Chapter 496: Premature Fraud

Wang Haijun prepared very thoroughly.

He gently pushed several paper sheets resembling documents in front of Shazhu, fearing Shazhu would ignore him again as before, and smugly added a sentence.

"Master He, these are the purchase receipts for tables and chairs from the Third Canteen back then; please take a look, let's discuss the handover of this money."

Shazhu glanced at the receipts, picked up one with his hand, and examined it carefully against the light.

The receipt for the Capital City State-run Third Canteen's purchase of tables states how many tables were bought, how much money was spent in total, and the detailed date is on the back.

August 25, 1965, this is the specific date.

That is to say.

The receipt in Shazhu's hand dates back ten years.

Ten years have passed like a single day.

Why say that?

Mainly because these receipts are too new, lacking any sense of age; it seems this guy named Wang Haijun, hearing that the original Third State-run Canteen had become Bai Xu Restaurant, obtained a few supply and marketing cooperative receipts through some means, randomly wrote some amounts and quantities on them, intending to defraud Shazhu of money this way.

Meet soldiers with generals, block water with earth.

Even if the receipts are forged, what can be done?

Pretending not to have seen the other's flaw, he said to Wang Haijun:

"Paying debts is natural and just."

Just eight simple words.

It made Wang Haijun overjoyed; without that uneasy anxiety, he heard from Shazhu's words that he clearly acknowledged this debt.

Acknowledging is enough.

Just fearing he won't acknowledge.

"Master He, you are definitely this." Wang Haijun's thumb rose before Shazhu, and he again used sweet words to coax Shazhu: "Don't blame me, Master He; before coming, I kept worrying in my heart, afraid you wouldn't acknowledge this debt; I never expected that I, Wang Haijun, would measure your magnanimity with a petty mind. For this reason, Master He, you are the one in charge of big undertakings; Bai Xu Restaurant has someone like you in charge, opening it, business will surely be fine; when the time comes, I'll bring my colleagues to give you support; when settling accounts, you must give a discount."

"What big undertaking? I'm just a cook; the leaders let me open a restaurant, so I opened it; if they tell me to go back, I go back. Comrade Wang, you hold these receipts; go to the steel mill and find our steel mill's leaders; they'll give you money; how much isn't up to me, He Yuzhu, to decide; it depends on how you negotiate with our leaders."

Wang Haijun's overjoyed heart.

Became disappointed.

Good fellow.

One sentence sent him running ten li.

Let him, Wang Haijun, go to the steel mill to ask the steel mill's leaders for money.

Without even thinking.

Can they give him this money?

His face showed a troubled expression, using a constipated tone, he said to Shazhu: "Master He, such a small matter, why bother the leaders? The steel mill's leaders are busy with countless big affairs each day; my meaning is, you just give me the money directly, then you go to the steel mill's leaders for reimbursement; you also know this, right?"

The latter two sentences.

Implying that a discount could be obtained here.

"Comrade Wang, you must have inquired before coming; you also know what Bai Xu is—it's actually the steel mill's subsidiary side business; I'm just a cook at Bai Xu, what virtue or ability do I have to decide for the steel mill's leaders? If word gets out, the leaders won't let me wear small shoes."

"Master He, it's not much money; you're such a big chef, can't you even handle this small matter?"

"It's not a question of whether I can take charge; it's that this involves a principle—I have superiors, and I lack financial authority; still, that saying: the money for these chairs and stools must be approved by the steel mill's leaders; you come to me for it, I'd like to give it, but I have no authority to give you money."

"Going to the steel mill to see the leaders is so troublesome, Master He; help me think of a way."

"There's no other way; we can only go to the steel mill to ask."

"Since that's the case, I can only take these tables and chairs back to report."

Wang Haijun mistakenly thought that by saying this...

then he could manipulate Shazhu.

The news he heard said that Bai Xu would open in the next one or two days, lacking tables and chairs; what would you open with? If you can't open on schedule, aren't you letting down the superiors' expectations?

Make the leaders unhappy.

This is a major taboo.

Wang Haijun's calm composure.

This is where it comes from.

He even swept away his earlier meekness, raising his head.

"Master He, don't blame me; if you don't give me money, I can only take back all these tables and chairs."

Looking at Wang Haijun's expression of having him figured out.

Shazhu gave a cold snort.

A rat dragging dung, you underestimate me, He Yuzhu.

Facing Wang Haijun's confident cheeks, Shazhu gave him a 2-0.

"Then take these tables and chairs back; are you moving them out now, or tomorrow bring a cart over to move them out? I can only give you two days! Once you haul these tables and chairs away, I can then bring tables and chairs from the steel mill."

Wang Haijun's pleased expression.

The stalemate was reflected in their expressions.

The script was wrong, or perhaps Shazhu didn't follow the routine, actually agreeing to let Wang Haijun haul these things back and even giving him a two-day deadline.

I came to ask for money.

I didn't come to take things.

Moreover, these things, Wang Haijun alone can't move them; hiring people or renting a cart costs money, who knows where he'll slip up.

"Master He, you!"

"Comrade Wang, you didn't say that; to move these things, I can't force others, can I?"

"Let me think, see whether to go to the steel mill for money or to move these things."

Wang Haijun threw out a polite remark.

He turned and walked away.

He didn't even have time to grab the receipt.

Shazhu deliberately brought up the sore spot, calling out to Wang Haijun, and had him take the chair's receipt.

Realizing he had overstepped, Wang Haijun, following Shazhu's instructions, returned, took the receipt in hand, nodded at Shazhu, and then slipped away running outside.

"Shazhu, if he really brings people tomorrow to move things, what should we do?"

"He won't come!" Shazhu said in a confident tone, "If he really comes, he'll truly be a big fool."

"What if he really is a big fool?"

"Bai Xu is a subsidiary of Yagangchang; if he comes to move things, we need to check with the Security Section. I'll find time later to go back to Yagangchang, talk to the Security Section about this, and then report to Factory Director Yang."

Upon hearing that Shazhu would get the Security Section to step forward.

The hearts of everyone present.

They all withdrew back into their own stomachs.

They gathered together.

They chatted idly for a while.

Then they each went back to their own business.