Chapter 1163: Capitalism

~26 min read 5,011 words

Seeing Ye Yaodong's hesitant expression, Fang Jingfu knew that the two had known each other for too short a time, and trust had to be accumulated from daily interaction; it didn't just appear out of thin air. His asking this question was indeed a bit presumptuous.

It was just rare to run into someone who was on the same wavelength and was straightforward and not petty, which was why he had been quick with his words.

"Otherwise, why don't you consider it? I'm really quite short of funds. I've only been doing this for a month or so. I did very little at the beginning, so I only earned a little bit of money, not even enough to buy a batch of materials."

"People only give a 30% deposit, and we have to pay for all the other material costs ourselves. If there are few orders, we can still afford to pay, but once there are many orders, it's difficult for us to pay. We just finished a batch of goods, and orders have been coming in like snowflakes these past two days. We can't wait for the money to be credited before preparing materials. People also need time to produce materials."

"So, now we have to recruit people and buy more materials. My brother and I didn't have much money to begin with, and we borrowed it all from our parents. We can't keep asking them for their coffin money. We've been very worried about this recently."

"Fortunately, you solved the house issue for me. Otherwise, I'd be even more worried. The venue at home is too small and can't accommodate many people at all, which is why I came out to look for a house. Now the only problem is the money to buy materials."

Ye Yaodong looked at his earnest expression, listened carefully, and pondered in his heart.

"Brother, actually, I quite favor your lighter industry. I don't know about the future, but I think it won't be bad in the next few years. However, just as you said, we've only known each other for a short time. Being friends is fine, at least you don't discriminate against me as an outsider, and we chat happily. Now, asking me to join in, I really have to consider it carefully."

"Right, you have to consider it carefully. Listening to your workers bragging these past two days, I'm actually quite tempted. You consider it carefully. If you really join, you can leave someone behind to supervise the work. They'll also be paid a salary."

"Is it just you and your brother in this workshop? Is there anyone else?"

"No. Others only lend money and don't partner. It's not that I haven't tried to pull people in, but most of them are hesitant, and individually they can't invest much money. The money in their hands is limited, at most only a few hundred yuan to spend. If we really want to partner, that bit of money is nowhere near enough. At that time, it's not necessary to have a bunch of partners for a few hundred yuan. It's better to just borrow money and pay interest."

"That's true."

The more orders, the greater the money that needs to be paid in advance. The money earned can only be invested. Making a profit is a matter for later.

It's not necessary to have a bunch of shareholders pointing fingers for a few hundred yuan. To find partners, you can only find those with a lot of money in their hands.

The boatmen were bragging yesterday, and this kid took it to heart. It seems he also thinks he has plenty of money on hand.

Actually, he was really tempted. If he missed this opportunity, he wouldn't find it again. Anyway, he already had over 200,000 on hand. Money is just money sitting there. He really had nowhere to spend it right now; a bunch of ships in the shipyard hadn't been delivered yet.

And right now, land isn't easy to buy and sell on a large scale, and even fewer people are selling houses. Shops are even less likely to be mentioned. Those along the street are generally people's houses. There are no real shops; they are all residential houses, unless it's like the wholesale market in their area that the government specifically developed, which can be considered a real shop.

The era hasn't developed yet, but money has already started to depreciate.

"You ponder it first. I won't force you. Anyway, everything will be finished on my side tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll let the workers come to your house to work. The rain canopy you mentioned is also quite good—blocking light and rain, and the privacy is good enough. Close the doors when entering and leaving, and even the neighbors won't know what's going on inside."

"Right. You've just started, and recruiting too many workers is eye-catching. In case someone reports you for capitalist style..."

"Don't worry about that. At least we have a little connection. Being hidden is just to prevent it from spreading. You know, there are too many workshops in every household here now; they are all following the trend."

"Mm."

As the two were talking, the sound of raindrops on the rain canopy above their heads became even more urgent. They looked at the top of their heads and then at the entrance, saying in unison:

"Is it raining heavily?"

"It won't be easy to go back now." Fang Jingfu frowned.

"Then let's wait until the rain gets smaller."

"It's only evening, and it's as dark outside as it is at night. It's getting dark really fast. I'd better go back directly. I'm just afraid that the wind and rain will get bigger later, and the night road won't be easy to walk."

