Chapter 533

Su Xinghui nodded: "Of course."

Su Xinghui opened his bag, took out a feasibility study report and project plan for the Shangjun Changjiangdaqiao, and handed it to Hou Guangbi. Hou Guangbi put on his reading glasses and began to read by the light in the courtyard.

Hou Guangbi read very carefully. It took him about half an hour to finish the report. After reading, he nodded: "Not bad. The prospects for this project are good. I personally feel that the Hou Group can take on this BOT project, but it will still require some market research and needs to be voted on by the Hou Group’s board of directors."

Su Xinghui was very happy, though Hou Guangbi’s agreement to intervene in the project was within Su Xinghui’s expectations. After all, this was a matter of benefit and no harm to the Hou Group.

Hou Guangbi added: "If your county government needs loans, I can help you contact the relevant officials at the World Bank."

"The World Bank?" Su Xinghui said.

Hou Guangbi nodded: "Yes, the World Bank mainly provides infrastructure loans to developing countries. They have very rich experience in the construction supervision of large-scale infrastructure. If you can apply for their loans, they can send the best supervision experts to conduct the strictest supervision on the project’s cost and engineering quality, which can absolutely guarantee quality and cost."

Hearing Hou Guangbi’s words, Su Xinghui fell into deep thought.

In his previous life, he naturally had some understanding of the World Bank. He knew that the World Bank was a bank dedicated to providing low-interest infrastructure loans to developing countries and was also an international organization whose capital was subscribed by various countries. China was also one of the World Bank’s shareholders. In recent years, some of China’s key projects had obtained low-interest loans from the World Bank.

For example, the Chengyu Expressway was a key project supported by World Bank loans. Due to the complex terrain, the Chengyu Expressway was very difficult to construct, and at the time, China lacked experience in expressway construction. The fact that the Chengyu Expressway could be successfully completed on schedule was inseparable from the support and help of a large number of experts from the World Bank.

The terrain for the Chengyu Expressway construction was complex, with unexpected situations such as sinkholes, land subsidence, collapses, and toxic gases emerging one after another; it could be called a museum of complex terrain in road construction. If it weren't for the World Bank experts, it would have been quite difficult for the still-immature Chinese construction teams at the time to finish on schedule.

The World Bank’s supervision experts also played a huge role. Despite such a difficult construction process, they actually managed to control the cost to around 16 million yuan per kilometer—an incredibly low level—while the quality of this expressway was very high.

Thinking of this, Su Xinghui understood that it wasn't that Hou Guangbi wanted to invest less and therefore asked the Shangjun County government to take out a loan from the World Bank, but that he was truly doing it for the good of Shangjun County. Having World Bank experts in traffic construction and supervision would be very beneficial for this Changjiangdaqiao.

Su Xinghui nodded: "Then I’ll trouble you to help us make contact."

Hou Guangbi said: "I know officials at the World Bank headquarters, but I don't know the officials at their office in China. I will first contact the officials at headquarters and have them give me the contact information for the officials at the China office, and then I will give that information to you, and you can go find them."

Su Xinghui nodded: "That’s good, thank you, Grandpa Hou. However, could you be quick? I’m going to Jingcheng in about two or three days. If you tell me sooner, I can stop by the World Bank’s office in China while I’m there."

Hou Guangbi laughed: "Sure, I’ll give you the contact information tomorrow."

Su Xinghui nodded happily: "That’s wonderful."

Hou Guangbi added: "By the way, there is one more thing. Joao came to see me today."

"Joao?" Su Xinghui said with some embarrassment: "I’m sorry, Grandpa Hou, I failed your good intentions!"

Hou Guangbi said: "There is nothing to be sorry about, Xinghui. You are too smart, and your character is too noble. This matter was actually my lack of consideration. I should be the one saying sorry! It was I who underestimated you!"

Su Xinghui quickly said: "Grandpa Hou, please don't say that. I know you also had good intentions!"

Hou Guangbi shook his head: "Actually, it was I who was narrow-minded. I was always thinking of giving you some personal benefits to repay you. Now that I think about it, there are many ways to repay kindness, such as contributing to the development of Shangjun County."

