Chapter 121: The Issue of Guarantors

On the eighth day of the first lunar month, Lu Fan brought two cartons of cigarettes to the County Employment Bureau.

The Director of the Employment Bureau was Xu Zheng, the former Deputy Director of the Human Resources Bureau. He was able to become this director thanks to Lu Fan's matchmaking and the help of County Party Committee Deputy Secretary Bian Jide.

Seeing Lu Fan push the door open and enter, Xu Zheng was overjoyed. He stood up to welcome him, personally poured tea, and laughed: "Magpies were chirping when I left the house today; so it was because Secretary Lu was coming!"

Lu Fan laughed: "Brother Xu, where would there be magpies now? In a moment, you'll be saying a crow flew overhead; I'm here to make things difficult for you!"

"As long as the Employment Bureau can help, just speak up. Between us brothers, who is who?"

Lu Fan handed over a "file bag" and said: "When asking for help, one must have awareness. This is my sincerity!"

Xu Zheng accepted it without hesitation and laughed: "I cough when I smoke other people's cigarettes, but yours go down smooth! I've accepted the gift, but I might not be able to handle the matter. I'm afraid I don't have that capability."

"Brother Xu, two things. The first thing is the interest-free loans..."

Before Lu Fan could finish, Xu Zheng asked: "Are you asking for yourself? Or for the township? How many households?"

"It's for the industrial households in the township. This year, our Baishu Bay is vigorously developing sheep raising and greenhouses. We finally mobilized the villagers, but the funding issue is stuck at your unit. We need over 500 households. Director Xu, you must support my work!"

"500 households, that's not much, is it? Just borrow normally; there certainly won't be a problem here. The government is investing heavily this year, with over 100 million in guarantee funds. The bank lends at a 1:10 ratio, which is almost enough. Baishu Bay will definitely be prioritized."

Lu Fan sighed and said: "Your threshold is that there must be guarantors. They are all farmers; where can they find so many formal employees to act as guarantors?"

"It's not that I'm shirking; this problem cannot be solved. The main reason is that collection is too difficult and there are too many bad debts. It's a last resort. Secretary Gao and County Head Hu specifically emphasized the guarantor issue. Besides, the bank won't pass it without guarantors."

Lu Fan said: "Brother Xu, we won't do things that violate principles, and I won't make things difficult for you. I thought of a way; see if it's feasible. For the loans to Baishu Bay farmers, can one formal employee guarantee more than four households? Actually, it's just guaranteeing within 400,000 per person. I think we should be able to discuss this with the bank, right?"

"Aren't you making things difficult for me? It's never been done like this!"

"Special circumstances, special treatment. Rules are dead, but people are alive. Now the bank is begging the Employment Bureau; if they don't agree, why not just change to another bank?"

"Sigh, it's not easy to handle. This isn't something I can decide alone. Even if the bank can be coordinated, I still have the Human Resources Bureau Director and the supervising Deputy County Chief above me. We can't do this sneakily!"

"Brother Xu, you handle the bank, and I'll handle the rest. How about that?"

"Since you've said it like that, if I don't help, I'd be unloyal. It's only because it's you!"

Lu Fan laughed: "I knew Brother Xu wouldn't let me run for nothing. There's no time to lose; spring plowing is starting soon, and the farmers are waiting for their rice."

"You life-chaser, alright, I'll go find the credit union myself this afternoon."

"Then I'll leave it to you. Let's act separately; I'll go find Director Liu Juping and Deputy County Chief Yang Chuanbei."

Xu Zheng said with a bitter face: "At least wait until I handle the bank, right? Are you in such a hurry? What if something goes wrong?"

"Don't be modest; I believe in Director Xu's strength! Handling them is a sure thing, actually, I don't want to!"

A bank president once said they were a vulnerable group, which is laughable, because the difficulties encountered by the real economy, especially the difficulty and high cost of financing, are attributed to the lack of bank support.

Why did he say banks are a vulnerable group? Because banks are often subject to various interferences, and a large part of local government debt comes from bank loans. Many times, faced with local governments that possess huge resources, banks often fall into a dilemma.

Lu Fan took the "file bag" and found Human Resources Bureau Director Liu Juping to express Baishu Bay's demand for interest-free loans.

Liu Juping did not refuse, stating that if County Chief Yang and the Employment Bureau agreed, he certainly had no objections.

Thus, Lu Fan took the "file bag" and found the supervising leader, Executive Deputy County Chief Yang Chuanbei. He was an old leader and an old connection with whom he had had many interactions and had just visited during the New Year.

Regarding Lu Fan's request, County Chief Yang stated that as long as the Employment Bureau and the Human Resources Bureau thought it was feasible, there was no problem on his end. Anyway, he didn't need to sign off on it; the main responsibility still fell on the Employment Bureau.

Lu Fan gladly accepted the favor from the two leaders. That's how it is within the system; even for simple tasks within one's scope, one must coordinate up and down and obtain the leaders' consent. This is the bare minimum procedure.

