Chapter 91: Home with a Full Haul

Madam Fang, do you mean that no matter what happens to the factory, our wages are guaranteed?

Still unable to believe it, they had to ask before they could feel at ease.

Yes, Madam Fang! We trust your word, but where is the money for our wages coming from?

The state of the factory was common knowledge.

In a word, there was no money.

No matter how sterling the owner’s reputation might be, even the cleverest housewife could not cook without rice.

Dozens of workers meant more than twenty thousand yuan a month.

And rumor had it that the accounts were already bone dry.

Not a penny left, not even enough to cover the overdue bank loan.

What, then, would they use to guarantee their pay?

As every gaze fixed upon Fang Huayan, and everyone waited in silence for her answer, a voice suddenly drifted in from beyond the crowd.

Heh, your wages add up to only a little over twenty thousand, right? Once I sign the purchase contract with your General Manager Fang, your factory account will receive a deposit of three hundred thousand yuan. Tell me, would that be enough to pay you all?

Wu Ya did not know that the magnificent loan from Grand Vision was also about to come due.

So from his point of view, wasn’t it just twenty thousand yuan?

Did they really need to make such a huge production of it, even to the point of selling off the factory’s machinery and equipment?

It was sheer overkill.

Even if Lan Yaoming’s reputation was ruined over this, so what?

Wasn’t Fang Huayan still there?

With her character and credibility, borrowing twenty thousand yuan outside should not be a problem.

Why not just hold their nerve and wait a little longer?

But...

The instant he finished speaking...

Hahaha, wonderful! With Mr. Wu’s three hundred thousand yuan coming in, not only can we pay everyone on time, we can even repay the bank loan as scheduled!

The bank loan?

At Director Yang’s sudden and delighted exclamation, Wu Ya’s brows knotted at once.

Damn it, what did I miss? Grand Vision’s loan is actually due? If I’d known that, I should have been even harder on them and driven the price down to five hundred thousand. In any case, I already gave them a chance. But now that chance has just flown away for nothing. Go back on my word? I’m not that kind of person.

Director Yang, you’ve said too much.

Just as Wu Ya was feeling the pain of a missed opportunity, Fang Huayan suddenly snapped at him coldly.

The thrilled Director Yang was instantly stunned.

What was wrong?

Had he said something he shouldn’t have?

It was only a loan. What was so strange about that?

Which business can grow without borrowing money?

Still, seeing the dark look on Fang Huayan’s face, Director Yang did not dare to make another sound.

Since the boss lady had cut him off, there must be a reason for it.

That brainless fool. Why did I ever make him office director? Doesn’t he know our price has already been squeezed down to a point where we’re bleeding money? If Wu Ya learns about the loan now, the contract that follows will surely turn into another round of trouble.

Lan Yaoming’s face also went from relaxed to clouded over in an instant.

They had already lost more than a hundred thousand.

If Wu Ya used this to force the price down again, their bottom line would have to fall further.

Because they really were in urgent need of money.

But where exactly was that bottom line?

No one knew.

It would depend entirely on Wu Ya’s mood.

In other words, Director Yang’s single sentence might have cost them who knew how much money.

A man like that, though a capable helper, was clearly not suited to be office director.

Heh, General Manager Fang, Factory Director Lan, there’s no need to blame Director Yang anymore. Rest assured, I, Wu Ya, am a businessman too, but I will never kick a man when he’s down. Once something is agreed upon, I will not change it at will. A gentleman’s word is bond.

Wu Ya forced down the ache in his heart and said with a faint smile.

Since it had come to this, so be it.

At least he was not losing money.

He could not ruin his own glorious image just because he went back on his word.

Yet when Lan Yaoming heard this, the dark look on his face twitched violently.

Would never kick a man when he’s down?

Were the stones you threw not heavy enough?

With one casual stroke, you slashed away hundreds of thousands from us.

You didn’t even preserve our costs.

And you still have the nerve to stand here and say you would never kick a man when he’s down?

Bah.

Though the tension in Lan Yaoming eased a little, his contempt for Wu Ya only deepened.

And you call that a gentleman’s word?

That’s only because even you were embarrassed by your own methods.

So you decided to stop here and not go any further.

All right. Then let’s head to the office at once and sign the contract immediately.

Regardless of anything else, the fact that Wu Ya had not reneged was already a blessing.

How could Fang Huayan dare delay any longer?

To avoid any further twists, they had to hurry and sign the contract, then transfer the payment.

That was the most important thing at the moment.

