At No. 2 County Government Road, Yong'an County, on the eighth floor conference room of the County Government Building. The County Government Building was only completed in 1990. It is nine stories high with a glass curtain wall, costing 8 million yuan, which almost bankrupted the entire county.
The former County Magistrate Xue Zhibin was transferred to become the Director of the County People's Congress before the building was completed, never getting the chance to enjoy his "masterpiece."
"Last year's fiscal revenue was 16 million yuan, and as of now, 11 million has already been spent, and that's only up to July," said Executive Deputy County Mayor Xue Lou, wiping sweat from his face. "If this continues, I doubt we can hold out until October."
The fan above the heads of the people in the Grand Conference Room creaked, but it seemed to bring no coolness to anyone.
"What did the Big Four Banks say? What about the Bank of China? And the Postal Savings Bank?"
The one who spoke was County Mayor Wang Zangfeng of Yong'an County. Compared to Xue Lou, whose eyes were starting to show wrinkles, he was excessively young. A 35-year-old County Mayor was one of the most outstanding figures in Jiang'an Province, and even in all of China.
"They said they wouldn't lend any more last year. I ran around several times in March and managed to scrape together two million to settle the salaries for several Coal Mine companies in the county. Now they refuse to lend anything." Xue Lou slumped in his chair, tapping the chipped conference table with his hand,
"Bank President Li from the Agricultural Bank even cursed me as a beggar; the son of a bitch, I didn't even dare to talk back. The Bank of China said they wouldn't give a single cent unless we paid back last year's debt. The Postal Savings Bank was decent enough to give 200,000, but they insisted on ten percent interest. I negotiated for a long time to bring it down to eight percent."
Wang Zangfeng took off his gold-rimmed glasses and wiped his forehead with his hand. Before he took office at the end of last year, he already knew that Yong'an County's financial situation was poor, but he never expected that halfway through the year, they would be struggling to survive.
Civil Servant salaries, Teacher Salary, and the County Hospital still needed to maintain operations... Wang Zangfeng knew the County Hospital hadn't dared to perform surgery for two months because they lacked the funds to replace the long-decaying anesthetic equipment.
As for the county-owned State-Owned Enterprises, several Coal Mines were drowning in triangular debt. The Secretary and the Mine Managers were constantly traveling to neighboring Lingxiao Province and Pingling Province to collect debts, unable to even afford a decent hotel and having to sleep on the floor at youth hostels.
"I certainly know the County Finance situation is bad, but I still beg County Magistrate Wang, County Magistrate Xue, and everyone here to help us out," pleaded Deputy County Mayor Jiang Chucai, who was in charge of Culture, Education, and Health:
"The teachers at the County Middle School haven't received their salaries for over half a year. For now, they are only causing trouble within the county, but they say if the money isn't paid soon, tomorrow they will protest at the Prefecture level, and even at the Provincial Level." He hesitated, "The teachers at the First Primary School and Second Primary School have only received half their pay. Can the County Finance...?"
Wang Zangfeng certainly knew how bold those teachers could be. Just looking at the dense crowd in the County Government Park below gave him a sense of their anger. If they were truly provoked, they could blockade not just the Prefecture Administration Office, but the Jiang'an Provincial Government as well.
"Chucai, I will first secure 600,000 yuan. Use 400,000 to cover the back pay for the last six months, and the 200,000 borrowed from the Postal Savings Bank will cover the second half of the year's salaries. For the primary and junior high school teachers, please work with the Education Bureau and the Leading cadres of each school to keep things stable, and we can pay their salaries next year when we are a bit more solvent."
Jiang Chucai was overjoyed. "I will report this to Secretary Wangbei immediately!" With that, he hurried away, leaving behind everyone else with worried expressions.
...
Jiang'an County, County Government Park.
Yue Wangbei's Santana was parked on County Government Road. He was observing the teachers from the County First Middle School sitting quietly in the park through the car window. After a moment, Secretary Yang Xiaoshan appeared, bringing a thin, short middle-aged man, who opened the car door. The middle-aged man bent down; it was Deputy County Mayor Jiang Chucai. "Secretary, County Magistrate Zangfeng managed to squeeze out 400,000 to cover the back pay, and another 200,000 will be issued for the second half of the year."
