The Xiao Family residence, located in the Radio Bureau Staff Building on Crescent Moon Street in Yong'an County.
Xiao Zhe's cousin once served as the Minister of the County Party Committee Propaganda Department in the 1960s, and the Xiao Family's legend began with him. By the early 1980s, under his cousin's protection, Xiao Zhe, whose official career was flourishing, rose through the ranks to become the Yong'an County Party Secretary.
The Xiao Family reached its peak at this time, with leaders of all levels constantly lingering in front of the Radio Bureau Staff Building every day.
Once Xiao Zhe stepped down as the Yong'an County Party Secretary and transferred to become the Deputy Director of the Prefectural People's Congress in Shiliang Region, the place became deserted.
It wasn't until two years later, when Xiao Zhe's nephew, Xiao Wang, became a Member of the County Party Standing Committee and the Propaganda Minister, that the Xiao Family slightly recovered its vitality.
"Why must we confront him directly?" the beautiful middle-aged woman in silk pajamas said loudly. "Isn't the Prefectural Committee's intention clear? I'm afraid they have already held opinions against us!"
"What else can we do? Just let him take Tie Da's General Manager position for nothing?" the stout middle-aged man grumbled. He was Xiao Zhe's son, Xiao Changqiu, the current Director of the Government Affairs Administration Bureau.
"If he takes Tie Da and the Meishan Coal Mine today, what about tomorrow? The Xiashan Coal Mine and the Qianxi Coal Mine?" Xiao Changqiu's large abdomen rose and fell with his emotions.
"This isn't just about dividing some money or profit," Xiao Changqiu sighed. "The family relies too much on these few coal mines for earnings. We need money everywhere: Father needs money to grease connections, Xiao Wang needs money to grease connections, you need money to grease connections, and Dali needs money to study abroad in Hong Kong. If Yue Wangbei digs this up, none of us will have a good end."
"Did you seriously go talk to him?" The beautiful woman frowned tightly. "I think you're just unwilling to offer benefits!" She crossed her arms over her chest.
"It wasn't me who went; Tie Da went," Xiao Changqiu's eyes darted around uncertainly. "He offered ten thousand, but they wouldn't take it at all. They didn't even open the bag. This demobilized cadre doesn't understand the county's rules at all."
"It's too late to say anything now," the old man beside them spoke up. With sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, even though his hair was white, he still possessed an imposing aura. He was Xiao Zhe, the Deputy Director of the Prefectural People's Congress Working Committee in Shiliang. "If he won't comply, then he won't comply. At worst, we'll just let him have all the mines."
The old man waved his hand. "In a few years, won't he be transferred anyway? Once Xiao Wang is promoted, won't Yong'an still be under our control?"
"It's not a matter of letting go or not," the beautiful woman said anxiously. "Why don't you understand yet? If we give up these mines, we won't be able to withstand an investigation! These are our vital parts; if Yue Wangbei squeezes them, we will be terrified."
"Nonsense," the old man scoffed. "Do you know who the last Deputy Department Level cadre investigated and removed in Shiliang was?"
The beautiful woman and Xiao Changqiu remained silent. They only heard the old man say loudly, "Liu Gang, Deputy Commissioner of the Administrative Office. Haven't you heard of him? He was the Deputy Commissioner in 1978, arrested because he embezzled Construction Project funds for the Xi River embankment, which resulted in hundreds of deaths when the water rose!"
The old man coughed lightly. "He took three million in total. Did we take even one hundred thousand?! What accidents have we caused for the Prefecture or the County?! None, right?! Wang Zangfeng is just a scholar; I believe him if he says he didn't take anything. Is Yue Wangbei necessarily clean?! He probably took quite a bit when he was the County Mayor in Shennü County, didn't he?!"
"One hundred thousand?" Xiao Changqiu gave a wry smile. "Multiply that by seven or eight times."
Since the patriarch himself had spoken, they definitely couldn't make a move now. But should they just stand by and watch Yue Wangbei dismantle their influence one by one?
Xiao Changqiu felt unwilling. They had dominated Yong'an for so long; the previous County Party Secretary, Jiang Wenjie, had turned a blind eye to his father and himself; and his father still had the capability to challenge Yue Wangbei...
...
"We can't grant the loan," the clerk at the Yong'an County Agricultural Bank told Chen Donglai succinctly. "Please leave."
"If the collateral isn't enough, we can gather more. There's no need to rush people out now," Chen Donglai said pleasantly. "Besides, if your bank can't come up with this amount, just give us a number."
"It's not an issue of collateral," the clerk rubbed his forehead. The Bank President had specifically instructed him yesterday not to give a loan to the County Guesthouse. Although he didn't know why the President gave this order, he had to execute it unconditionally to secure his own permanent position.
