Chapter 54: Schrödinger

Seeing Li Dongling's expression—as if he were looking at a mess—upon hearing about Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, Yao Zhengru couldn't help but feel a bit awkward.

But now, Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 had not only become a mess, but it also owed a mountain of debt. When they bought the television production line, it cost 13 million, all of which was borrowed, and a significant portion of it was raised from the employees of Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1.

Now, Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 had completely stopped production. It wasn't just a matter of whether they could pay wages; they also owed several million in employee-raised funds!

It was getting bigger and bigger. Every day, a large group of people blocked the entrance of Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, cursing the factory leaders, including Xu Yongjin and Liu Jiande, starting from their ancestors eighteen generations back, making them afraid to even step out, cursing every day for them to pay back the money!

The Pingyang municipal government was also having a headache. The first to bear the brunt was Yao Zhengru, who was in charge of the Pingyang Industrial and Commercial Bureau. If not handled well, even the municipal leaders, including Luo Junwu, would be implicated.

Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 had now become a bomb, and no one knew when it would explode, forcing the Pingyang municipal government to deal with it.

"The city's intention is to reorganize and contract out Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, letting other companies merge and acquire it. As long as they can acquire Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, the price is negotiable!"

"Contracting" was a popular word this year. Everything could be contracted, from a piece of land or a pond to a shopping mall or a company, or sold directly.

Pingyang City clearly wanted to get rid of this hot potato, Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, as quickly as possible.

Hearing Yao Zhengru's words, Li Dongling gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Vice Mayor Yao, you want Dongling High-Tech to acquire Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1?!"

Coughing, Yao Zhengru said, "The city, as well as Mayor Luo, all intend for Dongling High-Tech to merge Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1. After all, Dongling High-Tech is the best tech company in the entire province, or even the country!"

Luo Junwu wanted Dongling High-Tech to acquire Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, hoping that a "high-tech" company could save it. After all, it involved the livelihoods of over a thousand families.

"Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 is not something Dongling High-Tech can take over right now!"

Li Dongling said helplessly to Yao Zhengru. Acquiring Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 wasn't about how much money it would cost to acquire it, but the pile of messes that would come with it once it was in hand.

First was the debt problem of Wireless Factory No. 1, the 13 million owed to banks and employee-raised funds, plus unpaid wages, pensions, and so on.

If these were problems that could be solved with money, the rest might not even be solvable with money. The entire Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 had completely rotted. There were three, or even four or five people for one workstation. The number of people not working was several times that of those working. There were too many people who didn't show up for work, played cards, or caused trouble.

State-owned factories didn't have the concept of firing employees. If they took over Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, would the employees be state-owned or private? If problems arose, could they be fired? And whether to maintain previous benefits—all these were thorny issues.

Otherwise, taking it over rashly would not only lead to a pile of problems, but they might also fall into a bottomless pit, where any amount of money invested would be like throwing it into the water. In the end, they might even be implicated in the trouble of occupying a state-owned company.

Listening to Li Dongling's words, Yao Zhengru also fell into silence. He knew that Wireless Factory No. 1 was a hot potato and a bomb. To get someone to take it over, they had to clarify employee affiliation, equity issues, etc.; otherwise, no one would dare to throw money into it.

Yao Zhengru sat there, touching his water cup. After a long while, he said to Li Dongling, "I will report these problems to Mayor Luo!"

"What I can guarantee you is that as long as Dongling High-Tech is willing to acquire Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, Dongling High-Tech doesn't need to pay much acquisition money. As long as they assume 5 million in debt, the rest of the liabilities will be handled by Pingyang!"

"This debt doesn't need to be repaid by Dongling High-Tech immediately. When Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 starts to improve and make a profit, it can be repaid to the bank."

"As for the employee problem, the current formal employees of Wireless Factory No. 1 who don't want to stay can apply for internal retirement. The employees who stay will be managed by Dongling High-Tech, according to Dongling High-Tech's rules."

"If there are any problems in the end, I will take full responsibility!"

Yao Zhengru said in a deep voice. The most urgent debt owed by Wireless Factory No. 1 was the several million in employee-raised funds. As long as this money was paid back, the situation could be stabilized for the time being. As for the money owed to the bank, well... just let it be owed. There were too many bad debts now; which place didn't have a pile of them?

As for the employees of Wireless Factory No. 1, those who didn't want to stay could apply for retirement, but how much the pension would be and when it would be issued—that was unknown.

Those who wanted to stay would become Dongling High-Tech employees, and Dongling High-Tech would issue their wages in the future. This certainly wasn't the most perfect solution, but at least it solved the trouble and was the only way Yao Zhengru could think of right now. Anyway, other state-owned factories in Pingyang were struggling to survive and couldn't save Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 at all.

