Chapter 97: East Wind and West Wind (Part 1)

Chapter 97 East Wind and West Wind (Part 1)

Xiaojia was Liu Dajie’s superior, Liu Dajie was Tang Shan’s superior, and Tang Shan was the deputy president of the Industrial and Commercial Bank. Consequently, Hou Weidong’s loan application was processed with remarkable speed, finally resolving his immediate financial crisis.

The stone from Qinglin Mountain was of high quality. Once the road opened, it quickly gained a reputation. In addition to the bulk business for the Shayi Road project, sporadic customers began coming up the mountain on their own. Naturally, no credit was extended to these walk-in clients. Because of this strict policy, the several quarries on Qinglin Mountain operated intermittently, barely maintaining the supply of crushed stone for the Shayi Road. However, Hou Weidong’s Goubeiwang Quarry, bolstered by the loan support, maintained normal production throughout. It became a key contributor to the smooth progress of the Shayi Road construction. Zhu Bing, Liang Bifa, and others praised Hou Weidong on multiple occasions in various settings. Li, the divisional leader vice county magistrate, and Director Zeng Zhaoqiang both developed a favorable impression of the Goubeiwang Quarry.

It wasn’t just stone enterprises that rushed up the mountain; coal mining operations followed suit. Zhou Qiang, Yang Jiafu, and others had previously been factory directors of town-affiliated coal mines. They had long been eyeing the coal resources of Shangqinglin. As soon as the road was completed, they began taking out large loans to open small coal mines on the mountain.

As the saying goes, people fear fame just as pigs fear getting fat. Shangqinglin soon found itself under the watchful eyes of various functional departments.

The police station controlled the supply of explosives, effectively holding the lifeline of the quarries in its hands. Director Qin of the police station led a team that visited every large and small quarry, expressing support, care, and condolences. Incidentally, he also raised requests for subscriptions to books and magazines, reimbursement for gasoline expenses, and public security fees. Although the quarry owners were reluctant, they smiled and agreed to Director Qin’s demands. Hou Weidong, who operated two quarries, received special attention. In addition to the standard fees, he promised to sponsor the police station with one ton of gasoline, though this would only be possible after the Transportation Bureau disbursed its payments.

The tax department also came to provide "services." Among the five quarries, only the Yinggang Quarry and the Goubeiwang Quarry had completed formal tax registration. The other quarries adopted a defiant attitude, engaging in a battle of wits with the tax authorities.

The Land and Resources Bureau, responsible for managing mineral resources, also sent personnel up the mountain. After assessing the situation, they invited all five quarry bosses to the bureau to first explain the policies and then collect fees according to regulations. This left the quarry bosses dizzy and complaining bitterly. Hou Weidong, with his background in law, recognized that the legal basis for the Land and Resources Bureau’s fees was solid; there was no way to avoid paying. The only room for negotiation lay in the quantity of stone resources. Since most of the stone was buried underground, the exact resource count was a highly flexible figure. While complaining, he calculated how to manipulate the resource quantity to his advantage.

In the blink of an eye, December arrived. After more than half a year of hard work, the Shayi Road project was nearing completion. Hou Weidong and the others watched anxiously for the payment from the Transportation Bureau, but despite their eager waiting, the funds did not arrive. Zeng Zhaoqiang stated that the payment would be received no later than the spring of 1995.

This was a decision that filled people with hope, yet it was also one that brought them to the brink of collapse.

With the New Year and Spring Festival approaching, and the major construction work nearly finished, Hou Weidong and Zeng Xiangang decided to suspend operations at the Yinggang Quarry. They planned to reopen it when the Yiwu Road project started. Small, sporadic orders for crushed stone would be supplied by the independent quarries.

Taking advantage of this break, Hou Weidong carefully summarized the production of the past six months. Based on the regulations issued by Shazhou City and the actual conditions of the Goubeishan Quarry, he drafted the "Twelve Safety Production Regulations for Goubeishan Quarry." He required every villager working at the site to memorize them. A first violation resulted in a ten-yuan fine; a second violation, a fifty-yuan fine; and a third violation within a month meant packing up and leaving.

He Hongfu monitored the site daily. He was quick-witted and had accumulated considerable experience. Although Hou Weidong spent more money on the surface, he had gained a capable assistant, which lightened his own burden significantly. When freight volumes dropped, he could stay away for three or five days without any issues. Hou Weidong became more detached, occasionally visiting the Transportation Bureau, drinking and singing with key decision-makers in critical departments to build relationships and gather intelligence.

When he first arrived in Shangqinglin, Hou Weidong felt marginalized. A year later, he had become quite detached in Shangqinglin.

Every member of the working group had a clear office assignment. For instance, Tian Xiuying belonged to the general office, Li Yong to the Agricultural Technology Station, and Bai Biao Cheng to the Foundation. Hou Weidong did not belong to any specific office. After the road was completed, aside from staying in the village, he had little to do. Apart from a few town leaders, no department head came to give him orders or interfere.

He occasionally cleaned the office and meeting room, drank hot tea, read newspapers, and thought about the quarry. He collected his salary on time from the town finance office, visited Zeng Xiangang and Qin Dajiang’s homes for small drinks, and even joined He Hequan on a few trips to remote woods to hunt partridges.

If one had fewer ideals and ambitions, this life was actually not bad.

At the end of the year, Hou Weidong unexpectedly received a notice to attend the town’s annual entrepreneur symposium. Upon receiving the notice, he was amused and exasperated. How had he suddenly transformed from a cadre into an entrepreneur? After thinking it over for a long time, Hou Weidong gritted his teeth and thought, "Since I’m just lingering here in Shangqinglin, neither thriving nor dying, let me be an entrepreneur. What’s there to fear?"