"Fine then. I'll lend you my straw raincoat. Bring it back whenever you come over."

"I'll bring it to you tomorrow."

Ye Yaodong handed him the straw raincoat he had been wearing when he ran back, and then sent him out. The workers he brought could only follow him out through the rain.

Ye Fu stood by his side and sent them off. Only after they left did he say, "Seeing that we're almost going back, I was thinking of earning a bit more in the last few days, but it's raining heavily. I don't know when it will clear up."

"It shouldn't have much impact. It was sunny yesterday, so it should pass in a day or two."

"Mm, go take a shower quickly. You've been chatting with him for half a day as soon as you got back. We've all finished showering."

Ye Yaodong thought for a moment and told his father about Fang Jingfu's request for investment.

Ye Fu's first reaction was to oppose it. "That won't do, that won't do. We aren't locals, and we aren't watching here. What if the money invested goes down the drain? If we were staying here all the time and their workshop was in their own house, right under our noses, that would be fine."

"Now we're leaving soon and won't be here for more than half a year. Who knows how much money these lighters of his can earn? They might just fool us, and we wouldn't know. We weren't that familiar to begin with."

"Can't do it, can't do it. It's easy to get cheated. Let's just honestly catch fish. Don't get involved in these side businesses."

Ye Yaodong retorted, "It's not really a side business. People are doing legitimate work. If we really partner, we definitely have to sign a contract, divide the shares, and hire someone specifically to do the bookkeeping. The transactions of their orders definitely need someone to do the bookkeeping and statistics; otherwise, it'll be a mess, and we won't know how much money is coming in, how much is left, and some materials and things. It has to be accounted for anyway."

Actually, he was tempted.

"That's still not safe. Who knows if they'll fool us, and we aren't here."

"Then of course we have to hire two people to watch here."

"Can that work? Can it be reliable?" Ye Fu looked disapproving. "Just catch your fish and don't get involved. Anyway, the money is enough to earn. You won't be able to spend it in this lifetime. Don't toss and turn."

"What money can't be spent? I don't have tens of millions or hundreds of millions. If I had that much, then it would really be unspendable."

Ye Fu waved his hand. "Don't do it. There aren't many days left before we leave. If you want to buy more to take back, just buy more. Earn some money and that's it. Let's not get involved in these things when we aren't watching."

Seeing his father so strongly opposed and disapproving, he could only suppress his thoughts first.

It was indeed quite rash, and they hadn't known each other for long.

"Forget it, I'll go take a shower first."

The heavy rain poured all night, but the wind wasn't very strong. By the next morning, the drizzling rain continued. They didn't go out to sea and all slept until they woke up naturally.

When they got up, the courtyard was already full of assembly workers. They didn't know what time they arrived. The sound of the rain outside had long covered the voices of the workers in the courtyard.

When he got up and went out, he saw Fang Jingfu walking around, inspecting and teaching people along the way.

"So early?"

"What's early? It's already 8:30. I brought people here at 7 o'clock."

Ye Yaodong followed him to inspect, watching people assemble. "The movements are quite fast? Are you calculating wages by piece?"

"Right."

"Hey? Then why don't you just give me the quantity I want once they're made in these two days? You don't have to move them from home. Just box them up and pile them in the corner of the wall here once they're done."

"I was thinking the same. Anyway, just give them to you once there's enough quantity made here."

"It's raining today. My ten workers are idle anyway. Why don't you call one or two people to teach them how to assemble and do some odd jobs for you? It would also save me from delaying your delivery time because I want the goods."

"It probably won't work today. More than half are newcomers, and there are already old hands leading new ones. If there are too many people, they won't be able to lead them, and the quality will suffer if there are too many unskilled hands."

"Oh, I thought it was technical confidentiality."

"This has already been moved right under your nose. After watching for a long time, you'll know how to assemble it. Even if you want to keep it secret, you can't."

Ye Yaodong's heart moved. If he knew how to assemble it, couldn't he do it himself?

He was pondering in his heart when Fang Jingfu said again, "What about what we talked about yesterday?"

"My father thinks the span of this industry is too big, and the geographical span is also big, so he told me to honestly catch fish. I thought about it. Why don't I take those 2,000 goods back and try selling them first? If they sell well, I'll definitely have to come to you to load a boat back. Shall we talk then?"

