Chapter 91: The Detailed Plan

To some extent, Xu Xiangdong could be considered a rare good official.

He never embezzled or accepted bribes. He was known for being clean-handed, diligent, caring for the people, frugal, and simple. For example, despite being the Township Head of Erdaokou Town in the Nancheng District of Pingyang City, he rarely used official vehicles on regular days unless it was a special circumstance. Instead, he rode an old bicycle to and from work. Sometimes, when he had meetings at the district government, he would also ride his bicycle. Moreover, his clothing was always simple and approachable, and he rarely put on airs of an official in front of the common people.

However, he wasn’t the kind of purely upright and aloof person who was impervious to all influences either. It was just that he was timid, so over the years, he had only polished his skills of being slick and glossing over issues in grassroots officialdom.

He had no real ability; otherwise, with his slickness and problem-glossing skills, he should have been promoted by then.

For example, when the retired veteran cadre Chen Xian heard there was an idle piece of land there and casually gave Xu Xiangdong a call to ask about it, Xu immediately agreed with a nod. In his view, such a small matter within his authority was almost nothing. Someone like him truly never considered using such an opportunity to line his own pockets or gain some personal benefit. He just thought about using public resources to gain favor and build connections. Since it didn’t violate any rules, why not do it?

When Su Chunfeng proposed wanting to contract the entire seventy-some acres of land with a lease for decades, Xu Xiangdong was truly greatly surprised. But soon, he simply dismissed it as a young person relying on their talent to be arrogant, spouting unrealistic words out of ignorance. He even said things that sounded rather official, like joint development, increasing fiscal revenue, and promoting development.

He really doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth; a newborn calf is not afraid of the tiger.

Although feeling slightly displeased inside, since the lease matter wasn’t settled yet, Xu Xiangdong had to pretend to go along politely and let Su Chunfeng talk about his specific ideas.

As Su Chunfeng gave a simple and clear analysis and explanation, Xu Xiangdong’s expression gradually became serious…

He realized that this land lease contract matter probably wasn’t simply about this pair of father and son, who clearly came from the countryside and seemed like somewhat nouveau riche bumpkins, wanting to lease it. Or perhaps them leasing a small piece of land to open a shop was real, but there was definitely someone behind the scenes planning a bigger business—after all, Chen Xian was retired and idle at home.

Because what Su Chunfeng said and talked about was definitely not something a half-grown kid still in high school could analyze and imagine. Even he, as the Township Head, probably couldn’t think so thoroughly.

According to what Su Chunfeng said, their family could contract and lease all seventy-some acres of land. The lease term could be set for twenty years, thirty years, or even seventy years. Su Chunfeng also admitted that their family absolutely could not afford such a large contracting fee. But as he said before, they could adopt a method where the Erdaokou Town government cooperated with them. The town government would provide the land, and their family would invest funds, manpower, and other resources to vigorously develop and use this land for operating shops, parking lots, warehouses, etc. Regarding the operating income, the Erdaokou Town government could receive 17.5% of the profits each year. Su Chunfeng also emphasized that this wasn’t about their family not needing to pay contracting fees at all, but about letting the town government appropriately reduce and lower the fees.

This well-reasoned speech completely stunned Su Cheng, who was sitting beside him—had his son become a spirit? How dare he say all these things?

At that moment, while shocked by his own speculation, Xu Xiangdong still maintained a calm smile. While pondering how to properly handle this matter, he said with a smile, “Since it’s cooperation, shouldn’t the split be fifty-fifty?”

“Township Head Xu, we are leasing and contracting the right to use the land.” Su Chunfeng scratched his head and finally dropped that expression of a youngster yet appearing calm and composed, discussing grand plans and pointing out strategies, which made him even more awe-inspiring. He said somewhat embarrassedly, “Even if we don’t have to pay the contracting fee, we will still have to spend a lot of money investing in development and construction.”

“Our government can also invest in development and construction,” Xu Xiangdong said with a laugh.

“Ah, Township Head Xu, this idea was mine though… Ah, forget it, forget it. Then, then fine.” Su Chunfeng pouted, showing a reluctant and aggrieved expression, and said, “But, if we just rent these ten acres by the roadside, can you make the lease contracting fee cheaper for us?”

Xu Xiangdong was amused by Su Chunfeng’s expression and words. He laughed and said, “Young man, your idea is not bad. Let’s do this… I will go back and hold a meeting to discuss your ideas and suggestions. I’ll notify you later. Does your family have a telephone? Leave me the phone number.”

“We do, we do.” Su Chunfeng immediately took his father’s large leather bag, pulled out paper and pen, wrote down the phone number, and then handed it along with that pack of Hongtashan cigarettes to Xu Xiangdong. He said somewhat shyly, “Township Head Xu, you can have your meeting and discussion, but regardless of whether the matter works out in the end, the plot of land for us to contract and open a shop, let’s just settle it for now first. As for the contracting fee, we can discuss that later, okay?”

“Heh, you little sly one.” Xu Xiangdong laughed heartily and nodded, “Alright, I promise you. Go back and wait for news.” As he spoke, Xu Xiangdong very casually picked up the slip of paper with the phone number and that pack of cigarettes and put them into his own bag. He then looked at Su Cheng, who had barely spoken and was still somewhat dazed. He laughed and said, “Old Su, your son is really too promising! Hmm, as the saying goes, a tiger father won’t have a dog son. I think you, Old Su, are putting on the act of a big boss, letting your son do the talking while you sit firmly and watch the changes unfold without moving, haha.”

