chsdbacks Chapter 1018 Recognition
Chapter 1018 Recognition
On the morning of the second day after arriving in Beijing, at eight o'clock, Lin Haoran met with the relevant person in charge again in a simple little building.
This was their second meeting alone.
The meeting went much more easily than Lin Haoran had expected.
The other party didn't engage in excessive pleasantries and got straight to the point, discussing several matters: equipment selection for related projects, the progress of the joint venture power company, and Lin Haoran's investment activities in various locations.
The other party acknowledged Lin Haoran's contributions to the mainland, especially mentioning his factory and port construction in Guangdong Province, believing that these tangible investments have injected vitality into the local economic development.
In addition, the other party also highly praised Lin Haoran's charitable work in mainland China.
"Comrade Xiaolin, we have all seen what you have done in the mainland." The other party's tone was calm, but every word carried weight. "We hope you will continue to invest with confidence and develop boldly."
Lin Haoran expressed his confidence in the economic prospects of the mainland and said he would continue to expand his investment and was also willing to contribute to the introduction of more overseas technologies and resources to the mainland.
The meeting lasted about an hour and ended in a harmonious atmosphere.
……
After leaving Zhongnanhai, Lin Haoran took a deep breath.
Even now, he still doesn't know the purpose of the invitation he received from the mainland.
Even after meeting with this person in charge, the meeting did not reach any substantial conclusions. It was more like a routine communication, discussing his achievements, future investments, and confirming each other's positions and attitudes.
This left him somewhat puzzled.
It wasn't that he was paranoid, but rather that the invitation came rather suddenly.
The last time he came to Beijing was because he had never been to Beijing before. This was his first time being invited, and even if he had no ulterior motive, it was a natural thing to do given the scale of his investments in the Pearl River Delta.
It's perfectly normal for the central government to want to meet this Hong Kong businessman who played an important role in the reform and opening up, and to learn about his thoughts and plans.
But this is the second invitation.
A second invitation should logically indicate that there is something important to discuss.
There might be a project that requires his participation, a policy that requires his cooperation, or a problem that requires his help to solve.
But this time there was nothing.
It wasn't mentioned at the welcome dinner yesterday evening, nor during our private meeting today.
During the meeting, the person in charge asked many questions and listened to many reports, but never made any specific requests. He didn't ask for additional investment, accelerate the project, or do anything beyond his plans.
This, however, made him somewhat uneasy.
There's a saying in business: if someone invites you to dinner but doesn't say what they want to talk about, it's definitely something important.
Because the other person is waiting for you to speak, or thinking about how to speak.
This time, however, Lin Haoran left Zhongnanhai with this question in mind.
"Perhaps I'm overthinking it?" Lin Haoran murmured as he sat in the state limousine.
Unable to come up with a solution, Lin Haoran simply gave up on thinking about it.
If there's something else going on, the other party will bring it up sooner or later.
His initiative to ask made him seem impatient.
Besides, he's a businessman, not a diplomat.
There are some things that he shouldn't ask if the other party doesn't tell him; that's his right.
If the other party says something, I will do what I can, and I will clearly refuse what I cannot do. That's my principle.
The car stopped in front of Fangfei Garden at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
Lin Haoran pushed open the car door, got out, straightened his collar, and walked inside.
Guo Xiaohan was playing with Lin Yaoguang in the living room.
The little one has completely adapted to the environment here, is in great spirits, and is playing with the nanny, waving his arms and legs and babbling away.
Guo Xiaohan was leaning back on the sofa, reading a book.
Upon hearing footsteps entering, Guo Xiaohan, the nanny, and Lin Yaoguang all turned their attention to him.
Lin Yaoguang immediately stretched out his two little hands, wanting Lin Haoran to hug him.
Lin Haoran walked over with a smile, took his son from the nanny, and kissed his son on the cheek.
The little guy got pricked by the stubble, wrinkled his nose, but didn't cry; instead, he giggled.
"Brother Haoran, how did the talk go?" Guo Xiaohan put down her book and sat up straight.
