Chapter 11: Seeing Li Xingzhang

Shi Yong returned on the afternoon of the second day. For my safety, he did not let Xiao Wu enter the ward.

Shi Yong's security work was commendable; no wonder he once served in the security department at Qi He Kuang.

After Shi Yong entered the room,

he was holding a mobile phone in his hand,

he said, "Brother, Xiao Wu and I visited every company in a single day. At the sales office, Xiao Wu also went in to inquire."

I replied, "How's the situation?"

Shi Yong said, "The situation is terrible; how is Xiao Hua managing this? It's chaotic. Look, this is the Concrete Station; vehicles come and go without any registration, and no one asks where the deliveries are going."

After speaking, Shi Yong opened his phone and pointed something out to me.

As Shi Yong described, at the Concrete Station entrance, vehicles entered and exited in disorder, indicating no management.

I watched the footage Shi Yong had recorded carefully,

on several sites in Xin Cheng, aside from a gatekeeper, there wasn't a single worker; the unfinished buildings stood out like all the eyesore of abandoned towers.

Shi Yong and Xiao Wu both went to the sales offices in Zaocheng Xin Cheng and Lanling,

some were very quiet, others had owners causing a ruckus to defend their rights.

There was nothing good.

I looked on, feeling a chill in my heart. What's happening to Da Heng Company?

I had originally wanted Shi Yong to make another trip to Qi He Kuang, but never mind; even Xiao Guo's management level isn't much better than these sites.

The situation is laid out here; how to resolve it?

I kept smoking continuously in the ward,

Shi Yong said, "Brother, you and I see that these measures are useless. I think we should go into the company to check the accounts; if that doesn't work, I'll summon Accountant Xiao, and you can question him in person."

I shook my head; Accountant Xiao is a classmate of Hua Yan, Xiao Hua's wife. When Hua Yan returned home to have a child, she introduced her classmate Xiao Feng to the company as an accountant.

Zhou Wei and I didn't consider that much at all,

and we let him become the director of the finance department.

This Accountant Xiao is highly capable, but he always acts from Xiao Hua's perspective; I can clearly feel that.

At this point, bringing him over is useless, because he's aligned with Xiao Hua; I can't extract anything from him, he can only say what Xiao Hua says.

I was stunned for a moment and said to Shi Yong, "If the company doesn't resolve this issue of unpaid workers' wages, the company will face serious trouble. Today go find Li Xingzhang of Zaocheng Bank, and be sure to bring him to the hospital; I will speak with him personally."

Shi Yong nodded,

"Alright, brother, I'll find Li Xingzhang right away; don't get anxious. Whether big or small, bring it forward and it'll be settled."

Shi Yong comforted me.

Shi Yong went out to contact Li Xingzhang,

What I'm now considering is whether to inform Kong Shi of the company's current situation and seek his help.

I promised Zhu Sheng to resolve the problem within a week,

and three days have already passed,

These three days, nothing has been done,

because I have no money in hand, so nothing can be done.

I feel this chairman has essentially no real authority.

I've delegated all authority to Xiao Hua; he's my younger brother, and I trust him.

The company's financial expenditures no longer need to be reported to me or require my signature.

I hold a regular meeting only once a month, listen to the big guys' reports, and everyone talks about good things.

Then we happily have a group dinner and drink.

I live in an illusion; why doesn't Zhou Wei tell me?

The company's prosperity is all a façade; perhaps Zhou Wei said it, but I simply don't want to hear.

I once again felt deep self‑blame.

In the evening, Shi Yong brought Li Xingzhang into the ward.

Li Xingzhang was promoted by Kong Shi; Zaocheng Bank has always been the bank cooperating with our Da Heng Group.

The relationship is very solid.

Li Xingzhang saw me and,

tears immediately welled up,

"Chairman, I finally see you. Yesterday I heard your wound was infected and visits were prohibited. My heart lifted again. Seeing you now, I feel relieved."

I saw Li Xingzhang's tears and felt like laughing inside,

my illness truly worries countless people.

I said, "Li Xingzhang, I'll be direct: I urgently need money. I want to borrow a hundred million from your bank to pay the workers' overdue wages."

After Li Xingzhang heard my words,

his expression turned sour, his back hunched, as if he were about to kowtow to me,

"Chairman, no, my lord, please spare me. The 420 million loan Da Heng Group took is due next week; if this money isn't repaid, how can we borrow again."

You even make my existence uncertain; I'm a small local bank, our liquid capital is limited, and only under Kong Shi's arrangement did we fully support your company.

Borrow again, we truly have no money left.

After hearing Li Xingzhang's pitiful words, I felt uneasy inside.

This Li Xingzhang wasn't lying; a local bank's liquid capital is indeed that limited, and they have truly been fully supporting us.

I said, "Li Xingzhang, can you think of a solution? If our group goes bankrupt, it will directly affect your bank; the 420 million overdue loan will bind you inevitably."

"Li Xingzhang, if you first pay the workers' wages and let them work, the buildings can be completed quickly; once they're sold, we can circulate the capital, and then we'll all have good days ahead."

Li Xingzhang, he wiped the sweat off his face with his hand,

"Chairman, you're right, I'm tied in with your Da Heng Company; if your company defaults, I estimate I'll lose my head."

"However, my ability is indeed limited; this way, you can go to Kong Shi and have him help you try these four—industry, construction, agriculture, and middle; they are financially strong, and for your project, they're all small projects."

"Li Xingzhang, we've cooperated for so long, our group has never encountered this situation; I'm also familiar with those four units. But I'd rather cooperate with your bank, after all, you are the local bank of Zaocheng."

"Also, you tell Kong Shi about our group's current situation. My personal opinion is still that I hope to get your bank's support."

I looked at Li Xingzhang and said.

Li Xingzhang said: "Chairman, I will definitely report to Kong Shi."

I believe Kong Shi also understands your company's situation.

He will definitely find a way to solve it. Our bank really has too little capability.

This Li Xingzhang doesn't dare to take responsibility.

Yeah, the last 4.2 billion hasn't been repaid, and now we're borrowing another 100 million; if the 4.2 billion is overdue, then Li Xingzhang will have to bear great responsibility.

There's no way around it; his job is to take responsibility for others, otherwise he shouldn't be in this leadership position.

I waved at Li Xingzhang, and Li Xingzhang left the ward, saying yes, yes, meekly.

These times really make a big shot out of someone who owes money.

Looks like I can't count on Li Xingzhang here,

But if I can't get the money, what should I do? If the wage arrears aren't resolved, the company will be blacklisted, and thereafter, for any project, the company won't have an advantage.

Even being forcibly executed by the court, what awaits me is the company's bankruptcy.

All my efforts over these years have gone to waste.