Over the next few days, Liu Yutong and her team members, including top lawyer Zhao Tianyi and Qiu Ciyun, officially began investment negotiations with Magic City.
Although she personally leaned toward investing and building the factory in Lucheng, if Magic City offered excellent terms, she wouldn't rule out reconsidering.
After all, the microchip industry required long-term investment. It would be highly unwise for her to rely solely on her own cash flow. If she could secure low-interest bank loans, she would definitely prioritize them. Government subsidies, tax exemptions, and tax reductions—as long as they were legal and compliant, she would try to get as much as possible.
It would be foolish to turn down free benefits.
The Dragon Chip project held immense appeal for any region. Beyond the GDP generated by the project itself, the GDP created by driving the upstream and downstream integrated circuit industry scale was immeasurable.
For instance, in her previous life, after Zhongxin survived those few difficult years, the subsequent industrial scale GDP it drove exceeded 200 billion, and that wasn't even counting the increased employment opportunities.
After several rounds of negotiations over a few days.
Ultimately, the terms offered by Magic City included ten years of rent-free land and a tax policy of three years exempt, five years halved—meaning corporate income tax would be exempted for the first three years and halved for the following five. In addition, there were corresponding local rewards and rebates for value-added tax and personal income tax, along with a comprehensive welfare package that included quotas for talent introduction, employee housing guarantees, and children's schooling.
Beyond this, Magic City proactively offered an additional 1.2 billion in financial support through local state-owned capital investment for equity. This was genuine financial backing, signifying a deep tie-up between the two parties.
Overall, these terms exceeded Liu Yutong's initial expectations. The efficiency, boldness, and mobilizable resources Magic City demonstrated were truly beyond compare for an ordinary city. The cash equity investment also effectively shared a portion of her investment risk and financial pressure.
However, compared to the super gift packages Huahong and Zhongxin received when they established themselves back in the day, there was still a gap.
This was perfectly normal. At the end of the day, in the eyes of Magic City's leaders, Liu Yutong was merely an outsider crossing over into the semiconductor field. Even though she had poached a technical heavyweight like Qiu Ciyun, her standing still fell short compared to those industry titans who had been deeply rooted in the semiconductor sector for years, making her project riskier.
If this project failed, it could end up as a complete mess.
Moreover, Magic City already possessed two leading chip enterprises; adding another was merely icing on the cake.
Of course, this didn't mean Magic City didn't want the Dragon Chip investment project. Without comparing it to those two companies, the terms Magic City offered were already excellent by outside standards.
Liu Yutong figured that even the maximum terms Uncle Li could offer would roughly equal this. Factoring in the talent pool, the completeness of industrial facilities, and local financial strength, Magic City undoubtedly held an overwhelming advantage.
Having reached a preliminary agreement with Magic City, Liu Yutong had just returned to her hotel when she noticed a massive pile of text messages on her phone.
She hadn't noticed them because her phone had been on mute during the negotiations.
When she opened them, she found they were all from that girl, Li Xiaohui.
Sister Yutong! Sister Yutong! Are you there?
Call me back when you see this, Sister Yutong!
Urgent! Emergency!
Something huge happened, my dad is going crazy!
My dad, my biological father, the Old Man Li who came during the school anniversary, do you remember?
He's got blisters all over his mouth these past few days. Really, I'm not lying. I saw it with my own eyes when I went home last night. It's too horrible to look at, like he's got two little sausages hanging there.
And the reason is you, Sister Yutong!
Didn't you tell my dad you were going to invest in some project in Lucheng? How come you turned around and hooked up with Magic City?
The news has already leaked. Magic City is planning to heavily introduce a third ten-billion-level chip project. When my dad and his colleagues saw the news during their meeting, they completely lost it.
They haven't been able to reach you, and combined with that gossip news, my dad said you're clearly about to get your marriage certificate and host a wedding banquet with a third party.
My dad instantly turned into Sister Xianglin, sighing at everyone he meets: Alas, we did so much prep work, prepared the materials so thoroughly, and offered policies with the utmost sincerity. But before we even got into the specifics, how could she just change her mind? Didn't we agree she would talk to us first? How did Sweetie turn into Madam Niu in the blink of an eye?...
Pfft! Sorry, I shouldn't laugh, but my dad's resentful tone... I really couldn't hold it in, hahahaha!
But seriously, Sister Yutong, if you don't give a clear answer soon, my dad and his team will probably buy standing tickets and rush over overnight to corner you at your Magic City hotel!
