"Him again?"
As Zhou Jin watched the television program, his eyelids twitched involuntarily when he saw the segment on the donation ceremony. Suming had been appearing on screen far too frequently lately, which, although not a direct threat to Zhou Jin, was certainly not a good thing.
Since learning from Mr. He that Yangchuan City Zoo would undergo restructuring next year, Zhou Jin had prepared to go all out this year, saving up some money and leveraging connections to annex Shuijun Lake within the zoo as well.
He was a man with ambition, or rather, aspirations. The fishing company was just the start of his career. In his view, fish farming at Shuijun Lake was not particularly profitable, but the lake's prime location, echoing the far-off Huating Reservoir, was like an enclave nestled within the zoo.
If he could get his hands on Shuijun Lake, he would have a reason to slowly encroach on the zoo's land once it restructured.
The zoo was truly a treasure trove of feng shui, with mountains behind and water in front, and once he attracted sufficient funds at the right time, Zhou Jin could transform into a real estate developer overnight!
No matter how big the fish farming industry grew, it was hard-earned money for life. However, real estate, or rather, land trading, was commonly known for its exorbitant profits. No one has heard of anyone becoming the richest in the country through aquaculture—it's at best the richest in the village, but real estate in Huaxia held boundless possibilities. With the right operations, one could ascend to the top echelons of the national wealth hierarchy in just a few years.
If Suming really became a celebrity, taking over his Shuijun Lake business in the future would be fraught with difficulties.
Baldy watched the television alongside Zhou Jin, but his thoughts were completely different from his boss's.
Baldy had no grand ambitions. His greatest dream was to follow a rich and powerful boss, live carefree, and throw his weight around. He had once joined the most influential 'group' in the country, reveling in his days as an urban management officer, but was soon purged from the revolutionary ranks. Afterward, he joined Zhou Jin, and just as he was enjoying some good years, Suming came along.
Lately, Suming had received quite a few invitations hoping he could bring animals to assist with performances. Even Jacky himself had phoned once, as he had a friend in the Xiangjiang entertainment circle who hoped to get Suming's help.
However, Suming turned them all down. First, the number of animals suitable for performing was limited. Actually bringing a tiger on stage would involve a complicated procedure and could easily attract criticism from animal protection organizations. Second, the animal concert's appeal lay in its novelty. If it happened as frequently as every other day, it would gradually be degraded to a mere circus act, which would be far too lowbrow.
So now, Yangchuan City Zoo's reputation could almost be described as resoundingly successful. At least within the national zoological community, it seemed no other zoo could match Yangchuan City Zoo's fame, which could almost stand shoulder to shoulder with places like Xiangjiang Disney and other world-renowned entertainment spots.
Mr. Song had recently been applying to the higher-ups to designate Yangchuan City Zoo as a 5A national tourist spot.
This appraisal wasn't something that could be decided by Yangchuan City's municipal government alone; it had to be reported up the chain, and whether it could be approved was up to the higher authorities.
In truth, everyone from the zoo staff to Suming, from Wang Jian She to Deputy Mayor Mr. Sun, were all too clear about the outcome in their hearts: it was simply impossible! No matter how famous Yangchuan City Zoo had become, there were still many substantial gaps before it could meet the criteria for a 5A tourist attraction due to issues like the venue and hardware facilities.
A 5A tourist area is usually granted to large-scale travel locations with numerous sights. The only theme park-like venue with limited space that had been classified as a 5A attraction nationwide was the Forbidden City.
But just because the higher-ups might not approve it, didn't mean one couldn't apply. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. With the zoo's fame currently at its peak, making a frequent impression on the authorities was the real objective.
The intention behind the move was not in the proposal itself. When the response for the 5A scenic area application came, it was shrouded in a barrage of bureaucratic jargon, concluding that it didn't meet the requirements for a 5A tourist site.
"Great, great!" Suming and Mr. Song were both extremely pleased with the outcome!