I See through Everything

Chapter 75: Chapter 74: A Two-Pronged Approach

Meanwhile.

Elsewhere.

Manager Wang Feng of the company’s purchasing department and his team were not idle either. He had personally brought his assistant to the Magong Town government office building.

Mayor Luo Heguang, who was in his office reviewing documents, came out to greet them personally the moment he heard they were from Hailufeng Company.

"Mayor Luo, hello!" Wang Feng said with a smile, extending his hand.

As they shook hands, Luo Heguang asked, "Welcome to the town hall. May I have your names?"

Wang Feng introduced himself as they walked.

Once they were in the mayor’s office on the second floor, Luo Heguang picked up a tea caddy, grabbed a pinch of tea leaves, and placed them in a teapot. He then asked with a smile, "Manager Wang, is there anything the town government can help you with? As long as it’s within our power, we will certainly do everything we can to assist."

The reason he was so courteous was very simple.

Luo Heguang was no fool. At only thirty-nine years old, he still had a chance for another promotion. To get ahead, besides building connections and finding powerful patrons, having a solid track record was crucial.

And he had taken note of Hailufeng Company’s expansion this year. The company was projected to generate at least one billion in revenue.

Considering some of the unique aspects of Hailufeng Company, Luo Heguang had roughly estimated the regional GDP driven by the company this year.

Using the standard GDP calculation model—value added = taxes + compensation + depreciation + operating surplus—he estimated Hailufeng Company’s direct contribution to Magong Town’s GDP to be around 500 million, with an indirect contribution of another 200 to 300 million.

To put that in perspective, the GDP of Shanmei City’s urban district last year was just over 30 billion. Among the district’s various sub-districts and towns, Magong Town was an insignificant player with the lowest GDP, a paltry 800 million. And that figure already included nearly 100 million contributed by Hailufeng Company.

Therefore, this year, Hailufeng Company would likely account for 2% of the entire urban district’s GDP—not a small proportion. If narrowed down to just Magong Town, its share would be as high as 60%.

In other words, Hailufeng Company had, without anyone quite realizing it, come to represent half of Magong Town’s entire GDP.

Unless Luo Heguang was a complete idiot, he knew this was a ready-made achievement delivered right to his doorstep. He had to find a way to keep a company like this here and not let some other place poach Hailufeng Company away.

On the other hand, the network of connections Jiang Miao had built using his medical skills was another reason for Luo Heguang’s courteous treatment of Hailufeng Company.

No one could guarantee they would stay healthy forever. If he didn’t maintain a good relationship, Jiang Miao could simply choose to turn a blind eye. By the time one’s illness became critical, it would be far too late.

Seeing Luo Heguang’s deferential manner, Wang Feng didn’t get carried away. ’This is all thanks to the boss,’ he thought. ’I’m just basking in his reflected glory.’ He quickly explained the purpose of his visit:

"Mayor Luo, I’ve come today because our company hopes the town government can act as a go-between for us. We plan to sign contracts with a number of fish farmers for the targeted procurement of Egyptian Fish."

"Oh? Egyptian Fish? It’s been many years since anyone in our town has raised them, hasn’t it?" Luo Heguang was a bit surprised. He poured hot tea into their cups. "Have some tea."

Wang Feng explained the details, and after listening, Luo Heguang understood that Hailufeng Company was planning to open a feed mill and needed Egyptian Catfish as a raw material.

"Therefore, our company hopes to achieve a win-win partnership with the town government. We’d like the government to take the lead, under the banner of a targeted assistance program, to select some impoverished households from the villages to become our contract farmers."

Although Luo Heguang was tempted, he still asked about the details of the contract farming. "The contract for targeted farming is for three years. If they break the contract, is there a penalty clause or anything?"

"Yes, a penalty of 90,000 per mu," Wang Feng answered without concealment.

Upon hearing the amount, Luo Heguang felt it might be a problem. "Won’t that make the farmers hesitant? Could it be changed to ten or twenty thousand?"