"That's enough. I know. Get in the car and wait with me." Yue Wangbei waved his hand and called over Secretary Yang Xiaoshan, who was standing nearby. "Tell the Government Affairs Administration Bureau to send over some drinks or something; have the County Hospital send a few people over with heatstroke medicine ready. Tell our Public Security comrades that the Police Officers at the park site are not to be armed, and batons are also forbidden. If any street hoodlums try to take advantage of the chaos to smash or loot outside County Government Road, arrest them on the spot and punish them severely without leniency." After instructing everything and having Yang Xiaoshan repeat the orders, he nodded, closed the car door, looked at his watch, and then turned to Jiang Chucai beside him, saying:
"In another hour and a half, when it hits four o'clock sharp, call me." With that, he closed his eyes and fell asleep under the astonished gaze of the driver and the Deputy County Mayor.
...
Inside the County Government Park.
"What exactly does the county mean by this!" a young teacher said loudly and indignantly. "My spouse and I graduated from Huichuan and traveled a thousand miles back to Yong'an to teach. We've been married for a year, and we haven't saved a single penny! Now we have to borrow money from my parents just to buy groceries!"
A young female teacher next to him sobbed, choking back tears, "My elderly parents woke up before dawn to pick vegetables, and they were hit by a tricycle. They are still in the County Hospital now, and we can't even afford the medical fees, the medical fees."
She burst into tears after speaking, and the surrounding teachers became furious. "Damn bastards, pay up!"
"Pay up!"
The shouts grew louder and louder, seemingly shaking even the distant Xi River Water.
Half an hour passed, and the roar of the teachers' shouts gradually subsided. The sun reached its most scorching point, and everyone could only gather in small groups under the shade of the trees.
"The county really seems to have no money," the Director of the second year at the County Middle School said to a colleague next to him. "I heard the Finance was already tight the year before last." He fanned himself as he spoke. "Let's take whatever little they can give. Teacher Xiaohong has a sick person at home; let's each chip in a bit to help her get through this difficult time. Don't you agree, Xiaohong?"
"I have only two demands: pay the overdue wages, and guarantee the payment of the second half of the year's salaries," the young female teacher next to him shook her head. "If they meet these, I'll go back; otherwise, I'll just live here!"
Saying that, she disregarded her appearance, lifted the corner of her top to wipe away sweat. "I'm dying of thirst."
A colleague handed her a plastic bowl filled with mung bean soup. "Teacher Xiaohong, this is from the county; they said we can take as much as we want."
The female teacher took the plastic bowl. "They still have some conscience, just a little bit." She downed the liquid in one gulp, feeling that perhaps the County Leaders weren't so bad after all, maybe they truly had their difficulties?
But thinking they could dismiss her with just a small bowl of mung bean soup? Absolutely impossible. Never mind a tiny bowl of mung bean soup; even the nectar of the gods wouldn't work.
After waiting another hour, the teachers were exhausted and nearly collapsing on the ground. The sun had begun to set in the west, and finally, the teachers in the park saw the County Party Secretary.
A tall, middle-aged dark-skinned man with a Crew cut strode purposefully to the center of the crowd, took two steps that counted as three, climbed onto a rock in the park, and announced loudly:
"Comrades, teachers of the County Middle School, I am Yue Wangbei, the Yong'an County Party Secretary! The County Party Committee and County Government have decided," he waved the Document in his hand, "to issue a full back payment for the total overdue wages of 400,000 yuan!"
"Great!!!" The crowd erupted in cheers. After the cheers subsided, a voice from the crowd shouted, "What if the wages are still in arrears this year?!"
"That's right!" The crowd began to stir again. "This year's salaries must be paid in advance!" Everyone paused for a moment, then shouted in unison: "Pay in advance! Pay in advance!" However, the shouts were weak, clearly far removed from the righteous indignation they had when they first arrived.
"Comrades, the County Finance is Extremely short of funds," Yue Wangbei on the rock waved his hand. "We cannot pay in advance. The County Government still has 200,000 yuan; this money will first be given to the County Middle School, and the school will distribute it monthly for the second half of the year."
Someone in the audience shouted again, "200,000 isn't even enough for the second half of the year's salaries!"
Hearing this, Yue Wangbei glanced at the crowd, noting the attire of the few who had repeatedly incited the masses amidst the chaos. He pushed aside the distractions, cleared his throat, "200,000 is indeed not enough, but the County Party Committee and County Government can only offer an additional 200,000 yuan right now. I promise here that if there are any further wage arrears in the second half of the year, we will definitely pay them back next year! I hope everyone can understand the county's difficulties."
Upon hearing this, the crowd realized that the County Party Committee had made the greatest compromise possible, and continuing to cause trouble would likely be fruitless and thankless. Coupled with the unbearable heat, they offered a few supportive sounds and then dispersed.