164: Chapter 164 Good Son

The next day at work, Zhao Yang carried that invitation, pacing in front of the Governor's office a couple of times. He took a deep breath, raised his hand, and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Sun Zhendong was looking down at some documents. Seeing him enter, he pointed to the chair opposite him.

"You've come at just the right time, there's something..."

"Governor," Zhao Yang interrupted him, bracing himself, "I have something I'd like to report to you."

Sun Zhendong looked up, a bit surprised. "Go ahead."

Zhao Yang placed the invitation on the desk and pushed it over.

Sun Zhendong glanced down at it, his brow furrowing slightly.

"The listing of Cenjiang Industrial's Wantong Logistics? Since when did you start delivering invitations for enterprises?"

His tone wasn't heavy, but Zhao Yang could tell it was a warning.

"Leader, this invitation is from my mother-in-law," Zhao Yang confessed.

Sun Zhendong was stunned for a moment, then leaned back in his chair, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

"Lin Xuecen is your mother-in-law?"

"Yes," Zhao Yang replied without hesitation.

As one of the top private entrepreneurs in the province, Sun Zhendong had met Lin Xuecen more than once.

He also knew she was Jiang Yunheng's wife, and that for years, Jiang Yunheng had never provided any convenience for his wife's business.

This fact had actually made Sun Zhendong admire the couple immensely.

What he hadn't expected was that Cenjiang Industrial was now connected to Zhao Yang as well.

And Zhao Yang's wife, Jiang Nan, was the person who had provided the key evidence to clear Sun Hongwei's name.

Attending such a listing ceremony to show his support for the logistics industry wasn't out of the question.

But Zhao Yang's approach left him feeling very puzzled.

This young man had always been steady, forward-thinking, and devoted to the public interest.

For him to act so out of character this time, he must have his own reasons.

Sun Zhendong gave Zhao Yang a deep look and pushed the invitation back with a smile.

"You know my rules. Go back and tell your mother-in-law that I wish her business thrives."

His tone was gentle, but his attitude was firm.

However, Sun Zhendong was also looking forward to how Zhao Yang would try to persuade him next.

Zhao Yang didn't move, nor did he take back the invitation.

"Leader, I shouldn't have come to bother you about my mother-in-law's company listing. But this is related to that support document you approved last time."

Sun Zhendong raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Zhao Yang leaned forward slightly and said seriously:

"The province issued a document encouraging logistics enterprises to grow bigger and stronger; Wantong is the most typical case.

"If you go, all the logistics companies in the province will see that the provincial government is serious about this, not just shouting slogans."

Sun Zhendong's fingers began to lightly tap the desk, a habitual movement when he was thinking.

"There's some truth to that, but it's still not enough. I can't make an exception just for one company."

Zhao Yang knew that this alone wouldn't be sufficient.

He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and placed it on the desk.

It was a set of materials downloaded and printed from the internet, titled 'Alibaba Online Supply Platform Annual Report'.

"What is this?" Sun Zhendong picked it up and flipped through it.

"A website called Alibaba. It just went online last year. Companies can post supply and demand information on it, and buyers and sellers can connect directly without middlemen," Zhao Yang explained.

Sun Zhendong scanned it a few times, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Doing business online? How many people use the internet now?"

"Not many," Zhao Yang admitted, "but this model will change the entire business landscape in the future."

He pointed to a set of data in the materials.

"Look at this. In one year of being online, registered enterprise users have exceeded ten thousand, and the transaction volume has tripled. If these companies trade through online platforms, how will the goods be delivered?

"By logistics."

Zhao Yang added with emphasis, "It seems insignificant now, but if one million or ten million people go online to buy things in the future, think about how many logistics companies will be needed for delivery?"

Sun Zhendong put down the materials and looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Are you painting a pie for me?"

Zhao Yang smiled. "Leader, three years ago, could you have imagined that two people from across the country could sit in front of computers and chat face-to-face? When new things first emerge, they all look like painted pies."

Sun Zhendong didn't speak; his fingers stopped tapping the desk.

Zhao Yang continued, "Logistics is no longer a traditional industry; it's the support for emerging industries. Whoever lays the groundwork first will have the first-mover advantage. If Jianghan Province doesn't want to fall behind in the future, we have to take it seriously now."

He paused, then finally hit the nail on the head.

"By attending this listing ceremony, you are taking a stand for the entire logistics industry. Every enterprise in the province will see the provincial government's attitude. The province supports emerging business formats."

The office fell silent.

Sun Zhendong leaned back in his chair, eyes closed, his fingers tapping the armrest rhythmically.

Zhao Yang sat opposite him, saying no more, waiting patiently.

After a long while, Sun Zhendong opened his eyes and looked at the invitation once more.

"How much employment can this enterprise of your mother-in-law's drive?"

"Wantong originally had over eight hundred employees. After my mother-in-law took over, she recruited another two hundred. It's now just over a thousand."

"What about suppliers?"

"Outlets across the province's thirteen cities; each outlet is connected to at least a dozen local small businesses. With the rapid development of the internet in the future, it could potentially drive employment for tens of thousands of people."

Sun Zhendong nodded and placed the invitation in his drawer.

"What time was it again?" Sun Zhendong had already seen the time, but he asked intentionally.

Zhao Yang was stunned for a moment, then realized what was happening, suppressing the surge of joy in his heart.

"10:18 AM."

"Tell the First Comprehensive Section to adjust the schedule for that day."

Sun Zhendong smiled and looked down to pick up his documents again.

"But I'll say this upfront: I'm only staying for twenty minutes. I'll only give a speech, no ribbon-cutting."

Zhao Yang stood up excitedly. "Thank you, Leader!"

Sun Zhendong looked up at him, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"Don't thank me. I'm going to see the emerging industry. Get me a few more detailed reports on that Alibaba thing."

"Yes, I'll bring them over this afternoon!"

Zhao Yang walked out of the office, gently closed the door, and let out a long breath in the hallway.

He pulled out his phone and sent a text to Lin Xuecen.

"Mom, it's done. The Governor will be there on time."

A few seconds later, the phone vibrated. The reply was only three words:

"Good son!"

Zhao Yang looked at the screen and almost lost his composure; it made him feel like a live-in son-in-law.

On the day Cenjiang Industrial Group Wantong Logistics Co., Ltd. was listed, Sun Zhendong delivered a speech.

Though the speech was short, it was enthusiastic, filled with expectations and encouragement for emerging industries.

Sun Zhendong had brought along the heads of relevant provincial departments; there were quite a few people.

As the party being merged, the Wan father and son didn't even have a chance to step onto the stage.

They could only stand at the entrance of their own company, watching others cut the ribbon.

"Dad, let's go!" Wan Junhao whispered, the words squeezed through his teeth.

Wan Chuanzhi didn't move. Instead, he gave his son a harsh glare and quietly pointed toward the stage.

"Do you see that? If you have any more foolish thoughts in the future, I'm afraid those two words 'Wantong' will no longer be on that plaque!"