Chapter 1121: Chapter 1121

1121: Chapter 1107: Serious Business 1121: Chapter 1107: Serious Business “This year’s GDP has grown by 37%, and if all goes well, we should be able to reach a scale of one hundred billion by the end of the year.

Then, the Ancient City can barely be considered a quasi-first-tier city.

Among the many industries, our Development Zone is the only clear growth point, accounting for more than 60% of the growth after excluding the effects of inflation…”

In the car, while pressing down on Evie with her teeth and claws, Lu Ping’an listened to Wang Xier’s work summary.

While Lu Ping’an was busy with Exotic Realm exploration, Wang Xier had been dragged into the tangle of work directly within the Development Zone.

Compared to before, her skin had actually become fairer…

It seemed that the myth that sunlight changes skin color, at least in front of the species at hand, was an undeniable reality.

However, the super dark circles under her eyes, so pronounced as to suggest she was a super overworked employee, made one worry that the Princess could keel over at any moment.

“And among the growth of our Development Zone, at least eighty percent comes from the stuff beneath us…”

At this moment, the three of them were not in a normal vehicle but a Land Boat.

Compared with regular vehicles, the Land Boat wasn’t burdened by excessive weight.

It was more lightweight, with better load capacity, and the one they were currently in was obviously a custom version that even surpassed so-called luxury sedans in volume, with most of that being usable actual space.

The Land Boat seemed pretty nice so far.

Although it didn’t have a high top speed, it was energy-efficient and affordable, and Lu Ping’an had already seen quite a few on the road.

“…Who understands all that you’re saying?”

Smiling, Lu Ping’an said something that could send someone’s blood pressure soaring.

Nominally, the Executive Deputy District Chief in front of him was indeed Lu Ping’an’s direct superior.

Originally, Lu was to be dispatched to the special agents squad in the Development Zone to serve as a true Captain level and also be responsible for the unique local public security work.

Undoubtedly, this was a tough job, but it was also “important” in a certain sense.

Just like how officials are often tested by being sent to villages, towns, and suburbs for postings before a promotion, it’s a test of their capabilities…

If everything went smoothly for Lu Ping’an, he might directly be promoted along the lines of “Bureau of Anomaly Management Director of the Development Zone” or “Deputy Director of the Ancient City Special Management Bureau.”

But after he showed his potential in dealing with a “nuclear threat”…one backbone member can be replaced by countless candidates, but having one more strategic weapon is the difference between heaven and earth.

The higher-ups started to have “no restrictions” on Lu Ping’an, allowing him to develop freely and escape these troubles.

When Lu Ping’an once again displayed an attitude of “it’s not my business,” even if it caused Wang Xier’s blood pressure to shoot up, she could only take a deep breath and forcefully suppress her anger.

She came this time because she had a request to make.

“…Our orders have already reached saturation,” Wang Xier said, ignoring Lu Ping’an’s complaint and continuing.

Is the Land Ship good?

Of course, it’s great.

It’s a legacy of the Silent Mountain Range World, combining local technology and Sealing Skills from the Exotic Realm, a simple creation that lies between the supernatural and technology.

Being inherently safe and suitable for mass production, its actual costs are far lower than those of real cars, and the actual profit per sales cycle for Development Zone companies is frighteningly high.

But is it absolutely necessary?

“Have other cities applied trade protection policies?”

Even though we are from the same country and don’t need to pay taxes, they still refuse our shipments and the opening of branches.”

“Even if you agreed to pay taxes there?”

“How could that be possible, the Ancient City Officials would never accept it.”

At that moment, Wang Xier was somewhat surprised.

She had been upset that Lu Ping’an had not been paying attention to her issues, yet he had straightaway touched upon the crux of the matter.

Due to the prior “big picture,” tax collection in various parts of the Eastern Country had been relatively independent, with local taxes always being a core pillar of Official finances.

And with money, local governments were able to develop and plan…

In this era, without a thriving virtual economy, every area is earnestly working on industry and business.

With local tax rates much higher than national ones, local officials hold the top authority in their areas in reality, and relying on transfer payments and coordination to solve local protectionism is highly unrealistic.

Most of the time, the attitude is “the money you make here must be spent locally” and “You’re an outsider who wants to make money here?

