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The Chinese market is such a huge pool that capital from all over the world wants to jump in.

After joining the WTO, tariffs were reduced again and again, and the consumer market of over a billion people opened its doors to the world, attracting a flood of foreign investment.

Domestic private enterprises also seized the opportunity and rose up. All industries seemed to be injected with fuel, and the gears meshed more and more tightly, and the speed increased.

Suning knew very well that no matter how strong Tianchao Group was, it was impossible for it to take over the entire Chinese market.

That's absolutely impossible, and there's no need for it.

So when Western capital was lining up to flock to China, Suning did not take any action to stop it.

Instead, they let Tianchao Consulting cooperate with them as appropriate and sign contracts as required.

Suning's logic is simple: if you come to China to invest and build factories, you have to use China's supply chain, hire Chinese workers, and pay Chinese taxes.

Your technology and management experience will spill over, and your industrial chain will become intertwined with that of the Chinese system. In the end, neither can do without the other.

The Chinese economy is starting to accelerate, and the real estate sector is the fastest-moving carriage on this train.

Mingju Real Estate began its expansion into first-, second-, and third-tier cities across the country several years ago and has ample land reserves.

The land reserves that have already obtained land certificates are enough for several years of development, and the project team is mature.

The entire chain, from land acquisition to design, construction to sales, is seamlessly integrated, and the cash flow is equally stable. They are also very adept at playing the financial leverage game.

Mingju Real Estate's sales revenue collection speed has always been a benchmark in the industry, with many projects and properties selling out immediately upon launch.

While other developers were still scrambling to acquire land in a second-tier city, Mingju Real Estate's project had already been topped out and launched, with the sales office packed with customers holding deposits.

Suning has set a clear direction for Mingju Real Estate: not only to build residential buildings, but also to develop commercial complexes.

Residential buildings, office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, cinemas, and restaurant districts are all packaged into one project, forming a commercial ecosystem at the level of a sub-center of the city.

The Mingju Real Estate Member App pre-installed on the Tianchao No.1 mobile phone allows users to directly select properties online, pay property fees, and book community services.

Information about the opening of Mingju's new residential project was accurately pushed to users through QQ pop-ups and QQ groups.

Each residential complex is equipped with a Huayu Cinema, which prioritizes screenings of Huayu productions.

All the hotels in the complex are operated by Winter to Spring Hotel Management Company.

The underground parking garage of the complex has been equipped with charging stations specifically designed for Chinese cars.

The products and services of all subsidiaries of the Tianchao Group form a closed loop in these complexes. Consumers can solve all their needs for eating, drinking, entertainment, shopping, travel and accommodation as soon as they enter any of the complexes, without even having to leave the premises.

One homeowner posted a message in a QQ group: "I live in a Mingju apartment, drive a Tianchao car, use a Tianchao phone, go to the Huayu Cinema downstairs to watch movies on weekends, and stay overnight at the Dongquchunlai Hotel after the movie. My entire week's life is taken care of by the Tianchao Group."

This message was screenshotted and forwarded to the internal forum of Tianchao Group, and the number of likes exceeded 10,000 on the same day.

Mingju Real Estate's sales are breaking records every quarter, and its branches in various cities are holding celebration banquets one after another.

The entire real estate industry regards Mingju Real Estate as a benchmark, imitating its product line, studying its business model, and even copying the decoration style of its sales offices from Mingju's model rooms.

The head of the design department of a developer visited the model rooms of Mingju and said to his team when he came back: "Stop designing blindly. Just copy Mingju. If you can't even copy well, how can you talk about innovation?"

Suning himself was hailed as the godfather of real estate by industry media, and various forums and summits listed him as the most important guest, with invitations piling up on the public relations department's desk.

……

Just then, Suning did something that no one expected.

Suning personally wrote an article, which was published on the front page of several leading national newspapers.

The title is quite straightforward: "Suggestions on Appropriately Controlling Building Height in Urban Construction".

The article contains no superfluous words or background information; it immediately lists all the drawbacks of supertall buildings, point by point:

“Construction costs are rising exponentially. Once a certain height is reached, the construction cost per square meter does not increase linearly but doubles. The core tube structure, ultra-high strength steel, specially made high-speed elevators, and ultra-high pressure water supply systems are all extremely expensive.”

"The energy consumption of operation is several times that of ordinary buildings. Elevators, air conditioning, water supply pressurization, and fire protection systems are all electricity guzzlers. The annual electricity bill of a super high-rise building is enough to support a medium-sized factory."

"Fire safety has always been a global challenge. The maximum height of fire ladders in China is far from sufficient to cover the top of super high-rise buildings. Once a fire breaks out, the entire building can only rely on internal sprinklers to fight the fire, and firefighters have no way to get up there."

