Chapter 165: The Foundation (Part 1)

Chapter 165: The Foundation (Part 1)

It was Wednesday. After being held for four days, Qin Gan was finally released. A pickup truck was parked at the gate. Hou Weidong stood outside, smoking a cigarette. Seeing Qin Gan emerge, Hou Weidong said nothing. He simply waved, opened the door, and took his seat in the driver’s cabin.

Once Qin Gan was in the vehicle, Hou Weidong spoke. “Qin Gan, why do you act without thinking? If someone uses an excuse to get you locked up, it’s simply not worth it.”

Qin Gan and Hou Weidong had met once during the Spring Festival. At that time, Qin Dajiang had instructed Qin Gan to address Hou Weidong as “Uncle Hou.” Hou Weidong had treated the matter as a joke. He called Qin Dajiang “Brother Qin” and referred to Qin Gan as “Brother Qin,” which completely scrambled the generational hierarchy.

However, having a burly man like Qin Gan call him “Uncle” was genuinely amusing. In the end, Qin Gan secretly started calling Hou Weidong “Madman Brother.”

Now, the straightforward and cheerful man, Qin Dajiang, was gone. Recalling the jokes from before the Spring Festival, Hou Weidong felt a sense of melancholy, while Qin Gan was heartbroken.

Qin Gan spoke faintly, “It wasn’t safe to make a move in the hospital. Once the heat dies down, I will definitely find an opportunity to kill Heiwa.”

Hou Weidong did not want Qin Dajiang’s son to commit murder, as it was a capital offense. He advised, “Heiwa is likely just the instigator. The person who came to the mountain to carry out the act certainly wasn’t Heiwa himself. They were numerous, and they had two guns. Do not act rashly. After you return home, take over your father’s quarry. Manage the quarry well from home, and take good care of your mother.”

“Madman Brother, I know what to do. I will ensure there are no lingering consequences. A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years. Let Heiwa live a few more days. I plan to stay home for one night. Tomorrow, I will return to Guangdong. My brother, Qin Yong, got into a fight with the Northeast Gang in Guangdong. He was stabbed in the abdomen and has just been rescued. I plan to go see him.”

Hou Weidong did not press the matter further. He said, “Your father’s quarry is still in production. I have assigned people to manage it. If you do not return, your mother cannot handle it. Do not underestimate the quarry. The Lingxi Expressway is currently under construction. Earning several hundred thousand yuan a year is an easy task.” He added, “The quarry represents your father’s life’s work. Do not let it collapse.”

After Qin Dajiang was shot, his mother appeared ten years older overnight. Thinking of her hair turning white in a single night, Qin Gan felt deeply distressed. After considering for a moment, he said, “Brother Hou, please help me manage the quarry for now. I must return to Guangdong first to settle things. Then I will come back to handle the quarry matters.”

As the car ascended the winding mountain road, Qin Gan asked hesitantly, “Did my father die a miserable death?” He had asked this question many times, yet he could not help but ask again.

“He was hit by several bullets,” Hou Weidong said. “The Shazhou Criminal Investigation Detachment has sent several renowned detectives specifically to track down the two guns. I believe they will solve the case.”

Qin Gan neither affirmed nor denied this. He leaned against the car door, lost in thought.

After seeing Qin Gan settled, Hou Weidong drove to visit Zeng Xiangang and Xi Zhaoyong. He discussed some business matters, reminded them to stay safe, and then drove down the mountain. Upon reaching Xiaqinglin, he parked the car in the large courtyard of the grain station. He had bought this pickup truck some time ago. Before obtaining his driver’s license, it had been left in the garage of the Transportation Bureau. This Monday, Hou Weidong had obtained his license and thus begun his life as a car owner.

After parking, he fetched a bucket of water and wiped his beloved car until it was spotless. He walked around the vehicle several times before returning to his dormitory.

In Shazhou, grain stations generally occupied large areas, featuring warehouses and spacious courtyards. The Qinglin Grain Station was no exception. After closing the gates, the station became quiet and deserted. The open space in front of the dormitory, under the careful tending of Old Xing, had become a large garden. Sitting in the garden after work was undoubtedly a comfortable experience.

Old Xing was holding a large spray bottle, standing in the garden. Seeing Hou Weidong approach, he said, “Township Leader Hou, come look at my Podocarpus. It has grown many new leaves.” Old Xing had over twenty Podocarpus bonsai trees. Their main trunks were as thick as a bowl, and the aged branches contrasted with the emerald green leaves, creating a unique charm.

