, striving to get the business of repairing sea-going vessels, especially foreign vessels, up and running within this year."

Deputy Mayor Shen opened a drawer and took out a feasibility study report.

Crossing into a new field is like facing a mountain; others do not understand but Han Yu and Han Xiangning do without needing to read any reports.

To the uninformed, ship repair seems like a dead-end, but the reality is quite the opposite, as it's not just about maintenance; it's also about import and export trade.

Because foreign ships come for repairs, the replaced equipment and parts during maintenance are considered exports, even labor costs are included in the parts and counted as exports.

Not only can this generate foreign exchange, but ship repair enterprises can also apply for tax rebates.

Moreover, since they involve foreign vessels, their tonnage cannot be small; any maintenance under 350,000 US Dollars falls into the category of minor projects.

Like Linghai, Changzhou City has both the Yangtze River coastline and a coastal line. Last year, Changzhou developed a coastal tidal flat area and made a big fuss about borrowing 1.55 million US Dollars from the World Bank through some channel; if Linghai can start servicing foreign vessels by the end of the year, it would be equivalent to what Changzhou has developed in tidal flats!

In short, repairing foreign vessels has both prestige and profits, and can even help the development zone generate foreign exchange; naturally, city leaders are interested.

Han Yu took the feasibility report, his face twisting in distress as he asked, "Is there something for me to do?"

Deputy Mayor Shen chuckled, "Not only is there something for you, but there's also something for Ningning. If foreign vessels want to come to our development zone for maintenance, they first need approval from the Port Supervision Bureau, arrangement of pilotage, and even the engagement of tugboats for towing. Customs and Health Inspection will need to conduct inspections, and during maintenance, Border Inspection has to arrange for Armed Police to oversee."

"Are all these tasks up to us?"

"If you don't want to do it, you can recommend someone else to me."

"I can't recommend anyone; I don't know who can handle these tasks."

"That's the point. You and your spouse can first help with the contacts, help facilitate communication and coordination. If I need to show up, just call me. If Secretary Ye and Mayor Qian need to get involved, I will take responsibility to invite them. If I can't get them, I'll take the blame."

"I can't just speak empty words to people; when asking for help, you're supposed to treat them to a meal."

This kid is really stingy and tight-fisted!

Deputy Mayor Shen couldn't help but laugh, "Funds are not an issue."

When a leader gives you a task, how could there be no funds allocated to it? Even having to ask this is really embarrassing. Han Xiangning felt awkward, wondering if she had been too strict before...

Han Yu didn't know that his "schoolmate" was reflecting on whether there was a problem with "house training." He pondered and asked again, "What if we spend the money, and the job doesn't get done?"

Encountering such a stingy "Salted Fish," Deputy Mayor Shen was thoroughly impressed and without doubt said, "The job must be done! I've already pledged a military order with Secretary Ye and Mayor Qian; the development zone has to generate 5 million US Dollars this year. If we fail to complete it, none of the development zone officials, including me, will be getting a bonus at the end of the year."

Bonuses are equivalent to one month's salary!

The salary of officials is not high to begin with; how can one get through the year without a bonus... Han Yu muttered in his mind and couldn't resist asking, "What if we achieve the goal?"

"As long as we complete the foreign exchange generation and investment attraction tasks, not only will the bonus be issued as usual, but it will also be more than what we had last year."

"Double?"

"Double? What's that? Salted Fish, can't you aim a little higher?" Deputy Mayor Shen once more opened his drawer, took out a document with a red heading, and handed it over to Han Yu, "Take a look, this is formulated with reference to the reward measures from Shuzhou Development Zone and Kunshan Development Zone."

Without looking, one would not know once Han Yu looked, he immediately grinned.

"So there are incentive measures. With these rewards, everyone will have the motivation and something to look forward to."

"..."

As a member of the Development Zone Party Working Committee and Director of the Development Zone Police Bureau, the fact he's utterly fixated on money left Deputy Mayor Shen momentarily at a loss for words.

Han Xiangning felt more embarrassed than before, not wanting to let him continue embarrassing himself. She quickly cleared her throat, "Mayor Shen, if there's nothing else, we'll head back now."

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