62: Chapter 62 Qin Chuan, Give Me Some Face

For the past few days, Qin Chuan has rarely been in the office.

Most of the time, he was either at the Central School or at the Jiucailing Coal Mine.

Young Master Fu, Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu Kenan, and the others naturally made a wasted trip; they didn't see Qin Chuan in his office, but instead found Township Head Chen Qunfeng in the township head's office, drinking tea and reading the newspaper.

In Dahe Township, Township Head Chen Qunfeng was effectively just a mascot.

He had nothing to do every day, couldn't command the people below him, and basically spent his time drinking tea and reading the newspaper, much like an old cadre on the verge of retirement.

Naturally, he felt stifled.

He thought back to his time at the Education Bureau, where his word was law, everyone revolved around him, and his orders were like imperial edicts that no one dared to defy.

Now, it was a complete contrast—like heaven and earth.

He felt stifled, but there was nothing he could do.

He suspected that Qin Chuan might have significant connections and a strong background, while he himself lacked any backing.

For this reason, besides drinking tea and reading the newspaper, he often visited county leaders, hoping to pay his respects, seek patronage, and dreamed of having a powerful backer.

"Ex... Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu!"

Seeing Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu Kenan walk in, followed by a young man, Township Head Chen Qunfeng couldn't quite believe his eyes.

"My god, am I seeing things?"

"Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu actually came to my office in person!"

Looking excited, Township Head Chen Qunfeng enthusiastically attended to them, serving tea, bringing out fruits and snacks, and acting very sycophantic.

Sitting down on the sofa, Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu Kenan introduced, "Township Head Chen, this is the son of Mayor Fu, a member of the Municipal Party Committee."

"Oh my!"

"It's actually Mayor Fu's son!"

Township Head Chen Qunfeng hurriedly wiped his hands on his clothes, then stepped forward, bent slightly, and proactively extended his right hand.

"Young Master Fu, hello, I am Township Head Chen Qunfeng of Dahe Township."

Young Master Fu sat on the sofa, showing no intention of standing up; he didn't even extend his right hand, merely smiling faintly.

He truly didn't think much of a mere township head.

Township Head Chen Qunfeng didn't get angry at all, piling on the smiles and saying flattering things.

He was even thinking that if he could latch onto Mayor Fu's powerful leg, he wouldn't have to fear Qin Chuan at all.

No matter how strong Qin Chuan's connections were, could they be greater than Mayor Fu's? After all, he was a member of the Municipal Party Committee!

After speaking a few polite and sycophantic words, Township Head Chen Qunfeng asked, "Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu, Young Master Fu, what brings you to Dahe Township this time? As long as it's something I can do, I will go all out and definitely won't let you down!"

Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu Kenan said, "We originally came to find Qin Chuan, but he isn't here. Give him a call and tell him that Young Master Fu and I have arrived."

"Okay, okay." Township Head Chen Qunfeng immediately made the call.

At this moment, Qin Chuan was at the Jiucailing Coal Mine.

Beside the drilling rig stood quite a few people. In addition to Qin Chuan and a few other township leaders, there were also Professor and Chief Engineer Cheng Weijia and several other experts.

Everyone was earnestly observing the coal being drilled up, and a technician was carefully taking samples.

Professor and Chief Engineer Cheng Weijia said, "Qin Chuan, the coal seam underground is very thick—thicker than we imagined. The reserves might not just be a few hundred million tons; they could exceed one billion tons!"

It had been several days since the exploration began, and the situation was becoming increasingly clear. Professor and Chief Engineer Cheng Weijia had repeatedly overturned his previous predictions, and for the first time, he proposed that the reserves might exceed one billion tons.

What was the concept of one billion tons!

Looking across the country, it could definitely rank in the top twenty, or even the top fifteen.

Qin Chuan's reaction was calm because he had long known the reserves were over a billion tons, but it was different for Ma Zhengnan and Director Hu Qibin; the surprise on their faces was hard to conceal!

At this moment, Qin Chuan's mobile phone rang.

