To be honest, Song Guanchao couldn't understand the choice Zeng Li made.

It's not that he's stupid.

On the contrary, he isn't stupid.

Moreover, he believes Wu Qiangwei and Qu Xiangru tend to have him choose Zhujiang District rather than Tongchi District.

Yet, Zeng Li came up with an entirely opposite choice.

He racked his brains but still couldn't comprehend why Zeng Li would choose the completely unpromising Tongchi District.

If it weren't for knowing she likes him, Song Guanchao would suspect if she was intentionally trying to set him up.

"Why?"

"Because Tongchi District is poor."

"..." What kind of reason is this?

Song Guanchao gave up on Tongchi District precisely because it's poor.

Yet Zeng Li's reasoning for him to choose Tongchi District was also because it's poor.

He found it hard to grasp.

Zeng Li said, "Zhujiang District's economy is good, the starting point is too high. It's hard for you to achieve significant political results in Zhujiang District."

"Tongchi District is just the opposite; the economy is poor and it's an old district, you can really make something happen."

Song Guanchao understood her meaning.

But the problem is, where would he get the resources to boost Tongchi District's economy?

Attracting investment isn't as simple as just saying it.

Even Zheng Bihui, after spending several years in Lingjiang, couldn't bring in a decent project.

The high-speed rail project and Fengmen Building project, the former is a livelihood project and doesn't count.

The latter was turned into commercial during Secretary Lu's time, and strictly speaking, it was merely selling land, not attracting investment.

True investment attraction is bringing in companies from outside the city, or even from abroad, to settle in the city.

Provide policy support, aid local businesses, support micro businesses and entrepreneurs.

However, this kind of support doesn't show results overnight; it takes three to five years, or even ten, to become effective.

It's something a district chief alone can't achieve; it requires the whole city to work together.

Yet the domestic official system makes this difficult to accomplish.

Because the top leaders of a prefecture-level city usually serve for about two years before getting transferred to other cities.

Thus, most top leaders focus on immediate benefits, pursuing quick achievements and lack the patience to support slow-yielding micro businesses.

In many cities, the urban planning of the previous leader demands development to the east.

But when the next leader arrives, they may demand abandoning the previous plans and push for development to the west.

Such examples are quite common.

Under such circumstances, it's nearly impossible for Song Guanchao to quickly elevate the economy of Tongchi District.

Zeng Li's choice seems to offer him a vast platform, but in reality, no company is willing to invest in this economically underdeveloped area.

Even though Song Guanchao has a wide network and knows many influential people.

But those are personal ties.

If he personally asked these people for money, they wouldn't hesitate.

But if it involves commercial interests, they won't let personal connections affect their business judgment.

Song Guanchao shook his head, conveying his analysis and judgement to her.

Originally thinking she would give up after hearing this.

However, she lightly sighed and spoke the familiar sentence, "You're really foolish."

Song Guanchao immediately became interested.

This girl, her decision didn't seem impulsive.

What he considered, she must have considered too, and likely even more comprehensively than him.

Moreover, she not only considered but even has corresponding solutions.

Song Guanchao adjusted his posture, holding her like a kitten in his arms, "Tell me."

Zeng Li said, "I ask you, what do you think is the most direct and simple way to boost a place's economy?"

"Sell land."

"Oh, you knew? I thought you didn't."

Song Guanchao smiled bitterly, "Everyone knows selling land can stimulate the economy, but the problem is someone has to buy it."

Those two plots that got blown up, no developer is willing to take over.

Not to mention other lands.

It's not that he didn't think of selling, but he knows it can't be sold.

Zeng Li snorted lightly, "That's why I say you're foolish."

"The only reason the land can't be sold is a bad location, lack of living facilities, and absence of employment."

"Actually, Tongchi District's location isn't bad, it's very close to the main city. Though it's an old district, the advantage of such areas is the complete living facilities."

"As for job opportunities, they aren't really as significant."

Song Guanchao found her words increasingly confusing.

The most significant job opportunities became insignificant in her words.

He once again asked that foolish question, "Why?"

Zeng Li didn't answer but took out her phone, opened the map, and found Tonchi District's address.

"Look, here's Tongchi District, here's Fengjiang District, here's Zhujiang District..."

She pointed one by one with her fingers, "Tongchi District is located between Fengjiang District and Zhujiang District, geographically, it's quite ideal."

"The hi-tech development zone near Zhujiang District is a concentration area for mid-to-large enterprises."

"Most of the employment opportunities in Lingjiang come from Fengjiang and Zhujiang."

"The residents here in Tongchi District work in these two districts but live in Tongchi District, only suffering from long commuting times."

Speaking to this point, she looked at Song Guanchao, "Understand now?"

Song Guanchao looked bewildered, understand what?

"Sigh."

Zeng Li sighed, again tracing a line between Fengjiang District, Tongchi District, and Zhujiang District with her finger.

"If you build a subway line here, what do you think would happen?"

This sentence suddenly made Song Guanchao's eyes brighten.

He understood! He got it!

Wow, it's actually so simple!

Yes, just need to build a subway line that spans the three districts...no, spanning the entire Lingjiang.

Tongchi District's commuting issue could then be resolved.

With the subway, no matter whether commuting or traveling, everything becomes convenient.

Based on other cities' experiences, once the subway is built, the property prices near the subway usually spike.

Moreover, Tongchi District isn't actually bad.

The living here is convenient, residential comfort is high, with the building of the subway, at least half an hour of commuting time could be saved.

Plus, once there's a subway, the land here can be sold.

Sell the land, and the collected land-based finance can be used for attracting investment and building large shopping malls.

Tongchi District's economy is almost bound to take off.

This is a positive cycle.

Such a simple problem, Song Guanchao hadn't thought of it.

Wu Qiangwei, Qu Xiangru, even the previous mayors hadn't thought of it either.

No, it's likely they might have thought.

Most probably because there's no money!

Subways are different from high-speed rail.

Building high-speed rails, once approved, the Railway Bureau at least funds half, the pressure isn't that heavy.

But all the money for building subways has to be shouldered by local finance.

Song Guanchao, although unclear about how much it costs to build a subway, seeing Lingjiang develop for so many years yet with no subway, shows the cost is definitely not low.

Probably not much less than building high-speed rail.

Thinking about the local fiscal situation of Lingjiang, the hope that had just been ignited in Song Guanchao was immediately quenched.

He said with a wry smile, "The plan is indeed good, but there's no money."

Zeng Li sighed again, "You must have played with too many women outside that you've become so foolish."

Song Guanchao looked at her, "You have a solution?"

"Yes, want to know?"

Zeng Li said, "If you want to know, you must promise me, no carnal activities for this month, no bedding with women outside."

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