Chapter 417

After Zhang Pangzi's wife left the private room, Xiong Ruisong said, "It seems Township Head Su is very popular with the people here!"

Qiao Dashu said, "That's for certain. Township Head Su loves the people like his own children."

Su Xinghui smiled and said, "That phrasing, 'loving the people like one's own children,' is inappropriate."

Xiong Ruisong asked, puzzled, "Aren't you all their 'parent-officials'? Didn't the upright officials of ancient times all say they loved the people like their own children?"

Su Xinghui shook his head and said, "We are not their parents; the common people are our parents!"

Qiao Dashu asked, "How do you figure that?"

Su Xinghui said, "Our salaries and expenses are all paid by the taxes the common people pay. We were elected by the common people, and our power is given to us by the common people. If they aren't our parents, then who is?"

Xiong Ruisong and Qiao Dashu exchanged a glance. They both felt a bit unconvinced in their hearts. Since ancient times, haven't officials always been called 'parent-officials'? Isn't this Township Head Su just putting on an act?

Though they were unconvinced, they certainly wouldn't say so on the surface, so they chimed in with agreement.

Before long, Zhang Pangzi's wife brought up the food and drink. They certainly didn't dare to neglect this Deputy Township Head Su; they left the other tables' dishes aside and made sure his order was served in full first.

Su Xinghui poured wine for Xiong and Qiao and said, "Come, Xiong Zong, President Qiao. Last time you came, you didn't even get a meal; it was rude of me. Let me toast you both."

The two hurriedly raised their glasses, saying they didn't deserve it, they didn't deserve it.

After drinking the wine, Su Xinghui raised his chopsticks and said, "Come, eat, eat. This wild rabbit and pheasant are quite good, and there are some wild vegetables from the mountains—they are all specialties of our mountains. You two should try more."

The two tasted a few bites and both nodded, praising the flavor.

Su Xinghui asked, "May I ask what business brings you two to see me today?"

The two exchanged a glance, and Xiong Ruisong said, "We are still here regarding the matter of investing and building a factory. We have looked at many places, but we still feel Meng Hu Ling is the most suitable. So, we came to see Township Head Su this time to discuss the factory construction."

Su Xinghui raised an eyebrow and said, "Xiong Zong, President Qiao, didn't I already state my position on this matter long ago? As long as you provide the various reports and meet the environmental impact assessment requirements, I have no objection to you investing and building a factory!"

Qiao Dashu said, "Township Head Su, to be honest, the standards you've set are a bit too high. Could you lower them a little? We are sincere about wanting to invest and build a factory here. Township Head Su, rest assured, if we invest and build here, we will pay the taxes that should be paid, and we will hire workers locally. We will never add any trouble for you."

Xiong and Qiao knew what local officials liked; they all liked political achievements. GDP, tax revenue, and employment were all sources of their political achievements. Su Xinghui would surely like to hear this.

However, to their disappointment, Su Xinghui smiled and shook his head, saying, "I am only a deputy township head. If you want to invest and build a factory, you should still talk to our county leaders."

Xiong Ruisong and Qiao Dashu exchanged another glance. Xiong Ruisong took out a small notebook and handed it to Su Xinghui.

Su Xinghui had sharp eyes and immediately saw it was an Industrial and Commercial Bank passbook. He took it, opened it, and glanced at it. The name on the passbook was a stranger's—it must have been fabricated—and the amount was 200,000. It seemed Xiong and Qiao had each put up 100,000.

Su Xinghui smiled, shook his head, placed the passbook on the table, and pushed it back.

Xiong Ruisong hurriedly said, "Township Head Su, don't misunderstand. We don't mean anything else. Besides the two of us, no third person knows about this. We just want to make friends with you. If our factory is established in the future, we naturally won't forget Township Head Su."

Qiao Dashu said, "That's right, Township Head Su. Why don't you take a stake in my cement factory? Or you could start a quarry yourself, and in the future, all the raw materials for my cement factory could be supplied by your quarry."

