"Cooperation? Haven't we always been cooperating?" Xu Qiang asked with a smile.

"You only cooperated with the CZ Municipal Government before, but this time, you are cooperating with me." Zhang Li said with a raised eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"The factory you helped develop the perfume for was actually opened by me."

"You opened it? You can open a factory by yourself?" Xu Qiang was surprised when he heard that.

"To be exact, it's a factory run by my uncle." Zhang Li hesitated for a moment, then continued, "This factory is owned by Hong Kong capital..."

"Uh..." Hearing this, Xu Qiang suddenly understood.

In fact, Xu Qiang had always suspected that Zhang Li had a background, but he didn't expect that she actually had a rich uncle in Hong Kong.

However, at the beginning of reform and development, there was very little Hong Kong capital entering the mainland. It was not until last year that the country established a special economic zone in Shenzhen. However, the infrastructure of the special economic zone is still very incomplete, so the amount of Hong Kong capital actually introduced is very small.

If Zhang Li has the ability to attract investment, she can naturally enjoy some privileges in the local area. In this way, it seems normal that the CZ city government is very respectful to Zhang Li, and the mayor Xue Zhiqin even lets Zhang Li use his private car freely.

"After I graduated from junior high school, I stayed in the UK for three years, but I finally decided to return to China," said Zhang Li.

"So you've been to England." Xu Qiang was somewhat surprised when he heard this.

You have to know that before the 1980s, it was very difficult to go abroad, and it could even be said to be impossible for ordinary people in China.

But there are exceptions to everything.

At that time, President Nixon had just visited China successfully. Due to the improvement of China's relations with Western developed countries such as the United States, Japan, Britain and France, China resumed the government-sponsored study abroad program in 1972, and sent 20 and 16 language learning students to France and Britain respectively. By 1978, China had sent a total of 57 students to 1416 countries and regions, an average of about 200 students per year.

Zhang Li is obviously not a student sent abroad by the government, but if she has relatives abroad, or is a member of a privileged class in China, she can also go abroad.

However, Zhang Li did not stay in the UK where material conditions are superior, but chose to return to China, which is somewhat admirable.

"I only went to high school for two years and university for three years in the UK. I graduated from a local private university in Birmingham, but it's not a famous university. With my level, I probably wouldn't have had a chance to get into university in China..." Zhang Li bit her lip and continued, "The conditions in all aspects abroad are very good, but the people there are very xenophobic, and the competition for business is too fierce. Even my uncle couldn't enter the local upper-class business circle... So when I learned that China had begun reform and opening up, I came back..."

"You are very honest." Hearing this, Xu Qiang nodded involuntarily, and he couldn't help but feel a little more favorable towards Zhang Li.

Judging from her description, Zhang Li must have really lived in the UK for several years.

At that time, developed countries in Europe and the United States still had a discriminatory and exclusionary mentality towards the Chinese. Even a girl like Zhang Li who had a strong background in China agreed that this was the case.

It is not easy for Chinese people to do business abroad. Over the past hundreds of years, more than one million Chinese have immigrated to Europe and the United States. However, until now, there has not been a single multinational company created by the Chinese. At most, they can only occupy a place in the local catering industry in places like Chinatown. Apart from that, there are almost no outstanding achievements.

However, despite this, with Zhang Li's background, she could still live a comfortable life abroad. At least the income and material conditions abroad are much higher than the current ones in China. She finally chose to return to China, which still required a certain amount of courage and determination.

Fortunately, the country's treatment of overseas students is relatively high these days. Zhang Li was able to serve as the second-in-command of a municipal department at such a young age, which was obviously an exceptional promotion.

"In my opinion, Shanghai and its surrounding cities are different from other places in the country. The policies here are very good and the leaders are very pragmatic. At least Mayor Xue and I work very happily together..." Zhang Li said.

"That's because you are capable and they can't leave you."