Fine, set up a branch and let the taxes flow here.”

Although the Eastern Country is now pushing tax reforms, and by timing, the tax reform in both worlds are nearly synchronous…due to transportation infrastructure issues in This World and the difficulty of inter-state travel, Lu Ping’an estimated that it would take at least ten years to effect such changes.

He had been paying attention, but not to the companies of the Development Zone specifically; his focus remained on the overall situation and development trends.

In his view, although in the long term the connections between states and cities had become closer and the authority of the Eastern Country had continuously strengthened, in the short term, due to the emergence of too many projects and opportunities, internal competition had become even more intense.

“So why did you come to me?

My influence isn’t that useful….”

Lu Ping’an shook his head.

He was also quite familiar with Wang Xier and knew that she was particularly “realistic.”

She wouldn’t fuss about holding a nominal position.

And if she were especially here blocking him, it was clear she had something in mind.

“For the civilian sector, we’ll have a hard time making a breakthrough in the short term.

We can only wait until the Changping State internal commercial trade general agreement is signed (state-level trade agreement).

That might take at least two or three years at the earliest, and by then we’ll probably be bankrupt….”

“Haha, surely it’s not that bad.

Don’t you all make a lot of money?”

“The expenses are high too, like developing new technologies, recruiting and training workers, and so on.”

“But I heard it’s because you have too many Exotic Races’ camps.”

Lu Ping’an’s comment was slightly impolite.

“….We can’t just kick them out.”

Wang Xier sighed, feeling uncomfortable herself.

She was caught between a rock and a hard place.

Her side was considered relatively well-developed, which meant more clansmen and even members of other races came to seek refuge.

There were people she couldn’t turn away; and even if she did, they wouldn’t leave, instead they leached off the local social benefits, becoming dangerous jobless vagrants.

Even for the sake of social stability in the Development Zone, she had to allocate funds to establish “Refugee Camps” and “Processing Workshops” to eliminate hidden dangers.

But these “good deeds” only attracted more outsiders.

She was numb to it all, increasingly understanding why those old bureaucrats didn’t want to do anything.

The more they did, the more new troubles they seemed to attract.

After a simple exchange, the reality of the Development Zone…

at least the reality of the Development Zone in the Ancient city was laid out before Lu Ping’an.

The Development Zone was growing rapidly, but it was like a misfortune-plagued fool with a fire on his back.

Stopping was almost equivalent to declaring disaster.

So Wang Xier, the nominal administrative supervisor, had to exert a lot of effort to secure orders for enterprises and find them a way out…

If everything really stopped, a wave of layoffs would ensue and the entire Development Zone would be doomed, which would in turn drag down the Ancient City as well.

“…This is quite serious indeed.”

Lu Ping’an put down the report and the summary tables; these internal figures looked like ticking time bombs.

The Development Zone had to open up new industrial projects, and even if there were failures, it needed to enlarge the current ones, finding new markets and sales channels for the products.

“…You’re very well-informed.”

“The day after your victory, everyone at the top of the Ancient City knew about it.

After all, you are a Rule Seed, and many were worried that you had met with an accident there.”

Lu Ping’an stroked his chin; he almost realized why Wang Xier had come in person.

“Yes, if we can’t count on the civilian market, we can only hope for the military and Exotic Realm markets.

The orders that various churches can issue are also quite substantial.”

alright, that was a stupid question.”

Which other would it be, naturally the Lady of the Forest Church he had just joined.

Lu Ping’an took another brochure, a business invitation booklet.

It was from some factions under Lin Nu’s Church, which were buying, almost in unlimited quantities, various types of marine and water surface vehicles, and the upcoming exhibition and sales event seemed to be not far off.

“They want to buy ships, right?”

“No worries, our Land Boats can be used both on land and water…

well, we haven’t had high hopes, but right now we really do need orders.

Our factories have certain technological transformation capabilities, so give it a try.”

Lu Ping’an sighed helplessly, his newly acquired benefits yet unreceived, and the “burden” of becoming a local big boss was already weighing down on him.

alright, I will make an effort to succeed.” And it seemed, in this regard, Lu Ping’an had no choice but to try, uncertain of whom else he could possibly pass the responsibility to.