Putting on the jacket Xiaojia had recently bought for him, Hou Weidong, Qin Dajiang, Zeng Xiangang, and others chatted and laughed as they went to the township government to attend the entrepreneur symposium.

The symposium was held in the third-floor conference room of the township government. It was a "square table" meeting, meaning the tables were arranged in a rectangle with two flower pots in the center and some fruits on the tables. The entrepreneurs sat on the left, while town leaders such as Zhao Yongsheng, Su Ming, and Jiang Youcai, along with representatives from the police station, Industry and Commerce Office, Local Tax Office, National Tax Office, Power Supply Station, and Foundation, sat opposite them. Everyone spoke freely, celebrating the New Year together.

Zhao Yongsheng wore a suit and tie, his hair neatly combed, sitting in the central position. A microphone was placed in front of him. Once all the guests had arrived, Zhao Yongsheng delivered the opening remarks.

"1994 is coming to an end, and the new year is approaching. In the past year, the entrepreneurs present have made outstanding contributions to Qinglin Town. Qinglin Town’s fiscal revenue reached 1.97 million yuan in 1994, a 14% increase from the previous year. This is a significant growth in Qinglin Town’s history, a result of liberating our minds and pioneering innovation. Of course, this also reflects the outstanding contributions of each of you entrepreneurs. Today, I have invited representatives from various functional departments. If our entrepreneurs have any requests, you can raise them directly so that we can better serve you."

After the opening remarks, the various departments spoke in turn, mostly discussing their respective work and asking the entrepreneurs for criticism and suggestions.

The main speakers were the coal mine bosses, who raised targeted opinions regarding loans, explosives, and electricity usage. The quarry bosses were newcomers; they lacked experience in running businesses. Although they now wore the halo of "bosses" and had considerable profits on paper, they lacked confidence because the money from the Transportation Bureau had not yet been received. Thus, they merely listened to the meeting.

After the meeting, everyone had lunch at the township government cafeteria. Hou Weidong had been in Qinglin Town for over a year and had heard Chi Ming mention the cafeteria many times, though Chi Ming’s comments were always critical. Hou Weidong tasted the dishes himself and found them quite good, at least better than Chi Ming’s cooking.

There were 24 entrepreneur representatives in total. Zhao Yongsheng, showing his vigor, made a bold statement during the toasts: "Today, I will have a drink with every boss. We won’t stop until we’re drunk."

Tang Shugang followed behind, carrying bottles of Yiyang Special Liquor. When it came to Hou Weidong’s turn, Zhao Yongsheng was visibly intoxicated. He slapped Hou Weidong’s shoulder hard and said, "University Student Hou, gold shines wherever it is. If I were twenty years younger, I would also become a boss. You’re doing well. Come, let’s clink glasses, you and University Student Hou."

After sitting down, Hou Weidong asked Qin Dajiang with some curiosity, "Why didn’t Town Mayor Qin come?" Qin Dajiang took a bite of twice-cooked pork and said, "Those two don’t see eye to eye."

After lunch, everyone gradually dispersed. Hou Weidong was in the restroom, bent over in effort, when he heard Zhou Qiang whispering in the urinal area outside: "Station Master Huang, let’s go drink tea and play mahjong this afternoon, and continue drinking tonight." "Who else is coming?" "Let’s go, it’s the usual crew."

Hou Weidong waited until the two men left before emerging from the restroom. Qin Dajiang and Zeng Xiangang were waiting for him. As the three prepared to return to Shangqinglin Township, Hou Weidong’s pager beeped. It was an unfamiliar number. He said to Qin and Zeng, "Wait a moment, I need to return a call."

"Hello, University Student Hou, this is Zhou Qiang. Don’t leave. Wait at the shop in front of the ticket office. This afternoon, I’ve invited Station Master Huang, Yang Jiafu, Director Zhou of the Local Tax Office, and Director Qiu of the Land Office to drink tea and play mahjong."

Hou Weidong’s Goubeiwang Quarry had just received a payment of over ten thousand yuan. This was for the road construction in Lishan Town. During the "Great Transportation Year," Lishan Town also needed to build a section of road, which naturally required crushed stone. Ren Lindu, knowing Hou Weidong was in Shangqinglin, volunteered to make contact. He hadn’t expected that the Goubeiwang Quarry was operated by Hou Weidong. The two hit it off immediately. Lishan Town’s road construction could also be done on credit, provided a 10% advance payment was made, with the remaining balance due six months after the project’s completion.

He had received ten thousand yuan yesterday. When he went down the mountain, he carried three thousand yuan on him, which was enough to handle some small-stakes mahjong. More importantly, it was an opportunity to build relationships with these powerful departments.

Hou Weidong said to the waiting Qin Dajiang and Zeng Xiangang, "I’m really sorry, but I have a bit of business to attend to. I’ll be back in a while." Qin Dajiang laughed and scolded, "Where are you off to, you rascal? Next time Zhang Xiaojia comes back, I’m going to spill everything."

The three parted ways amidst laughter and chatter. Hou Weidong went to the shop next to Su Ming’s building, bought a pack of cigarettes, and waited for a while. An off-road vehicle pulled up, and Zhou Qiang called out from the car, "Crazy Hou, get in."

Hou Weidong got into the car, where Station Master Huang and Director Qiu were already seated.

The off-road vehicle drove fast. In less than two hours, they arrived in Yiyang City and drove directly to Wangcheng Villa.

The Wangcheng Villa during the day, with its red flowers, green trees, small bridges, and flowing water, looked different from the night. The group entered a secluded large room, where Town Mayor Qin Feiyue was sitting, drinking tea.