The grand opening of the first Wanlong Plaza in the country was a massive affair, executed with immense scale and grandeur.
Aside from Liu Yutong, nearly every high-ranking executive of the Wanlong Society who could make the trip back attended the ceremony, including Yu Xin, Yang Xin, Ma Da, Li Xiaohui, and others. Even the top leadership of Mingzhu City graced the event in person to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The contributions made by the Wanlong Society to Mingzhu City were plain for all to see. Beyond generating tax revenue for the city, Wanlong Supermarkets and Wanhui Selection had provided a vast number of jobs. They had also assisted in attracting investment for the new development zone, bringing in numerous enterprises, most of which were partners of the Wanlong Society Group.
When the entire industrial chain was added up, the annual output value was quite staggering.
In addition, the Mingzhu City government intended to build a software technology park near the headquarters currently being planned and constructed by the Wanlong Society Group.
In truth, given Mingzhu City’s current situation, pulling this off would be incredibly difficult. After all, they lacked resources like top-tier talent and prestigious universities.
However, since the rise of the Wanhui Selection platform, the leaders' eyes had lit up. They had inspected Wanhui Selection and gained a rough understanding of the situation, realizing that the platform had the potential to rival those massive online shopping giants in the future. This sparked an idea.
Perhaps they really could use Wanhui Selection as the "bellwether" to establish a software and high-tech industrial park?
The top leader’s personal attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony was not only to show affirmation for the enterprise but, more importantly, to test the waters.
As the saying goes, one must perform the duties of their office. If Wanhui Selection truly grew into a company worth tens or even hundreds of billions in the future, the city leadership naturally wanted to keep the headquarters in Mingzhu City.
But they were also well aware that Mingzhu City’s appeal couldn't compare to that of first-tier cities; its flaws were too obvious.
Yet, if they could truly make this happen, they could build a software technology park centered around Wanhui Selection. With Wanhui Selection as the anchor, they could attract more software and high-tech companies to move in, which would be a significant political achievement.
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony ended, the crowds gradually dispersed, and customers began to flood into the mall.
At this moment, the leader took the initiative to invite Liu Yutong to tour the shopping center.
"Chairman Liu, you wouldn't mind accompanying this old man for a walk inside, would you? I'd like to experience the commercial vitality of your Wanlong Society firsthand."
He spoke with great courtesy.
He had to be polite. If he wasn't, and Wanhui Selection decided to relocate its headquarters, it would be a major loss for Mingzhu City.
Furthermore, leaders are always well-informed. He had already heard rumors that the provincial capital was planning to poach them. After all, the provincial capital had always wanted to transform itself into a high-tech industrial hub. It was difficult to poach companies from outside the province because they had to compete with other major provinces—especially those on the coast, whom they simply couldn't outmatch.
But poaching a company from within their own province? That gave them a massive advantage.
Take educational resources as an example. Mingzhu City only had two key undergraduate institutions: the University of Finance and Economics and the Medical University. Meanwhile, the provincial capital not only possessed multiple key universities but also a world-class "Double First-Class" institution: the Dragon Country University of Science and Technology.
There was a saying: if the two top-tier universities in the Imperial Capital were the cradle of engineers and the stronghold of humanities and social sciences, then the Dragon Country University of Science and Technology was the sanctuary for scientists.
In short, whether in terms of resources or talent, Mingzhu City was no match for the provincial capital.
Hearing the leader’s polite words, Liu Yutong immediately responded, "You are far too kind, Leader. It is our honor. This way, please."
She took the lead, guiding him down the main corridor into the heart of the mall.
Behind them, the secretaries and assistants tactfully lagged a few steps behind. This ensured the leader's safety while leaving enough private space for conversation.
The leader looked around as he walked, watching the endless stream of people and the bustling scenes inside the various brand stores. He praised sincerely.
"Good, truly good! Chairman Liu, look at this popularity, look at this consumption momentum. Wanlong Plaza hasn't just opened a mall; it has injected a shot of adrenaline into this entire southern district of the city! Your Wanlong Society is now the undisputed leading enterprise of Mingzhu City."
"You flatter us, Leader," Liu Yutong replied modestly. She continued, "Our development would not have been possible without the excellent business environment of Mingzhu City and the strong support of leaders at all levels, especially yourself. The Wanlong Society is rooted in Mingzhu City; as we grow and flourish, it is only natural that we give back to this land."
The leader nodded with satisfaction. "Chairman Liu, I've been thinking about a problem lately, and I’m a bit conflicted. I’d like to hear the perspective of a young entrepreneur like you."
"Please, go ahead," Liu Yutong said.
The leader continued, "To be honest with you, seeing how well your Wanhui Selection is developing makes me happy, but it also makes it hard for me to sleep at night."
This time, Liu Yutong did not respond. It wasn't her turn to speak or state a position yet; she only needed to listen attentively.
"I know that a high-tech company like Wanhui Selection, which can drive domestic demand and create jobs, is incredibly precious. But because of that, I worry. Mingzhu City's industrial foundation isn't thin—the industrial chain driven by your Wanlong Society Group, along with our traditional strengths like glass and filters, are the anchors that stabilize current employment. But in the long run, if a city wants to avoid falling behind in the next round of development, it must cultivate new growth points."
"So, I keep thinking. A city—especially one that wants to move to a higher level—cannot just have a solid body; it must also have a clever brain and a high-tech soul. Every time I go to those tech hubs in the south for inspections and see the internet companies and software firms they’ve incubated, I feel both envious and anxious."
Liu Yutong remained quiet, still not speaking.
Seeing that she hadn't said a word after he had talked for so long, the leader grew a bit anxious himself.
How could this girl be so composed? Say something!
In reality, it wasn't that Liu Yutong was exceptionally calm, but rather that he had lost his own composure first.
Who would have thought that in such a short time, the tables would turn so completely?
A year ago, she was a girl leading a group of street thugs to flip lobsters. Now, she had grown to the point where even he had to find ways to woo her just to keep her from leaving.
The leader felt helpless and decided to stop beating around the bush. "Fine, fine. You're going to make me spell it out, aren't you? I'll be blunt. After several discussions, the city plans to build a software technology park to concentrate our efforts on developing high-tech industries. But we need a leader. Can you give me a straight answer—can Wanhui Selection stay in Mingzhu City and not move away?"
Only then did Liu Yutong speak. "Uncle Gao, if you had something to say, you could have just said it. Why go in such a long circle with me?"
The leader burst into a helpless laugh. "You... you really are something..."
Liu Yutong said, "Leader, I'll be honest with you. Wanhui Selection won't have just one headquarters. However, I will keep one headquarters here in Mingzhu City."
The leader caught her drift immediately. He understood that for an enterprise like Wanhui Selection to thrive and expand, attracting top-tier talent was an essential hurdle to clear.
A multi-headquarters model offered a distinct advantage: it allowed for a job rotation system similar to those used by other internet giants. By cycling employees and core staff through different locations, the company could prevent internal stagnation while funneling talent toward the Pearl City headquarters.
If they could convince people to stay long-term, Pearl City’s talent pool would naturally deepen.
However, getting talent to actually settle down in Pearl City required more than just a competitive salary. Once people attained a certain level of wealth, they tended to gravitate toward established metropolises to build their lives.
To counter this, Pearl City needed to offer something truly magnetic—a more livable environment, superior education, and top-notch medical resources.
While Pearl City’s medical facilities were respectable and its medical university held a fair bit of prestige, its educational offerings were a matter of opinion, as different regions always had their own unique academic strengths.
The living environment, however—that was where they truly needed to focus their efforts.
