Chapter 54: Schrödinger

Yao Zhengru felt a twinge of awkwardness upon seeing Li Dongling’s expression at the mention of Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1, as if he’d just been shown a complete mess.

But now, Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 wasn’t just a mess—it was drowning in debt. When it bought the television production line, it spent over thirteen million, all borrowed, with a significant portion coming from employee fundraising.

The plant has now shut down completely, and it’s not just about unpaid wages—it still owes employees several million from their fundraising contributions.

The situation is growing worse by the day; every day, a large crowd blocks the gates, cursing the plant’s leadership—including Xu Yongjin and Liu Jiande—back to their ancestors, forcing them to stay locked inside, daily shouting demands for repayment.

The Pingyang municipal government is now deeply troubled, with Yao Zhengru, in charge of the Pingyang Industry and Commerce Bureau, bearing the brunt; if mishandled, even the city’s top leaders—including Luo Jun—would be implicated.

Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 has become a time bomb, its explosion unpredictable, forcing the Pingyang municipal government to act.

“The city’s proposal is to reorganize and contract out Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1, allowing other companies to merge with or acquire it—any acquisition price is negotiable!”

“Contracting” is this year’s buzzword—everything can be contracted: from a patch of land or a pond, to a mall or a company, either through contract or direct sale.

Pingyang clearly wants to offload this hot potato as quickly as possible.

Hearing Yao Zhengru’s words, Li Dongling let out a helpless laugh. “Mayor Yao, you want Dongling High-Tech to acquire Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1?!”

Yao Zhengru cleared his throat. “The city, including Mayor Luo, all believe Dongling High-Tech should take over Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1—after all, Dongling High-Tech is the best tech company in the entire province, even nationwide!”

Luo Jun wanted Dongling High-Tech to acquire Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 because he hoped a “high-tech” company could revive it—after all, thousands of families depended on it for their livelihoods.

“Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 is not something Dongling High-Tech can take on right now!”

Li Dongling said to Yao Zhengru with resignation: acquiring Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 isn’t about the purchase price—it’s about the mountain of messes you inherit after taking it over.

First, there’s the debt: thirteen million owed to banks and employees, plus unpaid wages, pensions, and more.

If those were problems money could solve, the rest wouldn’t even be fixable with cash—the entire plant is utterly rotten. Three, even four or five people per workstation, standing idle; the number of loafers is several times greater than the workers. No one shows up for work—instead, they play cards, cause trouble.

State-owned factories don’t fire employees. If you take over Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1, you face questions: Are the workers state or private employees? Can you fire them? Should you maintain their old benefits? All are thorny issues.

Otherwise, rushing in won’t just bring a flood of problems—it could sink you into a bottomless pit. No matter how much money you pour in, it’s wasted, and you might even get dragged into accusations of embezzling state assets.

Listening to Li Dongling, Yao Zhengru fell silent. He knew Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 was a hot potato and a time bomb; for anyone to take it on, employee status and equity issues must be clearly resolved—otherwise, no one would risk investing.

Yao Zhengru sat there, fingers tracing his teacup, long minutes passing before he finally spoke to Li Dongling: “I’ll report these issues to Mayor Luo.”

“I can guarantee you this: if Dongling High-Tech is willing to acquire Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1, you don’t need to pay any acquisition fee—just assume five million in debt. The rest of the liabilities, we in Pingyang will find a way to resolve!”

That debt doesn’t need immediate repayment. Only when Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 begins to turn profitable will you repay the bank.

As for the employees: those who don’t wish to stay can apply for early retirement. Those who remain will be managed by Dongling High-Tech under its own rules.

If any problems arise, I take full responsibility!”

Yao Zhengru spoke firmly. The most urgent debt at Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 is the several million owed to employees. Pay that off, and the situation stabilizes. The bank debt? Let it sit—there are too many bad debts everywhere; which place doesn’t have a pile of them?

As for employees who don’t want to stay, they can retire—but how much pension they get, and when they get it, remains uncertain.

