Jiang'an Province, Huishen Highway, Shiliang section.
After reporting the good news to Wang Zangfeng, who was busy in the Capital City, the four of them drove away from Huichuan. As evening approached, the dilapidated Santana was nearing the Shiliang City Proper.
"Which unit do you want to go to? The Committee Office or the Government Office?" Yue Wangbei asked Chen Donglai, who was sitting next to him. "It's difficult to get appointed directly to Deputy Section Chief Rank, but arranging you in the Committee Office first, and then resolving the Deputy Director of the Committee Office position in a couple of years, that is achievable."
Yue Wangbei's words made Yang Xiaoshan, the Secretary sitting in the co-pilot seat, extremely jealous. Generally, the Deputy Director of the Committee Office position was reserved for the Secretary's Liaison Officer! If Chen Donglai secured the Deputy Director of the Committee Office position first, his own spot would be taken.
This Chen Donglai, just by leveraging connections in the Provincial Capital, expected to easily secure a Deputy Section Level position. In the end, wasn't he purely relying on a woman? What difference was there between him and a kept man living off a woman?
Yang Xiaoshan could also tell that Chen Donglai's relationship with Ming Yuezhao was likely more than just platonic friendship. This made him feel even more bitter. Although his jealousy was driving him mad, he showed no change in expression.
"Secretary Wangbei, I don't wish to leave the Guesthouse for the time being," Chen Donglai stated concisely. "I am currently renovating the Guesthouse's existing infrastructure. If I were transferred now, all my efforts would be wasted."
Yue Wangbei didn't waste words; just by listening to the tone of his voice, he knew Chen Donglai's mind was made up. "Upgrade and renovation? How much did it cost in total? Do you need the County Level to allocate some funds for support?"
Yue Wangbei knew the County Finance situation was poor, and perhaps Chen Donglai was also a clever cook unable to prepare a meal without ingredients. Borrowing just two or three thousand would likely hardly improve the basic appearance of the Guesthouse.
"I borrowed Two Hundred Thousand from the Alloy Association. Of course, it is currently slightly over budget. If the County Level could provide assistance, that would be best," Chen Donglai hid nothing from Yue Wangbei.
Having spent days and nights together, he had realized that Yue Wangbei was currently a community of shared interests with him; both men had the same opponents.
"Two Hundred Thousand? The Alloy Association can produce that much?" Yue Wangbei was first shocked, then carefully considered the "glorious deeds" of the Yong'an County Alloy Association.
He vaguely recalled that the Alloy Association had lent 500,000 to the County Government to construct a new building the year before last. As of now, those Funds Allocation had still not been repaid. Viewed this way, Two Hundred Thousand did not seem like a huge sum for the Alloy Association.
"I also need to report the current status of the Guesthouse to you," Chen Donglai said in a low voice. He knew this was the perfect opportunity to explain the source of the questionable loan to the County Leader. Giving Yue Wangbei and Wang Zangfeng a heads-up in advance would largely prevent the Luo Family from attacking him under the pretext of illegally mortgaging State-owned Assets.
"The Two Hundred Thousand loan naturally has Collateral. In order to raise funds quickly, I mortgaged the Guesthouse's Land Plot to the County Alloy Association..."
"The renovation plan is divided into three major projects: first, Pipe network renovation; second, interior furnishing updates; and the third is Exterior facade renovation. None are fully completed yet. Among these, the Pipe network renovation expenditure..."
Chen Donglai first explained the cause of the incident and the reasoning behind his decisions, finally promising Yue Wangbei a bright future. "By three years from now, projected income will reach around nine thousand yuan per month, which will cover the interest generated by the loan and gradually repay the principal."
"Young man, you have quite a bit of nerve." Yue Wangbei favored bold and aggressive generals, whether in military strategy or in the way of an official. Seeing Chen Donglai's determination to burn his bridges and succeed or perish, he regarded him in a new light:
"I will go back and discuss it with Zangfeng, and have him allocate another sum of money for you, so at least you won't have to worry about the loan interest for these two years." Yue Wangbei paused, then added:
"In a few weeks, a major Leader will come for an Inspection. If our County's Guesthouse can host them, that would naturally be best..."
...
Yong'an County, East Crossroads, Luo Family Old Residence.
"Found it, it's the Alloy Association," Luo Qiyong took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "They pooled together Two Hundred Thousand."
"How could a Country bumpkin unit like the Alloy Association scrape together Two Hundred Thousand?" Luo Qizhi was greatly surprised. He knew about the Alloy Association; Township units often borrowed money from it.
But the Alloy Association was only willing to lend out amounts of two or three thousand, or three or four thousand each time. Luo Qizhi knew this was because the Township Alloy Associations had insufficient capacity to absorb savings, meaning low deposits resulted in low lending quotas.
"Six Townships, they pooled a total of Two Hundred Thousand," Luo Qiyong sighed.
Borrowing money from the Alloy Association was indeed beyond his expectations. He had always assumed the Alloy Association had hardly any funds available for deployment, thus completely ignoring the existence of that unit.
He hadn't expected Chen Donglai's mind to be so sharp. Frankly, if a staff member from a Township Alloy Association hadn't leaked the news, he would likely still have been kept in the dark.
"Who cares who he borrowed from! As long as we know the Collateral, I'm guaranteed to win!" Lu Guohua said viciously. A ferocious and excited expression appeared on his face; he was clearly impatient.
"It's most likely the Land Plot on Renmin Road. I'll have Xiao Changqiu send a letter to the Alloy Association when I get back, and the matter will be clear." Luo Qiyong slumped back in the rattan chair, his round belly swaying from side to side.
"You should go to work as usual these few days. I'll send people to spread the word in the County seat to build momentum and strike when he least expects it," his younger brother Luo Qizhi suddenly added.
"Isn't he someone Yue Wangbei placed here? He went out with Yue Wangbei these past two days, which suggests he likely has a relationship with Yue Wangbei."
Luo Qiyong tapped rhythmically on the armrest of the rattan chair. "It just so happens that Xiao Changqiu is the Bureau Chief of the Government Affairs Administration Bureau. Have him convene a meeting to discuss this illegal loan issue and take down Chen Donglai."
"Xiao Changqiu? Will he comply?" Lu Guohua felt some worry. A magistrate who confiscates property, a prefect who executes families—would Xiao Changqiu really risk offending Yue Wangbei?
This kid actually managed to latch onto the County Party Secretary, that Big Tree!
"Guohua, don't worry, Xiao Changqiu will definitely do it," Luo Qiyong said calmly. "Yue Wangbei has clearly set his sights on the Meishan Coal Mine these past few days. You must know that the County's few Coal Mines have always been Secretary Xiao's territory."
"Since Chen Donglai was handpicked by Yue Wangbei to serve as the Director of the Guesthouse, and accompanied him to Huichuan for an Inspection, they must be extremely familiar with each other by now. In this situation, Chen Donglai's weakness is Yue Wangbei's weakness. The Xiao Family will naturally be willing to step in to pressure Yue Wangbei."
"It's nothing more than driving a tiger to devour a wolf. If this matter is handled quickly, we might not even need to make a move ourselves. The Xiao Family alone will be enough to give Chen Donglai a hard time," Luo Qizhi chuckled.
Every time he saw the "broken tooth" mentioned by his son Luo Yaozu, he felt a surge of anger. Although the kid was usually a bit reckless, kicking out his teeth was going too far. This grudge must be repaid!