Rebirth: Fan Debiao rises from the Liaobei land

After leaving the Netcom building, Fan Debiao did not go straight back to the construction site.

The van made a turn in the snow and headed straight for the neighborhood office.

The neighborhood chief, surnamed Sun, was in his fifties and as fat as a Maitreya Buddha. Upon hearing Fan Debiao explain his purpose, his fat face scrunched up into pleats: "Boss Fan, this matter... is difficult to handle."

"Director Sun, look," Fan Debiao spread out the base station planning map, "this is a legitimate telecommunications project, all the procedures are in place. We just need a certificate from your street office proving that the base station radiation is within a safe range and that the surrounding residents have no objections."

Director Sun held his teacup and blew away the foam: "No objections? I heard that an old lady went to the construction site to make a scene, saying that the base station radiation had wilted all her flowers."

"That was a misunderstanding," Fan Debiao said with a smile. "The radiation from a base station is less than that from a television. Director Sun, please help us out; our project is awaiting acceptance."

"It's not that I don't want to help." Director Sun put down his teacup. "This kind of certificate requires a meeting to discuss it. We also need to solicit residents' opinions, conduct visits, and keep records. Going through the whole process will take at least... a week or two."

Fan Debiao understood.

He pulled an envelope from his pocket and pushed it over: "Director Sun, I came in a hurry and didn't have much prepared. Use this money to buy yourself a pack of cigarettes. Our project is really urgent. Could you... make an exception?"

Director Sun didn't even lift his eyelids, tapping the envelope lightly with his finger to estimate its thickness—two thousand. A slight smile finally appeared on his face: "Boss Fan is a sensible man. How about this, I'll call a meeting with some building managers tomorrow to hear the opinions of the residents. However—"

He drawled, "Twenty households need to sign; you'll have to do it yourselves. Our neighborhood committee can only issue certificates, not sign or affix fingerprints on behalf of the residents."

"Understood, understood." Fan Debiao stood up. "We'll handle the signing. As for the certification, I'll leave it to Director Sun."

As I left the neighborhood office, the snow started falling even harder.

Gangzi, who had been holding it in the whole way, finally couldn't hold back any longer: "Brother Biao, this is fucking... you have to pay to get things done?"

"That's called social etiquette." Fan Debiao opened the car door. "You think Director Sun really cares about radiation? That's what he cares about."

He rubbed his fingers together.

Back at the construction site, Awei was paying the workers' wages. The payment of over 80,000 yuan arrived on time, and half a month's wages were settled, bringing smiles to the workers' faces. Wang, a cigarette dangling from his lips, squatted at the entrance of the insulated shed counting the money. Seeing Fan Debiao return, he stood up: "Boss Fan, the wages are paid, and the brothers feel at ease. No matter how heavy the snow, we'll still work for you!"

"You've worked hard." Fan Debiao patted him on the shoulder. "We'll have extra dishes tonight. Everyone's been working hard lately, let's have a drink."

"Alright!"

In the afternoon, Motorola's Xiao Liu quietly approached Fan Debiao: "Boss Fan, let me say something. That resident radiation-free certificate is actually a makeshift method. The proper procedure is to get an electromagnetic radiation test report from the Environmental Protection Bureau. That stuff has national standards and data, and it's much more authoritative than twenty households signing off."

Fan Debiao's eyes lit up: "Can the Environmental Protection Bureau do it?"

"We can do it. But it costs money, and you have to wait in line," Xiao Liu said in a low voice. "We at Motorola have done this in the provincial capital before. It's five thousand for a report, and another two thousand for expedited service. But—"

He paused for a moment, then said, "If Mr. Fan uses our Motorola equipment for all his base stations in the future, our company can assist in contacting him regarding this test report."

Fan Debiao understood. This was an olive branch being extended.

"Engineer Liu, I appreciate your kindness." Fan Debiao offered him a cigarette, "but this matter... I need to think about it."

In the evening, in the Victoria private room.

Fan Debiao, Wu Derong, and Gangzi sat around the hot pot, the mutton bubbling in the pot, but no one touched their chopsticks.

"Mr. Wu, I've figured it out." Fan Debiao took a sip of his drink. "All that resident certificate stuff, all that radiation testing, it's all bullshit. The root of the problem isn't there."

Wu Derong looked up: "Where?"

"It's inside the network." Fan Debiao put down his wine glass. "Team Leader Zheng, an inspection team leader, dares to hold me up like this; he must have someone behind him. I want to sound out Director Zhao."

Wu Derong thought for a moment: "Director Zhao... I've had drinks with him twice. He's alright, not too pretentious."

"Then let's make an appointment with him," Fan Debiao said. "Gangzi, go to my car and get two bottles of Wuliangye. Also, prepare a thick envelope."

Director Zhao didn't arrive until 9 p.m., and his overcoat was still covered in snow.

"Boss Fan, Boss Wu, why are you calling me so late? Is something urgent?" Director Zhao took off his overcoat and sat down, smiling broadly.

The three men drank for a round and exchanged pleasantries. After a few rounds, Fan Debiao filled Director Zhao's glass: "Director Zhao, about my base station... is there anything going on with Team Leader Zheng?"