Su Xinghui shook his head and smiled, "If you really want to be my friend, please put this passbook away. Don't mention anything about stakes or starting quarries again."

Xiong and Qiao looked at each other in dismay. Is there really someone who doesn't like money? They had been in business for so many years and had never seen such a person. In front of other officials, as long as they used this trick, it was always successful.

Xiong Ruisong said, "Township Head Su, I think you've misunderstood. We really just want to be friends with you!"

Su Xinghui said, "And after we become friends? You will surely need me to relax the requirements so you can build your factory here, right? And in the future, if there are other matters, you'll need me, this friend, to look out for you, right? If you eat someone's food, your mouth becomes soft; if you take someone's money, your hands become weak. I'm afraid that in the end, our friendship won't be pure."

Qiao Dashu said, "Township Head Su, isn't that taking it a bit too seriously?"

Su Xinghui shook his head and said, "Not at all. It would certainly develop to that point in the end. Everyone likes money, and I am no exception. However, a gentleman loves wealth but acquires it in the right way. I only take the income I deserve. I dare not take this kind of money from you. You had better put it away, otherwise, I fear we will never have the chance to be friends in the future."

Xiong and Qiao exchanged an awkward glance. Xiong Ruisong put the passbook away and asked, "Township Head Su, then is there really no hope for us to invest and build a factory here? Can you point us in a direction?"

Su Xinghui said, "To be honest, I will certainly not allow you to build a paper mill or a cement factory in Meng Hu Ling. You should know better than anyone how severe the environmental damage from these two industries is. I don't want Meng Hu Ling to turn into that kind of place in the future. Even if you built them in Shangjun County, I would do my best to stop it."

Xiong and Qiao looked at each other again.

"If you want to build a paper mill or a cement factory, either find a place I can't control, or wait until I'm transferred. If you are truly sincere about wanting to invest, I have another suggestion."

Xiong and Qiao felt hope rise again. They asked, "What suggestion?"

Su Xinghui said, "I advise you not to just keep your eyes on old industries; you can also look at new ones. Currently, without any improvements in technology, your two industries are bound to be heavily polluting. In a few years, they will be targets for elimination. So, you might as well set your sights on new industries that don't cause pollution."

"Switch industries?" Xiong Ruisong said, "But I've been in the paper industry for many years; it's the industry I'm most familiar with. My client relationships are already established. If I switch industries, I'd have to start everything from scratch. Isn't that too difficult?"

Qiao Dashu nodded in agreement with Xiong Ruisong.

Su Xinghui said, "In any case, this is just a suggestion. Your industries belong to the high-energy-consumption, high-pollution category. The state will inevitably impose restrictions sooner or later. It's not too late to switch now; there's still a buffer period of a few years. Once the state truly starts restricting them, when the time comes, it will be even harder for you to switch."

Seeing the two looking thoughtful, Su Xinghui added, "You both started from scratch over a dozen years ago, didn't you? What capital did you have then? What connections did you have? Didn't you still build up a business? Now your situation is much better than it was back then, isn't it? It's just switching industries—do you lack the courage?"

Xiong Ruisong sighed, "Township Head Su, your words are sincere, so I won't beat around the bush with you. The situation now is different from back then. Back then, if one person was full, the whole family was fed, and there were no worries. If we lost money, we lost it. But now, there are many people relying on us for their meals, so we don't have the same boldness we had back then."

Qiao Dashu also said, "That's right. We were 'poor and bold' back then, but now that we have a little money, we're actually a bit afraid."

Su Xinghui shook his head. It was normal for them to have concerns, and he wouldn't force them. He raised his glass and said, "Fine, you can think about it yourselves. In any case, I've made my point clear: as long as it's a polluting enterprise, I will certainly not let it into Meng Hu Ling. Come, let's have a drink."

Both raised their glasses and had a drink with Su Xinghui. Although Su Xinghui had rejected their request to build a factory, they didn't hate him. Su Xinghui didn't take their money, which made them respect him greatly, and he had laid his words out in the open without playing any underhanded tricks. How could anyone hate him?