Hearing this, Li Dongling didn't refuse immediately. Yao Zhengru's words carried a hint of "breaking the pot to fix it," which could be said to be treating Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 as a bankruptcy case.

Taking over Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 meant carrying 5 million in debt. Was this debt a lot?!

Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 looked like a mess, but it did have some valuable things, such as radio production lines and skilled technical workers. The employees of Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 weren't all old loafers; there were definitely people who could work.

If they really did as Li Dongling suggested when he was in the technical department of Wireless Factory No. 1—transforming into mini radios, car radios, etc. —relying on Wireless Factory No. 1's old brand "Flying Swallow," there would definitely be a market.

Wireless Factory No. 1's production line equipment, factory buildings, land, and employees were worth at least one or two million. Even if they sold the production line equipment as scrap metal and sold the land under the factory, they could earn a little bit. Even if they lost money in the end, they would only lose three million or so!

Was it a loss or a bargain to trade three million for an old-brand wireless electronics factory?!

The key was that after the acquisition, they needed to transform Wireless Factory No. 1—not just the products, but also the employees' habits, the atmosphere, etc., all needed to be changed.

"You don't have to answer immediately. You can consider it for a night. After meeting Mayor Luo tomorrow, it won't be too late to reply!" Yao Zhengru said to Li Dongling.

When he finally stood up, Yao Zhengru said to Li Dongling, "We can consider ourselves acquaintances now. In the future, if you don't mind, you can come to my home as a guest!"

"Definitely!" Li Dongling also said hurriedly.

After Yao Zhengru left, Yao Luoying entered Li Dongling's office, her bright eyes looking at Li Dongling. "What did my dad talk to you about?!"

"Just some work matters!"

"Really?!"

Yao Luoying looked at Li Dongling with some suspicion. She was too familiar with her father. If it weren't for important matters, he wouldn't have needed to talk to Li Dongling in the office for over an hour. This clearly wasn't an inspection walk-through. "Old Vice Mayor Yao didn't make things difficult for you?"

Li Dongling deliberated and said, "The city leaders want Dongling High-Tech to acquire Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1!"

"What?!"

Yao Luoying's voice rose a few notches. "Isn't this bullying? Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1 is a mess now. What can you do with it besides losing money?

Did he force you to acquire it? No, I'm going to find Old Yao. If you buy Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, Dongling High-Tech will also be dragged down."

Seeing Yao Luoying angrily wanting to find Yao Zhengru, Li Dongling could only hold Yao Luoying's hand and stop her. "It doesn't necessarily have to be an acquisition. Even if it is, it might not be a burden!"

Being held by the wrist by Li Dongling, Yao Luoying's earlobes turned red to her neck, but she didn't pull her hand away. "Really?!"

"Not quite sure yet!"

Li Dongling let go of Yao Luoying. "After the acquisition, it's possible to make money and solve Dongling High-Tech's production problems. Of course, it's also possible to lose a large sum."

Whether to acquire Xicheng Wireless Factory No. 1, Li Dongling was also hesitant. This thing was like an apple that had rotted on the outside. You had to gamble on one bite to see if it was completely rotten inside or if only the skin was rotten, becoming a lucky fruit bitten by heaven...

Li Dongling returned to the courtyard behind. In the courtyard next to the one where Li Dongling lived, it was bustling with activity. Many people gathered there. When Li Dongling pushed the door and entered, the people who were dancing disco to the music in the courtyard stopped and called out to Li Dongling one after another. "Li Ge!"

Gao Peng, Zhang Ao, Fan Xugang, and a group of sales department personnel who previously sold the Guanying satellite dishes, some with their girlfriends, were all gathered here.

This courtyard had also been cleaned up like the one Li Dongling lived in. They had also purchased sound systems, pool tables, televisions, home video recorders, VCDs, and even the first-generation PS game console just released by Sony this year. This thing wasn't sold domestically; they were all parallel imports brought over from Japan.

These things were basically the most mainstream entertainment methods now. They could sing, play pool, watch movies, and play game consoles. This courtyard soon became one of the gathering places for Gao Peng, Zhang Ao, and Fan Xugang.

"Li Ge, do you want to taste my craft? I learned it from the chef of the Pingyang Hotel!"

Zhang Ao, who was grilling meat skewers, held up a bunch of skewers and boasted to Li Dongling.

Li Dongling tasted one, and the taste was indeed not bad. He raised a bottle of beer and said to the group, "Cheers!"

Gao Peng, Zhang Ao, Fan Xugang, and others responded loudly and raised their beer bottles one after another. ===== CHAPTER 55 =====