After a few rounds of drinks and several courses, the group had reached a consensus on the Shanyang County project.
"Chairman Ding is right," said the pot-bellied Chairman Zhao, holding his glass. "We're businessmen, not philanthropists. Investments have to show a return. That mess in Shanyang County is a money pit—whoever invests is doomed. At the city meeting tomorrow, I'll stick to that line: they can have my life, but they're not getting my money!"
"I feel the same way," President Qian chimed in. "We can't just let the government paint some pretty picture and expect us to pour our hard-earned cash into it, can we?"
Sun Qingli smiled at Ding Aiguo and said, "Old Ding, your son Kaifang really has a sharp mind, gathering us all beforehand to get on the same page. Otherwise, they might have actually managed to divide and conquer us tomorrow."
Ding Aiguo laughed heartily. "It's all for the company, for the livelihoods of the thousands of employees under us."
