Chapter Twenty-Five: Raising Funds

  "Lu Feng, you arrange for Qu Chu Zhang and Luo Bu Zhang to go in first, I'll be right there." Chen Gong finally felt a sense of relief.

  "Zhang Ge, what's going on? Is this hotel your company's?" Chen Gong asked.

  "This is one of the industries under Haitian Food Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Haitian Real Estate. The Fuhai Grand Hotel where we had dinner that day also belongs to us, and the person in charge there was demoted the next day. If President Xiao wasn't in a good mood, it's possible that he would have been fired directly." Secretary Zhang said proudly.

  "Director Zhang, you've come personally. I learned about the situation on my way here. After I arrive, I'll definitely hold a meeting with all employees to unify our thinking, raise awareness and remove any low-quality employees." Xie, who was in his office at the hotel lobby, rushed to the front desk immediately.

  "Don't shout randomly, I'm just the general manager's secretary. Mr. Xie, you can just call me Secretary Zhang, what's with all the 'general' this and that? I don't dare to pretend to be one." Secretary Zhang corrected Mr. Xie's way of speaking.

  "Director Zhang, you're one of Director Xiao's top bodyguards, outranking us officials by a level. We still need to rely on your care and protection. Today's private room expenses are on me, I'll pay out of my own pocket."

  ……

  Chen Gong asked Secretary Zhang, "Zhang Ge, has Director Xiao's business expanded to Nancheng as well?"

  Secretary Zhang smiled and replied, "Not just that, our company has subsidiaries or branches all over the southern province. The scope and number of industries involved are astonishing. By the way, your friends have already gone in, you'd better go with them."

  Chen Gong entered the private room, Qu Chuangchang saw that Chen Gong still had some skills, he was from Fuhai City, and could also play in Nancheng City, and he also wanted to make friends with him, after all, having friends means having a way to make money.

  Luo Chuan stood up and introduced, "Chen Gong, this is Qu Yangzhong, the head of the Construction Management Office of the Provincial Transportation Department. How many sections of road in your town can be included in the repair work, it's all up to him." Luo Chuan first flattered Qu Yangzhong to the sky.

  "Yes, yes, yes, no other power is needed. What Director Luo said, I think there's still a way to do it." Qu Yangzhong really couldn't bear praise, and as soon as he was praised, he became complacent.

  Luo Chuan continued to introduce Chen Gong, "Qu Chu Chang, this is our Fuhai City Xin Qiao District Qinghe Town Mayor Chen Gong comrade, he's my good brother. He came to me about the road repair and I immediately thought of you."

  After pouring the wine, Chen Gong was the first to stand up and raise his glass. "Let's have this cup together, thank you for introducing me to Director Qu, thanks to Luo Ge and Song Jie, it's fate."

  Luochuan and Quyang Zhong both said in unison, "It's done."

  Song Yanru didn't drink, just sipped a little beverage. "Director Qu, we have to trouble you with this matter of our young brother's. They need to raise 4.5 million for renovation funds, I think Director Qu should be able to handle it."

  Qu Yangzhong thought for a moment, "4.5 million is indeed a bit more, the total investment in a district does not exceed 8 million yuan." Qu Yangzhong did not say how much he was willing to give, apparently testing Chen Gong's sincerity.

  Honestly, Chen Gong had no other money besides his salary, and neither did Chen Liqi in the town discuss with him how much to pay for the road construction fees. "Director Qu, our Qinghe Town is a poor rural area, we don't have an economic pillar to support us, every year the district finances are subsidizing us. However, as long as the roads are repaired and widened, especially the ones leading to Xin Qiao District, our town's economy will definitely take off, and at that time, we won't forget Director Qu's great kindness." Chen Gong was willing to say some nice words for the sake of money, but anyone who heard them knew they were unreliable, and who knows what would happen in the future.

  Luochuan knew that Chen Gong could not give Quyang Zhong anything now, only a good promise. "Qu is in charge for a long time, Chen Gong is my younger brother, his future prospects are boundless, at the age of 26 he has already sat on the throne of town mayor, this is something that many people can't compare with. Moreover, Brother Chen Gong attaches great importance to human feelings, as long as you have helped him before, he will definitely repay you generously."

  Luochuan reminded Quyang Zhong from the side that this young man had a bright future ahead of him, and one day when he rose to power, he would definitely have a place to use him.

  Quyang Zhong thought for a moment and then said, "Chen Gong, in that case, the 25 million yuan project in Qinghe Town will still need to be audited by Song Jie and the finance department. It should be no problem."

  Chen Gong listened, only 25 million, although he knew that a district had only 80 million, this price was already not bad, but still not satisfied, because 25 million could not maintain all the roads in Qinghe Town, and may only be enough for half of the money. "Director Qu, one price, how about 30 million? Our town really has difficulties."

  "It's nothing much, adding another 500,000 yuan is no big deal, Director Qu just needs to sign and it's done." Song Yanru also chimed in on the side.

  Luochuan also made an effort to persuade him, "If you don't want to stay in the province anymore, come to our Fuhai, and if there's anything useful, I'll get my brother to take care of it."

  Luochuan's guarantee still worked, and Quyangzhong made concessions. "In this case, Director Luo, Chen Gong, Xiao Song, 28 million is the limit. No matter what you say, I won't be able to do it anymore. Moreover, I need to get approval from my supervisor before making a decision."

  "Your directors will not notice these small towns, it's just whatever you say goes."

