Chapter 435: Only My Way Chapter 435: Gold Bonds (3)

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

In the printing factory's office, Chen Yi seriously wrote out a string of characters: "Redeemable for four-tenths of a gram of gold," "Redeemable for four grams of gold," and so on.

Xiao Lu, who was grinding ink, barely held back a laugh, pressing her hand hard over her mouth, her swan-like neck jutting forward and back.

"Is my writing bad?" Chen Yi curled the corner of his mouth. He knew his own business; his calligraphy was honed by time, and even if he had the time, he wouldn't have time to practice in this lifetime.

Xiao Lu lowered her head, hiding a smile: "I think it's fine."

Chen Yi deliberately boasted: "How does it compare to Master Lu's Yan-style calligraphy?"

"You really are..." Xiao Lu's voice was weak, her face twitching from trying not to laugh.

Chen Yi shook his head and swayed, ignoring her, and continued writing characters there.

Gao Qiu watched with a pained expression, mentally coining nicknames for himself: "Ugly Bond Bank," "Ugliest Bond Bank?" "Scrap Paper Bank"...

Twenty-plus years of navigating officialdom barely suppressed his restless heart; he finally swallowed his objections down into his stomach.

Including Li Lao and the others, not a single person agreed with Chen Yi's self-destructive, money-wasting behavior — but the labor was the people's, the loss was his own money, and the reasoning was quite sufficient: the bond owner's handwriting is a kind of promise.

Besides "ugly handwriting" and waste, everyone had no other sufficient reason to oppose. Although these two reasons were very sufficient... the problem was Chen Yi simply didn't acknowledge them.

The printing factory's design section chief held those few sheets of paper with a bewildered look and went to scan them.

Chen Yi dusted off his hands, also looking relieved, and asked the printing factory boss: "Before 4 a. m. Monday, the 1 billion yuan Gold Bonds must be ready; before noon, the 1 billion yuan Platinum Bonds must be finished. Can you do it?"

"A bit tight."

Gao Qiu coughed and said: "Old Wu, don't play dumb. If you can't produce them and delay things, don't even think about getting a single penny of the final payment."

30 billion in bonds — printing costs alone would run over ten million, equivalent to the printing factory's entire annual revenue. Old Wu slapped his thigh and blamed himself: "I misspoke. Definitely, it definitely can be done. Once the revisions are done, the workers will all run three shifts, and the cadres won't sleep either."

"Still, President Gao carries the most weight." Chen Yi teased Gao Qiu.

Factory Wu Changzhang pretended he hadn't spoken and said: "President Gao's noble character commands our admiration. In our state-enterprise system, whoever mentions President Gao doesn't give a thumbs-up? His prestige is top-tier."

Everyone knew it was flattery, but they still laughed very happily.

As the head of a commercial bank, Gao Qiu's status in industry and commerce goes without saying. Especially for state-owned enterprises like Jiangbei Printing Factory No. 2, when times are tough they need bank loans to pay workers. That kind of money can't be borrowed from the Four Major Banks, so for SOEs, policy-based city banks like Jiangning Bank are more important — and Wu Changzhang wasn't lying; in this situation, Gao Qiu's prestige absolutely is top-tier.

During the few hours waiting for plate-making, Wu Changzhang led everyone on a tour of Printing Factory No. 2's workshop equipment and security measures.

He walked and introduced, the main content being his opening line: "Don't look at us as Jiangning Printing Factory No. 2; right now we're even stronger than Factory No. 1. That Old Qian of theirs is no good; he's already into the market economy but still runs to the Light Industry Bureau every day — who knows what he's up to."

Chen Yi hung the Perception Scroll around his neck, touching this machine for a while, that machine for a while.

Others thought he was curious; Chen Yi was actually checking the machines' vintage. He didn't understand machinery, but he knew one thing: factories with more new machines have good returns and are developing keenly, while factories with more old machines have poor returns and are living off past capital. Because factories calculate costs based on machine depreciation; if the saved money isn't used to update machinery, there's a problem.

He was seen touching and nodding; Wu Changzhang and the others didn't understand what he saw, but their hearts were extremely uneasy.

"How's the security situation? Need help?" Chen Yi touched until he was tired, then straightened up and asked his most concerned question.

Wu Changzhang had been waiting for this and quickly said: "We've printed bonds, stocks, and in the early years also banknotes, grain coupons, industrial coupons. Back then, few factories in the country had good equipment, until the 70s — I'd been in the factory five years before they stopped letting us do it. We know the rules. As for the situation outside the factory... if it's convenient, it'd be best to have some Armed Police."

He didn't say police; that lot wouldn't be much help during a robbery. And police are all locals with families; staring at a money-printing factory, who knows how they'd drool.

