Chapter 57 I Have a Special Connection with the Third Municipal Construction Company

You may question Old Dong’s character or his motives, but you cannot doubt his ability to get things done. This is the foundation of Old Dong’s standing.

Early the next morning, before dawn, the three largest construction companies from Taishi Road and Bridge arrived at Shiliying.

More than fifty bulldozers, over twenty excavators, a dozen loaders, seven or eight road rollers, five asphalt pavers, over a hundred heavy transport trucks, dozens of sedans, and several passenger buses—all arrived in various formations, carrying over two thousand construction workers along with countless tents, office equipment, and management staff. The convoy stretched for five or six kilometers, reaching as far as Xiaohu Town.

The locals in Shiliying were warm and welcoming, assuming that Dong Jian, the highway builder, had returned. They eagerly brought out their real tools and equipment.

The people of Xiaohu Town were equally enthusiastic, thinking Shiliying had made a move again, and they also brought out their genuine gear.

Even the management teams of the three major construction companies, accustomed as they were to forceful demolitions and seizing projects, felt intimidated by such a formidable presence.

Fortunately, the honest and straightforward reputation of Village Chief Huang was deeply rooted among the people. When he went to Xiaohu Town for a chat, he not only resolved the misunderstanding but also aroused envy.

“Why are you guys getting to build a national secondary road? Our Xiaohu Town is more developed than you!”

“We have Sanyuan agriculture here. Not only will we build secondary roads and parking lots, but by next year, we’ll all be living in apartment buildings!”

“Old Huang, go ask Yu Sanyuan if he wants our land—over two hundred thousand acres!”

“No problem, no problem!”

Village Chief Huang mounted his motorcycle and rode back to Shiliying. “Tui! They can’t even produce a single Huaxia cigarette, yet they want me to carry messages? Who do they think they are!”

Then he found Yu Yang.

“Xiao Yu, you've joined Old Dong’s camp?”

“Yeah, I’ve become his hawk!”

“???”

“Don’t be disappointed—you’re one too.”

“……”

“Why be so gloomy? Old Dong is indeed ruthless, but think about it—working with a bad person means we can justify a lot of things. Remember that highway slope? Who insisted on building it? Old Dong! Now, just by mentioning his name, no one in the county or even the city dares to speak up.”

Village Chief Huang’s eyes suddenly widened, as if discovering a new way to play the game.

The deputy village chief, who had followed along, suddenly understood. “So when I take people to set up stalls on the highway, that’s Old Dong’s idea too?”

“Of course!”

The director of the village’s investment office said, “When I send people onto the highway to carry passengers, that’s Old Dong’s idea too?”

“Obviously!”

The village chief’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “If I set up checkpoints and charge fees on the highway, that’s Old Dong’s idea as well?”

“That one, I’m not sure about. Maybe you should just call Old Dong and ask?”

The village chief sighed. “Old Dong’s not that powerful after all.”

“Stubborn as a dead duck.”

Yu Yang smirked and contacted Yu Laoliu.

“Uncle Liu, have you sorted out breakfast?”

“Done. I’ve taken over all the steamed bun shops, the thick bread stalls, the mutton soup houses, and the fried bread and steamed bun shops throughout the village. Along with the Sanyuan canteen, it’s more than enough to set up a banquet.”

“Good. Make sure someone watches the equipment.”

“No problem. To the north is our construction site, to the east is Pingdong Lake, and to the west is the bridge tunnel. I’ve ordered people to block the bridge tunnel, set up guards every ten steps, and defend the south. No one will be able to take a single screw away from here.”

“You handle things well. I trust you.”

Yu Yang hung up, called the village chief and others, and entered the Corner Building Restaurant.

Representatives from the three major construction companies were all present except for Dong Jian himself—their chairmen, general managers, financial directors, and project managers.

Yu Yang glanced around. “Working under Old Dong means we’re all family. From now on, let’s eat well, drink well, and work together to get things done!”

City Third Construction was Dong Jian’s trusted faction, so their attitude toward Yu Yang was less than warm.

City Second Construction knew the higher-ups had already agreed to let City Third swallow them up. Now suddenly receiving orders to follow Yu Yang’s instructions, they saw a glimmer of hope.

After all, how humiliating would it be for the second-ranked company to be swallowed by the third?

The chairman of City Second Construction, whose rank was roughly equivalent to a county official, raised his teacup instead of wine. “Boss Yu, we’re new here and unfamiliar with the area. Please take care of us.”

“Gladly, gladly!”

Meanwhile, City First Construction maintained a cold and aloof demeanor, looking somewhat stuck-up.

Yu Yang said no more and sat at the table with City Third Construction.

After all, there was a connection with Third Construction.

“My half-brother is a bit rebellious. When Old Dong said he wanted to hand over Third Construction to me, he burst into tears and ran to find his mother. From now on, report to me on this side.”

The people from City Third Construction remained unfazed.

Yu Yang lit a cigarette. “Old Dong’s order is just to appease the city manager. Actually, we don’t have to build the parking lot, the village roads can remain unpaved, and the residential buildings don’t need to be constructed. What’s most important now is building the railway roadbed and creating mechanized plastic greenhouses.”

