18: Chapter 18

Li Dakang's fists were clenched under the table, his nails digging deep into his palms.

Just as he was about to speak, the door to the conference room was pushed open, and Finance Director Yu Changping hurried in with the accountant from the Finance Office.

"Township Head, it has been calculated."

Finance Director Yu Changping handed over a form: "The arrears for eighty-seven private teachers total six months of wages, amounting to forty-eight thousand six hundred yuan."

"Teacher Gu, please take this money first."

Li Dakang pulled a stack of bills from his pocket, about a few hundred yuan, and handed it over: "Go to the health center and pay the medical expenses first; if it's not enough, come find me again."

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze.

Teacher Gu's rough fingers gripped the bills tightly. He raised his head, his cloudy eyes glistening with tears: "Township Head Li, this... how could I possibly accept this..."

"Take it. Saving a life is what matters." Li Dakang pushed the money forward again.

The bills glowed softly in the sunlight. Teacher Gu took them with trembling hands, and suddenly, he began to kneel.

Li Dakang was quick to catch him: "Teacher Gu, you mustn't! This is what we are supposed to do."

"Township Head Li, you don't know..." Teacher Gu choked with sobs.

"Teacher Wu has two children in school. For the past six months, they've relied entirely on his wife digging for wild vegetables and collecting scrap to get by. If they hadn't been completely unable to put food on the table that day, she wouldn't have..."

Li Dakang's throat bobbed, and he turned to Zheng Shijun: "Shijun, call the township health center now. Tell them that I, Li Dakang, will personally guarantee the medical expenses. They must do everything in their power to save her!"

"Understood, Township Head!" Zheng Shijun hurried out of the conference room.

"I thank you on behalf of Teacher Wu." Teacher Gu wiped his face.

"It is our work that wasn't done well." Li Dakang sighed.

Afterwards, he took the ledger from Finance Director Yu Changping's hands; every figure was shocking.

Closing the ledger, Li Dakang said in a steady voice: "Teacher Gu, in two days, I will notify the accountants of each school to come to the township to collect the wages."

Teacher Gu stood up abruptly: "Township Head Li, are... are you telling the truth?"

"A gentleman's word is his bond."

Li Dakang extended his pinky finger: "Shall we pinky swear?"

A burst of laughter erupted in the conference room; even Teacher Chen, who had been keeping a straight face the whole time, revealed a smile.

This simple gesture instantly bridged the distance between them.

After the teachers left, Li Dakang said to Finance Director Yu Changping: "Finance Director Yu, come to my office to chat and figure things out."

Just as he returned to his office and before he could even sit down, the cafeteria manager, Old Zhou, burst in.

The fifty-something-year-old man was drenched in sweat, his apron stained with grease: "Township Head, the cafeteria is about to run out of food!"

Finance Director Yu Changping frowned: "Old Zhou, can't you see that the Township Head is busy?"

"Busy? Even if he's busy, he still needs to eat!"

Old Zhou raised his voice: "The grain shop owner said that if we don't settle the bill, he won't give us a single grain of rice!"

"Township Head, go to the cafeteria and see for yourself; there's only half a bag of moldy old rice left for lunch!"

Li Dakang rubbed his temples. Guantian Township was like a battered ship full of holes, leaking everywhere.

He took a deep breath: "Old Zhou, give me three days."

"Township Head, it's not that I'm being unreasonable..." Old Zhou rubbed his hands together, looking troubled.

"I understand." Li Dakang interrupted him.

"Go back first; I will resolve this."

After Old Zhou left, there was silence in the office.

Finance Director Yu Changping stared at the tips of his leather shoes, while Zheng Shijun looked at Li Dakang with concern.

In the end, it was all about money.

With money, many problems could be solved easily; without money, conflicts would only continue to accumulate.

It seemed that for this first step, he had to get money.

"Shijun, take me to the Township Credit Union." Li Dakang suddenly stood up.

"Why go to the Credit Cooperative?" Zheng Shijun was stunned.

"Township Head, are you going to borrow money?"

Finance Director Yu Changping realized what was happening and quickly tried to dissuade him: "Don't go; it'll be a wasted trip."

"The township borrowed a sum of money before and hasn't paid it back yet. Whenever Director Du Cheng of the Credit Cooperative sees our township officials, he pulls a long face."

"How will we know if we don't try? Stop talking, let's go."

Li Dakang said this while walking out, and Zheng Shijun quickly followed.

The Township Credit Union was on the same street as the Township Government, just a five or six-minute walk away, but its storefront was much more imposing than the Township Government's.

No matter what era it is, a wealthy organization is always different.

The glass doors of the Credit Cooperative were polished to a shine, reflecting the blinding sunlight, and the marble floor was mirror-like, forming a sharp contrast with the dilapidated Township Government.

Zheng Shijun muttered under his breath: "They really have a lot of money and act arrogant..."

On the second floor in the director's office, Director Du Cheng was brewing tea.

Seeing Li Dakang enter, he immediately put on a smile: "Township Head Li! I've long admired you!"

He shook hands enthusiastically: "I heard the new Township Head is young and promising; seeing you today, it is indeed true!"

"Director Du Cheng, you are too kind."

Li Dakang sat down, took a sip of tea, and got straight to the point: "I've come this time to ask for your help."

"Township Head Li, I went to the county for a meeting yesterday. As soon as I returned, I heard that a new Township Head had arrived in the township."

Director Du Cheng poured tea with a chuckle: "I was just wondering when I should pay you a visit, but you've come here first."

"Director Du Cheng, to be honest, I just took office yesterday, and the situation in the township is truly terrible."

Li Dakang put down his teacup: "I would like to borrow three hundred thousand from the Credit Cooperative. What do you think..."