20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 749: Water and fire complement each other
Jiang Lianheng picked up the subscription agreement and looked at the word "voluntary" on the top of the form. He suddenly felt it was ridiculous.

Who would spend $300,000 to buy provincial government bonds at this juncture?
Even a stupid roe deer wouldn't do such a thing!

At this time, Jiang Lianheng finally understood why the provincial government sent Suo Jinfeng to talk to him. It was not for any other reason but because they were unfamiliar with each other, so it was convenient for them to get straight to the point and make things clear.

After all, wealthy families like the Jiang family have great influence in the local area, and officials from the government office often have to show some courtesy when they see them.

The fact that Lao Zhang was able to remain in power in Fengtian for more than a decade was also inseparable from the support and trust of these local powerful people.

The move of forcing wealthy merchants in each county to subscribe to government bonds is ultimately disgraceful and tantamount to extortion.

Although this is a decision from the top, if we send an acquaintance to negotiate, it might be a bit embarrassing. At least they won't ask to sign the subscription agreement immediately in person.

Suo Jinfeng had never taken any benefits from the Jiang family, so naturally he had no emotional concerns and just handled things in an impartial manner.

"Boss Jiang, this bond is backed by the provincial government's credibility, so you can make a profit without losing money. Don't hesitate any longer."

It sounds easy, but according to the current market price of Fengpiao, whether the 300,000 yuan lent out is still worth 300,000 yuan when it is repaid is another matter.

Moreover, assets are assets and cash is cash. To take out such a huge sum of money immediately would probably be a bit of a stretch for any wealthy person.

But Jiang Lianheng had no choice. The knife was on his neck and he was asking for 300,000 yuan. How could he not give it to him?

He has always been the one who snatched other people's shares. Today, he was robbed by someone else and finally he knew how it felt.

"The current situation is turbulent. The merchants and citizens of Fengtian should work together with the government to stabilize the overall situation!" Suo Jinfeng was still urging in a low voice.

Jiang Lianheng knew that he was just a messenger and had no authority to give in. He was too lazy to waste words with him, so he waved his hand and picked up the pen on the table.

"Where is the signature?"

"Here, in duplicate."

"All right."

"Please take the trouble to press your handprint again!"

Suo Jinfeng took out the ink pad from his briefcase and handed it over with a smile.

Jiang Lianheng shook his head helplessly and pressed his fingerprint on the subscription agreement. With just a few swipes and clicks, his family spent a huge sum of 300,000 yuan. It would be a lie to say that he didn't feel bad. No matter how many complaints he had, he had to face it with a smile.

Suo Jinfeng was of course very satisfied, and then he said a few meaningless words.

"Thank you Mr. Jiang for your generous donation. We will definitely remember your contribution to the provincial government."

"You're welcome. It's all my duty. I'm also very grateful to the provincial government for its special care for me over the years."

"Well, on the sixth of this month," Suo Jinfeng put away the subscription agreement, picked up his briefcase and stood up to say goodbye, "The official bank of the three northeastern provinces will officially issue this bond. Please subscribe as scheduled and don't forget this agreement."

Jiang Lianheng nodded: "Got it."

"Thank you again, Boss Jiang. If there are no other questions, I will take my leave."

"Let's finish our meal before we leave?"

"No, no, no, I'm not trying to offend you, but I have two more families to visit today and I'm pressed for time, so I'll go back first."

When Jiang Lianheng heard this, he decided not to stay any longer.

Suo Jinfeng left the house and went out the door, just like a gust of wind, and no one knew where he was blown to.

Jiang Lianheng cursed a few words under his breath, returned to the mansion, and ran upstairs.

Perhaps because he had just spent a huge sum of money, he was a little distracted. While walking up the stairs, he accidentally stepped on empty air, staggered two steps, and almost fell on the stairs. Song Ma and others were so frightened that they hurried over to ask him.

"It's okay!" Jiang Lianheng was very impatient and waved his hands at the servant. "I'm not old enough to fall down and can't get up. Why are you making a fuss? Just do what you need to do!"

After saying that, he quickly walked into the study on the second floor.