The general manager of City Third Construction said, “Boss Yu, we don’t know what mechanized plastic greenhouses are. We only follow orders from above.”

Yu Yang pulled out the factory layout and construction plans. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t know. Just follow this.”

Before he finished speaking—

Lance soldier Chang Fu suddenly pressed a spear against the project manager’s throat.

Chang Shou pulled out a small pistol and pressed it to the financial director’s head.

Chang Lu crushed a brick with the grip of his right hand, while grabbing the back of the demolition leader’s neck with his left.

Yu Yang exhaled smoke, pushed open the window facing Xiaohu Town, then leaned over the back of the general manager’s chair and whispered into his ear, “Brother, you need to understand—this is Shiliying.”

The people from City Third Construction had been to Shiliying. Hearing this, they looked out the window toward Pingdong Lake and instantly grasped the meaning.

Suddenly—

Chang Fu dropped the project manager, grabbed the general manager by the collar with one hand, and dragged him toward the door.

The latter immediately caved. “Boss, I surrender!”

“Too late. Let’s go. Don’t cling to this wicked world.”

“Yu Sanyuan, are you crazy?!”

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, spear soldier Chang Fu carried the struggling figure across the street, entered the village compound, then climbed over the toppled fence and reached the edge of Pingdong Lake.

Testing the ice, he continued dragging the wailing man toward the deep water.

After a moment—

Chang Fu smashed through the ice and pressed the City Third Construction general manager into the water, then pulled him out and submerged him again and again.

The entire room fell into a deathly silence.

Yu Yang looked around at City Third Construction.

They all declared, “Boss Yu says what we do from now on.”

“Hm?”

“Boss Yu!”

“That’s right. We all work for Old Dong; we’re family. No infighting. Here, everyone gets an extra chicken leg.”

The project manager quickly got into character, picking up the layout and construction plans. “Boss, this workload is really quite large.”

“No rush,” Yu Yang casually nodded toward City First and Second Construction.

The people sitting with City Third understood—they were to swallow the others!

In the past, this would have been difficult, but now that everyone was gathered together, all under Yu Yang’s management and payroll, with Old Dong stationed in the city...

This was a rare opportunity!

Yu Yang looked at the financial director pinned with the pistol. “Old Dong should have allocated 10 million yuan for the village parking lot.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“Transfer the funds to the county rural commercial bank’s corporate account.”

“This…”

“What? Planning to jump into the ice hole too?”

“Boss, you misunderstand. I’m just thinking whether the post office is open early enough to make the transfer.”

“Good execution and quick thinking—you have a future. You’re cut out to be a general manager.”

“Boss, appointments and dismissals need approval from higher-ups.”

“Higher-ups? Who? Isn’t Old Dong enough? Or do you think Old Dong’s losing his grip?”

“……”

“By the way, I have two cousins who studied accounting. Let them come learn from your finance team.”

“Rest assured, I’ll take good care of them.”

“Don’t just take care of them—make sure they’re truly capable.”

Having said that, Yu Yang moved over to City Second Construction’s table.

The previously friendly chairman of City Second jumped up eagerly. “Boss Yu, we’ll take on the railway roadbed project!”

He then looked at the financial director. “Go to the post office and transfer the 15 million yuan allocated for the secondary road to the county rural commercial bank.”

The director glanced out the window at the image on Pingdong Lake—the black, burly man dragging someone out of the ice hole only to push them back in—then hurriedly grabbed his briefcase and rushed out without hesitation.

Yu Yang gave a thumbs-up and silently praised Old Dong’s brilliance. In this high-level game, Old Dong’s moves were ruthless—though he was cutting down his own people.

Yu Yang glanced at the aloof City First Construction and felt they would be difficult to handle. After some thought, he decided not to push it too far.

Otherwise, if Old Dong lost patience and kicked him out of the “family,” it would be a big problem.

...

Meanwhile, at City First Construction’s table, the cold and aloof chairman was already sweating profusely.

Compared to Second and Third Construction, he knew more.

The city had handed the three major construction companies several projects:

A university’s main road—10 million yuan allocated.

A relief housing community—10 million yuan allocated.

A bridge spanning the old moat—5 million yuan allocated.

But when you calculated the costs of asphalt roads, houses, and bridges against the budgets, these projects were small and largely for show.

The economy wasn’t doing well; otherwise, there wouldn’t have been layoffs that left the three major construction companies struggling for projects.

The city’s projects were small, the three companies couldn’t get contracts, and they still had so many people to feed...

Now, the Taishi Road and Bridge Group was on the brink of bankruptcy.

It even faced official-enterprise reform.

The plan was for Third Construction to absorb Second Construction, and then, together with First Construction, transition to privatization.

But who wanted to shed their official robes or enter a clean government office?

This was also why the three companies, upon hearing salaries were being paid and accommodations arranged, had rushed overnight from Taishi.

Because coming here meant the three companies would remain official enterprises.

If they didn’t come, Old Dong, who had just been appointed head of the official-enterprise reform project, might soon see them packaged off and sold.

Now Yu Yang demanded obedience and the handover of funds. Since management had nothing to do with this, only a fool would refuse.

The question was...

“Why hasn’t he come over yet?”

“Hurry up and come! I want to join too!”