The First Volume Chapter 40 The Feast Ends in Discord

  (Second update)

  "It seems this meal is not going to be eaten, anyway. Today is the day of my late mother's memorial service, I can rush back and pay my respects."

  He Qing watched Shen Huai and Du Jian clash on the first day, with Du Jian already being provoked to the point of being like a barrel of gunpowder, ready to explode at any moment. He wanted to help Shen Huai, but was also afraid of getting involved in a big fight and putting himself in trouble, so he thought it best to temporarily withdraw and stand aside.

  "What's going on here?" He Yuelian slapped her thigh, looking at the suddenly empty banquet hall, also a bit dazed. When she entered the door earlier, she saw Du Jian's attitude towards Shen Hui, and thought he had a small belly, couldn't tolerate the new secretary who came to grab power from him, but didn't expect the new secretary to be so inhumane, so unscrupulously slapping Du Jian in the face.

  Shen Hua stood up, looking around the empty banquet hall with its three round tables, and said: "Everyone else has left, but I still want to find a place to have lunch. This is too deserted, Manager He, can you move me to a smaller private room..."

  He Mu Lian looked at Shen Huai's pale face, and couldn't help but want to go up and grab him: You dare to be arrogant with your pale face, you dare to be reckless with your pale face!

  The anger in her heart was boiling again, and He Yuelian also clearly saw that Du Jian could endure the anger and walk away with a flick of his hand. The kid in front of her must have some power, not someone she could provoke.

  In this day and age, if someone can be so arrogant without getting trampled to death, they must have the capital to back it up.

  However, He Yuelian couldn't bear the anger in her heart and coldly told Chen Dan: "Get a different room for Secretary Shen..." With a "swish swish swish" of her hips, she walked away, and the other waitresses also quietly slipped out, as if there was a big tiger here.

  "Just now I was a bit harsh with you, aren't you angry?" Shen Huan asked Chen Dan with a smile, "I'm saying sorry to you."

  Shen Hua brought the wine in and asked in a stern tone, Chen Dan was somewhat displeased in her heart, but thinking that he was using this opportunity to make things difficult for Du Jian, she let it go. Unexpectedly, he still had the intention to apologize, her heart felt a little warm, she smiled and said: "Can I really anger you? But is this really suitable?"

  "Yes, has everyone been offended? Is that really suitable?" Shen Huai followed Chen Dan's tone and asked himself another question, "Right, let's change rooms to talk, this side is empty and feels strange..."

  "You said you, how can these three tables of dishes be good?" Chen Dan stared blankly at the three large tables that were already half-filled with bowls and plates.

  "He Mo Lian can make a lot of money every year, wasting three tables of dishes won't bankrupt her," Shen Huai said with a smile. "You directly help bring two plates of dishes over from here, but keep an eye on them tightly, don't give the one surnamed He a chance to spit in them..."

  "You're really something, who does this kind of thing for no reason?" But as soon as she said it, Chen Dan's face turned red, as if she had been caught doing something wrong by Shen Hua.

  Chen Dan led Shen Huai to the second-floor private room, which was facing the street. Through the window, they could see Huang Xinliang and He Yuelian standing outside the reception station talking. Du Jian and other town leaders had already left, it was unknown where they went for lunch.

  Chen Dan brought up a few small dishes on a lacquer tray, and Shen Hua saw that there was only one set of bowls and chopsticks. He asked, "Why is there only one set of bowls and chopsticks?"

  "Are there any other friends coming?" Chen Dan asked, pretending to be confused. She knew that if she and Shen Hui sat at the same table for dinner today, rumors would spread, not to mention that He Yuelian would be squeezed to death.

  "I invited Zhao Dong to come to Mei Creek this afternoon," Shen Huai teased Chen Dan, seeing that she was clever enough to avoid it, and stopped at that. Seeing her standing at the door, he neither came in nor went out, asking, "Is it okay if you come in and sit down?"

  "I'm serving in a private room today..." Chen Danyan smiled and stood at the door talking to Shen Huai.

  "Get it, help me serve the rice."

  Shen Huai held out his bowl and Chen Dan walked in to help him serve the rice.

