Evening.
The sun hung half-set.
Flaming clouds filled the horizon as if the sky itself were burning.
Dong Xuebin had just returned from another trip to the City Investment Conference at Central Park. He was in the bathroom showering, rinsing the sweat from his body. Feeling refreshed, Dong Xuebin shook out his hair, let out a breath, turned off the showerhead, dried his hair, then went out and changed into clean clothes.
Just then, his phone rang.
The county called again.
Dong Xuebin knew they were worried that something might go wrong, so he was not impatient. He picked up the phone and answered.
"Hello, Secretary Meng."
"Where are the foreign investors?"
"They went to sleep this afternoon."
"Has tomorrow's schedule been finalized?"
"Yes. I discussed it with Director Zhang, and we'll leave at eight tomorrow morning."
"You're leaving at eight, allowing plenty of time. You should definitely arrive before ten, right?"
"We can make it. Ten-thirty at the latest, and absolutely no later than eleven."
"Good. I understand. You don't need to worry about the dinner arrangements or reception work. The county will make the fullest preparations. County Chief Jiang and I will personally welcome them and host a welcome banquet. Your job is to bring every single foreign investor here."
"Rest assured, nothing will go wrong."
"I trust you, but you are in the city after all."
"I understand. I'll keep a closer eye on things and definitely won't let the foreign investors get snatched away."
"All right, then the city side is in your hands, County Chief Dong. You've worked hard."
This was Meng Rui's second call of the day, and the fifth call Dong Xuebin had received from Zhenshui County. It showed just how seriously and excitedly the county was taking this. One person had just