Near the end of the workday, Xu Zheng called, asking him to go to Room 208 of the Ningyang Hotel. Lu Fan went gladly, knowing the matter was likely a success.

Sure enough, only Xu Zheng and the County Credit Union Director were sitting in the private room. The three of them talked happily and drank for the whole night.

The Credit Union Director couldn't hold his liquor, and after getting drunk, he became quite bold, stating that he would go to the city tomorrow and guarantee to handle the loan matter beautifully!

Lu Fan naturally footed the bill, spending seven or eight thousand in one day. Although it pained him, this money had to be spent for the sake of the Baishu Bay masses' path to prosperity.

Having handled the top, the rest was to handle the bottom.

On the morning of the ninth, the cadres of Baishu Bay were planning to go to the countryside when they suddenly received a notice: a general meeting of all cadres at nine o'clock, a short meeting.

When Lu Fan walked into the conference room, the cadres couldn't help but sit up straight.

Lu Fan smiled and said: "Comrades have been very enthusiastic about their work these past two days. I am very satisfied and want to give special praise!"

"We township cadres are fighting on the front line of serving the people, facing the common people directly, and solving matters directly related to the masses' 'clothing, food, housing, travel, and medical care'."

"Therefore, I call on everyone to be the 'pillars' of the people and actively take the initiative to guarantee interest-free loans from the Employment Bureau for Baishu Bay's industrial households!"

They were already wondering why the Secretary was doing ideological work for everyone. Sure enough, after so much buildup, the real thing came out: he wanted everyone to act as guarantors. For a moment, the conference room was silent!

Lu Fan continued: "I know everyone will have worries. After all, it's about money, and each person has to guarantee four households. Having concerns is human nature."

"Working and starting a business will not be smooth sailing or easy. If we don't work truly and practically, Baishu Bay's backward appearance will not change, and the people's expectations for improving their lives will not be realized."

"Please rest assured, for the money you guarantee, I will guarantee it back to the farmers. I guarantee that all due loans will be recovered in full. If one household cannot be recovered, I will pay the money personally! You are not guaranteeing loans for industrial households now; you are acting as guarantors for me, Lu Fan. If everyone trusts me, then obey the unit's unified arrangement and bring hope to the Baishu Bay masses!"

"Comrades, to achieve something and benefit the region, we must rely on work, and we must work hard and truly, bending our waists and sweating. The eyes of the people are sharp; just relying on lip service won't work. But as long as we work truly and practically, and party members and cadres play an exemplary role, the people will sincerely support us, thereby forming an atmosphere where the party and the people are of one heart and the cadres and the masses work together. All difficulties in work will surely be solved, and only then can we gain the recognition of the people and win the reputation of the masses."

"This matter is not forced; it relies on voluntariness. Comrades who agree, please register with the clerk in a moment. I guarantee to everyone again that no one will suffer any economic loss!"

In just ten minutes, the meeting ended.

When Lu Fan walked out of the conference room, the venue was quiet. After a while, the cadres began to discuss; the Secretary had given everyone a huge problem!

Township Head Cui Mingliang stood up and said to the clerk: "Yanxin, go to the office; I'll be the first to register!"

After the Township Head left, NPC Chairman Meng Qingchi said: "Since the Secretary has said so, we must have the responsibility we should have!"

With someone taking the lead, people walked out of the conference room one after another and went to the clerk's office.

Those cadres whom Lu Fan had promised naturally had no objections; they had to give the Secretary face, and besides, the risk of raising sheep wasn't that high. If they lost money, weren't there still sheep to pay off the debt?

Some cautious and timid cadres were full of worry. If most people agreed to be guarantors and they didn't, would they be an outlier? Would they be hated by the Secretary? Is there really a risk in being a guarantor?

Those who agreed to be guarantors went to the countryside very straightforwardly after registering. The number of people remaining in the township government became fewer and fewer. By noon, only six or seven people were left.

Finally, a few people gritted their teeth and walked into the clerk's office with a sense of resignation, signing their names with trepidation.

Lu Fan, who was working in Xiangyang Village, received a call from the clerk and was very happy and moved to hear the news that everyone had signed. Even if it was forced by his "tyranny," he was very grateful for everyone's support.

Two days later, Employment Bureau Director Xu Zheng brought good news: the Credit Union Director had already handled the city, and Baishu Bay could have one cadre guarantee four households. The Employment Bureau would join the Credit Union to go to Baishu Bay for on-site inspection and handle loan procedures door-to-door.

This year's Baishu Bay was very different from previous years. In the past, by the Lantern Festival, those going out to work had basically started moving, but this year, more people believed the "nonsense" of the "township government" and chose to stay in their hometown to plan industrial development.

Standing at the forefront of the tide, can Baishu Bay really develop its industry? The whole township is waiting and watching.

Lu Fan knew all this clearly, but if he didn't achieve some results, what would he use to advance? Therefore, he had to do what needed to be done even under pressure, and he had to bear the responsibility he needed to bear even at the risk. No one can succeed easily. ===== CHAPTER 122 =====