Chapter 695: Is This a Threat to Me?

After the City Square was exposed last year, construction came to a halt.

However, the project had already fallen behind on payments, and now Dai Kainan had come specifically to demand this money.

"Boss Dai, I have only just taken office, and I am not yet very clear on the specific cost situation of the City Square project."

It was not that Tang Ye wanted to shirk responsibility entirely, but he truly could not directly take over this mess left by his predecessor.

This was no different from a sucker marrying a bride who is already "carrying someone else's child."

"This money has been owed for over a year. Besides the unpaid wages for the workers, there are also outstanding payments for material suppliers. They come to block my door every day; I'm practically like a rat crossing the street now."

Dai Kainan's face was full of helplessness.

"If I hadn't been holding them back, they probably would have been blocking the entrance to the Government every single day."

Tang Ye looked at Dai Kainan with a half-smile and asked, "Is this a threat?"

"How would I dare to threaten you! I know the Government has its difficulties, but I am truly at my wit's end. If those migrant workers don't get their money, no one can say what kind of extreme actions they might take."

Tang Ye's tone turned cold in an instant:

"According to national regulations, for municipal projects like the City Square, migrant worker wages must be paid in full by the contractor to the workers' bank accounts on a monthly basis. Two years have passed, so how is it that wages are still in arrears?"

Dai Kainan was choked by the question. Realizing that Tang Ye was not easy to deal with, he said dejectedly, "The workers' basic wages were indeed deposited into their bank cards monthly, but there was a portion of their income that was not included in the formal wage ledger."

Tang Ye waved his hand, not letting him continue his explanation.

"If it wasn't in the ledger, it wasn't in compliance, and you must bear the legal responsibility.

Your company has its own operational issues, and you must first find a way to solve them yourself.

Of course, if you need the Government's assistance, we can also arrange for personnel to be stationed at your company to investigate."

Dai Kainan's original plan was to play the victim, use the Bitter Meat Strategy, and then apply pressure by having the migrant workers cause a scene.

He intended to use a "carrot and stick" approach to successfully obtain the project funds.

But he hadn't expected Tang Ye to counter directly by proposing to station an investigation team at his company, seizing the initiative.

He was now in a passive position!

"County Magistrate Tang, the workers' basic wages were truly paid out; it's mainly a portion of the bonuses that remains unsettled, and then there are the accounts payable to the suppliers that need to be handled. I really have no other way. If the Government doesn't settle the payment, I'm afraid the only path left for me is to jump off a building," Dai Kainan said with a mournful face.

Tang Ye rubbed his chin and responded softly: "Boss Dai, I understand your difficulties. Doing construction work is indeed not easy, and you have invested your entire fortune into it.

But you also know that the City Square project has stopped, and the Dayu County treasury itself is stretched thin.

More importantly, this is a stalled project left by the previous Government administration; I dare not sign off on this, and even Secretary Ou would not agree to sign it."

Dai Kainan gritted his teeth, his tone filled with despair: "This is really forcing me onto a dead-end road!"

Tang Ye knew that Dai Kainan would not actually do anything extreme, but he still offered some appeasement: "The project was established by the previous Government, and the money was owed by the previous Government. However, rest assured, although the Government has changed personnel, the debts that should be acknowledged will still be acknowledged—paying back what is owed is only right and proper."

Hearing this, a glimmer of surprise appeared in Dai Kainan's eyes.

For the sake of these project funds, he had sought out many leaders, and Tang Ye was the first one willing to speak a word of justice.

Thinking Tang Ye was hinting at something, he hurriedly took an envelope out of his briefcase and pushed it toward Tang Ye: "County Magistrate Tang, you have just arrived in Dayu County; this is a small token of my sincerity, just a welcome gift."

Tang Ye poured out the contents of the envelope.

A bank card.

He gave a faint smile.

He stuffed the card back into the envelope and tossed it back in front of Dai Kainan.

"Boss Dai, you have misunderstood. You should take this card back; don't make me commit a mistake. The Government will acknowledge the project debt, but not one hundred percent of it.

As far as I know, the City Square project has serious issues with cutting corners, and there are also instances of using inferior materials to pass for quality ones.

Whether this is a problem with the suppliers or a problem on your end, the relevant responsibilities must be investigated."

Upon hearing this, Dai Kainan's expression changed abruptly, and he explained with a bitter smile: "County Magistrate Tang, you get what you pay for! When we took on this project, the profit margin was already low, and we had no choice but to find some ways around it, otherwise we would have lost everything long ago."

Tang Ye knew he was quibbling and said directly: "You say you didn't make money or even lost money, but the Government has already invested over one hundred million into this project, causing major problems for the treasury. I want to help you, but you must also stand in the Government's shoes and think about the current situation."

Dai Kainan couldn't fathom Tang Ye's intentions for a moment and asked through gritted teeth: "County Magistrate Tang, your words are making me more and more confused! What exactly should I do now?"

Tang Ye stood up, gestured toward a location on the county planning map, and said: "There was a plot of land next to the City Square that was sold to your company at a low price. If you can build and sell the commercial housing on this land, you can make money, and the county treasury can also breathe a sigh of relief. As for the project funds owed to you, we will pay them off gradually."

Dai Kainan realized what was happening.

He was being asked to make an additional investment!

He couldn't get his money back, and now he had to pour more money into it.

What kind of world is this...

"County Magistrate Tang, I really don't have any more money!"

Tang Ye interrupted him: "For the City Square project, the Dayu County Government has already paid several installments of project funds. Based on the actual construction costs of the project, even if we didn't pay you another cent later on, you wouldn't be at a loss. Let's speak plainly: everyone knows who the shareholders behind you are."

Dai Kainan never expected that Tang Ye would understand the ins and outs of the project so clearly.

He had assumed that since Tang Ye was a newly appointed official, he could take the opportunity to muddle through.

He never imagined that Tang Ye had already figured out the tricks involved.

Seeing Dai Kainan remain silent, Tang Ye continued: "Boss Dai, please have confidence in the economy of Dayu County. Quite a few projects will be landing in the near future; by then, the county's economy will definitely improve, and there will be no trouble selling commercial housing. I am giving you this advice for your own good."

Dai Kainan sighed: "County Magistrate Tang, I will seriously consider your suggestion when I return. Thank you for being willing to say so much to me today."

Tang Ye patted him on the shoulder and said: "There are always more solutions than difficulties; problems can always be solved!"

After Dai Kainan left, Tang Ye let out a long sigh of relief.

The county owed Dai Kainan twenty million in project funds; if he didn't pay a cent, the man would surely give up and go to extremes, and it might even lead to loss of life.

However, it was impossible to pay the twenty million in full.

At the same time, he had to find a way to keep him stable.

When Dai Kainan took on the project in the early stages, he had made a lot of dirty money by cutting corners.

Making him take this illicit money and reinvest it could be considered indirectly returning the benefits to the people.

Besides, there was another bad signal.

The Government had just received a thirty-million investment from Ruilin Group, and Dai Kainan moved as soon as he heard the news.

The fact that these businessmen were so closely linked to the Government made Tang Ye feel quite vigilant.