Yong'an County, No. 1 Xianzheng Road, County Party Committee Building, Secretary's Office.
"Weren't there supposed to be just one or two people, three at most?" Yue Wangbei stood by the window with his hands behind his back, not looking at Wang Zangfeng, who was sitting on the sofa. "What's the situation with Bai Xia? Did you exchange opinions with her privately?"
A scholar is just a scholar; he's learned a lot of knowledge, but why hasn't his emotional intelligence caught up? He has a graduate degree, so why is his EQ still worse than mine, a rough-and-tumble guy with only a middle school education?
Yue Wangbei knew Wang Zangfeng was young and inexperienced, having previously worked in the Organization Department of the Capital City Youth League System, and lacked deep understanding of the intricacies at the grassroots level. But surely, the most basic step—exchanging opinions before the meeting—should have been done? If he doesn't even know how to do that, he should just go back to the Youth League Committee and play house.
"I already spoke with Bai Xia," Wang Zangfeng took off his glasses and rubbed his face with his palm. "She had reservations, but she clearly stated to me that she does not object."
"That's damn strange."
Yue Wangbei felt vexed. It seemed the scholar who pursued graduate studies wasn't entirely foolish and had misunderstood him. However... agreeing and then going back on one's word, why are female comrades playing this game too? He lit a Hongtashan cigarette and returned to his desk.
Wang Zangfeng stood up from the sofa. "Comrade Wangbei, I'll make a trip to the Capital City in a couple of days. A classmate working at Jingxing Mining revealed that the Ministry of Coal Industry has a fund of 2.8 million for renovating old equipment."
As Wang Zangfeng spoke, he put on his gold-rimmed glasses. "The main concern is that Jingxing Province might compete with us for it. They have more coal mines and a bigger reputation, giving them more influence in the Capital City."
"I'll go to Huichuan to see if the Provincial Department is making any moves. While I'm there, I'll stop by Huichuan Shipbuilding Company and ask if they can give the County Level some consideration." Yue Wangbei took a deep drag of his cigarette, pulled open the office door, and shouted outside, "Xiaoshan, call the Government Affairs Administration Bureau and tell that university student from Beijing Normal University to come see me!"
...
Yong'an County, Crescent Moon Street, County Radio Bureau Staff Building, the Xiao Family residence.
"I found out. It's Shu Jian, the Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Shennü County Direct Organs. He was Yue Wangbei's Liaison Officer when Yue Wangbei was in Shennü," Xiao Changqiu hung up the phone. "The First Supervision Office, damn it."
Xiao Wang fell silent. The First Supervision Office of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection was responsible for liaising with the County Direct Organs and County-owned Enterprises. Yue Wangbei was clearly intending to target their family's coal mine.
"I'll call Zhang Wenqiang in a bit. He is the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission after all; he wouldn't let a newcomer sideline him completely." Xiao Wang suddenly spoke up. "Try to keep Shu Jian in check; don't let him stir up trouble."
"Impossible." Xiao Changqiu showed a look of disdain toward his relative. "He doesn't have the guts. At most, he'll leak a bit of information, nothing more."
"Putting Shu Jian aside for a moment," Xiao Changqiu was agitated, "Did Bai Xia also state her position today?"
"She did. Including her, we might still be able to pull Zhang Wenqiang in," Xiao Wang glanced at his paternal cousin beside him, noticing the look of contempt reappear on his face, and said helplessly, "If Zhang Wenqiang abstains, we'll most likely lose. Today, Yue Wangbei was just playing it safe."
"What position did she take?!" Xiao Changqiu grew more anxious. "What did you do? Do you think we have too few leverage points?!"
"Not really." Xiao Wang felt his paternal cousin was overreacting. It was just stating a position; what problem could that uncover? Moreover, today they successfully dampened Yue Wangbei's prestige, demonstrating the strength of the Yong'an County Ben Tu Shi Li in front of the new Leader; and they prevented Wang Zangfeng from interfering with the plan for the Three Major Coal Mines. It wasn't a loss either way.
...
Yong'an County, Renmin Road, County Guesthouse. Chen Donglai was directing movers as they arranged furniture. Just transporting such a large volume of goods back to Yong'an via the waterway from Lintao cost over three thousand yuan in shipping fees alone.
"Put the large sofa in the Lobby, hey, carry that one upstairs." Yang Xiaojin excitedly directed the movers. She felt like she had experienced being a Leader today.
...
Upon entering the Guesthouse Lobby, Lu Guohua was completely stunned by the scene before him. The old floor tiles had all been replaced with brand-new ceramic tiles, the dim wall lamps had been swapped for magnificent Chandeliers, and even the benches placed in the Lobby had been replaced with sofas.
He had only been in Yuquan for three or four days, and this Guesthouse had changed so drastically? Lu Guohua was utterly shocked. He finally understood why Chen Donglai had arranged for him to go to Yuquan to "learn experience." It turned out he was pulling off a major coup behind his back!
"Comrade Donglai, Comrade Bing Nan, how much did this renovation cost?" Lu Guohua snapped out of his shock and keenly grasped the crucial question.
"Not much, twenty to thirty thousand," Chen Donglai finished, then exchanged a look with Wang Bingnan, and both of them chuckled involuntarily.
"Go to hell with your twenty to thirty thousand," Lu Guohua cursed inwardly. The Chandelier overhead and the magnificent Lobby were probably each worth more than twenty thousand. This matter had to be reported to his old superior, and the Government Affairs Administration Bureau had to be informed.
Lu Guohua had already discreetly inquired; Chen Donglai came from an ordinary family. His father was merely a math teacher at the County Middle School, and his mother worked as a nurse at the hospital. With such an ordinary background, he absolutely could not have produced this much money; moreover, since the Guesthouse was a County-owned Enterprise, who would spend their own money to do work for the state?
The truth was already very clear. The Funds Allocation Chen Donglai borrowed was definitely not just ten or twenty thousand, but starting at seventy or eighty thousand, perhaps even a hundred thousand!
Where exactly did he secure the loan? What was the Collateral? Lu Guohua was filled with doubts. He knew that even if he dared to ask Chen Donglai directly, Chen Donglai wouldn't utter a single word more. Sending him to Yuquan to learn, and then assigning him responsibility for the Guest Room Department business, which fundamentally didn't require personnel, was a clear sign of marginalizing him.
The thought of Chen Donglai's disdain for him made rage surge in Lu Guohua's chest. A little punk in his early twenties, just because he managed to attend university, was now stepping all over him and treating him like a beast of burden;
He had only said a few words to his Old Leader, and somehow Chen Donglai had noticed, actually ostracizing him in front of so many employees! He nitpicked over every small matter; was there ever such a petty Leader?
He finally couldn't hold back, let out a cold snort, and said, "Director Chen, after borrowing so much money, have you thought about how you're going to pay it back?"
Seeing that Lu Guohua's disgust was no longer concealed, Chen Donglai stopped pretending to be cordial. "Comrade Guohua, I heard you have some opinions about the division of labor. It seems the workload of the Guest Room Department is too small and cannot fully utilize your vigorous energy." He cleared his throat:
"Bing Nan will now be concurrently responsible for the Restaurant business and the Guest Room business. Comrade Guohua will be responsible for advertising and promotion, staff training, water, electricity, and logistics support, Food safety, and hygiene management." Chen Donglai gave him a subtle smile. "How about it, Comrade Guohua? A heavy responsibility!"