"I understand," Chen Donglai knew that if it wasn't about collateral, it was political. He had visited all of the Big Four Banks—Industry, Agriculture, Communications, and Construction—and not one was willing to lend. Some banks were willing to make up an excuse, while others didn't even bother to be perfunctory.
It was obvious to anyone that the major banks were under political pressure. However, he wasn't worried at all because he still had one card left to play. This card was likely outside the Luo Family's blind spot, making the chance of discovery extremely small.
...
"Lü Jiujian?" Chen Cheng took off his glasses. "He brought gifts during the New Year. Why are you thinking of him? I recall he was the Deputy Manager at the County Alloy Association." He folded the Newspaper on the desk. "He was a restless student, but his grades were excellent."
"Are you familiar with him? Can you introduce us?" Chen Donglai felt a surge of joy. Since he came to pay respects during the New Year, the discussion would likely be fruitful.
Chen Cheng walked over to the home's landline, pulled out a small notebook from a drawer, flipped through it for a while until he found the number, exchanged pleasantries, and then hung up the phone.
"Come over now," Chen Cheng said to Chen Donglai after hanging up. "Are you borrowing for yourself, or for the unit?"
"For the unit. Don't worry, nothing will come of it," Chen Donglai reassured his father, sensing his worry. "The County Government still owes the Big Four Banks millions, and you haven't seen them occupy the County Government Building."
"You should push for salary payments sooner," Chen Cheng advised kindly. "Our school hasn't paid wages for a long time either. Hey," he gestured in the air, "they even blocked County Government Road! If only our senior high teachers could easily get away..."
...
The Alloy Association's office in Yong'an County Town was located on Huancheng Road. It couldn't be helped; prime locations like the East Crossroads and West Crossroads, natural commercial centers, were long occupied by the county's bureaus, departments, and commissions, forcing the Alloy Association to squeeze into the suburbs.
Chen Donglai stepped off the tricycle, and a middle-aged man with a receding hairline, wearing an ill-fitting gray Suit, approached him with a broad smile. "Are you Teacher Chen's child?"
"Hello, Uncle Lü. You've achieved success so quickly," Chen Donglai greeted Lü Jiujian warmly.
In his previous life, he had only seen Lü Jiujian once—when he paid his respects at Lü Jiujian's wake in the Yong'an County Funeral Home.
In 1995, the Alloy Association's deficit was exposed, and Alloy Associations in various counties fell into a run crisis. Lü Jiujian could not withstand the blow and jumped from the County Agricultural Bank building.
Since he had no children, his funeral was arranged by his homeroom teacher, Chen Cheng, and a few classmates.
Chen Donglai and his father, Chen Cheng, attended Lü Jiujian's memorial service, which left him with a deep impression of the Alloy Association as a financial institution.
The organizational structure of the Alloy Association was similar to that of small Township credit cooperatives, which were popular nationwide in the early 1990s. By offering interest rates far exceeding those of banks, the Alloy Association absorbed a large amount of farmers' deposits.
Its functions were almost identical to those of a bank: attracting deposits and issuing loans. However, due to inadequate management, many issued loans became bad debts that could not be recovered, and it also provided convenience for some management personnel with ulterior motives to seek private gain through loans or embezzle Public funds.
Some Township and even County finances frequently borrowed money from the Alloy Association (of course, with no intention of repayment), creating huge financial risks, leading to its eventual abolition by the Central Government.
"Of course, it's not comparable to a University student achieving success," Lü Jiujian said with a wry smile. "They call me the Deputy Manager of the County Alloy Association, but I'm actually just an agent for several Township Alloy Associations combined, helping them find business usually."
This was precisely why Chen Donglai chose the Alloy Association. Luo Qiyong, as the Director of the County Party Committee Office, was almost the embodiment of the County Party Secretary in the eyes of outsiders. Although major banks often ignored the Deputy County Mayor in Charge, they had to show some respect to the County Party Secretary's face, to some extent. If Luo Qiyong made a call to the bank presidents, no one would dare refuse him.
Although commercial banks were limited to just a few—Industry, Agriculture, Communications, Construction, and Post—Luo Qiyong still needed to greet each bank president individually, which was quite troublesome. However, there were dozens of Townships of various sizes in all of Yong'an County, and almost every Township had an Alloy Association. It was impossible for Luo Qiyong to attend to every single one;
Even if Luo Qiyong notified the Alloy Association manager in the County Town, it wouldn't be of much use. This was because the County Manager was only responsible for handling loan business in the County Town; those who truly held real power were the Alloy Associations in the various Townships. Chen Donglai only needed to visit the Townships a few more times to secure a loan.
Moreover, since the Alloy Association primarily conducted business in the Townships, its presence among the financial institutions in Yong'an County Town was faint; even the supervising leader might not remember that such an institution existed.
Judging by Lü Jiujian's enthusiastic attitude now, Luo Qiyong clearly had not contacted the Alloy Association.
This opportunity must not be missed!