"Just think, organizing an event for tens of thousands of children, shouldn't safety and security be the top priority?"
"So, we need to prepare a large amount of medical supplies, so that if the children get bumps, scrapes, or injuries, they can be treated promptly. Also, the mountain weather is unpredictable, and accommodation conditions are limited. Things like tents, emergency food, drinking water, and flashlights—don't they all need to be prepared thoroughly?"
"After all, the scale of this sports event is large, with many participants, so the demand for supplies naturally won't be small."
Zhu Silin listened, dumbfounded.
Hold on, isn't this charity work a bit too hardcore?
And this sports event sounds different from a traditional one too?
Zhu Silin was now almost certain that she and everyone else had guessed wrong.
Liu Yutong's plan wasn't to take the Wanlong Hui members on a training march at all, but to have the Wanlong Hui people lead the students in something like a wilderness summer camp activity.
Honestly, in all her life, this was the first time she'd seen charity done this way.
The most crucial point was, would the students even be willing?
Even if the students were willing, would the parents and teachers agree?
Would the local education department and local officials approve?
Zhu Silin guessed correctly. When some local officials heard that Wanlong Hui wanted to take all the teachers and students of some schools into the wilderness for training, they were completely baffled.
Take the officials of Bei C County, for example. Upon meeting the person in charge of Wanlong Hui's advance team, they were initially overjoyed and gave a warm welcome upon hearing it was for charity.
But when they heard this charity involved taking all the county's teachers and students for wilderness training and a hundred-kilometer cross-country trek, they all frowned.
"This is just reckless..."
Before they could finish.
Yu Xin held up a finger: "For every school that participates, we'll make an additional donation of one million yuan. Ten schools mean ten million, with no upper limit..."
The officials' expressions changed instantly: "No problem! Absolutely no problem! Tomorrow... no, I'll have people notified to start preparations right now, we can begin the training immediately!"
They couldn't help it, they were truly desperate from poverty!
The county's finances were already tight, and being located in a mountainous area, economic development was mediocre.
This money was far too important for them.
With over fifty primary and secondary schools combined in the county, that meant over fifty million yuan!
It's just a few days of outdoor training. The kids from the mountains can run anyway, and some exercise is good for them.
Besides, the costs and material support for the training aren't coming from their pockets; they just need to coordinate.
Not only that, Yu Xin then proposed organizing a city-wide marathon.
The students have their activities, but the adults shouldn't be idle either.
Pick a date, find an open section of road, and hold a marathon for all citizens.
"For this marathon, for every person who participates, we'll donate an additional three hundred yuan."
The Bei C officials heard this and started calculating furiously in their minds: "Our county's registered population is about 160,000. If we can mobilize everyone, that's a significant sum."
"Do it! We must do it! Marathons are great, they improve people's physical fitness. I'll arrange for people to organize it right away, I guarantee we'll even mobilize the elderly who can walk from the nursing homes, hahaha..."
Although the officials privately found the other party's demands utterly bizarre and unprecedented, the thought of that gleaming cash made them think: not just a hundred-kilometer trek and a nationwide marathon, even if they were asked to organize a county-wide bed-making competition, they could immediately have the notice sent to every neighborhood committee.
Poverty truly can cure all pickiness and hesitation.
Doing these two things well would bring in nearly a hundred million yuan in donations. This was a political achievement handed to them on a silver platter; only a fool would refuse.
Moreover, this money could genuinely solve urgent shortages in areas like education.
Almost simultaneously.
Not just in Bei C, similar situations occurred in several other places like Wen C.
At roughly the same time.
Besides Bei C, the same thing was happening in a few other places like Wen C.
A bunch of eccentric people from other provinces had arrived, wanting to hold some sort of sports event.
The reactions of the local officials in these areas were pretty much the same as those in Bei C.
For a hundred million yuan in donations, what's wrong with having everyone get some exercise?
This was 2008. A hundred million yuan was a very substantial figure for local finances, significant even more than a decade later.
