Chapter 33: Bringing the Big Color TV Home

Soon, Gu Bing returned carrying the money—sixty thousand yuan, all in hundred-yuan bills, bundled with hemp rope. He threw it onto the office desk with a *thud*.

"I went to the Finance Section. I didn't waste a single word; they handed the money over readily."

Zhou Andong said, "To be able to produce cash like that, I reckon this money was prepared long ago, just waiting for you to come and collect it."

"Damn it!" Gu Bing cursed. "Those bastards definitely don't have good intentions."

Zhou Andong said with a smile, "Of course they don't. The more you demand, the greater the responsibility you bear."

*Tap, tap, tap... *

The office door was knocked. Gu Bing shouted, "Come in!"

Yao Jun pushed the door open and walked in: "Secretary!"

Zhou Andong asked, "Are all the people gathered?"

Yao Jun said, "There are over two hundred people. There aren't even forty on shift today. But I've sent people to notify them; they should be able to arrive at the factory very soon."

Gu Bing said, "The money is on the desk. Take however much you need for however many people there are."

Yao Jun didn't stand on ceremony. After counting the money, he put it in his pocket: "I'm off!"

Zhou Andong said, "Come over after you're done, let's go have a drink together."

"Alright!" Yao Jun nodded, turned, and walked out.

Afterward, Zhou Andong and Gu Bing chatted idly. Seeing that it was getting dark outside, Zhou Andong suddenly remembered something.

"Leader, let me ask you something."

Gu Bing asked with a look of vigilance: "What is it?"

"Look at that pathetic look on your face!" Zhou Andong said. "Do you know anyone who sells home appliances at the mall? I want to buy a television."

Gu Bing said, "This isn't like a few years ago where you needed a ration coupon to buy a TV. Just take the money and go buy one."

Zhou Andong said, "I was just thinking, if you knew someone, I could save a hundred or two."

"You want me to owe someone a favor just to save a hundred or two? What are you thinking?" Gu Bing retorted irritably, taking a key out of his drawer and throwing it to Zhou Andong. "I have a TV in my dormitory, you can take it. East unit on the second floor."

Zhou Andong caught the key and said with a smile, "There's such a good thing?"

Gu Bing said, "I bought it when I first joined the factory, but I live in the same building as those two old things. I'm afraid that one day I won't be able to hold back and will poke a hole in them, so I bought an apartment in the city. I don't usually watch TV, so I didn't move it over."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." Zhou Andong clicked his tongue. "Buying an apartment on a whim, abandoning a TV just like that—a second-generation is a second-generation. Awesome."

Gu Bing's face darkened again: "Give me the key back. I'd rather smash the TV than give it to you."

"Can you eat back what you've already excreted?" Zhou Andong curled his lip, tossing the key triumphantly as he walked out. "I'm going to take the TV home. By the time I get back, Yao Jun should be done with his business."

Zhou Andong went to the packaging workshop to borrow a tricycle, went to the administrative building, and before long, came out carrying a 21-inch big color TV, which he then placed on the tricycle.

"Rich bastard, it's even got picture-in-picture. This thing isn't cheap nowadays." Zhou Andong muttered, riding the tricycle home.

For someone like Gu Bing, making money was easy—get an approval, write a note, and flip it for tens or hundreds of thousands. So, Zhou Andong felt no psychological burden moving this color TV home. Moreover, he suspected that Gu Bing might not have even paid for this TV himself.

When Zhou Andong returned, Yao Jun was already waiting in Gu Bing's office. The three of them didn't go far, just had a few drinks at a small restaurant near the winery.

January 7th, the weather was overcast, and fine snow pellets began to drift from the sky. Zhou Andong felt like it wasn't even dawn yet when he was woken up by Jiang Yuyue's knocking.

"My dear lady, what time do you think it is?" Zhou Andong said groggily as he went to open the door, then turned around and ran back to crawl under the covers.

Jiang Yuyue entered the room, lowered her head to brush off the snow pellets on her hair. Seeing Zhou Andong burrow back into the covers, she said irritably, "It's already seven o'clock."

Zhou Andong rolled over and sat up: "Seven o'clock? Why is it so dark?"

"It's an overcast day!" Jiang Yuyue picked up the thermos, poured a cup of hot water, and took a sip. The hot water was a bit scalding going down her throat, but when it reached her stomach, her whole body instantly felt much warmer.

Zhou Andong hurriedly put on his clothes, not even bothering to wash his face: "Let's go, let's go. Today's business cannot be delayed."

"I haven't even eaten yet, my stomach is flat from hunger." Jiang Yuyue followed behind, dissatisfied.

Zhou Andong said, "Let's go to the printing factory first, we'll eat when we get back."

By the time they arrived at the printing factory, Yao Jun was already leading two people to load calendars into a van. This batch was quite large, so yesterday afternoon, Yao Jun had gone to the logistics department to request a van.

"Brother Zhou!" Wu Xianping greeted them from afar.

Zhou Andong shook hands with Wu Xianping: "When will the remaining four thousand copies be ready?"

Wu Xianping said, "I've found a few more people. We'll be completely finished the day after tomorrow."

Zhou Andong nodded: "Come back to the winery with us in a while to settle the account."

Upon hearing about settling the account, Wu Xianping's eyes lit up: "Alright!"

Gu Bing had also arrived at the factory early. Looking at the more than two hundred people gathered at the factory gate, all of them had dug out the best clothes they owned from the bottom of their trunks to wear.

"Everyone's here, right?" Gu Bing asked.

"Everyone's here!" the crowd replied in a scattered manner.

Gu Bing knew in his heart that he, as Secretary, had very little presence, so he didn't mind: "Today I am going to convene a general staff meeting. You won't be able to attend, so I'm telling you in advance."

They had been chatting in small groups, but upon hearing Gu Bing's words, they all looked over.

"I know that some people are very dissatisfied with me initiating this reform, and there are even quite a few who curse me behind my back. However, our factory has reached a life-or-death juncture. If we don't reform, everyone can only wait for death together. If we reform, there is still a glimmer of hope."

Gu Bing scanned the crowd and continued: "That is why Comrade Zhou Andong and I have braved the world's disapproval to do this thankless task. But we have no regrets. Because we have tried, and even if we fail, we will have no regrets."

More than half of these people were from the No. 2 Workshop. Although they were standing here for the sake of the subsidy, to be honest, they were not optimistic about the reform, but they sincerely hoped that the reform could succeed.

"As long as this reform succeeds and the liquor is sold, not only will we pay back the wages owed over the past two years, but starting this month, wages will increase by sixty yuan."

The crowd of over two hundred was silent. They really didn't believe that the liquor could be sold. The price was simply too outrageous. After changing the packaging, the big sorghum liquor that cost six-plus yuan—how much could it sell for?

At this moment, a van drove over from afar. Gu Bing took a look: "I'll just say this much. You should be going now." ===== CHAPTER 34 =====