Chapter 24: The Storm in the Private Room

  Qinghe Town is one of the top three towns with the lowest economic level in Xinqiao District. There are only a few decent roads in the town, except for the road to Xinqiao District which is slightly better, the rest are all old dirt roads and stone roads. Therefore, without repairing the roads, it's impossible to become rich.

  This time, the southern province has a special fund of 100 million yuan for rural road maintenance, which is allocated to towns and does not go through municipal governments, but is applied directly through county governments, with a maximum of no more than 8 million yuan per region.

  Yuan Weihua presided over the notification meeting on this matter in the district, encouraging each town to report the amount and area of the road sections involved according to their own actual situation. The district will uniformly coordinate with the higher authorities, and in principle, the funds coordinated by the district will first go to the district finance, and then the district leaders will arrange the specific allocation for each town.

  It's obvious that this is just a way to embezzle money in broad daylight, and each township can get as much as they want as long as the district says it's okay.

  Qinghe Town and Luohetown are separated by a river, both of which are poor towns in the district. They all asked the district for instructions at the first time and requested to allocate a large proportion of special funds.

  As the leader of poor towns, the district also does not intervene too much. After all, this time's funds are used to support these towns to repair roads. So, he told the leaders of both Qinghe Town and Luohetown that every penny they fought for in the province would be fully arranged by themselves.

  After a calculation, Qinghe Town needs to spend about 2 million yuan to repair the roads. If they focus on building the highway from Qinghe Town to Xin Qiao District, it will cost nearly 2 million yuan. The government of Qinghe Town plans to budget 4.5 million yuan, while Luohe Town is 4.8 million yuan.

  It just so happens that Chen Liji, the new secretary of Qinghe Town, has entrusted this task to Chen Gong and required him to secure at least 3 million yuan in funding. As for the method, Chen Gong is on his own, but he reminds Chen Gong that finding someone from Haitian Real Estate will have a way.

  Luhe Town, Wang Guoqiang finally got the position of town head, it's a great opportunity to show off his skills. Plus, his brother-in-law is the deputy district head in charge of construction, so he should have some connections with relevant departments at the provincial level, and there shouldn't be any major problems, so he took the initiative to take on the task of applying for special funds.

  The two towns need a total of 9.3 million yuan, exceeding the upper limit of 8 million yuan for one district, and a fierce competition is inevitable.

  Chen Gong made a special trip to the district to find Song Huiyun, "Sister Song, do you have any acquaintances in the province who are in charge of this matter? Or even in the city, through their introduction, it should be possible to get in touch."

  Song Huiyun shook her head, "I have little contact with the government on this matter, and even less so with leaders of the financial and transportation departments. Moreover, this time it's all local governments and township governments competing, they're all people in the circle, if you want to get more money allocated, you can only go run for it yourself."

  Chen Gong lost confidence after hearing this. "Sister Song, I don't have any connections in the southern province, how can I possibly compete with those locals?"

  Song Huiyun made a suggestion, "Last time such a big thing, Director Luo of the Municipal Propaganda Department helped you to settle it down, go find him, he should be able to provide some resources for you, after all, he is a Standing Committee member of the Municipal Party Committee."

  Chen Gong said frankly, "Song sister, actually I and Luo department head can't be considered as brothers, only can be regarded as very talkative friends, last time's thing is a coincidence, I didn't take the initiative to find him."

  Song Huiyun pressed her right shoulder with her left hand, "This can't be helped, you can only thicken your skin and go. If it comes down to it, this is your political achievement in the local area, and it will make the district leaders look at you differently. Look, my shoulders have been sore and aching these past few days, Chen Gong, would you mind giving Song sister a massage?"

  Chen Gong awkwardly walked behind Song Huiyun, his hands pressing down on her fragrant shoulders, gently massaging them.

  Song Huiyun was savoring this feeling, "Mmm, mmm" she closed her eyes and hummed softly.

  The two did not have any further relationship, Song Huiyun knew that if she asked again, it might affect Chen Gong's life; and Chen Gong also did not dare to make another move for the sake of Wei Shuqin in his heart.

  Chen Gong listened to Song Huiyun's words and thickened his skin. He took two bottles of Wuliangye liquor and went to Fuhai City.

  Luochuan knew that Chenguang must have something important to find himself from afar, so he set the location at his own home. "You're here, that's all that matters, what stuff you bring, and whose bad habits you've learned."

  "Ah, just a little wine, it's nothing." Chen Gong handed the wine to Luo Chuan.

  "Little Song, come out and take it. Did you buy more cold dishes?" Luo Chuan said to a young woman.

  "Fine, fine! When have I ever not listened to your opinion? You're such a big man." The young woman complained again.

  "This is Chen Gong, from Xin Qiao district; this is your sister-in-law, surname Song." The young woman was called Song Yanru, of medium build, nearing middle age but well-preserved, with remnants of her former beauty still visible.

  "Hello Song sister." Chen Gong looked at Luo Chuan's wife, "Song sister, where did your kid go?"

  Song Yanru replied, "The child is about to take the middle school entrance exam soon, so I sent him to Nan City No. 1 Middle School a few days ago, striving to improve his grades." Nan City is the capital of South Province, the center of politics, economy and culture.

  "Chen Gong, come on, let's have dinner, we can chat while eating." Luo Chuan invited Chen Gong to sit down.

  "Brother Luo, actually I came to ask for your help with something today." Chen Gong took a sip of wine and mustered up the courage to tell Luo Chuan about their town's struggle to get special funding from the province.

