At the beginning of August, a group of 10 members of the Taisho Foundation of Japan came to Hirakawa City as scheduled, and Mr. Taisho's daughter, Yoshiko Taisho, and her husband, Mr. Nakamura, also came. The Pingchuan Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal ** organized a reception team headed by Mayor Shu Huaru, who was responsible for all the activities of the Taizheng Consortium during the Pingchuan period. The leaders of the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal People's Congress, and the Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference came forward at the same time to ceremoniously receive the guests, and the Taisho Ryoko couple and the Japanese guests were very moved. However, the overall evaluation of the Pyeongcheon International Industrial Park by the guests of the Taisho Foundation is still very low. In Mr. Nakamura's words, in view of the lack of municipal infrastructure and the unsatisfactory investment environment, it seems that it is too early to talk about investment intentions.

At this time, the drought situation in the eight counties and cities in Pingchuan Prefecture became more and more serious, and there was no rain for more than three months in a row, many rivers, reservoirs, and wells in the northern and central regions dried up, the Dadesert River that runs through the entire territory of Pingchuan was cut off, nearly 9 million mu of late autumn crops could not be sown, and the serious reduction in the output of Mid-Autumn crops was a foregone conclusion. The domestic water supply of residents in Binh Trang urban area has also been greatly affected, and the waterworks supply water for one hour each day in the morning and afternoon.

Mr. Nakamura, who is the plenipotentiary of the Taisho Foundation, noticed the serious water shortage in the city and the current situation of the international industrial park, and drove dozens of miles from the new waterworks in the industrial park to the water turning station by the desert river.

Pointing to the dry and narrow riverbed and looking at the drawings provided by the Water Conservancy Bureau, Mr. Nakamura asked Shu Huaru: "Mr. Mayor, isn't it a bit too romantic to expect this seasonal river to provide industrial water to the industrial park?" ”

Shu Huaru explained: "There are two-way pipelines in the industrial park, and the old water plant in the city can also supply water. ”

Mr. Nakamura immediately said, "It seems that the old water plant can't even guarantee the domestic water supply in your city, right?!" ”

The vigorous investment promotion ended in a silent failure......

The atmosphere for the next two days was depressing and oppressive. Shu Huaru and the comrades of the reception group could no longer lift their spirits; The Japanese guests also felt embarrassed and no longer talked about the international industrial park, but talked a lot about the determination of China and Japan to fight against war and the friendship between the Chinese and Japanese peoples. Mr. Nakamura's father was a wing commander of the Japanese invasion of China, and he was stationed in the desert county town of Pingchuan for more than a year around 1943, causing the "desert tragedy". Mr. Nakamura went to Damo County with Taisho Yoshiko, apologized to the Chinese anti-Japanese soldiers and civilians who died in Damo County on behalf of his father, and donated an elementary school in the name of the Taisho Foundation.

On the last night after leaving Hirakawa, Mr. Nakamura asked Yoshiko Taisho to consult the Tokyo headquarters, and then he and Shu Huaru initialed an agreement of intent to attract international investment. The agreement is beautifully worded and promised, but it is hardly binding.

After getting this face-saving agreement, Shu Huaru found Wu Mingxiong in frustration and said: "Look at it, I have been busy for more than two years and invested 300 million, but in the end I ended up with such a dead letter, what is this called." If Secretary Guo Huaiqiu is still alive, I don't know what he will be angry! ”

Wu Mingxiong patted Shu Huaru's shoulder and said, "Brother, don't be depressed, isn't this result already expected by us?" ”

Shu Huaru's mood was still very low: "I didn't expect such a big problem on the water, God really doesn't give us any face." ”

Wu Mingxiong said: "Even God can't save face, relying on a seasonal river and limited groundwater, our central city with a population of millions cannot be mixed." If you are confused today, you will not be able to fool tomorrow; If you fool the Japanese, you can't fool the people in the city. ”

Shu Huaru sighed and said: "But how can we explain the matter of the International Industrial Park to the people of Pingchuan City?" ”

Wu Mingxiong said: "Why is it difficult to explain? Ask the "Pingchuan Daily" and radio and television stations to send a message, there is this agreement of intent today, are you still afraid that there will be no formal investment agreement tomorrow? There are plane trees at home, and the phoenix does not fall. As long as we improve the infrastructure and investment environment, even if he does not come, we can go to the international investment market on our own. ”

Shu Huaru nodded and said, "It's the same." ”