Chapter 1422: Chapter 220: A Son Pays for His Father’s Debts! (Part 3)
"The damage is already done. What’s the use of an apology."
"Then what should we do?"
"Your dad snatched two big projects from our Mayor Han, so he has to compensate with two big projects."
"How do you compensate an investment promotion project? Secretary Han, I really can’t make up for a project like that. If it really doesn’t work, I’ll just go back and sever father–son ties with my dad."
"You brat, that’s called playing dumb!" Han Yu scolded him with a laugh. "They say ’like father, like son,’ and it does seem to hold some truth. I just don’t know whether this trick was passed down from your dad, or you learned it at the Provincial Department."
The old leader laughed; clearly he wasn’t really angry.
Luo Wenjiang let out a small breath of relief and said with a fawning smile, "I’m not playing dumb, I just don’t know how to compensate, and I don’t know what I can do to calm you and sis-in-law down."
"You’ve worked in the Provincial Department’s offices for two years, seen the big world, must’ve made plenty of friends. Now you’ve been entrusted with an important post by the Superior, coming back to serve as a seconded deputy director. From now on, when people see you they’ll have to respectfully call you Director Luo. Getting your sis-in-law to calm down is easy—help her attract investment. As long as you help her bring in two big projects, your dad’s poaching will be written off with one stroke."
"Old leader, you think too highly of me. I don’t know the first thing about investment promotion. If I had that kind of ability..."
Before he could finish, Han Yu cut in, his tone brooking no argument: "No excuses. From this moment on, you are the off-staff director of the investment promotion office of the Changzhou Yangtze River Bridge Industrial Park. Try to help your sis-in-law bring in two projects by the end of the year. If you can’t complete the investment promotion task, I don’t care whether you sever ties with your dad or not—anyway, I’m going to sever my friendship with you."
When Xiao Yu learned that Sister Xiang Ning had been bullied by Luo Wenjiang’s old man, he was genuinely indignant. He couldn’t help turning back and shouting, "Luo Wenjiang, you heard him! Me too—I’m also going to sever my friendship with you!"
Since Xiao Yu had taken a stance, Chen Zikun couldn’t very well stay quiet. Forcing back a laugh, he added, "Director Luo, it’s me, Chen Zikun. You know the relationship between me, Secretary Han, and Xiao Yu. The three of us have always advanced and retreated together."
"Captain Chen, Captain Yu, you’re putting me on the spit here. If I’d known, I’d have never come back to take this seconded post."
"You can’t blame us. If you want to blame someone, blame your old man." Chen Zikun coughed drily and said in an exaggeratedly serious tone, "Director Luo, I’m not trying to scare you, but if the investment task isn’t completed, if your family’s compensation to Mayor Han isn’t in place, it definitely won’t just be the three of us who sever ties with you. I can tell you clearly, your old man’s vile conduct has already provoked public outrage in our Binjiang Water Fire Fighting Association!"
"It’s that serious?"
"Just wait and see if you don’t believe me."
"If I don’t complete the investment task, you guys just won’t play with me anymore, won’t treat me as a friend?"
"Not playing with you is nothing. We’re going to counterattack on all fronts and let your dad know that offending Mayor Han has serious consequences!"
"How are you going to counterattack?" Luo Wenjiang asked with a smile.
Chief Tao had also figured out what was going on and couldn’t help but lean in. "Xiao Luo, I’m Tao Zhan from the Guzhou Branch. If your family’s compensation isn’t in place, I’d say from now on every vessel, big or small, going in and out of the development zone will be subject to strict inspection. Customs and the Smuggling Crime Investigation Bureau will probably重点关注 the import–export companies in the development zone. Other people’s containers are spot-checked; the development zone’s import–export containers will all have to be opened for inspection."
Director Wang couldn’t hold back a laugh and came over to add, "The development zone also has shoreline, and there are more than a dozen black docks along it, with incomplete paperwork—by regulation they should be shut down. The Firefighting measures are inadequate—by regulation work must be halted for rectification."
"Chief Tao, Director Wang, you’re using your power to pressure people!"
"It’s got nothing to do with us, we’re just guessing. Besides, even if that really did happen, it wouldn’t count as using power to pressure people; it would just be enforcing the law impartially."
"Got it. I’ll go home tonight and tell my dad, get him to go to Mayor Han and admit his mistakes with a birch rod in hand."
"Will your dad go? And even if he does, will that solve anything? Little brother, better do something real. Think of a way to complete the investment task—otherwise there’s no way Mayor Han’s anger will subside."
"Fine. I’ll mobilize every relative and friend I can mobilize and find a way to complete the investment task."
"Now that’s more like it. Everyone has to take responsibility for what they’ve done. Your dad’s playing the old man card and doing things without scruples, so we can only come to you and make you take responsibility."
"All right, I’ll take responsibility. Who told me to be saddled with such a worrisome old man."
"That’s what Director Luo should sound like—decisive. We’ve got high hopes for you!"
...
PS: I spent the last couple of days in the hospital with my kid who caught a cold from the cold weather. My head’s spinning and my throat hurts, so there’s only one Chapter today. I hope all you brothers and sisters can understand.