Snapping back to reality, Su Cheng quickly gave an awkward smile, “Not at all, not at all. I’m just a rough guy, I really don’t understand these things.”

Xu Xiangdong stood up, smiled, and waved his hand, saying, “Let’s leave it at that then. I still have some work matters. We’ll be in touch later, okay?”

“Ah? Let’s have lunch together at noon,” Su Cheng hurriedly stood up and said.

Su Chunfeng couldn’t help but want to laugh. What time was it even? And thinking of inviting someone to a meal on the first meeting—his father’s skill at mending the fold after the sheep was lost was really not great.

“Next time,” Xu Xiangdong said without minding, picked up his bag, politely walked out.

Su Cheng and Su Chunfeng had to follow Xu Xiangdong all the way outside. After exchanging a few more polite words, Xu Xiangdong got on his bicycle and left leisurely and unhurriedly.

After Xu Xiangdong had gone far, Su Cheng straightened his face and scolded, “Xiaofeng, have you gone crazy today?”

“Dad, I’ll explain in detail when we get back… This opportunity is simply too rare.” Su Chunfeng said with full confidence in his expression, “You just wait for Xu Xiangdong’s call.”

“What?” Su Cheng was utterly confused.

“Oh right, Dad, give me twenty yuan.”

“What for?” Su Cheng asked while taking twenty yuan out of his pocket and handing it to Su Chunfeng.

“We’ve been in their restaurant for so long. Even though we didn’t eat, we should still show some appreciation. We’ll be neighbors across the street in the future. As the common saying goes, a near neighbor is better than a distant relative. We’ll inevitably bother them.” Su Chunfeng took the money with a smile, turned, walked into the restaurant, and, amid the restaurant owner’s polite refusals, left the twenty yuan.

A little after eleven in the morning, father and son returned home.

At home, Su Chunfeng very seriously discussed the practical usage value of that piece of land in detail with his father.

Of course, he didn’t mention that years later, with the rapid expansion of Pingyang City, the newly built South Ring Road would eventually become a main road within the city. And the land adjacent to the old South Ring Road would become a highly sought-after golden treasure. The value of tens of acres of land would be frightening if spoken aloud to Su Cheng.

Su Chunfeng simply analyzed how that land could be used and developed—after all, it was a key location with convenient transportation. With the rapid development of the social economy and the prosperity of the logistics industry, there would be more and more freight vehicles. Then this land adjacent to the South Ring Road and National Highway 107 could be completely developed into a large parking lot. Just the income from parking fees alone would be a significant amount. Also, after the parking lot was built, with the return of funds and the value of this land and parking lot, they could take out loans and strive to use the shortest time to quickly establish all the supporting services like logistics, warehousing, accommodation, food and beverage, vehicle repair, etc… Actually, they wouldn’t even need to operate it themselves. Just building the houses and renting them out to others, the rental income alone would be quite considerable. Moreover, Su Chunfeng envisioned that they might not even need to build the houses themselves. When the time came, whoever wanted to do business at the parking lot could lease the site and build the house according to the requirements of the parking lot management.

When his father was finally persuaded by him, his eyes gleaming, thinking they could indeed make big money, but worried about the huge investment required, Su Chunfeng started to talk about the matter of cooperating with the Erdaokou Town government.

The contracting price could be adjusted correspondingly regarding the income distribution share the town government wanted to occupy.

The basic distribution and investment ratio set by Su Chunfeng was: if the annual contracting fee per acre was six hundred yuan, the profit share given to the town government would be 17.5%; five hundred yuan then 18%; four hundred yuan then 18.5%. Using this incremental ratio as the base price, they would negotiate with the town government. Another necessary premise was that the contract period had to be at least twenty years, with seventy years being best.

However, this was only the most ideal situation in his own mind. In reality, the town government would inevitably put forward various demands during the negotiation process.

Then at that time, they could appropriately make some concessions.

It was just like haggling over prices when doing business.

The bottom line set by Su Chunfeng was that the annual rent per acre could not exceed four hundred yuan, and the income share for the town government side could not exceed 35%. Additionally, in the entire contract agreement, the agency sales and vehicle repair income from Su Cheng’s own family’s operations would not fall within the scope of the cooperative business between the two sides. Separate accounts for separate things.

By the end, Su Cheng was somewhat unable to keep up. He said, “Stop, stop, stop. You better write it down in a notebook for me. I’ll look at it slowly.”

Su Chunfeng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He said, “Dad, get the money ready. We need to prepare at least five hundred thousand.”

“Go on, go write it!” Su Cheng waved his hand, pretending to be impatient, and said, “With you messing around and causing trouble like this, our family will eventually be ruined by you!”

“You just wait to get rich.” Su Chunfeng went back to his bedroom with a smile to write the plan for his father.

He knew that his father had already completely made up his mind internally—to go for a big venture.

Actually, Su Chunfeng was absolutely clueless about contracting land for development and operation. It was just that when he saw that tens of acres of wasteland with an excellent geographical location today, he suddenly remembered that in his previous life, this land indeed became a parking lot. He vaguely remembered some related details about when this land was formally contracted and invested in to build a parking lot. And the reason he knew these things was because later on, after the parking lot had operated for many years, as the city rapidly expanded, it became located within the city, inconvenient for large freight vehicles to pass through. So, it declined and eventually moved outside the city. Subsequently, this highly valuable golden treasure triggered a struggle among several major powers in Pingyang City. In the end, Occultists were also involved.

That year, Su Chunfeng bravely intervened to help one side. He won in the Magical Duel with the Occultists, thus helping his own side seize the operation and development rights for this piece of land.