The way he looks at me now isn't even right anymore. During dinner yesterday, he asked me faintly: Xiaohui, aren't you and Liu Yutong good sisters? You even shared a dorm in college. How come you can't even pass a message to her now? Did your feelings fade? Or did Liu Yutong fire you from the Wanlong Association?
I'm so wronged! More wronged than Dou E! It's you who isn't answering my calls, my dear sister!
Call me back ASAP when you see this. Even a hint is fine, I'll reject my dad for you. Otherwise, my dad is really going to charge over. I heard he was slamming the table during his meeting today, saying that even if they have to tie Chairwoman Liu up, they must bring her back to listen to our terms first!
Roar roar roar! Urgent urgent urgent! Emergency!
.........
Looking at this seemingly endless stream of texts, Liu Yutong was utterly speechless. Was this girl treating text messages like future WeChat voice notes?
However, she could also sense from Li Xiaohui's messages just how anxious Uncle Li's side was.
Lucheng and Magic City were simply not on the same level in terms of scale. Magic City's GDP was worth at least eight or nine Luchengs, nearly double that of the entire province.
Under normal circumstances, they definitely couldn't compete with Magic City.
But a microchip project was far too tempting. Once such a high-tech project was established, it would bring in so much more than just investment numbers on paper.
An advanced wafer fab acted like a powerful magnet, naturally attracting upstream and downstream enterprises to gather around it. From semiconductor materials and key equipment to chip design, packaging, testing, and even the final application terminal enterprises, it would ultimately spawn an integrated circuit industry ecosystem in the surrounding area.
The associated investment it would drive, the indirect employment it would create, and the GDP growth would be several times, even over ten times, the investment of the project itself—just like what Zhongxin achieved later in her memory.
Therefore, it was completely normal for Uncle Li to be burning with anxiety upon hearing the bad news of her negotiating with Magic City.
Watching a major industrial project that was originally likely to land in his city—a project capable of altering the city's industrial landscape—about to be snatched away by a wealthier mistress, no one could bear it!
Of course, Uncle Li himself definitely couldn't swallow his pride to contact her constantly, but he could certainly have Li Xiaohui relay the message and harass her!
Liu Yutong thought about how the usually serious Uncle Li might actually have blisters on his lips from anxiety, and she couldn't help but laugh. She then dialed Li Xiaohui's number.
It barely rang once before it was answered in a second, and Li Xiaohui's loud and dramatic voice came through.
Hello! Sister Yutong, my dearest sister, you finally returned my call! If you didn't show up soon, I might have been kicked out of the house by my dad. The charge: diplomatic failure and losing contact with my best friend!
Aren't you exaggerating a bit? I've been a little busy with negotiations here, but I called you back as soon as I had a free moment.
I don't care, let's get down to business, serious business! My dad asked me to solemnly and anxiously convey the deep calling and sincere greetings of the people of HS Province and Lucheng to the great Chairwoman Liu Yutong. He also has some soul-searching questions for Chairwoman Liu: What happened to your hometown sentiment? What happened to giving us priority? How did you get blinded by the winds of the Pujiang River? The water of our Lake C isn't bad either, and isn't Lucheng's old goose soup delicious?
Liu Yutong was amused by her words and laughed, Xiaohui, I'm sure those weren't your dad's exact words.
Oh, as long as you get the gist of it!
But seriously, Sister Yutong, my dad and his team are for real this time. They are going crazy with anxiety. After he found out you went to the Magic City, they held overnight meetings. I heard they almost wore out the policy documents flipping through them, trying to figure out what they can and cannot offer, and pondering how to give you the best deal. They're just waiting for you to come back and negotiate.
Speaking of this, Li Xiaohui sighed with emotion on the other end of the line, My dad is still working so hard at his age, I need to take him as a role model. I've decided, I'm going to open my gaming club over by my dad's place in the future to help boost his GDP!
Liu Yutong asked with a smile, Do you mean you're going to play video games right in front of your dad?
As soon as she said this, the other end of the line went quiet for a few seconds.
Then... then never mind, I think Pearl City is much better!
Liu Yutong stopped joking and said seriously, Here's the plan. Tell Uncle Li that we have finished our preliminary talks here in the Magic City. Tomorrow, I will personally lead my team back to Lucheng for official inspections and negotiations.
Li Xiaohui shouted excitedly, Great, great, great! I'll go tell my dad right now! Hahaha! This should finally clear up the blisters on Old Man Li's lips!
.........
