Chapter 53: Raising The Price
“The accounts are calculated well. Section Chief Liao has many talents under him. It seems this 0.5 silver dollar is still a bit too little.”
“Too high.”
Liao Litang looked troubled: “Actually, they complained to me, saying that the 0.5 silver dollar standard is a bit insufficient, because many ingredients have been rising in price, such as rice, sugar, oil, and such.
But our department is also in a difficult position. The funding is just this much. We’ve already allocated extra considering they are prison guards and their work environment is relatively hard. We really can’t squeeze out more for them.
Can’t you guys eat a little less?”
With that, Liao Litang began to scold Lin Dechang.
“Section Chief, we didn’t eat much.”
Lin Dechang protested, “If vegetable prices get expensive, we can only eat even less. You don’t know the current prices. My subordinates go to the vegetable market to buy vegetables, and sometimes even buying some sugar requires building relationships to get it.”
“Stop talking. I didn’t ask you to come complain.” Liao Litang scolded righteously, “You’re feeling aggrieved? Our entire department, only you prison guards eat the best, almost matching my standard.”
Lin Dechang scratched his head awkwardly, looking like a aggrieved person who dared not speak up.
After watching the double act, Gu Yansheng looked at him sincerely and asked, “Prison guard work must be hard, but from what I hear, your appetites aren’t that big. Just one meat meal a week. Is the 0.5 silver dollar standard really insufficient? Should I add some for you?”
Can it be increased? Is there such a good thing?
This question was clearly unexpected. Without a rehearsed answer, Lin Dechang didn’t know how to respond. Crucially, this didn’t sound real.
When did leaders become so kind?
He hesitated, wanting to say no need, but what if it really could be increased? That would be missing an opportunity. So he glanced at Liao Litang with his eyes, not rushing to answer.
Anyway, if Section Chief Liao says yes, it’s yes. If he says no, there must be a trap.
“Division Chief, I think the 0.5 silver dollar standard is already more than enough. Any more would put pressure on the department.” Liao Litang immediately answered for him.
Hearing this, Lin Dechang understood. There’s a trap! Absolutely can’t ask for more! Follow Section Chief Liao’s line of thinking, don’t overthink it.
Gu Yansheng didn’t stop this relayed message. He waited until he finished before saying:
“I just took office and need to report to the mayor on some changes in the Judicial Department for the coming period. The funding application is included. If you think it’s enough, I won’t apply for this part.
If you think it’s not enough, say so early.
Anyway, I’m here today, and General Affairs is too. If you think it’s not enough, say how much would make the prison guards full. Write a report now.
Let me remind you, once this village passes, there’s no next store. Don’t say food funding is insufficient later.”
“It’s enough.” Lin Dechang nodded with a smile, “Thank you for your care, leader. We also need to understand the department’s difficulties now. The 0.5 standard isn’t perfectly sufficient, but it should be enough to eat full.”
“Should be? Enough is enough, not enough is not enough.
I heard you’re living so hard and was planning to raise it to 0.8 silver dollars a day. If you really think it’s enough, I won’t mention it.
When I visit the prison later and bring this up, if the prison guards say it’s not enough, I’ll hold you accountable.”
“No.” Lin Dechang panicked instantly. Why mention it at the prison? He didn’t dare take the blame. He smiled obsequiously: “Deputy Division Chief Gu, of course we want the department’s kindness, but we can’t exceed too much, so we said no.”
“So it’s not enough?”
“Uh, probably not quite enough.”
“Then why did you say it’s enough?”
“I…” Lin Dechang really didn’t know how to answer. If the prison guards knew there was once a chance for 0.8 and he rejected it, he couldn’t bear that blame!
He continued looking at Liao Litang with his eyes.
Then he was scolded by Gu Yansheng.
“Why are you looking at him?” Gu Yansheng asked expressionlessly. “He’s not a prison guard. What’s wrong? Don’t you know if you’re eating full? Are you really the prison’s accountant?”
“I am.” Lin Dechang nervously swallowed, thought for a moment, and carefully answered: “Could Deputy Division Chief Gu please help us increase it a bit? All us prison guards will definitely thank you.”
“That’s more like it. Be straightforward. If you want it, just say so. Why look at him?” Gu Yansheng looked at Liao Litang, “Section Chief Liao, what does it mean that he keeps looking at you?”
“Ah?” Liao Litang was baffled. “Did he look at me? Why are you looking at me? Don’t you know about your prison’s matters?”
“Cl-clear.”
Gu Yansheng shook his head and looked at Lin Dechang. “Specifically, how much is enough? Don’t think just because I said 0.8 it’s 0.8 a day. How much increase for your prison guards’ food is enough? You’re at the prison yourself; you should know.”
“Uh, this…” Lin Dechang had no one to look at this time. He thought and said: “How about 0.8 a day? We’ll try it first. If it’s not enough, we’ll talk later.”
Can’t block the road to future increases, right?
“0.8 silver dollars is enough to eat full, right?”
“It should be enough?”
“No waste. This is all government money.”
“Definitely can finish it.”
“Alright, then that number.”
Gu Yansheng nodded toward Liao Litang’s desk: “Write the application here. I’ll approve it on the spot and issue the funding today. Section Chief Liao, give them this month’s first. Does the department have enough funding?”