As for everything else, they could sort it out slowly after sending off this troublesome god.

The workers immediately parted to either side, making way for the three people who had given them hope.

General Manager Fang, the procedures are all finished, and the check has been handed over. Then I’ll take my leave.

Once everything had been settled, Wu Ya immediately asked to leave.

His top priority now was to go home.

As for the equipment, Fang Huayan had already contacted the logistics company, and the schedule had been confirmed.

Five days later, it would be delivered to Suiyan District.

He also had to go back early and prepare for receipt, installation, and the like.

Besides, since the objective had been achieved, this counted as a fruitful trip.

If he dragged things out any longer, he would only be wasting time with no real benefit.

The cooperation was successful, so we should at least hold a celebration banquet. If we let Mr. Wu leave just like this, wouldn’t that make us seem terribly discourteous?

Fang Huayan waved a hand.

The crisis had been resolved.

No matter whether the final outcome was fully satisfying, the proper courtesies could not be omitted.

More to the point, their previous celebration banquet had ended in discord.

They had even slandered such a major businessman as a swindler.

Out of apology alone, they ought to host another table.

No need for formalities. I still have things to rush back and handle.

Wu Ya refused outright.

He turned on his heel and walked out.

Fang Huayan and Lan Yaoming exchanged a glance, then did not press him further.

There was still a mountain of matters waiting at the factory.

With Wu Ya gone, they could finally breathe and deal with them in peace.

Only after seeing Wu Ya onto the train did the husband and wife return to the factory.

On the way back, Lan Yaoming asked, Huayan, do you think that boy’s suggestion is reliable?

Reliable?

Clearly, Lan Yaoming was still brooding over the matter of buying the collective bonds.

After all, they had just lost tens of thousands this time.

If they did not claw some of it back, how could they face themselves?

How could they face the wife who had struggled alongside him all these years?

All of this was his fault.

Mm... this boy must not be underestimated. He may be young, but when it comes to business, he’s gifted beyond measure. So we can’t take his words lightly.

Fang Huayan frowned deeply, lost in thought.

Her tone was grave beyond measure.

Wu Ya’s achievements, and the shrewdness he displayed while negotiating with her, all gave her the impression that he was not a young man at all.

Experienced, seasoned, and worldly.

That was Fang Huayan’s true assessment of him now.

So could his suggestion be ignored?

Obviously not.

But... the collective bonds have fallen like a stone. Their ten-yuan face value has already been cut in half, and they’re still trending downward. If we buy now and the decline continues, we could lose everything.

Yet after Fang Huayan finished speaking, Lan Yaoming, who had been worrying over this matter all along, began to hesitate again.

Indeed.

This was no small matter.

Especially for them now.

They were already tottering in the wind and rain. If they endured another setback, they would surely not survive it.

What then?

Fang Huayan also fell into thought.

That was true.

At present, they could not withstand even the slightest disturbance.

One misstep, and they would be facing bankruptcy again.

But what if...

What if this business of buying bonds was really an opportunity?

If they missed it, would they not regret it for half their lives?

After all, they were in dire straits and desperately short of funds.

What should they do?

After a long while, Fang Huayan said, I don’t think Wu Ya meant to harm us. Since he gave us this suggestion, he must have learned something. At such a young age, he has already created such a miracle. I don’t believe that can be explained by talent alone.

You mean...

He has connections in official circles. That means he got wind of some inside information.

Inside information.

Fang Huayan’s answer was firm and decisive.

Then we should put all the money we have left into collective bonds?

By now, Lan Yaoming was starting to take his cue from Fang Huayan in everything.

After all, when you’ve done wrong, you have to endure the humiliation that follows.

No.

Fang Huayan was equally decisive.

Then, under Lan Yaoming’s puzzled gaze, she continued, We have two hundred eighty thousand left after paying wages. After repaying the bank another two hundred thousand, we’ll have only eighty thousand left. That’s the capital we depend on to survive for the near future. We absolutely cannot lose it. So let’s put forty thousand into bonds and keep a foot in both boats.

Keep a foot in both boats.

At this moment, Fang Huayan did not know that this decision to keep a foot in both boats would nearly make her regret it to the point of spitting blood and dying twenty days later.

Because the collective bonds would soar fivefold.

Her forty thousand would turn into two hundred thousand.

That was indeed a huge sum.

But compared with the forty thousand she could have recovered by going all in, and with the enormous loss from this head-on clash...

That was nothing but a passing drizzle.