"That's fine. However, if the time span is too long, I might have already finished raising the money or found a partner. You decide."

"Mm, okay."

Fang Jingfu didn't stay here all day. After all, he had other things to do. Even though it was raining outside, he kept coming and going.

Ye Yaodong had the idea of stealing the technique. Anyway, he was idle all day, so he kept watching those people assemble lighters and even tried it himself.

However, his eyes learned, but his hands didn't. He learned the process for a whole day from skilled people, and only then did he barely know the flow. But after he ate dinner and went back to assemble, he wasn't skilled again.

During this time, he also learned from Fang Jingfu that these accessories were all custom-made and couldn't be bought casually. They were all sizes of accessories that his brother researched, and then they found small workshops they knew to customize different accessories.

Since people said so, he gave up the idea of stealing the technique in his heart. Assembly looks simple, but he still didn't understand the technical level.

Stealing a technique requires an insider to steal it. An outsider like him who doesn't understand anything is just farting.

Thinking about it, he'd better honestly sell the goods first and see the situation then. If he still needs financing or partnering, then they can discuss it.

At the very least, he had to know how the market was on his side.

If he really wants to buy shares, he can get goods cheaper. He can earn from both sales and dividends, and he doesn't have to worry much. If he buys shares, naturally someone will help him worry about everything, and there's technology improvement.

Today he also saw Fang Jingfu's brother and chatted a few words casually, but the man looked scholarly and didn't seem to be good at socializing. His speech was full of awkwardness.

After chatting a few words, he lowered his head to research his things.

The two brothers were two extremes. No wonder one could do research and the other was a chatterbox. The chatterbox was just right for sales and selling goods.

The heavy rain turned into light rain for two days, and it was cloudy for another two days before it cleared up, and the sea surface was calm.

However, in these few days, the boatmen at home were also doing odd jobs in the workshop at home, helping to assemble a lot of lighters. They were extremely happy to receive two salaries, and in their hearts, they probably wished it would keep raining, not go out to sea, and continue to receive two salaries.

But there weren't many days left to stay. After this rain, although it was sunny and hot, it started to get a little cool in the morning and evening, not as hot as before.

The three months of summer heat were extinguished a lot by this rain.

Ye Yaodong also ran to the Fisheries Association during this period to explain that he might not be in the city for a few months, and left the phone number of the village committee at home, telling them to call this number if there was anything.

During this period, he also counted the 2,000 goods he wanted with Fang Jingfu and moved them to his room in advance.

After everything was prepared, they continued to go out to sea to salvage sea urchins after it cleared up.

It hadn't completely cooled down yet, just a little cool in the morning and evening, but it didn't affect going into the water during the day. It was still hot during the day.

As the saying goes, one autumn rain brings one cold. Now that it has rained once, it will have to rain a few more times before the weather can cool down.

Before it cools down, go out to sea as many times as you can.

During this period, people were coming in and out of their house morning and evening, which had long aroused the curiosity of neighbors, especially since they built a sunshade. Although they told the neighbors when they built it that they were borrowing it to set up a small family workshop, it still made people very curious—what exactly were they doing?

However, their confidentiality was quite strong. You could only walk through the front or back door; otherwise, no one knew what they were doing inside, after all, the top of the courtyard was covered.

Although everyone was curious, those who came in and out spoke the local dialect, so they didn't meddle in other people's business. There were too many such small workshops in their area.

But the sudden change in their house was also seen by those with ulterior motives.

After another rain, Ye Yaodong thought that the weather was unstable now, and it would rain from time to time after two or three days of sunshine. He felt there was no need to stay any longer. It was already the middle of the month, and he planned to go back after it cleared up in the next few days, to avoid staying here and not being able to go into the water many times, while still paying wages in vain.

The money he earned from his part-time lighter job wasn't enough to subsidize the workers' food and drink.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the sky cleared up, a large group of people came to the door—it was the Public Security Bureau.

When the door was knocked with a bang, there were still people cursing inside. After Ye Yaodong went to open the door, everyone went silent.

"Whose workshop is this?"

Ye Yaodong was stunned for a moment and hurriedly accompanied with a smile. "Public Security comrade, what wind blew you here? Is there something wrong?"

"Outsider? Is this your workshop?"

"This is my house, rented to a friend as a workshop..."