After finishing the call, Qin Chuan said, "We need to head back. Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu has arrived, along with Young Master Fu. I suspect it's for this coal mine."

Upon hearing this, Ma Zhengnan felt a slight sense of worry.

"Secretary Qin, the Young Master Fu you mentioned—is he Wang Jun's boss behind the scenes?"

"Yes, that's him."

Ma Zhengnan stopped speaking, thinking to himself, they come with ill intent.

If he speaks up to contract this coal mine again, what should we do? His father is a member of the Municipal Party Committee and one of the big shots in Dongzhou.

Returning to the Township Government, Qin Chuan received Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu Kenan, Young Master Fu, and the others in the reception room. Sitting nearby were the other township leaders of Dahe Township, including Ma Zhengnan and Township Head Chen Qunfeng.

After all, he was a member of the County Party Committee and the Executive Vice County Magistrate.

Qin Chuan was quite particular about reception etiquette and didn't want to give anyone cause for gossip, even though he had guessed the other party's purpose—it was a classic case of coming with ill intent.

Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu Kenan introduced Young Master Fu's identity, and after chatting for a few moments, they got straight to the point.

"Secretary Qin Chuan, I came here this time to act as a go-between. I suggest that we wipe the slate clean regarding the things Wang Jun did in the past and turn the page completely."

"Young Master Fu's intention is very clear: he wants to continue contracting the Jiucailing Coal Mine. It would be best if the contract were signed for five or ten years. The contract fee can be discussed."

Qin Chuan smiled.

Since the other party had laid their cards on the table and stated their desire to contract the coal mine, Qin Chuan didn't hide anything either and spoke straight to the point.

"Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu, Young Master Fu, you might not know yet, but Dahe Township has already decided that the Jiucailing Coal Mine will no longer be contracted out. It will be operated and managed by Dahe Township itself."

Township Head Chen Qunfeng was the first to jump out.

"Secretary Qin, how come I don't know about this?"

Qin Chuan glanced at him with slight dissatisfaction. "I have already communicated with Comrade Ma Zhengnan, as well as Comrades Xiuwen and Liangji. Everyone unanimously agreed that the coal mine should be operated and managed by us. It only remains to be discussed at the Party Committee meeting."

Township Head Chen Qunfeng blushed.

Such a major decision, and he, the township head, didn't even know about it. This was a slap in the face in front of Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu. What would the Executive Vice County Magistrate think?

He felt a bit of regret in his heart; he had been too hasty just now and shouldn't have jumped out without thinking.

Sure enough, Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu Kenan glanced at Township Head Chen Qunfeng and thought to himself, the rumors that Township Head Chen Qunfeng is just a figurehead in Dahe Township are actually true.

What a piece of trash, he really is such a useless piece of trash.

At forty or fifty years old, having spent so many years climbing the ranks in the officialdom, he actually couldn't even outmaneuver a young man.

He had just expressed a desire to defect to me, but now I'll have to think carefully about whether or not to take in such a useless person.

Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu Kenan said, "Secretary Qin Chuan, Young Master Fu has a great interest in this coal mine. The contract fee can be negotiated; we certainly won't let Dahe Township be disappointed. I think operating and managing it yourselves is far less convenient than contracting it out."

After all, this was a member of the County Party Committee and the Executive Vice County Magistrate.

If it were any other township leader, they would surely feel immense pressure and might even change their plans under that pressure.

But Qin Chuan didn't. There was no reason for him not to eat such a big piece of fat meat himself and give it to someone else to eat.

"Executive Vice County Magistrate Yu, the reserves of this coal mine could reach hundreds of millions of tons. It is unlikely to be contracted out. I advise Young Master Fu to give up this idea."

Young Master Fu looked at Qin Chuan.

On the surface, you couldn't tell anything, but inside, he was cursing; this was not giving him any face.

"Secretary Qin, don't be so absolute. I am truly interested in this coal mine, and it has always been contracted by me in the past. Do me a favor; name your price—how much do you want for the annual contract fee?"