“Enough, but…” Liao Litang still didn’t understand what medicine Director Gu was selling in his gourd.
At first he thought there was a trap, but now it sounded like there wasn’t.
It’s really giving money, approving on the spot, paying today. So smooth he could only exclaim in his mind, huh?
Liao Litang was really a bit baffled now.
“But what?” Gu Yansheng asked.
“It’s just that if we give it to them first, other sections will have to be delayed. But it’s not a big deal.” Liao Litang smiled obsequiously.
“No issue then write it.”
“Then I’ll write it.” Since Gu Yansheng said so, Liao Litang opened the desk drawer, took out an application form, and gave it to Lin Dechang.
“Okay, great.” Lin Dechang was blooming with joy. He tried hard to hide the smile on his face, but helplessly too happy, he couldn’t hide it all.
Thinking that when he goes back, he’ll be the prison’s greatest meritorious official. This trip was truly worth it!
0.8 silver dollars per person per day! What a concept? Fully 2200 more silver dollars a month!
He happily wrote the application furiously, while Liao Litang beside him really couldn’t be happy.
The key is this doesn’t feel real. He couldn’t figure it out. Why give the prison so much extra funding?
Gu Yansheng, a newly arrived deputy division chief, has no connections at the prison. No kickbacks to take. Why favor the prison?
But to say there’s a trap, he completely couldn’t see it. No matter how he thought, paying money—what trap could there be?
“I’ve finished writing. Please review, Deputy Division Chief Gu, Section Chief Liao.” Lin Dechang respectfully handed over the form.
Liao Litang glanced at it. Standard funding insufficient, application for funding. Category is food. Nothing new. He handed it to Gu Yansheng after one look.
Gu Yansheng also glanced and very readily took out a pen, directly signing his name.
“Done. Section Chief Liao, arrange the funding. Let him take it today.”
“Yes.”
At this moment, Lin Dechang was completely relieved. The signature was there; they would really pay.
At this moment, Liao Litang was also relieved. Trap or not, Gu Yansheng signed it himself; it’s his responsibility if anything goes wrong.
“Go to Finance to collect the money. Be careful, watch out for safety on the road.” Liao Litang reminded him.
“Yes, yes. Thank you Deputy Division Chief Gu, thank you Section Chief Liao. If nothing else, I’ll head out first?” Lin Dechang was smiling obsequiously before, now truly grinning from ear to ear.
“No rush.”
Gu Yansheng picked up the unfinished report, leaned on the sofa to continue reading, and said while reading, “Wait a bit first. After I finish the report, you go collect the money. I’ll go to the prison with you.
Speaking of which, as new official, I haven’t inspected the prison yet. Too busy. Today, taking advantage of this joyous occasion, the prison guards should be happy. I’ll mooch a meal. You don’t mind, right?”
“Of course not. That would be great!”
Lin Dechang smiled: “If you condescend to inspect, it’s our honor. Shall I call the warden first to tidy up the place and prepare good wine and dishes to receive you?”
“No need to trouble. Didn’t you just get the money? Later I’ll have two cars. We’ll go straight to the vegetable market to buy vegetables, just per your standard. Buy rice, veggies, meat. 0.8 is 1.6 times 0.5. Xiao Lou, how much rice?”
Liu Xiaolou quickly said: “Per capita daily consumption 0.5 kg, so now it should be 0.8 kg.”
“Mm.” Gu Yansheng nodded: “0.8 kg raw rice, 247 people, nearly 400 jin raw rice. Cooked into rice, should be enough. I’ll eat with you, watch you eat it all before I leave. Anything left, I’ll stuff it all in your mouth.”
Just this one sentence, and Lin Dechang, who was full of joy welcoming the superior the second before, turned terrified.
“Deputy Division Chief Gu! I was wrong. Spare my life!”
Lin Dechang knelt down the next second.
Liao Litang’s face turned ashen. He finally knew where the trap was, but it was too late.
Gu Yansheng slammed the document on the table with a slap, looked at Lin Dechang coldly, and shouted: “You asked for the increase yourself. I gave you the money. Still not satisfied?”
“Division Chief, I was wrong. I really know I was wrong.” Lin Dechang was so anxious tears were about to fall, so anxious he started kowtowing directly.
Gu Yansheng coldly withdrew his gaze from him and looked at Liao Litang.
Meeting his eyes, Liao Litang tensed up, feeling his knees wanting to bend, but General Affairs Section’s face kept him standing.
Gu Yansheng spoke first, “Nothing to say, huh?”
Liao Litang said hoarsely: “Division Chief, I don’t know about this matter…”
“Think clearly before speaking!”
Gu Yansheng suddenly stood up, staring at him: “247 people, 3700 silver dollars food funding! Still not content? Still dare open your mouth, and you actually agreed?
0.8 per person per day, over 20 silver dollars a month. Can’t find many in the entire city government with this food standard. A Shanghai family might not earn that in a month.
If you can’t explain clearly, no one can save you!”
“Division Chief…” Liao Litang closed his eyes, giving up struggling.
Gu Yansheng exhaled a long breath, straightened his suit, and sat back down.
“Xiao Lou, coffee.”
“Yes.” Liu Xiaolou bowed respectfully before leaving. Now she had seen what a shocking scene really was.