"The cost of demolition in the later stages is extremely high. How to demolish these super high-rise buildings after they age decades later, and who will pay for the demolition, are huge hidden dangers. Directional blasting is simply not feasible in the core area of ​​the city, and the cost and time of demolishing them layer by layer are several times the construction cost."

Suning also cited several international cases in the article, pointing out that some major cities abroad have moved beyond the stage of chasing skyscrapers and are now reflecting on the damage that super high-rise buildings cause to the urban fabric and the excessive consumption of public resources.

At the end of the article, Suning stated very frankly: "Cities need moderate density, not unnecessarily high as possible. Mingju Real Estate will proactively control the building height in the planning schemes of all its new projects, with residential buildings not exceeding a certain number of floors, office buildings not exceeding a certain height, and commercial complexes mainly consisting of multi-story buildings with high-rise buildings as a supplement."

The reaction to the article after it was published was even stronger than Suning had anticipated.

Urban planners, urban planning experts, real estate professionals, media commentators, and university architecture professors from across the country have all been drawn into this discussion.

There is a lot of support.

A professor of architecture at Tsinghua University wrote a response article in the newspaper, arguing that Suning's words hit the nail on the head: "Cities should not blindly pursue skyline height while ignoring the rationality of the living environment. Nowadays, cities are being built taller and denser, with the most basic human living indicators such as lighting, ventilation, transportation, fire protection, and public green spaces all giving way to height. This is putting the cart before the horse. As a developer, Mr. Su is willing to voluntarily give up the high-density profits brought by super high-rise buildings, which is extremely rare in the entire industry."

The opposing voices were equally sharp.

A real estate industry peer directly criticized Suning in an interview: "It's easy for Suning to talk when they're not in the same boat. Mingju Real Estate occupies prime locations, so building low-density complexes is no problem for them. When it's our turn to acquire land in the city center, we have to keep the plot ratio so high that we can't break even without building super high-rise buildings. Suning should give up their prime locations to everyone first before saying this."

Some people on industry forums said sourly, "Suning is just jealous that others build taller buildings than it, and it's afraid that others will steal the limelight from the real estate godfather."

Meanwhile, ordinary people on the streets and alleys also joined the discussion.

An old man was looking at an article by Suning in the newspaper in front of a newsstand. He said to the person next to him, "I think Suning is right. That building is so tall. If it catches fire, the fire trucks won't be able to reach it. They won't even have time to cry."

A young man next to him said, "Grandpa, nowadays all high-rise buildings have automatic sprinkler systems, so it's very safe."

The old man rolled his eyes at him. "Automatic sprinklers? What if there's a power outage? What if the water pump breaks down? You're relying on the machine, but the machine is relying on you."

"But……"

"Young people, you must think things through comprehensively."

……

The article has also sparked much discussion within Tianchao Group, with several regional general managers of Mingju Real Estate reacting in different ways.

Mr. Li, the head of the South China region, called Suning. "Mr. Su, I've read your article. We've completed half of the planning scheme for that plot of land in Shenzhen. The original design was for two super high-rise office buildings. Now, according to your requirements to control the height, the plot ratio will be lower, and the saleable area will be significantly reduced. This is a loss..."

Su Ning interrupted him on the phone: "How much was lost?"

Mr. Li gave a number.

Suning said, "I had already calculated this number when I wrote this article. The loss will be made up by the operating income of the commercial complex. Mingju does not just sell houses; Mingju does comprehensive urban operations. If you develop the commercial, hotel, cinema, and catering facilities of the complex, the long-term rental and operating income will not be worse than selling those few floors of office building."

Mr. Li was silent for a few seconds, then said, "I understand. I'll have the design team revise the plan."

“Change it,” Suning said. “Place multi-story commercial blocks along the street frontage, set office building heights back, and limit residential buildings to comfortable floor levels. Increase green spaces and public spaces. Make residents feel comfortable, not oppressed.”

Mr. Li said, "Okay, I'll arrange it right away. By the way, Ms. Su, the media has invited you to attend next month's real estate summit forum. The organizers said they'd like you to give a keynote speech on controlling building height. Would you like to go?"

Su Ning thought for a moment, then said, "I'll go. I'll go myself."

……

In Beijing in 2010, winter gave way to spring.

Zhuangzhuang stepped out of the elevator, holding a freshly printed copy of the group's annual report. The numbers on the cover made everyone who saw it hold their breath.

Tianchao Group has subsidiaries all over the world, with a total number of employees exceeding one million, and its annual revenue can no longer be measured by simple numbers.

Zhuangzhuang held the report in her arms and walked down the corridor, brushing past several senior executives.

They all nodded to Zhuang Zhuang and greeted her, "Good morning, President Zhuang."

Zhuangzhuang smiled and replied, "Hello."

Then, she pushed open the door to Suning's office.

Su Ning was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, holding a cup of tea, looking out the window.

