This...
Everyone was utterly astonished. The sight of a vast amount of cash and coins scattered before their eyes was truly terrifying. Some couldn't help but gasp. Although a large portion of the bills were of small denominations – one, two, five yuan, even smaller bills and coins – the spectacle was all the more impactful! So much money, it was all money!
"Everyone, the funds we previously owed are now being repaid in one fell swoop," Wang Yu said with a smile to the crowd.
This scene felt familiar. The difference was that back then, they had all come to demand payment. At that time, the entire auto factory's account only held tens of thousands of yuan, and he was prepared to sell everything he owned to raise funds. He had even considered increasing prices by thirty percent to delay the debt. Fortunately, Wu Lingling had later provided a deposit of 100,000 yuan, which offered some relief.
Now, in just over a month, a seismic shift had occurred.
Beside him, the finance manager, Old Ma, stroked his beard and smiled, "Come, come, all those who are owed money, come to me to collect your payments. We'll verify the amounts, and once confirmed, you can sign."
As he spoke, Old Ma took out a thick stack of ledgers, detailing the funds owed by each factory. This ledger, recording the debts, was both a symbol of the auto factory's shame and its glory. It was thanks to the sudden emergence of Wang Yu that the situation could be turned around.
Hearing Old Ma's call, everyone rushed forward, crowding around him.
"Instrument Factory Two, still owes 962 yuan and 30 cents."
"Gear Factory owes 2192."
"Jiangyang Machinery Company Branch Two, paid off 8453 yuan and 7 cents."
As Old Ma called out each name, the representatives joyfully stepped forward to verify the accounts. After confirmation, they signed to clear the debt. Two young women on the side diligently counted the bills, ensuring no mistakes.
Soon, the representatives from each factory received their due payments, their faces beaming with joy. At least their workers' salaries and bonuses for the upcoming period were secured!
Next were the final major amounts, owed to the Hardware Factory and the Metallurgy General Plant. Together, these two owed only a little over a hundred thousand yuan.
"Metallurgy General Plant, 80,000..."
Before Old Ma could finish, he was interrupted by the representative from the Metallurgy General Plant, Section Chief Liu Jinsong.
"Please wait a moment, I have a small issue." Liu Jinsong suddenly spoke up in front of everyone.
This fellow had caused trouble before and was dealt with by Brother Hu and his group. So, although he still wore a look of arrogant defiance, his tone was much more subdued.
"Oh? What issue do you have?"
"You owe me not 80,000, but 100,000 yuan," Liu Jinsong said calmly. "Your factory director, Wang Yu, personally promised me. He said he would repay the 80,000 yuan owed as 100,000, with an additional 20,000 yuan as interest!"
20,000 yuan in interest? Repay 80,000 as 100,000?
The crowd was immediately in an uproar. This was even more ruthless than Huang Shiren! They vaguely recalled something about this matter, but neither the Metallurgy General Plant nor Wang Yu from the auto factory had ever clarified it. It had then been dropped, and everyone had dismissed it as a joke. But now, with Liu Jinsong suddenly bringing it up, all eyes turned to him. It seemed the rumors were true!
"Our young factory director Wang did indeed promise that. The young factory director wanted to sign a written agreement with you, but you didn't agree," Old Ma sneered from the side. "If you weren't going to give us a way out, what benefits did you expect?"
Wang Yu's promise at the time was merely a temporary measure. But this guy not only refused but also tried to take away all the factory's equipment, was driven away by Brother Hu and the others, and even incited other parts and accessories factories to collectively demand payment. Because of this, Wang Yu had to resort to the measure of calming everyone by increasing the price of all parts by thirty percent. In other words, this guy was the mastermind. It was no wonder Old Ma had no good impression of him.
Thirty percent! Don't underestimate thirty percent. It meant that the cost of every car produced had increased by several hundred yuan! Although it was initially used to offset previous debts, now that all debts were cleared, it would become a real cost going forward. This month alone, it would mean tens of thousands of yuan more, tens of thousands! The thought made Old Ma's heart ache.
"Heh, I didn't say I wouldn't agree back then. Your factory director personally promised it," Liu Jinsong said with a sly grin, arguing his case. In this situation, anyone who admitted it would be a fool! An extra 20,000 yuan for free! If he could work through Fang Zhongtian, the favored person of the young factory director, he could get at least a few thousand yuan for himself from that 20,000. Thinking of this, Liu Jinsong felt a surge of delight and then turned his gaze to Wang Yu.
"This is what you, Factory Director Wang, said yourself. No one forced you. Why aren't you prepared to honor it now? Or are you just a liar who can't keep his word and shoots his mouth off?" Liu Jinsong's barrage of words was designed to force Wang Yu to uphold his promise!
Seeing his actions, the crowd couldn't help but curse him as shameless. Especially Brother Hu, who was spewing insults from the side, as if the opponent had attacked his mother. It couldn't be helped; he, Tiger, was the young factory director's confidant... well, at least that's what he thought. He had heard not long ago that the young factory director said business was good and planned to give the brothers more bonuses. But now, with this guy suddenly pulling this stunt, if Wang Yu kept his promise and gave an extra 20,000 yuan, it would mean the factory's profit would be 20,000 less, and the bonus each person received would definitely be reduced. No matter how much it was reduced, even if it was only 50 cents, Tiger would feel the pinch. Only he, Tiger, should take advantage of others; he had never seen anyone take advantage of him!
However, Liu Jinsong was undeterred, facing the torrent of insults with the nonchalance of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. I'm just playing dumb, what can you do to me? It's something you, Wang Yu, promised yourself, so you deal with it!
"Or, young factory director Wang, you can admit that you are someone who goes back on your word and speaks nonsense. Then I'll pretend nothing happened and leave with 80,000 yuan," Liu Jinsong said, smiling at Wang Yu.
"I..." Wang Yu opened his mouth, about to speak.
"Young factory director, don't get agitated. This is a provocation; don't fall for it!" Old Ma earnestly advised from the side. "They rejected it themselves back then; we don't need to pay them any mind."
"That's right, it's true! Young factory director, don't fall for it!" Brother Hu and his subordinates clamored from the side. As for the people from other factories, they watched with amused expressions.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Yu slowly spoke, "I did promise that before..."