Noon.
Dong Xuebing was about to go to the Finance Department to demand his Agency’s fund.
Ring… ring… ring… Dong Xuebing’s office phone rang.
Secretary Hu Silian had called. “Chief Dong, I think you might have heard of it. The second phase of our County’s urban construction project had run into some problems. There is a big shortfall of funds. The finance department cannot issue funds to many departments and agencies. The County Government is asking you all to settle the funding yourself first and wait for the Finance Department to reimburse. Please understand as this period is critical.”
Dong Xuebing sat down on his chair. “I heard the Waterworks and several other departments had gotten their funds.”
“I am not sure about this. Maybe they had gotten the funding earlier.” Hu Silian replied.
Dong Xuebing smiled. “The County Government had been emphasizing this year’s focus is on getting investments to the County and even set a target of 500 million RMB. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case now.”
Hu Silian paused for a second. “I can inform Mayor Xie for you if your Agency is really facing difficulties.”
“… never mind.” Dong Xuebing replied. “Thanks, Sister Hu. I can settle this myself.”
“Ok.” Hu Silian said. “What’s most important is to solve this financial issue first. Once the Finance Department has the funds, it will be distributed to the various departments and agencies.”
After hanging up, Dong Xuebing calmed down. Hu Silian had called him to inform this personally, which means the county does not have sufficient funds. He still thought it was Ding Li who was trying to make things difficult for him. Thinking back, Ding Li should not be this bold. But Dong Xuebing also doesn’t believe that Ding Li is really going by the books. So many departments had gotten their funding, and not the Investment Promotion Agency? When it’s the Investment Promotion Agency’s turn to get funding, the County Government face financial issues. Dong Xuebing knew Ding Li must have used this reason to create problems for him and the Investment Promotion Agency.
This old bastard!
You want to use these underhand methods on me?! I will play with you!
Dong Xuebing’s eyes turned cold, and he is determined to get this funding at all cost. The Agency needs this sum of money urgently, and cannot wait so long!
Dong Xuebing immediately called the Office Department and ask Guo Panwei and Luo Haiting to wait for him downstairs.
Dong Xuebing grabbed his bag and went downstairs. He threw his keys to Guo Panwei. “Let’s go. The Finance Department.”
Luo Haiting did not board the front passenger seat and entered the rear seat with Dong Xuebing. “Chief, how are we going to ask the money from them? I heard the County’s Environmental Protection Administration and County’s Ministry of Health had not gotten their funding. I think the County Government’s finances are really facing a shortfall.” If Ding Li had purposely withheld the funds, it could be settled easily. They can just inform the higher-ups and force him to release the fund. But if the Finance Department does not have money, it will be difficult.
Dong Xuebing replied. “I don’t believe the Finance Department doesn’t have a single cent.”
Luo Haiting paused for a second and replied. “You are right. It is still the start of the year. The Finance Department claims they don’t have money because they had already allocated the money somewhere and cannot touch it. It is impossible for them to not have money remaining. Based on previous experiences, it should not be a problem to take out 10 million.” But Luo Haiting did not mention that even if the Finance Department can squeeze out 10 million from its reserves, they will not use it for an emergency. Furthermore, the relationship between Chief Dong and Ding Li had worsened.
East City.
Finance Department Building.
Dong Xuebing asked Guo Panwei to wait for them in the car and alighted with Luo Haiting.
“Eh? Chief Dong?” A middle-aged man called.
Dong Xuebing turned and smiled. “Chief Xu.”
Luo Haiting also knows this man and nodded to greet him.
This man, in his forties, is called Xu Xu. He is the County’s Ministry of Health Chief, and Dong Xuebing had met him once in a meeting. He heard Xu Xu was formerly a Pediatrician, was promoted to the head of a hospital, and then promoted to be the Chief of the County’s Ministry of Health. Maybe it was because of his former occupation as a doctor. His character is gentle, patient, and easy-going.
Xu Xu walks over with a smile. “Are you here for money too?”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Did you come to ask for funds too? The funds for the Ministry of Health is not out yet?”
“They had only given us 1 million and told us to wait for the rest.” Xu Xu replied helplessly. “But how can the Ministry wait? That’s why I am here to speak to them.”
Dong Xuebing laughed. “At least you are better than us. The Investment Promotion Agency had not even gotten a single cent.”
“Huh?” Xu Xu looked at Dong Xuebing. He knows what happened during the Ball, and smiled. “Shall we go up together?”
“Sure.” The three of them entered the Finance Department building and went straight to Ding Li’s office.
On the way, they exchanged information, and Dong Xuebing knew a lot from Xu Xu. Other than the Ministry of Health and the Investment Promotion Agency, many Department Heads had come to the Finance Department to ask for funding. All of them knew the Finance Department must have emergency backup funds, but Ding Li avoided all of them. Even when he is found, he pushed the blame to the County Government and claims the Finance Department doesn’t have money to give them. Xu Xu and several other leaders had made more than two trips but did not get a single cent from the Finance Department.
