282: This isn't alcohol, it's money!

Hearing the conversation between Lin Zifeng and Zhang Yuhao, Li Yuhang smiled and said, "So you two have this kind of connection? Since Director Zhang once worked in Yushu County, helping Yushu County vigorously develop its urban construction is his bounden duty."

Zhang Yuhao nodded and said, "Since Division Chief Li has spoken, and I have had a period of work experience in Yushu County, plus I am an old acquaintance of Secretary Lin, helping is a certainty."

Lin Zifeng thanked him immediately. Li Yuhang remarked that Director Zhang was straightforward, and then asked the waiter to serve the food and drinks.

Once the waiter had served all the food and drinks and left the Private Room, Li Yuhang, acting as the intermediary, raised his glass and looked at the group, saying, "Everyone already knows the purpose of why I invited you friends here today."

"Thank you all for coming to show your support. I'll finish this first as a sign of respect. Thank you, everyone."

After saying this, Li Yuhang tilted his head back and downed the one-liang glass of liquor.

The others also followed suit and downed their drinks. With Li Yuhang taking the lead and Lin Zifeng assisting, the two of them began to toast and drink with the other four.

After three rounds of drinks and the meal was well underway, Li Yuhang knew it was awkward for Lin Zifeng to bring it up. He set down his glass and spoke again, "I am very happy that you all gave me, Li Yuhang, some face."

"However, we shouldn't forget the main business while drinking. Everyone here isn't an outsider, so let's make a statement and provide something practical! I can't let my brother go back empty-handed!"

Hearing what Li Yuhang said, the group looked at each other. Zhang Huawei spoke up first, "Division Chief Li, Secretary Lin, our Department of Transportation has a special fund, which is the road maintenance compensation."

"This fund is mainly for the maintenance and care of provincial roads, with a maintenance fee of 100,000 per kilometer."

"If it's for renovating and rebuilding expressways, in principle, we can subsidize 500,000 per kilometer. I just heard Secretary Lin describe that their county plans to build five expressways simultaneously, with a total length of nearly 180 kilometers."

"I can secure a subsidy of 600,000 per kilometer for Secretary Lin, which amounts to a funding subsidy of 108 million."

"Thank you, Director Zhang. On behalf of the Cadres and the public of Yushu County, I thank you, Director Zhang. I'll finish this glass; please feel free to drink as you like."

Lin Zifeng happily downed the drink in one gulp.

Subsequently, Division Chief Yang from the Department of Education and Director Zhao from the Development and Reform Commission also made their positions known. Division Chief Yang promised 50 million, and Director Zhao promised 120 million.

Both of them stated that as long as Yushu County submitted the application materials, the funds would be approved quickly and deposited directly into Yushu County's financial account.

Seeing that everyone had turned their eyes to him, Zhang Yuhao, who had originally exhausted all his efforts to curry favor with Li Yuhang, had only managed to get the Executive Deputy Director to agree to let him control 300 million in urban development assistance funds.

However, if these 300 million in funds were to benefit Lin Zifeng, he felt very conflicted and extremely uncomfortable.

He didn't want to see a day in the future where Lin Zifeng's rank surpassed his, but given the current situation, he had to make a statement.

Otherwise, not only would he fail to befriend Li Yuhang, but he would also offend him and become a laughingstock to the other three.

Therefore, after quickly weighing the pros and cons, he spoke up, "Division Chief Li, Secretary Lin, our Department of Finance has a corresponding urban development assistance fund. I have the authority to allocate 200 million, which is already my limit."

"I will approve this fund for Yushu County; it can be considered as supporting the place where I once worked. What do you two think?"

Zhang Yuhao was unwilling, so as soon as he opened his mouth, the 300 million became 200 million. He wanted to keep 100 million to use for building other connections.

"Thank you, Director Zhang. On behalf of all the Cadres and the public of Yushu County, I would like to toast you," Lin Zifeng, unaware of the trickery involved, said as he happily raised his glass.

Li Yuhang naturally didn't have any objections, but not long after, being well-informed, he learned that Zhang Yuhao had originally applied for 300 million in funds from his superiors but had given 100 million less at the dinner table.

Therefore, although this move by Zhang Yuhao didn't anger Li Yuhang, his wish to befriend him was shattered. It could be said that he tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice instead.

With a family background like Li Yuhang's, he couldn't accept others playing little tricks on him.

After learning about this, Li Yuhang told Lin Zifeng. Lin Zifeng just laughed it off and told Li Yuhang that regardless of what happened, the other party had helped a lot, and he should still be grateful to him.

Li Yuhang curiously asked what kind of relationship the two had that caused Zhang Yuhao to act this way. Lin Zifeng didn't hide it from him and recounted their relationship.

Although Li Yuhang understood Zhang Yuhao's approach, he still told Lin Zifeng that Zhang Yuhao was not suitable to be a friend. But that is a story for another time.

The three, including Zhang Huawei, also raised their glasses, saying that Zhang Yuhao, the God of Wealth, was generous.

Having secured 478 million in funds at the dinner table, Lin Zifeng was very happy, so he frequently took the initiative to toast.

After the drinking session was over, Lin Zifeng had consumed over two jin of White Liquor, the most of anyone present.

The others had also drunk over a jin. At the suggestion of Li Yuhang, whose tongue was a bit stiff, the drinking session ended, and everyone walked out of the hotel chatting and laughing.

Lin Zifeng shook hands with everyone one by one and invited them to visit Yushu County when they had time. He saw everyone off to their cars and only got into his own car after watching them leave.

"Secretary, looking at your current state, you've had quite a lot to drink tonight, haven't you? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Shall I go buy you some hangover medicine?"

Wang Zhongyu asked with a look of concern.

"I'm happy today, it doesn't matter. This isn't liquor I'm drinking! This is money!"

"If drinking two and a half jin of White Liquor can secure 478 million in funds for our Yushu County, I could drink like this three times a day."

Lin Zifeng said, breathing out the smell of alcohol.

Hearing what Lin Zifeng said, Wang Zhongyu and Li Qiang thought to themselves, the Secretary's connections are indeed extensive and powerful! Securing nearly 500 million in funds with just one move is something not everyone can do.

Thinking of this, Wang Zhongyu said, "Secretary, your personal intervention really had an extraordinary effect. With you as our leader, it is definitely a blessing for our Yushu County!"

"Don't flatter me, Zhongyu. I just leveraged my Party School classmate connections; otherwise, I would have been helpless too."

Lin Zifeng waved his hand and said.

During their conversation, Li Qiang drove the car into the Residential Community where Chen Yuqing lived and parked it in front of the unit entrance.

Lin Zifeng got out of the car. Seeing him staggering a bit as he walked, Wang Zhongyu and Li Qiang stepped forward to support him, but Lin Zifeng refused.

"Zhongyu, Qiang Zi, I'm fine. It's getting late, go back to the hotel and rest early! I can manage these few steps."

Wang Zhongyu helped him open the unit door and watched him walk upstairs.

The two didn't leave immediately. Seeing the voice-activated lights in the stairwell light up floor by floor, they only got back in the car and left after the light on the third floor lit up.