"Mayor Luo, to be honest, this penalty is also for the farmers’ own good. Otherwise, they might be tempted to be half-hearted, which would defeat the purpose of the assistance program. Our company would also be unable to secure a stable supply of raw materials. According to the contract, as long as they manage the ponds well, they can earn a profit of at least 60,000 yuan per mu each year. If they really work hard, earning over 100,000 is also possible."

"Is it really that high?" Luo Heguang was truly tempted now; after all, he had relatives and friends in the area.

Wang Feng smiled and shook his head. "It’s not that high, it’s hard-earned money. If they stock the fingerlings and then don’t manage or feed them, a mu of fish pond will only yield one or two thousand jin over half a year. At that rate, they’d be better off working as laborers."

"That’s true," Luo Heguang conceded, as he knew a little about aquaculture.

After a detailed discussion, Wang Feng had explained everything clearly. The plan had well and truly won Luo Heguang over.

Soon after, Luo Heguang convened the town government’s leadership committee and briefly outlined Hailufeng Company’s plan to them.

The members of the leadership committee discussed it for an entire afternoon. Deeming it a great opportunity, they unanimously voted to approve the targeted assistance program.

「The next day.」

Luo Heguang called Wang Feng over.

The two parties began formal, detailed talks.

The purchasing department had already signed contracts for over 300 mu of fish ponds. Considering the limited number of ponds in Magong Town, many of which were already in use, Wang Feng only allocated a quota of 400 mu for this program.

After all, the impoverished households in the area had little arable land per capita. A family might only have one or two mu scraped together, and there were plenty of families with even less than a single mu.

Besides, not all the poor were willing to work. Many were impoverished not because they were unable to work, but due to laziness and gambling addictions.

Wang Chenggong, the director of the town’s Poverty Alleviation Office, presented the data on impoverished households from the six natural villages under their jurisdiction. "We looked into it this morning. After excluding the households with no able-bodied workers, we are left with 173."

After a moment of thought, Luo Heguang ordered, "Call the village chiefs and party secretaries from the six villages over for a meeting. They’re the ones who truly understand the specific situations of these impoverished households."

"Alright."

A little over an hour later, the chiefs and party secretaries of the six administrative villages had all arrived at the town hall.

Luo Heguang didn’t waste any time and got straight to the point. "The town government and Hailufeng Company have reached a partnership agreement. We’ve secured a targeted assistance program for the impoverished households in your villages. The proposals have been handed out to you. Take a look."

Jiang Dalong, the chief of Xincun Village, was a clansman of Jiang Miao’s. Based on their generational standing, Jiang Miao would have had to address him as Uncle.

Jiang Dalong glanced at the proposal and knew this was what his cousin, Jiang Dahai, had called him about a few days ago. As a fellow townsman and clansman, he naturally had no objections and was quick to show his support.

"Mayor Luo, our Xinxiang will naturally support this plan."

Among the other villages, the chiefs of Nanhu Village and Salt Town Village also expressed their support.

The remaining three administrative villages, knowing this was an unstoppable trend, also chimed in to express their full support.

Luo Heguang nodded. "Since no one has any objections, after you return, I want you to go door-to-door and talk to these impoverished households. But you cannot force them. Take this proposal back with you, make copies, give one to every household, and explain it clearly."

"Understood!"

"Don’t worry, Mayor Luo."

"This is a good thing. I’m sure the impoverished households won’t refuse."

Hearing the responses from the chiefs and party secretaries, Luo Heguang’s eyes narrowed. "There are some things you need to handle with the right amount of discretion. After all, you all live in the same village and see each other every day. This time, I have only one requirement: ensure this assistance program is genuinely implemented. I’ll say it again: genuinely implemented."

Several of the village chiefs gave a dry laugh.

"Yes, yes..."

"We will be sure to carry out the town government’s directives."

After all, which of these local tyrants didn’t know who the truly impoverished households were?

And while Luo Heguang didn’t know the specifics of each village, he was very clear that there was definitely some shady business going on.

Before, he had no leverage, so he naturally wouldn’t fuss over it too much, as long as things didn’t get out of hand.

Now, using the assistance program as his leverage, he had to give these people a stern warning. After all, this matter was tied to his promotion, and he couldn’t afford to be careless.