Chapter 79: Gods Fighting (9)
According to the theory of relativity, the perception of time shifts with one’s feelings. Time flies when you are with a beauty, but drags on like an eternity when you are with a beast.
Hou Weidong believed this theory implicitly. The happy moments spent with Xiaojia always seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye. Yet, standing in Zhao Yongsheng’s office today, merely twenty seconds felt like an agonizingly slow stretch of time, causing him unbearable distress.
Zhao Yongsheng deliberately ignored Hou Weidong. He flipped through a few more pages of the financial reports before finally lifting his head. He said nothing, merely staring at him with a stern, authoritative gaze.
Seeing Zhao Yongsheng look up, Hou Weidong spoke immediately. "Secretary Zhao, here is the progress schedule for the Shangqinglin Highway."
Zhao Yongsheng leaned back in his large executive chair, settling into a comfortable posture. He picked up the schedule, glanced at it briefly, and asked, "The road has already reached the town center, yet it has only cost over thirty thousand yuan? That seems too low. Have you calculated this correctly?"
Hou Weidong explained, "To build the road, the three villages contributed 1,200 laborers. They brought their own meals and received no compensation for lost work days. The expenses mainly fell into three categories. First, the cost of explosives, which was unavoidable. Second, the cost of the blueprints; we still owe Engineer Liu Xiong ten thousand yuan for this. Third, the cost of tools. The section of the road leading up from the Qinglin Forest Farm is entirely composed of dense, hard rock, which caused significant wear and tear on our equipment."
Zhao Yongsheng thought to himself, Hou Weidong is indeed a capable man, far superior to Ouyang Lin and Gou Lin. As long as he does not follow Feng Feiyue down the wrong path, he is a talent worth using. He then asked, "How are you handling the land compensation? For a road this long, the compensation fees are no small amount."
Hou Weidong stood beside the sofa, his back straight. "For this road construction, the three villages conducted thorough mobilization. No land compensation was paid. Any fields occupied were adjusted and redistributed within each village."
Zhao Yongsheng rarely showed a smile, but one appeared now. "Good. The work has been done with great care." Seeing Hou Weidong still standing by the desk, he said, "Take a seat."
He tossed a cigarette to Hou Weidong.
After Hou Weidong left, Zhao Yongsheng leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as he pondered. The county attaches great importance to these ten publicly recruited graduates. Hou Weidong is highly capable and will surely rise to prominence sooner or later. Keeping him in the working group for too long might invite controversy. If he is sensible and does not get too close to Qin Feiyue, I should find an opportunity to transfer him to the township government.
Leaving Zhao Yongsheng’s office, Hou Weidong went to find Su Ming. The township mayor’s office was full of people holding a meeting. Hou Weidong handed the progress schedule to Su Ming and left.
On the way up the mountain, Hou Weidong kept replaying Zhao Yongsheng’s expressions in his mind, thinking repeatedly, Zhao Yongsheng and Qin Feiyue are at odds. I am caught in the middle. How should I handle this? Should I keep my distance from both, or throw my support behind one? Emotionally, Hou Weidong naturally felt closer to Qin Feiyue. However, within the township system, the Party Secretary was the true top leader. This dilemma made Hou Weidong deeply troubled, unable to make a decision.
As he reached the hilltop, the mountain breeze blew gently, and countless beautiful scenes unfolded before his eyes. Hou Weidong felt his mind and heart expand with the vastness of the sky and earth.
He raised his arms high and let out two loud shouts, his mood lifting considerably. He mocked himself, I am just a nobody, a minor figure with no official title. The conflict between Zhao Yongsheng and Qin Feiyue has nothing to do with me. I am purely worrying for nothing, a classic case of unnecessary anxiety. I will not wade into this muddy water.
Entering the small courtyard, Yang Xinchun at the postal agency called out, "University Student Hou, you have two calls. One is from your girlfriend; she asked you to call her back after work. The other is from your classmate, Jiang Dali. He left a number for you to call when you get home."
"Hello, please connect me to Jiang Dali."
A voice in Cantonese came from the other end, followed by Jiang Dali’s rough, Shazhou-accented Mandarin. "You damn winter melon, why haven’t you contacted me?"
Hou Weidong shouted back, "Baldy Jiang, you damn thing! You came back to Shazhou and didn’t even come to see me. That’s not very friendly. Where are you in Guangdong, and what are you doing?"
"I’m in Yuexiu, Guangzhou. Winter Melon, I heard from Xiaojia that you went to become a mountain king. How is it going? If it’s not working out, just come to Guangdong. We two brothers can build a career together."
"The coastal areas are completely different from the interior. The economy is developed, and there are many opportunities. I’m telling you, Winter Melon, don’t waste your youth on the mountains."
Jiang Dali’s voice sounded somewhat smug. Hou Weidong asked curiously, "Baldy, what exactly are you doing?"
"I’m a pharmaceutical representative. In plain terms, I’m a salesman for a pharmaceutical factory, specializing in hospitals. I’m currently responsible for a specific region as a regional manager. If you come over, with our combined abilities, it won’t be long before we become two millionaires."
"Heh, heh. What is your current income?"
Jiang Dali lowered his voice. "When I first arrived, it was just over a thousand yuan. Now, I earn more than five thousand a month. At my highest, I made over ten thousand in a single month."
Hou Weidong’s salary was only 370 yuan. Hearing Jiang Dali’s income, he nearly dropped his jaw. He shouted, "This is the phone at the postal agency, right next to my office. Since your salary is so high, give me a call when you have time."