Factory No. 2 was chosen by Gao Qiu, so he also stepped up to say what others couldn't conveniently say: "Wu Changzhang's systems are extremely tight; internal factory safety can be guaranteed. For instance, this batch of 1 million bonds — the factory will only receive 1 million sheets of bond paper. The paper is bought outright from a French company's design, cannot be counterfeited, and has a fixed production quota. Simultaneously, the 1 million bonds will each correspond to 1 million specially calculated serial numbers. These serial numbers are like passwords, all recorded in our Car ECU. When anyone redeems them, they must pass through a custom verification machine that cross-checks with the Car ECU records; once a duplicate or extra serial number appears, it alarms. Of course, the 1 million bonds produced will also be inspected upon leaving the factory, including serial numbers. Additionally, if defective products appear, the paper cannot be discarded; it must be uniformly recorded and destroyed, and the next day the previous day's defects are reprinted. Last week's large-scale redemption was also a touchstone; I paid attention — not a single duplicate bond appeared, nor any bond outside the designed serial numbers; all bonds were qualified."

As he spoke, Chen Yi nodded along, yet the Factory No. 2 leaders beside him broke out in a cold sweat.

The printing factory's direct superior is the Light Industry Bureau, squarely under Executive Deputy Mayor Fang Zhennan's management. So for this bond issuance, although Fang Zhennan didn't speak, the Light Industry Bureau leadership still explicitly stated "this is a political task." For Factory No. 2's leaders, failing an economic task loses face; failing a political task loses their hats. Therefore, even Chen Yi's motion of touching a machine tool would tug their nerves, more exciting than watching a beauty strip.

Wu Changzhang had been waiting for higher-ups to inspect; at this moment he slapped his chest and issued a military pledge: "I've announced discipline three orders and five times over; rest assured, the factory absolutely won't have problems. If problems arise, you hold me solely responsible."

Pausing, he continued with a serious face: "State-owned factories have one advantage: workers are all known quantities. Those who sneak around, steal chickens and pet dogs — none exist; I sent them all to auxiliary groups long ago. Among frontline workshop cadres, 80% are Party Members or Preparatory Party Members; backbone members with 20+ years of Party seniority exceed half. You can absolutely rest assured — even if a rat ate raw materials, we'd pull out its intestines before it digested them."

Xiao Lu coquettishly laughed: "Wu Changzhang, that's too disgusting."

"Yes yes yes, I was wrong." Wu Changzhang lowered his brows and obeyed like a henpecked old husband, instantly easing the serious atmosphere from before.

Chen Yi also showed a smile: "I know you have your own set of rules, but still be careful and then careful again, don't let problems happen."

"Definitely, definitely."

"Trouble President Gao to coordinate the Armed Police Force; dispatching one squadron is enough."

Gao Qiu laughed heartily: "I wouldn't dare ask for that many people; an Armed Police Squadron is a company-level establishment, that's 100 people — our face isn't big enough."

He drew out the "ah" long and full of possibility.

Chen Yi pursed his lips: "Up to you. Wu Changzhang asks, President Gao helps a bit, and it'll be approved then. It's just having them redeploy to one location."

His tone was bold, but Gao Qiu and the others felt it was only natural.

Since He Fuhan left, the Chen Family in Jiangning has been absolutely the sole dominant power. Besides Sun Maoxin still hanging on to a City High Official title, government and military have both merged into the Chen Family's traditional power base. As long as the old master doesn't fall, this situation won't undergo a qualitative change. If Gao Qiu weren't actively leaning toward the Chen Family, why else would he wade into this muddy water of Gold Bonds?

The most common issue in currency is fraud inside the mint. For example, overprinting and theft. Counterfeiting, on the contrary, needn't be overly worried about. Manufacturing fake money isn't very easy, especially passable fakes — the more realistic, the higher the cost. In the early days of pound and franc banknote issuance, the British and French were also very worried about counterfeits, so they made them extraordinarily complex and exquisite, watermark upon watermark, to the point that even modern technology cannot forge them — modern currency collecting largely benefits from this. Instead, after WWII, countries' banknotes became simpler and simpler, fewer watermarks and lower cost, so anti-counterfeiting ability weakened rather than improved as people imagine. This of course isn't because human morality strengthened, but due to dual considerations of cost and active defense.

Cost stems from currency inflation; 100 years ago, currency purchasing power was dozens or even hundreds of times today's, so anti-counterfeiting measures designed for 100 pounds become expensive when placed on 100 pounds 100 years later. On the other hand, as the saying goes, no two leaves in the world are identical; don't think modern microscopes can clearly see a microorganism's flagella and also see a watermark's full structure — but to replicate it would cost dozens of experts' lives and most of hundreds of researchers' careers; for a counterfeiting syndicate, it's also not worthwhile.

