Although Donghua City has banned fireworks in the city area in recent years, from New Year's Eve to midnight, the sound of firecrackers still came continuously from the residential areas near the hospital.

  Shen Huai slept on the hospital bed for a whole night, and in the morning, he was woken up by the loud firecrackers right next to his ears. He saw a firework rising from the window and exploding in mid-air, but had no idea who would set off firecrackers in front of the hospital building.

  Shen Huai lay down with his head in his hands, gazing out the window at the dull grey sky, and the bleak branches outside made the scenery look cold and monotonous.

  Shen Hua didn't mind being woken up by the firecrackers, and only this way could he slightly feel some New Year's atmosphere.

  But soon someone was dissatisfied with being woken up by the firecracker sounds and scolded loudly at the people downstairs; while the people who set off firecrackers under the residential building were not easy to mess with either, and they scolded back...

  The first day of the new year began in a state of anxiety and opposition at home.

  After washing up, Shen Hua changed into a new set of clothes and only then did he notice the big tear in his down jacket from yesterday's fall down the stairs. He thought to himself that if he wore this outfit to visit Tan Qiping for New Year's greetings, he might not even be able to get past the entrance of the residential compound.

  "Bang bang bang."

  Shen Huai walked over to open the door and saw that it was Chu Yiliang and Chu Qiang, carrying a full load of things, standing outside. He smiled and said: "It's only a few o'clock, I don't have breakfast service here?"

  "Come and pay New Year's greetings to Secretary Shen," said Chu Yiliang, "Besides, if Secretary Shen is not convenient in the hospital, you can also let Chu Qiang run some errands for him..."

  "Xiao Chu, go ask the nurse if we can handle the discharge procedures now? If not, I'll leave first and let someone else come over to handle it in the afternoon or tomorrow, is that okay?" Shen Huai instructed Chu Qiang.

  "Secretary Shen isn't staying in the hospital for a few more days of observation? Yesterday really scared everyone." said Chu Yiliang.

  "You said you all came early to pay New Year's greetings, and I couldn't drive you away. If I don't hurry up and get discharged, can I still be hospitalized?" Shen Huai laughed and waved his hand for Chu Qiang to go ask about the discharge.

  Shen Huai picked up the electric kettle, filled it with water and plugged it in. He first washed two tea cups clean and put them aside, then invited Chu Yiliang to sit down and said:

  "After the New Year, we will immediately start working on the establishment of Zilu Home Textiles Co., Ltd. with Mr. Chu as a joint venture partner. As for the foreign investment, I have entrusted Yeshin Bank to contact an overseas trust company, and they agreed to invest $800,000 to $1 million. All three parties will hold shares according to their actual investment amount. The asset audit will also be entrusted to Yeshin Bank or a local accounting firm, and we won't interfere with the company's specific operations. What do you think, Old Chu?"

  "Secretary Shen, you're hospitalized and still thinking of me, how can I ever repay your kindness?" Chu Yiliang hastily replied.

  Chu Yiliang has been doing business for twelve years, accumulating a fortune of five or six million, and is considered one of the wealthiest families in Meixi Town. However, he is not satisfied with this and has higher and farther ambitions for his career.

  Just limited to the contract rights may be transferred at any time, Zhu Yiliang did not dare to invest a lot of money to replace equipment and expand production. At one point, he wanted to buy the entire woolen mill or start anew and buy land to build a new factory. However, there are pros and cons to each option.

  Before 1994, the development of individual economy in Donghua area was relatively stable, but private enterprises were still in an embarrassing situation, and their identities were all problematic. They usually operated under the guise of township or state-owned enterprises.

  Even though the State Council promulgated the Company Law on New Year's Day in 1994, clearing some obstacles for the restructuring of state-owned and collective enterprises as well as the development of private enterprises, there was still no particularly strong voice at the national policy level to encourage the development of private economy. The status of private economy in the national economic system would not be formally established until a few years later.

  For Chui Yiliang, even with ambitions to do big business, he is worried about the possible fluctuations in economic policies in the future - Shen Huai's proposal to set up a new company jointly with the town and himself, and introduce foreign shareholders, is undoubtedly very much to Chui Yiliang's taste at this time.

  First, the equity is clear and there will be no disputes; secondly, a new company with the label of township enterprise and foreign capital has great convenience in the current domestic market, and also has a kind of guarantee in terms of market identity recognition. At the same time, it can also enjoy preferential conditions that private enterprises cannot enjoy in terms of taxation, loans, market access, etc.

  Establish a joint venture company, the new company will no longer occupy funds for land and factory buildings, and a large amount of funds can be specifically used for equipment updates and expanding production.

  At home, private enterprises must "collude with officials" to a certain extent and rely on power to become popular. However, the local officials encountered by Yu Liang before were not only greedy and incompetent but also short-sighted.

  Chu Yiliang has been in contact with Shen Hua for some time and is convinced that he is a far-sighted and highly professionally qualified official. Such officials, Chu Yiliang had never met before, thinking that even if there were any in the country, they should be rare.

  Even if Shen Hua personally wants to take a share in the new company, Tan Yi-liang is willing.

  Only by cooperating with officials like Shen Hua who have a broad vision, strong abilities and deep background can we make the cake bigger, so that everyone can get a big enough share later. Unlike some short-sighted and greedy officials who would snatch all the cake in your bowl at once.

