Chapter 216 National Prosperity and Peace!

The Finance Bureau office.

Sunlight streamed through the window, spilling onto the mountain of piled-up documents.

Director Qian Jin was sitting at his desk, his brow slightly furrowed, his pen moving ceaselessly as he signed document after document, his gaze focused yet slightly weary.

The nation's various development projects were as numerous as the stars, and every single measure to combat the energy crisis required massive capital investment, making him feel the weight of his heavy responsibility.

"Ring, ring, ring..."

The telephone rang suddenly, and Director Qian Jin picked it up, saying:

"Hello, who is this?"

"Old Qian, it's me, Commander Liu Chengzhi. What are you doing?"

Commander Liu Chengzhi's hearty voice came from the other end of the line.

Director Qian Jin smiled helplessly and replied:

"I'm busy approving funding documents!"

"You have no idea. Nowadays, the nation's various development projects and the many measures to tackle the energy crisis require massive amounts of capital!"

"If it weren't for that batch of mechs we sold to Oil Country earlier, earning over a trillion, which eased our cash shortage, I'd be worried to death!"

"Come to think of it, we really have to thank Su Chen for creating such a profitable project for our nation!"

"So, does that mean the nation isn't short on money anymore?" Commander Liu Chengzhi asked.

Director Qian Jin was slightly taken aback, then said:

"I wouldn't go that far!"

He was just about to explain in detail when he suddenly felt something was off, so he asked:

"General Liu, is there something you need from me?"

"I don't recall you ever being this concerned about our nation's finances before!"

Commander Liu Chengzhi chuckled and said: "Bullshit, Old Qian!"

"When we were negotiating business with the Desert Nations, I put in plenty of effort and helped our country earn a lot of money. Have you, old geezer, forgotten our contributions so quickly?"

Director Qian Jin played dumb, wanting to tease Commander Liu Chengzhi, so he said:

"Did I? Why don't I remember that?"

Commander Liu Chengzhi laughed and said: "Fine, fine, fine, you're teasing me, aren't you!"

"I was going to tell you some good news, but now that I think about it, never mind."

Director Qian Jin said dismissively:

"Right now, I only care about money. I'm not interested in any news that doesn't involve money."

Commander Liu Chengzhi suddenly laughed and said:

"Is that so? What a coincidence, this actually does involve money!"

"To tell you the truth, as our nation's representative, I've conducted another mech deal with Oil Country!"

"Oh????" Director Qian Jin's interest was instantly piqued, and his voice rose a notch!

"Really?"

"Good heavens, wasn't The Oil Tycoon affected by this energy crisis? They actually still have spare cash to buy mechs!"

Commander Liu Chengzhi said proudly: "We all underestimated those guys; they are still wealthy back home!"

Director Qian Jin signed documents with one hand while asking with great interest:

"Then, may I ask, General Liu, how much have you added to our national treasury this time?"

Commander Liu Chengzhi chuckled and played coy: "I don't really want to say."

Director Qian Jin snorted: "Fine, fine, fine, now it's your turn to tease me, right!"

"I don't care if you don't tell me. Anyway, given the current situation in Oil Country, they definitely can't afford to buy many mechs!"

"Besides, what do you think I do here? All income has to pass through my hands; I'll know the exact amount sooner or later."

Commander Liu Chengzhi chuckled: "Alright then! Then just wait. We just signed the agreement here; the money will take at least three or four days to reach our national treasury. You're not in a rush anyway!"

"However, I can give you a heads-up: this time, the money... is a huge amount!"

"More than you can imagine!"

Director Qian Jin froze, his pen hovering in mid-air. After a few seconds, he gave a disdainful smile and said:

"I know you're still teasing me! I don't believe it! Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?"

Commander Liu Chengzhi grinned and said:

"If you don't believe me, forget it. I'm hanging up."

As he said this, Commander Liu Chengzhi was about to hang up.

But at this moment, Director Qian Jin put down his pen and hurriedly spoke up:

"Wait a second!"

"Sigh! Fine, you win!"

"You know I'm an impatient person. Tell me, how much money did we actually earn this time?"

A playful smile appeared on the corner of Commander Liu Chengzhi's mouth, and he felt secretly pleased, having easily manipulated Director Qian Jin's temperament.

He said: "This time, you must treat me to a drink, and it must be the fine liquor you keep in your private collection. Don't just say it's all part of my service to the nation. If you agree, I'll tell you!"

Director Qian Jin was indeed an impatient man, and he hurriedly agreed:

"Alright, alright, just tell me already, how much did we earn this time!"

"But I'll say this upfront: if we only earned a few hundred billion... and you're just bluffing me by saying it's a lot, not only will there be no drinks, but I'll also go to your house to mooch off your liquor."

Commander Liu Chengzhi laughed: "Then you won't get the chance!"

"I sold eighty-two mechs to Oil Country this time. Including some discounts, this time I helped the nation earn... 2.4 trillion!"

Once these words were spoken, the hand holding the phone of Director Qian Jin of the Finance Bureau trembled violently, his face filled with shock.

"What?"

"2.4... trillion!!!!"

It was like a thunderclap exploding in his mind, becoming a shocking number he couldn't shake off.

Director Qian Jin's face was filled with shock, his mouth slightly agape, unable to speak for a long time.

After a long while, he finally reacted and asked stammeringly:

"Old Liu, are you telling the truth? This is such a serious matter, you can't be joking with me!"

"Really, really... did we earn 2.4 trillion?"

"Do you know what this concept means?"

Commander Liu Chengzhi smiled calmly and said:

"Of course I know. Our annual military budget is less than 2 trillion. Oil Country really did a huge deal with us this time!"

Director Qian Jin was still a bit dazed. After hearing these words from Commander Liu Chengzhi, he felt that Commander Liu Chengzhi wasn't lying to him; he seemed to be serious.

Just at this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps rang out outside, "thump, thump, thump," the sound exceptionally clear in the quiet corridor.

A subordinate knocked and entered, holding a document in his hand, his face overflowing with excitement, shouting at the same time: "Huge income, huge income!"

"Director, we suddenly received an income of 2.4 trillion! Please take a look!"

Director Qian Jin took the receipt, his eyes instantly widening, stunned by the number on it.

It really was 2.4 trillion, not a single digit off.

He suddenly realized and asked Commander Liu Chengzhi on the other end of the phone:

"Didn't you say it would take a few days to arrive?"

Commander Liu Chengzhi grinned and said proudly:

"Hehe, that was the part where I was teasing you!"

"Old Qian, don't forget my fine liquor! Bye now!"

Having said that, Commander Liu Chengzhi hung up the phone, not giving Director Qian Jin a chance to retort!

Realizing he had been played by Commander Liu Chengzhi, Director Qian Jin didn't feel upset, or rather, the joy brought by this massive receipt washed away that little bit of "sadness" from being teased.

The 2.4 trillion transaction—the more he looked at it, the happier he became.

With this money, the nation would have more sufficient funds to deal with the energy crisis!

Various development projects could also proceed more smoothly!

The people's lives would also be better protected because of this massive income.

He thought to himself, now, the energy crisis was completely a non-issue!

Peace and Prosperity; we can have a good year!