Jingshi, the Ministry of Coal Industry Building.
"Senior Alumnus, this money is too important. For the sake of our alma mater, I'm begging you," Wang Zangfeng said to the middle-aged man behind the desk, his voice pleading. He was unshaven, with dark circles under his eyes, clearly having not slept well for days.
"It's truly not intentional, but that's just how the situation is this year," the middle-aged man behind the desk neatly stacked the documents on his desk, then reached up to stroke his chin. "We finished allocating the funds back in June. You know, Jingxing Province was pressing us hard."
The middle-aged man, like Wang Zangfeng, was a graduate of Jingshi University. At only forty-six, he was already serving as the Director of the Production Coordination Department of the Ministry of Coal Industry. He would likely reach another new step in his official career within a year or two.
Hearing the Senior Alumnus's refusal, Wang Zangfeng's eyes gradually dimmed. "It's mainly because the equipment is too old. Several support beams collapsed at the mine this year, injuring several coal miners. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. But if this continues..."
Seeing his junior alumnus's dejected expression, the middle-aged man felt a pang of sympathy. Regardless, Wang Zangfeng was his direct junior alumnus. Their graduate student advisor was the same person, making their relationship extraordinary.
"I know what to do," the middle-aged man had a flash of inspiration, leaning down and rummaging around under his office desk. "Found it."
Wang Zangfeng quickly stood up, walked around the desk, and stood behind the Senior Alumnus.
"Here," the Director uncapped a fountain pen and circled a paragraph in the document. "Have your county report a safety production accident, tally the casualties, and I'll take you to see the Safety Department. That way, the justification will at least be better. I remember they always have a Special Fund set aside."
"Senior Alumnus, on behalf of the 840,000 people of Yong'an County, I thank you for your help," Wang Zangfeng firmly grasped the middle-aged Director's hand. "And the sixteen thousand coal miners. We will keep this in our hearts."
"We'll talk after you succeed," the middle-aged Director extended his other empty hand and patted Wang Zangfeng's shoulder.
This junior alumnus of his previously worked at the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, serving as the Division Chief of the Cadre Section in the Organization Department. Two years ago, he was seconded to the newly established Jiang'an Province for temporary assignment. He hadn't expected that he would actually plan to stay in Jiang'an; he heard his organizational relationship had already been transferred to the Jiang'an Provincial Party Committee Organization Department.
He felt that after two years of tempering at the grassroots level, this junior alumnus seemed to have shed the bookish air of theoretical discussion. It seemed grassroots work truly could change a person's character.
...
Yong'an, No. 1 Xianzheng Road, County Party Committee Building.
"Did you hear?" A male employee from the County Party Committee Office wearing glasses whispered to his colleague next to him, "Secretary Yue managed to secure over a million yuan from Huichuan."
"More than a million yuan, I heard from a friend at Xiashan Coal Mine, it was over two million, nearly three million," the junior colleague said while making an exaggerated gesture with his hands.
"Do you think our Performance Bonus for last year might be paid out with this money?" The male employee looked expectant, already contemplating which restaurant he should go to tonight.
Ever since this County Government Building was renovated, the cafeteria food had gotten worse year after year. The steamed buns were hard as rocks, and the noodles were stiff as steel bars, making him not want to eat in the cafeteria at all.
"Xiao Zhang, Xiao Wang, stop exchanging glances during work hours!" The Section Chief of the Secretariat discovered the two secretly chatting and reprimanded them loudly. "You two are not allowed to leave until you sort out the report from the County Education Bureau!"
...
Yong'an County, Crescent Moon Street, County Radio Bureau Staff Building, the Xiao Family residence.
"He actually managed to borrow it," Xiao Wang, the Minister of the County Party Committee Propaganda Department, said with a grim face. The Hongtashan cigarette clamped between his fingers was about to burn down, but he paid it no mind.
Damn it, with Yong'an County's abysmal financial situation, how could they possibly secure a Special Fund of 1.1 million yuan?
He stubbed out the cigarette butt in his hand. Perhaps it was precisely because the county's finances were so poor that the Provincial level was willing to Allocate Funds? This Yue Wangbei was a capable man; he had underestimated him...
"I heard it from Luo Qiyong. Apparently, Guesthouse Director Chen Donglai has connections in the Provincial Capital and secured funding from the Department of Coal Industry," Xiao Changqiu's expression was also extremely grim.
This was big trouble. Whoever controlled the power to allocate resources could manipulate personnel. Both of them understood this obvious truth.
Now that Yue Wangbei had obtained the money to control the coal mines, could he resist placing his Confidants in the coal mines?
Impossible!
Xiao Changqiu heard that Shu Jian from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection's First Supervision Office had visited every mining area of Meishan Coal Mine, and the Whistleblower Letters he received were as numerous as the winter snowflakes, stacking up to half a person's height. Among so many letters, how many were targeting his father, Xiao Zhe? How many were targeting himself?
"Don't panic yet, 1.1 million is barely enough," Xiao Wang relit a cigarette and said to Xiao Changqiu, "1.1 million at most can only rectify Xiashan Coal Mine and Qianxi Coal Mine. Meishan Coal Mine is much larger than those two smaller mines; 1.1 million definitely won't cover it."
"If necessary, we'll give up on Xiashan and Qianxi," the beautiful woman sitting on the sofa offered a decisive and bold suggestion. "Have the two mine directors clean up the loose ends and then resign. We will focus our energy on Meishan Coal Mine."
She knew well that Meishan Coal Mine held too many secrets; it was practically the Xiao Family's Achilles' heel. If it fell into outsiders' hands, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"This isn't about which one you want to save," Xiao Wang sneered. "This is about which one Yue Wangbei wants to strike at first."
The three fell silent for a moment. After a long pause, the beautiful woman's cherry lips parted slightly. "Luo Qiyong told me that this Chen Donglai from the Guesthouse seems to be suspected of illegally mortgaging county-owned assets. Should we...?"
"You want us to pull chestnuts out of the fire for him?" Xiao Changqiu sneered. "Our own conflict, and you want us to make the move?"
"What I mean is, by holding onto this Chen Donglai, we gain at least some leverage to negotiate with Yue Wangbei. If he plans to place someone from our side under Disciplinary Action, we can offer Chen Donglai in exchange."
After the beautiful woman finished speaking, she crossed her long legs over the coffee table.
Xiao Changqiu considered the beautiful woman's suggestion. After a long time, he finally spoke, "We can try."
"What if we truly anger Yue Wangbei?" Xiao Wang worried, unable to help but remind the other two. "If you move against Chen Donglai directly like this, and Yue Wangbei sends Shu Jian straight into the mine to make arrests, won't that mean we've completely torn off the facade?"
"Just control the degree," the beautiful woman was unconcerned. "Don't rush to draw conclusions or issue Disciplinary Action against this Chen Donglai. Let's see how far Yue Wangbei is willing to back down. My suggestion is that it would be best if Tie Da could return to Meishan Coal Mine as General Manager. If he is willing to concede to that extent, then letting Chen Donglai return to work at the Guesthouse is also fine."
"It's best if we can maintain peace," Xiao Wang exhaled a smoke ring. "Just don't damage appearances. Otherwise, the old man will be angry too."