Chapter 709: Red-Eyed

Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu stepped into the house one after the other, the grease on their mouths not yet wiped clean.

Liu Haizhong looked up, his brows immediately knitting into a knot: "What is it? Out gorging yourselves again?"

Liu Guangfu gave a silly grin and leaned in, thick-skinned: "Dad, Xu Damao is treating us today."

Liu Haizhong's eyes widened: "Xu Damao is treating you to a meal? Could it be he pities you two for idling about all day like a pair of useless trash?"

Liu Guangfu hurriedly buttered him up: "Dad, Xu Damao thinks that since you're a Workshop Director, you have great standing and aren't easily swayed by ordinary people, so he asked us to be his lobbyists first!"

Liu Haizhong clearly didn't believe his son's words and said irritably: "Is he planning to open a factory? Wants me to go be a blacksmith for him?"

Liu Guangtian took over the conversation and stepped closer: "Dad, you said it yourself at the dinner table before, that you have two Apprentices who can now call the shots at the Rolling Mill. Xu Damao and Li Huaide have partnered to open a company, specializing in flipping all kinds of scarce supplies. Li Huaide is currently mulling over how to get some steel out of the Rolling Mill, so..."

Liu Haizhong waved his hand: "Those are all high-demand supplies, why would I be able to get them out?"

Liu Guangtian continued to persuade him: "You've been nothing but good to those Apprentices for so many years and have never asked them for anything. Now that you're asking them to help get some things, they surely can't refuse your face? Xu Damao said there are already people in your factory moving supplies out."

Liu Haizhong was silent for a long while, then said: "This matter... I have to talk to Li Huaide myself. That man is too slippery; if I'm not careful, he'll trick me."

Liu Guangtian, hearing there was a chance, nodded hurriedly: "That's easy to handle. Let Xu Damao arrange a meal, and you can talk to him yourself!"

To tell the truth, Liu Haizhong was indeed tempted.

He was about to retire, and when that time came, he would go home to live out his old age with nothing to his name. With only that little pension every month, what could he do?

Rather than retiring in such a cowardly way, it would be better to find a way out for himself early. If he could rely on those old connections to open a company outside and earn some money, he could put his remaining energy to use, and it wouldn't be a life lived in vain.

Thinking of this, Liu Haizhong finally nodded: "Fine, I'll go try. But I must meet that Li Huaide first; I won't let people make a monkey out of me."

Liu Guangtian quickly replied: "No problem! I'll have Xu Damao arrange it right now!"

At the same time, Yan Jiekuang swaggered into his home carrying a pound of pig head meat and a bottle of Erguotou liquor.

Yan Bugui was wearing his reading glasses and looking at the newspaper. When he looked up and saw what was in his son's hands, he said sarcastically: "Yo, what's this? Struck it rich? You usually just bring your mouth back to sponge off us, but today the sun has risen in the west—you actually know how to bring things home?"

Yan Jiekuang grinned and placed the items on the table: "Dad, I have some good news for you. Xu Damao has a lead; he's partnered with someone to open a company and is about to make a big deal—big money! Do you think you could talk to my eldest brother and second brother and let them buy a share?"

Yan Bugui put down his pen and shook his head repeatedly: "Those two unfilial sons? They value money more than their own lives. You want to get money out of their pockets? Keep dreaming!"

"Dad, don't shut the door on this," Yan Jiekuang said anxiously. "Xu Damao said that he and that Li Huaide have already made nearly one hundred thousand yuan doing business! One hundred thousand! Think about what that concept is!"

Yan Bugui shook his head like a rattle-drum: "Xu Damao can earn one hundred thousand? I wouldn't believe it even if it killed me."

"Dad, you'll miss the boat if you don't act now! Liu Haizhong is going to participate in this, and I heard he's even going to help get steel!"

Yan Bugui still shook his head: "Give up on that idea; this won't happen."

"Dad, whether it happens or not, can't you just call my eldest and second brothers back to discuss it? Otherwise, don't blame me if you regret it later!" Yan Jiekuang was getting desperate.

The next day, Red Star Rolling Mill, Deputy Factory Director's office.

Liu Haizhong stood at the door, took a deep breath, and raised his hand to knock.

"Come in." Deputy Factory Director Gu looked up, and upon seeing it was him, he hurriedly stood up and smiled: "Siqiang? How do you have time to come over today?"

Liu Haizhong hesitated for a long time, rubbed his hands together, and then spoke: "Little Gu... Siqiang is here this time to ask you for a favor."

Deputy Factory Director Gu smiled, walked over, and grabbed his arm: "Siqiang, just say whatever you need! Why are you being so formal with me?"

Only then did Liu Haizhong speak: "My second son doesn't have a proper job and has partnered with someone to open a company; they want to get some steel out... see if it's convenient for you?"