  In response to Chu Yiliang's words of gratitude, Shen Huai just smiled and said: "The establishment of the new company is also extremely beneficial to the town. How could I not care? The old equipment at the woolen mill is something I'm very aware of. If we don't invest funds to upgrade and replace it, normal production demands will be hard to meet. After the joint venture company is established, Zilu Home Textiles will become the second enterprise in Meicun Town with a net worth of over 10 million, which can help the town achieve a significant increase in tax revenue and employment. Moreover, the town holds 40% of the shares in the new company. I believe that under your management, General Chu, the dividends brought by the new company to the town will be much higher than the contract fees..."

  "Hearing Secretary Shen's words, I can truly feel the weight on my shoulders. I may have let others down, but I cannot betray Secretary Shen's trust..." said Chu Yiliang.

  "It doesn't matter if I'm disappointed or not," Shen Huai said with a faint smile, "what's important is that we can't disappoint the land we live on. Old Chu, do you know what two things I admire most about you?"

  Chu Yiliang leaned in and listened respectfully.

  "Lao Zhu, you have principles in doing things and also have the determination to do great things."

  "Compared to Secretary Shen, I am truly inferior..." Chu Yiliang said humbly, but at the same time, he was also delighted to have gained Shen Hua's recognition.

  Shen Hua continued: "This time I advocate for the new company to introduce foreign shareholders, in addition to some practical benefits, but also hope that the new company can be more professional. Doing business, whether it's steel or embroidery home textiles, professionalism is the direction we need to work together towards..."

  Chu Yiliang nodded, Donghua City is located along the coast, although it is said that the overall economic development is lagging behind, mainly because of the state-owned and collective enterprises dragging their feet, individual economy is still quite active, local people have been saying "ten thousand yuan is not considered rich, one hundred thousand yuan is just a starting point" since 1990.

  Chu Yiliang can be said to be one of the first batch of people who went into business in Meixi Town, and his more than a decade-long career has allowed him to come into contact with many different kinds of people. There are dozens of local entrepreneurs worth tens or even hundreds of millions of yuan who have dealings with him, but few can give him guidance as insightful as Shen Huai's.

  When it comes to economic theory, Chu Yiliang also humbly sought advice and exchanged ideas with some famous economists and management scholars in the province and city. However, theories are just theories, and under Shen Huai's leadership, Meixi Steel Plant was miraculously revived in less than two or three months, how could Chu Yiliang not be convinced?

  ************

  After Dai Zhuang finished the discharge procedures, Shen Huai took Dai Yiliang's car back to Meixi Town, changed his clothes, and stuffed some gifts that others had given him into the trunk of the Passat. He then rushed to the municipal party committee villa district.

  Tan Qiping had an arrangement to visit the staff quarters of the municipal steel factory in the morning and was not at home. Su Kaiwen, although he will only officially take office after the New Year, has already participated in some official activities with Tan Qiping, and also went to inspect the municipal steel factory today.

  Tan Qiping's wife and daughter Tan Jingjing were quite enthusiastic about Shen Hua's visit. Shen Hua put down the gift and chatted with Tan Qiping, who was sitting in the car, through Xiong Wenbin to pay his respects for the new year.

  Tan Qiping also expressed some concern about Shen Hua's physical condition and asked him to continue resting in the hospital, but that was all. Shen Hua declined Tan Qiping's wife's invitation to stay for lunch and left.

  Tan Qiping wants to restore the distance between him and his low-ranking subordinates, Shen Hua thinks: Perhaps Tan Qiping's wife is not familiar with the inherent coldness and ruthlessness of officialdom, and their relationship suddenly became so chilly, feeling a bit sorry for him...

  Coming out of Tan Qiping's house and turning northeast at the corner is Wu Haifeng's house.

  Separated by a fence and dense tree hedge, Shen Hua didn't know if Wu Haifeng's family was lively this year. He hesitated for a moment, opened the trunk of his car, picked up two bottles of wine and cigarettes, and walked over.

  Unlike Gao Tianhe, Wu Haifeng will no longer pose a great threat to Tan Qiping.

  Again, Shen Hua's transfer to Mei Xi Town was indeed thanks to Wu Haifeng's most direct help. Visiting him at home during the New Year, even if Tan Qiping knew about it, Shen Hua thought he probably wouldn't have too many ideas about it anyway?

  Wu Haifeng is the director of the People's Congress, and on New Year's Day he also goes down to districts and counties or enterprises to offer condolences and greetings to cadres and masses who insist on working at the front line, it is impossible for him to stay at home.

  Shen Hua put down the gift and bid farewell, just to let Wu Haifeng know that he had this intention. At this time, he was not yet qualified to set up his own business, but it did not mean that he could not make some preparations.

  As soon as he came out of Wu Haifeng's house, he saw Zhou Yu leading a little girl wearing a red dress and looking like a porcelain doll.

  Zhou Yu simply wore a pair of jeans, brown knee-high boots and a sky blue ski jacket. Her slightly disheveled bun made her face look radiant.

  "Shen Huai, your body is in such a state, why aren't you resting properly in the hospital? What are you doing running around?" Zhou Yu was startled to see Shen Huai walking out of her uncle's house and couldn't help but scold him with concern.

  "My body is fine, just a bit of work pressure before the New Year. I woke up in the hospital this morning and was bored to death, so I rushed over to pay respects to our leader and strive for progress," Shen Hua said with a smile, "Oh right, I haven't properly thanked Director Zhou yet..."

  Zhou Yu slightly tilted her head to glance at Shen Huai, and even though she had long since overturned her impression of him, she still felt that he was a proud person with a strong personality.

  Shen Huai collapsed and fell ill at work yesterday. To be honest, when Zhou Yu saw Shen Huai walking out of her uncle's house, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart: Could it be true that Shen Huai was marginalized by Tan Qiping?