Xu Chunliang was considerate enough not to forget about him, the top leader, when it came to such opportunities for exposure.

Qin Zhengyang personally signed the donation agreement for educational funding, shaking hands with Chen Qianfan and Wang Jinwu one by one.

Qin Zhengyang still remembered Chen Qianfan’s interest in contracting the winery and specifically explained to him: "President Chen, I apologize for the matter concerning the winery. After repeated deliberations, we believe that building a winery at the moment does not align with the green and environmentally-friendly development concept of Weishan Island."

Chen Qianfan smiled and said: "It’s alright, if not this time, there will be future opportunities."

Qin Zhengyang nodded and said to Vice Secretary He Qiweng: "We must promote this donation to education properly. I propose naming the two schools Xianhong Primary School and Qianfan Primary School."

He Qiweng, who was in charge of promotion, nodded repeatedly. Hu Shan Town had never seen such a substantial move in education funding before. Xu Chunliang was impressive; he had just taken over and already secured a four million donation for education, which is a high standard for building a rural school with a budget of two million.

Qin Zhengyang further praised Xu Chunliang for his work, encouraging him to continue his efforts, acknowledging Xu Chunliang’s capabilities.

Xu Chunliang suggested awarding Chen Qianfan, a philanthropic businessman, the title of Honorary Resident of Weishan Island. Such kind deeds should be widely promoted to encourage more patriotic entrepreneurs to join the ranks of charity, to which Qin Zhengyang immediately agreed.

Upon leaving, Qin Zhengyang called Xu Chunliang over and handed him a revised version of the "Dongzhou City Underground Hot Water Management Measures" that had just been issued by the city.

Xu Chunliang guessed that this document was likely aimed at their winery’s hot springs, recalling He Xingjian’s words before leaving that they wouldn’t let this go easily; the counteraction came unexpectedly fast.

The general outline was similar to before, but there were differences in specific regulations, with key areas marked in red by Qin Zhengyang, showing he had carefully studied it.

First, it defined the concept of hot springs and emphasized ownership rights.

Hot springs refer to underground water containing a certain amount of heat, with hot springs owned by the state. No entity or individual may occupy, damage, or waste hot springs.

Thereafter, it focused on the development and use of hot springs.

The legal rights for the exploration, extraction, use, and operation of hot springs are protected by law. The illegal sale, lease, or transfer of the rights to extract, use, or operate hot springs is prohibited, as is using these rights as collateral.

The new measures also clarified the division of responsibilities for managing hot springs.

The municipal water administrative department oversees groundwater resources, responsible for the unified planning and coordination of hot springs and guiding their protection.

The Dongzhou city construction administrative department oversees the development and utilization of hot springs, ensuring their protection and unified management of development and utilization.

The municipal geology and mineral department conducts surveys and exploration of hot springs, participating in formulating the city’s medium and long-term protection and development plans, verifying total extraction control, and overseeing the rational development and utilization of hot springs.

The water, city construction, and geology and mineral departments each bear their duties, cooperating to ensure the implementation of these measures.

Units engaged in hot spring exploration must base their activities on Dongzhou’s overall plan, with consent from the city planning administrative department, and register with the mineral resources management agency to obtain an exploration license before proceeding. Changes in exploration projects require re-processing.

Hot spring extraction and resource fees are collected by the city’s hot spring management department and are earmarked for designated purposes within the city’s fiscal supervision, with regular auditing. These fees are dedicated to the protection, management of hot springs, and the construction of hot spring facilities, and cannot be diverted for other uses.

Hot springs operate under exclusive rights. Only enterprises holding a Dongzhou Hot Spring Water Development License can operate them in any form. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Any unit or individual planning to construct, modify, expand, repair hot spring wells (including cold water wells within primary hot spring protection zones), lay hot spring pipelines, build heat-preserving water facilities, or engage in activities related to the extraction or use of hot springs must provide approval documents from relevant departments and technical design data. Only after obtaining a "Hot Spring Construction Permit" from the city’s hot spring management department can they commence work. Upon completion, the structure will be inspected and accepted in collaboration with other approving agencies.

Units conducting drilling of hot spring wells must hold a "Hot Spring Well Construction License" issued by the city’s hot spring management department. Those without a license are not allowed to drill. Drilling activities must be supervised by the city’s hot spring management department and related agencies.

Qin Zhengyang asked after reading, "Do you understand?"

Xu Chunliang nodded and said, "I understand, it’s emphasizing monopolistic operations, with three departments backing them."

Qin Zhengyang said, "Currently, the only entity holding the ’Dongzhou Hot Spring Water Development License’ is the Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group, which also holds the ’Hot Spring Well Construction License’ and ’Hot Spring Construction Permit.’ Do you understand?"

Xu Chunliang glanced at the stamp on the document issued by the Dongzhou People’s Congress.

