Chapter 333: Breaking Through the Bottleneck (Part 2)

Yang Senlin, now serving as the County Magistrate of Yiyang, had decided to aggressively pursue the municipal Science and Technology Commission’s agricultural research base project. His approach differed significantly from previous efforts. He first called Meng Houshi, the Secretary-General of the Shazhou Municipal Government, to formally report Yiyang County’s intentions in his capacity as County Magistrate.

Meng Houshi was Yang Senlin’s uncle. While Yang had often relied on him for personal favors in the past, this time he was leveraging their private relationship to advance public business.

Meng Houshi was a senior Secretary-General within the municipal government. During his years of struggle at the grassroots level, Zhu Jianguo—the current Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee—had also been working his way up. By the time Zhu Jianguo seized power, Meng Houshi was already advanced in age, his ambition largely worn down. He simply wished to remain in his position as Secretary-General until retirement. Thanks to his connection with Zhu Jianguo, the Shazhou Municipal Government had kept him in this role for years.

His status within the municipal government was somewhat detached yet influential; in certain respects, his words carried more weight than those of a Deputy Mayor. To him, the matter of the Science and Technology Commission was trivial. He smiled, saying, "Senlin, you have good vision. An agricultural research institution is a good idea. I will sign off on it and recommend that the Commission’s project be located in Yiyang."

"Mayor Gao will be returning soon. She is a newly appointed Deputy Mayor and has not yet established strong connections with the lower levels. I suspect she is unaware of this matter. You should move quickly. Resolve this before other counties have the chance to report directly to her." Having served as Secretary-General for many years, Meng Houshi had a clear understanding of municipal affairs and knew exactly how to gauge priorities and urgency.

With Meng Houshi’s affirmative response, Yang Senlin felt reassured. The next day, Liu Kun went to the municipal government to submit the documents. Yang Senlin, Deputy County Magistrate Gao, and Hou Weidong visited Yin Ming at the Science and Technology Commission. Yang Senlin proposed that the land from the New Management Committee be valued at 50,000 yuan per mu for the agricultural research base. For one hundred mu, this amounted to 5 million yuan—a price far below that of commercial land, yet still within the policy guidelines for New Management Committee land use.

This commitment technically violated the Yiyang County Standing Committee’s regulations on major decision-making procedures. On one hand, Yang Senlin was eager to secure the project; on the other, he intentionally used this opportunity to challenge Ma Youcai’s authority, creating a breach in the established order.

On September 28, Hou Weidong was reading newspapers in his office when he received a call from Yin Ming. Yin Ming said happily, "Director Hou, I have good news. The municipal government has agreed to locate the agricultural research base in Yiyang. To make this happen, I offended several county leaders, including Wu Hai."

When Hou Weidong eagerly reported this news to County Magistrate Yang Senlin, Yang remained calm. "I am already aware of this," he said. "Once the project arrives, your Science and Technology Commission must coordinate the construction of the agricultural research base."

Hou Weidong’s enthusiasm met with a cold reception. He left the County Magistrate’s office feeling somewhat embarrassed.

In reality, Yang Senlin had known about the agricultural research project two days prior. After Yiyang County submitted its request to the municipal government, Meng Houshi obtained the document immediately. He signed his opinion: "Our city is a major agricultural hub and should be equipped with an agricultural research institution. Yiyang County has the most mature conditions. I recommend locating the Science and Technology Commission’s agricultural research base project in Yiyang, eliminating the need for Yiyang to establish a separate institution. Please review, Deputy Mayor Gao Rong."

Gao Rong, the Deputy Mayor in charge of science and technology, was a woman who had just turned forty and was a member of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (Minmeng). Originally the Vice Chairwoman of the Women’s Federation, she was appointed during Shazhou’s leadership transition. According to provincial requirements, the municipal leadership team needed to include a female cadre with a university degree, around forty years of age. The Shazhou Municipal Party Committee followed these instructions, first listing all female cadres at the full division level, but found none who met the criteria. After consulting with the provincial committee and relaxing the requirements, only Gao Rong, a deputy division-level female leader, qualified.

The Shazhou Municipal Party Committee submitted Gao Rong’s materials to the provincial committee. Upon reviewing her file, the provincial committee discovered she was also a Minmeng member. Zhu Jianguo, the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, immediately stated that this female cadre had excellent qualifications and should be included in the key cultivation plan.

Like a pie falling from the sky, Gao Rong found herself inexplicably appointed as Deputy Mayor of Shazhou. Later, the reasons behind her appointment became public, leaving many ambitious male leaders at the full division level speechless and amused.