As soon as he opened the door, Hu Xiaoyan came over and asked, "Why did the officer look for you?" "Don't mention it. That guy sat there and said a few words, and I spent three hundred thousand!" Jiang Lianheng summarized what had just happened.

"So much money?" Hu Xiaoyan was also surprised. "Have you signed the agreement?"

"Can I not sign it?" Jiang Lianheng asked, "Believe it or not, if I don't sign the subscription agreement just now, the tax bureau will come to check our accounts tomorrow, and then we will have to pay various taxes and even freeze my deposits in the official bank. This is robbery. What can I do?"

"Is this just targeting our family?"

"No, merchants and citizens in all counties of the three provinces shall share the 50 million yuan in public debt equally according to their asset assessment. Everyone shall have a share."

"This...this is too unpopular, isn't it?"

"Alas, the commander-in-chief of the security forces in the three northeastern provinces, he took the money from the three northeastern provinces and went to protect the 'peace' in the Central Plains. How can this be justified?"

Hu Xiaoyan's heart tightened, and she quickly warned: "Keep your voice down!"

"What's the use of me just keeping quiet? How can other businesses not complain when they are forced to subscribe to government bonds?" Jiang Lianheng sat down and lit a cigarette. He suddenly became concerned about the status of his family business. "By the way, I haven't asked in detail for many years. How much money does our family have now?"

The Fengtian Public Security Bureau's asset assessment of merchants and civilians is definitely not very accurate, especially for gang leaders like the Jiang family, who have too much illegal income that is not traceable on the surface, and the difference may be very large.

"You asked me this suddenly and I really don't know what to answer." Hu Xiaoyan was stunned for a moment.

Jiang Lianheng frowned and asked, "You take care of the accounts all day long, how come you don't know anything at the critical moment?"

Hu Xiaoyan was a little anxious, and said hurriedly: "It's easy for you to say that. If you ask how much revenue our family had last year, I can answer it now. But if you ask how much assets our family has, then we have to count the land and real estate, as well as the IOUs and stocks from various places. The prices of these things are all changing at a certain time. How can I calculate them all the time?"

"Look at you, why are you so anxious? I don't blame you." Jiang Lianheng sighed, "Calculate it carefully tonight so that I can have some peace of mind."

Because of his light words, Hu Xiaoyan couldn't sleep all night.

He worked till midnight, calculating by candlelight, and finally found out the amount of Jiang family's assets.

Of course, due to the volatility of the Fengpiao system and the fluctuations in land prices, it is always difficult to assess assets with absolute accuracy, but at least it is much more accurate than the assessment results of the public security bureau.

How much assets does the Jiang family have?
This was a private matter between the couple, which outsiders did not know about. But what was certain was that when Jiang Lianheng saw his own wealth, he was really shocked and even a little bit unbelievable, and then he repeatedly confirmed it with Hu Xiaoyan.

"Did you calculate this correctly? Did you overestimate the weight?"

"no!"

Hu Xiaoyan's answer was firm, but her face was a little pale.

She turned her wheelchair, came to the bedside, climbed onto the bed, and replied without question: "I usually do this little thing. If this can be counted wrong, how can I have the face to stay in this house? How can I be worthy of being called 'sister-in-law'?"

"Look at what you said. You are my wife, and I am the eldest brother, so of course you are the eldest sister-in-law. What else do you need to prove?"

Jiang Lianheng shook his head, then went to look at the account details in his hand. The more he looked, the more surprised he became.

"Hey, are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" He turned to look at the bed. "What's going on with this account? Why don't I remember that I have any land in Sujiatun?"

Hu Xiaoyan lay quietly on the bed without responding.

"And there's this account," Jiang Lianheng stood up and walked towards him, "When did I ever buy five shops on Siping Street—"

He stopped suddenly.

Hu Xiaoyan had already fallen asleep and didn't even have time to change her clothes.

Even when she was fast asleep, her brows were still furrowed and she always looked worried.

He tiptoed to spread out the quilt and gently covered her with it, then quietly walked to the table, turned off the desk lamp, and sat down beside the bed.

"Thanks for your hard work."

He whispered softly in the darkness...

(End of this chapter)