Qin Zhengyang said, "I think this issue is almost settled, no need to escalate it. If you want to develop hot springs in Dongzhou, the Ecological Environment Investment Group is the only option."

Xu Chunliang said, "The situation with the winery is very complex; it is a key cultural relic protection unit of the town, involving heritage protection. Secretary Qin, do you think development or protection is more important?"

Qin Zhengyang knew his little trick, smiling wryly, "A key cultural relic protection unit of the town—don’t you feel embarrassed?"

Xu Chunliang said, "No, I don’t. People are not divided into high and low, and heritage protection shouldn’t have distinctions either, right? Overall, damaging heritage is wrong. Archaeology is still ongoing, who knows what important discoveries might be made."

Qin Zhengyang said, "The hot spring is at a distance from the ancient cellar pond, it can be developed with protective measures."

Xu Chunliang said, "Anyone can develop it, except the Ecological Environment Investment Group. Secretary Qin, these guys have disregarded us from the start. If we let this go, any developer in the future might ignore our town government."

Qin Zhengyang also found He Xingjian quite annoying, but despite his annoyance, He had capabilities, unlike some who just talk harshly. He Xingjian not only talked harshly but also took immediate action.

Upon seeing the newly issued measures by the People’s Congress, Qin Zhengyang began to hesitate. Is it worth making a fuss over an unexploited hot spring? He Xingjian might be opposing him directly, but He’s backers are formidable.

The way of the system doesn’t celebrate winning through confrontation but understanding when to advance and retreat.

Qin Zhengyang thought of himself as a strategic commander, while Xu Chunliang was merely an unstoppable vanguard; using Xu must be prudent because his destructive power is formidable.

Qin Zhengyang asked, "What do you think?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Protecting the contractor’s interests and safeguarding the national heritage, to me, are more important than developing hot springs. This notice itself has significant loopholes: what does it mean by only enterprises with a Dongzhou Hot Spring Water Development License are allowed to develop and operate them? This license isn’t specifically designated only for Ecological Environment Investment. If more experienced and capable developers are ready to engage, shouldn’t we consider them?"

"The problem is, so far, only the Ecological Environment Investment Group has shown interest in developing hot springs." Qin Zhengyang hinted to him that to transform the passive into the active, a competitive mechanism must be introduced.

Xu Chunliang said, "I’ll figure something out."

Qin Zhengyang nodded and said, "Take action, the later it gets, the more passive we’ll become!"

He Xingjian’s speedy accumulation of wealth over a few years is linked to his exclusive license for hot spring water development, with the Ecological Environment Construction Investment Group being the only authorized enterprise in Dongzhou.

He regards the hot springs industry as his territory, not allowing any interference from others.

He Xingjian has a justified stance, reasonable and lawful, with the ’Dongzhou Hot Spring Water Development License,’ ’Hot Spring Well Construction License,’ and ’Hot Spring Construction Permit’ acting as three barriers keeping other developers at bay.

The Han Yuan Hot Spring Resort, located in the South Suburb of Dongzhou, is currently the largest hot spring club in the Dongzhou region, marking the starting point of He Xingjian’s career takeoff.

At the moment, He Xingjian was lying in a spa receiving a massage from a beautiful masseuse while Zhang Hengyang lay on the bed beside him.

Zhang Hengyang, upon learning that Weishan Island had discovered hot springs, began calculating how to incorporate them into their town project. Being highly knowledgeable about Dongzhou’s hot spring development status, Zhang bypassed Hu Shan Town and directly approached He Xingjian.

Noticing the tattoo on He Xingjian’s back—a pair of wings, Zhang recalled hearing that He started from the underworld. Unlike others from that background, He graduated from Dongzhou University, not a prestigious one, but still educated.

Handsome in appearance, He Xingjian’s looks aided his social climb.

Zhang Hengyang finished the massage first, stretched his arms, and sighed, "That was truly relaxing!"

He Xingjian also sat up, signaling the two masseuses to leave.

Both donned bathrobes, He Xingjian took out a cigarette, handing one to Zhang Hengyang, who helped light it for him.

He Xingjian said, "President Zhang is indeed foresighted, constructing Yiyang Hot Spring Town before the hot springs were even discovered."

Zhang Hengyang replied, "It’s just a concept; to truly develop hot springs, we’d definitely require President He’s assistance."

He Xingjian said, "Weishan Island Winery’s hot spring water quality report is out. The water quality is top-notch, unparalleled in the Dongzhou region, with a discharge temperature of 63 degrees. Once completed, the daily water output should exceed three thousand cubic meters."

Zhang Hengyang exclaimed, "A grand hot spring!"

He Xingjian nodded, taking a deep drag of the cigarette, "It will surely become a hallmark for a national-level resort."