Chapter 64

"Smelling the taste of freedom." Hu Wenhai took a deep breath, the cold air in the air invigorating his somewhat sleep-deprived mind, making him laugh involuntarily.

"Comrade Hu, please follow me this way." Although Lin Qianjun was also happy to be back on solid ground, he did not forget his duty. He remained vigilant, watching every person who intended to approach, and then used his body to protect Hu Wenhai's safety.

"Director Lin, is this really necessary? We're already back in the country!"

Indeed, after four months, Hu Wenhai had finally returned to China. Ironically, he had gone to the United States because he was too wealthy and had to run away to avoid his "creditors."

Now that he was back in the country, it seemed nothing had changed. Hu Wenhai had become even wealthier, but the "creditors" had only changed. Previously, he could still run to the United States, but now he had nowhere to go.

"Comrade Hu, I am just following orders, please understand." As Lin Qianjun spoke, he walked, and soon brought Hu Wenhai out of the Capital Airport's main gate.

"By the way, before you returned, I saw you give a letter to that Iverson. Who is it for?"

...

Outside the Capital Airport, two PLA soldiers in military uniforms saw Lin Qianjun and Hu Wenhai come out and immediately stood at attention, saluting. One of them opened the back door of the nearby Crown car, while the other jumped into the driver's seat, starting the car.

After this "performance," Hu Wenhai knew without looking that the passengers entering and exiting the airport were staring at him, as if they had just labeled him with the words "special person."

With a bitter smile, Hu Wenhai realized that even after returning to the country, his freedom was still not guaranteed. They say that being ahead by half a step is genius, but being ahead by a full step is madness. It seemed he had really overplayed his hand.

In 1984, the $1 billion he had, with $800 million now in the Air Force's account, equivalent to 2.24 billion RMB. The remaining $200 million left him with over $10 million. Even with just this amount of foreign currency, there were still many people eyeing it greedily.

It seemed that his bold step forward had not only failed to turn him into a "madman" but had also driven many others to the brink of madness.

As soon as Hu Wenhai arrived in the capital, he was sent to a sanatorium in Miyun. Surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, with pavilions and terraces inside, the environment was absolutely top-notch, likely a treatment reserved for provincial and ministerial-level leaders.

Thus, under Lin Qianjun's company, Hu Wenhai ate and drank, living a more "leisurely" life than he had in the United States.

It wasn't until the last week of 1984 that a middle-aged man in his forties appeared in the courtyard of the sanatorium where Hu Wenhai was staying. Lin Qianjun introduced him as "Secretary Hu," but did not specify whose secretary he was.

However, at least Secretary Hu brought good news—he could go home.

"Comrade Hu, ah, you have made such a great contribution to the country, but you almost couldn't even celebrate New Year's Day. I am truly ashamed."

Hu Wenhai sat calmly in his chair, shaking his head slightly. "I am a Chinese person, and of course, I hope the country prospers and the national defense is strong. Making contributions within my capabilities is what I should do."

"But, I want to know what the country plans to do with me?"

"Comrade Hu, don't worry!" Secretary Huang waved his hand and smiled. "You might have heard some bad rumors or scared yourself with wild guesses. Rest assured, our great country will not take advantage of you!"

Secretary Huang first reassured Hu Wenhai, then changed the subject. "However, you know the situation in our country. The reform and opening-up require money everywhere, and the economic situation is not optimistic. Taking out over 2 billion RMB at once is not realistic. So, please understand, Comrade Hu. Can we, uh, pay in installments?"

Hu Wenhai laughed. Looking at Secretary Huang, it seemed he had put a lot of effort into coming up with the idea of installment payments. In the 1980s, there was no such term in China, and he probably had to refer to foreign translations.

But there was a problem. As someone reborn from the future, who didn't know the saying: "The debtor is the master, the creditor is the slave." Even if you hadn't eaten pork, you had surely seen Huang Hong play Huang Shiren and Yang Bailao.

When the debtor is the state, how many people have the guts to arm themselves and demand repayment?

Hu Wenhai immediately shook his head vigorously, speaking solemnly. "Secretary Huang, that's not right! Since the country is economically tight, how can I add to the country's burden? I am not that kind of person!"

This statement almost made Secretary Huang shed tears. Look at Comrade Hu, what a good comrade! Truly a fine seed cultivated by the old revolutionaries. His awareness is not as bad as reported, and it's not much lower than his father Hu Jiefang's!

"This won't do. The money must be given. This is not just your personal matter. 2.24 billion RMB is a lot, but it's less than the country's face. Even ordinary people know to sell their pots and pans to repay debts. The country cannot default on its debts!"

