Chapter 13: The Apology Visit

People who are capable boast arrogantly and call themselves "awesome," but those who are incapable and still boast are just fools! This saying applies perfectly to Ma Lin.

When Ma Lin threatened revenge against Zhou Ming at the county Agricultural Bank, even targeting Zhou Ming's parents, Zhou Ming could not tolerate it. After over twenty years in his previous life, Zhou Ming knew very well that no matter how many numbers were stored in his phone, the only ones who truly cared for and supported him, and would help him in crucial moments, were his parents, family, and a few close friends.

Because of this, as soon as Ma Lin left the county Agricultural Bank, Zhou Ming immediately called Dai Zhenjiang and got in touch with Dog Ye from San Tang. Dog Ye's response relieved Zhou Ming: "Little brother, don't worry. I've already sent someone to communicate with Ma Jianjun. He should come to see you by tonight at the latest."

Zhou Ming thanked him and hung up. Zhou Ming knew that Ma Jianjun was Ma Lin's father and the deputy factory director of the 760 Factory. To Zhou Ming's parents, he was a leader because they were ordinary workers. But in Dog Ye's eyes, they were nothing. Since Dog Ye dared to openly lend money at high interest in San Tang, he must have significant influence in the county.

Zhou Ming didn't know the specifics of how Dog Ye communicated with Ma Jianjun, but it probably wasn't just a casual chat over tea about life's ideals. By evening, Ma Jianjun arrived at Zhou Ming's home with Ma Lin.

As soon as Ma Jianjun arrived at Zhou Ming's door, Zhou Ming could hear a series of greetings directed at him. Although Zhou Ming felt that Ma Jianjun and Ma Lin were not good people, Ma Jianjun was still the deputy factory director of the 760 Factory, holding many workers' jobs in his hands. A single word from him could make a worker lose their job. Therefore, regardless of whether workers liked the leader or not, they had to greet him respectfully. Especially in that era, hierarchical views were far stricter than in later times.

When Ma Jianjun arrived at Zhou Ming's house, Zhou Ming's parents were shocked to see the factory director visiting their home. They hurriedly welcomed him in, made tea for him, and Zhou Ming followed their lead.

Sitting down, Zhou Ming saw the pain and unwillingness in Ma Jianjun's eyes. It must have been humiliating for someone who usually stood so high to come down to a worker's home to apologize. But there was no alternative; circumstances were stronger than individuals.

Ma Jianjun adjusted his mood and said to Zhou Ming's father, Zhou Guoping: "Old Zhou, you have been the most outstanding model worker since the factory was established. It's just that the factory hasn't paid enough attention to you. I don't know if you have encountered any difficulties in work or life?"

Zhou Ming was unhappy. It seemed that Ma Jianjun was so accustomed to being a leader that he even needed to use formal language when apologizing. Zhou Ming had initially considered giving him some face, but now it seemed unnecessary.

So Zhou Ming said, "Director Ma, if you have something to say, just say it directly. No need to beat around the bush."

Hearing this, Ma Jianjun and Ma Lin's faces darkened, but they didn't dare to scold Zhou Ming. They could only endure their anger and said, "It's like this, Old Zhou. There seems to be some misunderstanding between my son Ma Lin and your child Zhou Ming. So I brought him here to apologize."

Zhou Ming's parents were stunned. They couldn't believe this. In the past, if there had been conflicts between factory workers' children and Ma Lin, the workers would have to go to Director Ma to apologize to keep their jobs. Now, the situation was completely reversed with Director Ma coming to their home to apologize?

Zhou Ming's parents hurriedly shook their heads and said, "Director Ma, you're too kind. It must be our child who was too unruly. We should be the ones coming to apologize to you."

However, Zhou Ming remained unchanged and said, "Director Ma, let Ma Lin think things over before acting impulsively in the future."

Ma Jianjun's face remained dark as he instructed Ma Lin to apologize to Zhou Ming, but Ma Lin was unwilling to admit his mistake. Ma Jianjun slapped Ma Lin in the face, and the loud sound made Zhou Ming feel pain for him. Ma Lin was so foolish that even when Ma Jianjun, the factory leader, came to a worker's home to apologize, he still showed such an attitude. Naturally, Ma Jianjun's anger was directed at him.

Ma Lin, not very bright, protested, "Dad, why are you hitting me? It was Zhou Ming who set me up. He should apologize to me!"

"Do you dare to say more?"

Ma Jianjun shouted angrily, kicking Ma Lin to the ground, and then put on a smiling face to Zhou Ming and his parents: "Sorry, this child is usually poorly disciplined. I apologize for making you see this."

