In fact, Tang Yumeng had already drafted the work report for this session of the People's Congress representatives.

"Then... When exactly is the date?" Xiao Xue asked.

"Let's set it for the fourth week of this month," Tang Yumeng said with a smile.

"Yes!" Xiao Xue immediately responded, "I will send out the notice to all departments right away."

After saying that, Xiao Xue turned and left.

Standing in front of Tang Yumeng's office desk, Lin Chuan then asked, "Sister, what's the government's focal point of work for this year?"

"I can't tell you that," Tang Yumeng hummed softly, "That's government classified information."

"Fine, don't tell me then," Lin Chuan said, uninterested.

"Actually, it's nothing secretive." Tang Yumeng smiled and said, "The government work reports are the same every year, and this year is no exception. It's all about accelerating the economic development of our city, promoting the digestion of the real estate market, and supporting the development of small and medium enterprises. Revitalizing the bad economy..."

Lin Chuan listened for a while and after Tang Yumeng finished, he shook his head and said, "Sis, none of what you mentioned addresses the core issues."

"What do you mean?" Tang Yumeng asked.

"You haven't touched upon any of the issues that can ignite social conflicts," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Then let's hear your thoughts," Tang Yumeng said, thinking that she would certainly be able to turn in a satisfactory government report this year, but Lin Chuan's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on her. This made Tang Yumeng somewhat curious. With her arms crossed over her chest, she looked straight at Lin Chuan.

Lin Chuan smiled and said, "Sis, you know better than me, the biggest problems in this society are twofold."

"I am all ears," Tang Yumeng said with a smile.

"Firstly, the pension issue. China is a country on the brink of an aging population, so the issue of elderly care cannot go unmentioned. Thirty years ago, the country raised the slogan 'Plan your births well, the country will provide for your old age.' Ten years later, the slogan changed to 'Having just one child is good, the government will help with elderly care.' And now? The slogan has changed again to 'Don't rely on the government for elderly care.'" Lin Chuan said with a smile, "The credibility of a country has been completely lost, and the credit of a nation has been completely overdrawn. Do you think this will not ignite social conflicts?"

Tang Yumeng frowned, seemingly realizing the seriousness of the issue.

"And... the second issue you mentioned?" Tang Yumeng asked.

"The healthcare security system," Lin Chuan said, looking at Tang Yumeng seriously, "to have care for the elderly, to have treatment for the sick. These are two critically important social issues. If an explanation for these two problems cannot be given to the public, I fear... no matter how nice or beautiful the government report is, it may just be considered empty talk."

After Lin Chuan finished speaking, the office fell silent and so did Tang Yumeng.

It wasn't because she felt heavy-hearted, but because Lin Chuan's words seemed to have awakened her. She had always hoped to be able to discern the deepest problems in society. Tang Yumeng, having studied abroad, had not spent much time in the country and was not familiar with the national conditions of Chinese society. It was forgivable that she had not realized these two issues.

Now, the enlightenment from Lin Chuan clearly made Tang Yumeng have an epiphany.

"Lin Chuan, I am aware of the issues you've reflected upon," Tang Yumeng said with a smile, "You can go back first, I think I may need to revise my work report."

"Okay." Lin Chuan nodded, "You go on with your work, I'll be heading out."

If Tang Yumeng really could revise the work report and consider the two issues that he presented as the focus of this year's government work or for the future, then he would also indirectly have done a good deed. Lin Chuan walked out of Tang Yumeng's office with a smile, then headed towards the lounge.

Seeing Lin Chuan come in, Luo Guoqing greeted him excitedly, "Lin Chuan, you lad have really done a great thing."

"Ah, it's nothing much," Lin Chuan shook his head, "It's only right for brothers to help each other out."

"Having a brother like you is a real joy in life," Luo Guoqing patted Lin Chuan on the shoulder, "If it were someone else, they'd probably have run away by now and wouldn't want to deal with such matters."

"Actually, a million yuan is just a drop in the bucket for Li Minghua," Lin Chuan smiled and said, "Li Minghua's child is still so young, and it will be years before he can shoulder the family's burdens. I just hope this million can help sustain them for these years."

"That's enough," Luo Guoqing said with a laugh, "Doesn't he also have a wife?"

"Hmm." Lin Chuan nodded.

............

In the blink of an eye, Haiqing Pool had been established for two months, and in that time, it had indeed brought significant profits to Zhou Kai and his partners. Although they employed a profit-sharing business model of thirty-seventy, it did not affect their earnings in the slightest; on the contrary, it motivated the girls at Haiqing Pool. It also successfully attracted many beautiful girls from other parts of Jiangbei City to make appearances there, obviously benefiting Lin Chuan and his partners even more.

In two months, they had made over a million in gross profits—not revenue, but gross profits.