"It's fine." Lin Haoran sat down on the sofa with his son in his arms. "We talked about some projects, nothing special."
Guo Xiaohan sat down next to him, glanced at him, and didn't ask any more questions.
After joking around for a while, Lin Haoran said to Guo Xiaohan, "I'm going to Wangfujing for an inspection later. Do you want to come with me? If you do, Yaoguang can stay at the State Guesthouse. There's a lot of dust there because of the ongoing renovation project, so it's not suitable to take him there."
Guo Xiaohan thought for a moment and then shook her head.
"I won't go. Yaoguang might need to sleep soon, so I'll stay here with him. You go ahead and do your work, just come back early."
Clearly, she was worried about leaving the nanny to take care of Lin Yaoguang alone.
Back in Hong Kong, she felt at ease having her mother-in-law take care of Lin Yaoguang occasionally, but she was always uneasy if only the nanny was left to take care of him at the State Guest House.
It's not that I don't trust nannies, but it's a mother's instinct; I only feel at ease when my child is around.
As for Lin Haoran, he trusted the nanny completely.
He was the one who made the decision in choosing the nanny, because this nanny was not only experienced, but also highly loyal. Since becoming the Lin family's childcare nanny, her loyalty rate has exceeded 90%.
Lin Haoran was naturally very reassured by such loyalty.
However, he understood Guo Xiaohan's thoughts, so he didn't force her.
"Okay, then you can rest at the state guesthouse. If you need anything, just call the staff here. It's very safe here. I'll try to come back as soon as possible to have lunch with you. After lunch, I'll take you out to play!" Lin Haoran kissed his son and then handed him to Guo Xiaohan.
Guo Xiaohan took her son and nodded. "Go ahead, be careful on the road."
Lin Haoran glanced at his wife and son again, then turned and left.
The car drove out of Diaoyutai, headed east along Chang'an Avenue, then turned north, and arrived at Wangfujing in about ten minutes.
Along the way, Lin Haoran noticed that the changes in Beijing over the past two years were not actually that significant.
Basically, it's the same as it was when he last came to the capital.
The streets are still the same streets, the buildings are still the same buildings, and even the signs of the state-owned stores along the roadside haven't changed much.
It is completely different from Shenzhen.
Shenzhen is changing every month.
What was a barren land last month is now a tower crane; what was a dirt road last month is now paved with asphalt.
The rapid pace of change is dazzling, as if the entire city is desperately rushing forward.
But the capital city is different.
This ancient capital, with its thousand-year history, seems to have its own rhythm and temperament. It is neither hasty nor impatient, neither hurried nor slow, remaining steadfast despite the storms and waves from the outside world.
It's not that it doesn't want to change, but rather that it's too large, has too deep a foundation, and carries too heavy a burden, making change difficult.
Lin Haoran understands this "slowness".
Every street and every building in Beijing carries a rich history.
It's easy to dismantle, but what happens afterward?
Are the new buildings worthy of the city's status?
Can it stand the test of history?
These are issues that cannot be decided on a whim.
Therefore, the transformation of the capital must be carried out steadily, cautiously, and with careful planning before any action is taken.
Wangfujing is precisely the breakthrough point for the transformation of Beijing.
This most famous commercial street in Beijing is currently a scene of bustling construction activity.
Most of the old buildings on both sides of the street have been demolished and replaced by rows of newly built houses.
The buildings are generally not tall, mostly around ten stories, with the occasional twenty-story building. They are diverse in style, including ancient Chinese and Western architectural styles, and even have clock towers. Some buildings have been topped out, while others are still under scaffolding. Some buildings have only been renovated and have not been demolished or rebuilt.
The construction site was filled with the roar of machinery, and workers wearing safety helmets moved back and forth, with dust flying in the sunlight.
In 1981, when Lin Haoran first came to Beijing, he secured the rights to renovate Wangfujing and its future operation and investment attraction.
Not long after, Hongkong Land’s mainland branch began to move into Wangfujing and carry out a comprehensive upgrade and renovation of this most famous commercial street in Beijing.
