Chapter 160: First Contact with Sun Demao

Sun Demao could be considered a wealthy and powerful person in Suxi Township. He brought three people straight to the township government to find Guo Wei. This was the first time I saw his true face; he turned out to be a big, burly guy.

Sun Demao was now half a city dweller, having bought a house in Hengyue City, and his wife and children all lived in the city. But his household registration hadn't been resolved; he was still a peasant in our Suxi Township. Sun Demao's old father originally followed them to live in the city. The city emphasized hygiene, and one had to take off their shoes when entering the house. This made the old man, who had liked to spit everywhere all his life, suffer. To prevent his father from spitting everywhere, Sun Demao specially prepared three spittoons for him: one in the living room, one in the bedroom, and one in the dining room.

The spittoons were placed where others could see them at a glance, which was already uncomfortable. In addition, the old man never had a method for spitting, spitting inside the spittoon was nothing, but outside was mottled everywhere, making people sick.

First, Sun Demao's son couldn't take it anymore, disliking his grandfather for not being hygienic. Especially the spittoon in the dining room; while eating, the old man would make a rumbling sound from his throat and spit, which was disgusting.

It would have been fine if the son couldn't take it, but then the wife followed. She would nag in his ear every night on the pillow, making it impossible to sleep. If they encountered Sun Demao's sexual desire, the wife would firmly turn her back, leaving the old Sun pinching an object and unable to find a place, so he became annoyed. From time to time, he would say a few words to his father in his speech.

The old man didn't want to stay upstairs every day anyway; his feet couldn't touch the soil, and he felt empty in his heart. So he went downstairs, but the old men and women downstairs didn't want to greet this country old man. He couldn't find anyone to talk to after wandering around the courtyard for a day, his mouth stinking from being stifled. After thinking about it, he felt that living in the city was simply living in suffering, so he firmly decided to go back to the countryside alone.

Sun Demao was worried about leaving his father alone in the countryside. After all, he was over eighty years old, and no one could say when he would go to the West. If he didn't catch up to send him off, it would leave a laughingstock in the township. He was worried to death when his cousin expressed his willingness to help look after his father, without any conditions, just saying that having an old person at home was like having a treasure.

Sun Demao could be considered a filial son. His father lived in the countryside, and his living expenses of one thousand yuan a month were not a cent less. Whenever he had a little free time, he would definitely return to the countryside alone to visit his father.

Now that his father was being looked after, he was naturally happy. Everyone was happy to send his father to the countryside. Not long after, Liu Quan and Township Head Hao came to his door, asking him to donate money to build a road. Sun Demao was a thousand times unwilling, but Liu Quan promised that as long as he donated money, after the road was opened, the township government would hand over the passenger transport rights to him.

Sun Demao was a shrewd person. Hearing Liu Quan say this, he calculated carefully. This was a great thing. First, he established a good reputation in the township, and he was grateful to his cousin. He could also make money, so he donated 100,000 yuan.

Now, by the side of the road in front of the township government, there was a merit monument two people high, and Sun Demao was ranked first without hesitation.

Regarding Sun Demao, I only heard his name but didn't see his person.

Now, the big and burly Sun Demao was nodding and bowing like a grandson, and I knew he must have something to ask.

Sure enough, after a few words of greeting, he got straight to the point and made a request—he wanted to contract the relocation project of the township government.

Guo Wei remained calm, drinking tea lightly, his eyes fixed on the documents in front of him, appearing to be busy with ten thousand things.

"Secretary Guo, this is my first time coming to visit the leader. Please forgive me, Secretary Guo. I am in the rivers and lakes, and I cannot help myself. I have long heard that a young secretary came to my hometown, young and promising, and I have always wanted to come and visit the leader. But Secretary, you know, we country people have a hard time making a living in the city. If we don't make money for a day, we will starve to death. This dragged on until now. Secretary Guo, you must forgive me."

Guo Wei looked up, smiled slightly, and said, "Words of seeing outsiders."

Sun Demao smiled, stepped forward, and respectfully handed over a cigarette.

Guo Wei waved his hand to refuse. Sun Demao withdrew his hand, appearing infinitely admiring, and said, "It's good not to smoke. Leaders generally don't smoke. This cigarette, it hurts the body and hurts money. We country people must smoke, smoke to death."

"If you say so, is our Township Head Chen also a country person?" Guo Wei pointed at me with a fake smile.

