Chapter 13: Getting Something for Nothing

Very soon, Wu Ya led Liu Qian into the office building.

The corridor was dim and damp, with an acrid, musty smell in the air.

“Hello, my name is Wu Ya.”

As soon as they entered the office, a desk stood in front of them.

Behind it sat a man nearly fifty, upright, reading a newspaper.

Without even glancing up, the man responded, “Wu Ya? What do you want?”

He didn’t lift his eyelids, his hands still holding the newspaper, his gaze unwavering.

This enterprise was a collective owned by the neighborhood committee. As the factory director, he had absolute authority. In the days of the planned economy, people in his position were highly respected. So, even in the face of hardship, he retained an air of superiority. This mindset, in fact, was a root cause of state-owned and collective enterprises’ utter collapse after the market opened—their inability to withstand any challenge.

“I’d like to rent the factory and its equipment. May I ask whom I should speak to about this?”

Wu Ya paid no mind to the man’s attitude and went straight to the point.

Rent the factory and equipment?

Wasn’t he here to order fabric?

Liu Qian, standing by, was full of confusion. But she held her tongue. Wu Ya must have his reasons for doing this.

The middle-aged man quickly set down his newspaper, a broad smile appearing on his face.

“Speak to me! I’m the director, Pei Junyi. You are…”

But before he could continue, his expression changed abruptly.

“Whose child are you, coming here to joke with me?”

A kid barely old enough to shave wanted to rent his factory? Was this some kind of joke? That was something that took a great deal of money! Did this young boy have any? Clearly, he was just passing time, trying to make a fool out of him. Outrageous!

Wu Ya was taken aback but quickly understood. The man was looking down on him for his youth, thinking he was unreliable.

With a slight chuckle, Wu Ya replied, “Director Pei, you are a learned man and surely know that ambition is not measured by age. Besides, whether I’m capable of renting your factory—you only need to look at the money, isn’t that so?”

His flattery was perfectly measured.

Especially that last line—look at the money.

It struck directly at Director Pei’s heart.

“You're young, but you speak boldly. Still, since you’re eloquent, I’ll give you a chance. Tell me, how do you want to rent it? Long-term or short-term? How will you pay the rent? What about subsequent maintenance, and…”

Director Pei began to ramble on, shaking his head.

Wu Ya leaned in a little.

“Director Pei, my rental terms are simple—money for the factory, hand in hand. Moreover, anything concerning the factory during the lease period, I’ll take sole responsibility for.”

Director Pei said nothing, staring at Wu Ya.

The equipment was in good shape, about seventy percent new and without problems. But the factory buildings and warehouses dated back to the early eighties. After years of neglect, many parts were in disrepair. Just annual maintenance cost them six or seven thousand yuan. With production halted, repairs had been abandoned for two years. Yet this boy was willing to shoulder all of it alone?

He wasn’t even negotiating specifics. What sort of business was he planning to run? Was this some underhanded scheme? He didn’t want to invite disaster while seeking income.

“First, tell me what kind of business you plan to run! We are a legitimate collective enterprise, and will tolerate no shady dealings!”

Director Pei’s tone grew stern.

“Director Pei, my family is in garment manufacturing. Renting your factory is, of course, for producing raw materials.”

Wu Ya’s calm answer made Director Pei’s expression soften a little.

“How much can you offer? Our rental price isn’t cheap!”

“Fifty thousand a year.”

In an instant, Director Pei sat up straight.

Fifty thousand.

With the factory shut for years, finances were in dire shape. He’d tried renting out the place before, but his asking price was only thirty thousand a year. Even then, after countless advertisements, there was no interest, and he’d racked up a pile of advertising expenses. In the end, he’d given up.

Yet this young man was offering a price he’d never dared imagine.

Was he really so flush with cash?

“If you can offer such a high price, there must be strings attached. Spell them out—I don’t like beating around the bush!”

If someone’s wearing padded pants over leather trousers, there’s got to be a reason.

Their rental ads had been everywhere recently; the price couldn’t be hidden. For this young man to offer such a sky-high figure, there had to be other conditions. He couldn’t believe otherwise even if his life depended on it.

“Haha, as expected of a leader—Director Pei, you saw through my little scheme with one word. That’s right, I do have a few requests.”

Wu Ya chose his words with care. Not ‘conditions,’ but ‘requests.’

This made Director Pei feel even more favorable toward him. In these circumstances, the man before him might soon become his bread and butter, and yet he was still so humble. It was a mark of respect!

“Go ahead and say it,” Director Pei replied, his tone now warm and affable.

“I want to pay the rent monthly.”

Monthly payments?

Director Pei’s face darkened at once.

“Are you insulting my intelligence? Trying to get something for nothing? You’re barely out of your diapers, and you come here playing this game? You’ve got guts! Now, get out! Immediately! Out!”

Director Pei sprang to his feet, pointing angrily at the door.

With reform and opening up, as the economy boomed, all sorts of shell companies had appeared—masking their intentions with promises of cooperation. They spent nothing, gained the most, and some even used the company’s name to rack up debts everywhere. In the end, when they couldn’t pay, they disappeared, leaving a mess behind. Such things were all too common.

He hadn’t expected to run into one today—and a mere child, at that!

Director Pei felt utterly insulted. How could he not be angry?

“Director Pei, please don’t get upset—”

“This is obvious fraud! If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police!”

Director Pei was resolute. One hand was already reaching for the phone.

Wu Ya saw that if he pressed on, the negotiation would collapse. Without another word, he pulled Liu Qian to leave.

But as he walked out, he shook his head and muttered, “What a pity, I’d hoped to get all your workers back on the job. Looks like that won’t happen. Oh well, I’ll try somewhere else.”

Get all the workers back on the job?

Though his words were soft, they rang clearly in Director Pei’s ears.

“Wait! You stop right there!”

“Director Pei, I haven’t done anything. Why, do you not want me to leave?”

Wu Ya turned, his face full of reproach, though inwardly he was smiling.