Chapter 21: 020 Shield

The Chundu Grand Hotel is located to the northeast of the county town; a taxi arrived there in just over ten minutes. This is the only five-star hotel in the county town, built only two years ago, with quite luxurious decor. Generally, big bosses prefer to hold their social receptions here.

Fang Qingye went straight to the third floor, pushed open the door of private room 302, and found a large dining table inside, though only three people were seated.

One man and two women; the man was in his fifties, with a slicked-back hairstyle and a square face. He was Song Dahai's father, Song Qingdong.

Zhang Qunying had already arrived, but Xia He had not yet come. There was another woman in her thirties, very beautiful, with a pair of phoenix eyes that made her look shrewd.

Fang Qingye also knew her: Luo Yan, the deputy general manager of Kairi Real Estate.

This Luo Yan was also a talent. According to Song Dahai, she started as a hotel waitress, later applied to Kairi Real Estate Company as a property salesperson, excelled at communicating with clients, achieved outstanding results, and was quickly promoted to sales supervisor.

Later, Song Qingdong transferred her to the company headquarters to serve as the public relations department manager, specifically dealing with the government, banks, and major clients. Last year, she was promoted again to deputy general manager of the company, becoming Song Qingdong's right-hand man.

Seeing Fang Qingye push the door open and enter, Song Qingdong was somewhat surprised: "How did you get here?"

Before Fang Qingye could answer, Zhang Qunying beside him smiled and explained: "Chairman Song, let me introduce you. His name is Fang Qingye, an employee of our Oriental Bank, personally selected by President Xia to attend."

"Director Zhang, I've known him for a long time; he is a childhood playmate of my youngest son." Song Qingdong smiled and replied, and hearing that it was Xia He's wish, naturally did not ask any further questions.

Luo Yan beside them gave Fang Qingye a look full of meaning.

Fang Qingye naturally smiled and greeted everyone before taking his seat at the lower end.

At 6:25, Xia He arrived. She was not wearing her uniform either, but a white shirt paired with high-waisted wide-leg trousers, appearing intellectual and elegant.

"Chairman Zhao, Manager Luo, sorry I'm late due to some work matters." Xia He entered and offered a slight apology. Song Qingdong naturally did not say much and invited Xia He to the seat of honor.

Once everyone was present, the dishes were served. Originally, Song Qingdong had prepared to serve Maotai, but Xia He politely declined, saying her alcohol tolerance was poor. Song Qingdong did not insist and instead served a bottle of Chateau d'Yau dry red wine.

There were not many people, but the dishes were numerous, all famous delicacies. Song Qingdong was naturally very attentive, pointing at a plate of food and smiling as he said: "I heard President Xia is from Jin Ling, so I specially asked the chef to prepare a Jin Ling specialty dish, 'Beauty's Liver'. How about you try it?"

The so-called 'Beauty's Liver' is made by stir-frying duck pancreas with chicken breast using duck oil.

Xia He did not stand on ceremony; she picked up her chopsticks, took a piece, and tasted it: "Mm, the taste is quite good. I didn't expect the Jin Ling cuisine at Chundu Grand Hotel to be so authentic."

"Hehe, the manager of Chundu Grand Hotel is a friend of mine. President Xia, if you come often in the future, Manager Zhang will surely give the chef special instructions, guaranteeing your satisfaction!"

"Thank you." Xia He picked up her napkin and elegantly wiped her lips.

After everyone had eaten and drunk for a while, Song Qingdong refilled the wine glasses for Xia He and Zhang Qunying. When he went to pour for Fang Qingye, he was stopped with a smile.

"Uncle Song, I'll pour it myself."

Song Qingdong did not stand on ceremony either and said to Xia He: "President Xia, Director Zhang, I invited you here today because I have a matter to trouble you with."

"Chairman Song, please speak."

"I have a loan of 24 million with your bank that is about to mature..." Before Song Qingdong could finish, Zhang Qunying cut in: "Chairman Song, you want to extend the repayment? I'm afraid..."

Song Qingdong glanced at Zhang Qunying, then smiled and said: "No, Director Zhang. Extending the repayment would affect my company's credit, making it even more difficult to apply for loans in the future. I would not do so unless absolutely necessary."

