Chapter 143: The Indirect Path to Establishing a Town (Part 2)
Zhao Yongsheng was also in the office. As soon as Su Ming finished speaking, he said, "Call Hou Weidong in."
Hou Weidong walked into the office and immediately asked, "Director Hou, how much money does Tian Dadao actually have in the Transportation Bureau's accounts?"
Hou Weidong replied, "I’m not entirely sure either. It varies from one quarry to another. Tian Dadao’s freight volume is relatively small, so it might be around fifty or sixty thousand yuan. That’s roughly the figure."
Zhao Yongsheng’s expression was even more grave than it had been in the meeting room. He tapped his forehead with one hand and said, "I’ve done the calculations. To settle with the families, we must pay compensation immediately. Compensating the four deceased victims’ families will cost nearly one hundred and sixty thousand yuan. The two injured workers are still in the hospital, which is a bottomless pit of expenses. Even if we find Tian Dadao, he won’t be able to come up with that much money. This time, the township government is likely to end up footing the bill."
As the saying goes, one only knows the price of firewood and rice when running a household. When Su Ming was a deputy township head, he only oversaw a specific aspect of the government’s work and did not handle finance and taxation, so he hadn’t felt the pressure. Now that he was the township head, his hand would often tremble when signing "approved for reimbursement." At this moment, his face looked as bitter as a gourd. "We must find a way to raise money. Otherwise, how will we be able to pay out funds by the end of the year?"
For now, aside from finding Tian Dadao, there was no better solution.
After discussing the serious matters, Hou Weidong prepared to return to Yiyang County. Zhao Yongsheng coughed lightly and said, "Director Hou, running back and forth like this isn’t a sustainable solution. Yesterday, Xiao Fu from the grain station was transferred out. Old Su, you go and make the arrangements tomorrow. Let Director Hou stay in Xiao Fu’s apartment." He then turned to Hou Weidong and added, "The apartments at the grain station are all single-story houses. They are quite damp and the conditions are poor. You’ll have to make do for now."
Sitting in Su Ming’s Santana, Hou Weidong thought to himself, "Zhao Yongsheng took the initiative to arrange housing for me today. It seems he is gradually coming to accept me."
Hou Weidong’s feelings toward Zhao Yongsheng were complex. If it hadn’t been for Zhao sending him to Shangqinglin, he wouldn’t have opened the quarry, nor would he have been promoted to deputy township head. His life might have taken a completely different path. Many things in life are destined; whether they are good or bad, who can truly say for sure?
The Santana drove quickly. After arriving in Yiyang County, Hou Weidong intended to treat the driver, Xiao Zhang, to a late-night snack. However, Xiao Zhang was eager to go home to play mahjong, so he hurriedly took his leave and turned the car back toward Qinglin Town.
The apartment at Shazhou College was fully equipped with all necessary facilities, but without someone waiting at home, it lacked the warmth of a true home. Hou Weidong changed into casual clothes and paced around the room a few times. He scanned through the TV channels but found nothing worth watching. He then poured a glass of plain water and stood on the balcony, enjoying the view of the lake and mountains, listening to the intermittent piano music drifting from the music department by the lakeside.
After a while, he heard the sound of Guo Lan returning home, followed shortly by the sound of the piano.
The melody was lively and crisp, matching Guo Lan’s own temperament. The music floated through the night sky, enveloping Hou Weidong like mist. Although Hou Weidong knew nothing about piano pieces, he could sense the emotions of the player. He slowly immersed himself in the artistic conception of the music. This lively tune seemed to wash away the blood and tragedy of Shangqinglin Mountain completely.
However, the phone rang at an inopportune moment. The piano music seemed disturbed by the ringtone and paused briefly.
It was Xiaojia calling. Hou Weidong had called her several times earlier, but she hadn’t answered.
"Husband, I’m sorry. It was too noisy in the room, and I didn’t hear the phone."
"Who were you drinking with today? Was it Deng Xiaoyang from the Economic Development Zone?"
There was a burst of noise on the other end of the line, followed by Xiaojia’s voice. "Director Deng had a temporary reception duty, so we’ll have to treat him to dinner another day. Today, I spent the whole day following Deputy Director Liu inspecting construction sites. We only just finished eating."
Hou Weidong heard singing in the background and asked, "Are you singing?" He joked, "Is my rival, Bu Gao, there?"
"Director Liu led the team to inspect the construction sites. I’m exhausted." Xiaojia didn’t answer his question directly. Today, Deputy Director Liu had led the inspection team, ending with the third phase of the Xinyue Building. After the inspection, Bu Gao had treated Deputy Director Liu to dinner, and then accompanied him to sing. Xiaojia didn’t want Hou Weidong to worry, so she deliberately omitted this part.
Changing the subject, Xiaojia said, "You mentioned at noon that an accident happened at the quarry. What exactly happened? Why is it so serious?"
"Tian Dadao’s quarry collapsed. Four people died and two were injured. Director Yin from the Shazhou Safety Supervision Bureau has already arrived at the foot of the mountain. The Goubeibend Quarry will likely be shut down for rectification."