Su Xinghui said: "Grandpa Hou, please never speak of repaying kindness again in the future. Not to mention that what I did was just my duty, even if I did have a favor to return to you, since you came to Shangjun County, the things you have done for the county are already too many, and it has long been more than enough to repay it. By the way, I hope you won't buy my paintings from Joao in the future. If you really like my paintings, I will give you one in a while."

Hou Guangbi nodded: "That’s great. Don't worry, I will never buy your paintings from Joao again. I believe that even if I don't buy your paintings, with your level of skill, there will still be people who like them!"

Su Xinghui said: "Then thank you, Grandpa Hou!"

The old man and the young man looked at each other and laughed together.

After leaving Zhuangyuan Lane, Su Xinghui went to Zhang Kaishan’s house. He told Zhang Kaishan about his conversation with Hou Guangbi. When Zhang Kaishan heard that Hou Guangbi had agreed to the BOT plan proposed by Su Xinghui, he was overjoyed. Originally, he had no confidence at all regarding those two hundred million plus in funds, but he hadn't expected the funding issue to be resolved just like that.

Su Xinghui said: "Old Mr. Hou said he would help us contact World Bank officials so we can apply for a loan. Their interest rates are much lower than regular banks, and they will send experts in traffic construction and supervision to guide and monitor the Changjiangdaqiao project, so both quality and cost will be guaranteed."

Zhang Kaishan was happy again. He hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. He slapped his thigh and said: "That’s truly wonderful!"

Su Xinghui said: "Uncle Zhang, I will be going to Jingcheng in about two or three days. At that time, I will conduct preliminary negotiations with the World Bank officials in the name of Shangjun County. Once our project is underway, we can process the loan procedures as quickly as possible. Therefore, the county needs to issue me an introduction letter."

Zhang Kaishan nodded: "That’s no problem. Go ahead and run with it; don't worry about any expenses incurred, the county will reimburse you. By the way, I’m afraid you won't be able to front that much money. Go to the county government tomorrow and collect a sum of money first."

Su Xinghui laughed: "No need, Uncle Zhang. I’ll just get reimbursed after I’ve spent the money and returned. I sold a few more paintings today, after all."

Zhang Kaishan said: "Sold more paintings? You really are a little millionaire. Alright then, just report your expenses truthfully when you return."

After finishing the discussion, Su Xinghui stood up to take his leave and went home.

Back home, Su Xinghui called Xu Haimin and arranged to look at the house tomorrow morning. After hanging up, Guo Suhua asked: "Xinghui, are you going to buy a house?"

Su Xinghui nodded: "Yes, houses are cheap now, and private houses are even cheaper. You can buy one for just twenty or thirty thousand yuan. I’ll buy it, renovate it, and decorate it well. After I get married, I can live there with Xiaoya."

Returning home today, Su Xinghui had already handed the contract for his painting sales to Guo Suhua. Guo Suhua knew that he had sold over a hundred thousand yuan worth of paintings this time, so buying a house was nothing. However, she still felt some inexplicable melancholy in her heart. She sighed: "Sigh, my son is too capable; I don't even need to help you and your father prepare the house for your wedding."

Su Xinghui heard the loss in his mother’s words and said to Guo Suhua with a smile: "Mom, your son has grown up. I will definitely treat you well in the future and let you live a good life. Isn't it good that you don't have to worry?"

Guo Suhua sighed: "I actually wanted to worry."

Su Wenjun, who was reading the newspaper nearby, looked up and laughed: "I actually think it’s quite good that we don't have to worry."

Guo Suhua nodded: "Fine, Xinghui, if you want to buy a house, then buy it. Whatever you decide, you’ll definitely be right."

The next morning, Su Xinghui went downstairs at eight o’clock as agreed with Xu Haimin and saw that Xu Haimin was already waiting. Su Xinghui got into his car and laughed: "Uncle Xu, why did you come so early? You’re an elder; having you wait for me makes me feel so embarrassed!"

Xu Haimin laughed: "I just arrived, didn't wait long. Let’s go, to Zhongming Lake."