Director Zhao paused, his hand still holding the food, and smiled: "Boss Fan, you're a sensible man. Some things... are better left unsaid."

Fan Debiao pushed the envelope forward: "Director Zhao, I'm a straightforward person. Could you please give me some pointers? Who on earth is blocking my way?"

Director Zhao felt the thickness of the envelope, put it in his bag, and then lowered his voice: "Boss Fan, things are about to change at China Netcom."

"What do you mean?"

"The old leader is retiring at the end of the year." Director Zhao's voice was even lower. "Both vice presidents, General Manager Zhang and General Manager Li, have opportunities to be promoted. Right now, the higher-ups' intentions... are not very clear."

Fan Debiao's heart skipped a beat. In his past life's memories, the later head of Netcom was indeed surnamed Zhang. But he didn't know there were these twists and turns involved.

"Is Mr. Zhang... in charge of engineering?" Fan Debiao asked.

"Yes." Director Zhao nodded. "Your project was approved by General Manager Zhang. General Manager Li... is in charge of finance. The two of them used to keep to themselves, but now at this critical juncture..."

"Is General Manager Li trying to cause trouble for General Manager Zhang?"

"Smart." Director Zhao raised his glass. "Your base station is the first major project approved by General Manager Zhang. If it's botched, or done too slowly, General Manager Zhang will lose face. As for General Manager Li... someone will naturally take care of things."

Fan Debiao understood everything. Team Leader Zheng was one of General Manager Li's men.

He stood up to offer a toast, lowering his voice: "Director Zhao, I'm a rough man, but I know the proper etiquette. Is there anything I can do to help with General Manager Zhang?"

Director Zhao narrowed his eyes, finished his drink, and as he put down his glass, he drew a circle on the table with his finger: "President Zhang has been seeing friends quite often lately. Some friends are very concerned about saving face."

Fan Debiao understood perfectly. This meant that General Manager Zhang needed to cultivate relationships and had something impressive to offer.

He winked at Gangzi, who understood and got up to leave.

Fan Debiao served food to Director Zhao: "Director Zhao, my shop just received a few new machines, Motorola V60 and Nokia 8850, both the latest models. Do you think... Mr. Zhang might find them useful when he meets his friends?"

Director Zhao paused with his chopsticks, then smiled: "Boss Fan is very kind. However... these things depend on timing."

"I understand," Fan Debiao said. "Come on, Director Zhao, let me toast you again. Let's enjoy ourselves to the fullest today!"

Gangzi returned half an hour later, carrying two inconspicuous black plastic bags, which he placed in the corner.

Fan Debiao didn't bring up the matter again, instead saying, "What about Team Leader Zheng..."

"I'll talk to Team Leader Zheng. The acceptance period can be extended, and the standards can be... flexible. But Boss Fan, you still have to do the superficial stuff like the resident certificates and radiation tests. Otherwise, if General Manager Li gets hold of something, General Manager Zhang won't be able to say anything."

"Thank you for your guidance, Director Zhao." Fan Debiao raised his glass. "I'd like to toast you."

When sending Director Zhao off, Fan Debiao personally arranged the car and placed a black plastic bag on the back seat. The two cunning foxes shook hands and said goodbye without saying a word.

Wu Derong patted Fan Debiao on the shoulder: "Debiao, you've improved again."

"It's all thanks to General Manager Wu's leadership!"

Gangzi felt a pang of pain in his eyes. "That's ten cell phones! Nearly fifty thousand yuan!"

"Hey brother, you can't do things like that. You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub!" Fan Debiao took out another V60 and put it in another bag: "Gangzi, take this to Team Leader Zheng now. Just say... thank you for your guidance."

"Send it to that bastard?" Gangzi glared.

"Send it over," Fan Debiao said. "Director Zhao is quick to act. I guess we should call him by now. If he accepts the guidance fee, things will be much easier. If he doesn't, Director Zhao will naturally find a way."

Wu Derong nodded: "Biaozi, you've got this all figured out. You know when to be tough, when to be soft, and when to give in... you're absolutely decisive."

"We were forced into it." Fan Debiao lit a cigarette. "Mr. Wu, about the bank loan..."

"I've made an appointment with Section Chief Li for tomorrow night," Wu Derong said. "But Biaozi, the loan isn't a small amount; it needs collateral."

"Use Dexing Communications' shares," Fan Debiao had already decided. "We'll pledge our shares to the bank. Once the base station is accepted and the payment is received, we'll pay it back immediately."

Wu Derong stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled: "Alright, if you're determined, I'll stick with you."

Gangzi drove to Team Leader Zheng's house, and Wu Derong also went home. Only Fan Debiao was left in front of Victoria's house.

The snow was still falling when my phone rang.

"Boss Fan, this is Lao Zheng." Team Leader Zheng's voice was much more amiable than during the day. "I've looked at your test report again carefully. Some data can be verified a bit more. As for the resident certificate, just submit it by next Monday."

Fan Debiao smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Team Leader Zheng."

"Of course." Team Leader Zheng paused for a moment, "Boss Fan... let's keep in touch."