Xiaojia was startled. "The Shazhou Daily will definitely report this tomorrow. Husband, you must be careful with the Goubeibend Quarry. Absolutely no safety accidents can happen." She then asked, "You signed a contract with the Shazhou Road Construction Company. If production stops for rectification and you can’t fulfill the contract, that will be very troublesome."
"Don’t worry about that. If production stops, the Shazhou Road Construction Company will be even more anxious than we are. They will handle it." During the construction of the Wu-Sha Road, the Shangqinglin Quarry had been shut down for rectification once before. At that time, the Transportation Bureau had been the most anxious. With that previous experience, Hou Weidong wasn’t afraid of a shutdown. The Lingxi Expressway was a key project for the entire province. If the supply of crushed stone was cut off, the relevant authorities would intervene.
Hou Weidong hung up the phone. When he returned to the balcony, the piano music had stopped. From the neighboring balcony, he heard Guo Lan humming softly. She was holding a small cup, standing on the balcony, admiring the lights and ripples on the small lake at night.
"Hello, Guo Lan."
Guo Lan had already noticed the light from the neighboring balcony, so Hou Weidong’s greeting didn’t startle her this time. She walked to the end of the balcony closest to the partition wall and said, "Hou Weidong, I heard there was an accident at the Shangqinglin Quarry. Four dead and two injured."
The Organization Department was located right below the County Party Committee Office, and everyone ate in the same cafeteria. Therefore, major news spread extremely fast. Guo Lan had learned about the Shangqinglin Quarry collapse that morning.
The Organization Department had previously received an anonymous letter accusing Hou Weidong of engaging in business. Although it was verified that Liu Guangfen was the legal representative of the Goubeibend Quarry, everyone understood that it was effectively Hou Weidong’s quarry. However, since many government officials secretly engaged in business, and Hou Weidong’s arrangement was legally and policy-compliant, people generally turned a blind eye.
The fact that Hou Weidong could afford to buy an expensive apartment at Shazhou College, complete with all modern appliances, was the best proof that he ran a quarry. Guo Lan, being Hou Weidong’s neighbor, naturally knew that he indeed operated a quarry. When she heard about the accident at the Shangqinglin Quarry, she had felt a vague worry. Seeing Hou Weidong now, she felt relieved.
Hou Weidong leaned on the balcony railing with both hands and said, "The accident happened this morning."
Thinking of the sheer cliff face of Tian Dadao’s quarry, and the massive rocks collapsing from a height of over ten meters onto the workers below, leaving them mangled and bloody, he sighed, "Life and death are matters of an instant."
At this moment, the light from the living room shone through the window onto the balcony, falling on Guo Lan. In the dim light, Guo Lan, with no makeup on, looked like a narcissus flower in the mist.
She had always lived in the university campus and had entered the Organization Department directly after graduation. Her experience with rural life was pitifully scarce. Hearing Hou Weidong’s sigh, she said, "It’s so easy for accidents to happen. If it were me, I’d rather earn less money than work in a quarry."
"Actually, the danger level in quarries is not as high as in coal mines. There are five large quarries in Shangqinglin, and three of them haven’t even had minor accidents. The main reason for accidents lies in management levels." Seeing Guo Lan’s concerned expression, he added, "Rural areas don’t lack grain nowadays. Since agricultural by-products are not worth much, they lack cash. Working is their main way to earn money. As long as there is money, people are willing to do any job, no matter how hard or tiring. That is the reality of rural life."
She said thoughtfully, "The Organization Department plans to send a batch of people for temporary assignments this year, mainly targeting reserve cadres in county-level organs. It is indeed very necessary. Staying in the office for too long really turns one into a flower in a greenhouse."
Hou Weidong said, "Cadres in the organs have an advantage over township cadres. They follow the leaders every day, so they get the moon first because they are close to the water tower. Those who graduated from university and were assigned to the organs became section-level cadres within a few years. Those assigned to townships don’t know how many years they have to struggle to become deputy section-level. My position as deputy township head was purely accidental. I might even be dismissed after this term."
Hou Weidong spoke from the heart, but also with a specific reference. Liu Kun was assigned to the County Government Office and had two Standing Committee members in his family, so he became a deputy secretary in just over two years. If Hou Weidong hadn’t used special means, becoming a deputy township head would have been as difficult as the Journey to the West.
Guo Lan had worked in the Organization Department for over three years and was now the deputy section chief of the Comprehensive Cadre Section. She had a certain understanding of the problems within the existing cadre system. "This cadre system has formed over decades. It is unlikely to change significantly in the next ten years. We must play the game based on these rules."
She comforted him, "Although your position as deputy township head wasn’t arranged by the Organization Department, it was recognized by the masses. As long as you perform well in this term, there will be many opportunities."
Hou Weidong said to Guo Lan, "Wait a moment. I’ll get some drinks, and we can chat for a while." Before Guo Lan could say it wasn’t necessary, he had already turned and gone inside. Soon, he came out with two cans of Coca-Cola and handed one to Guo Lan. Guo Lan didn’t refuse and accepted the cola. She smiled and said, "You really are wealthy, keeping canned drinks at home."
