"Mr. Aoyama, we meet again. My unworthy descendant is incompetent and has caused you trouble!"

As soon as they met, Kenji Kujō apologized to Aoyama Xiu Xin with a face full of embarrassment, even bowing to him.

Shūichi Kujō stood behind his father with his head down.

Looking like a well-behaved middle-aged child.

"Senior Kujō, please don't." Aoyama Xiu Xin quickly sped up and helped the old man, "Let's sit down and talk, I can't accept such a gesture from you."

"Aoyama, it's your mindfulness not to hold a grudge, but I can't go without showing something." Kenji Kujō trembled as he turned and angrily shouted, "Fool, what are you standing there for? Hurry and apologize to Mr. Aoyama."

"Governor Aoyama, I'm sorry, I didn't expect things to turn out like this," Shūichi Kujō bowed.

Aoyama Xiu Xin looked helpless, "Let's sit and talk."

Then he guided Kenji Kujō to a seat.

"Aoyama, recently, our family has indeed faced financial difficulties; otherwise, we wouldn't have reached the point of delaying wages. Can some leeway be found?" Kenji Kujō said with a troubled look as soon as he sat down.

"I've already made public statements; I can't go back on my word, can I?" Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head, pondering for a moment before saying, "How about this, within this month you pay a portion of the wages first. I'll then step in to mediate a bit to buy you more time."

This is the maximum he could do.

By paying part of the wages first, both he and the Kujō family could give an explanation to the workers, maintaining his word and calming the workers so they wouldn't rush to create further unrest.

"Aoyama, my suggestion was whether funds could be temporarily allocated from the government treasury to help our company through this tough time," Kenji Kujō said calmly.

Aoyama Xiu Xin was stunned for a moment. Where did this old man get such nerve? Wanting him to fork out money!

Of course, in others' eyes, the government's money is not his; however, Aoyama Xiu Xin has always had a strong sense of ownership, viewing the government's funds as his own, just lent to the government to spend.

"Senior, that's absolutely impossible!" He directly refused, then explained, "It's almost the end of the year, and government funds are also not abundant, with many gaps to fill, so I can't help."

The remaining government funds could easily be maneuvered for personal gain.

The coup's timing was approaching, and he needed ample cash flow to pay the soldiers. Therefore, in the last two years, he has made every effort to accumulate funds.

The position of Governor of Hokkaido, to him, besides serving as the rear base for the coup and establishing the regime's fundamental support, was beneficial for fundraising.

"We won't let Mr. Aoyama help for free." Shūichi Kujō suddenly interjected, smiling, "The money borrowed from the government can be repaid by us in the future, but a portion can surely be set aside as your effort fee, Mr. Aoyama."

Interesting, trying to bribe me with my own money?

"I'm sorry, I'm incapable of doing that." Aoyama Xiu Xin shook his head. He believed the company lacked funds but doubted the Kujō family couldn't even pay a month's wages.

Simply unwilling to part with their own money.

Just at the charity gala the other night, the Kujō Charity Foundation successfully raised over a million US dollars.

That money is more than enough to pay wages.

Shūichi Kujō turned to look at his father.

"You all chat first, I'm going to the washroom." Kenji Kujō stood and slowly exited the living room after speaking.

Shūichi Kujō continuously tried various arguments to persuade Aoyama Xiu Xin to have the government lend money, only to be firmly rejected each time, leading to worsening expressions and a strained silence between them.

Soon, Kenji Kujō returned, sighed, and sat down, smiling as he handed his phone to Aoyama Xiu Xin, "Please take this call, Mr. Aoyama."

Aoyama Xiu Xin looked at him, took the phone, and said, "This is Aoyama Xiu Xin, please go ahead."

"Xiu Xin, this is Ichiro Koizumi."

"Ah! Senior Koizumi, please proceed."

"I understand the situation. Mr. Aoyama, please lend Kujō Company some government money on my personal account." Ichiro Koizumi got straight to the point.

Aoyama Xiu Xin glanced at Kenji Kujō, seemingly very close to Koizumi to make such a request.

Kenji Kujō smilingly nodded in response.

Aoyama Xiu Xin withdrew his gaze and respectfully replied, "Senior Koizumi, pardon me, but I must refuse. Hokkaido's finances are tight with no extra funds available. Moreover, I've already made a commitment to the public. Given your close relationship with Senior Kujō, might I suggest you advise him to issue salaries to avoid a wage dispute affecting social stability?"

Not even for Koizumi Ichiro, let alone for someone else, would he go out of pocket or tarnish his reputation to clean up the Kujō family mess today.

The smile immediately vanished from Kenji Kujō's face.

"..." Ichiro Koizumi was silent for a moment, then said he understood before hanging up.

"Damn it!" Shūichi Kujō couldn't suppress his anger anymore, standing up and pointing at Aoyama Xiu Xin's nose, "Do you know how many people will be unemployed if Kujō Company can't keep going?"

"That's why Kujō Company can't fall, which means you must come up with the money," Aoyama Xiu Xin said blandly, placing Kenji Kujō's phone on the table.

Kenji Kujō said with a heavy tone, "I never saw that Xiu Xin had such a heart for the public."

"You're old, with failing eyesight; what can you see?" Destined for a fallout, Aoyama Xiu Xin no longer pretended, sneering as he got up, straightened his suit, and turned to leave, "If you don't issue an announcement today, the government will take necessary measures."

"You fool!" Kenji Kujō trembled with anger, "Aoyama Xiu Xin, you're utterly rude!"

Aoyama Xiu Xin stopped, looked back at him seriously, and replied, "Senior, I've been very restrained so far. If you don't announce the payroll today, you'll truly see my rudeness."

With that, he marched out without looking back.

"Father, what do we do? There's no money in the public account; I can't really use my own money to pay those common workers, can I?" Shūichi Kujō turned to Kenji Kujō in shock and anger.

Kenji Kujō, with a sullen face, said, "Ignore him for now. Let's see what he dares to do!"

He didn't believe Aoyama Xiu Xin would offend the bureaucrats behind the Kujō family for the sake of common workers.

...............

"You fool! You're an arrogant, rude man!"

Far away in Tokyo, Ichiro Koizumi was also enraged.

He thought that with his status and connection with Yanchuan Shilang, Aoyama Xiu Xin would have to give face even if unwilling. But to his surprise, Aoyama Xiu Xin refused, causing him to lose face in front of the Kujō family, so angered that he almost couldn't stand steadily from the dizziness.

"Someone as selfish as you should be ousted from politics! Prison is your only destiny!"

Ichiro Koizumi said through gritted teeth.

Yanchuan Shilang's health was deteriorating, to the point he couldn't work continuously for four hours, and plans were being made to nominate him as Deputy Prime Minister next year, then retire and support his campaign for party leader the following year.

As the largest party in parliament, if he became the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, he would be nominated for Prime Minister, and through the process of voting and the Emperor's appointment, he would ascend smoothly.

The Japanese political scene already recognized Ichiro Koizumi as almost certainly being the next designated Prime Minister.

It would be soon, at most two years. Then I will deal with this rude Aoyama Xiu Xin properly!

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