Indeed, perhaps the top leaders did not want to default. But when the year-end budget was made, with everyone asking for money, Hu Wenhai's money would likely be pushed to the back of the line.

When the top leaders asked, and the subordinates replied, "There is no extra money in the national treasury," the top leaders would likely give up.

In the end, the debtor fears losing their reputation. But in China, Hu Wenhai needed the power and the voice to make people "fear" him. In the 1980s, during the several clean-ups of private enterprises, many people were scared into "donating" their businesses to the government. Many unwilling "affiliated" business owners had to "flee" with their money.

In 1988, Deng Shaoshen, the former factory director of the once-prosperous Wanbao Factory, which was affiliated with the Second Light Industry System of the city, was given 24 loss-making enterprises by the municipal government. Conflicts arose between the planning and decision-making and the competent authorities, and he was forced to flee to Canada, losing Wanbao Electronics in the process.

Wanbao Electronics then fell silent.

Wanbao's tragedy was just the beginning. In 1989, the private economy faced a cold spring. In the wave of cleaning up private enterprises, Wang Tingjiang, Jiang Xipei, Li Shufu, and many other future celebrities simply "donated" their already established businesses to the government. Wang Tingjiang was commended and became a national figure, leading a campaign called "Learning from Comrade Wang Tingjiang."

What they were learning was obvious. The social climate of the 1980s was absolutely unsuitable for the development of private enterprises. Despite such harsh conditions, China's private economy still grew.

The difference between Hu Wenhai and them was just the amount of money. But to say that the government was unscrupulous and openly robbing him was not entirely accurate. This was the 1980s, an era dominated by public ownership.

People's perceptions were such, and the mainstream voice in society did not sympathize with those who lost their wealth. After all, this was an era struggling to emerge from a planned economy!

Hu Wenhai did not want to challenge the rules of society. On the contrary, he had to learn to use these rules.

"Secretary Huang, I think I still cannot burden the country!" Hu Wenhai said with a righteous and solemn expression. "If the country has no money, taking this money would be like taking food from the mouths of all Chinese people. How could I bear it? Secretary Huang, you don't need to say more. I absolutely cannot take this money!"

"This won't do. You must take the money; it's the decision of the central leaders!"

"I cannot take it; taking it would make me a traitor to the nation!"

"It must be given; not giving it would undermine the country's credibility!"

...

"Then I'll take it!"

"Spit—"

Hu Wenhai's sudden agreement made Secretary Huang slightly stunned, but Lin Qianjun, standing beside him, couldn't hold back...

"Cough, cough." Hu Wenhai quickly reined in his smile, speaking solemnly. "Since taking or not taking this money is so important, I cannot follow Zi Gong's example and break the current rules for my own morals. However, since the country is in such difficulty, I have an idea. I would like to ask Secretary Huang if it is feasible."

"Comrade Hu, please speak your mind. If there's anything I can't decide, I will immediately communicate with the leaders."

"Since the country doesn't have this much money, can we use other means to offset it? If I were an individual, this much money would be useless. Even if I spent extravagantly, I couldn't finish this money. It would just sit in the bank, earning interest, which is a waste of the country's wealth. So, I think it would be better to invest it, helping the country develop its productive forces and improve the living standards of the people."

"Oh? Tell me your idea." Secretary Huang was genuinely surprised. He had thought Hu Wenhai had just been incredibly lucky to acquire such astonishing wealth. Now, it seemed this young man had deep thoughts.

"We can do this: part of the payment can be in cash, and the rest can be offset through materials, factories, and policies. For example, my father's 501 Factory, a large factory with thousands of people, has assets worth at least 10 million RMB. Can I be allowed to invest personally in 501 Factory? Can I have full control? Or we can have two names under one management, keeping 501 Factory's status unchanged, and I am willing to invest money to help 501 Factory introduce advanced production lines. You know I have a few hundred million dollars in the United States. Isn't this a win-win situation?"

Hu Wenhai became more and more excited as he spoke, grabbing a cup of tea from the coffee table to drink. Seeing Secretary Huang's expression clearly showing interest, he quickly continued, "Moreover, the factory needs materials, right? The country may not have much money, but at the local level, preparing a few hundred million worth of materials is not difficult. Besides, the materials needed for production don't have to be gathered all at once. It can be done gradually, as long as the country approves the material plan for us!"

"Besides money, there are many other things that can be used to offset the payment. For example, can railway cars be used to offset the payment? Can land be used to offset the payment? Can household registration be used to offset the payment? Can telecommunications network licenses be counted as money? Can car production licenses be counted as money? Since these are just for counting, the country can count more, and I don't care!"

PS: I recommend a book I really like, "Eagle Training in the Aviation Industry," which is in the defense industry field. Please support it!

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