The two stood on the balcony and chatted for a while, then said goodnight to each other and returned to their respective rooms.
Back in the room, Hou Weidong hadn’t even sat down comfortably when his mobile phone rang loudly.
A hearty laugh came from the other end. It was Liang Bifa. "Madman, come out for a drink." The background noise was chaotic. Hou Weidong said, "When did you get back? Where are you indulging in pleasure again?"
"I got back this afternoon. I’m currently drinking with guys from the Transportation Bureau. Where are you? Come over and help me wash off the dust of travel."
Liang Bifa was close with Heiwa. Hou Weidong wanted to inquire about Heiwa’s situation, so he said, "I’m in Yiyang. I’ll be right out. Where are you?"
The Yiyang Hotel, Huangsong Pine Private Room, was bustling. Besides Liu Wei and others from the Transportation Bureau, there was unexpectedly Qin Xiaohong, a classmate from the Party School. Qin Xiaohong had a personality as bold as a man’s. Seeing Hou Weidong arrive, she waved vigorously and laughed, "Director Hou, come sit quickly."
"Qin Xiaohong, long time no see." Seeing Qin Xiaohong, Hou Weidong was quite surprised. He said to Liang Bifa, "Brother Fa, how did you manage to drag Qin Xiaohong along?"
Liang Bifa had traveled around and his face had become even darker, shining with a healthy glow. He laughed, "Qin Xiaohong is my good friend. When she heard we knew each other, she insisted on calling you out."
Liang Bifa had a wide network of contacts, ranging from high-ranking officials to thugs. Hou Weidong admired this aspect of him deeply, feeling inferior in comparison.
"I’ve been transferred to the Township Enterprise Bureau," Qin Xiaohong said as she picked up a piece of roasted rib and placed it in Hou Weidong’s bowl. "Eat something first. This group of guys gets crazy when they drink."
Qin Xiaohong had graduated from an engineering school and had previously worked in the enterprise office of a township. Her transfer to the Township Enterprise Bureau wasn’t particularly surprising. Seeing her serve him food, Hou Weidong thought to himself, "Qin Xiaohong looks like a boy, but she is actually quite attentive and knows how to take care of people."
After drinking heavily, everyone clamored to go to the newly opened Hailang Karaoke City. Upon arriving, Hou Weidong pulled Liang Bifa to a quiet corner and briefly explained Heiwa’s situation.
"Brother Fa, you are familiar with Heiwa. Tell him that the people of Shangqinglin are descendants of bandits. They never yield. During the bandit suppression period, a whole company of the People’s Liberation Army suffered heavy casualties attacking Shangqinglin. Heiwa is trying to rob money by force. They will definitely fight to the death."
Liang Bifa was no longer as flamboyant as he was when drinking. He lit a cigarette and smoked slowly, saying, "I will definitely pass on your words."
"I know how to phrase it, so don’t worry about that." He took a deep drag, the cigarette tip glowing brightly in the darkness. "To put it plainly, Heiwa and I are just drinking buddies. I don’t know much about their internal affairs. I’ll make my point clear to him tomorrow, but I can’t guarantee the result."
He laughed again, "Local bullies are typically bullies who pick on the weak and fear the strong. As long as Shangqinglin stands firm, if their heads are too hard to bite, their butts are too smelly. There’s no need to fear them."
Having said what needed to be said, Hou Weidong patted Liang Bifa on the shoulder and entered the karaoke room. They didn’t hire hostesses. The seven or eight of them sang together, shouting loudly. The tunes were off-key, but the atmosphere was exhilarating.
Qin Xiaohong and Liang Bifa sang Soviet songs together, from "Moscow Nights" to "The Little Road." Liang Bifa, with his rough and bold appearance, sang these Soviet songs with deep emotion and accurate melody, never going off-key.
Qin Xiaohong stood in front of the large screen, holding the microphone, completely immersed in the music.
Around midnight, the gathering finally dispersed. Hou Weidong was exhausted and was about to wave goodbye when Liang Bifa, still wanting more, said, "Madman, it’s still early. Let’s go eat barbecue." Qin Xiaohong enthusiastically supported the idea, "The barbecue at Qiaotou is the best. I’ll go order the food."
Hou Weidong looked at Qin Xiaohong with some confusion, thinking, "What’s going on with Qin Xiaohong? In the blink of an eye, she’s become Liang Bifa’s ironclad buddy."
At Qiaotou Hotpot, everyone started drinking beer heavily again. Hou Weidong began to admire Liang Bifa. Despite living a life of indulgence every day, he remained a vigorous man, showing no signs of decline.
Using the excuse of needing the restroom, Hou Weidong stepped outside to avoid more drinking. In the darkness, he had just struck a match when he heard a greeting: "Hou Weidong."
Duan Ying also emerged from the darkness. She had clearly drunk quite a bit. Coming to Hou Weidong’s side, she opened with, "Liu Kun and I have broken up."