Wandering in the vast darkness

Chapter 50 is all good news.

After waiting in Beijing for three days, Xiao Yu called General Manager Wang and asked him to come to their company. General Manager Wang immediately asked, "Xiao Yu, how did it go? Did you get approved?"

Xiao Yu didn't say anything, he just asked him to come over, saying that Boss Ma wanted to talk to him.

Mr. Wang quickly took Xiao Jin, the guy who went to Beijing with him, and rushed to Xiao Yu's company.

When Mr. Wang and his team entered Mr. Ma's office, Mr. Ma smiled upon seeing them and said to Mr. Wang, "Congratulations, Mr. Wang, your project has been approved."

"That's wonderful!" Upon hearing the news, President Wang was so happy he almost jumped for joy.

Mr. Ma sat there, raised his hand, and pressed his palm down, signaling Mr. Wang to calm down.

After calming down, Mr. Wang sat down opposite Mr. Ma's desk. Mr. Ma then spoke to him:

"Don't be too happy yet. The project has been approved, but this is only the first step. It doesn't mean you'll get the money right away. There's still a process to go through."

"Tell me, tell me, Mr. Ma, I know that for a company like yours, it's definitely not easy to get money out," said Mr. Wang.

Mr. Ma nodded and said to Mr. Wang, "Let me explain the general process to you. First, our company will send a project specialist to your company to conduct an on-site inspection of the project. Then, a third-party evaluation company will need to issue an evaluation report. If both of these results meet the requirements, we can release the loan."

"There's no comparison, no comparison at all." The vice president kept shaking his head.

Mr. Ma laughed again: "We're on official business, why would we need you to book plane tickets? Oh, and Mr. Wang, I should remind you that once our people arrive, you can't make any special arrangements. That's our rule. They'll travel on their own, eat on their own, and stay on their own. Don't even treat them to meals. Don't break our rules, okay? I'm begging you."

"Those people from the bank, those guys at the bank, loan officers or risk control, they all just go through the motions, take a quick look around the construction site, all they care about is what to eat for dinner, where to go for fun, and whether the girls are pretty. They don't care about anything else!"

Mr. Wang nodded: "Isn't that the same process as banks?"

"These two are absolutely dedicated to their work. Yesterday afternoon and this morning, they were on the construction site, constantly taking pictures with their phones, not missing a single corner. They were also constantly taking notes in a notebook, which made me nervous, afraid that I might say something wrong and they would write it down. They were even taking a ruler and measuring everywhere. Their work ethic is truly admirable."

After thinking it over, Mr. Wang decided to send his company's vice president to accompany them downstairs.

"How did their project evaluation go?"

That makes sense. A company with such strength wouldn't be interested in your small favors.

"Alright, Mr. Wang, you can go back without worry and wait for my news." Mr. Ma said, glancing at the electronic calendar on the table. The calendar showed his daily schedule. Mr. Ma said, "I'll get there as soon as possible, next week, I definitely will, okay?"

Xiao Yu said, "Mr. Wang, let me give you a heads-up: for the official notification, you'll have to wait for Mr. Ma. Our people are back, and they have a very high opinion of your project. There shouldn't be any problems."

Mr. Ma laughed, "I know you're anxious, Mr. Wang, I understand your feelings, but it won't be that quick. Our people are all busy with other projects; they need to finish their current ones before they can go to you. So, Mr. Wang, I'll make the arrangements as soon as possible, okay?"

With this anxious feeling, Mr. Wang returned to Hangzhou. Every day, he waited anxiously for Mr. Ma's call. But Mr. Ma didn't respond, and he was too embarrassed to urge him, lest he seem too anxious and like an ant on a hot pan waiting for the money.

Mr. Wang asked, "Mr. Ma, when can your people come to our company for an inspection? I'm returning to Hangzhou today; could they come with me?"