"Someone reported that you are developing capitalism. Now it seems it's really like this. You actually hired so many hired workers. There are explicit regulations here, don't you know? The state explicitly stipulates that only '1-2 helpers' are allowed, and 'no more than 5 apprentices'. You are seriously exceeding the standard. Other people's workshops are all run by a family. You have forty or fifty people here. Take them all away first."

"Ah?"

Ye Yaodong was dumbfounded. Can't exceed 5?

No one came to find trouble in his hometown.

He looked at his hands that were already handcuffed behind his back and hurriedly explained, "No, Public Security comrade, you made a mistake. I'm a fisherman. 10 of them are my boatmen..."

"What fisherman? Who fishes at home? Are there fish all over this table? Don't quibble! The facts are right in front of you. Everyone saw with their own eyes that all of you were working. Go to the police station and talk."

Holy crap...

Ye Fu's face turned pale, and he couldn't speak clearly. "Off... off... off..."

"Who are you calling 'off'? All of you, be honest."

The workshop was instantly in a mess. The workers who were working were all shouting that they were just here to work and it had nothing to do with them. They were all shouting injustice. Those who were quick-witted had already run to the back door.

It's just that there were people guarding the back at the same time. However, fortunately, there were not many public security officers in the junior high school. There were 40 people here, and they all rushed to the back door. Still, a few rushed out and ran away.

Because Ye Yaodong opened the door at the beginning and didn't think he would be arrested, he didn't run away and was caught right on the spot.

He had already cursed fiercely in his heart. What is an unprovoked disaster? This is it.

"I have a house lease contract, comrade. I'm really a fisherman. It's just because it rained these two days that I didn't go out to sea. I'll show you the house lease contract, and you'll know."

"No one stipulates that if you rent your own house to someone as a workshop, you can't live in it yourself. It doesn't make sense to arrest me too. Besides, you didn't see me working, right? I opened the door. This doesn't count as seeing it with your own eyes. It doesn't make sense for you to arrest me. Our people's police serve the people and must be reasonable. You can't arrest innocent people randomly."

"Besides, I'm not just a fisherman. I'm also the Vice President of the Fisheries Association. I have a letter of appointment. I can show you the letter of appointment. Once you see it, you'll know. A Vice President of the Fisheries Association, can I not be a fisherman? What's there to lie about?"

The few public security officers standing beside him looked at each other.

Ye Yaodong made persistent efforts to persuade them. He couldn't be arrested; it was too embarrassing.

"Don't you know about the Fisheries Association that was just established nearly a month ago? It was published in the newspaper. I was recommended by Director Zeng of the Maritime Police Bureau to be the Vice President. I really have a letter of appointment and a house lease contract, and the dates on them are all there. Let me go and get them from the house to show you, and you'll know I'm innocent."

The leader exchanged glances with the others again and then looked at him. "Is what you said true?"

"It couldn't be truer. If you don't believe me, come into the house with me. I'll get it for you. Seeing is believing, hearing is false. You'll know once you see it."

"I'll go take a look with you. Everyone else, be honest. Hold your heads with both hands and squat down."

After the handcuffs on Ye Yaodong's hands behind his back were unlocked, he breathed a sigh of relief. It was fine as long as they listened to him.

Ye Fu saw him being released and also breathed a sigh of relief. "Dong... Dongzi..."

"Dad, wait a moment. I'll go into the house first and get the materials for them to see."

Fortunately, just in case, he really signed a house lease contract with Fang Jingfu. The facts could prove that the house had been rented out, and the small workshop had nothing to do with him.

Ye Yaodong took two contracts from his password box and showed them to the leader. The man looked at them and kept glancing at him.

"You knew they were recruiting so many people for the workshop and didn't report it. This also counts as shielding."

"Injustice, officer. Listen to my accent and listen to how I speak, and you'll know I'm an outsider. How would I know that the local policy is so strict? I also saw that many households were running workshops. I didn't know that they were considered running capitalism. And you know, I'm a fisherman myself and have no culture, let alone understand the law. I really don't know the ins and outs of this."

The officer threw the materials in his hand to him. "I will go and verify it. I will send someone to watch here. You are not allowed to go anywhere, and nothing inside is allowed to be transferred."

"Okay, okay."

