Chapter 223: One Good Thing After Another

Chapter 223: Chapter 223: One Good Thing After Another

After their inspection, the officials affirmed the achievements of the Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish Farm.

At the same time, they also expressed their high expectations for its future.

Director Wu smiled. "Comrade Xiao Han, you have a high level of awareness. Old Chen often praises you, and seeing you today, I can tell you live up to your reputation."

"Now that the issue with the report has been resolved, let’s talk about expanding your operations. You don’t need to worry about not being able to sell your stock. The Yue Province Foreign Trade Fair is coming up in October."

"Our trade fair in Shencheng has a relatively short history, and we don’t get many foreign clients. It’s nothing compared to the Yue Province fair."

"You’ll meet many more customers there and should be able to open up a much wider market. When the time comes, I’ll have Old Chen get a good booth for your ornamental fish and for Xiao Zhou’s aquarium factory."

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui’s eyes lit up. "Thank you for your support, Director. Now that we have orders and cash flow is recovering, we can indeed expand our farming operations."

Director Wu nodded. "Alright. Go ahead and take care of the relevant procedures later. The government will handle communication for the other matters."

Han Xiaorui smiled. "As for the land lease fees, you don’t need to give us a discount. The market rate is fine!"

In just half a year, the price to lease land had already become much more expensive than before.

It was no wonder Director Lin and his little clique had been grumbling.

But that was then, and this was now; you couldn’t compare current prices to past ones.

Of course, you also couldn’t compare current prices with future ones. All that mattered was following the local market rate.

Director Wu nodded, very pleased with Han Xiaorui’s honest and clever nature. "By being so law-abiding and compliant, your business can be long and lasting."

Han Xiaorui laughed. "It’s only right. Abiding by the laws and regulations and paying taxes according to the law—that’s what we’re supposed to do."

"After we expand, we will also prioritize hiring low-income individuals from the village. We also welcome retired veterans from rural areas to strengthen local security and help with loading and transportation."

Everyone who had come along was very happy to hear Han Xiaorui’s words.

A responsible private business owner could play a huge role in leading and promoting local economic development.

If Han Xiaorui really followed through, they were all prepared to commend her as a local model citizen.

At noon, Yang Jianguo and Han Xiaorui invited the officials to lunch at a seafood restaurant, but Director Wu declined.

With so many of them, they would need several tables.

It would be a burden on the company, and he couldn’t set that precedent.

The foreign trade sector of the Reform and Opening-up had just begun, and it wasn’t easy for private enterprises.

They had to survive in the cracks between state-owned enterprises, and they were also responsible for their own profits and losses.

There weren’t many businesses like Han Xiaorui’s Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish Farm that had managed to survive and grow.

They, as government civil servants, shouldn’t add to the burden of private companies.

And just like that, at lunchtime, the government officials left.

Yang Jianguo was shocked. "Since when are they so easygoing? I already booked a banquet with Zhang Guangnan."

Han Xiaorui didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Things are really different now. To develop the economy, not only have they simplified the procedures for us, but there are also fewer instances of soliciting bribes."

"The officials are gone, and it’s almost noon. It’s too late to cancel the banquet."

Yang Jianguo scratched his head. "Then what should we do?"

Han Xiaorui thought for a moment. "Let’s invite the village cadres, and also the villagers we’re on good terms with. We can treat it as a celebration for our farm passing the investigation."

Yang Jianguo was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. "We should also celebrate our expansion! There are another 20 mu of land nearby that we should be able to get."

Han Xiaorui nodded. "I’ll have to trouble Brother Jianguo with this matter going forward. I don’t have enough energy to handle all these things."

Yang Jianguo smiled. "Finding clients is a bit hard for me, so I’ll leave that to you. You can leave all the big and small matters at the farm to me."

At noon, Village Chief Liu and a few other village cadres were invited over.

Of course, the troublemaker Director Lin was not on the list.

One table was filled, and the food for the other reserved table was packed up and sent to the ornamental fish farm for the employees to enjoy.

Village Chief Liu took a sip of his drink, his eyes filled with approval as he looked at Han Xiaorui and Yang Jianguo.

"Back when you were building the ornamental fish farm, I was worried you would lose money. It seems I was worrying for nothing!"

Han Xiaorui raised a small wine cup and toasted Village Chief Liu. "Uncle Liu, we also have you to thank for supporting our farm."

"Whether it was the leasing procedures or the construction permits, you were the one who guided Brother Jianguo through them all."

"When the investigation team came, they also praised how complete, legal, and compliant our paperwork was. If there had been any issues, our farm would have suffered a setback."

Village Chief Liu was quite pleased to hear this. "Xiao Rui, Jianguo, remember what our ancestors said. It’s never wrong."

"’Nothing can be accomplished without rules and standards.’ If you don’t understand something, just ask. Go ask the government. You can only act after you’ve gotten a clear understanding."

Yang Jianguo also stood up to toast Village Chief Liu. "I’ve learned a lot from Uncle Liu as well. Today, the higher-ups encouraged us to expand our operations, and when the time comes, we’ll give priority to hiring people from our village."

"Uncle Liu, you’re a veteran cadre in the village and you know the villagers better than we do. When we’re ready to hire, we’ll have to ask you to help us vet the candidates."

Village Chief Liu was even happier to hear this. "Of course, of course."

The meal was a joyous occasion for both hosts and guests.

Yang Jianguo and Han Xiaorui also promised to donate money to support the village’s elderly without families and some of the poorer households.

Of course, this money would be donated to the village to be distributed by Village Chief Liu and the village cadres, which would also count as a political achievement for them.

The next day, a document came down from the higher-ups, stripping Director Lin of his position.

There was no mention of the report against the ornamental fish farm. It only stated that Director Lin had issues with his conduct, which had a negative impact.

At the village committee’s proposal and through a village election, a retired veteran named Tan Yunfei was approved as the new village director.

This soldier had a disabled left hand and had received commendations for his service.

He had refused a state-assigned post and returned to his hometown.

Village Chief Liu felt that a comrade of such good character, who was also disabled and couldn’t do heavy labor, should have his future worries taken care of.

When Lin Yongfu learned that he had been stripped of his position as village director, he was so angry he nearly coughed up blood.

The village director’s salary wasn’t much, but the things he received for helping people out far exceeded his pay.

The job wasn’t busy, and it was respectable.

Now look, he would get no part of the good things happening in Jinshan Bay.

Just as he was fuming, too ashamed to leave his house, a visitor arrived.

This was someone he had met not long ago, a friend of a friend named Luo Guang, who was supposedly a Japanese translator.

"Mr. Xu, you and I don’t know each other well. We’ve only had one meal together. Since you’ve shown up so suddenly, just tell me what this is about."

Seeing this, Luo Guang didn’t beat around the bush. He opened his bag and pulled out a thick stack of "Great Unity" bills.

(The third series of RMB was issued in 1966, ceased production in 1987, and was taken out of circulation in 2000. The ten-RMB note’s main design featured workers, peasants, soldiers, and delegates from various ethnic groups of the National People’s Congress walking out of the Great Hall of the People. The theme was "the people participate in governance and are masters of the country," which led to the nickname "Great Unity.")