Chapter 430: Upper-Level Route

Chapter 430: Chapter 430: Upper-Level Route

Granny Cai said righteously, "We’ve all seen the things you’ve done. We’re not blind, are we? At the very least, if any family runs into a rough patch they can’t get over, they can still ask you for help. Can those foreigners help the villagers? What a pipe dream! They’re here to make money, not to do good deeds."

"If they were good people, they wouldn’t have sold opium to us back then, and they wouldn’t have killed us with guns. I still remember the sign in the foreign concessions: ’No Chinese or dogs allowed.’ Even though I worked for a wealthy family and my masters were nice, I was still just a servant."

"After New China was founded, we became the masters of our own country. Everyone is equal, with dignity. Young people might not have a point of comparison, but we, the poor masses who came from the old society, know what’s good and what’s bad."

Wu Jiao, listening from the side, couldn’t help but ask, "But our country is so poor!"

"Poor? Yes, we’re a bit poor, but what choice did we have?" Granny Cai replied. "Foreign countries don’t want us to be independent. They blockade us and even want to fight us. I’m not kidding you—back then, we had to work, but we also had to practice shooting guns and throwing grenades, always ready to fight a war with the Americans and Soviets."

"Why were we willing to go through grueling training when we were already exhausted from work? It’s because we didn’t want to be dogs and slaves in our own land. We didn’t want our country’s treasures to be stolen, and we didn’t want to see our families slaughtered again."

Listening to Granny Cai reminisce about the past, Han Xiaorui could imagine that generation, always ready to fight to protect the hard-won independence and autonomy they had achieved.

Granny Cai was just one of millions upon millions of Hua Country people.

The previous generation, and the one before that, had to fight with their lives. The modern generation has to fight with their brains and their hard work.

Han Xiaorui had thought the matter was settled and that there would be no more trouble with the contract.

Unexpectedly, just after she had finished her postpartum confinement, a government official from the district office came to her door in person.

"Hello. My surname is Zhao, no need for formalities. I’m from the district office, in charge of attracting investment," Director Zhao introduced himself. "Please forgive me for showing up unannounced."

Han Xiaorui made tea for Director Zhao, feeling suspicious. "Director Zhao, what brings you here today?"

’Attracting investment shouldn’t require a house call! My investments in Jinshan Bay are already substantial.’

Director Zhao smiled. "It’s nothing major, really. The district office greatly appreciates your current investments, Comrade Han. You’ve not only created jobs and increased incomes, but you’ve also boosted tax revenue. Things are looking up for our district."

Han Xiaorui said modestly, "That’s all thanks to the excellent planning and arrangements of our leaders."

In truth, she had already received this praise and recognition at official meetings, so there was no need for Director Zhao to make a special trip.

After the pleasantries, Director Zhao finally got to the point. "Based on our assessment, Comrade Han, your investments in Jinshan Bay have already reached a certain scale. If you were to take on more, you would inevitably be stretched too thin, leading to idle resources."

"The district leadership has discussed this and suggests that you sublease those islands you planned for the amusement park and aquarium. This would not only ease your investment burden but also allow for the swift development of Jinshan Bay’s islands."

Han Xiaorui understood immediately upon hearing this. ’It must be those damn Japanese. When going through the masses didn’t work, they started pulling strings with the higher-ups.’

Han Xiaorui asked, "Director Zhao, I’d like to know who has their eye on these islands."

Director Zhao looked awkward at her question. "Everyone’s goal is to build and develop Jinshan Bay, not to stake out territory and waste resources."

Han Xiaorui smiled. "I’ve already signed contracts with Fudan University and the municipal design and planning institute to jointly build the water park and aquarium."

"You say I’m wasting resources, but I’ve already spent real money on this! I’m not stagnating, as you suggest!"

"The Jinshan Bay Commercial Street and scenic area I’m building are part of a single system with the water park and aquarium. I have no intention of doing all the work just for someone else to reap the benefits."

Hearing this, Director Zhao felt that his task for the day had become difficult. "But the investment for an aquarium and a water park is enormous, and our domestic technology may not be up to standard."

"Here in Shencheng, we are at the forefront of reform and opening up. If we’re going to build a water park and an aquarium, they must be the most advanced and the safest. It would be more appropriate to have a foreign team build them."

Han Xiaorui rolled her eyes at that. "Director Zhao, is it that those Japanese investors went through official channels and are now insisting on taking these islands?"

Director Zhao gave an embarrassed laugh. "Comrade Han, since you already know, I won’t beat around the bush. The Japanese are prepared to invest 200 million. This is a huge deal for Shencheng, and the higher-ups don’t want to miss out."

Han Xiaorui snorted. "Economic development is certainly important, but don’t you find their behavior highly unusual? There are plenty of places in Shencheng to build a water park. Why are they fixated on Jinshan Bay?"

"Those Japanese came here demanding to partner with me. They were only willing to provide the technology and blueprints while I was to provide the money and land for construction. Right off the bat, they demanded a 51% stake. Later, they lowered it as if doing me a favor, but they still wanted 40%."

"They’re just a design and construction firm, yet they have the audacity to ask for so much! This isn’t them working for me; this is them trying to make me a fool with deep pockets."

"Not only that, but they also demanded to be involved in management and to have the right to survey hydrological data around Shencheng. With demands like these, don’t you suspect their true motives? This could be espionage!"

"The Battle of Songhu was so brutal back then—we lost an entire division in a single day. Those were troops armed with German ordnance, well-trained and well-equipped. Wasn’t it all because of traitors selling us out?"

"Director Zhao, this isn’t the first or second time we’ve dealt with each other. I’m warning you: be careful with this matter. Don’t get involved."

Director Zhao’s expression changed drastically. "Comrade Han, are you telling the truth?"

Han Xiaorui nodded. "If you don’t believe me, you can find the translator for those Japanese men. That person knows more details!"

"If these people come to build the water park and aquarium in Jinshan Bay, they will definitely need to conduct hydrological surveys of the surrounding areas, and even places farther out. They might even place surveying equipment in hidden locations."

"At that point, any naval operations or submarine information originating from Shencheng and the coast will be completely exposed to them. Don’t you think that’s incredibly dangerous?"

As Han Xiaorui spoke, more and more beads of sweat appeared on Director Zhao’s forehead.

"We just thought of it as a business transaction. We never imagined it could be hiding such a massive act of espionage!"

Han Xiaorui’s expression was grave. "Director Zhao, the Japanese might be able to invest 200 million, but they never said they’d invest it all at once. It’s highly likely they’d spread it out over ten years, or even longer."

"I can’t invest 200 million, but I have 80 million. If that’s not enough, I’ll borrow from my husband’s family. We can support our own university professors and students to study abroad, then work with our own design institutes and construction companies to build it. We’ll improve our own capabilities."