This spectacle was indeed quite grand.
And honestly, it was damn flashy.
Private cars on the road made way one after another, thinking some big shot had arrived.
However, from a certain perspective, the current Chen Pingjiang was indeed a big shot for Tongcheng, a third or fourth-tier city.
Daisheng kept taking photos along the way, showing off everywhere.
It wasn't until they reached the residential complex where Chen Pingjiang's parents lived that the two police motorbikes waved goodbye and departed.
It was exactly as Chen Pingjiang had expected; this return would not be peaceful.
As soon as he entered the house, it was full of people.
Chen Guangming and Xu Fangjuan were surrounded by two or three leaders wearing administrative jackets and glasses, engaged in friendly conversation.
There were also some neighborhood residents left.
"Oh, Pingjiang is back. This kid has grown so tall and handsome, completely different now."
"Yes, yes, and what's more, he has an air of nobility about him."
Several of Empress Dowager Xu's usual mahjong partners or old neighbors had beaming, flower-like faces.
Auntie Li, whom Chen Pingjiang remembered most clearly, had never been so polite to him when he was a child.
"Pingjiang is back, come, hurry over."
Empress Dowager Xu was unexpectedly kind today in front of so many people, not calling Chen Pingjiang "little rascal," which made Chen Pingjiang feel a little unaccustomed.
"These are leaders from the district and city,"
Xu Fangjuan introduced.
Subsequently, these administrative jacket bigwigs also introduced themselves, and they were all quite influential.
In addition to the district chief, there were also the deputy mayor and the director of the investment promotion bureau.
"Hearing about the series of achievements Chairman Chen has made in the business world, we as Tongcheng natives are very proud."
"Indeed, now when we go out and introduce ourselves, Chairman Chen is a calling card for our Tongcheng."
"..."
Many hands make light work of raising a sedan chair; these people spared no effort in complimenting Chen Pingjiang.
The reason for such a high-level reception for Chen Pingjiang was also due to Tongcheng's special background.
Before Sansha City was established, Tongcheng was the smallest prefecture-level city in the country, built on mining, with a history of only a few decades.
Among them, copper mining was the most famous.
How could a place with mines not be rich?
A mere few hundred thousand people had seven or eight listed companies, including even a Fortune Global 500 company.
This also led to Tongcheng's per capita GDP once exceeding Shanghai's.
However, excessive excavation led to environmental damage and resource depletion.
Now Tongcheng faces the awkward situation of transformation and upgrading.
If it doesn't transform, when resources are completely exhausted, economic growth will lose an important engine, which is very similar to Ordos.
But how easy is transformation?
A small third or fourth-tier city, with the most mine bosses, a scarcity of technological talent, and young people flocking to nearby Heshi and Dongjiang, simply has no soil for developing high-tech.
Current leaders at all levels in Tongcheng are completely in the dark about industrial upgrading and transformation.
Chen Pingjiang's appearance, in their eyes, was an angel waving its wings.
During the conversation, the neighborhood residents had all been "persuaded to leave."
Don't blame the leaders for being impatient; Chen Pingjiang rarely returns for the New Year, only for a few days in total.
After the New Year, everyone will be busy, so when else to seize the opportunity if not now?
Chen Pingjiang noticed Empress Dowager Xu's restless demeanor and smiled, telling her and Old Chen to go prepare dinner first.
After talking for about an hour, Chen Pingjiang finally sent them off.
Both sides reached a preliminary agreement: Renren.com would establish a customer service center in Tongcheng, responsible for handling complaints and after-sales service for Renren.com, DNF, and future Renren group-buying and food delivery businesses.
Wages in Tongcheng were low, which could significantly save labor costs, and there were also preferential policies in terms of land use and taxation.
Moreover, customer service work did not require specific academic qualifications; one could start after a little training.
This was similar to many American companies setting up customer service centers in Bharat.
On a side note.
