Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 459 Negotiation!

Principal Sun was now filled with regret. If only he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have acted so formally in the first place. Besides, you're so capable, I've already given in, shouldn't we have just discussed it together and gotten along well? What's the meaning of you insisting on measuring it now? You said you wouldn't take back the boiler and school building.

Principal Sun returned to her office feeling utterly aggrieved. She wanted to stop it, but it was to no avail. "This is too much!" she roared inwardly.

The official measurements were quick; they measured based on maps, disregarding terrain, building features, and other factors. They simply drove in a stone stake to establish the base point. Three such stakes were driven in on the northeast corner of the school grounds, and the stakes were marked on the wall.

The school-run factory has stopped operating; how can they work without electricity? There are only a few workers, seven or eight in total, who came out and stood by the roadside watching the power company workers dismantle the transformer. The electricity here comes from the park, where there's a small substation.

After finishing their work at the power company and cleaning up, they said goodbye to Chen Hui and Xiao Wei and went back. The urban construction side was almost done as well. Brother Zhang came over and returned the land deed to Xiao Wei, saying, "It's been measured. This part, from the schoolyard to the other side, is all your land. I've put up a few boundary markers. Just cut the land straight out from the markers and there won't be any problems."

Xiao Wei took the land deed and put it away, saying, "Thank you so much for making the trip." He went to the car, grabbed a pack of cigarettes, and handed it to Brother Zhang, saying, "Here, these are complimentary cigarettes from our restaurant, have a taste." Brother Zhang didn't stand on ceremony, took the cigarettes, and asked, "Do you need us to help you clear them out?"

Demolishing illegal buildings was a major task of urban construction at that time; when it came to demolishing houses, they were professionals.

Xiao Wei said, "No need, I won't trouble you any further. I guess I'll have to discuss it with the school. I'll call you again if anything comes up."

Brother Zhang said, "Okay, then we'll head back first. Call me if you need anything. See you later." The construction workers got into their car, and the Jinbei van drove off.

Chen Hui said, "What do we do now? Just tear it down?"

Xiao Wei licked his lips, thought for a moment, then turned to look at the school and said, "Let's go talk to them first. You really think you can dismantle the school's boiler?"

Xia Maosheng said, "She was so arrogant when we first discussed things, leaving no room for negotiation. Why should we care about her now? So what if she demolished it? Shouldn't we be justified in taking back what's ours?"

Chen Hui asked Xiao Wei, "So what are your plans?"

Xiao Wei said, "Let's keep it the same as before. We just need to remove the school-run factory item; adding anything else is pointless. Let's just have the school pay for it and sell it to her. What do you think is a reasonable price?"

Xia Maosheng glanced at Chen Hui and asked, "How much?"

Chen Hui said, "How about the school pay 10,000 yuan? Is that too little?"

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "You two are really ruthless. That's only half an acre of land, and they want ten thousand. Do you think she can give that?"

Xia Maosheng asked, "How much? Ugh, I think a few thousand yuan is less worthwhile than just buying land. What's the point?"

Xiao Wei pointed to the school-run factory and said, "Our goal is here, and we've already achieved it. Nothing else really matters. Besides, if you all move here in the future, won't the kids go to school? Wouldn't that offend everyone?"

Chen Hui said, "Forget it, let Principal Sun say it himself. We can't just give it away for nothing. If it were that old man with the mustache, we'd be at a disadvantage, believe it or not. Why should we?"

Xiao Wei said, "Let's go talk to her again and see what she has to say." The three of them went back into the school and went to the principal's office.

This time, Principal Sun's attitude wasn't so condescending. To be honest, even a primary school principal doesn't know what makes her so arrogant.

Xiao Wei cut to the chase, saying, "We've finished measuring. These first two and a half classrooms and the small area around the boiler room are all ours. Principal Sun, how do you plan to resolve this?"

Principal Sun smiled and said, "Look, I've moved the school-run factory over here. The classrooms and boiler will stay as they are, okay? Didn't you say at the beginning that you didn't plan to take this back? We've been using this place for so many years. If we move it, not only will the pipes and everything else have to be changed, but if the classrooms are demolished, where will the children go to school? Right?"

Chen Hui said, "Principal Sun, that's not very helpful. Based on your initial attitude, we wouldn't even need to come in; we could have just demolished it. We only came to discuss this with you because you're a school and those are classrooms. Can't you be more practical? What's the point of this constant charade? Whether you change things or not, what does it have to do with us?"

Principal Sun took a deep breath, was momentarily speechless after being choked by Chen Hui, and said, "Just tell me what you're thinking."

Xiao Wei said, "We can't just give you that land for free. We paid for it. If that's what you mean, Principal Sun, then forget it. We don't need to say anything more. I'll take it back. Don't worry, I'll repair the wall for you after I demolish it."

Principal Sun threw the book in his hand on the table and said, "Isn't it just that you want money? All you want to do is squeeze some money out of the school, and you make it sound so nice."

Xiao Wei looked at Principal Sun and said, "Principal Sun, do you get paid for your job? Why don't you work for free? Don't you collect tuition fees from students? Why do you ask parents for money? The land is mine, why should I give it to you for free? Why don't you give me your house? It's definitely not as big as this piece of land, right? I don't mind if it's small, will you give it to me?"

Principal Sun said, "Don't make trouble. My house is my personal property, a welfare benefit given to me by the state. Why should I give it to you? This is a school, a public institution. Don't bring your personal matters here."

Xiao Wei said, "Yeah, the house was allocated to you by the government; it's yours personally. You wouldn't accept it if someone offered it to you for free. But this land is mine; I paid for it. Why should you expect to take it for free? What's wrong with working for a government agency? Does working for a government agency mean you don't have to pay for meals?"

Principal Sun said, "You are simply being unreasonable."

Chen Hui laughed and said, "You taking my land for free is considered reasonable, but me taking it back is considered unreasonable? What kind of logic is that? Explain your reasoning to me, I really don't understand."

Principal Sun rubbed his forehead and lowered his voice, saying, "You're all big bosses, driving luxury cars, and you're not short of money for this little bit of land. Can't you contribute a little to the nation's education? Look at these children outside, can you bear to see them like this?"

Xiao Wei looked at Xia Maosheng speechlessly, and Xia Maosheng smiled and said, "I knew she would say that."

Chen Hui said, "Give me a straight answer: are you going to use the land or not? If you're going to use it, pay up. If you're not going to use it, we'll demolish it and rebuild. If we demolish your house, I won't ask you for money."

Principal Sun asked, "How much money do you want? The school doesn't have much money."

Xiao Wei said, "What do you think? That piece of land is nearly 400 square meters, half an acre. How much do you think is appropriate? Tell us, we're listening."

Principal Sun said, "The school will pay five hundred yuan. Just give me a written receipt, and we don't need to change any certificates." At that time, the school's land didn't have a certificate at all. It was just allocated by the government to the Education Commission, and then the Education Commission gave it to the school for use. If we're talking about certificates, the Education Commission had land allocation documents, but they weren't very specific.

(End of this chapter)