<h4>Chapter 529: Chapter 529: The Situation is Very Grim_1</h4>


    "I’m terribly sorry, Leaders, I need to step out to take a call!" Bai Xiaosheng apologized to the mayors, Ji Mingyang and Dai Mingcheng.


    "Go ahead, you take it," Ji Mingyang said with an easy wave of his hand.


    Bai Xiaosheng shed an apologetic smile again, rose from his seat, and left the mayor’s office.


    Dai Mingcheng watched him leave, then turned to Ji Mingyang with a smile, "Ji, this isn’t like you. I remember back in the day, if a subordinate’s phone rang during a meeting, you’d usually fly off the handle! What’s with the change? Not a single harsh word for your treasured protege from Zhongjing?"


    Dai Mingcheng said this more in a teasing and bantering tone. He certainly wouldn’t make a big deal out of such a trifle, especially since he had grown very fond of the young man after talking with him.


    Sharp-witted, broad-minded, and calm.


    It had been many years since he’d encountered such an outstanding young man!


    With a sense of admiration, Dai Mingcheng couldn’t help feeling a bit jealous.


    Howe Ji Mingyang managed to have such capable people under him, and he did not!


    "What you’re talking about is ancient history! My temper is now famously good, I’m known as the easygoing mayor. Besides, he’s not one of my subordinates." Ji Mingyangughed heartily.


    Then, Ji Mingyang exined on behalf of Bai Xiaosheng, "The kid must’ve really had an emergency; otherwise, given his nature, he’d normally just hang up. He knows what’s appropriate!"


    These words were filled with Ji Mingyang’s trust and tolerance towards Bai Xiaosheng.


    "Alright, alright, I’ll stop picking on your precious protege!" Dai Mingchengughed heartily.


    "By the way, Dai, thatpany from your city that applied for the provincial-level benchmark – what industry is it in?" Ji Mingyang asked.


    Zhongjing and Tianqing were worlds apart and thepanies they had put forward were in different industries, so they were not inpetition.


    "The insurance industry," Dai Mingcheng answered.


    "The insurance industry!" Ji Mingyang smacked his lips. "I mean, Dai, it’s not that I have anything against the industry, but you usually favor manufacturing or high-tech enterprises. Howe you’re nominating an insurancepany this time?"


    While Ji Mingyang had no bias against the insurance industry, he also had no intention to foster it in Zhongjing; he just let it develop naturally.


    "What’s wrong with the insurance industry? You’re a mayor now, don’t discriminate." Dai Mingcheng said earnestly.


    However, he immediately followed with a wry smile, "It’s because there were no industry oveps when applying, and thepetitive pressure is less..."


    "You’ve gotten sly!" Ji Mingyangughed loudly.


    Seeing his expression, Dai Mingcheng instantly felt miffed, "Ji, how can Tianqingpare with your Zhongjing! You were the former provincial capital, and Anjiang is an economic center of the future. During our best GDP years, we ranked fifth out of thirteen cities! The pressure is enormous, I tell you! You might as well give me Bai Xiaosheng, so I could foster a mediapany topete with you."


    Ji Mingyangughed heartily, "I truly meant no offense!"


    "I can see your mrs from here!"


    The two, with a friendship spanning nearly a decade, would tease and banter like old friends when no one else was around.


    "This time around, I noticed during the review process that both your Zhongjing and Su Shu’s Langbei City have led the others astray! It’s got all the other cities wanting to curse!" Dai Mingcheng huffed.


    "How so?" Ji Mingyang was curious.


    "Your twopanies,peting for the slots, were chasing each other like mad. Tell me, how long was the time originally scheduled by the province for the first two phases? But you guys, you shortened it to five weeks! All the speed and passion are taken by you! If other cities drag their feet, where will they put their faces? Now, every city has turned it into a race! Even we’ve been affected by you; I really hate you for it..." Dai Mingcheng was full ofints.


    Ji Mingyang could only shrug helplessly.


    He couldn’t help it; Su Shu was the one who moved so quickly. If they were slow, it would be a guaranteed loss.


    After Dai Mingcheng vented his frustrations, his expression turned serious as he looked at Ji Mingyang, "Ji, I heard some news while I was at the province."


    "News? What kind of news?"


    Dai Mingcheng looked at the door to make sure Bai Xiaosheng hadn’t returned yet before saying to Ji Mingyang, "I’ll tell you, but don’t mention it to your protege just yet, to avoid adding unnecessary stress for him."


    "Oh?" Ji Mingyang furrowed his brow slightly.


    "Among the thirteen cities, two have already had theirpanies eliminated, leaving only eleven contenders. The official notice wille out soon!" Dai Mingcheng spoke in a hushed tone.


    What! Ji Mingyang was inwardly shocked.


    He hadn’t been paying much attention to these details, always waiting for the province’s notification.


    Moreover, to have twopanies fall behind so early in the second phase? How could that be!


    Unless there were major issues with thosepanies, such as underreporting, exaggerating, or other reasons that prompted the province to decisively remove them from the running.


    With a solemn expression, Dai Mingcheng continued, "The remaining eleven municipal enterprises have all passed the second review. Among them, besides Zhongjing Media and Langbei City’s Tianzheng Media, there are no longer any repeat industries! Do you know what this means?"


    Ji Mingyang’s brow tightened, and he let out a light sigh, "It means that including yours, those nine enterprises will surely be selected once they pass the final approval, whereas our two mediapanies must vie for victory. One will seed; the other will be left out in the cold."


    The purpose of the province’s benchmark enterprise is to set an example in all industries!


    Thus, even if thosepanies don’t perform as well in terms of profits and taxation as Zhongjing Media and Tianzheng Media, they’ll still make the cut!


    Whereas the two mediapanies will face off inpetition.


    Firste, first served; thetter will have no choice but to face disappointment.


    Ji Mingyang’s frown deepened.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in a corner outside, Bai Xiaosheng was on the phone.


    The call was from his father, Bai Minghang.


    "Sheng,e home tonight. Tomorrow, go with your grandmother to visit your uncle. It’s your uncle’s eighty-eighth birthday, and your grandmother wants to see him," Bai Minghang said on the phone. "Both elders are getting on in years; opportunities to meet in the future may be scarce."


    Bai Minghang’s sigh of emotion stirred a wave of mild mncholy in Bai Xiaosheng.


    His grandmother, Li Fengguan, had toiled for most of her life and rarely asked anything of the younger generation. Spending time with her and making her happy was heartwarming, far surpassing any material gift.


    After listening to Bai Minghang, Bai Xiaosheng had made up his mind.


    "Alright, I’ll do as you say! I’ll also prepare some gifts. I’ll head back tonight. Have you arranged the transportation? I can use thepany’s car," Bai Xiaosheng said.


    "No need, I’ve already found a car. It’s best to keep business and private matters separate to avoid gossip," Bai Minghang replied over the phone.


    "Okay then. By the way, where does my uncle live again?" Bai Xiaosheng asked.


    "Tianqing City."