Chapter 19: Loan of 400,000 (Part 1)

Zhou Ming did not get into a quarrel with Huang Zheng at the factory TV station. He knew that this would not help his current situation, and Huang Zheng was still an official at the factory, while he was nothing. If he really clashed with him, it would be like hitting a stone with an egg. Furthermore, his parents were still living at the factory; if he angered Huang Zheng and caused trouble for his parents, he would regret it. 

For these reasons, Zhou Ming chose to bury his anger deep in his heart and wait until he completed his second step and became capable enough to settle scores slowly with him.

After leaving the factory TV station, Zhou Ming returned home to find his parents in the living room, both looking very worried. Zhou Ming already knew what was going on but still asked, "Mom and Dad, what happened?"

"It's your father," his mother, Wang Fengqin, said. "The factory leaders said your father was absent from work without leave and wants to fire him. I don't understand, didn't we ask for leave when he was ill and needed surgery? Didn't the workshop director know about his condition? Why do they still want to fire him? We're on sick leave, not miners. Old Zhou, hurry up and bring your medical records to the workshop director and tell them the factory can't be so unreasonable. How can you expect someone to go to work while undergoing surgery?"

Father Zhou Guoping sighed and said, "It's useless. I've already brought the medical records to them, but they just won't accept them, saying that records not from the factory hospital are invalid."

"How can they be invalid? Is the medical record from the city central hospital less credible than the factory hospital's? If it weren't for the advanced treatment at the central hospital, who knows what would have happened with those barefoot doctors at the factory hospital!" Wang Fengqin said. "Old Zhou, you're too honest. Whatever others ask you to do, you just do it. If they ask you to rest at home, you go home and rest. If they ask you to sign something, you sign it. You never think for yourself."

Zhou Guoping waved his hand and said, "Alright, Zhou Ming is here, don't say these things in front of him. I'll go to the factory later and talk to the leaders again."

At this point, Zhou Ming said, "Dad, I think this is just the factory making things difficult for us. It's useless even if you go."

"Why should they make things difficult for me? I haven't offended anyone. Besides, if I don't go, will I just be laid off and stay at home? This can't be the case," Zhou Guoping said.

"Dad, this is because some people in the factory are targeting me. I've implicated you. Just don't go to the factory for now. If they want to fire you, let them. Don't clash with them. They are unreasonable. Once I make money and buy the whole factory, I'll make you a leader. You won't have to endure this anymore. You can come to work as you wish and fire anyone you want," Zhou Ming said.

Zhou Guoping and Wang Fengqin both laughed. Zhou Guoping said, "It's good to have such ambition, but wait until you really have that ability. For now, I still need to go to work at the factory."

From their attitude, it was clear they didn't believe him. But it was understandable. For their generation, the factory was like heaven. They were just ordinary workers at the factory with a small monthly salary. The factory's output was so high, buying the whole factory was just an unattainable dream.

Thinking of this, Zhou Ming said firmly, "Mom and Dad, it won't take long. Give me four months, and I'll definitely be able to do it!"

...

Zhou Guoping and Wang Fengqin still didn't believe Zhou Ming. Even though Zhou Ming left 20,000 yuan for the family to avoid his father going to the factory and enduring the trouble, his father insisted on going to the factory with the medical records, and his mother said that government bonds are always intangible and invisible. It's better to be steady at the factory than to have money sitting idle at home.

Zhou Ming couldn't persuade his stubborn parents, and he understood that it was difficult to make them understand the profits of financial economics. In their perception, working at the factory was always the best.

So Zhou Ming didn't continue to say anything. Let his parents be as they wish, as long as they were happy. What he needed to do was to make as much money as possible and not let them worry about him.

Zhou Ming arrived at the factory TV station's entrance. He originally planned to talk to Lin Muqing about the matter but happened to see Lin Muqing coming out with a cardboard box. Zhou Ming was a bit surprised, "Sister Muqing, what's going on?"

"Didn't you ask me to resign and join you? Now my resignation has been approved. If you want to back out, I'll cling to you and not leave," Lin Muqing said playfully.

Lin Muqing's charming face made Zhou Ming's heart skip a beat. However, more than Lin Muqing's beauty, Zhou Ming was surprised by her trust in him. Even twenty years later, it would be very difficult for someone to give up a position in a government institution, let alone now. Giving up a state-owned job required great determination and courage.

"Sister Muqing, thank you for trusting me so much," Zhou Ming said sincerely.

Lin Muqing shook her head lightly. Looking back at the factory TV station building, she said softly, "It has nothing to do with you. After what happened today, even if you hadn't said anything, I wouldn't want to work here anymore."

