Chapter 58: Zhou Andong

Facing a sea of eyes—some puzzled, some angry, some dissatisfied, some gloomy, some icy, some irritated, some envious—Zhou Andong let out a dry laugh.

“Sorry, I got a little too excited and didn’t control my voice.”

Zhou Andong grabbed Liu Zhiguang, who was trying to slip away. “Besides Deputy Director Zuo, I’m sure all the leaders here know about my bet with Director Liu. I originally planned to make him fulfill his promise tomorrow, but since all the leaders are here today, it’s a rare opportunity—let’s all go watch Director Liu perform. It’ll add some fun to this cold winter.”

Liu Zhiguang struggled but couldn’t break free; his face flushed red with fury, fear, and endless grievance: “Zhou Andong, weren’t we just joking back then? Why are you taking this seriously?”

Zhou Andong smiled sweetly. “When I first proposed the bet, I was indeed joking. But less than an hour later, every worker in the factory knew about it—which made me think you were serious. So naturally, I stopped treating it as a joke. Don’t you agree?”

“What bet?” Zuo Peiming asked curiously.

Zhou Andong explained simply: “The eighty tons of stored liquor couldn’t be sold, and the workers had no money for the New Year. So Director Gao and Deputy Director Zhang called a general assembly, urging everyone to stand together with the factory through hard times, find ways to sell the liquor, and promised two jiao per bottle sold as a bonus.”

Zhou Andong briefly recounted the bet, looking utterly wronged, on the verge of tears: “Leader, I truly don’t know what I did wrong—Director Liu keeps targeting me. But when I made the bet, I was just joking. Yet he took it seriously. So now that I’ve fulfilled my promise, he must fulfill his.”

Liu Zhiguang’s face turned ashen. He looked desperately toward Zhao Donghai, head of the Quality Inspection Department. The man immediately turned away. Even a fool could see how much Zuo Peiming admired Zhou Andong—he wouldn’t dare speak up for Liu Zhiguang; that would only invite trouble.

Zhou Andong lowered his head and squeezed his eyes hard, trying to cry—but his eyes ached, not a single eyelash fell, let alone a tear. He could only raise his hand and wipe fiercely at the corner of his eye.

“Liu Zhiguang, anyone else could break their word—but not you. You’re a factory leader; your words and actions set an example. If you renege on your promise, how can you command respect?”

Looking at the wronged Zhou Andong, Zuo Peiming’s anger boiled over. A college graduate, talented and capable, being suppressed by so many—that was jealousy of talent. He had to stand by Zhou Andong. If they drove away such a once-in-a-century talent, it would be a loss for the entire Jiangzhou.

“Comrade Zhou Andong speaks wisely. As a factory leader, any promise must be honored. And two jiao per bottle is a bit low—perhaps it could be adjusted slightly. After all, thanks to Comrade Zhou Andong’s marketing, Jiangzhou Yugong Liquor now costs several times, even dozens of times more than Da Gaoliang. But this is just a minor suggestion—I leave the final decision to your factory’s discretion.”

Zhou Andong instantly grew excited. Old Zuo really had class—look at that breadth of vision, that grandeur. No wonder he was a department head.

Gu Bing, Qian Zhen, and Yan Guohai all chuckled. Jian Qiu laughed the hardest—anyone watching might think the bonus was for her.

Envy and jealousy twisted the looks directed at Zhou Andong. How much did Zuo Peiming like this kid? What incredible luck.

If they didn’t know Zhou Andong’s background, they’d truly suspect he was Zuo Peiming’s illegitimate son. He could walk around the factory like a king—no one could touch him, not even for beating up a few thugs, as long as he didn’t set fires or kill.

Gao Qingkui and Zhang Deyou looked grim, but in front of Zuo Peiming, they dared not show any resentment, no matter what they felt inside.

Watching Zuo Peiming leave, Liu Zhiguang sank into utter despair. Then he thought of Qian Wei. Fuck it—if he couldn’t undo this, better two people humiliated than one.

“There’s still Qian Wei,” Liu Zhiguang muttered—as if speaking to Zhou Andong, as if speaking to himself.

“Thanks for reminding me about Qian Wei—I’d forgotten.” Zhou Andong patted Liu Zhiguang on the shoulder and smiled. “You go find him. I’m heading to the broadcast station.”

Liu Zhiguang turned and climbed the stairs. In that instant, his face turned ashen, his eyes dark and venomous, his teeth grinding audibly—he’d already torn Zhou Andong apart in his mind.

Gu Bing burst out laughing. “Come on, let’s wait by the entrance of Workshop Two.”

Qian Zhen waved his hand with a smile. “You young ones go ahead. It’s freezing outside—I’m too old to join you.”

The group left the factory office. Jian Qiu asked Zhou Andong: “Why did you go to the office?”

Zhou Andong grinned. “Director Liu’s dog barking? That’s fresh. I’ll broadcast it—get every worker to come watch.”

“You’re a real bastard,” Gu Bing grumbled. He couldn’t stand Zhou Andong’s smugness. “Hope your son’s born without a dick.”

Jian Qiu shot Gu Bing a furious glare. He was baffled, his mind racing—had he offended this goddess somehow?

Soon, the factory loudspeakers blared. Workers rushed toward Workshop Two, sprinting like donkeys from the old production teams—faces beaming with joy. No, not joy—gleeful malice, radiant with schadenfreude. But today, only ten people showed up, leaving Zhou Andong disappointed.

“Woof woof woof…”

“Woof woof woof…”

Liu Zhiguang and Qian Wei crawled on the ground, heads down, barking twice, then began crawling toward the liquor factory gate.

“Director Liu, bark! If you don’t bark, how will anyone know you’re a dog?”

“Yes, yes, hurry up and bark! Don’t pretend to be mute!”

The crowd egged them on, relishing the spectacle. Whether Liu Zhiguang would retaliate? They didn’t care.

Liu Zhiguang and Qian Wei’s heads sank as if trying to bury themselves in the ground, their faces burning red—their hatred for Zhou Andong deepened further.

Zhou Andong tilted his head toward Jian Qiu beside him. “Do you think I went too far?”

Jian Qiu shook her head slightly. “I believe if you’d lost, they’d have humiliated you even worse—without restraint.”

Zhou Andong pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Suddenly, he felt hollow. It wasn’t that he was saintly—he just felt that bickering with these two bastards lowered his own level. When he became the richest man someday, wouldn’t today’s events give them bragging rights?

“Sigh!” Zhou Andong sighed. He turned to Gu Bing. “Leader, I’m taking a few days off. The factory’s in your hands. Remember—keep liquor sales under thirty-five tons before the New Year. Hold the rest until after.”

Gu Bing frowned. “Why are you taking leave?”

Jian Qiu asked anxiously: “Are you feeling unwell?”

Zhou Andong laughed. “I’m not sick. In Security, I was just scaring Qu Hongqi. Didn’t expect you all to walk in—I had to keep acting.”

Jian Qiu rolled her eyes—such a sultry glance made Zhou Andong freeze. Then she burst out laughing and swatted him.

“You’re such a bastard.”

Zhou Andong suddenly felt a chill at the back of his neck. He turned—and saw Qu Hongqi standing right behind him, eyes bloodshot, glaring at him.

“Hey!” Zhou Andong waved. “Director Qu, you heard all that, right? Surprised? Delighted?”