Subsequently, government offices were vacated to free up prime land; the main street was widened, paved with high-quality stone, and benches and art installations were added; buildings on both sides were renovated or demolished and rebuilt. With the support of the government, the plan has been progressing very smoothly over the past year.
Wangfujing is to Beijing what Causeway Bay is to Hong Kong and Fifth Avenue is to New York.
Its appearance, to some extent, reflects the city's level of commerce and openness.
When Lin Haoran took on this project, he knew that if he did it well, it would be the icing on the cake; if he messed it up, he would not only lose money, but it would also affect how people in mainland China viewed him.
Therefore, he dared not be careless.
Hongkong Land Group dispatched its strongest design and construction teams, and all its resources in Beijing were directed towards this project.
Over the past year and a half, more than HK$500 million has been invested, and more is still being added.
The car stopped outside the construction site.
The project manager was already waiting by the roadside wearing a safety helmet. When he saw Lin Haoran get out of the car, he quickly came to greet him.
"Boss, welcome to visit and provide guidance."
Lin Haoran took the safety helmet, put it on, and followed the person in charge into the construction site.
"How's the overall progress?" Lin Haoran asked as he walked.
"The entire Wangfujing renovation project is divided into three phases and carried out in batches. The first phase is currently 60% complete and is expected to open before National Day this year."
The project manager pointed to several buildings that had already been topped out, his tone tinged with pride.
"That will be the core building of Wangfujing, with the main building and two auxiliary buildings. The main building is 28 stories high and is one of the tallest buildings in Wangfujing. The first to fifth floors are the commercial area, and the sixth floor and above are office buildings and hotels."
Lin Haoran nodded and continued walking forward.
What about the second phase of the project?
"The second phase mainly involves the renovation of shops on both sides of the pedestrian street, involving more than 60 shops. Half of them are renovated on the original site, retaining the original architectural style; the other half are demolished and rebuilt, but the style of the new buildings is consistent with the surrounding area."
The project manager paused for a moment, then added, "Especially for some time-honored brands, we adopted a key protective renovation plan, preserving the original signs and architectural features, and the original merchants were very cooperative."
What is the third phase of the project?
"Phase III involves the renovation of municipal infrastructure around Wangfujing, including underground parking lots, bus stops, and pedestrian street landscaping. This phase is led by the Beijing municipal government, with us providing funding in cooperation. The design plan has been finalized, and it is expected to be completed in two years."
Lin Haoran nodded in satisfaction.
The renovation of Wangfujing is not simply a matter of demolishing the old and building the new.
This is a complex systems engineering project that involves multiple aspects such as commerce, municipal administration, culture, and tourism.
Phase one ensures the image, phase two ensures the essence, and phase three ensures the supporting facilities. We must proceed in three steps, and each step must be flawless.
He walked up to a building that was being renovated and stopped.
This building is not tall, only three stories high, with blue bricks and gray tiles, and upturned eaves, which is a typical commercial building style of the Republic of China period.
The workers are carefully cleaning the brick carvings on the facade, not daring to be careless with a single brick or tile.
"What's the story behind this building?" Lin Haoran asked curiously.
"This is the original store of Hengdeli Watch Shop, which was built in 1915 and is one of the oldest shops in Wangfujing." The project manager said with great familiarity, "We hired a professional ancient building restoration team to carry out the restoration according to the principle of restoring the old as it was."
Every brick and tile on the exterior wall was numbered and registered, and after cleaning, it was restored to its original state. The wooden staircase and floor inside were also completely preserved, only requiring reinforcement.
Lin Haoran reached out and touched the cleaned brick carvings on the wall. They felt warm to the touch and had clear patterns.
The craftsmanship from seventy years ago remains exquisite to this day.
"How many old buildings like this are there in the entire Wangfujing area?"
"There are 21 registered sites, and we have adopted protective renovation plans for all of them. Boss, you previously instructed that the renovation of Wangfujing is not about demolishing the old buildings and building new ones, but about making it more modern, more comfortable, and more vibrant while preserving its old charm. We have been doing this in accordance with this principle."