Specifically for Chen Yi, although the watermark complexity on the bonds doesn't match the old pounds, it indeed far exceeds the Dollar, Euro, and Renminbi, because this is a non-depreciating valuable security, so more cost is invested. Any counterfeiting syndicate with normal thinking should first counterfeit Dollars, Euros, and other international currencies, rather than Gold Bonds issued only in Jiangning, at most China — the sole gold redemption channel is Jiangning Head Office; if they don't want to walk into a trap, their fakes must be extremely convincing.

State-will-backed counterfeits follow similar logic. Although people often view a country as an independent individual, just like that magical organization "the Organization," an organization can actually be traced back to a certain person. For example, the world's most powerful tech nation, the United States — the U. S. President wouldn't dare order the printing of Chinese counterfeit money unless he was prepared for a Sino-U. S. break in relations or even war — even if he were prepared, their Congress wouldn't agree to such a thing. By the same logic, any politician putting party interests first wouldn't pass such a decision for national interests; politicians or party leaders and colleagues seeking justice and personal gain would also strenuously oppose any similar nonsense proposal. Career officials existing as civil servants might have the interest to devote their lives to doing this well, but "a grievance has its head, a debt has its master"; even an institution like the Central Intelligence Bureau cannot openly conduct a counterfeiting operation. Chen Yi also doesn't fear a counterfeiting syndicate wearing an intelligence agency's skin; this kind of thing can be completely handed to China's intelligence agencies to handle, without even needing to deploy the Yin Sen Family's Divine Art Knights.

In fact, WWII counterfeiting disrupting warfare has already proven a failure. Chen Yi didn't even carefully consider the foreign government issue.

Gold Bonds will certainly invite trouble, but absolutely not from abroad.

"Director, the new plates are ready." The technical section people came reporting dully, interrupting the factory leaders' reporting time.

Wu Changzhang glared at this fool with an expression of hating him to death, turned to Chen Yi and said with a smile: "I have to go check Workshop One now; next, let Xiao Lu introduce you to the process flow and technology."

Xiao Lu is one of the few bank staff members tracking the printing factory situation; she has a dedicated office and dormitory inside the factory to rest. No matter how much process and technology she knows, it's more interesting than the old geezers' explanations.

Chen Yi naturally had no objection: "Good, once I see the bonds produced, I'll go back."

"Rest assured, I'll definitely let you eat dinner on time." Wu Changzhang turned and ran to his post.

The machines' roaring gradually grew louder.

Xiao Lu accompanied Chen Yi, introducing various situations along the way; the young girl's voice was quiet, only speaking by leaning against Chen Yi's ear.

As the speaking time grew long, Xiao Lu unconsciously rested half her neck on Chen Yi's shoulder, to make herself more comfortable.

Gao Qiu and the others consciously moved forward, pretending not to have seen.

Xiao Lu initially did not notice her action was improper; later she noticed, but worried that covering it up would only make it more obvious, so she simply settled down and placed her head on Chen Yi's shoulder, breathing fragrantly as she introduced the workshop's various machines and working methods.

Chen Yi listened with half an ear; the ear is one of the human body's most sensitive organs, that warm warm breeze was like a tickle, extremely comfortable.

At some unknown time, the machines started up; Factory Wu Changzhang jumped about excitedly in the workshop, commanding the workers, "Put your backs into it, put your backs into it."

Everyone's gazes began to withdraw from those massive yet nimble machines; the craft processes had also all been explained; Xiao Lu reluctantly let her chin leave Chen Yi's shoulder.

"Mr. Chen, look." Factory Wu Changzhang held out a newly printed 100-yuan Gold Voucher to Chen Yi, clueless; on the gray paper surface was his, Chen Yi's, handwriting: "Exchangeable for four-tenths of a gram of gold."

Gao Qiu suddenly felt envy toward this young man.

Having one's own calligraphy printed on money is probably happiness second only to having one's own portrait printed on banknotes.

The self-styled banker Bank President Gao Qiu grew hotter at heart the more he looked at that paper and brush. He now understood Chen Yi's demand — who could resist such temptation.

The burning sensation in Chen Yi's chest grew stronger and stronger; that was the Faith of "Oath Keeping" exerting the "Oath" part's function.

He repeatedly checked the paper and brush back and forth; confirming there was no problem, he shouted to Factory Wu Changzhang, "Well done."

Factory Wu Changzhang clenched his fist in joy, then went back to frontline work.

"I have to go back." Chen Yi spoke by Xiao Lu's ear. His leg could touch the black mesh stockings, with a very distinct soft tender sensation.

Only now did she know the hot breath blowing into her ear canal was this kind of heating method.

Enduring shame, Xiao Lu's small chin leaned against Chen Yi's shoulder again, and she shouted, "Will you come to the factory again?"

"No time to come anymore."

This might be the last time meeting!

Xiao Lu reached this conclusion; she couldn't help but stretch out her hand and grab Chen Yi's arm, ghost-makes-god-send shouting by Chen Yi's ear, "My dormitory is right in the factory area."

……(Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)