I'm in the county town, and you say I'm a big shot?

Chapter 414 Father and Second Uncle Argument
"Secretary Hu asked that?" Fang Qingye was a little surprised.

"Yes, actually this was County Chief Miao's idea. He said you have abundant funds and strength, experience working in the bank, and more importantly, high political awareness. He hoped you could take over."

"Of course, this was all discussed privately. Secretary Hu even specifically asked me to pass on a message to you and hear your personal thoughts. This is an official document issued by the Provincial Banking Regulatory Bureau. I've made a copy for you. Please take a close look."

As he spoke, Fang Jianwen took a photocopy out of his briefcase and handed it to Fang Qingye.

It was a working letter from the Provincial Banking Regulatory Bureau to the Nanxin County Government, which announced the background, reasons, and plan for the restructuring of Nanxin Rural Bank.

The major shareholder, Baoshang Bank, withdrew its investment and resigned from the board of directors of the rural bank, and new investors were introduced. One of the more noteworthy developments is this:
Baoshang Bank misappropriated 100 million yuan from Nanxin Rural Bank. In addition to repaying the interest as required, the principal was to be repaid by the new investor. At the same time, this 100 million yuan will be used as the new investor's equity investment in Baoshang Bank.

It was specifically noted that Baoshang Bank's total capital was based on the net asset data in its 2011 financial annual report.

It's almost exactly what Zhong He said.

Upon seeing these contents, Fang Qingye couldn't help but sigh.

Seeing Fang Qingye staring intently, Fang Jianhua couldn't help but ask, "Little Ye?"

"Hmm?" Fang Qingye raised his head and looked at him.

"From what I've heard, Baoshang Bank is also in disarray, with issues such as major shareholders misappropriating bank funds. So, regardless of the future profitability of investing in rural banks, investing 100 million yuan in Baoshang Bank is extremely risky," Fang Jianhua said.

"Are you worried about throwing good money after bad—it'll never come back?"

“Yes, very likely!” Fang Jianhua said.

"Who goes and never returns?" Suddenly, a voice came from behind the two of them.

Fang Qingye quickly turned her head, the two of them so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice their father, Fang Jianwen, walking towards them.

He noticed the document Fang Qingye was holding and asked curiously, "What is it? Let me see?"

Fang Jianwen took the documents from his son and looked at them carefully.

"Nanxin Town Bank is being restructured? Xiao Ye, why are you looking at this? You have deposits there? Didn't you say you withdrew them all?"

Fang Jianwen found it strange, then suddenly thought of something and looked at his younger brother: "Jianhua, are you trying to get Xiaoye to invest?"

"It wasn't my idea, it was Secretary Hu's idea." Fang Jianhua couldn't hide it from his elder brother, so he briefly explained the process.

"This...this." Fang Jianwen didn't understand finance, and he had no right to decide on his son's business, but when he saw the document stating that the new investor would advance 100 million yuan to help Baoshang Bank repay the misappropriated funds, and that this would also serve as equity investment in Baoshang Bank, he suddenly became excited.

"That's pure nonsense! Baoshang Bank misappropriated funds from rural banks and refused to repay them, which reflects either that Baoshang Bank itself is in financial crisis, or that Baoshang Bank is simply a rogue bank!"

"Even I, a layman, can see the problem here! Oh, no wonder you all say it's a one-way trip, you mean throwing meat buns to a dog and never returning, right?"

“Brother, you’re right. Xiao Ye and I have also been discussing this issue,” Fang Jianhua said truthfully.

"No, no, the plan has to be changed. If Xiao Ye is to be a shareholder, this clause must be removed! Bao Shang should pay back the money he misappropriated!" Fang Jianwen stated his opinion.

"This is a plan approved by the Provincial Banking Regulatory Commission, and Secretary Hu and County Head Miao of the county also agreed to it," Fang Jianhua explained.

"So what if Secretary Hu agreed?! The money belongs to Xiao Ye, are you trying to force a humiliating settlement?!" Fang Jianwen's temper flared up: "Jianhua, you clearly saw that this was a trap for Xiao Ye, why didn't you voice your opinion in front of Secretary Hu?! Are you that afraid of Secretary Hu?!"

"Brother, you..." Fang Jianhua was speechless for a moment after being rebuked by Fang Jianwen.

Seeing this, Fang Qingye quickly tried to stop them: "Dad, Second Uncle, stop arguing. I didn't say I agreed. Besides, they're asking for an exorbitant price; we can try to negotiate." "No discussion unless this condition is removed!"

"Okay, okay, Dad, Second Uncle, let's not talk about this. Let's go eat. Today is the Lantern Festival, so let's not talk about these unhappy things."

Fang Qingye persuaded them, and the two elders then walked with him toward the small building.

Sure enough, everyone was happy at the dinner table and didn't mention the argument from earlier at all.

After dinner, everyone went home. Fang Qingye didn't go back to stay with his grandparents. He went back to his bedroom and thought about it, deciding to talk to Xia He about it.

I sent a text message on WeChat to ask if it was a convenient time for her, and to my surprise, Xia He turned on her video call.

I saw summer lotus outdoors, and there were people and lanterns everywhere.

"I'm looking at the lanterns on the Qinhuai River. Aren't they beautiful?" Xia He switched the video on her phone, and Fang Qingye indeed saw boats and lanterns everywhere on the river.

"you alone?"

"Of course not, I came with my parents."

Is it convenient to talk then?

"It's okay to chat for a while."

Fang Qingye then told Xia He about the documents her second uncle had shown her that day.

“I’ve found that document through someone. I was going to take a picture of it and send it to you, but since you have it, I’ll just leave it to you. How about I wait until I get back and we talk about it?” Xia He said.

"Okay, have fun."

Fang Qingye turned off the video, made herself a cup of tea, and started aimlessly browsing the internet on her phone.

Around 10 p.m., Xia He sent a WeChat video request. When Fang Qingye answered, he saw that Xia He had returned home in her pajamas.

"Qingye, your second uncle showed this to you. Is it because the county leaders want you to invest?" Xia He said.

"Yes, Secretary Hu and County Chief Miao both have this idea. They asked my second uncle to communicate with me first and hear my tone."

Fang Qingye then recounted how her father, Fang Jianwen, had inadvertently seen the contents of the document earlier that day and had argued with her second uncle.

Xia He giggled after hearing this.

“Your dad is very protective of his children, but I can understand your second uncle. He’s the director of the finance bureau now, and I heard from you that he’s trying to get promoted to deputy county-level leader, so naturally he can’t just refuse him directly.”

“Yes, I don’t blame them.” Fang Qingye explained, “Tell me your thoughts.”

“Qingye, the possibility of this clause being changed is very small. I asked Director Yu, and he said that Baoshang Bank agreed to withdraw precisely because of this clause. In any case, the shares obtained from a 100 million investment are nothing to Baoshang Bank’s major shareholders.”

"You should know that Baoshang Bank's net assets at the end of 2011 were reportedly 6 billion yuan, so you would only get one-sixtieth of the shares."

Fang Qingye laughed: "I never thought about changing this clause. I only thought about what conditions should be proposed based on this. Xia He, if it were you, what would you propose?"

(End of this chapter)