Hearing this, Zhang Qunying breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Xia He, however, looked slightly displeased and glanced at Zhang Qunying.

Why the rush? Wait for him to finish speaking.

It seems that in dealing with bosses, Zhang Qunying is not as good as the previous head of the credit department, Su Ming.

However, Zhang Qunying also has her own advantages; she is serious in her work and has strong principles, making it difficult for those with ulterior motives to corrupt her in the position of head of the credit department.

Of course, she also listens to me.

Song Qingdong continued his topic: "My idea is that I will raise funds from elsewhere to repay this 24 million, but I trouble President Xia and Director Zhang to grant me another loan of 24 million as soon as possible. The relevant materials for the loan application have already been submitted."

"Chairman Zhao, you wouldn't be planning to take the 24 million loaned from us and use it to plug a hole elsewhere, would you?" Xia He said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Song Qingdong wore a bitter smile: "President Xia, to be honest with you, I really intended to do exactly that. You are well aware that the real estate industry is currently in a slump. Not just us, but real estate companies throughout Jinghai and even the entire Su Province are facing very tight funding. Many companies are on the verge of bankruptcy due to broken capital chains."

"However, rest assured, our Kairi Real Estate does not have this problem." Song Qingdong hurriedly added. "We have one property development each in Nanxin and Jinghai that are currently selling hot. We are only facing a temporary issue with capital turnover."

Selling hot?

Fang Qingye, seated at the lower end, chuckled inwardly upon hearing this.

He was not clear about the property development in the urban area of Jinghai, but regarding the property development called Shanshui Jiayuan developed by Kairi Real Estate in Nanxin, it was indeed bustling, with many people viewing the properties every day.

But Fang Qingye knew in his heart that they were all shills... there were hardly any real buyers.

Xia He naturally understood this as well. She smiled but did not expose them, pondered for a moment, and then said:

"Chairman Song, you are an old client of our Oriental Bank, and our cooperation has always been excellent. However, you are also aware that the entire banking industry is currently in a cautious stance regarding real estate loans. Last week, our city branch called the heads of all county and district sub-branches to the city for a meeting to convey the documents from the provincial branch, requiring us to strictly control the volume of loans issued to real estate. I believe Chairman Song has heard of this."

Song Qingdong nodded.

At this moment, Zhang Qunying added: "Furthermore, our sub-branch only has the authority to approve loans within the amount of 10 million. For a sum as large as yours, the approval authority lies with the city branch."

"I know this. I am not asking you to lend me 24 million. 10 million, just 10 million. President Xia, how about it?"

It seemed Song Qingdong was truly in a hurry.

Xia He did not answer directly but pondered for a moment before saying: "In that case, Chairman Song, we will study it further upon our return and give you an answer, how about that?"

Song Qingdong was somewhat disappointed, glanced again at Fang Qingye who had remained silent, but still said: "Then I trouble President Xia and Director Zhang. I hope it will be soon."

"It will be."

After the official matters were concluded, everyone chatted idly about other things, saying some empty words. When the time was about right, Xia He prepared to take her leave, and Zhang Qunying and Fang Qingye naturally followed.

Song Qingdong and Luo Yan escorted them to the hotel entrance.

"President Xia, you didn't bring a car? I'll have my driver take you back." Seeing Xia He about to walk, Song Qingdong immediately said.

"No need, I want to go shopping with Director Zhang." Xia He smiled and politely declined.

The three left the hotel. A few minutes later, they reached a crossroads. Xia He said to Fang Qingye: "Xiao Fang, Director Zhang and I are preparing to go shopping to look at clothes. What about you?"

"I'm going home." Fang Qingye immediately said.

"Alright then, be safe on the road." Having said that, Xia He and Zhang Qunying turned and walked toward the center of the county town.

Fang Qingye walked toward home, but felt somewhat depressed in his heart.

It was not because he had remained silent throughout the meal today, merely acting as a guest, but because: it seemed Xia He had brought him along to be a shield!

Several times, Fang Qingye realized that Song Qingdong wanted to say something, but seeing him present, stopped himself mid-sentence.

After all, he was considered a junior to Song Qingdong, and there were some things Song Qingdong did not wish for him to hear.

Fang Qingye had this feeling, and Song Qingdong had the same feeling on his end.