Entering the garden, Hou Weidong’s mood instantly relaxed. The complexities of officialdom and the twists of business were set aside. Following Old Xing’s guidance, he looked at the plants for a while and said, “Old Xing, I have a suggestion. Let’s name this Podocarpus ‘The Old Ox Eating Tender Grass.’ It is certainly innovative.”

Old Xing immediately corrected him, “Brother Hou, this is not ‘The Old Ox Eating Tender Grass.’ Look at this pot. I named it ‘The Veteran General of Youyan.’ It has a solemn and vigorous aura, with strong vitality. What bonsai on the market has such momentum?”

After chatting with Old Xing for a few sentences, Hou Weidong opened the door and windows of his bedroom. Although there was lime in the corner, it still could not eliminate the dampness inside.

“I have freshly boiled water at home, along with some new Tieguanyin tea. Help yourself to brewing it. The best Tieguanyin comes from Anxi. My eldest son just returned from Anxi, so this is the most authentic Tieguanyin.” Both Old Xing and Hou Weidong were tea enthusiasts. After exchanging tips a few times, the duty of boiling well water was handed over to Old Xing, who performed it diligently.

After drinking good tea and enjoying the scenery, Hou Weidong gained some insight into the benefits of temporarily living as a hermit. At eleven o’clock, he slowly walked to the gate of the grain station. After waiting for a while, he heard the sound of a car horn.

“Chairman Li, welcome to my humble abode.”

Li Jing stepped out of the car. Looking at the brand-new pickup truck, she asked, “Is this your new car? Why did you buy a pickup?” She was wearing a pink suit, tailored perfectly to accentuate her curvaceous figure.

Hou Weidong looked her up and down and said, “Chairman Li, why are you dressed like a senior secretary today? It does not match your status.” Li Jing looked down at her outfit and asked, “Is it really that ugly?”

Hou Weidong smiled and said, “Chairman Li, with your figure, you look good in anything.” He had another sentence on the tip of his tongue—“You look even better without clothes”—but he swallowed it back.

Li Jing seemed to have guessed his thoughts. She said, “You definitely had another sentence in mind. You men always have such frivolous thoughts.” She was not angry. She explained, “I just attended a large meeting in Shadaosi. As soon as it ended, I rushed over here without even changing my clothes.” She took a bag from the back of the car and said, “I will go to your room to change.”

The two went up to the grain station dormitory. Old Xing was still standing in the garden with his watering can. Old Xing and Li Jing had met before, so Li Jing greeted him proactively. She then walked straight to the bedroom door, turned around, and smiled, “I am going to change clothes. You are not allowed to come in.” This statement carried a teasing tone.

Hearing the last sentence, Old Xing chuckled.

Hou Weidong suddenly recalled something Yang Feng had once said. This Old Xing had also been prominent in his day. He had served as the Deputy Director of the Grain Bureau but was dismissed due to lifestyle issues. Thinking that he had been dismissed for such reasons, Old Xing’s smile took on a deeper, more meaningful nuance.

Watching the beautiful woman enter the room, Old Xing sighed, “It is good to live in this era. It is open, enlightened, and joyful. Township Leader Hou, do not judge me by my current appearance. In the past, I was a hero. I was the First Deputy Director of the Yiyang County Grain Bureau and the primary successor to the Director. The Grain Bureau in those days was different from now. It was a lucrative position, and many people wanted to be the Director.”

“In those days, I was in my prime, full of scholarly spirit, and commanding with authority.”

Old Xing recited a few famous lines by Chairman Mao. He continued, “I still carry the stigmatizing reputation of having poor conduct. Thinking back on it now, it is laughable. One day, Accountant Wu from the bureau came to my office to discuss matters involving another deputy director’s embezzlement. We closed the door, but someone burst in and caught us in the act. It was that deputy director who led the people to catch us. It was like yellow mud falling into one’s crotch—whether it is feces or not, it looks like it. When the matter escalated, both Accountant Wu and I were disciplined for poor conduct.”

Old Xing concluded, “In officialdom, two types of issues are the most damaging: economic problems and lifestyle problems. The first requires evidence. The second is entirely based on rumors and speculation. Lifestyle problems can ruin a person.”

Old Xing’s words resonated with Hou Weidong. He thought about his own past encounters with several prostitutes and his intense intimacy with Duan Ying. His conduct was indeed problematic. He silently vowed, “I must be more careful with my conduct in the future, otherwise, it will affect my career.”

