Accommodation bundled with entrance tickets and transportation methods is a well-known tactic widely utilized by hotels near scenic spots after the booming development of the tourism industry in China. Chen Donglai knew well that this strategy was only effective in the early Nineties.
After the turn of the century, numerous cruise ship companies on the Xi River began signing contracts with riverside scenic areas. They not only purchased entrance tickets at low prices but also required passengers to buy the cruise company's expensive tickets onboard, otherwise using various means to prevent passengers from disembarking for independent sightseeing. The ugliness of their conduct was nauseating.
"I can handle the entrance ticket issue. I have a relative working at the Shiliang Mountain scenic area ticket office, and he can introduce me to the Management Committee Director of the scenic area," Wang Bingnan volunteered. Chen Donglai already showed him sufficient trust, and he felt he needed to reciprocate.
Furthermore, he had been stuck in the Deputy Director position for so many years, and his status as a Civil Servant hadn't even been finalized. Once Director Chen was promoted, as long as he recommended him, the Director position would surely be his for the taking.
...
No. 1 Xianzheng Road, Yong'an County, County Party Committee Building, Third Floor Conference Room.
"The coal seam isn't thin. We had comrades from the Pingling Province Geology Institute survey it in '82, and the average thickness is 7.3 meters." The Bureau Chief of the County Coal Industry Bureau spoke eloquently while holding a document, standing before the conference table. The members of the County Party Standing Committee listened intently.
"You must know that the average coal seam thickness in Jiang'an Province is only 1.6 meters. A 7.3-meter seam ranks among the top three in the entire Province." The Bureau Chief's tone carried a hint of pride. "The main issue is that the coal seam dip angle is too steep."
"What is the Provincial Level average? And the County Level?" Wang Zangfeng was sensitive to numbers; he disliked making judgments based on intuition.
"The output from seams with a dip angle greater than 45 degrees accounts for 35%," the Coal Industry Bureau Chief quickly glanced at the document in his hand, then continued, "The average for other coal mines in the province is only 25%."
"Just tell me what assistance you need." Yue Wangbei lightly tapped the desktop with his right index finger, his left hand resting on his leg. "What equipment do you need, and how much will it cost in total?"
"It's mainly about replacing the hydraulic supports. The old supports were procured in the seventies, and the workers feel uneasy using them." The Bureau Chief glanced at Wang Zangfeng, who sat at the head of the long table, and exchanged a look with him. Seeing the County Mayor nod, he continued:
"And the belt conveyor. This is used to transport the mined coal." The Bureau Chief, fearing that the non-experts might not understand, added the machine's function. "I heard that the major coal mines in Jingxing Province have all switched to Japanese imported belt conveyors, costing about 250 yuan per meter. If we use second-hand equipment phased out by Jingxing, the price will be even cheaper."
"These two pieces of equipment are the main ones; all three coal mines want to replace them. The total cost adds up to 5.3 million," Wang Zangfeng did not let the Coal Industry Bureau Chief continue but took over the conversation himself. "The estimated annual profit increase is 960,000 yuan."
Hearing Wang Zangfeng's quotation, the Leaders present fell silent for a moment. After a short pause, Executive Deputy County Mayor Xue Lou spoke up. "The county roughly..." He wrote a few numbers on a piece of paper and then sketched something out. "If there is a surplus at the end of the year, we might have about 200,000 left."
"My suggestion is to mortgage the entire Xiashan Coal Mine, which has the lowest output value," Wang Zangfeng made a startling proposal. "I estimated with comrades from the Provincial Construction Bank that we could secure a loan of 3.6 million in one go this way. That's enough to replace the equipment at the Meishan Coal Mine and the Qianxi Coal Mine. Moreover, safety at the mines must be strictly enforced. If old equipment continues to be used, leading to a production accident, it will be a huge problem. Worker safety must be strictly prioritized."
After speaking, he glanced at Yue Wangbei beside him; their eyes met, clearly indicating they had already discussed this proposal. In fact, this matter was not known only to the two of them; some close Standing Committee Members also had an inkling.
"The Xiashan Coal Mine is a County-owned Enterprise; how can it be mortgaged!" Xiao Wang, the Minister of the County Party Committee Propaganda Department, was the first to jump up in opposition. Although he had no experience in economic management, this did not stop him from commenting on the economic motions at the meeting.