"Okay." Lin Haoran dusted off his hands and continued walking.
He spent over an hour walking around the construction site, carefully examining everything from the main building to the pedestrian street, from the underground parking lot to the sky bridge.
The project leader's report was very detailed, with abundant data and a clear line of thought, showing that he had made thorough preparations.
Finally, he arrived at the core area on the east side of the south entrance of Wangfujing, adjacent to Chang'an Avenue. In Lin Haoran's previous life, this was Oriental Plaza, invested by Li Jiacheng, which generated more than 70 billion RMB in total rental income for Li Jiacheng. It would not be an exaggeration to call it a money detector.
Now, however, this land has been approved by Beijing Land Group.
At this time, the land has also become a construction site, where workers are busy, and a building under construction has already risen from the ground.
According to Lin Haoran's previous plan, once completed, this place will become the headquarters building of the Landmark Group in Beijing, and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel will be built there.
"Boss, this is the design drawing of Beijing Landmark Plaza!" The project manager took out a color design drawing and spread it out for Lin Haoran to see.
In his previous life, Lin Haoran had a strong impression of Oriental Plaza, a building with three underground floors, 25 floors above ground, and a total of 28 floors.
It was a landmark in the capital at the time.
The entire building complex is magnificent, with its glass curtain wall and granite facade shining brightly in the sunlight, becoming a beautiful sight on Chang'an Avenue.
Today, Landmark's design is even grander than Oriental Plaza's.
The building complex in the design drawings consists of a main building and two auxiliary buildings. The main building is 29 stories high with three underground floors, and the total construction area exceeds 300,000 square meters.
The exterior adopts a modern style, mainly with large glass curtain walls, complemented by light gray granite decorative lines, which is simple and grand, yet dignified and elegant.
The main building features a unique crown design on its top, which illuminates at night, becoming a visual focal point on Chang'an Avenue.
The two annex buildings are 20 and 18 stories high, respectively, and are connected to the main building by sky bridges, forming a complete architectural complex.
“We originally planned to build a 50-story skyscraper, but due to height restrictions on Chang’an Avenue, we were only able to build it to 29 stories after our efforts.”
The project manager's tone carried a hint of regret, but he quickly cheered up: "Even so, Landmark remains the tallest commercial building on Chang'an Avenue and a new landmark in the Wangfujing area."
Lin Haoran nodded.
The height restriction on Chang'an Avenue is a strict regulation that involves the capital's urban planning and political image, and it is not something that can be easily broken.
Although the 29th floor was a bit lower than he had expected, it was still sufficient for a commercial project.
The value of a location lies not in how tall the building is, but in the land beneath it.
He was somewhat looking forward to seeing what it would be like when it was completed.
"When will this building be completed?" Lin Haoran asked.
"According to the plan, the project will be completed in three years and two months. We have been working on it for one year and one month, and it will take another two years and one month to complete. It is expected to be completed in April 1985," the person in charge replied.
Lin Haoran nodded; he knew that this matter couldn't be rushed.
This building is quite large; although it can't be considered a skyscraper, the scale of the project is still enormous.
From laying the foundation to topping out the main structure, from exterior decoration to interior finishing, from equipment installation to final acceptance, every step takes time.
Two years and one month is a rather tight schedule for a project of this size.
He suddenly had a plan: when the site is completed in two years, he would personally preside over the completion ceremony.
By then, Lin Yaoguang was almost four years old, the age when he began to remember things.
Perhaps he could bring his son here, point to this building, and tell him, "Dad built this."
"The quality of the project must be strictly controlled." Lin Haoran turned his gaze back and said to the project manager, "The schedule can be relaxed appropriately, but there can be no mistakes in quality and safety. Landmark Plaza is Land Group's flagship project in mainland China. It can only succeed and cannot fail."
"Don't worry, boss, we will definitely prioritize quality and safety," the project manager solemnly assured.
Lin Haoran nodded in satisfaction, glanced at his watch, and saw that it was already noon.
So he left Wangfujing and returned to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. (End of Chapter)