Sixteen years have passed, and the skyline outside the window is no longer what it used to be.

However, the headquarters building of Tianchao Group has never been changed; it is still the same building from back then, only the surrounding neighbors have built taller and taller buildings.

"President Su, the annual report is out." Zhuang Zhuang placed the report on the table, cover facing up.

Su Ning turned around and looked at her face. Time had made Zhuangzhuang even more charming.

Zhuangzhuang has given birth to three children for Suning. Her eldest son and second daughter are already in junior high school, and her youngest son is in kindergarten.

"Okay! Just leave it there." Su Ning put the teacup on the table, walked over and took the report but didn't open it.

"Would you like to come to my place for dinner tonight?"

"Okay! Er Ya is taking the high school entrance exam too, right?"

"Yes, the exam is in a few days."

"Okay! I'll go back and cheer her on."

"That's great! She'll be so happy to know."

Nowadays, Suning has many women around him, and naturally, he has many children. It's impossible for him to dote on any one child.

Zhuangzhuang's eyes instantly reddened. Choosing a man like Su Ning meant she always had to make certain sacrifices in life. ...

In the flagship store of the Winter to Spring Hotel on the outskirts of Beijing, Xiao Dongbei was giving instructions to a new manager in the lobby.

He's no longer called Xiao Dongbei; his business card reads "General Manager of Dongqu Chunlai Hotel Management Company," overseeing dozens of stores nationwide, with a schedule packed with new projects opening every year.

But every now and then I still return to the lobby of this flagship store and stand for a while in front of the wall with the old signboard.

The old, weathered signboard still hangs in the same old spot, completely out of place with the brand-new renovations around it.

But every guest who walks into this hotel stops in front of it.

A foreign tourist stood in front of the old sign for a long time, then asked the young woman at the front desk in broken Chinese, "What does this sign mean? Why is the old one still hanging here?"

The young woman at the front desk couldn't answer for a moment, but Xiao Dongbei happened to pass by and chimed in, "This is the past and present of our winter and spring, which is what you often call corporate culture."

"Oh! I see! That's really cool!" The foreign tourist glanced at the old sign again, took out his camera and took a picture.

Xiao Dongbei's phone rang.

He took out his phone and saw that it was a message from Xu Shengli: "Same place, tonight, see you there."

Xiao Dongbei smiled, put his phone back in his pocket, and walked out of the Winter to Spring flagship store.

He walked to the door, glanced back at the wall with the old sign, pushed open the glass door, and stepped into the twilight outside.

……

In the evening, the large round table in Tao Liangliang's restaurant was packed with people.

Over the years, Lao Tao's restaurant has expanded several times, moving from deep in the alley to a larger street-front shop, and the renovation has also been upgraded.

But the big round table is still the same one from back then, the red checkered plastic tablecloth is still the familiar color, and the recipe for braised pork on the menu has been passed down from Lao Tao to Tao Liangliang.

Old Tao has long since retired to the second line, and a new chef is now standing in front of the stove, but Old Tao insists on cooking this meal himself tonight.

Tao's mother stopped him at the kitchen door: "Your back is bad, just let the head chef cook it."

Old Tao tied his apron around his waist. "That won't do. These kids rarely come back for meals, so I'll cook. The head chef's braised pork wasn't quite done properly."

Tao Liangliang, who was standing nearby, heard this and said with a smile, "Dad, you're embarrassing our head chef in front of everyone."

"What are you trying to undermine? I'm just telling the truth." Old Tao went into the kitchen without turning his head.

Tao Liangliang no longer plays the saxophone under the overpass.

He works as the music director in the music department of Huayu Film & Television, overseeing an entire orchestra, and is occasionally invited to perform at concert halls.

He bought a new French-made saxophone, and the tone is much better than his old one.

But today he brought the old one too, and leaned it against the chair.

Xiao Dongbei glanced at the old saxophone and asked, "Liangliang, is this the old one you used to play on the overpass?"

“That’s the one.” Tao Liangliang picked up the old saxophone and turned it around. “I don’t know if it’s just psychological, but even after playing this new one for two years, it still doesn’t feel as smooth as the old one.”

"Haha, that's just you being nostalgic."

Xiao Dongbei, dressed in a suit and tie, sat in the corner, where Cao Ye looked him up and down.

Cao Ye said, "Being a big boss really makes a difference. You're all dressed up in a suit now; you're not the same person you were back when you were repairing electric kettles anymore."

Xiao Dongbei straightened his tie. "I call this composure. What do you know? I'm managing dozens of 'Winter Goes, Spring Comes' stores now."

"Impressive! You've really done very well these past few years; you no longer need to solicit customers at Beijing West Railway Station," Cao Ye said.

Everyone at the table laughed.

Xu Shengli sat next to Zhuangzhuang.

He is no longer the young screenwriter who used to write in the basement until dawn and didn't even understand the script format.