"Not really... It's mainly because I can attract some foreign investment. In addition to the perfume factory, Changzhou has several other projects that are jointly run with Hong Kong." Zhang Li smiled slightly, and then said: "You have to pay for everything you do. Fortunately, my family supports me very much..." "In fact, I still don't quite understand. If you can become a citizen abroad and directly return to China to invest as a foreign businessman, you will definitely get good treatment." Xu Qiang frowned slightly and continued: "Besides, the conditions abroad are much better than in China, right? Even if there is discrimination in the UK, the Chinese people should still respect you very much."

"It's actually very easy to become a citizen, but my father won't let me do that. Now my family is in BJ and my brother has been in the army and is doing very well. If I become a foreign citizen, it will affect my family. Also, I can only be an ordinary person abroad, but in China, the situation is different... Do you understand what I mean?" Zhang Li said with a raised eyebrow.

"Uh." Hearing this, Xu Qiang suddenly understood.

If Zhang Li just wanted to make money, it would be much easier for her to make money if she changed her nationality.

But doing so will inevitably affect the future of relatives in China. After all, political review is very strict these days.

In addition, as Zhang Li said, she can only be an ordinary person abroad, but in China, with her strength and background, her future prospects are almost limitless.

"And I am very patriotic. Even though our motherland is still very poor and backward, judging from the development in the past two years, it still has great potential." Zhang Li smiled slightly and continued, "But I don't think I am a very conscious person. The reason why I chose to start a business is actually to gain some sense of accomplishment and to live the kind of life I long for in the future."

"Haha, actually my awareness is not high either, but it doesn't matter, after all, we are all ordinary people." Xu Qiang smiled upon hearing this, and then said: "So you want me to develop more perfume products for you?"

"Yes." Zhang Li nodded, and then asked Xu Qiang: "By the way, how did you make the bottle of perfume you gave me last time? Did you also imitate foreign perfume brands?"

"I don't have the opportunity to buy foreign perfume brands at all."

"then you……"

"To be honest with you, making perfume is more like a pastime for me. No matter what kind of perfume it is, the production principles are similar. The key lies in the process and the proportion of the formula." Xu Qiang paused, and then said: "And in this process, there are often unexpected surprises. You can make some unique smells. Some smells are disgusting, some are pleasant, and some are exciting... The bottle of perfume I gave you is an unexpected surprise. I feel that this smell is very consistent with your temperament, so I gave it to you as a gift..."

"I see." Hearing this, Zhang Li nodded slightly.

"To outsiders, the chemical industry seems smelly and dangerous, but to practitioners like us, it is more like an art. It can create many wonderful things and make our lives better..." Xu Qiang said with a smile.

"Interesting." Zhang Li smiled slightly and said, "It seems that the person sitting in front of me is actually an artist."

"If you say so, I have no objection." Xu Qiang smiled and said, "But I think if your factory only sells perfume, the profit will not be too high. At least in the current domestic market, most Chinese people don't use this stuff at all..."

"I know that, but I plan to create a high-end perfume brand in the future, just like Guerlain, Chanel, and Lanvin..." When she said this, Zhang Li's eyes flashed with a hint of light, and after a moment she continued, "I know this is not easy in China, but as an entrepreneurial goal, it is worth my struggle."

"If you want to be a luxury brand, in addition to the product itself, you also need brand accumulation and marketing, and you must be able to tell stories and package." Xu Qiang smiled slightly and continued, "There are many aspects, and success is definitely not just relying on good products."

"Uh? You know a lot about business, too?"

"I only know a little bit. I have read an inspirational story about the founder of Chanel in a book before. I guess it was after reading this story that you thought of creating a perfume brand, right?" Xu Qiang asked.

"Well... there is some influence." Hearing Xu Qiang say this, the smile on Zhang Li's face deepened.

"If you ask me, you can start a daily chemical brand and produce anything from soap to shampoo and cosmetics. Compared to luxury goods that only a few people can afford, I think producing daily chemical products that most people like to use will make you feel more fulfilled and make more money," said Xu Qiang.

"Daily chemical products? But the problem is, how can we produce so many products?" Zhang Li asked with a frown.

"We can cooperate. I can help you develop all kinds of daily chemical products, but in return, I need to take 30% of the shares!" Xu Qiang said solemnly. (End of this chapter)