Mr. Ma agreed, "The general process is similar to that of banks. The biggest difference is that we value the future development of your project and its contribution to the local economy and job creation. The projects we support take into account their social benefits, unlike banks, which are purely commercial entities and require you to provide project collateral. We don't have that requirement."

"Our people are back and have reported back, Mr. Wang. Things can move forward now. I'll send you the contact information for the assessment company later. Contact them and have them arrange for an assessment report."

"Yes, yes, Xiao Yu, how's the situation?" Boss Wang asked.

The vice president said, "They're leaving. I'll take them directly to the airport."

Mr. Wang laughed and said, "Aren't those state-owned companies different?"

Mr. Wang was very pleased to hear this. He felt that he had really found the right path this time. The people from CIC, the so-called investors he had contacted before, who asked for travel expenses and plane tickets before even setting off, and then demanded to be treated well and entertained once they arrived, were much more reliable. These were the real investors.

"No, no, I'm telling you, this kind of company is more reliable than a bank," the vice president said.

Xiao Yu quickly shushed him: "President Wang, when President Ma calls you later, please don't betray me, and don't tell anyone I've already told you."

Mr. Wang agreed, but sighed inwardly. After all, it was CIC (China Investment Corporation). They were even stricter than banks. Bank loan officers would come to their company and be expected to provide a full range of services, including eating, drinking, gambling, and prostitution, and they would have to bribe them. But the people from CIC wouldn't take a single needle or thread.

Mr. Wang's new factory is not in Hangzhou, but more than 100 kilometers away. Mr. Wang wanted to personally accompany the two of them to the new factory, but the two quickly said no, no, Mr. Wang, you are busy with your own things, just find an office staff member who is familiar with the situation to accompany us.

More than an hour later, Mr. Ma called as expected. He told Mr. Wang:

The next morning, Mr. Wang felt embarrassed to call Mr. Ma, so after thinking for a moment, he called Xiao Yu instead. Xiao Yu was probably in his office. He lowered his voice and asked Mr. Wang with a delighted expression:

Mr. Wang agreed, "Then let me know when the time comes, and I'll book your plane tickets."

"Why did they leave so soon?" Mr. Wang said regretfully. "Although Mr. Ma instructed us not to treat them to a meal, we couldn't be so ungrateful. I was planning to treat them properly tonight..."

"Forget it." Before Mr. Wang could finish speaking, the vice president interrupted him: "It's no use calling them, they won't go. They say they have rules. I offered to book them a hotel room yesterday, but they refused. I offered to treat them to dinner, but they refused too. They went out and ate noodles on the street."

"I know, I know, I'll definitely pretend it's the first time I've heard this good news," said Mr. Wang.

The vice president shook his head while cursing, and then began to praise after he finished cursing:

"Mr. Wang, are you getting impatient?"

For bank loans, loan officers also need to visit the project, conduct due diligence, and issue a loan application report. Similarly, a third-party appraisal company is required to evaluate the project and issue an appraisal report.

Mr. Wang had no choice but to nod and agree, but he was still somewhat unwilling and asked, "When can it be arranged?"

They stayed downstairs for one night, and the next afternoon around 4 PM, the vice president returned alone. General Manager Wang, puzzled, asked, "Where are those two from CIC?"

While thinking this, Mr. Wang began to worry. As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to be grateful, and he who takes another's money is bound to be obligated to him." Is this company rule because the loan to them is not yet a sure thing? If they take the money and then the loan is not actually disbursed, wouldn't it look bad for everyone?

"That's great!" exclaimed Mr. Wang.

Mr. Wang retorted, "What do you mean there's no comparison? Speak clearly, don't be so nonsensical."

Mr. Wang nodded. This difference is also the biggest difference. He was in this situation because he couldn't get the certificate and couldn't make a mortgage.

Five days passed. That morning, in Mr. Wang's office in Hangzhou, the receptionist brought in a man and a woman, both around twenty years old. They told Mr. Wang that they were sent by Mr. Ma. Mr. Wang jumped up from his chair, overjoyed.

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