Gao Rong had just returned from Europe. As soon as she arrived at her office, Xiao Liang from the General Office delivered the document. Having been away for over a month, she knew only that the Science and Technology Commission had a project, but was unaware of the specifics. Seeing Meng Houshi’s opinion, she called Yin Ming at the Commission to inquire. Yin Ming’s response was principled: "All four counties in Shazhou meet the conditions, each with its own advantages."

Gao Rong looked at Meng Houshi’s opinion and asked specifically, "What about Yiyang?"

All four county heads had contacted the Science and Technology Commission regarding this project, putting Yin Ming in a difficult position. Hearing Gao Rong specifically mention Yiyang, he guessed that the Deputy Mayor intended to award the project to Yiyang. He replied, "Yiyang has convenient transportation and a relatively stronger economy. They have also operated copper rod enterprises, making them the most ideal choice among the four counties."

Hearing this, Gao Rong signed the document: "Locating the Science and Technology Commission’s agricultural research base project in Yiyang aligns with actual conditions. I recommend that the Commission and Yiyang County jointly propose a plan for municipal government review and implementation. Please review, Mayor Liu."

For Mayor Liu Bing, establishing an agricultural research base was a minor matter. Seeing Gao Rong’s signature, he casually scribbled two characters: "Agreed."

County Party Secretary Ma Youcai had only returned to Yiyang after the National Day holiday. By then, Yang Senlin had already cut through the red tape and finalized the agricultural research base. The base was located within the New Management Committee, covering 150 mu at a cost of 50,000 yuan per mu. Ma Youcai was displeased with this outcome, but since Yang Senlin held the "imperial sword" of Mayor Liu’s signature, he silently accepted the result.

At a subsequent Standing Committee meeting, Liu Bing stated, "The procedural system for major decisions by the Standing Committee is an iron-clad discipline. Everyone and every matter must adhere to this system. Otherwise, it is a trampling of democratic centralism and a denial of the collective leadership of the Standing Committee."

This was a heavy accusation. Yang Senlin merely snorted through his nose.

The agricultural research base project was a sub-project of the Lingxi Agricultural Technology Transformation. It was primarily funded by central government special funds, with local matching funds accounting for thirty percent. After multiple reports by Hou Weidong, the Yiyang County Government adopted the plan. Hou Weidong, representing the Yiyang County Science and Technology Commission, negotiated with the municipal Commission. They agreed to establish a separate Yiyang Wild Mushroom Research Institute within the agricultural research base. Although it would be directly under the Yiyang County Science and Technology Commission, this served as the most direct return for the county’s involvement in the project.

Hou Weidong’s true intention was to use the Yiyang Wild Mushroom Research Institute project to completely overhaul the Commission’s working conditions. He wanted to replace the old computers and antique-style furniture. Only with improved working conditions and a relaxed financial atmosphere would the Commission staff feel a sense of pride and honor. Otherwise, all ideological work would be futile.

After the project construction began, Hou Weidong appointed Zhou Yongtai as the representative of the Yiyang Science and Technology Commission to coordinate and supervise the engineering work, while Hou Weidong himself took a hands-off approach.

The daily work of the Science and Technology Commission was trivial, consisting mostly of routine affairs. Hou Weidong spent only half an hour each morning to handle these matters, leaving him with plenty of free time. Previously, when he worked at the County Party Committee Office and the New Management Committee, he rarely visited the quarries. Now, with ample time, he frequently drove his pickup truck to the quarries and the Huofu Coal Mine. This allowed him to oversee the enterprises while enjoying the vastness of nature.

Due to the high volume of infrastructure projects in recent years, the quarries never lacked business. Over the years, the management and workers at the quarries had become skilled. Hou Weidong only needed to check the explosive usage to estimate the monthly revenue with great accuracy. The Goubewan Quarry, Yinggang Quarry, and Xiaqinglin Strip Stone Quarry had become his stable sources of profit.

In contrast, the Huofu Coal Mine faced severe financial difficulties. Due to prolonged poor market conditions and sales challenges, coal piled up like mountains at the yard. Additionally, some major coal consumers consistently delayed payments. If not for the continuous financial support from the three quarries, the Huofu Coal Mine would have collapsed.

On November 5, Hou Weidong drove his Bluebird car to Lingxi. The Lingxi Thermal Power Group operated two thermal power plants, one of which was in Maoyun. The Huofu Coal Mine was not far from the Maoyun Thermal Power Plant. Since taking over the Huofu Coal Mine, Hou Weidong had been supplying coal to the Maoyun plant. Months had passed, and the power plant had not paid a single cent. The Deputy General Manager of the Huofu Coal Mine had visited the power plant several times, but they always cited financial tightness as an excuse to delay payment.

