Chapter 56: Management Fee in Trouble?

Because he had to buy alcohol from Liu Wei, Zhu Daodong paid special attention to Liu Wei's every move. In Yuan Ping's office, he first reported the production and sales situation of the distillery over the past period, and then Yuan Ping gave some instructions regarding the distillery. In short, Liu Wei was pouring out his grievances, and Yuan Ping was consoling him with kind words. These were all part of the normal work routine, and Zhu Daodong did not pay much attention. However, the conversation between Liu Wei and Yuan Ping after the report immediately caught Zhu Daodong's attention, and he closely monitored the situation in the township chief's office.

"Factory Director Liu, here are some invoices, please handle them," said Yuan Ping.

"Sure." Liu Wei took the stack of invoices, flipped through them casually, and put them in his bag. "Township Chief Yuan, I need to ask you about one more thing. Should this month's management fee be paid directly to the finance office or to Director Zhu?"

Yuan Ping was silent for a while before he asked, "How did you usually pay the management fee?"

"Sometimes to the finance office, and sometimes when Deputy Township Chief Pan is in a hurry, he would directly hand it over to him, and he would settle it with the finance office," Liu Wei said. He knew that Zhu Daodong was Chen Shuli's man, but Yuan Ping was his direct superior, so it was better to seek his advice on this matter.

"Has the factory prepared the money?" Yuan Ping asked after a moment of silence.

"Even if it's not for the sake of the monk, it's for the sake of the Buddha," Liu Wei said with a light laugh.

This time, Yuan Ping was silent for even longer. Based on Zhu Daodong's understanding, he was deep in thought. According to his usual character, he would not make a decision on the spot, but since Liu Wei was not in the township government and this matter could not be delayed, the management fee was due in the next one or two days, so he had to make a decision on the spot.

"Liu Wei, didn't you just say that the factory is having financial difficulties?" Yuan Ping suddenly said with a deep meaning.

"Indeed, the factory is almost out of money to buy raw materials," Liu Wei was taken aback but immediately understood Yuan Ping's intention.

"The distillery must maintain a certain amount of working capital!" Yuan Ping said firmly.

"Your instructions are very timely," Liu Wei said, understanding the implications.

Damn, I knew Yuan Ping was a petty person, but I didn't expect him to do such a despicable thing. When the big shots fight, what does it have to do with me, a small fry? If you have the ability, go and fight Chen Shuli. You just know how to take out your anger on someone like me, a small fry! What a petty mind!

However, despite his dissatisfaction, he had just become the director of the enterprise office yesterday. If he went to collect the management fee tomorrow and the distillery delayed, it would be very bad. Being undermined and underestimated were minor issues, but if Chen Shuli was made a laughingstock, he would feel guilty.

Hearing that Liu Wei had left Yuan Ping's office, Zhu Daodong no longer had the mood to buy alcohol. When Liu Wei walked past Zhu Daodong's office, he paused for a moment, perhaps hesitating whether to come in and greet Zhu Daodong, but in the end, he did not enter.

This already showed his stance!

Zhu Daodong sat in his chair, pondering for a while, then pulled out a box of premium old white wine from under the bed, took out two bottles, and kicked the box back under the bed. Holding the wine, Zhu Daodong went to Chen Shuli's office. Before he went, he had "heard" that Chen Shuli was alone inside. He knocked on the door, and after hearing Chen Shuli's invitation to enter, he pushed the door open.

"Yesterday, I found some good wine, so I brought two bottles to bribe the secretary," Zhu Daodong said with a smile as he placed the two bottles on Chen Shuli's desk.

"Isn't this just old white wine? I thought you, as the new director of the enterprise office, would bring something better to fool me," Chen Shuli laughed.

"This is not ordinary old white wine, see? It's premium old white wine!" Zhu Daodong showed the label to Chen Shuli.

"Premium old white wine is still old white wine!" Chen Shuli said irritably.

"You're right, Secretary. The name of this premium old white wine does need to be changed," Zhu Daodong clapped his hands and sighed. His original idea was to change the packaging of the premium old white wine, but Chen Shuli's words woke him up. The name "old white wine" gave people the impression of low-grade liquor, so the name had to be changed.

"Will changing the name make it not old white wine?" Chen Shuli glared at Zhu Daodong, annoyed.

"Try it and you'll know." Zhu Daodong took a white porcelain teacup, poured half a cup of wine, and handed it to Chen Shuli.

"Hey, this wine is indeed different from old white wine. It has a bit of the flavor of Wuliangye," Chen Shuli was also a wine lover, and after so many receptions, he could not help but become one.

"Of course, Secretary, I have an idea to report to you..."

The next day, Zhu Daodong went to the Shulinling Distillery again. This time, the old gatekeeper did not stop him, and he went directly to Liu Wei's office.

"Factory Director Liu, I don't come here for nothing. Should this month's management fee be paid directly to the finance office or in cash?" Zhu Daodong said straightforwardly as soon as he entered.

"Director Zhu, I'm really sorry. How could I forget this? Yesterday afternoon, all the money in the factory's account was paid to the suppliers. Can we pay it next month?" Liu Wei was not lying. As soon as he returned, he contacted several suppliers and used up all the working capital of the distillery, so he had a solid reason even if Chen Shuli came to him.

"Such a big distillery can't even come up with two thousand yuan?" Zhu Daodong said with a cold laugh. It seemed that Liu Wei was indeed efficient. He believed that Liu Wei was not lying. To avoid paying the management fee, he had to create a fait accompli, making it so the distillery really had no money.

"If the factory could come up with two thousand yuan, I would be struck by lightning," Liu Wei swore solemnly.

"Alright, since you say it's so bad, I won't force you," Zhu Daodong said indifferently.

"Thank you, Director Zhu. Let's have a drink at Haozailai at noon," Liu Wei said, relieved that Zhu Daodong was not angry.

"What, no money to pay the management fee, but you have money to go to a restaurant?" Zhu Daodong glared at him, annoyed.

"Of course not. If we don't have money, we can sign a bill," Liu Wei said with a smile.

"Factory Director Liu, you know, I've only been the director of the enterprise office for three days, and you've given me a big blow. Since the distillery has no money, I can't force you to pay, but can I take some wine to offset the management fee?" Zhu Daodong said slowly.

"Sure, I'm worried about this month's sales. If the township can use wine to offset the management fee in the future, I can pay it all at once for the year," Liu Wei was surprised but then overjoyed, patting his chest and guaranteeing it.

"Alright, there are still five months left this year. You can offset the entire management fee with wine," Zhu Daodong said indifferently.

"Really?" Liu Wei was delighted. If he could use wine to offset the management fee, his pressure would be much lighter. The distillery's annual sales were only 400,000 yuan, but the township government took 24,000 yuan, not to mention the invoices that the township leaders should not have the distillery pay. It was a miracle that the Shulinling Distillery had managed to survive until now.

"Is it real or cooked? I not only want your wine, but also the hundreds of boxes of premium old white wine that are stored in your warehouse and may never be sold!" Zhu Daodong smiled lightly. Compared to money, he thought the hundreds of boxes of wine were a much better deal.