The Official Ladder: I ascend to the pinnacle of power, wielding the power of life and death.

"Your Director Liu Wenshan is treating us to dinner tonight, so it wouldn't be good to break my promise. Let's reschedule for another day."

Jiang Yiming thought for a moment and then offered an explanation.

It's best not to offend someone like Jiang Wenjing if you can avoid it.

Who knows, I might have to ask her for help someday, since she has a certain amount of project funding in her hands.

Even if there's no business relationship, you shouldn't offend this kind of woman, otherwise she might hold a grudge and cause you some trouble.

"You know our Director Liu?"

Jiang Wenjing was somewhat surprised.

It seems this junior brother is not as simple as he appears.

"Yes, we've had dinner together before."

"Oh my, what a small world! I didn't expect you to be acquainted with our Director Liu."

Jiang Wenjing smiled and said, "Director Liu is my supervisor."

"Since you have plans, I'll treat you to dinner another day."

"Thank you, Senior Sister Jiang. I'll treat you and my senior brother to dinner another day."

After saying hello, Jiang Yiming headed towards the dormitory.

"Why are you only just getting back? Which girl hooked up with you and you didn't want to come back?"

When Long Shaolin saw Jiang Yiming return, he urged, "Zhang Yuntao is waiting for us at the door."

Jiang Yiming put down his things and said, "Jiang Wenjing invited me to dinner, and we chatted for a bit."

"That woman doesn't seem like a good person."

Long Shaolin said, "But don't offend her. Some women are petty by nature, and she is one of them."

"Ok, I know."

As they talked, they soon arrived at the school gate.

Zhang Yuntao joked, "You two leaders, please get in the car quickly. It's no big deal to make a lowly soldier like me wait a little longer. We can't keep the God of Wealth waiting."

"I'm thick-skinned, feel free to tease me."

Long Shaolin laughed and said, "It's just that Yiming is shy and a little embarrassed."

"I didn't say anything wrong. You are my leaders, one as the class monitor and the other as the vice class monitor."

"Haha, looks like you're holding a grudge. It's just because he took your vice class monitor position, isn't it?"

Long Shaolin smiled and said, "Yiming, what do you think we should do?"

"Later, I'll toast Brother Tao a few more times to apologize to him."

Jiang Yiming laughed.

After spending time together recently, their relationship has improved, and they are speaking much more casually.

"Please let me go. If you two heavy drinkers drink with me, I'll be crawling under the table."

Zhang Yuntao quickly begged for mercy: "Please, gentlemen, let us go. We'll just have a token gesture later."

We chatted and laughed all the way to the Yiyang Hotel.

In addition to Xie Yanhua, a member of the Organization Department, and Liu Wenshan, deputy director of the Municipal Finance Bureau, whom I had met before, those attending tonight's dinner included Zhao Shengquan, director of the Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce, and Gao Wenchang, secretary to the mayor.

After introducing themselves, everyone took their seats.

They chatted over drinks, and the conversation eventually turned to the petition incident that had occurred a week earlier.

"Secretary Gao, how was the petition from the employees of the state-owned department store ultimately handled? I heard it caused quite a stir."

Zhang Yuntao inquired.

"What else can we do but appease them? Mayor Wei has stated that he will resolve their issues within three months."

Gao Wenchang said, "Now the pressure is on the Economic and Trade Bureau. The mayor has demanded that they come up with a feasible plan within ten days."

"I heard that Director Li of the Economic and Trade Bureau has gone to Xinping County several times to conduct research, hoping to learn from the experience of Yusha Winery. However, the plan was abandoned as soon as it was put forward. Yusha Winery still has its core product, Yusha wine, and the quality of Yusha wine is guaranteed. As long as they follow the right path, they can quickly get out of their predicament. But the state-owned department store only has that five-story building left. How can it possibly succeed by simply copying the experience of Yusha Winery?"

"The Trade and Economic Bureau re-examined the plan and ultimately decided to auction off the department store in order to solve the employees' wage problem. Although the building is in a good location, it is such a large building with a fixed layout, and not many people are willing to buy it."

"The price has dropped from the initial 1050 million to 980 million. I don't know if anyone will take it."

Upon hearing this news, Jiang Yiming's mind began to race. He didn't care what they talked about next; instead, he was thinking about how to make use of the department store.

This location is undoubtedly a good place to open a supermarket, but he simply doesn't have the funds to buy such a large building, and even if he did, he wouldn't be able to use such a large area.

After thinking for a long time, he came up with an idea.

As soon as the banquet ended, he abandoned Long Shaolin and the others and met up with Du Hongyuan.

"Brother Jiang, why are you calling me in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

Du Hongyuan smelled the alcohol on him and said, "You didn't drink too much and got bored, so you dragged me here to chat, did you?"

"You're overthinking it. Even if I wanted to chat with someone, I'd chat with a girl, not a scrawny old man like you."

Jiang Yiming rolled his eyes and said, "I have a project I'll tell you about. Whether you want to do it or not is up to you."

"it is good."

Du Hongyuan immediately perked up.

"You know the state-run department store, right?"

"Yes, I know. It's being auctioned. You asked me to keep an eye on it, but I was busy the other day and forgot to tell you. I was planning to call you tomorrow to tell you."