  "Chen Gong, I know about this matter. Song Jie is working in the Finance Department of the Transportation Bureau in the southern province. This matter can only be settled through the Construction Management Department within their bureau. After the Construction Management Department approves the road repair section, they will apply for funding from Song Jie's finance department based on the area. If we cannot contact the leader of the Construction Management Department, then we can only ask the bureau leader to intervene." Luo Chuan helped Chen Gong analyze the situation.

  "Wow, I'm really lucky, Song sister just happens to be in the Traffic Department." Chen Gong saw that he had gained an advantage as soon as he left.

  "Don't be so happy, I just know the director of the construction management office, we don't have much of a relationship, if you want to talk, you'll have to go yourself." Song Yanru said.

  "Okay, so Little Song, you arrange a time, let's say tomorrow. We'll go to that restaurant for dinner and I'll join in too. As for the report, it's up to Little Chen himself to make an effort. And as for you, Little Chen, find a hotel in Fuhai city district to stay overnight today, and we'll head to Nanshi City together tomorrow night." Luo Chuan thought for a moment that he had no schedule for tomorrow.

  Nancheng City and Fuyang City are adjacent, with a driving distance of one and a half hours between the two city centers.

  The head of the Construction Management Office of the Transportation Department of Nanhui Province, Qu Yangzhong, is a fat man. He walks with an outward eight-character gait, and outsiders can tell at a glance that he is a leader-like figure. His belly is also swollen like a prime minister's belly, capable of holding up a boat.

  Qu Yangzhong thought that Song Yanru was his colleague, and her husband was a standing committee member of Fuhai Municipal Committee. It's inevitable that there will be a place to use it in the future. Although he didn't know what he was invited for, he went with pleasure.

  The dinner location was set at the Zi Qi Dong Lai Hotel in Nancheng City, a four-star hotel. Chen Gong brought along his newly appointed secretary, Comrade Lu Feng, and arrived early at the Zi Qi Dong Lai Hotel to welcome the honored guests.

  Luo Chuan got out of his Honda car, "Chen Gong, come quickly to welcome Qu Chuanglong, the one in the back seat."

  Chen Gong quickly walked towards the Volkswagen at the back and personally opened the passenger door, "It's been a hard journey, Qu Chu Chang, please!"

  Qu Da's stomach was very difficult to get off the bus. "Hmm, lead the way ahead. Luo Department Head, Little Song, please do so as well."

  Chen Gong's new secretary, Lu Feng, was very clever and walked ahead of everyone, opening the way for all the leaders. The comedic scene at Fuhai Hotel happened again, with Chen Gong booking the "Purple Air Comes from the East" private room appearing to be double-booked, but this time the situation was different, as Chen Gong's group arrived first.

  The waiter asked Chen Gong and his party to wait for a while, letting the hall manager handle whose private room it was.

  Chen Gong is now getting more and more anxious, "I don't have time to argue with you, nor do I want to wait for that group of people to negotiate. Now, no matter who books first or comes first, this room is ours! This responsibility has nothing to do with us customers, it's all yours, the hotel!"

  Something clever happened next, Xiao Zhang, the secretary of Hai Tian Real Estate's Xiao Xingya, was also in this hall, "Chen Gong, is that you? What's going on?"

  "Zhang Ge, hello, it's strange to say, but it's the same as what happened last time at Fuhai Hotel." Chen Gong said helplessly, "Luo Ge, you hold down Qu Chu Chang, I'll negotiate with them for a bit." Luo Chuan nodded and pulled Qu Chu Chang aside to talk about work.

  Chen Gong discussed the details with Secretary Zhang while waiting for the manager, and Secretary Zhang never thought that this matter could happen twice within a year. Chen Gong has already occupied a certain position in Xiao Xingya's heart, which is known to Secretary Zhang.

  "Waiter, call your lobby manager over. We've been waiting for a long time. You should at least give us an estimated time." Secretary Zhang said to the front desk service staff.

  "Oh, just wait a bit longer, our manager might be able to help." The waiter said perfunctorily.

  "Please, this way, the private rooms are all ready, the VIP hall." A middle-aged woman with heavy makeup walked over with five or six people.

  "Good manager." "Good manager." The waiters greeted the woman one by one.

  Chen Gong stepped forward, "Are you the hall manager? You just mentioned that the noble hall is what we booked!" Chen Gong directly expressed his attitude.

  The woman's attitude was still very good, "Hehe, young man, sorry, there is a temporary adjustment, next time come and give you a 30% discount." After finishing speaking, she handed Chen Gong a business card.

  "No need, I've already taken this private room today, do as you please." Chen Gong knew that today was a big deal for him, and he had lost face in front of the leaders at the Transportation Department. How could they discuss this matter now?

  "I'm telling you young people, don't be shameless, I've already arranged this private room and my word is final. If you continue to cause trouble, I'll have to call security and have you all thrown out." the woman threatened.

  Secretary Zhang was so angry that he stomped his feet, "What kind of hotel management is this? It's all dark and gloomy, the work is slow and sloppy, no sense of responsibility at all! What do they take the rules and regulations for?"

  Chen Gong was also startled, what's wrong with this secretary today?

  The woman also became fierce, "What's it to you, you dead glasses, I won't let go of the room today, all of you get out immediately."

  Director Zhang pulled out a work permit, "You are no longer an employee of this hotel. Waiter, call your hotel's general manager to come to the front desk within 15 minutes. Chen Gong, take your friend in, I'll handle things here." The work permit prominently displayed the words "Haitian Headquarters Supervision".