Seeing the growing arrears in workers’ wages and the need for new equipment, while the money invested in the quarries seemed to sink into the sea with no return, Hou Weidong finally understood why Zhou Qiang had been so eager to sell the coal mine: "Although the future is bright, the path is too tortuous. The Huofu Coal Mine might collapse before that bright future arrives."

This was the gap between theory and reality, and between decisions made in offices and the true situation on the ground.

Seeing that the Huofu Coal Mine was on the verge of shutting down, Hou Weidong grew anxious. He recalled his acquaintances and reasoned that the Provincial Department of Finance likely had some connection with the Thermal Power Group. He decided to try calling Deputy Director Jiang of the Provincial Department of Finance.

For the past two Spring Festivals, Hou Weidong had met Deputy Director Jiang at Elder Zhu’s house. Judging by Jiang’s consistency in visiting old leaders during the New Year, he seemed to be a person who valued loyalty and friendship. Hou Weidong called him with a tentative attitude.

Hou Weidong’s judgment was largely accurate. After a slight hesitation, Deputy Director Jiang agreed to help.

The Lingxi Thermal Power Group was a state-owned factory that frequently relied on the Provincial Department of Finance. When General Manager Li of the Thermal Power Group received a call from Director Jiang, he readily agreed: "Since Director Jiang has spoken, I will immediately instruct the Maoyun Power Plant to make the payment."

An hour later, the Huofu Coal Mine received a notification from the Maoyun Thermal Power Plant: "Payment can be made."

Upon receiving the payment of over 3 million yuan, Hou Weidong breathed a sigh of relief. With money, he could pay wages and install necessary facilities. His principle in running the mine was to avoid making "black-hearted money" or "blood-and-tears money." Black-hearted money referred to deducting workers’ wages, while blood-and-tears money referred to cutting safety investments, leading to injuries or deaths. In the years of operating quarries in Qinglin Town, only the Yinggang and Goubewan quarries had the most safety regulations, and only these two quarries had recorded zero fatalities.

Having resolved the immediate crisis, Hou Weidong considered how to thank Deputy Director Jiang. On one hand, gratitude was a traditional virtue; failing to thank him now might mean losing his help in the future. On the other hand, becoming true friends with a "God of Wealth" like Deputy Director Jiang would be beneficial for the long term.

He took 50,000 yuan in cash and drove his Bluebird car to Lingxi.

After checking into the Jinxing Hotel, he called Deputy Director Jiang. "I am Xiao Hou from Yiyang. Thank you, Director Jiang. The thermal power plant has transferred all the coal payments."

Deputy Director Jiang was behind closed doors, reviewing internal materials on the Southeast Asian financial crisis. He said, "Really? I have been old friends with General Manager Li of the Thermal Power Group for years. He owes me that much respect. Is there anything else?"

Hou Weidong said, "Director Jiang, this was a small matter for you, but a life-and-death issue for the Huofu Coal Mine. On behalf of the 175 employees of the Huofu Coal Mine, I sincerely thank you. Are you free tonight? I would like to treat you to dinner."

Deputy Director Jiang replied, "No need to be so polite. We are friends. I am very busy today, so dinner is unnecessary." Hou Weidong was merely a mid-level cadre in Yiyang County, at the principal section level, and naturally did not fall within Deputy Director Jiang’s sphere of interest. His help was purely out of respect for the Zhu family’s two generations of influence. As a Deputy Director of the Finance Department, countless people queued to invite him to dinner, and he had little interest in accepting.

Undeterred by the first rejection, Hou Weidong continued to brainstorm in the hotel. Everyone had weaknesses, and these weaknesses were often their hobbies. If one could cater to their interests, obstacles could usually be overcome. However, Hou Weidong had little contact with Deputy Director Jiang and had not penetrated his inner circle, so he did not know Jiang’s hobbies.

He called Li Jing from the hotel. "I am in Lingxi, just arrived."

Li Jing said, "I am currently in Chengdu. I have a flight back to Lingxi at 5 PM. Wait for me at home." She added, "Once you are in Lingxi, don’t stay at the Jinxing Hotel."

Hou Weidong had Li Jing’s key, but he did not wish to go to her home alone. He preferred staying in the hotel. "You don’t need to ask a driver to pick you up at the airport. I will come to get you." Li Jing laughed, "Being so attentive for no reason means you have ulterior motives. What do you want?"

Hou Weidong was stubborn. "If you don’t want me to pick you up, forget it." Li Jing chided, "I was just joking, and you actually got angry? I am very happy that you can pick me up. It’s unprecedented."