Ye Yaodong breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that they wouldn't verify it and would just round them all up and arrest them all. It was fine as long as they could verify it.

Just now he saw a few people run out. As long as one person could find Fang Jingfu, then there was nothing to be afraid of. After all, this guy was a second-generation, and his father was in the research institute, so his connections were strong.

The officer said as soon as he went out: "Except for Ye Yaodong, handcuff everyone else and take them back to the bureau first."

"Wait, officer, there are 10 of my boatmen here. It has nothing to do with them..."

"They also participated in the production. Take them away. You are not allowed to go anywhere."

Ye Fu was anxious. "Dongzi..."

Ye Yaodong immediately pleaded, "Comrade, this is my father..."

"Don't fool me. Where does it look like it? Stay here honestly. I will send someone to guard the front and back doors. If you talk again, I will take you away together."

Ye Yaodong had to appease his father in their hometown dialect. "It's okay. I'll think of a way. I definitely won't let you spend the night inside."

Ye Fu could only follow the others and be taken away, dejected.

Nearby neighbors all ran to the door to watch and point. Fortunately, they were outsiders, and they didn't understand their local dialect and didn't know them, so they didn't feel too embarrassed.

Ye Yaodong stood in the house and couldn't go out. A public security officer was guarding the front door outside. After all, there were many goods and accessories inside, and they couldn't be moved away for a while, so someone had to guard them.

He looked at the front door and then ran to the back door to look. There was another person guarding the back. As soon as he walked to the back door, he stared at the other person, and he immediately closed the door again.

"Damn it, who reported it? Ate too much shit, full and nothing to do, really want to die."

What does this make him do? Can't get out the front door, can't get out the back door. Calling heaven doesn't respond, calling earth doesn't work. Can only wait for them to verify?

Don't know if anyone smart ran to find Fang Jingfu. No one here knows his house, just don't know if any of the workers Fang Jingfu called ran away.

Don't know if it was the neighbors who reported it or who.

Trapped here by someone, he couldn't do anything, could only pace back and forth, waiting anxiously.

"Damn, seeing that I'm about to go home, this kind of thing happens. If I had known, I would have gone back when it cleared up a few days ago. Don't know if Fang Jingfu can handle it."

After cursing in a rage, he could only sit down and wait with a sigh.

Fortunately, because there were many goods in the courtyard, they couldn't move them all away for a while, and didn't have time to search. They could only take the people away first and wait for verification. His money could still be hidden.

Otherwise, nothing could be kept.

People were arrested early in the morning, and he waited dryly until the afternoon before Fang Jingfu and others arrived.

As soon as he heard the sound of the door opening, he immediately rushed to the front door. Seeing it was Fang Jingfu, his eyes immediately lit up.

"Ancestor, you finally came."

"Sorry, brother. I implicated you. It's okay. My dad has already asked someone to negotiate. I'll come over first. It probably won't take long for everyone to come back."

"Really? Oh, that's fine. Damn it, don't know which bastard reported it. Ancestors for eighteen generations can't be at peace, a turtle grandson who will have no descendants."

"The person who reported it has also been found. Don't think they'll have a good time."

"Who? Who the hell did it?"

"It was the family that occupied your house back then. They secretly put the report letter in the mailbox yesterday and were seen by the guard. They recognized them. I just went to inquire about it and found out."

Ye Yaodong slapped the table hard. "Damn, this is wanting a family reunion. I was wondering why it's been so quiet for a month. It turns out they were holding back evil in secret, holding a big move here waiting. Sure enough, the whole family is not good stuff. Holy crap, so in the end, I implicated you?"

"Can't count who implicated whom. You told me in advance, and I didn't take precautions. Besides, I really don't meet the regulations. But it's okay, it will be fine soon. I'll wait here."

"Is it so strict here? A workshop can't exceed 5 workers? Did you exceed it at home?"

"At first it didn't exceed 5. Later, there were more people, but not many. It's just that the order volume is increasing now, and we can't finish it. And there is extra space here. I saw the rain canopy built, quite hidden. Who knew there would still be a situation today."

"Right, you just started running it. Recruiting too many workers is eye-catching. In case someone reports you for capitalist style..."

"Don't worry about this. At least there's a little connection. Being hidden is just to prevent it from spreading. You know, there are too many workshops in every household here now; they are all following the trend."