Official Career Storm
Chapter 754

Chapter 754: Chapter 754

Secrecy?

Song Guanchao was taken aback. From the trace of worry in his eyes, he immediately understood what he was concerned about.

He was worried that the matter would reach Zheng Bihui’s ears.

At this juncture, anyone aiding Wu Qiangwei would be opposing Zheng Bihui.

He nodded, indicating he understood.

After Song Guanchao left, Zhang Xiaoxian revealed a slight smile.

Asking Song Guanchao to keep it secret was indeed out of concern that Zheng Bihui would find out.

But it wasn’t out of fear that Zheng Bihui would make things difficult for him.

His decades of networking weren’t something a sidelined mayor could influence.

The secrecy was merely to conceal one’s inadequacies.

He let Song Guanchao mistakenly believe that by helping Wu Qiangwei in such circumstances, he was bearing enormous pressure.

He leaned back in his chair, lit a cigarette, and with a smile, muttered to himself, "Five hundred million can play the role of providing timely help; this deal is too good to pass up."

With his connections, not to mention five hundred million, he could also gather up a billion or two billion.

But he didn’t do that.

He didn’t want to place all bets on Wu Qiangwei.

This Secretary Wu certainly had capabilities, but her confrontations with Mayor Zheng and Secretary Lu had just begun.

Who would ultimately prevail was not yet clear.

So, he had to hedge his bets.

...

The gap of 2 billion was now resolved by 500 million.

There’s still 1.5 billion missing!

On the way back, he called Director He to notify them of a meeting in half an hour.

Back at the City Committee, Song Guanchao walked straight into the conference room; the main project leads were already present.

They were unaware that the Finance Bureau was out of money, and Song Guanchao started by revealing this issue.

"The Finance Bureau is out of funds."

With one sentence, Director He and the group were almost left dumbfounded.

After a while, Director He asked, "What do you mean by ’out of money’?"

Song Guanchao replied, "Exactly as it sounds, the Finance Bureau currently cannot provide funds."

Director He asked, "When will the relocation payments be issued?"

He thought Song Guanchao meant there wasn’t much money, and the project might be delayed.

"Relocation payments?" Song Guanchao looked at him: "What relocation payments? Didn’t I say, the Finance Bureau is out of funds."

Director He suddenly stood up, his eyes wide as saucers: "The relocation payments can’t even be disbursed?"

"No, they can’t."

Director He, who had just stood up, quickly sat back down, his mind stalled.

The group exchanged bewildered glances.

After a while, someone asked, "What do we do without money?"

The once quiet conference room soon filled with noisy panic.

Seeing this bunch face challenges with nothing more than "What do we do?", lacking effective suggestions, Song Guanchao couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, truly an amateur group.

"Secretary Song." Director He said: "Contact the bank first."

"I already did."

Director He’s eyes lit up.

In his earlier panic, he hadn’t noticed that Song Guanchao had remained calm throughout.

Moreover, he had already contacted the bank.

It seemed the money issue should be resolved.

"The bank’s lending quota for this year is exhausted, and they have no funds either."

That sentence extinguished the hope that had just risen in Director He.

This was a hellish start...

"Knock knock."

He tapped the table: "Quiet."

The people gradually fell silent.

Song Guanchao said: "Director He, please get in touch with President Lu of Golden Heaven and Earth and Chairman Liu of New City Company, and invite them over; I have something to discuss with them."

"Secretary Song..."

"Alright, don’t worry about the money problem. If the sky falls, there’s someone tall to hold it up. I’m the overall project head, and if something goes wrong, I’m the first to bear the responsibility."

"I’m not panicking, so why are you?"

These words were spoken, but who could really not panic?

"Meeting adjourned."

The attendees left one by one, and Song Guanchao sat in his office waiting.

At four in the afternoon, President Lu and Liu Lanzi arrived.

As soon as the two entered the conference room, the strong smell of smoke hit them, and even President Lu, who was a heavy smoker, almost coughed.

"President Lu, Chairman Liu, please sit."

Once they sat down, Song Guanchao went straight to the point: "The city’s finances are a bit tight recently; you’ll have to advance the relocation costs yourselves."

President Lu often dealt with government departments, and advancing funds was almost routine.

But this time was different.

This was a high-speed rail project.

Once the high-speed rail was approved, funding would be ample; it was impossible for money to be scarce.

And it had just started, yet funds had to be advanced.

President Lu frowned: "Secretary Song, when will the funds be available?"

"Within half a year."

President Lu didn’t agree right away: "I need to report back to the board."

Liu Lanzi was a bit puzzled internally, but with President Lu there, it wasn’t appropriate to ask directly.

As for advancing funds, he nodded directly: "New City Company has no issue."

President Lu twitched his lips; he didn’t know about any private dealings between Song Guanchao and Liu Lanzi, only assuming it was cutthroat competition to curry favor with Song Guanchao this way.

Song Guanchao simply acknowledged with a "Hmm" and said: "There’s one more thing."

Liu Lanzi asked: "What is it?"

Song Guanchao said: "I hope you two can temporarily advance the residents’ relocation payments."

"What?"

President Lu thought he misheard.

Advancing relocation payments?

This was simply a joke!

Even Liu Lanzi froze for a couple of seconds.

His first reaction, the project was in trouble!

And a serious one!

"The project funding is a bit tight."

"I hope you two can help bear some pressure."

"Of course, I wouldn’t ask you two to help for nothing."

"I can promise you that the advanced funds will be settled by the government at normal lending interest rates."

"Additionally, this advanced payment will be cleared within six months at the latest."

"Furthermore, some of the subsequent construction projects will be prioritized to your companies."

Having said that, he awaited their response.

President Lu instinctively shook his head, repeating: "I need to report to the board."

He was just the general manager and didn’t have such authority.

Liu Lanzi’s curiosity grew to the peak; what exactly was wrong with the project?

Why did they even need to advance the relocation payment?

Other funds can be delayed, but the relocation payments must be transferred to the relocated households’ accounts within the contractual period.

Because this concerns social stability.

The common people don’t reason with you.

You demolished my house and signed a contract; when due, you must pay.

If you don’t pay, expect trouble.

"Alright, President Lu, go and report everything I just said. Try to inform me of the result as soon as possible."

"Okay."

President Lu nodded, got up, and left.

As soon as he left, Liu Lanzi immediately asked: "What happened?"

Song Guanchao smiled bitterly and explained the situation to him.

Upon hearing the details, Liu Lanzi asked: "What did the bank say?"

Song Guanchao said: "Mayor Zheng has blocked all channels, now only Secretary Zhang’s side has helped me pull in five hundred million."

Liu Lanzi asked: "What’s the shortage on the relocation payments?"

"About 1.5 billion."

1.5 billion...

Liu Lanzi bit his red lips and said: "New City Company’s account can only scrape together seventy million."

Song Guanchao knew that New City Company was of moderate size but didn’t expect that the account could only muster up seventy million.

"Only seventy million?"

"Yes." Liu Lanzi said: "The money has all been invested in Dujiang City’s projects."

Song Guanchao asked: "What’s the scale of Golden Heaven and Earth?"

Liu Lanzi shook his head: "Don’t even think about it; commercial companies won’t advance relocation payments for livelihood projects."

Song Guanchao took out a cigarette, lit it, took a few puffs, and said: "Continue with the demolition, don’t advance the relocation payments, I’ll find another way."

Liu Lanzi was somewhat worried: "Can you think of a way?"

"Yes!"

"Really?"

"Don’t trust me?"

Song Guanchao forced a smile: "If I say I can, then I definitely can!"

At this point, he could only resort to the alternative plan.