Chapter 387: Someone Will Reimburse This Expense

On the morning of the fourth day of the lunar year 1989, Zhou Ming drove to the new entrance of the Eight Treasure Porridge factory. At the moment, scaffolding had been set up at the factory entrance, and a few masonry workers were busy climbing up and down the scaffolding.

Zhou Ming got out of the car, and Wang Chen, the factory director of Eight Treasure Porridge, hurried over. Without waiting for Zhou Ming to speak, he proactively reported the situation: "Boss Zhou, after working overtime for the past couple of days, the repair work on the factory entrance is basically complete. Next, we just need to paste the tiles and hang up the sign, and our Eight Treasure Porridge factory will be completely restored!"

Wang Chen was very excited. He couldn't help but be excited; as a leader who had once watched a unit's performance deteriorate under his leadership, with the workers on the brink of starvation, his feelings were beyond ordinary.

Like other staff who had come from the Xiling Canning Factory, he treated the Eight Treasure Porridge factory as his own. When he first learned that the new factory had been given to someone else, it felt as if a piece of flesh had been torn from him, causing great pain. Now, with the return of the new factory, his joy was akin to winning a five million lottery, ecstatic and overwhelmed, while knowing the pain of loss made him cherish it even more.

Therefore, when the Eight Treasure Porridge new factory was returned to the 760 Factory, and since the factory gate had been partially demolished by Liang An on the first, requiring repairs, Wang Chen often watched over the repair work. So, when Zhou Ming arrived, he was the first to see and come out to meet him.

"You deserve all the credit for getting the repairs done in such a short time, Factory Director Wang!" Zhou Ming smiled and said.

Wang Chen quickly shook his head, saying, "Boss Zhou, I can't take credit for this. As the director of the Eight Treasure Porridge factory, overseeing the repair of the factory gate is within my duties. On the other hand, if you hadn't found a way to get the new factory back, I wouldn't have even had the chance to supervise the repairs. The credit really goes to you."

Zhou Ming smiled and said nothing. Wang Chen continued, "By the way, Boss Zhou, the total cost of repairing the factory gate was over 50,000 yuan."

"Over 50,000?" Zhou Ming asked.

"Yes, Boss Zhou. Considering it's the factory gate and according to your plans, our Eight Treasure Porridge factory aims to dominate the national market. Since the damage was severe, we decided to redesign it. I previously reported this to you and showed you the design, which you approved," Wang Chen explained.

Zhou Ming waved his hand and said, "Factory Director Wang, you misunderstood. I'm not saying you spent too much, but rather that you spent too little. The gate should cost at least two to three million yuan!"

"What?"

Wang Chen stared at Zhou Ming in shock, thinking he must have heard wrong. It wasn't until he saw Zhou Ming's serious expression that he realized Zhou Ming was indeed serious.

This left Wang Chen bewildered because, in any situation, people usually worry about spending too much money. How could anyone think they had spent too little, especially a businessman who is known for meticulous cost accounting? Zhou Ming was recognized as one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country, so he should understand basic cost calculations. Why would he say something like this? Could it be true that Zhou Ming, as rumored, had so much money that he was looking for ways to spend it recklessly?

Seeing Wang Chen's dazed expression, Zhou Ming understood his confusion and said, "Factory Director Wang, don't overthink it. I'm telling you that someone will cover this repair cost. It's someone else's money, so we might as well use it. I think we can even build a pure gold golden bull at the factory entrance to symbolize our Eight Treasure Porridge factory's future success!"

Although Zhou Ming's final remark was a joke, it still startled Wang Chen. He hurriedly shook his head and said, "Boss Zhou, that's not acceptable. It's a practice of the old capitalist decadence. We can't do that!"

"What's wrong with that? Maybe in the future, rural areas might do the same!" Zhou Ming said.

If Zhou Ming's previous comment had only left Wang Chen speechless, this statement completely overwhelmed him. The idea of a pure gold golden bull was already extravagant and unbelievable. The thought of rural areas doing such things was pure fantasy.

If it were anyone else, Wang Chen would have dismissed it as nonsense. Even though the person in question was Zhou Ming, Wang Chen didn't know what to say.

Zhou Ming didn't elaborate further. After all, to most people, rural areas represented poverty and backwardness. Who would have thought that those rural areas, which would later become wealthy, would have residents living in villas and driving luxury cars, making city girls eager to marry them, even if the groom was a disabled farmer?

