Chapter 25: 024 Four Trillion, Four Trillion

Xia He blinked, then suddenly laughed sweetly: “What, are you testing me?”

“No, I’m seeking your advice.”

“Alright, the current economic situation is far from optimistic,” Xia He’s face turned serious.

“The U.S. subprime crisis has spread globally, resembling a replay of the ’97 financial crisis; our economy has been severely impacted—exports have dropped, growth has slowed, employment pressure has risen—all far exceeding experts’ forecasts.”

“If that’s the case, the state won’t stand idly by,” Fang Qingye picked up the thread.

“It will certainly implement a series of response measures, especially in real estate—linked to construction materials, steel, chemicals, machinery, decoration, home appliances... at least fifty to sixty upstream and downstream industries—so the state will definitely roll out stimulus policies.”

“So you mean the state’s real estate regulation policy will shift?” Xia He immediately understood Fang Qingye’s point.

“Yes. At the end of last year, the state implemented a tight monetary policy; this year, the central bank has consecutively raised interest rates and increased reserve requirements. Now, the reserve requirement ratio has climbed to a historic high of 17.5%, which has greatly affected capital-intensive industries like real estate.”

Fang Qingye spoke fluently:

“But now, both abroad and domestically, the economic situation has changed dramatically. The central bank’s monetary policy must change too—it will loosen up, lower reserve requirements, cut interest rates... and the scale will be unprecedented!”

Four trillion. Four trillion.

Of course, this policy hasn’t been announced yet.

“The state will definitely rescue the property market, so our lending to companies like Kai Rui is simply going with the tide,” Fang Qingye concluded.

Xia He fell into thought.

“Sister Xia, do you know Professor Liu Qingyu from our school?” Fang Qingye suddenly asked.

“Of course I do—he’s my thesis advisor; he was kind to me back in school. Why?” Xia He looked up at him.

“Professor Liu is a member of the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee. He has far more detailed information than we do at the grassroots level. You could call him and ask.”

“Little Fang, you even thought of this?” Xia He smiled. “Alright, I’ll give him a call.”

To be honest, she was half-skeptical of Fang Qingye’s words.

A nation’s economic policy shift affects everything—it’s no joke.

She took out her phone from her bag and dialed a number.

“Professor Liu, hello, I’m your student Xia He.”

“Hello, hello.”

“I’ve encountered some issues in my grassroots work and am confused about the current economy. May I ask your advice? Won’t it take up too much of your time?”

“Alright,” Xia He briefly explained the situation.

After he finished speaking, Xia He’s face lit up: “Really? That’s great!”

“Yes, I understand. Teacher, I’ll visit you when I travel to Shanghai. Goodbye.”

After hanging up, Xia He looked at Fang Qingye with admiration: “Little Fang, you’re incredible—you were right. The state’s fiscal and monetary policies have shifted dramatically, and fast.”

“If that’s the case, Sister Xia, why not be the first to act? Support local economic development, revive the real estate industry—it’s a great benefit to the country and the people,” Fang Qingye said.

Be the first to act?

Those words struck a chord deep within Xia He.

As branch manager, she naturally wanted to achieve something—otherwise, why leave the superior conditions of the provincial capital for the county?

In her heart, she was also a bold, risk-loving woman.

But these private thoughts of hers she would never reveal to the young man before her.

She smiled at Fang Qingye: “You’re just asking me to go see Director Zhang and help Kai Rui get a loan—making it sound so noble.”

“We’re already doing something noble—at least right now,” Fang Qingye said calmly.

“Alright, tomorrow I’ll go talk to Director Zhang,” Xia He decided.

Hearing this, Fang Qingye knew the chance of success was now seventy to eighty percent.

Xia He was highly regarded by Director Zhang, and Zhang wasn’t an overly conservative leader—she had ample grounds to persuade him.

After dinner, Fang Qingye paid the bill, drove Xia He back to her office, parked the Passat in the garage, then rode his small scooter home.

The next day, Xia He indeed went to the municipal bank early; Fang Qingye waited quietly for news.

The same news reached Song Qingdong.

In the chairman’s office on the eighth floor of Kai Rui Tower, Song Qingdong sat behind his large desk, silently smoking a cigar.

Beside him stood a capable woman—Company Deputy General Manager Luo Yan.

“Boss, just now Qian from Tenglong Industries called back. He said their company is also tight on cash, and they’re still chasing the 20 million yuan stolen by Zhejiang Zhilian Technology—they have no extra funds to lend us.”

“I already anticipated that,” Song Qingdong took a puff of his cigar and spoke slowly. “What about Zhang Shuren from Yongli Investment?”

“General Zhang agreed to lend us 10 million, but at a monthly interest rate of ten percent.”

“Ten percent monthly? That’s 1 million yuan interest per month?! Zhang Shuren is a heartless bastard!” Song Qingdong cursed.

“General Zhang said it’s only because of your friendship—he charges twelve percent to others,” Luo Yan added softly.

“Sigh...” Song Qingdong let out a long breath and said nothing more.

“Boss, why not apply for a loan extension on the 24 million yuan we owe to Dongfang Bank?” Luo Yan suggested.

Song Qingdong shook his head.

“An extension is possible, but it will damage our corporate credit—future loans will become difficult. The Construction Bank’s 38 million loan also matures in four months—what then?”

“Then try asking the county government—they can’t just let us collapse, right?” Luo Yan suggested again.

“I already asked... the county leaders have no better solution. They agreed to lend us 8 million yuan as emergency aid—that’s already a huge favor; I can’t ask for more.” Here, Song Qingdong sighed lightly: “I wonder how Fang Qingye is doing?”

“I’ll call him and ask,” Luo Yan said, pulling out her phone.

“Don’t call. If he has news, he’ll call me,” Song Qingdong stopped her. “To be honest, I don’t have high hopes for him.”

“Then what about Director Song?”

Song Qingdong thought for a moment, then sighed faintly: “Don’t bother him—he can’t help with funding.”

The Director Song Luo Yan mentioned was Song Qingdong’s younger brother, a leader in the city’s Chengjian Bureau.

She wanted to say something but held back, silently putting her phone back in her pocket.

“Accept Zhang Shuren’s terms—ten percent monthly interest, borrow for two months, pay off the 24 million yuan to Dongfang Bank first, then figure out other options,” Song Qingdong took another puff of his cigar and made his final decision.

“Alright, I’ll handle it right away.”

Luo Yan turned and left the room.

Song Qingdong sat in his chair, silently smoking.

At that moment, the Chief Financial Officer rushed in, knocking on the door, her face filled with disbelief.

“Director Song, we just got a call from Dongfang Bank’s Credit Department—they’ve conditionally approved our 24 million yuan loan application! But the condition is we must repay all previous loans in full!”

Song Qingdong could hardly believe his ears.

“Really approved? And it’s 24 million, not 10 million?”

“Yes, it was Director Zhang herself who called—I was so shocked I asked her to repeat it.”

The CFO was also thrilled—she’d been struggling desperately to find funds.

“Call Director Zhang back immediately and assure her we’ll repay on time! Also, call Director Xia to thank him... no, I’ll call Director Xia myself!”

“Yes, Director Song, I’ll handle it right away.”

After the CFO left, Song Qingdong drank some tea to calm his excitement, then picked up his phone and dialed a number.

But not to Xia He—to Fang Qingye.