Sun Demao only then noticed me, full of smiles, and said, "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Township Head Chen is so young, smoking a cigarette is art."

I laughed and said, "Boss Sun, you have so much to say about smoking; you are a cultured person. It's art."

Sun Demao wasn't embarrassed at all, giggled with us, stood up to refill his cup, and said, "You two are the parents of our Suxi Township, both people from big cities. For our Suxi Township, you are willing to suffer with the villagers. As a person from Suxi Township, if I don't contribute, I won't have the face to see my ancestors in the future."

"What does it have to do with your ancestors?" Guo Wei asked curiously.

"It doesn't have much to do with my ancestors, but it has to do with me," Sun Demao exhaled a thick smoke and said sincerely, "Two leaders, think about it. Such a big thing as the relocation of the township government, I am a person who struggles outside. I don't have much money, but I can still contribute. I guarantee that I won't make a cent; as long as the township government is built, I, Old Sun, am willing to pay."

"How do you want to pay?" Guo Wei put down the pen in his hand and picked up the cup to take a sip of water.

"As long as this project is handed over to me, I will spend whatever it takes. I understand." Sun Demao almost patted his chest to speak.

"We accept Boss Sun's heart, right? Township Head Chen," Guo Wei turned his head to look at me and said heavily, "Our project is relatively large, and I'm afraid small contractors can't do it well."

"Leader, don't worry," Sun Demao said anxiously, "My company is not small. There are many buildings in the city built by us. One of them even won the Luban Award."

"Is it really that powerful?"

"Really. I have a certificate."

Sun Demao ordered the person who came with him to open the handbag, took out a gold-plated certificate, held it with both hands, and handed it to Guo Wei.

Guo Wei didn't take it, smiled and said, "Don't look at it. I believe Boss Sun's words."

Sun Demao smiled proudly and said, "Construction projects are a piece of cake for me."

"I'll tell you the truth, Boss Sun. This project of the township government is a national project. Although funds are not a problem, we still have to talk about industry rules. If you want to build it, can you advance the funds?" Guo Wei said unhurriedly.

"How much to advance?" Sun Demao clearly didn't have this thought preparation, thought for a while, and said, "Industry rules generally only advance one layer. When building the second layer, you have to pay for the first layer. Your government project, we don't talk about money."

"Fine, since we don't talk about money, let's talk to the end. If you want to do it, you must advance the full amount. Otherwise, don't talk," Guo Wei said decisively.

"You have to pay a little bit. We do things according to the rules, okay?"

"Are you afraid that our government won't pay?"

"Secretary Guo, you misunderstood me. It's not that I'm afraid of not paying; I'm afraid of breaking the industry rules."

"That industry rule of yours, it has to be broken here. If you can break it, you can stand it."

Sun Demao had no words for a while, sat and thought for a long time, and said, "Secretary Guo, is there no room for discussion?"

Guo Wei shook his head, his face showing no sign of emotion.

"Like this," Sun Demao said to himself, "This project has to advance millions."

I interjected, "Millions for you, isn't it just a drizzle?"

Sun Demao smiled bitterly and said, "It's not big, but it's not small. If you can pay according to the rules, it's not a big problem to advance some. To advance the full amount, I'm afraid I can't."

"How much can you advance?" Guo Wei pursued.

"About a million."

"That's fine."

"We have to sign a contract for the balance. The township government has to promise when to pay it off."

"Small problem. I tell you, Boss Sun, our government lacks everything, but it doesn't lack money," Guo Wei said proudly, "Thank you, Boss Sun, for still remembering the construction of your hometown. I'll make a statement first. Regarding the relocation project of the township government, the township government will consider you first. Now I can't say it's handed over to you; the organizational procedure still has to be followed."

Guo Wei pointed at Sun Demao and said to me, "Township Head Chen, you are responsible for talking about the specific details. I have something to do, so I won't accompany you."

Guo Wei's order to evict guests made us all stand up. I enthusiastically invited Sun Demao to sit in my office.

Before we sat down, we heard Yue Bai's voice outside, asking, "Is Township Head Chen home?"

I opened the door and saw Yue Bai standing in the corridor with a smile, with Qian Youyu in brand-name clothes standing beside her, opening his big mouth revealing gold teeth, smiling foolishly at me. ===== CHAPTER 161 =====