Wang Chen shook his head, pushing aside unnecessary thoughts, and asked Zhou Ming, "Boss Zhou, when you said someone would reimburse the repair costs, were you referring to the compensation from Linchu Machinery Company?"

Zhou Ming nodded and then pointed to the side, "Factory Director Wang, look, someone is here with the money."

Wang Chen looked in the direction Zhou Ming pointed and saw a car with the license plate of the provincial capital, Tanzhou, driving quickly toward them. It stopped at the factory gate, and two people got out of the car—one young and one older.

The younger person was Liang An, whom Zhou Ming and Wang Chen were familiar with. However, Liang An now lacked his previous arrogance and looked defeated, like a beaten rooster. The older person, who resembled Liang An, was obviously Liang Tian, the chairman of Linchu Machinery Company.

Liang Tian led Liang An to Zhou Ming and said, "Boss Zhou, I'm really sorry. This kid is too immature and has caused you trouble."

"Chairman Liang, you're being too harsh. Young Master Liang's actions were impulsive, and I can understand that. But I hope Chairman Liang will advise him to avoid such mistakes in the future. Thankfully, Director Zhao from the Municipal Party Committee arrived in time; otherwise, your son would have been in serious trouble!" Zhou Ming spoke earnestly.

It was unusual for a young man in his twenties to lecture someone in their fifties or sixties, but neither Liang An nor Wang Chen found it odd. It seemed as if Zhou Ming was supposed to say this.

"You're right, Boss Zhou. I will make sure to address this issue in the future," Liang Tian said.

"Let's deal with future issues later," Zhou Ming said with a sigh. "But Chairman Liang, the current situation is quite troublesome."

Hearing this, Liang Tian's expression visibly stiffened. He asked Zhou Ming what the problem was. Zhou Ming explained, "It's the issue with the factory. Some problems have occurred with our 760 Factory and the entire township industrial park. Although everything has been returned, many matters have been delayed. Restoring everything will require considerable time and effort."

Zhou Ming waved his hand and continued, "I shouldn't be burdening Chairman Liang with these details, but there's one thing I must mention!"

"Boss Zhou, feel free to speak," Liang Tian said.

"It's about the repair cost of the Eight Treasure Porridge factory gate," Zhou Ming pointed to the gate being repaired and said to Liang Tian, "Chairman Liang, as you know, the Eight Treasure Porridge factory is a key direction for our 760 Factory's reform. Now, with this mess, although no one wanted it, it has made our already strained 760 Factory situation even more difficult to handle."

"I see. Please rest assured, since this matter arose because of Linchu Machinery Company, our company will naturally take responsibility," Liang Tian assured Zhou Ming.

Although Liang Tian promised this, he was internally troubled. He knew that making such a promise meant he was essentially offering himself up for Zhou Ming to take advantage of. The real problem was that he had no choice but to make this promise.

"Thank you very much, Chairman Liang. Your generosity is like a timely gift in the snow. I will express our gratitude to you on behalf of all the staff at the Eight Treasure Porridge factory," Zhou Ming shook Liang Tian's hand excitedly.

Seeing Zhou Ming's smile, Liang Tian felt a pang of anxiety. He sensed that the smile was not one of gratitude but rather the smile of a big bad wolf ready to devour a little white rabbit.

"Boss Zhou, please don't be so excited. Let's first discuss the cost of repairing the gate. After all, Linchu Machinery Company isn't exactly wealthy," Liang Tian said cautiously.

Zhou Ming then slapped his forehead and said, "Oh, Chairman Liang, I got so excited I almost forgot. The cost to repair the gate is probably around two million yuan."

"What? Two million?" Liang Tian's eyes widened in shock.

"Yes, two million," Zhou Ming said with an innocent look, "Chairman Liang, it's unavoidable. This gate is a key symbol for the factory and the industrial park. Since it's so important, it needs to be done well. Don't you think so?"

"That's outrageous!"

Liang Tian cursed inwardly but maintained a careful demeanor. "Boss Zhou, two million is far too much. You know…"

Zhou Ming was uninterested in Liang Tian's excuses and continued, "Of course, Chairman Liang doesn't have to provide that much. The gate is already damaged, and it won't affect the factory's operations. It might look bad, but it's not critical."

"Alright, Boss Zhou, I'll cover the cost. I'll pay for it. Is that okay?" Liang Tian said with a pained expression.

"Thank you very much for your generosity, Chairman Liang!" Zhou Ming eagerly shook Liang Tian's hand.