Ma Lin was still on the ground, stubbornly refusing to admit his fault, crying, "Sorry, I was wrong. I won't do it again!"

Ma Jianjun continued to look at Zhou Ming, knowing that the matter would not end until Zhou Ming accepted the apology.

Zhou Ming ignored the cowering Ma Lin and said to Ma Jianjun, "Director Ma, let's consider this matter settled. Please go back and educate Ma Lin properly. He should not do such foolish things in the future."

Ma Jianjun finally relaxed: "Okay, I will definitely educate him properly when I go back."

Zhou Ming's parents were at a loss for words. It was unusual for a leader like Ma Jianjun to be reprimanded by Zhou Ming as if Zhou Ming were the leader, while Ma Jianjun accepted the reprimand as a subordinate.

Zhou Ming knew he had to explain to his parents. After sending off Ma Jianjun and Ma Lin, Zhou Ming told his parents that he was involved in a treasury bond business with leaders from the county bank. Later, when he had a conflict with Ma Lin, the county leader intervened, which led to Ma Jianjun bringing Ma Lin to apologize.

Zhou Ming's parents were speechless. They had lived their entire lives working at the factory and had rarely been to Lin Yang County. They only saw county leaders on the factory news during the Spring Festival. Now, they were surprised that Zhou Ming's small involvement in the treasury bond business could lead to such high-level intervention. It seemed that Zhou Ming's business partners were not just ordinary partners, as the county leaders would not have acted this way for an ordinary partnership.

However, this wasn't too surprising, as treasury bonds were incredibly profitable. Zhou Ming earned ten thousand yuan in just one day, which was tempting even for county leaders.

"Didn't expect that even county leaders would help Zhou Ming. Zhou Ming, you are truly impressive!" Zhou Ming's mother, Wang Fengqin, praised, "Old Zhou, our son is so successful. We can finally relax a bit."

Father Zhou Guoping also nodded and said, "It seems your university education was not in vain. But remember, sometimes you need to be merciful and forgive others."

"I remember," Zhou Ming said.

...

The commotion at Zhou Ming's house was quickly known by Su Han and Zhang Lei, who lived nearby. When they heard that Ma Jianjun and Ma Lin came to apologize and that Ma Lin was slapped in the face by Ma Jianjun, Su Han was delighted and clapped her hands, "Great! Ma Lin deserves it. Let him think twice before crossing us again. But it's a pity Ma Jianjun was the one who hit him. If Da Zhuang had done it, Ma Lin would remember it for a lifetime!"

Zhou Ming smiled and ruffled Su Han's hair, "If Da Zhuang had hit him, Ma Lin probably wouldn't just remember it for a lifetime. He might end up mentally impaired."

Su Han snorted and pouted, "That's what he gets for asking for it."

Zhou Ming shook his head helplessly, understanding that Su Han was entirely on his side and resented Ma Lin.

After this incident, Ma Jianjun and Ma Lin no longer dared to meddle in the treasury bond business. However, the ten million yuan worth of treasury bonds collected by Ma Lin could not be wasted. After discussing with Dog Ye and Dai Zhenjiang, Zhou Ming decided that Dog Ye would personally buy the bonds at a low price from the factory and give them to Zhou Ming to exchange in Jiangxia City.

So Zhou Ming once again went to Jiangxia City with Su Han. This time, because there were many treasury bonds, they went to the provincial bank in Jiangxia City.

When they received the 180,000 yuan, Su Han trembled with excitement, holding the heavy bundle of money. She could hardly believe it. She remembered that a few years ago, someone in her rural hometown was celebrated for becoming a millionaire, and now she was holding nearly 200,000 yuan. Even though most of the money would go to Dai Zhenjiang and Dog Ye, they would still end up with several thousand yuan.

"Zhou Ming… is this real? Do we really have so much money?" Su Han asked Zhou Ming in disbelief. She couldn't forget the envious looks from the bank staff. She also realized that with money, she could live a better life, become a boss, stop relying on others, and no longer be bullied.

"Of course, this money is ours. And this is just the beginning. In the future, we'll have even more money, enough to fill a whole factory's worth of cars!" Zhou Ming said.

Su

 Han smiled brightly. Although Zhou Ming's promise might seem far-fetched to most, she still firmly nodded and said, "I believe."

After getting the money, Zhou Ming and Su Han hurried back. As time passed, Zhou Ming became increasingly worried about his father's health. When Zhou Ming returned to the factory, the situation he had anticipated had happened: his father was hospitalized.

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