Chapter 490: Tit-for-Tat

With Sha Ruijin present, Chen Yanshi gained a bit more confidence; he directly took out the payment voucher Cai Chenggong had given him and gestured for the two to look at it.

Sha Ruijin took it, read it with a calm expression, and passed it to Li Dakang. When Li Dakang saw it, he felt happy inside—wasn't this evidence delivered right to his doorstep?

"Secretary Sha, Chen Lao, isn't this the payment voucher for the Dafeng Factory? Is there a problem with it?"

Chen Yanshi producing these also indirectly verified what Li Dakang had just said to Sha Ruijin.

"Indeed, this is the payment voucher for the Dafeng Factory, but isn't this unfair to the Dafeng Factory?"

"???" Li Dakang looked bewildered.

"Chen Lao, what do you mean?"

"The Dafeng Factory's relocation compensation is nearly one billion, yet now they have received less than two hundred million. After deducting relocation compensation and wages, there is less than one hundred million left of the Dafeng Factory's relocation funds. How can you expect them to accept this?"

"My meaning is, can some corresponding compensation be made at the level of the government or the enterprise taking over, so that at least the gap isn't so large?"

Li Dakang fell silent, and Sha Ruijin also said nothing; the office sank into a strange, awkward silence.

Li Dakang couldn't believe that Chen Yanshi would say something so brainless. Losses caused by poor management, yet he wanted the government to subsidize them—where did he get the nerve?

Sha Ruijin was also stunned. What kind of outrageous statement was this? Even though he was the Provincial Party Secretary, it was impossible for him to let the government bail out a private enterprise, though perhaps letting the acquiring enterprise bleed a little might be feasible.

"Chen Lao, what you are suggesting is neither reasonable nor legal. Not to mention that our Jingzhou City Government is already under fiscal strain, even if we were wealthy, we couldn't just take real money to fill the gaps for a private enterprise for no reason."

"Furthermore, asking the acquiring enterprise to provide compensation is also impossible. If we followed your idea, who would dare to cooperate with the government in the future? Where would the credibility of our Jingzhou City Government be?"

"Uncle Chen, I will discuss this matter with Comrade Dakang in a while. You go back first, and tonight I will go to see you and Aunt Wang."

"Good, good, good." Sha Ruijin's infinitely open-ended answer gave Chen Yanshi hope.

After Chen Yanshi walked out of the office, Li Dakang couldn't help but speak up.

"Secretary Sha, this matter..."

"Comrade Dakang, look, you are impatient again. Sit down and let's talk slowly."

"Very well, Secretary Sha, I was impatient."

"Comrade Dakang, the Dafeng Factory workers are blocking the entrance again. This stalemate is having a very bad impact on society."

"Yes, I will have Zhao Donglai take people to arrest the troublemakers and provide them with ideological education."

"Eh, arresting people is not a way to solve the problem. If any extreme situation arises again, neither you nor I will be able to answer to the state."

"Secretary Sha, then what do you mean?"

"How about this: you stabilize them first, and we will hold a Standing Committee meeting to study it. It just so happens that I can also get to know everyone."

"Very well." Li Dakang was silent for a moment, then bit the bullet and agreed.

In the afternoon, a strange Standing Committee meeting was held. In addition to the Provincial Standing Committee Members, Chen Yanshi also attended.

"Today, besides getting to know everyone present, our Standing Committee meeting is expanded to include one person."

"An old comrade, an old revolutionary. I have invited him to tell everyone about historical traditions and spirit."

"This old comrade is named Chen Yanshi. Before his retirement, he was the Executive Deputy Procurator-General of the Handong Provincial Procuratorate. Some people don't like him, but the masses like him."

"When they have difficulties, they look for him. The common people call his place the Second Procuratorate. Very well, let us welcome old Comrade Chen Yanshi with warm applause."

Everyone applauded tacitly, but besides Sha Ruijin, only Gao Yuliang and Qi Tongwei stood up to welcome Chen Yanshi, which showed everyone's attitude toward Chen Yanshi.

"Respected leaders, it has been a long time since we last met. Today..."

The following time was Chen Yanshi's Party lecture time. It cannot be denied that Chen Yanshi is indeed a good comrade, a comrade who dares to fight and work, fears neither life nor death, and possesses high moral integrity.

But it is precisely this kind of integrity and public service of the older generation that makes him incompatible with the officialdom of Handong.

After Chen Yanshi's speech ended and he exited the conference room, Sha Ruijin raised Chen Yanshi's objection regarding the Dafeng Factory relocation compensation.

"What does everyone think about this?"

Everyone knew full well that this was the result of the Dafeng Factory's own poor management, but Sha Ruijin mentioning it here clearly didn't want this result, so for a time, no one spoke.

"Secretary Sha, may I say a few words?"

"Very well, Comrade Tongwei, you are Chen Lao's son-in-law; your speech should be more representative."

"Secretary Sha, these are also some of my personal views. Comrade Chen Yanshi's objection actually does not exist; it is all recorded in black and white."

"I feel there is no problem with Secretary Dakang's handling of it. Comrade Chen Yanshi is concerned and therefore chaotic. Everyone knows that the Dafeng Factory was restructured under his organization, and he has very deep feelings for the Dafeng Factory."

"It is precisely because this emotional bond was exploited by those with ulterior motives that his eyes were blinded. I imagine Comrade Chen Yanshi should not know the specific reasons behind it."

"If he knew the inside story, given his Party spirit, he would certainly not have this objection. The most important thing now is to catch the people who are spreading rumors and making trouble."

"Then explain it clearly to the Dafeng Factory workers and shareholders. I presume they should be able to understand."

"Comrade Ruijin, I very much agree with Comrade Tongwei's words. In addition, corresponding measures should be taken against the Factory Director of the Dafeng Factory; after all, he also bears inescapable responsibility," Gao Yuliang also said.

Li Dakang looked at the two with gratitude. After all, this matter happened within his jurisdiction, and the support from the Provincial Deputy Secretary and Qi Tongwei made him feel less embarrassed.

"Secretary Sha, I also agree with this point. The problem with the Dafeng Factory is actually clear at a glance; in the final analysis, it is because they have problems themselves," Provincial Governor Liu also said.

Sha Ruijin narrowed his eyes. It was rare for the Provincial Deputy Secretary and the Provincial Governor to stand on the same side. Now, he didn't care about the survival of the Dafeng Factory, but rather that the current Handong officialdom seemed to reject him, the new Secretary.

"Hmm, does anyone else have any different opinions?"

"Secretary Sha, I feel that the law is not outside of human sentiment. Perhaps Comrade Chen Yanshi is not unaware, but cannot bear to see the interests of these workers damaged, which is why he has an objection," Tian Guofu said.

"Secretary Tian, you may not know the true thoughts of most of the Dafeng Factory workers. According to our investigation, only some of the shareholding workers of the Dafeng Factory could not accept the psychological gap and gathered again."

"They are attempting to use this method to force our government to compromise. If all enterprises did this, where would our government's credibility be?"

"Secretary Dakang, I am not saying to use government finances to compensate them, but rather that we can let the enterprise taking over the Guangming Peak Project discuss with them and appropriately give up some interests to compensate the Dafeng Factory."

"This way, both sides have a way to step down, and I presume the Dafeng Factory would be more likely to accept it."

"Comrade Guofu, this method of yours of 'robbing Peter to pay Paul' is not advisable. If all enterprises follow suit, the situation will be even harder to manage, and then who would dare to come to Handong to invest?" Provincial Governor Liu was the first to object.

"Indeed, Secretary Tian, this kind of thing will only cause our credibility to be further damaged."