Song Guanchao paused for two seconds, then immediately realized that this old dog was taking the opportunity to extort!

But then he was a bit puzzled: "Even if the high-speed rail project is given to him, if there is no money, there still won't be any. The fiscal budget is just this much; could he possibly conjure money out of thin air?"

Wu Qiangwei said, "Building a high-speed rail doesn't necessarily require government funding."

"Bank loans, private investments, issuing national bonds, urban investment... it's all money."

Song Guanchao didn't understand these things, so he asked, "Then why don't we raise funds through these channels ourselves?"

Wu Qiangwei shook her head: "Timewise, there's not enough."

"And also..."

She paused, then said, "Zheng Bihui obviously came prepared. What I can think of, don't you think they can't?"

They only found out today that the Finance Bureau ran out of money.

But Zheng Bihui has been playing his tricks since the beginning of the relocation.

The other side knew at least two months ahead of them.

Two months is enough to do a lot of things.

"I'll go for a bank loan!" Song Guanchao said, "First, loan the relocation fund, this money absolutely cannot be delayed! We'll talk about the rest later."

"No need to go, it can't be loaned."

"You have to try at least!" Song Guanchao really didn't want to believe this bad luck.

Wu Qiangwei didn't dampen his confidence: "Go ahead and give it a try."

Song Guanchao closed the door and was about to head to the bank when he suddenly remembered something.

He remembered that when investigating Hou Wen and his family's bank transactions, it was Zeng Li who helped.

This girl seems to have connections in the bank.

"Xiao Li..."

"Eww~ don't call me that."

Zeng Li got goosebumps all over: "You've never called me that before, something bad must be up."

She was a bit huffy: "When there's nothing, you treat people like weeds; when you need something, you call so affectionately."

"..." Song Guanchao was speechless at her rebuttal: "So, do you have friends in the bank?"

Zeng Li didn't answer but asked, "It's confirmed that the Finance Bureau is out of money?"

"Yeah."

Song Guanchao said, "You've guessed it all, the high-speed rail funds can't be approved now."

Zeng Li said, "I do have friends at the bank, but don't think of asking me to help pull strings for a loan."

"The connections are through my family; it's fine for small matters, but when it comes to large loans, I don't have any say."

There was no need for Song Guanchao to mention it; Zeng Li already knew what he wanted to say.

After speaking, Zeng Li observed his expression and softly asked, "I can't help you, you won't be mad at me, right?"

"What are you talking about, am I that petty?"

Song Guanchao smiled, then sighed.

Suddenly, he asked: "Even the Secretary can't get a loan? Her background shouldn't be ordinary, right?"

Zeng Li shook her head: "That's her family's connections, not hers."

"Of course, if Sister Weiwei asks, her family would definitely help her. But she won't take the initiative to ask."

"Why?"

"You're so dumb."

Zeng Li said speechlessly: "Sister Weiwei is being groomed as a cadre. Her career progress is indeed connected to her family, but even more so due to her own ability."

"As far as I know, since she entered the system, she hasn't asked her family for help."

"It's not that Sister Weiwei is self-important; all political families are like this."

"They provide their children an opportunity to enter politics, but how high they can rise depends on their own skills."

"If one day Sister Weiwei has the opportunity to reach the top, the family will definitely support her with all their might. But before that, once she asks for help, her position will be basically set."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Song Guanchao suddenly understood her point.

Zeng Li was talking about "political families."

A family is considered a "political family" if at least three members are leading at a bureau-level or above.

The family behind Wu Qiangwei certainly consists of more than three members, and they are definitely not just at the bureau level.

At the very least, they are at the provincial ministerial level, if not higher.

This kind of family doesn't have only one Wu Qiangwei in politics.

Their family resources are many, but not unlimited.

This kind of family doesn't indulge their children without limits like ordinary families might.

They need a political giant who can give back to the family.

Rather than a big baby who calls for family help at the sight of a problem.

If Wu Qiangwei were now a Provincial Committee Member, she wouldn't even need to ask for help; the family would naturally support her with all their might.

After all, a Provincial Committee Member has the qualification to aim for the highest level!

In such cases, any family would see them as the pillar of the next generation.

But Wu Qiangwei is just a City Committee Member, not the top leader, not even the third-in-command.

To her family, the Wu Family, the third-in-command of a Prefecture-level City is decent but not enough for them to concentrate resources to help her without hesitation.

As Zeng Li said, if Wu Qiangwei were to ask now, it would be like admitting to her family that she lacks capability.

If she leans on her family for everything, how can she grow?

Rather than help a mediocrity, it's better to nurture another family member with more potential.

Wu Qiangwei's situation gave Song Guanchao a clearer understanding of the current predicament.

Zeng Li saw him deep in thought and, feeling a bit compassionate, asked, "How much is the project short of now?"

"Two billion needs to be in the account before November."

Song Guanchao said, "This is for the relocation and settlement fees; it cannot be delayed."

"Two billion..."

Zeng Li said, "That's a lot of money, one bank definitely can't handle that amount."

"And Mayor Zheng has certainly already informed the banks; even if you go, they'll have reasons lined up to refuse you."

"I know."

Song Guanchao's brow furrowed deeper and deeper, then suddenly asked, "I heard from the Secretary that funding for the high-speed rail, in addition to the government and the National Railway Bureau, could also be raised through bank loans and private investments?"

"When it comes to bank loans, how exactly do you get one?"

"???" Zeng Li was dumbfounded for several seconds, looking puzzled: "You don't know?"

Song Guanchao replied confidently: "Nope, you tell me."

"I..." Zeng Li scratched her head: "This isn't something that can be explained in a few words; it involves too much specialized knowledge."

"You don't need to be too professional; give me a general idea so I can understand the concept."

"Alright."

Zeng Li spent over half an hour simplifying the specifics of investment behavior as much as possible.

Song Guanchao was quick on the uptake; even though it was his first time learning about it, thanks to Zeng Li's clear and accessible explanation, he soon grasped it.

"You just said that in some places, high-speed rail is 100% funded by the National Railway Bureau?"

"Don't even think about it."

Zeng Li knew what he was plotting: "That was in the past; now it's impossible. Except for a few high-speed rail lines, most high-speed railways domestically operate at a loss. These days, being able to cover even half the costs is considered high; full funding is absolutely impossible."

Song Guanchao hummed in agreement, but his mind was already developing some ideas, unlike before when he was utterly lost.

He checked the time and said, "I'm heading to the bank now."

Regardless of whether the bank will lend, or how much they can lend, it has to be tried.

Giving up without even trying is not Song Guanchao's style.

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