After saying this, Lin Muqing sighed and continued, "Alright, I've resigned from the factory TV station as you advised. What should we do next? Go directly to Nanjiang?"

"Not yet. Sister Muqing, if you're free, come with me to find Director Dai of the county agricultural bank," Zhou Ming said.

"Find him for what?" Lin Muqing asked, confused.

"We don't have enough money. I want to ask him for a loan from the agricultural bank," Zhou Ming said.

Lin Muqing stared with wide eyes, "A loan!"

...

In the evening, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing invited Dai Zhenjiang to dinner at Nanhui Restaurant. After arriving at the private room in the restaurant, Zhou Ming exchanged pleasantries with Dai Zhenjiang and then got straight to the point, "Director Dai, the reason I invited you out today is because I need your help with something."

"Xiao Zhou, you're being too polite. We're friends, and friends should help each other. You help me today, and I help you tomorrow. That's how everyone progresses together!" Dai Zhenjiang said. "Just tell me what you need."

Zhou Ming nodded and said, "Since Director Dai said so, I'll get straight to the point. I'm planning to collaborate with Sister Muqing to do a big business in Nanjiang, but our funds are limited. So I'd like to ask Director Dai for help to see if we can get a loan from the county agricultural bank. The amount I need is not very large—300,000 yuan would be enough. If it's possible to get 400,000 or 500,000, that would be even better."

Dai Zhenjiang was about to drink water and nearly choked upon hearing Zhou Ming's request. He looked at Zhou Ming as if he were an alien, thinking that this young man was really fearless, thinking that 300,000 or 500,000 yuan was like 30 or 50 yuan. If this amount wasn't considered large, then he didn't know what would be.

After calming himself down, Dai Zhenjiang said to Zhou Ming, "Xiao Zhou, you like to joke. It's a good thing I don't have any heart problems, or I'd really be overwhelmed by you."

Zhou Ming said, "Director Dai, I'm not joking. I really need the loan."

Dai Zhenjiang looked at Zhou Ming carefully and asked, "Do you really need to borrow 300,000 to 500,000?"

Zhou Ming nodded firmly. Dai Zhenjiang took a deep breath. As the head of the county agricultural bank, he had handled loans before, but most were for organizations. Even the richest person in Nanhui County, the dog owner, could only get a loan of just over 100,000 yuan. Now Zhou Ming was asking for 300,000 to 500,000 yuan, which made Dai Zhenjiang feel like this person had gone crazy. However, recalling that Zhou Ming had borrowed 10,000 yuan from the dog owner for high-interest loans for government bond business, Dai Zhenjiang was somewhat relieved. Such a person could indeed do such things.

After some serious thought, Dai Zhenjiang said to Zhou Ming, "Xiao Zhou, it's not that I don't want to help you. You're an economics student, and you should understand that if you can't provide equivalent collateral, the system doesn't allow me to lend you such a large sum."

Zhou Ming smiled. Indeed, according to the rules, he wouldn't be able to get such a large loan, but rules are dead while people are alive. Many times, there are special circumstances!

"Director Dai, that's why I'm asking for your help!" Zhou Ming said. "I know that according to the property value, I'm indeed not qualified. But my

 assets are not ordinary. Director Dai, you also know that just half a month ago, I was an unemployed person. But in half a month, I've earned almost 100,000 yuan, so it can be considered to be flexible."

Dai Zhenjiang furrowed his brows. At this moment, Zhou Ming played his final card and said to Dai Zhenjiang, "Director Dai, aren't you always curious about how I do the government bond business? If you help me with this, I can tell you my secret, and I won't participate in government bond business in the future."

The condition Zhou Ming offered made Dai Zhenjiang unable to sit still. He asked Zhou Ming, "Are you serious?"

"Of course," Zhou Ming said. "Didn't you just say that we're friends? Friends should help each other!"

Dai Zhenjiang laughed heartily, "Xiao Zhou, you're right. Friends should help each other. Since you need money for business, as your older brother, I should naturally help you. However, 500,000 is too much. Our county agricultural bank needs to reserve some funds, so I can only lend you 400,000 at most. How does that sound?"

"Although it's not the ideal amount, Director Dai, you've done your best," Zhou Ming said. "But I hope to get this loan as soon as possible."

Dai Zhenjiang waved his hand cheerfully, "No problem, Xiao Zhou. Rest assured, I will make sure to get you the 400,000 at the latest by the day after tomorrow!"

"Thank you, Director Dai," Zhou Ming said.