After listening to Xu Xu, Luo Haiting felt it is more difficult to get the funds.
But Dong Xuebing doesn’t care and remained emotionless.
The Finance Department Chief’s office is located on the same floor as the Finance Department’s Administration Office.
On the way upstairs, a man holding some documents stopped them and smiled. “Chief Xu, Director Luo, are you all looking for Chief Ding?” This is the Finance Department’s Office Director, Tang Xiaojun. He didn’t know Dong Xuebing and did not greet him.
Xu Xu nodded. “Is Old Ding in his office?”
Tang Xiaojun quickly shook his head. “Chief Ding had gone for a meeting and is not around.”
Luo Haiting frowned. “What time will he be back?”
“Ah… I am not sure.” Tang Xiaojun replied. “How about you all come back another day?”
Dong Xuebing ignored Tang Xiaojun and pushed him aside. He walked straight to the Chief’s office at the end of the corridor and entered.
Tang Xiaojun was stunned. Who the hell is this person? Why is he so unreasonable?
Xu Xu laughed in his heart as he saw Dong Xuebing’s working style. “He is the Investment Promotion Agency’s Chief, Chief Dong.”
Dong Xuebing? Although Tang Xiaojun had never met Dong Xuebing before, he had heard of his nickname. God of Plague. He was about to shout at Dong Xuebing earlier but stopped. He doesn’t want to offend this man.
No one is in the Chief’s Office, and Dong Xuebing walked out.
Tang Xiaojun smiled. “Chief Ding is really not around. If you need anything…”
Dong Xuebing did not give Tang Xiaojun any ‘face’ as he doesn’t believe Ding Li is not around. He looked around and walks into the Administration Office. A few staff are busily working. Some are typing documents, and some are making calls. They immediately turned and look at Dong Xuebing when Dong Xuebing entered. They paused for a second, and Dong Xuebing noticed some of them glancing to a small office on the left. He immediately walks over.
“Chief Dong!” Tang Xiaojun quickly shouted.
Dong Xuebing opened the office’s door and saw Ding Li inside. He smiled. “Oh, Chief Ding. Why are you having a meeting here?” Ding Li is the only person in the office.
Ding Li is looking terrible. He did not expect to be discovered even when hiding in Tang Xiaojun’s office.
Xu Xu and Luo Haiting also entered the office. They were speechless. This is Dong Xuebing. If it is someone else, Ding Li will never be found.
Ding Li looked at them and composed himself. “Haha… My office is infested with cockroaches, and I am working in this office temporarily.”
Xu Xu nodded and said. “Old Ding, I am here again to ask for funds. The situation at our Ministry of Health is quite urgent. I am not asking for full funding, and just issue 1 million will do. We will think of ways to raise the rest. Is this possible?”
Ding Li laughed. “Old Xu, it’s not that I don’t want to issue money to your department. But the Finance Department really do not have money. Most of our funds are used in the second phase of the urban construction project. The City Government still has not released the funds to us…”
Dong Xuebing interrupted. “Chief Ding, do you have anything against our Investment Promotion Agency?”
Ding Li’s brows twitched, and he puts on a smiling face. “What are you talking about? We are really quite tight now, and many departments also have not received their funds. Chief Dong, I hope you can understand our situation.”
Dong Xuebing sneered. “I don’t understand. Even if you cannot give us the full amount, you can at least give us 1 million first. How come other agencies and departments can receive a portion of the fund to tide them over, and the Investment Promotion Agency did not receive anything? We had not received any funding and got to find ways to settle it ourselves? How am I going to settle it? The Investment Promotion Agency’s job is to contact investors and get them to invest. The money they invested will go to the County Government. Our Agency is not a department that can make money!” Hospitals still have income, and the Industry and Commerce Bureau can also impose fines. But the Investment Promotion Agency does not have anything.
Xu Xu continued to tell Ding Li about his Ministry’s difficulties.
Ding Li remained unmoved. The Finance Department does have money, but he cannot give it out like this. To Ding Li, the Ministry of Health’s current situation is not that serious, and he refused to give them the money. The Investment Promotion Agency… it is facing serious difficulties. Still, Ding Li had no intentions of giving Dong Xuebing the money from the start. He still had not gotten his revenge for what Dong Xuebing did at the Ball, and how can he let this opportunity go?
They spoke for around ten minutes.
In the end, Dong Xuebing knew talking to Ding Li is useless. He narrowed his eyes. “Since Chief Ding doesn’t want to release the funds, fine. I will wait in the office outside. I will only leave after the funds are transferred into the Investment Promotion Agency’s account. Chief Ding, I will wait for your good news.” Dong Xuebing said and walks out of the room with Luo Haiting.
Ding Li thought to himself. Do you think I will give you the fund if you remain here? What are you thinking?!
Xu Xu also doesn’t know what Dong Xuebing is up to.