Du Hongyuan said, "The project you mentioned, is it related to the state-owned department store?"

Jiang Yiming nodded and said, "The location of the state-owned department store is very good. If we buy it and use it properly, we can still make a profit."

"You don't mean to make me buy it, do you? I have limited funds and can't come up with that much money right now. Besides, even if I did buy it, I'd have basically invested all my money and wouldn't be able to do anything else."

"What if you were asked to pay in installments, for example, over ten years?"

Jiang Yiming laughed.

"That's impossible. You know, the reason the city is so eager to sell the building is to raise money to solve the employees' wage problem. If you pay it in installments over ten years, it won't solve the city's problem at all. They won't agree to it."

Du Hongyuan thought Jiang Yiming was joking; he felt that installment payments were simply impossible.

“The city is eager to resolve the issue, but no one is willing to take over. If you propose to solve the employment problem for more than 30% of the employees, I think the municipal government will agree to the installment payment plan.”

Du Hongyuan thought for a moment and nodded: "What you said is indeed possible. I haven't thought of what the employees would do with the building yet. Besides, if such a large commercial building can't be quickly converted into cash, my working capital will be tied up."

"I'll explain it to you once, and you'll understand."

Jiang Yiming said, "The building has five floors in total. I plan to rent the second floor to open a supermarket. Once the supermarket is established, the building's foot traffic will increase. At that time, jewelry stores, cosmetics stores, pharmacies, and flagship electronics stores will rush to move into the first floor, further increasing foot traffic. Restaurant, KTV, and cinema owners will also rush to move into the third, fourth, and fifth floors."

"If you buy it, find a good design company, and design and decorate it according to different floors and functional areas, then shops will naturally be scrambling to rent it later."

"Are you still worried about not making money?"

"Go back and think it over carefully. Whether you do it or not is your own business."

Jiang Yiming said, "Of course, if you buy it, the second floor is for me."

"no problem."

Du Hongyuan said, "Even with a five-year installment plan, this investment is still substantial. I need to go back and think about it carefully."

The next morning, Jiang Yiming received a call from Ma Qiyun, asking him to return to Xinping County. Mayor Wei was going to Xinping County for research that afternoon and specifically requested that Jiang Yiming accompany him.

"I've already called Xie Yanhua to ask for leave for you, and she approved it. I'll have Xiao Wang drive to pick you up."

"Secretary, there's no need to go to so much trouble. I'll figure out how to get back by myself."

Jiang Yiming told his homeroom teacher Meng Xinjie and his roommate Long Shaolin before returning to Xinping County.

"The route has been planned. When we arrive at Yusha Winery, you will be the one to explain it."

Ma Qiyun said, "This research trip is very important, and the relevant departments are all on high alert. Mayor Wei was very satisfied with your report last time, and I believe he will be satisfied with this trip as well."

"Therefore, I don't want any surprises to happen."

"Don't worry, Secretary, I will do my best to provide good service."

Jiang Yiming stated.

In the afternoon, Ma Qiyun led the leaders of the four major organizations to the county border to welcome Wei Shanghua.

At 2:10, a police car, a Toyota Coaster, and two sedans slowly drove up.

When the car stopped, Ma Qiyun quickly went to meet it.

"Mayor, welcome to our county for inspection and guidance. On behalf of the Xinping County Party Committee and County Government, I extend my sincere welcome to you."

Ma Qiyun extended his hand respectfully.

"Mayor Wei, welcome."

Jiang Xuangui followed with his greetings.

"Comrade Qiyun, Comrade Xuangui, you have worked hard."

Wei Shanghua shook hands with Ma Qiyun and Jiang Xuangui and said with a smile, "We won't get off the bus to meet with our comrades one by one. Let's go straight to Yusha Winery."

"Yes, Mayor."

Ma Qiyun, Jiang Xuangui, and Jiang Yiming rode in a Coaster bus in the city, while the others returned to the Coaster bus in the county.

Two police cars led the way, followed by two more, making it look quite impressive as the car sped towards the Yusha Winery.

"Qiyun, Yiming, congratulations! You have brought glory to Yiyang."

Wei Shanghua smiled and said, "The Sun Yefang Economic Science Award is very prestigious. You are the first authors in our city to receive this award. I have already spoken with the Organization Department and we are preparing to hold an awards ceremony at the municipal level to congratulate you."

"It's all thanks to the mayor's excellent leadership. Otherwise, Yiming and I wouldn't have been able to achieve such results. In my opinion, the Sun Yefang Economic Science Award should be awarded to you, leader."

Ma Qiyun said.

"Haha, I'm not qualified."

Wei Shanghua shook his head and said, "This time I brought the heads of more than a dozen departments, including the Economic and Trade Bureau, to conduct preliminary inspections and study, and then go back to develop plans to expedite the enterprise reform in other counties and districts."

"After your other factories achieve success, I will organize a site visit meeting here for the top two leaders from all the counties in the city. Let them come and learn from Xinping County's reform experience."

"Mayor, rest assured, I will accelerate the county's enterprise reform efforts and strive to achieve tangible results within a month, delivering a satisfactory report to the municipal party committee and government!"

Ma Qiyun solemnly stated.