"You have underestimated China's finances," Chen Feng replied with a calm smile.
"Are you suggesting that China and the provincial capital will promptly allocate this astronomical sum?" the village official inquired curiously.
"As you are semi-officials, you should know that in China, as long as a project can generate substantial profits or gain significant recognition, any amount of money will be managed to be secured. This land leveling initiative is undoubtedly a prime opportunity to gain recognition. From the top down, there will be all-out support. As for efficiency, it will also be immense. It can increase China's grain production manifold in a short period. Any sensible person would support it. Therefore, you needn't worry about the money. If there's truly no money, the Chinese government has a trump card." Chen Feng explained with a composed expression.
"Elder Chen, you know us. We are just minor village cadres, and our minds aren't equipped to handle major issues. May I be so bold as to ask what is the trump card the Chinese government uses when it's out of money?" the village official asked, brimming with curiosity.
"Issuing national bonds." Chen Feng answered directly, without hesitation.
"Issuing national bonds? What if no one buys these bonds?" the village official asked doubtfully.
"No one buying national bonds is possible, but it would only occur in capitalist countries. This is because capitalist countries have poor national credit, and their citizens fear being swindled, thus they dare not buy national bonds. Furthermore, in capitalist countries, there are many investments with higher yields than national bonds, so they see no need to purchase them. China is different. Firstly, the Chinese government's credit is excellent. From the establishment of the new government to the present, China has repaid every bond on time without a single default, and the people trust the government. Secondly, China's investment market is rife with scams and fraud, and people, having been cheated, are more willing to invest in national bonds. Let me put it this way, as long as the Chinese government wishes, it can issue as many national bonds as it wants," Chen Feng explained patiently.
Hearing Chen Feng's explanation, the village official's worries were immediately alleviated. As long as the funds were in place, no problem in the countryside was insurmountable. Thus, the village official promptly began working with households one by one. To motivate the village cadres in their work with the villagers, Chen Feng instituted a reward system. A reward of 100,000 yuan for completing all tasks, 50,000 yuan for completing half the tasks, and 10,000 yuan for completing a small portion of the tasks. While 50,000 yuan might be a small sum in the city, it was a substantial amount in the countryside. With the prospect of a 100,000 yuan reward, the village cadres were immensely motivated. Exactly as Chen Feng had anticipated, within a week, the village's land leveling work was successfully completed, with all farmers agreeing to the land leveling. Chen Feng was very satisfied with the outcome and immediately headed to the provincial capital. With the first step of land leveling completed, it was time to move on to the second.
"Chen Feng, if this land leveling project were for your hometown, I could approve it immediately. However, if you intend to implement land leveling across the entire province, I cannot approve this project, even if I wanted to," said Miao Qifeng, the top official in the provincial city, getting straight to the point.
"Reason?" Chen Feng retorted. He and Miao Qifeng were already in the same boat, so there was no need for pretense. He said whatever was on his mind.
"The fiscal priorities of Sanshui Province are tilted towards attracting investment. The land leveling project is immensely costly, and Sanshui Province does not have that much fiscal capacity. It's as simple as that," Miao Qifeng replied truthfully.
"Actually, Sanshui Province doesn't need to spend any money." Chen Feng responded calmly.
"That's interesting. If Sanshui Province doesn't spend money on land leveling, who will?"
"The higher authorities in China."
"Chen Feng, you've been in the political arena for so long; you shouldn't be so naive. Do you think the higher-ups are a welfare institution that throws money around when they're short? Don't be so idealistic. They are smarter than monkeys. They only think about how to squeeze more money from below, not how to give money to them," Miao Qifeng stated sternly.
"Elder Miao, your political experience is not wrong. However, there are always exceptions. For instance, if people in higher positions want to curry favor with the top leader of China, they are willing to disburse funds."
"That's interesting, continue," Miao Qifeng said with interest.
"Elder Miao, you should know that the elder has been advocating for poverty alleviation for years. Anyone who isn't foolish knows how much the elder emphasizes poverty alleviation. Anyone who opposes poverty alleviation or pays lip service but acts otherwise will ruin their political career. We can frame the land leveling project in Sanshui Province as part of poverty alleviation, and the higher authorities will naturally not dare to refuse support. In this way, the astronomical fiscal appropriations will be secured," Chen Feng explained patiently.
"That's feasible. Chen Feng, Chen Feng, your perspective has truly broadened." Miao Qifeng exclaimed excitedly.
"Then, I'll trouble Elder Miao to quickly draft a project application to the higher authorities. As long as the project proposal is well-written, it will be approved in a flash," Chen Feng said with full confidence.
"I can handle general project applications, but I genuinely don't know how to write a land leveling project proposal," Miao Qifeng shook his head and replied.
"Elder Miao, you've forgotten, you have a dedicated secretary for writing documents. You can ask him to write it; it shouldn't be a big problem," Chen Feng suggested.
"Chen Feng, you don't understand. My dedicated document-writing secretary is indeed a highly educated individual, but his expertise is limited to provincial-level documents. He truly doesn't know how to write documents that involve the highest levels of China," Miao Qifeng continued to shake his head.
"Elder Miao, you don't need to worry about that. You just need to assign the task to your document-writing secretary," Chen Feng said calmly.
"Chen Feng, what do you mean? Didn't I just say that my document-writing secretary isn't skilled at writing documents related to the higher authorities in China? Forcing him is useless," Miao Qifeng said, feeling dizzy.
"Elder Miao, you're overthinking it. Let me put it this way, secretaries in the Chinese political arena have their own networks. For documents they don't know how to write, they will inquire within their circles, and naturally, someone will know how to write them. Frankly, they exchange information and help each other. It's similar to us officials; we all connect. The Chinese political arena is never about navigating it alone; it's about navigating it as a group!" Chen Feng's explanation convinced Miao Qifeng. Chen Feng had a profound grasp of the Chinese political landscape, remembering even the most insignificant details. After a brief chat, Miao Qifeng went to find his dedicated document-writing secretary. Chen Feng returned directly to Mingshan City. After a day of rest, Chen Feng appeared in his office precisely on time the following day. Unexpectedly, before he could even settle in, a familiar woman entered his office. This woman was none other than Wang Ziwei.
"Teacher Wang, why are you here?" Chen Feng asked, feeling a bit flustered.
"I'm here to ask for your help," Wang Ziwei replied directly.
"Ask me for help?" Chen Feng was taken aback. Wang Ziwei was the daughter of the Wang family from the capital, with immense influence. Did she really need help?
"Yes, I have a friend who works as a government secretary. Recently, he has a document he doesn't know how to write, and he asked me to write it, but I don't know how to either. After thinking about it, I figured you would know how to write it." Wang Ziwei explained.
"What kind of document?" Chen Feng probed, feeling a vague premonition that it might be the application for special funding for the Sanshui Province hilly terrain leveling project.