"Here's this month's financial report," Zhou Rui tossed the financial statement in her hand to Lin Chuan.

Today was Feixiang Company's quarterly meeting. Zhou Kai and the others were all participating in this meeting.

"Brother Chuan, how much did we make?" Zhou Kai craned his neck, but he couldn't understand the thick financial report in the slightest and had to ask Lin Chuan for help.

Lin Chuan flipped through a few pages and said, "In the past two months, the total profit from several places is 1.56 million. That is to say, there's still this much money in the account."

Whoosh...

Zhou Kai and Lu Dapao, their eyes widened, exclaimed, "Really? There's still that much?"

"What? You think it's too much?" Lin Chuan asked.

"No, no, no!" Zhou Kai quickly shook his head and said, "Who would ever complain about having too much money?"

"So what do you mean?" Lin Chuan asked.

"I'm just surprised that with our huge expenses every month, we can still make so much money, heh heh, that's indeed great," Zhou Kai said, grinning.

Indeed, paying out seven to eight hundred thousand in staff salaries every month and still having a surplus is truly remarkable. At least, that's what Zhou Kai thought. And now the surplus is even over 1.5 million. And this is just the first three months of the year; by the end of the year, wouldn't the company's surplus reach five or six million? That seemed unbelievable to them.

"The surplus money can be used for expansion," Lin Chuan glanced at the others and said: "There will be plenty of places to use money in the future."

"I have a suggestion," Zhou Rui spoke up at this moment.

"Go ahead," Lin Chuan looked at Zhou Rui.

"Now that the company has really gotten on the right track, just Feixiang Company alone can make over a hundred thousand a month. Not to mention Haiqing Pool," Zhou Rui glanced at Lin Chuan and said, "Since we've made money, I suggest we engage in some charitable activities."

"Why should we?" Zhou Kai immediately objected: "Charity? That's just throwing money to the dogs."

"Watch your language," Lin Chuan glared at Zhou Kai and said: "There are different kinds of charity. Let Zhou Rui finish."

"All of us here are born and raised in Changlin Factory, coming from poor backgrounds," Zhou Rui looked around at everyone and said, "Have you ever thought about the days when you can't afford food, can't afford healthcare? In fact, compared to many children in the mountains, we are already fortunate because no matter what, we at least had enough to eat. But they don't!"

As she spoke, Zhou Rui turned on the projector, and photos of impoverished mountain children played in a slideshow format. After enduring a winter, these children had frostbitten hands and feet, their classrooms were dilapidated buildings, windows patched with paper, yet still unable to stop the cold wind from blowing in...

Seeing those shocking photos made one feel a chill in the heart.

"If the country doesn't care, why should we bother?" Lu Dapao retorted.

"Exactly!" Zhou Kai nodded.

The two of them echoed each other, infuriating Zhou Rui: "What do you two mean by that?"

Zhou Kai said with a smile: "Anyway, I disagree."

"I disagree as well," Lu Dapao raised his hand.

Lin Chuan said awkwardly, "Let's talk about this matter later. Not now."

Zhou Rui was so angry she slammed the table, "Fine, if you don't agree with my proposal, then I'll resign from the position of general manager!"

At once, everyone fell silent, as if chilled to the bone.

It was known to all that a significant reason for the profitable operation of the transportation market, Feixiang Company, and even Haiqing Pool, was due to Zhou Rui's presence. If it weren't for her, it's doubtful that these places could operate as smoothly as they do.

"Little Pepper, these kinds of things should be agreed upon by everyone, right?" Zhou Kai yelled.

"That's right. After all, this is everyone's money," Lu Dapao spoke up: "If you want to do charity, if you want to do public welfare, then use your own money. We absolutely won't say a word against it. But if you want to take our money, you should at least get our agreement. We disagree, and yet you're getting angry..."

"No more talking!" Zhou Rui glared at them.

Zhou Kai and Lu Dapao shrank back their necks. In fact, they were somewhat afraid of Zhou Rui. Zhou Rui's fiery image had been deeply ingrained in their minds. Accustomed to being bullied by Zhou Rui since childhood, even now as adults, they hadn't changed these habits or thoughts.

"No, no more talking," Lu Dapao quickly shut his mouth.

Zhou Rui turned her head to look at Lin Chuan, her expression one of simmering anger, as if waiting for Lin Chuan to take a stand.

"Well..." Lin Chuan gave a cough and then smiled, "Actually, doing charity is indeed a good thing, and we should of course support it. However, how much profit we should allocate each year for charity needs to be well considered."

"Two hundred thousand," Zhou Rui held up two fingers.

"That's ridiculous," Zhou Kai was shocked, "At most twenty thousand. How many billions does the Red Cross collect from the outside every year, but how much of it actually goes to charity and public welfare?"

[Dear readers, starting from tomorrow, updates will be released at 9 am instead of midnight.]

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