Chapter 431 Tea Room

Inside the tea room.

Wei Xiangzuo, Gu Baishun, Yu Zheng, and five or six others sat facing each other, their expressions varying as they looked at the money bags on the floor.

Tonight, they were trying to win over the Longcheng Xinghai District Dockworkers' Association. In addition to Wei Xiangzuo and Yu Zheng, there was also Cheng Tian, the top leader of Xinghai District, along with his two trusted high-level aides, and Yu Zheng had also brought two people with him, all errand runners.

There were no outsiders in the room. The chairman of the Xinghai District Association reached into a money bag and took out a stack of cash. While fiddling with it, he said, "Old Wei, Baishun, we're all familiar faces. Things have gotten to this point, so we don't need to be shy about anything."

"That's right, just say what's on your mind," Wei Xiangzuo nodded.

"Besides the money, after this is over, I also want the position of chief councilor of the Xinghai District Council." Cheng Tian was also very realistic, "To be honest, doing this kind of thing is risky. We're also afraid of the garrison's retaliation."

Wei Xiangzuo pondered for a moment, "I can't make that decision. I'll make a call."

"Sure," Cheng Tian tossed the money and crossed his legs.

Wei Xiangzuo lowered his head and dialed Su Tianyu's number, briefly explaining the situation.

Gou Liuzi thought for a moment, "You can agree to him, but don't let him publicize it. Otherwise, everyone will want a chief councilor, and it will be difficult for us to handle."

"Okay," Wei Xiangzuo responded, hung up the phone, and looked up at Cheng Tian, saying, "Then it's settled."

"Great!" Cheng Tian didn't hesitate, reaching out to pull the two money bags to his side, "When I do things, I value trust. Now that I've taken your money, even if Tan Hengqiang points a gun at my head, I won't change my mind."

Wei Xiangzuo heard this, stood up, and replied concisely, "They can't win in a direct fight."

"Haha, good!"

The two shook hands, and the agreement was officially reached under the table.

Cheng Tian of Xinghai District would vote for Wei Xiangzuo in the upcoming public vote as the chairman of the branch, and in addition, the one hundred backbone dockworkers selected by Xinghai District would also vote for Wei Xiangzuo.

For this, Lao Li's team paid a price of seven million in cash. This was the initial payment for vote-buying, and if things worked out in the end, the one hundred backbone dockworkers would also receive红包 (hongbao, red envelopes) of the same amount.

With the matter settled, Cheng Tian escorted everyone out of the tea room before turning back.

On the roadside, Gu Baishun waved to Yu Zheng, "Then that's it for now, we'll leave first, Old Yu."

"Wait a moment, Baishun." Yu Zheng had also tasted the sweetness today, because the seven million in the other two bags was for him.

But this money wasn't purely a benefit fee for buying votes, because Yu Zheng wasn't a district chairman. He couldn't control the voting results of a certain district; at most, he could only cast an elder vote for Wei Xiangzuo. Although this vote was also worth a lot, it certainly wasn't worth seven million.

In short, this money was Yu Zheng's benefit fee for helping to operate. He was responsible for bringing people over, and Wei Xiangzuo was responsible for giving him "sales commissions."

Seeing Yu Zheng call him, Gu Baishun immediately walked over, "What's the matter, Old Yu?"

"I didn't lie to you, did I, Little Gu? I said the people from Xinghai could be brought over, and they definitely could be." Yu Zheng asked with his hands behind his back and a smile, "We still have credibility, right?"

"Ah, it's very good, very smooth," Gu Baishun nodded in response, "What's wrong? Do you have other ideas?"

Yu Zheng paused, "Everyone's idea is that the benefit fee has to be increased a bit."

Gu Baishun smiled when he heard this, "Cheng Tian has already taken the money, how can it be increased again? Where can it be increased?!"

Yu Zheng sighed, "Everyone thinks that the money given to the people below afterwards is too little. Look, when the public vote starts, there are one hundred voting representatives in one district. You only give a total of one million. That's only ten thousand yuan per person. Isn't that a bit too little?"

Gu Baishun paused slightly, "Old Yu! The price we agreed on at the beginning was five million for a branch association and three million for an elder. Later, you said it was too little, so I fought for it with the higher-ups and raised the price to seven million, and was also willing to take out one million separately to arrange grassroots votes, right?"

"Right!" Yu Zheng nodded.

"The price has just been raised, and you're raising it again. Hehe, if I let you say, how can I talk to the higher-ups?" Gu Baishun looked embarrassed, "If we do this, the higher-ups might even think that I want to eat some of the profits in the middle! That's not very good, is it?"

Yu Zheng looked at Gu Baishun, "Brother, my idea is this. Suppose we succeed in this matter, then you and Wei Xiangzuo take office. Don't you still have to rely on these brothers to support you for anything? To put it bluntly, the money for buying votes...it's not like you have to pay for it. It's all reimbursed by the leaders and the slush fund. If you give out a little more, and the brothers get practical benefits, whose kindness will they remember? Is it Lao Li's? Hehe, his position is too high, we can't reach him, you understand what I mean, right?"

Gu Baishun was silent.

"Also, the garrison and Zhang Ming are also shouting for price increases! The public vote is about to start, and now is the stage of intense competition." Yu Zheng continued, "If you throw in more money, you can win over two more fence-sitters. Otherwise, if you give too little, it's not easy for me to pull grassroots votes! People nowadays only recognize money, what do you say?"

Gu Baishun looked at him and pondered.

"One million more for each district." Yu Zheng patted Gu Baishun's shoulder, "This way it will be easier for me to do things, otherwise I might not be able to negotiate with Xintai District. They are holding the price very tightly."

Hearing this, Gu Baishun raised his head with a smile and looked at Yu Zheng, "Okay, I'll make the decision, add another million!"

"I knew it, you're a smart person, you get it right away!" Yu Zheng replied with a bright smile.

"Then that's it, we'll leave first."

"Okay, I'll go back too."

After the two finished talking, Gu Baishun bent over and got into Wei Xiangzuo's car, waving goodbye to Yu Zheng and others.

On the way back, Wei Xiangzuo looked at Gu Baishun and asked, "What did Yu Zheng say to you?"

"Hehe, he wants to raise the price again!" Gu Baishun replied with a sneer, "He said that he wants to give one million more for the grassroots votes in each district, or he won't pull grassroots votes."

"That old bastard is a little too greedy! The matter hasn't even started yet, and we're giving out cash. Seven million for each district chairman, they can get the full amount with a nod. Is this condition still low? Damn it, who else can be so generous besides us?!" Xiao Er, who was driving, cursed first before Wei Xiangzuo could even speak, "I think he's a little out of touch."

"He thinks we can't do without him now! If we want to get votes, we have to use him, hehe." Gu Baishun grinned, "It's okay, just give it if we need to, you don't need to say anything, I'll talk to Su Tianyu."

...

Late at night.

Inside the Tongji Association compound, Su Tianyu was eating barbecue.

Da Xiong walked over and asked casually, "Brother...did...did you also transfer people from the Zhou family?"

Su Tianyu was stunned for a moment, "Huh? What transfer?"