Monster Factory

Chapter 9: They are actually curb stones?

Translated by me, edited by Kai.

Municipal administrative engineering official director Liu, Liu Fengjin, who was the one that just gave Han Youpeng a scolding, received a call from him saying that he has major news to report.

At the moment director Liu in a meeting on the top floor with several of the city’s directors and bureau chiefs. They were there to discuss the inspection in 3 months time and how they could change the face of the city by then.

If it’s just cleaning up the city, then that is a major no no and a dumb idea.

There are more than 700 cities and over 1600 counties in the country.

So how come there were only 31 cities who were rewarded with the title of the most cultural city in the country?

Sanitation practices, even kindergarten kids can do it. On a side note, they do it very well, they can clean up their school yard to be both tidy and clean.

Hence, if the title for the city can be awarded with sanitation practices only, then that is the highest and the hardest honor to achieve. It is also nonsense, because it’s practically impossible.

The 3 year inspection, is a comprehensive targeted inspection. Areas such as public safety, crime case cracking rate, employment rate, air quality, and such are all targets of this inspection. Theses areas have generally been reviewed in the first 2 years before the on site inspection.

On the third year there is an comprehensive evaluation where an inspection team will be on site to conduct the evaluation.

Having failed N times on the onsite inspection step, Zhongyun’s municipal government, using tonnes of experience, feedback from their earlier failures, and long term research of honourable cities, have finally produced a list of criteria.

There are 3 major areas to consider.

Science and technology of the city.

Cultural aspects of the city.

Specialties of the city.

As for the cleanliness of the city, it’s pretty much a must have requirement. It’s just like not all women can be Miss World. If you have a city that is either full of cracks or trash, then you simply wouldn’t even make it past the qualifiers.

City construction office, governs all of Zhongyun city’s infrastructure and road construction plans.

Hence the pressure of this huge ordeal mainly rests upon the shoulders of the city construction office.

Under the influence of this pressure, all department heads, bureau chiefs, and vice chiefs are all united and working to their utmost abilities to come up with ideas to make the city prettier.

The discussion in the meeting room led to lots of intense bickering. Some believe that Zhongyun should play out it’s culture card as it’s specialization. The city needed to heavily promote and display it’s rich history to the public.

Others believe that relying on just culture is not enough. Even ancient cities with thousands of years of history were crossed out from the list, so clearly the culture card can’t be the main focus.

Since the culture card can’t be the main focus, then that only leaves the tech card.

Presently, science and technology sees new development everyday. If there is a possibility to introduce several highly technical parts into the city facilities, then there might actually be a possibility of getting on the good side of the inspection team.

Raising this issue is one of the department heads who previously has visited many foreign cities where the main focus is high tech facilities.

“We need both tech and culture.”

The chief of the city construction office, Le Zhengdong, stated: “Yesterday, during the city leader meeting, we have all come to an agreement. We not only need to keep the cultural heritage of our city, but also need to include projects where science and technology contribute to better living standards for the public.”

“The task assigned to use from the city leaders is very clear. We need to concentrate on both the cultural and technical aspects of the city. For the next 3 months, all of our work need to be focused around these two points.”

A cell phone ringing noise interrupted the chief’s speech. Although the ring tone wasn’t ear-piercing, but there are only directors and bureau chiefs at this small meeting.

Hence nobody turned off their cell phones. The chief stopped speaking and gave municipal administrative engineering official director Liu Fengjin a look, as if telling him to quickly answer the call.

The meeting room remained quiet as Liu Fengjin looked at the number, and angrily asked in a low voice: “Didn’t I tell you I’m in a meeting, now speak quickly.”

“Director Liu, this is an enormous matter, Enormous!” Han Youpeng yelled. In the quiet meeting room, even chief, Le Zhengdong, who is sitting at the head of the table heard it crystal clear.

“Wait for me after the meeting.” Liu Fengjin slam shut the phone.

“It might be some urgent matter for you.” Chief Le Zhengdong took a look at the time: “Alright, our meeting today ends here. Everybody go back and come up with new plans to share tomorrow.”

Just as the meeting adjourned, one of the directors who was sitting closest to the door opened it. However Han Youpeng, who was urgently waiting outside, dashed in right away.

Han Youpeng, one hand holding onto a cell phone, one hand holding a couple of pictures, with flush red complexion, just like broiled shrimp: “Only 60 director!”

Liu Fengjin is angry to the point of being flushed red. Han Youpeng is a part of his department. Now with all the city construction office’s leaders here, isn’t this just giving him a blunder to clean up?

Liu Fengjin already decided, when they get back, he is definitely going to receive a special lesson.

City construction chief Le Zhendong is already standing and somewhat unhappy: “Xiao Han what matter made you this anxious? There is not one bit of sophistication left.”

“Ah ~ Chief, let me explain.” Han Youpeng suddenly turned from red to white. Finally aware that he’s in trouble.

In the end, he is a youngster and can’t grasp the act of acting sophisticated. When running into exciting matters, everything else is thrown into the back of the mind.

Those who are able to become civil servants, aren’t lunatics. The chief and directors all understand, Han Youpeng clearly met some disturbing matter of major concern. Otherwise, he wouldn’t make this type of elementary mistake.

Angry for such, but the chief still gave Han Youpeng a bit of time to explain himself.

Having been scared out of his ecstasy, Han Youpeng understood that if he doesn’t clearly explain himself, then he’ll be benched for the rest of his life.

Hence, he needs to bring out 200% effort to explain himself.

“This picture. Chief go ahead and take a look.” Han Youpeng, while trembling, handed over the pictures in his hands to the chief and directors in the room.

In the picture is a piece of marble. On the marble is a carving.

Just as chief Le Zhengdong wanted to criticise why he would cause this much fuss for a picture, nothing came out of his mouth because he clearly forgot about it.

He is completely attracted to the graceful court lady in the picture.

Beautiful!

This is his first thought.

A work of art!

This is his second thought.

The lady’s flowing sleeves and coiled legs, slim and tender angels, were perfectly carved onto the stone slab. It also brought out the stone slab’s non-existent artistic value.

Those indolent but charming eyes, those traditional hand gestures, it’s as if it’s alive. Making people can’t help but linger, can’t help but admire.

The other directors all had the same look in their eyes. Some even narrowed their eyes till there is only a narrow slit left.

Males. Towards beautiful things, generally all have the same conduct.

Han Youpeng laughed. Laughed because he is now certain.

They all had their souls charmed by the court lady on the stone slab. So of course they wouldn’t notice that the stone slab is actually the main star here.

Hence Han Youpeng must remind everyone, the reason why he barged into the meeting.

“Chief, if these court ladies were carved onto road curbsides and they were to cover several of Zhongyun’s main streets, then what would the result?” Han Youpeng stated, elated.

“WHAT?” Chief Le Zhengdong and several other directors all jolted from their chairs.

Chief Le Zhengdong clasped the pictures with his trembling hands. Clearly even more excited when compared to when Han Youpeng bursted into the meeting room.

He grabbed Han Youpeng’s shoulders, clearly shaken and somewhat incoherent: “What did you just say? This is a road curb?”

Then, chief Le Zhongdong suddenly remembered Han Youpeng yelling something 60, 60 as he busted in.

Don’t tell me……

That he was talking about the price of this curb stone?

“Yes!” Han Youpeng answered as if he was drifting on cloud 9.

“60 yuan, 60 yuan for a piece of road curb.”

“It just exceeded our original estimate by a bit over 5,000,000. Then, Zhongyun’s several main streets will all have these works of art as curb stones.”