  Chen Gong knew that the district's total funding was only 8 million yuan, but Chen Liqi insisted that he must get at least 3 million yuan, wasn't this making things difficult for him? Now 2.8 million yuan already accounted for 35% of the entire district.

  Chen Gong raised his cup again, "Qu Chang, this time I'm really troubling you, your great kindness Chen Gong will remember in his heart." After finishing, he drained the cup in one gulp.

  "This time, Qu Chang didn't do anything, he just slightly nodded and said, 'Hmm, come to the hall in two days to find me, give me a call before you come, don't waste a trip, there are many meetings recently.'"

  After dinner, the group sent off Qu Chu Chang. Luo Chuan said to Chen Gong, "2.8 million is not a small amount, although it didn't meet your expectations, but it's definitely the biggest in your district. You've had too much wine, stay overnight in Nancheng and go back tomorrow. I'll head back to Fuhai with Song Jie."

  Chen Gong indeed drank a lot, originally only drinking beer, now these leaders in the official circle all love to drink white wine. "Thank you, Luo Ge and Song Jie, I still have to go back to Qinghe, Secretary Lu will drive me, it's okay, tomorrow morning I need to communicate with the secretary."

  After saying goodbye, Lu Feng drove his Jetta car with Chen Gong back to Qinghe.

  Chen Lijie listened to Chen Gong's report, nodding constantly, "Uh-huh, you're doing a great job."

  Chen Gong rubbed the back of his head, "Secretary, your target is 3 million, but I'm still short of 200,000."

  Chen Liji smiled and said, "Little Chen, you really think you can run so much, one district is only a small part, you've already achieved great success with 2.8 million yuan, take two days off and then go to the hall to finalize this amount. The target of 3 million yuan was just an enticement for you, the closer the better."

  Chen Gong shook his head, "No rest yet, there are still many things for me to take care of." After that, he returned to the town mayor's office.

  Wang Guoqiang was also worried about this special fund in Luhe Town, who didn't want to fight for more, so he asked his brother-in-law Liu Yadong to find a way.

  After searching high and low, through connections, thinking of ways, and introductions upon introductions, the target of Wang Guo's pursuit was finally locked onto Qu Yangzhong.

  Wang Guoqiang's tactics were different from Chen Gong's. Wang Guoqiang directly found Qu Yangzhong and waited for him in his office.

  "Alright, yeah, let's talk next time, take care." Qu Yangzhong saw off the two guests and turned his head to look at Wang Guoqiang, "Who are you?"

  "Director Qu, nice to meet you. I'm Wang Guoqiang, the mayor of Luhe Town in Xinbei District. You can just call me Little Wang. I've come here today as a representative of our town to request special funding from the province for road repairs, so I'd like to report on the work."

  Xin Qiao District, sounds familiar, Qu Yangzhong confirmed, "Is it Xin Qiao District of Fuhai City?"

  "Right, right, Director Qu also knows, it's really a local specialty. This is the basic information of our town and road sections. Take a look first." Wang Guotang kept patting his horse's buttocks and put a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes on Qu Yangzhong's desk.

  "After reviewing the materials, 'that is, Wang Town Mayor, this funding is limited and may not be easy to rotate. I think, your town can allocate at most 1.5 million yuan, which is also our support for poor towns.'"

  "Cut the price, we reported 4.8 million to the district, so we only need 3.5 million." After finishing speaking, Wang Guozhen handed an envelope to Qu Yangzhong, with a thick stack of money inside. Qu Yangzhong opened it and took a look, three big bundles.

  "That's right, Director Wang, how about 2 million yuan? After all, there are other towns that also need money." Qu Yangzhong immediately gave in 500,000.

  Wang Guo Zhen continued his offensive, "Three million is fine, it's not easy to be the head of Qu Department either, we'll give in a bit. This is a ring and a necklace for my sister-in-law, they're quite good, famous brands, wearing them will give her face."

  Quyang Zhong hesitated for a moment before taking it, "Alright, 30 million, that's settled then."

  On the second day, Chen Gong excitedly arrived in Nancheng City, where the Provincial Transportation Department was located. He had not expected that things would change, and Qu Yangzhong did not know that Chen Gong and Wang Guoqiang were enemies or sworn enemies.

  Chen Gong sat in Qu Yangzhong's office, "Director Qu, I'm here. Please check the amount involved in this section and approve it. After that, I'll go to Song Jie and others in finance."

  "Little Chen, this matter may have changed a bit. The original 2.8 million yuan I promised you won't work out, the funds are not enough. Your Xin Qiao district has too many towns that need support, after considering everything, I've left 2.2 million yuan for Qing He town instead. Sorry about that."

  "Alright, 22 million, thank you, Director Qu."

  Chen Gong brought the approved bill of 2.2 million yuan to the finance office of the Transportation Department, where Song Yanru happened to be present as well.

  "What's wrong, Chen Gong? You took the money but don't seem happy." Song Yanru saw that Chen Gong seemed to have something on his mind.

  "Ah, Sister Song, the money is taken, but the amount is not right. How can I be happy? This money is only enough to repair the main road, and there's no hope for the smaller roads."

  Song Yanru took over the bill, "I see how much... 6 million less, this manager is also too greedy..."

  Song Yanru whispered in Chen Gong's ear, "Just now, another town in Xinqiao District has come to transfer the money, 3 million!"

  "What? Chen Gong couldn't believe it, which town was it that Song Jie could investigate?" Chen Gong was very surprised.

  Song Yanru flipped through the notebook, "It was in Luohetown, and it was handled by a man named Wang Guoqiang."