Damn Yue Wangbei, everyone had backed down, so why did he have to press further? Xiao Wang felt increasingly resentful. He knew well that although Wang Zangfeng's suggestion was entirely beneficial to the Three Major Coal Mines with no drawbacks, once the County Party Committee and County Government controlled the funds to renovate the mines, his own influence over the mines would certainly diminish.
If that happened, Yue Wangbei could easily find an excuse for fund supervision and place his own people in the mine...
Xiao Wang dared not think further; he now only hoped to stop this matter completely. "Comrade Zangfeng, although the output value of the Xiashan Coal Mine is not high, it is still State-owned Assets after all. If the county cannot repay the money and the mine is seized by the Provincial Construction Bank, do you know the impact that would cause?"
"How big of an impact? I think it's inconsequential," Wang Zangfeng interlaced his fingers, his tone laced with sarcasm. "The Xiashan Coal Mine lost 280,000 yuan last year and is barely able to pay off its own debts."
"Comrade Qiyuan seems to have an opinion?" Yue Wangbei did not call on people according to the order of Standing Committee membership but immediately called out the name of the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.
"The difficulties at the Xiashan Coal Mine are only temporary, but if it is seized and auctioned by the bank, the impact on the county will be permanent," stated Luo Qiyuan, Secretary of the County Political and Legal Affairs Committee.
He adjusted the glasses on his face. "Besides, this is the current situation for the industrial economy. It's perfectly normal that raw materials cannot fetch high prices. It will get better in a couple of years."
Yue Wangbei did not speak again but started calling names in order. "Comrade Baixia, do you have any insights?" He leaned slightly to the side, looking at the capable, curly-haired, frameless-glasses-wearing middle-aged woman next to him.
Comrade Baixia, the Deputy Secretary of the County Party Standing Committee in charge of Party and Mass Work, looked up; she seemed not to have organized her words yet. She glanced towards the lower end of the long table, in the direction of the lower-ranking Standing Committee Members, and slowly began to speak:
"Currently, mortgaging the Xiashan Coal Mine does not seem appropriate." She spoke slowly and quietly, pushing up her glasses. "Commissioner Kang Le of the Administration Office manages the area concerning State-owned Assets mortgages quite strictly. Moreover..."
What on earth was this? What did the Prefecture Administration Office have to do with this? Wang Zangfeng's face turned ashen. He had just discussed opinions with Baixia before the meeting. She had clearly stated then that she would give it a try and would not object. Why the sudden change of heart now?
"I roughly understand everyone's opinions," Yue Wangbei quickly hit the brakes. He counted slightly; there were already four Standing Committee Members who had explicitly stated their opposition. Forcing a vote at this juncture was extremely risky.
Generally speaking, the County Party Leadership team is staffed with eleven to thirteen Standing Committee Members. Since Yue Wangbei's confidant, Peng Beihai, transferred from Shennü County, had not yet been approved for Deputy Division Level by the Prefectural Committee Organization Department, the Yong'an County leadership team currently maintained a configuration of twelve people.
Among these twelve people, the Political Commissar of the Armed Forces Department generally does not cast a vote for or against local affairs. Therefore, only eleven Standing Committee Members truly participated in the vote.
Four people expressing opposition was already quite awkward for the County Mayor Wang Zangfeng, who proposed the motion. If there had been three opposing votes, Wang Zangfeng could have barely accepted it; four opposing votes made the situation very unsightly. If the vote were forced and the proposal failed to pass, it would severely damage his prestige.
For a County Party Secretary, if there is no certainty, one should postpone the vote and bring it up again when the time is ripe. If a vote must be taken, it must pass.
"Next item on the agenda, personnel matters," Yue Wangbei announced loudly. "Recommending Comrade Luo Qiyong to the Prefectural Committee for the position of Deputy Director of the County People's Congress.
Nominating Peng Beihai, Director of the Shennü County People's Government Office, as the Director of the County Party Committee Office.
Nominating Comrade Shu Jian, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Shennü County Directly Affiliated Organs, to serve as a Standing Committee Member of the Yong'an County Commission for Discipline Inspection and Director of the First Supervision Office..."