After hanging up, Hou Weidong’s heart remained unsettled. Jiang Dali’s words were like a stone dropped into a calm pond, sending ripples across the surface. He felt somewhat dazed and lost, lacking the mood to even read the People’s Daily.
At noon, when work ended, Hou Weidong dialed Xiaojia’s number again.
Xiaojia’s excited voice came through the line. "Weidong, I have good news. I received notice today that I’ve been seconded to the Municipal Construction Commission Office."
Being at the Construction Commission meant broader exposure, particularly to the commission’s leadership. Hou Weidong, having been sent to a remote area, was particularly sensitive to distance. He replied happily, "That’s great. Working in the office puts you right under the leaders’ noses, making it easier to achieve results. Congratulations, Xiaojia. Kiss."
Xiaojia responded enthusiastically on the phone. "I haven’t told Mom and Dad yet. They will definitely be happy."
Hou Weidong thought to himself, They will be happy, but they will likely be even less willing to approve of our relationship. However, he controlled his emotions and did not reveal this.
Xiaojia seemed to realize this issue and immediately changed the subject. "Duan Ying told me that Liu Kun is pursuing her. You and Liu Kun were in the same dormitory. What is he like as a person?"
Thinking of Duan Ying’s sensuality and thoughtfulness, Hou Weidong thought, That boy Liu Kun is getting lucky. He felt an inexplicable twinge of sourness. He knew this feeling was unreasonable and, in a way, a betrayal of Xiaojia in his thoughts. He quickly adjusted his mood.
"Liu Kun comes from a good family background. His father is a member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and the head of the Propaganda Department. He currently works in the Government Office as Secretary Li’s secretary. He is generally decent in his conduct, though somewhat hypocritical."
"Duan Ying has had bad luck. Her boyfriend broke up with her before graduation, and her workplace has poor performance since she started working. Is there anything you can do to help?"
Hou Weidong gave a bitter smile. "I am just an ordinary grassroots civil servant in a remote township. I have no voice or influence. How could I possibly help her?"
They chatted about intimate topics for a while longer before hanging up.
After making the two calls, Hou Weidong’s mood dipped again. He deeply realized that after graduation, society had torn away its gentle veil, and many realistic problems had to be shouldered by his own shoulders. Fresh out of school, his shoulders were still tender; how much pressure could he truly bear?
Just as he was feeling lost, Zeng Xiangang’s voice came from outside. "Mad Hou, you’re back and didn’t even say hello. Come on, let’s go to my place. I’m treating you to a welcome dinner today."
Hearing "welcome dinner," Hou Weidong shuddered. He laughed, "Director Zeng, let’s skip the welcome dinner. Yesterday, Dushi Village gave me a welcome dinner, and my head is still exploding from the drinking."
Zeng Xiangang said seriously, "Today is a private invitation. Just the two of us brothers. I haven’t invited any outsiders."
Hou Weidong found it hard to refuse and followed Zeng Xiangang toward Jianshan Village. Upon arriving at Zeng Xiangang’s courtyard, he saw Zeng Xiangang’s wife scaling fish in the yard. Hou Weidong hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, sorry to trouble you." Zeng Xiangang’s wife laughed loudly. "University students are indeed different. So polite. Unlike Zeng Xiangang, who never knows how to say a polite word."
Zeng Xiangang’s young boy was in the corner of the yard, chasing and being chased by two yellow dogs.
When a full basin of fish was served, Zeng Xiangang said, "My wife once worked at a fish restaurant in Chongqing. Her Sichuan peppercorn fish is the best in Shangqinglin. Try it."
The Sichuan peppercorn fish lived up to its name. The top layer consisted of dried red chilies and evenly sized Sichuan peppercorns. The meat was tender and fragrant, tasting exquisite.
After three rounds of wine, both men were slightly tipsy. Zeng Xiangang began to get to the point. "Mad Hou, I have something I want to discuss with you today."
Hearing Zeng Xiangang speak so seriously, Hou Weidong said, "Don’t stand on ceremony. Just say what’s on your mind."
"At the current pace, large trucks will be able to go up the mountain by April or May. I have an idea." Zeng Xiangang had once worked in Guangdong. He was a stonemason and had worked at a stone factory in Jiangmen. The scene of day-and-night operations, where split stones and crushed gravel were still in short supply, had left a deep impression on him. Now that the road was being completed, he had his own plans.
"My sister married into Dushi Village, not far above Linyang. The road passes right by their door. Her family’s private mountain is a stone mountain with a very thin layer of soil, only a few dozen centimeters deep. I want to invest some money to open a stone quarry. This year is the year of transportation construction, so opening a quarry will definitely be profitable."
Hou Weidong knew there was more to Zeng Xiangang’s words. "If it’s profitable, then open it quickly."
Zeng Xiangang looked troubled. "I just built a new house last year, so my funds are nearly exhausted. Also, even if the quarry opens, I have no sales channels. So, I propose we partner up."
Hou Weidong had no money either. However, his mother, Liu Guangfen, had previously promised to lend him 5,000 yuan to buy blueprints. Since he had taken out a loan, he hadn’t gone home to collect it. This counted as a usable fund. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "How much startup capital is needed?"
Zeng Xiangang had never run a quarry and was equally in the dark. "It shouldn’t cost much. Mainly labor costs, land compensation, and explosives and detonators. I can’t think of other expenses right now."
Hou Weidong, with a background in law, valued contracts. "Let’s inspect the site together first. If it’s feasible, we can discuss the specifics of the partnership and sign a joint venture agreement."
Zeng Xiangang laughed. "We are brothers. A verbal agreement is enough. No need for a written contract."
"Clear terms first prevent chaos later. This is the guarantee for long-term cooperation."