It was precisely because of such a rogue operation that Bharat directly became the world's largest telecom fraud center, raking in tens of billions of dollars from Americans each year, becoming one of Bharat's pillar industries.
After seeing off the local officials, Xu Fangjuan and Chen Guangming felt a sense of relief.
Having been ordinary citizens for so long, it was difficult for them to adapt to such scenes; it was very uncomfortable.
"Ever since you became famous, leaders from the neighborhood committee and street office would come to visit and offer condolences for no reason. Later, the visiting leaders became more and more important. It's so annoying; we can't not receive them each time, but then we don't know what to say when we do,"
Xu Fangjuan grumbled while serving dishes.
Chen Guangming on the other end also nodded,
"People often give me projects out of the blue. You know I usually just do home renovations, with only a few people under me. Now they want me to do projects worth several millions or even tens of millions. My heart trembles just seeing those numbers."
Chen Pingjiang burst out laughing,
"What are you afraid of? If they want you to do it, just do it."
Chen Guangming shook his head,
"I know my own limits very well; I can only do small businesses like this my whole life. Those people are only giving me projects because of your reputation. If I do it badly, it's an embarrassment to you, and if I do it well, I might not even earn as much as you do in a day. What's the point? This is good as it is."
To some extent, Chen Guangming and Xu Fangjuan had a very good mindset.
They did not change their original life trajectory just because their son became rich and famous; they could still maintain their original selves.
"Those leaders knew you were coming back today, so they came to our house early in the morning and waited, making us feel completely uneasy. If this continues, we won't be able to stay in this house."
After Chen Pingjiang quickly ate a few mouthfuls of rice, he said,
"If you really can't stay, then go to Dongjiang. I've already prepared a house there."
To his surprise, Empress Dowager Xu shook her head like a rattle-drum,
"No, if we can't stay here, can we stay in Dongjiang? Your dad and I aren't so old that we can't move around; if we went there without a job, we'd just stare at each other all day, wouldn't we? Besides, all our friends and relatives aren't there; it would be quite lonely. If you have children later, we could go there to help you take care of them."
"We're just worried now that they'll keep buttering you up every day, making things difficult for you later. Just now in the kitchen, I heard you talking about setting up some customer service center in Tongcheng? Won't it lose money?"
All these things made Xu Fangjuan feel like she was holding her son back.
She didn't understand business matters and didn't want Chen Pingjiang to change his principles because of them.
Chen Pingjiang shook his head nonchalantly,
"It's no big deal."
After a few sentences, Empress Dowager Xu naturally steered the conversation to Yan Yan, beginning to ask questions as if conducting a household survey.
How are you two doing, have you bullied her, is Yan Yan coming for New Year's?
Chen Pingjiang sighed.
It was the familiar taste and familiar recipe; maternal love doesn't disappear, it only shifts.
After dinner, Chen Pingjiang took a nap.
Daisheng and Zhou Guanghan had both returned home, and the lack of work pressure made people bored again.
Phones weren't very interesting these days, there was no computer at home, and he didn't contact classmates much.
Chen Pingjiang could only lie around at home like a corpse.
When he woke up, he heard talking and laughter coming from the living room.
Chen Pingjiang certainly wasn't socially anxious, but no one could stand people coming in waves to the house.
If he received them, he would have to chat with old neighbors about this and that, or even a messy pile of questions.
If he piled up in the house and didn't go out, he would surely not avoid gossip behind his back.
Oh, his family's Chen Pingjiang, after getting rich, has eyes that grew on top of his head, doesn't even greet people.
After making a phone call to Daisheng, Chen Pingjiang returned to the living room to deal with them.
About half an hour later, Daisheng arrived at the Chen family's house in a flurry.
"Uncle and Auntie, I'm wishing you an early New Year."
The sensible Daisheng carried a pile of gifts, big and small.
Huazi cigarettes, Maotai liquor, tea...
"Auntie, it's fine that you came, but why are you so polite?"