  Shen Huai took two mouthfuls of rice, then put down the bowl, pulled out his wallet and handed it to Chen Dan, saying: "You go help me settle the bill..."

  "You're just the deputy secretary, just sign and put it on account. Even if He Yuelian gives you face, she won't really ask you to pay in cash." Chen Dan stood still at the door.

  "It's not humanly possible to say that no reception fees are approved," said Shen Hua. "There are two ways to use the reception fees: one is for individuals to pay in advance when dining, and then submit receipts to the finance department with reasons and actual expenses, with a monthly reimbursement limit for cadres of corresponding levels. The other is to sign and debit directly, and the reception station will settle accounts with the finance department at the end of the year. Which way do you think the reception station wants?"

  "Of course it's the latter," said Chen Dan, "even if there is no reimbursement quota, signing and hanging accounts is better. Signing and hanging accounts makes it convenient for town officials to come and receive hospitality at the station, whether it's public or private business. Manager He doesn't worry that the government will default on payments, so naturally he hopes that town officials eat and drink as much as possible..."

  "But for the government, and the steel mill? Before I came to Mei Creek, I had already inquired about the situation. The town and the steel mill spend nearly 900,000 yuan on food and drink at the reception station every year, which is enough to pay the annual salary plus benefits for all the town's officials."

  Shen Hua said, "It's absolutely impossible to completely eliminate eating and drinking. When doing business domestically, it's all about relationships. I can't have my cake and eat it too - if I want the horse to run, I also need to give it grass to eat. But everything needs to be done in moderation. This expense needs to come down, reduced to a relatively reasonable level, and financial expenses must be strictly controlled. Using the first method would be very suitable. However, if we really use the first method, those officials who are used to signing off on fake accounts and eating and drinking excessively will definitely curse me behind my back! You see, no matter what, I'm here to do a job that's bound to offend people - why not just offend everyone from the start?"

  Chen Dan looked up at Shen Huai with wide eyes, not knowing why he wanted to explain these things to her, but still feeling a little happy in her heart. She lowered her head and looked at the floor tiles under her feet, suppressing her voice as she said: "It's not necessary to start by showing off your strength from the beginning, work can be done gradually; they say that even a strong dragon doesn't oppress the local snake. You've only just arrived in Mei Xi today and haven't yet stood firm on your feet; Du Lao Hu is a very formidable local snake, and Huang Shu Lang and Huang Xin Liang are not easy to deal with either."

  "Du Jian is the big boss in Meixi Town, but what about at the county level? He's still as obedient as a dog," Shen Huai chuckled. "At the Municipal Steel Factory, you saw my style, didn't you? Secretary-General Ge Yongqiu of the Municipal Government has been transferred to be the Vice-Secretary and Acting County Magistrate of Xiapu County. I dare to slap Ge Yongqiu in the face, how can I not make Du Jian's face turn red?"

  Chen Dan pursed her lips and said nothing.

  "But you're right," Shen Huai said, "I shouldn't have been so impulsive from the start. After arriving in Meixi, I should have first taken a wait-and-see approach and familiarized myself with the situation in Meixi Town. With so many cadres in the town, it's impossible for all of them to be on the same page as Du Lao Hu. He Qing She is not someone who can get along with Du Jian. If I had taken half a year to establish myself in Meixi and then joined forces with He Qing She and other cadres, I would have been more confident in opposing Du Jian; another half year would also be enough time to compete for control of the steel factory... Ah, did you know that I was just appointed as the director of the steel factory this morning?"

  "Just heard. Everyone below says that Du Lao Hu has made you a figurehead, which is why you're reacting so strongly," Chen Dan said, "However, almost all the people in the steel factory are Du Lao Hu's trusted followers. If you really want to manage the steel factory, it will probably take one and a half years of hard work to succeed."

  "If I were a seasoned politician, I shouldn't be so impatient," Shen Hua said with a self-deprecating smile. "But the steel mill can't wait. Zhao Dong and I have analyzed it, if Mei Creek Steel Mill continues to drag on for another half year, it's likely to be beyond salvation, might as well shut down and liquidate."

  "Really? I didn't know that." Chen Dan stared at Shen Hua with wide eyes.

