Chapter 166

Qian Youyu returns to Suxi Township dejectedly. As soon as he sees me, he grumbles ill-temperedly, "What kind of world is this? There's no law! Who dares to play?"

I smile unhurriedly, put my arm around his shoulder, and say, "You're perfectly fine, who would dare touch a hair on your head?"

Qian Youyu says with lingering fear, "You don't know, brother, what kind of days I've been living these past few days; it was simply pitch black. I had a tail following my butt; even when I went to the toilet, someone would be shouting at me from outside the door. What does that mean? Afraid I'd run away? Afraid I'd jump off a building?"

"Town Mayor Deng is concerned about you. He is a state cadre; what does he have to gain? Isn't it all for the common people? It's understandable."

"Town Mayor Chen, my brother, what kind of talk is this? Bullshit! Don't I know what's on Deng Hanyu's mind? Don't you know? Stop playing dumb in front of me. If you think Deng Hanyu is doing the right thing, fine, I, Old Qian, will leave, and you two can cooperate." Qian Youyu bangs on the table indignantly. "You don't stand up for your brother, and you're still speaking for Deng Hanyu. I get it now; you officials are all the same! How can I, a common citizen, mix with you people?"

He repeatedly calls Deng Hanyu by his full name, which not only feels abrupt to me but also makes me feel that this attitude of his might be mine one day in the future.

I say calmly, "Old Brother Qian, you say I didn't help you, so how did you suddenly come back so easily?"

Qian Youyu is stunned. He pats his head, thinks for a moment, and says, "That's true, why did Deng Hanyu let me go?"

I point to myself and say, "While you were enjoying yourself at the hotel, I was running errands outside. No matter how tough Town Mayor Deng is, can he be tougher than Secretary Guan and County Magistrate Liu? Even if he doesn't take Secretary Guan and the others seriously, Town Mayor Deng doesn't have the guts to challenge the Municipal Committee, right!"

Qian Youyu looks at me in disbelief and says after a long time, "Brother, did you find Secretary Guan?"

I smile without answering.

Qian Youyu stomps his feet and says, "This matter has blown up. Even Secretary Guan knows about it; it might not be a good thing."

I comfort him, "Don't worry. When the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally go straight! There will be another village after the dark willows and bright flowers. It's not necessarily a bad thing that Secretary Guan knows about this. First, it lets him know that you, Boss Qian, didn't take the money and run away without doing anything; second, it lets him understand that you, Boss Qian, not only want to invest but also have a clear investment direction. Even if the county wants to cut into the compensation money, for things like the factory we want to build, even if they want to cut, it won't be so steep."

Qian Youyu ponders for a long time and says helplessly, "I also know this is the rule. If one yuan is compensated from above, I'll thank heaven and earth if I can get fifty cents."

"It's good that you understand." I say, "However, since you are going to use this money to build a factory this time, according to policy regulations, the county must also provide support. I estimate that the county won't touch this compensation money this time."

Qian Youyu sighs and says, "Let's take it one step at a time."

I correct him, "We can't take it one step at a time. Now, this step must be taken, and it must be taken steadily. Otherwise, not only will you, Boss Qian, become a laughingstock, but I, Chen Feng, will also die at your hands."

Qian Youyu grins and says, "I'm not afraid of a bird's feather. If others want to laugh, let them laugh; can I stop their mouths from laughing? Brother, you said I'd die at your hands; you're overestimating me. I, Old Qian, don't have that ability."

"You have plenty of ability." I tease, "You, Old Qian, managed to get our Sister-in-law Yue Bai in just a few days. I look at you, Old Qian, and you look just like this, still a farmer, just with a few bucks in your hand. Sister-in-law Yue Bai is a state cadre."

Qian Youyu beams with joy and quickly defends himself, "It's true that I'm a farmer. Farmers are hardworking and have kind hearts. What do women want from men? They just hope men are good to them. I have a sincere heart and dare not have any wandering thoughts. My wife has been dead for several years, and I've been single. It's not that I can't find anyone; to tell you the truth, seventeen or eighteen-year-old virgins are lining up waiting for me. Why am I not tempted? Isn't it just because I want to find someone who can spend the rest of my life with me!"

I don't want to continue discussing life philosophy with him, and I certainly don't want to discuss Yue Bai with him. I change the subject and say, "Now everything is calm, and the matter has surfaced. Everyone in Chunshan County knows you are going to build a mineral water factory in Suxi Township. So, next, should we officially start working?"