Empress Dowager Xu knew Daisheng, but her initial impression wasn't good; the way they met was during a group fight apology session arranged by the school.
During the back and forth, Chen Pingjiang finally spoke,
"Take them."
Thus, Xu Fangjuan didn't persist and turned to ask,
"Where is Little Dai studying now?"
Daisheng smiled awkwardly,
"I'm not as good at studying as Brother Chen; I didn't get into university. Now I'm working under Brother Chen for a living."
"Mom, I'm going to buy some New Year's goods."
After only a couple of sentences, Chen Pingjiang put on his jacket and pushed Daisheng out the door.
After stepping out, Chen Pingjiang felt a sense of relief wash over him.
"Did you get your driver's license?"
"I did."
Throwing the car keys to Daisheng, Chen Pingjiang said,
"You drive."
Daisheng's eyes lit up.
Opportunities to drive such a luxury car were rare.
After getting into the driver's seat, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"Brother Chen, where are we going?"
"Let's go to the market, get some New Year's goods."
The two arrived at the market and found a Maotai specialty store, immediately starting a shopping spree.
The owner was also frightened by Chen Pingjiang's astonishing spending power.
He bought a total of ten cases of Maotai and fifty cartons of Huazi cigarettes.
Afraid it wouldn't be enough, Chen Pingjiang also kept the owner's phone number, for direct home delivery when needed.
Now Chen Pingjiang's status was different; some neighbors would need to be given gifts during the New Year, which was considered sensible.
It would even be useful for visiting relatives and friends later; any extra would benefit his own old man.
Subsequently, the two went to the seafood market and started another spree.
"Brother Chen, our classmate Ye Xiaoqin's family sells seafood, do you know? They're right in this market,"
Daisheng said.
The two searched for half a circle before finding Ye Xiaoqin's family seafood stall in the southeast corner of the market.
Coincidentally, Ye Xiaoqin, who was on winter break, was helping out at the stall.
The girl named Ye Xiaoqin was thin and small.
Chen Pingjiang didn't have a deep impression of her, only knowing that her family's conditions were not bad back then.
The income disparity among Tongcheng residents was severe; the average person's salary was only 1500-2000, while mine bosses were generous spenders.
Only they could afford yellow croaker and king crabs in the seafood market.
If not for the local mine bosses driving consumption, there wouldn't be such large goods in such an inland third or fourth-tier city.
"Oh my, Daisheng, Chen Pingjiang. How did you two come here?"
Ye Xiaoqin was quite surprised to see Chen Pingjiang.
His name was the most mentioned in the classmates' QQ group, but Chen Pingjiang rarely appeared, and his group notifications were always muted.
"Old classmate, you're successful now, it's hard to even see you. You didn't come to last year's class reunion either."
Chen Pingjiang smiled and said,
"I'm very busy; I'll definitely attend if there's a chance in the future."
"Don't wait for a chance, there's a gathering tonight. Last year it was held after the New Year, but many people visited relatives then, so this year it's been moved to before the New Year."
"Uh."
Well, Chen Pingjiang didn't know how to refuse now, so he could only reluctantly nod,
"I'll definitely be there tonight."
"Qinqin, are these your classmates?"
Ye Xiaoqin's mother nearby asked with a smile.
Chen Pingjiang nodded,
"Auntie, give me some of your king crab, Boston lobster, yellow croaker, and those."
Ye Xiaoqin's mother was a bit unsure for a moment.
This was seafood, not cabbage; who buys things like this?
Ye Xiaoqin smiled and said,
"Mom, just get them when he asks. My classmate is a big rich man."
To their surprise, Chen Pingjiang bought tens of thousands yuan worth of seafood.
After leaving the seafood market, Chen Pingjiang pointed to the back trunk and back seat full of items and said to Daisheng,
"I won't go to your house to pay New Year's greetings. Just take some back for yourself, don't be polite."
Daisheng knew Chen Pingjiang's temper and didn't act polite.
(End of chapter)