  She only entrusted Zhao Dong with the matter of Haiwen's compensation, and afterwards she had no contact with Zhao Dong. On the contrary, Chen Tong helped Shen Hui move house and met Zhao Dong twice, but she never thought that Shen Hui would be so familiar with Zhao Dong.

  "To be honest, if I wait another half month patiently, even if I can't get Du Jian to leave Meixi, I can at least get him to hand over the actual power of the steel plant. However, the stagnant situation in Meixi and the steel plant won't improve quickly," Shen Huai said. "Time waits for no man. If we drag on for three to five months before taking drastic measures to rectify the steel plant, the livelihoods of thousands of people may be ruined. Can I afford to wait? Can I spend three to five months grinding with these people who only eat but don't work? My goal is to turn Du Jian into a tool in my hand, first stirring up this stagnant water."

  Chen Dan smiled and said: "Just now you weren't afraid of Du Lao Hu taking action?"

  "He dares?" Shen Huan smiled and said, "If he dares to take action, his official hat will be removed today. I'm using words to provoke him, just to make him reveal the most direct weakness that can kick him out with one foot. To be honest, in our country, if you want to do things, don't expect others to like you. Look around us, which official doesn't like to make money together? I don't need others to like me, nor do I want to please them. If it were in the city or county, I might still have to be humble and obedient, but when doing things in a township, first of all, you must make others fear you... Du Jian has been tyrannizing Mei Creek for years, beating people and scolding them, how many people have dared to confront him? But don't worry too much, township cadres are still fond of people who can bring them benefits. Now I'm whipping them twice, next time I'll put two bones in their mouths, they'll still wag their tails at me."

  "I don't understand this even more." Chen Dan peeked out the window and saw Huang Xinliang hadn't left yet, imagining him wagging his tail, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. Her face flushed red, her eyes shining with tears, she glanced at Shen Hua, then lowered her head again. Perhaps it was this face that brought her too much trouble, perhaps it was herself struggling to protect herself too tiredly, she especially felt that Shen Hua's rough and domineering style made her feel more at ease.

  "Do you know what the catfish effect is?" Shen Huan saw Chen Danhong's face turn red, and her eyes were full of charm, which made him feel anxious and think that some women are really good at seducing people, so he quickly changed the subject and asked.

  "After all, I'm a technical school graduate," Chen Danjiao said with a pout, "Isn't it true that sardines like quietness and transporting them in water buckets will cause the water to become hypoxic and suffocate due to lack of exercise? Throw in an active carp, stir up the water, and force the sardines to swim along, the water will come alive, and the fish won't die..."

  Here is the translation:

  "Speaking of which, Chen Dan curiously raised her head and stared at Shen Hua: "You're comparing yourself to this catfish! But thinking about it, if you want to manage a steel factory, shouldn't you be taking out other employees with vitality and ambition to be the 'catfish', rather than going to be one yourself?"

  "How do you know nobody wants me to be a carp?" Shen Huan asked with a smile, knowing that Chen Dan was an old middle school graduate who was still studying by correspondence, and was much stronger than most beautiful women who relied on their looks to make a living. Unfortunately, this society only gave her appearance attention.

  "Ah, who is it?" Chen Dan asked curiously.

  "In a few days, you will know." Shen Hua thought that the news of Tan Qiping's appointment would be transmitted to Donghua in these two days. With Chen Mingde's lesson learned, Tan Qiping would not make any rash moves after arriving at Donghua.

  Tan Qiping didn't make any rash moves in the city, he wanted to wait patiently and quietly in Meixi for a while longer. When would this stalemate be broken? Shen Hua also knew that Tan Qiping was happy to see him take the lead and stir up the stagnant water of Donghua, as long as the situation that arose was within his control as municipal party secretary.

  Shen Hua didn't mention that someone was backing him, and Chen Dan wasn't curious either. On the contrary, Shen Hua had already said too much to her today, let alone these words shouldn't have been said to her in the first place. Chen Dan found it strange, feeling that Shen Hua's heart seemed to be very lonely, and thinking back to the scene of him hugging Jinzi and crying a few days ago, she thought that maybe he just wanted someone to talk to.