Those who want to stay become Dongling High-Tech employees, paid by Dongling High-Tech. It’s far from perfect, but at least it solves the immediate crisis—and it’s the only solution Yao Zhengru can currently conceive. After all, every other state-owned factory in Pingyang is barely surviving itself—none can save Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1.

Hearing this, Li Dongling didn’t immediately refuse. Yao Zhengru’s tone carried a sense of giving up—treating Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 as if it were bankrupt.

Taking over Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 means inheriting five million in debt. Is that much?

Sure, it’s a mess—but it still has some value: the radio production line, skilled technicians. Not all employees are deadbeats—there are still capable workers.

Just as Li Dongling once proposed in the plant’s technical department: shift to mini radios, car radios. With the old brand “Feiyan,” there’s still a market.

The production lines, factory buildings, land, and workforce together are worth at least one or two million. Even if you sold the equipment as scrap and the land beneath the factory, you’d still make something. Worst case, you’d lose only three million or so.

For three million, is acquiring a veteran wireless electronics factory a loss—or a bargain?

The key is transforming the plant after acquisition—not just the products, but employee habits, culture, everything needs change.

“You don’t need to answer now. Think it over tonight. Reply after you meet Mayor Luo tomorrow,” Yao Zhengru said to Li Dongling.

As he rose to leave, Yao Zhengru added, “We’re familiar now. If you’re not too proud, come over for dinner sometime.”

“Of course!” Li Dongling quickly replied.

After Yao Zhengru left, Yao Luoying entered Li Dongling’s office, her bright eyes fixed on him. “What did my dad talk to you about?!”

“Just some work matters.”

“Really?!”

Yao Luoying eyed him skeptically. She knew her father too well—if it weren’t something important, he wouldn’t have spent over an hour in Li Dongling’s office. This wasn’t a perfunctory inspection. “Didn’t Deputy Mayor Yao pressure you?”

Li Dongling considered his words. “The city leaders want Dongling High-Tech to acquire Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1.”

“What?!”

Yao Luoying’s voice rose. “That’s bullying! Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1 is a total mess—buying it means nothing but losses! What can you even do with it besides lose money?!”

“Is he forcing you to buy it? No—I’m going to talk to Dad. If you take over Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1, Dongling High-Tech will be dragged down too!”

Seeing Yao Luoying storm off to confront Yao Zhengru, Li Dongling grabbed her wrist and stopped her. “You don’t have to acquire it. Even if you do, it doesn’t have to be a burden.”

Her ear reddened to her neck as he held her wrist, yet she didn’t pull away. “Really?!”

“Not certain yet.”

Li Dongling released her. “After acquisition, we might profit and solve Dongling High-Tech’s production issues—but we might also lose a fortune.”

Whether to acquire Xicheng Wireless Plant No. 1, Li Dongling was torn. It was like a rotten apple—betting one bite: is the core completely spoiled, or just the skin? Is it the apple the heavens have bitten into—a lucky fruit?

Li Dongling returned to the courtyard behind his residence. The courtyard beside his own was bustling with activity; as he pushed open the door, the people dancing wildly to music stopped and called out, “Brother Li!”

Gao Peng, Zhang Ao, Fan Xugang, and the entire sales team who once sold StarSat dishes—all with their girlfriends—had gathered here.

This courtyard, like Li Dongling’s own, had been renovated and equipped with speakers, pool tables, TVs, VCRs, VCD players, and even Sony’s newly released first-generation PlayStation—never sold in China, brought in as gray-market imports from Japan.

These were the era’s most popular entertainments: singing, pool, movies, video games. This courtyard quickly became one of Gao Peng, Zhang Ao, and Fan Xugang’s favorite hangouts.

“Brother Li, try my cooking—I learned from the head chef at Pingyang Grand Hotel!”

Zhang Ao, grilling skewers, waved a handful toward Li Dongling, boasting.

Li Dongling took a bite—it was delicious. He raised a bottle of beer. “Let’s drink!”

Gao Peng, Zhang Ao, Fan Xugang, and the others cheered in unison, raising their bottles.