Chapter Ninety-One: What Ails This Woman?

"Hello, I'm Yang Hang."
"Hello, Chen Huajiang."
Yang Hang took the initiative to extend his hand and smiled at Chen Huajiang, who could only reach out and shake it briefly. However, Chen Huajiang shot an unhappy glance at Zhang Weimin—this meddlesome old man really knew how to stir up trouble and waste his time. Didn't he have a business to run and money to make?

"I didn't expect that you, Boss Chen, have some insights into our power system. May I ask, how can you be so sure that our city, Nanming, will get a high-voltage generator unit in the next year or two?" Yang Hang pressed on, "You know, there are many cities vying for high-voltage generator sets right now, especially coastal cities and provincial capitals—competition is fierce. Theoretically, our chance of getting one soon is extremely slim. If it takes three or four years before our turn comes, what's the point of building a high-voltage substation now? It's just a waste of resources and time. Wouldn't it be better to simply install another generator unit to supply the city with electricity? Get it up this year, and we'll see results next year."

Yang Hang looked at Chen Huajiang as he spoke. This was the key issue for his research trip. He knew high-voltage generator units would be the mainstream eventually, but who could guarantee the future? One year is the future, but so is ten years.

"Let me ask you, why build the power plant in Xiahe Village?" Chen Huajiang asked with a smile.

"Isn't it obvious? There's a coal mine there," Zhang Weimin retorted, rolling his eyes. Wasn't that common knowledge? In all of Nanming, who didn't know? Not only was there a power station over there, but also the city's main coal mine.

"Exactly. High-voltage generator units consume coal resources at a much higher rate. Xiahe Village has a coal mine and a local power plant, which will greatly reduce operational costs. That's our advantage," Chen Huajiang said confidently, smiling slightly.

"That's very clever—I see now." Yang Hang's eyes lit up as he nodded in agreement. With his words, Zhang Weimin and Niu Quan also paused, then nodded thoughtfully.

"But there's not much coal in Xiahe Village," Niu Quan pointed out, frowning. "Compared to other provinces and cities, the surveyed reserves there are just a hundred thousand tons."

"But who can say for sure? Today's survey results don't define the future." Chen Huajiang shrugged. "Coal mines tend to exist in large, contiguous deposits. Who can guarantee Xiahe Village isn't sitting on more? Who can say the reserves will always be only a hundred thousand tons?"

Of course, Chen Huajiang knew the real figure was two hundred thousand tons, an awkward number. In the major coal-producing provinces of the future, even the smallest village would yield more in a single year than Xiahe Village's entire reserve. But Nanming wasn't a coal city—at least, not yet. No one knew the full truth now. Otherwise, the discovery of a coal mine in Xiahe wouldn't have led the power company to build a plant there so hastily. People always see what’s right in front of them, not what’s ahead.

At least for the moment, based on the usual patterns of coal discoveries, the output at Xiahe Village shouldn't be low.

"So that's how it is. I think our city has a good chance of winning a high-voltage generator unit this time," Yang Hang said. "Just as Boss Chen said, our advantage is much greater than that of most cities."

"From what I know, the 300MW high-voltage thermal power units now produced at the Harbin Electric Machinery Plant are eight times more efficient at burning coal than traditional units. That means coal consumption will be much higher, and costs will rise significantly. If our city's power company produces and consumes its own coal, costs will drop dramatically. We could even help supply neighboring cities—I'm sure they'd support us in getting a high-voltage unit."

Yang Hang clapped his hands in excitement, giving Wang Ning a thumbs-up. Zhang Weimin and Niu Quan both smiled, and Zhang Weimin, in particular, looked at Chen Huajiang with increasing warmth. This self-employed boss was like a lucky star—he'd spent years trying to bring high-voltage generators to Nanming, always running into brick walls. His relationship with the power bureau leadership had soured, which was why he'd been sent to manage the Nantian Hotel—a way to keep him out of sight and out of mind.

He'd nearly given up, but Chen Huajiang's insights reignited his hope. Now, even Engineer Yang believed it was possible, and Zhang's confidence soared. He found Chen Huajiang more and more pleasing to the eye.

"Young Chen, you young people shouldn't always be thinking about making money. You should do more for the country and society," Zhang Weimin admonished with a smile. "Our nation is different from others—only when everyone does well is it truly good for all. I won't keep you from your business any longer. Stop by my office when you have time for a chat or a game of chess. Your playing style is all wrong, and I’ve decided to teach you a lesson to set you straight."

Standing to leave, Zhang Weimin couldn't resist giving Chen Huajiang some parting advice. Watching him go, Chen Huajiang rolled his eyes. That guy wanted to teach him chess? Pure wishful thinking.

Soon, more customers began to fill the shop, and Chen Huajiang lent a hand with the busy work.

"Ma'am, here you go, one yuan in total." He wrapped up two large chicken drumsticks, handed them over, and added a small packet of fries and some dipping sauce.

"Boss," came a sudden call from Zhang Hong, her tone slightly nervous.

"Is something wrong?"

"My cousin—my cousin has arrived."

While busy with the next order, Chen Huajiang asked, and Zhang Hong pointed to a woman standing outside—her cousin, Wei Lanhua.

Following her gesture, Chen Huajiang saw a girl of seventeen or eighteen, carrying a grayish-brown cloth bag, dressed in a red padded jacket patched in many places. She wore gray canvas shoes, a bright red scarf tied around her head. When she noticed his gaze, she quickly lowered her head, looking extremely self-conscious.

But just that one glance left Chen Huajiang surprised—she wasn't unattractive at all. With a pointed face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and long eyes clear as autumn water, she was simply lacking in confidence, her manner timid, like a startled fawn.

"Zhao Xuebing, come out and help for a bit," Chen Huajiang called to the kitchen assistant. "Zhang Hong, bring your cousin over."

He led Zhang Hong and her cousin away from the customers and into the Nantian Hotel lobby so as not to disturb the business.

"All right, what's the story? What's your cousin's name? She doesn't seem to have any issues—why did you make it sound like she was someone people should avoid?" Chen Huajiang asked bluntly, getting straight to the point.

"Wei Lanhua, she, she—" Zhang Hong hesitated, then stammered, awkwardness written all over her face.

As she spoke, Wei Lanhua bowed her head even lower, her chin nearly touching her chest.

"Lift your head. How can you be a waitress if you're this shy? I don't see any problem—unless there's a hidden illness? Just say it plainly," Chen Huajiang said, signaling for Wei Lanhua not to be so bashful, and frowned at Zhang Hong in disapproval.

"She—well, people in the village and many others say she looks like a fox spirit," Zhang Hong finally blurted out.