"Of course." Qian Youyu gives me a thumbs up and says, "Brother, you are brilliant! With this move of yours, I, Old Qian, am on your pirate ship. To tell you the truth, I was originally planning to walk and see, but now I'm riding a tiger and can't get off. If I don't do it, let alone Deng Hanyu not letting me go, I'm afraid Secretary Guan won't let me go either."

"I won't let you go either." I say with a smile, "Boss Qian, you are a hot commodity now; everyone in Chunshan County is watching you. Awesome!"

"Awesome my ass!" Qian Youyu curses, looking like he's burning his bridges. "Even if I die in Suxi Township, I have to keep going. At worst, I'll take my fellow villagers from Yuetang Village and continue being our cement workers."

"However, I have a request; if you don't agree, I won't put up the money." He says, his expression incomparably solemn.

"Speak."

"I want to sign a contract first."

"What contract?"

"I can't invest money without knowing what's going on. Once this factory is built, who is responsible for the land, who is responsible for the factory building, who is responsible for the equipment? After the factory is built, who is responsible for management, how are the profits divided? In a word, who has the final say in the factory? It must all be written in the contract."

"You are putting up the money to build the factory; who do you want to be responsible?"

"It's true I'm putting up the money, but it was agreed beforehand that you are responsible for the land, and we are building a joint venture factory. You provided the land; you wouldn't not send someone to manage it, would you?"

"Of course we have to manage it. Even if we didn't provide the land, as long as the enterprise is within our jurisdiction, we have to manage it."

"Who manages it?"

"Isn't it too early for that?" I say with a smile, "The eight characters haven't even been written yet; the township government hasn't decided who will manage it."

"I have a suggestion; if you agree, I will go to the provincial design institute immediately and invite experts to start construction." He presses step by step, seemingly eager to get a definite result from me.

"Tell me about it." I say, throwing him a cigarette.

"You should just let Yue Bai be responsible for this. She is already familiar with building the factory, equipment, and future marketing. Besides her, you won't find a second person in the township government that I dare trust."

"This matter still has to be decided by the township party committee." I say, giving him another shot of adrenaline, "It should meet your requirements."

Qian Youyu is immediately happy, clapping his hands and saying, "Brother Chen, I know that working with you, I don't have to worry. However, if you don't agree to this, don't blame me for not recognizing you. In business, I have to be more stable. You also know that there are over a thousand people in Yuetang Village waiting for me to feed them."

"Don't worry!" I say decisively, getting up from the chair, walking around to his side, and putting my arm around his shoulder again. "Let's go to Secretary Guo's office together and report your thoughts."

He follows me, and we run into Yue Bai in the hallway. Both of them stop. I see a layer of mist rise in Yue Bai's eyes as she stares at Qian Youyu, whose clothes are wrinkled.

As soon as Qian Youyu sees Yue Bai, his face blooms with joy. He takes Yue Bai's hand and shakes it, like a young man, ignoring that I am still standing next to them, and says, "I missed you."

Yue Bai blushes and says reproachfully, "You're a grown man, don't talk nonsense."

Qian Youyu rubs Yue Bai's hand and says, "I'm telling the truth, what does it have to do with anyone else?"

Yue Bai pulls her hand away, glances at me, and says, "Are you alright?"

Qian Youyu says happily, "I'm fine. I'm doing great! I'm just going with Town Mayor Chen to report work to Secretary Guo."

I have to say, "Sister-in-law Yue Bai, don't worry, Old Qian will be fine. Our Suxi Township is Old Qian's backing."

Yue Bai smiles gently and says, "As long as you're fine. I have things to do, so I'll go first. You two go get busy."

"Let's eat together at noon, let's go to the supermarket restaurant." Qian Youyu points to Pan Xiaoqin's supermarket and says, "Let's celebrate our happy cooperation."

Yue Bai refuses, saying, "I won't go, I have things to do at noon."

"How can I find you?" Qian Youyu says anxiously, "And you don't even carry a mobile phone."

"I don't have the money to buy one."

"I'll buy one."

Yue Bai turns around and says, "We'll talk about it later."

"There's one more thing, and that's the mineral water factory. I demand that you be the representative of the township government." Qian Youyu says proudly, "If they don't agree, I won't invest."

Yue Bai says softly, "Isn't that bad?"

"What's bad about it?" I take over the conversation, "Even if you two open a husband-and-wife shop, your status is still that of a Suxi Township cadre. I think it's very good."

Yue Bai's face turns as red as a ripe cherry, making one want to kiss her. She says in a low voice, "I obey the organization's arrangements. Alright, I'm leaving."

Having said that, she turns and walks away gracefully, leaving Qian Youyu staring at her swaying back.

I pull him and say, "Let's go, if Secretary Guo goes out later, I'm afraid we won't be able to find him."