Deputy Factory Director Gu pondered for a moment and said: "This is hard to do, but you haven't asked me for anything in all these years, so I can't refuse your face. It's just that you've come at a bad time today; that batch of steel outside the plan for our factory for the first half of the year has all been approved for Liu Shi Trading. The quota for the second half of the year won't have an index until the middle of next month, and I'll set some aside for you then."

Hearing this, Liu Haizhong felt a bit disappointed, but at least he saw hope, so he nodded hurriedly: "Little Gu, how can a private company be approved for steel?"

"That was Factory Director He who greeted me about it, I couldn't refuse! And he even had the approval documents!"

"Little Gu, you must get me some next month!"

"Don't worry, I'll definitely save some for you!"

When Liu Haizhong returned home, he was stunned the moment he stepped inside.

Those two boys, Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu, were treating him like an ancestor; they had already laid out a table full of braised pork knuckles and braised pig trotters from Tianfu Hao, and even had the second mother fry a plate of eggs.

There was also a bottle of Fen liquor on the table.

Liu Guangfu leaned in with a grin: "Dad, did Deputy Factory Director Gu agree to give us the steel?"

Liu Haizhong sighed: "The steel outside the plan for the first half of the year was all wrapped up by Liu Shi Trading. I heard He Yuzhu handled it personally. Little Gu said there's a quota for the second half of the year and he can set some aside for me."

Upon hearing this, Liu Guangfu's eyes lit up, and he bolted out the door like a rabbit.

Liu Haizhong glared at Liu Guangtian: "Why is your brother acting so jumpy?"

Liu Guangtian shook his head and said: "He went to report to Xu Damao. Li Huaide is almost driven crazy; I heard he has clients from the south urging him every day."

Over there, Xu Damao and Liu Sanmei were eating at the dinner table.

Liu Sanmei had stewed an old hen, the soup white and the meat tender, the aroma mouth-watering, and she was diligently serving soup to Xu Damao.

Xu Damao was holding his bowl and had just taken a sip when he heard a burst of hurried footsteps outside the door.

"Brother Damao! Brother Damao!" Liu Guangfu rushed in, breathless and panting.

Liu Sanmei was startled: "Lao San, what's the matter, why so urgent?"

Liu Guangfu was full of excitement: "Brother Damao, my dad got the steel!"

Xu Damao's eyes lit up fiercely, and he asked: "When can we take delivery?"

Liu Guangfu wiped his sweat and said: "It'll be a month and a half. The steel outside the plan for the first half of the year was all taken by Liu Shi Trading."

Xu Damao's face sank instantly: "Liu Shi Trading? Isn't that the company of He Yuzhu's cousin? This steel must be the work of that bastard He Yuzhu! Why does he have to beat me to everything?"

Liu Guangfu looked blank: "Brother Damao, you're really amazing; Factory Director Gu even said it was He Yuzhu who took the approval documents to get it!"

Xu Damao glared at him irritably: "I told you and Yan Jiekuang to find out about He Yuzhu's situation—what did you find out?"

Liu Guangfu scratched his head: "I don't have the connections; Yan Jiekuang is the one doing the scouting. I'll go call him right now."

It didn't take long for Liu Guangfu to drag Yan Jiekuang over.

Come to think of it, the Yan family hadn't participated in Li Huaide's company at all.

A few days ago, Yan Bugui had indeed asked Yan Jiecheng and Yan Jiefang to discuss buying shares, but those two wouldn't part with a single cent and didn't believe at all that Xu Damao could help them make money.

Especially Yan Jiefang, whose attitude was firm—he wouldn't cooperate with Xu Damao no matter what.

Xu Damao took a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes directly from his pocket and tossed it to Yan Jiekuang: "How did the investigation into He Yuzhu go, the one I asked you to look into?"

Yan Jiekuang caught the cigarettes, pulled one out to light it, took a few deep puffs, and began to speak incessantly: "My second brother said that Chen Xueru seems to have partnered with Xiao E to open a real estate company, and they are going to build houses over at Dabeiyao. The investor is the Liushi Trading Company! I even made a special trip to Dabeiyao and saw it with my own eyes! There is a huge plot of land there, with so many workers... I heard they are going to build many buildings, and they are even going to build some kind of Trade Mansion; the investment is absolutely massive! That scene, tsk tsk tsk..."

The more Xu Damao listened, the darker his face became, and finally, he said sinisterly: "Liushi Trading Company... isn't that Liu Rusi's company? I understand now." He suddenly burst into loud laughter, which startled the few people sitting there, "I finally understand; this Liushi Trading Company must have He Yuzhu's shares in it. All these years, he has been using this company to amass wealth... I am going to report him!"