Chapter 99: To Become the Debt Collection Team Leader?

Upon returning to the township government, Zhu Daodong's first task was to report the results of his trip to Shanghai to Chen Shuli and Yuan Ping. Although Zhu Daodong was now in charge of the feed mill and the farm, he believed that frequent consultations and reports to his superiors were never a bad thing. Despite the seemingly small scale of the feed mill and the farm, once they were up and running and expanded, they would directly impact the income of the entire township.

Chen Shuli took Zhu Daodong's report very seriously, interrupting to ask questions whenever he had doubts. Zhu Daodong's trip to Shanghai was primarily to order equipment for the feed mill. The technology for the feed mill was not complex, but the equipment was crucial. As long as the equipment was in good condition, production would not be a problem.

In contrast, Yuan Ping seemed much more casual when listening to Zhu Daodong's report. While Zhu Daodong was detailing the outcomes of his trip, Yuan Ping was reading documents and making notes. However, Zhu Daodong noticed a detail: when he mentioned the negotiations with the Zhongzheng Machinery Manufacturing Plant, Yuan Ping's movements noticeably slowed. Once the critical part was over, his pen started moving again.

"Township Chief, the feed mill alone has already cost 195,000 yuan for the equipment. We don't know how much more it will cost once it goes into production. As you know, I only have 400,000 yuan in total. If the feed mill takes up the bulk of it, the farm won't be able to proceed," Zhu Daodong sighed, his face clouded with worry.

"Is that a problem for you? There are always more solutions than problems. Think of ways to raise more funds for the farm. Since it's a collective effort, if the funds are insufficient, you can raise more capital," Yuan Ping said casually. Although Chen Shuli was in charge of the feed mill and the farm, Yuan Ping, as the township chief, never interfered. If Zhu Daodong wanted to report, he would listen; if not, he wouldn't press him.

Shumu Ridge had indeed established several enterprises, such as brick factories, tile factories, and gravel pits, but none of them had survived. Only the distillery had managed to persist. As a result, the township was heavily in debt, and it also owed money to other units and individuals.

For the feed mill and the farm, if the township could avoid funding them, Yuan Ping would not take the initiative to provide money. When Chen Shuli wanted to set up a diatomite factory, Yuan Ping had no choice but to help him prepare nearly 200,000 yuan, which was cobbled together from various sources. If he loosened his grip, Shumu Ridge could easily spend another 200,000 yuan, just like a pebble thrown into a river, without even a ripple.

"Can the township support us with some funds next year? After all, this is a project for the prosperity of the entire township. If the township doesn't invest any money, it won't look good," Zhu Daodong said, his face filled with concern. 400,000 yuan seemed like a lot, but it didn't last long.

"Daodong, being the township chief is not easy. Do you know how much external debt the township has? Over 1.5 million yuan! If you can recover it, I'll immediately solve the funding problem for the feed mill. No, even if you can recover half, or 500,000 yuan, I'll give you 200,000 yuan for the feed mill!" Yuan Ping sighed deeply, then changed his tone, suggesting that Zhu Daodong collect the debts for the township.

"How can I complete such a daunting task? It's better to entrust it to someone with more experience," Zhu Daodong said cautiously. This was not the era of "Huang Shiren" and "Yang Bailao"; nowadays, the debt collector was the underdog, and the debtor was the boss.

"Experience isn't important. Who has such experience? The key is ability. Your ability is unquestionable. How about it, do you have the confidence to complete this task?" Yuan Ping chuckled, his expression like a wolf eyeing a cornered sheep. This task, whether Zhu Daodong completed it well or not, would only benefit him. In fact, the township had previously organized a debt collection team, but it ended in failure. Whether Zhu Daodong agreed or not, it would only be to his advantage. If he agreed, he would be right where Yuan Ping wanted him. If he refused, it would confirm his reputation for being timid.

Zhu Daodong was indeed in a difficult position. The funds for the feed mill and the farm were clearly insufficient. Another round of fundraising in the township would likely be futile. The people were not fools; they had their own unique shrewdness. If the initial investment showed no results, who would be foolish enough to invest again?

Of course, there were other ways to solve the funding problem for the feed mill and the farm, such as taking out a bank loan or attracting new investors. Zhu Daodong had originally intended to plead his case to Yuan Ping, hoping to secure some funds. However, he did not expect Yuan Ping to suddenly assign him such a difficult task.

Zhu Daodong could have refused. He had plenty of work on his plate, including education, health, and family planning. Managing the feed mill and the farm was already a side job, and debt collection was even more of a side job. How many of those who owed the township government were incompetent?

Moreover, Chen Shuli was the top leader, and Zhu Daodong was clearly Chen Shuli's most trusted person. Even if Yuan Ping assigned him to collect debts, Chen Shuli could propose sending someone else.

However, Zhu Daodong thought about the 1.5 million yuan in external debt. If he could recover it all, or even half, how much more could the township accomplish?

"Township Chief, shall I give it a try?" Zhu Daodong thought long and hard. Since Yuan Ping had already proposed it, refusing would mean not giving his superior face and not following organizational arrangements, which was a major taboo in the official world. In high school, whether Liu Tao or Zhang Zhichun was the principal, no one would go against their wishes. Although Yuan Ping was not the top leader of Shumu Ridge, he was still Zhu Daodong's superior, and Zhu Daodong, as the deputy township chief, was nominally under the township chief's jurisdiction.

Moreover, Zhu Daodong had his own plans. Achieving success in the township government was different from high school, where student performance was the main focus. Here, following the rules would only help him gain seniority. Even if the distillery, feed mill, and farm succeeded, it wouldn't necessarily win him respect. But if he could complete a task that others deemed impossible, no one could deny his achievements. Zhu Daodong was determined to not only complete the task excellently but also not let it affect his other work. Failing this task could be embarrassing, but succeeding would be a great honor. Risk and opportunity always coexisted.

"Not a try, but a full commitment!" Yuan Ping was surprised that Zhu Daodong had agreed on the spot. He thought Zhu Daodong would at least consult Chen Shuli and then find a reason to refuse. But since he was willing to take on this challenge, Yuan Ping would ensure he followed through.

"Alright, but I have one condition. If I can recover 500,000 yuan, the township must lend 200,000 yuan to the feed mill." Zhu Daodong emphasized the word "lend." The feed mill was already in the preparatory stage, and if public funds were involved, management would become complex and troublesome.

"No problem, Daodong. Many of these debts are old. I can tell you that recovering 500,000 yuan would be considered a basic completion of the task. Recovering half would be a complete success," Yuan Ping said. If he were the party secretary, he would not have said this. He would have asked Zhu Daodong to do his best and not consider the task complete until all the external debts were recovered. This was a good opportunity to hone one's skills, but unfortunately, there was still Chen Shuli, and overstepping would make him look bad.

Yuan Ping also agreed to let Zhu Daodong select one or two team members from the entire township and to allow him to take 2% of the recovered funds as expenses for the debt collection.

"Thank you for your trust, Township Chief. I will do my best," Zhu Daodong said, his eardrums throbbing with pain...

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