Shortly after, at the provincial level, instructions were conveyed to the relevant officials of these nearly ten counties and cities, requiring them to actively cooperate with the mass fitness activities carried out by the public welfare enterprise Wanlong Hui.
After all, involving nearly a billion yuan in public welfare donations was enough to attract attention from higher-ups.
Especially since someone had quietly notified the provincial leadership as well.
...
Liu Yutong hadn't been settled in Bei C for long when she learned some news from Zhu Silin: her father was coming.
He was coming down to inspect because of the sports event.
Given that the scale of this event was unique nationwide, it was normal for high-ranking leaders to come inspect its progress.
Not to mention the promised over one billion yuan in charitable funds.
"Your dad wants to see me, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Liu Yutong shot Zhu Silin a look.
Zhu Silin grinned: "Sister Yutong, you're here doing good deeds. It's only normal for my dad, as a leader here, to want to meet you."
"Don't worry, my dad doesn't bite."
Liu Yutong was speechless: "Alright then, thank you."
Zhu Silin: "No need to be so polite."
On the afternoon of May 10th.
Liu Yutong met Zhu Silin's father, the chief executive of BS Province.
As this meeting was relatively private, the leader only brought one secretary and, upon meeting Liu Yutong, displayed no official airs or pretension, acting more like a gentle elder.
It was Liu Yutong who acted a bit reserved.
Of course, she was doing it on purpose.
"Chairwoman Liu, no need to be reserved. Today is just a private chat."
"Your move this time has caused quite a stir in our entire province. To be honest, I'm very curious, why did you choose BS Province, and choose to hold such a... particular sports event?"
Truth be told, when he first heard about this event, he also found it quite bizarre.
Who does things like this?
Hearing the leader's question, Liu Yutong knew she couldn't use charity as a vague excuse anymore.
However, she had already prepared her explanation and spoke candidly: "Uncle Zhu, since you ask, I'll be frank. Our charity work is sincere, but Wanlong Hui is, after all, a company that also needs to develop."
"Wanlong Hui has businesses like chain supermarkets under its umbrella, and we've been seeking to expand outward. BS Province is a very important part of our strategic layout. It's rich in products, the people are honest and simple, and the market potential is huge. That's why we chose to start from here."
The leader pondered upon hearing this; this reason was clearly more in line with business logic than mere charity.
Although he had already guessed the general idea, he still asked: "So, such a grand gesture is just to break into the BS Province market?"
"You could understand it that way."
Liu Yutong continued, "But what we hope for is not simply to establish a presence here, but to take root. This large-scale public welfare event is meant to show the people and the government of BS Province the sincerity and social responsibility of the Wanlong Association. We hope to build good government-business relations and a solid public foundation.
In other words, when Wanlong Supermarkets open across BS Province in the future, we want everyone to think of us not as an outside business coming to snatch their market, but as a warm and responsible 'one of our own'!"
She deliberately emphasized the words "one of our own."
It was almost an explicit hint that her coming here was precisely because of her connection to Zhu Silin, that she was banking on that very relationship.
Hearing Liu Yutong state it so frankly, the official felt no displeasure. On the contrary, he admired her even more.
This young woman is truly remarkable!
Just her vision alone is something ordinary businesspeople lack, and both her manner of speaking and her actions greatly appealed to him.
He isn't afraid of people using connections to invest and make money here; the key is how you go about it.
If you are open and above board, as sincere and straightforward as Liu Yutong is, then he absolutely welcomes it with open arms and will offer strong support.
What truly disgusts him are those who employ underhanded tactics and crooked methods behind the scenes.
"Well said!"
The official nodded in approval. "Chairperson Liu, despite your youth, you possess not only compassion but also foresight and courage. On behalf of the government, I warmly welcome enterprises like the Wanlong Association Group, which have both strength and sincerity, to invest and develop here. For businesses that operate with integrity, are willing to put down roots locally, and work for the benefit of the community, we will certainly provide our utmost support!"
