One Hundred and Forty-Six: The Expressway

Presently, the traffic volume in our country is indeed relatively low, and expressways might seem unnecessary. However, we must take a forward-looking approach. Must we really wait until traffic is overwhelmingly congested and the pressure on transportation becomes critical before we begin building expressways? By that time, I am afraid the opportunity will no longer be ours. Expressways will have become a massive pie, and countless people will be fighting for a slice. Moreover, the general condition of our domestic roads is currently poor. The time it took me to travel by car from Dalian to this place was enough for a flight from New York to Hong Kong. Isn't the central government currently adjusting its policies to increase investment in transportation infrastructure? The construction of expressways will be proposed sooner or later; I only estimate that state construction funds are limited, so expressway construction can only proceed section by section rather than being rolled out nationwide all at once. However, if I provide the funding now, we can launch comprehensive construction across the entire Northeast region. My return on investment will be the toll fees collected after the expressway is completed, Wei Hua explained.

That probably won't work! First, land in the state belongs to the country, and building an expressway requires occupying a vast amount of land, which demands government approval. Furthermore, because the land belongs to the state, even if you build the expressway, the road itself can never belong to you. Second, the state may not necessarily agree to your charging tolls, because apart from collecting road maintenance fees, there is currently no precedent in our country for charging tolls on highways! Young Master Zhao was well-versed in domestic policies and pointed out these two seemingly insurmountable problems.

That is precisely why you need to step forward and resolve these issues. My primary purpose in building expressways in the Northeast is not to make a profit, but to support the economic development of my hometown. The current situation is that the state needs to develop basic transportation infrastructure but lacks sufficient capital, whereas I have abundant funds that cannot be effectively utilized domestically due to excessive policy restrictions, as I am considered a foreign investor. Therefore, you must step in to navigate these policy hurdles, Wei Hua said.

Then what benefits do we get out of this? Erkuai asked.

The benefits you stand to gain are even greater! Let me break it down for you. First, politically speaking, if you influence your respective family members to get the expressway construction plan approved, and the positive effects of the expressway eventually materialize, this will count as a political achievement for your family members. With achievements and connections, their future prospects will be brighter, and their official careers will be smoother. Second, economically speaking, building an expressway inevitably requires materials. What materials does an expressway need? High-grade cement, sand, and gravel. High-grade cement requires the establishment of specialized production plants, which we can set aside for now. But sand and gravel require no such thing; there are currently many barren riverbeds and rocky hills in the countryside that have not been contracted out. You can step forward to lease them, and then establish sand quarries and gravel plants. These are highly profitable ventures, and moreover, legitimate ways to make money. Your elders will not object to this. The investment for a single expressway often amounts to hundreds of millions, or even billions, of yuan, and the majority of this money is spent on materials. Just imagine how much you could earn if you were the ones supplying materials for the expressway! Making tens of millions a year would not be a problem, and you wouldn't have to live in fear—it is infinitely better than smuggling. However, we must act early; once others figure this out, the share available to us will shrink drastically, Wei Hua analyzed for the group.

Indeed! According to Mr. Wei, making tens of millions a year is truly not a problem for us, and our initial investment would be minimal—just some leasing fees, which amount to next to nothing. After that, we would only need to cover labor and production equipment costs, which shouldn't be much and can easily be borrowed. Once construction begins and we start supplying materials, we will be raking in money endlessly. This money will feel much safer to hold, and at least the old man won't curse us out! Dongzi said after hearing Wei Hua's words.

We must go back and discuss this matter with our families. After all, this is no small undertaking. As far as I know, this would be the first case of its kind nationwide, and it is far more complicated than we imagine. Still, I agree with this idea; money earned this way brings peace of mind, Young Master Zhao concurred with Dongzi's opinion.

There is even more! You can also establish an expressway construction company. Once the expressway construction plan is approved, I will be the investor, which gives me a certain degree of decision-making power—or even full authority. Domestic large-scale construction projects do not yet have bidding regulations, so I can designate your construction company to undertake the expressway construction. As long as your company's technical capabilities are up to par, you will undoubtedly secure the contracts. This sector also represents a massive chunk of revenue, and it can additionally solve employment issues for many people. The domestic employment pressure is quite high right now, isn't it?

That's right! Many people returning to the city cannot find jobs, and they pull strings and send gifts everywhere just to find employment—it is quite pitiful, Miss Li remarked.

Therefore, once the expressway construction plan is approved, the benefits for you will undeniably be substantial, so you must consider this carefully. There is no need to rush, though. Stay here with me today, and I will explain the details of the expressway project to you thoroughly. Then you can return to report to your respective elders, who can in turn drive the expressway plan forward. They are experienced statesmen, and I believe they understand the underlying stakes and interests far better than we do, Wei Hua said.

That very night, Young Master Zhao and his companions stayed in the small village, once again savoring authentic rural cuisine from the Northeast. They were not entirely unfamiliar with life in the Northeastern countryside; during that turbulent decade, most of them had spent a significant portion of their time in the villages of the Northeast. The next morning, after breakfast, Young Master Zhao and the others left the small mountain hamlet.

My dear readers! Your support is my driving force!!!!!