He is now a well-known screenwriter in China, whose works consistently rank among the top in viewership ratings when they are broadcast. His name is listed first in the top screenwriting team of Huayu Film and Television.

Looking at the radiant lady beside him, Xu Shengli could only suppress his admiration.

Shen Ranran sat on the other side of Zhuangzhuang.

She is now a top-tier actress in China, with film contracts booked until the year after next. Her name is always at the top of Huayu Film & Television's annual film list.

No matter how busy he is, he never misses a single gathering.

Old Tao carried a pot of freshly cooked braised pork out of the kitchen, his apron still stained with oil.

He placed the bowl on the table and said, "The meat is ready. Eat it while it's hot. This bowl isn't enough for tonight; the kitchen has another pot."

Tao's mother was wiping the counter nearby, and she leaned out with a smile to instruct, "Liangliang, give Zhuangzhuang a piece of lean meat, she likes to eat lean meat."

"Okay!" Tao Liangliang picked up his chopsticks and first put a piece of lean meat on Zhuangzhuang's plate. "Zhuangzhuang, try it! See if my dad's cooking has improved?"

"Thank you! I just really miss Uncle Tao's cooking."

Then Tao Liangliang put a piece of fruit with the skin on on Shen Ranran's plate, saying, "Ranran, eat this, it's good for your skin."

Shen Ranran picked up a piece and took a bite. "Mmm, Uncle Tao's cooking is still the best."

"That's right, so my dad cooked for me tonight."

Cao Ye picked up a piece and tasted it. "Uncle Tao's braised pork is fatty but not greasy, and the lean meat is not dry."

Old Tao sat down beside him, wiped his hands, and said, "Braised pork needs to be simmered over low heat until a chopstick can easily pierce the skin. Liangliang is impatient and always wants to lift the lid prematurely. Every time you lift the lid, the temperature drops, and the meat becomes tough."

Xu Shengli said, "Uncle Tao, how many years have you been making this braised pork?"

"This dish has been made since my grandfather's generation." Old Tao counted on his fingers, "It's been at least fifty or sixty years. My grandfather passed it down to my father, my father passed it down to me, and I passed it down to Liangliang. This dish has sustained four generations of our Tao family."

Xu Shengli stared at the pot of braised pork and remained silent for a while.

Everyone present is no longer the young person they once were; they all have their own careers and families, but they all miss this braised pork.

Seeing Xu Shengli lost in thought, Shen Ranran tapped the edge of his bowl with her chopsticks. "What are you thinking about? The meat is getting cold."

Xu Shengli snapped out of his reverie, "I'm remembering things from the past."

"what's up?"

"I remember the first time I ate Uncle Tao's braised pork, I felt really happy at that time."

Are you happy now?

"Of course! I have a successful career, a happy family, and I can still get together with friends often. I have nothing to complain about."

"As expected of a great screenwriter! This summary is truly insightful."

Xu Shengli stood up, holding his wine glass, and said to everyone, "This glass is to celebrate the passing of winter and the arrival of spring."

Everyone raised their glasses at the same time.

Cao Ye said, "A salute to my days as a struggling artist in Beijing!"

Tao Liangliang said, "A toast to my old saxophone!"

Xiao Dongbei said, "This is a tribute to my uncle who has gone back to his hometown to retire."

Guo Zongbao said, "Let's toast to our respective good fortune."

Shen Ranran said, "To my acting career! I want to always stand in the spotlight."

Zhuangzhuang spoke last, raising her glass and saying only one word: "To all of us, may our friendship never be broken."

The sound of glasses clinking together is crisp and pleasant.

At this moment, they were no longer those struggling migrant workers in Beijing, crammed into a cubicle in a run-down hotel, not knowing where they would be tomorrow.

They are the backbone of their respective industries...

Screenwriter, actor, music director, hotel general manager, chain store owner, illustrator.

But they all knew in their hearts that the hand that had pulled them out of the mire one by one was now standing in front of the window of a high-rise building in Beijing, looking at the same night sky.

Today, Tianchao Group is a world-class mega-corporation with industries spanning countries around the globe.

Tianchao Auto has grown from nothing to become the world's third largest automaker; Tianchao Electronics started with a single mobile phone and became the world's number one; Kunyu Shipping's fleet covers every major port in the world; Huayu Film & Television has changed the creative direction of the entire industry; and Tianchao Consulting has redefined the rules of competition in China's manufacturing industry through technology output...

Even the small things weren't overlooked...

Those young people who once struggled to survive in hotels as winter turned to spring are now scattered under the sky, each shining brightly in their own way.

Their names won't appear in Tianchao Group's annual report, but their stories are more important to Suning than any financial report.

My appearance changed the original plot, and also prevented many people from experiencing tragedy, allowing everyone to have their own happy life and career.

...(End of this chapter)