Li Jing entered the bedroom. Seeing that Hou Weidong’s room was simple and tidy, typical of a man’s living space, she closed the door and could not resist lying down on the bed for a moment. The distinct masculine scent enveloped her. She closed her eyes and remained still for a while.

After changing into jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, looking casual and youthful, Li Jing had originally intended to go bare-faced. However, looking in the mirror, she noticed her skin was a bit dry. She sat in front of the small mirror and applied light makeup. It took her forty or fifty minutes before she finally came out.

Seeing Li Jing radiant and glowing, both Old Xing and Hou Weidong were momentarily stunned. Old Xing whispered, “Brother Hou, you have encountered a good era.” Hou Weidong stroked his chin. Touching the nose seemed to be the exclusive gesture of Chu Xiangshuai, while touching the chin was one of Hou Weidong’s good habits for expressing complex emotions.

Li Jing was very interested in Old Xing’s bonsai. She walked to the Podocarpus bonsai, bent down, and carefully observed the tangled branches. Hou Weidong stood nearby. His line of sight happened to catch a glimpse of Li Jing’s cleavage through her collar. Her bra appeared to be of high quality, tightly squeezing her white breasts, giving them a fleshy appearance. They were slightly smaller than Duan Ying’s but slightly larger than Xiaojia’s.

Hou Weidong felt his thoughts were evil. Taking advantage of Li Jing not looking up, he quickly averted his gaze, stroked his chin, and swallowed his saliva. He thought to himself, “Good health and旺盛 hormone secretion are not my fault.”

“Old Xing, do you sell these Podocarpus? I want to buy two to place in my company.” Li Jing felt that the Podocarpus had an auspicious meaning and wanted to place them in her newly established company.

Old Xing had raised his bonsai for over ten years and had an emotional attachment to them. He said, “My bonsai are for cultivating my character. I do not sell them.” Li Jing estimated the market price and raised it appropriately. She said, “Two thousand yuan per pot, four thousand for two. Old Xing, what do you think?”

Old Xing’s salary was only around four hundred yuan. These two bonsai were roughly equivalent to a year’s salary. After struggling with the decision for a while, he said, “I originally did not intend to sell, but for the sake of President Li, you may take them.” Li Jing took money out of her handbag and said, “I did not bring this much cash. I will give two thousand yuan first, and have Weidong advance the rest for me.”

Hou Weidong handed over another two thousand yuan. Old Xing accepted the thick stack of bills and selected the two best pots for Li Jing. When Old Xing went home to put the money away, Hou Weidong asked, “Chairman Li, you came in such a hurry. What is the matter?”

Li Jing’s expression showed a trace of melancholy. She said, “Let’s go inside to discuss this.”

“I have received news that the foundation is about to be rectified. It is likely to go bankrupt.”

Hou Weidong had worked in the township for over three years and was quite familiar with the foundation. To build roads, he had borrowed ten thousand yuan from the foundation. Zeng Xiangang, Xi Zhaoyong, and Qin Dajiang’s quarry had also started with loans from the foundation. The boss of the Shangqinglin Quarry still felt grateful to the foundation. Hou Weidong was still in disbelief. He said, “No way. How can the foundation go bankrupt?”

Li Jing’s face was grave. She said, “This news comes from a good friend of mine in Lingxi Province. It is very reliable. In recent years, the foundation has faced a crisis. Internal management is chaotic. Loans are made based on connections, and operations are highly irregular. There is a possibility of widespread payment risks. The State Council has studied rectification measures several times. It is highly likely to be closed.”

Hou Weidong did not have extensive business dealings with the foundation. He had only deposited fifty thousand yuan there for the high interest. The rectification of the foundation would not pose a major problem for him.

Li Jing added, “Three million yuan of our company’s funds come from the foundation. If forced repayment is required, the new company may not be able to operate.”

Hou Weidong immediately realized the seriousness of the issue. He asked, “What other impacts are there?”

“Shadaosi also borrowed money from the foundation. This is also an irregular operation. If forced repayment is required, Shadaosi may delay paying for crushed stone. I will try to arrange payment for your crushed stone and slab payments. However, others may have to wait for a period of time.”

Hou Weidong calculated silently for a moment. He said, “The impact of abolishing the foundation is unclear for now. I suggest purchasing equipment as soon as possible to avoid having cash frozen by the bank.”