Chapter 24: Feud

"Oh..."

Liu Qianjin nodded but didn't take Chen Geng's words to heart at all: The Third Industry Office wants to earn money to support itself? What a joke! After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Then let's make it 5000... 6000. What do you think, Comrade Chen Geng?"

As for what Chen Geng planned to do with the money, Liu Qianjin had no intention of asking in detail. In his view, Chen Geng's purpose in getting this money was to establish his authority in the Third Industry Office. A new official can't just set three fires; they also need to bring some tangible benefits to everyone.

"Alright." Chen Geng nodded. Although Liu Qianjin used a consultative tone, Chen Geng understood very well that 6000 was Liu Qianjin's bottom line. Fortunately, 6000 was enough, and the factory needed to keep some money as a reserve: "Third, I want to ask everyone for a favor. If we make money, can we reduce the profit share we submit to the factory?"

At the end, Chen Geng seemed a bit embarrassed.

But Liu Qianjin laughed, "How low do you want it to be?"

"The current regulations stipulate 40%, right?" Chen Geng said, "Can we reduce it to 30%?"

Liu Qianjin laughed heartily and waved his hand, "Let's not go for 30%. How about 20%? As long as your Third Industry Office can make money, you only need to submit 20% to the factory, and the remaining 80% is yours!"

Liu Qianjin didn't care about this condition of Chen Geng's. Whether it was 30% or 20%, it only mattered if they could make money. Given the current mess in the Third Industry Office, it would be a miracle if they could make any money at all. Even if he agreed to let them keep all the money they made, what would be the point?

If it weren't for the fact that there was no other place to assign Chen Geng, Liu Qianjin would never have agreed to Chen Geng's conditions. Even so, Liu Qianjin secretly resolved to bring this young man back once the carburetor project was up and running.

At this point, the meeting could be considered a success and a perfect conclusion. Everyone could rest and have a meal. However, a dissenting voice suddenly rang out: "Director, Secretary, comrades, I think Deputy Director Chen's request needs further discussion."

Who? Who is dissenting at this moment? Everyone immediately glared!

Chen Geng was also surprised. He followed the direction of the voice and, when his gaze finally landed on a fat man, a smile appeared on his face: It's him, no wonder!

This man was a "long-time acquaintance" of the Chen family. How long? Long enough that when Shen Jianhua and Chen Geng's father both fell in love with Chen Geng's mother, Yuan Jia, many years ago.

Shen Jianhua, standing at 1.75 meters tall, was considered quite handsome by the standards of the time and knew how to please girls. Before long, Chen Hongjun was at a disadvantage in the competition with Shen Jianhua.

This would have been nothing to say, as it was fair competition, but something happened later. Yuan Jia almost instantly cut off her relationship with Shen Jianhua and chose Chen Geng's father instead.

Because of this, Shen Jianhua and Chen Hongjun became enemies. Whatever Chen Hongjun supported, Shen Jianhua would oppose, and if there was an opportunity to trip him up, Shen Jianhua would never miss it. Chen Hongjun was already in his forties and was still just a battalion-level officer, and Shen Jianhua had a lot to do with this... It sounds like a soap opera, right? But reality is just as dramatic.

Chen Geng never asked what exactly happened, but he knew that whenever Shen Jianhua was mentioned, his mother's face would turn sour, a mix of anger and relief. Chen Geng guessed that if a different writer were to write this, it would be at least 100 chapters of a soap opera, enough for a 50-episode TV series.

At the beginning of the meeting, Chen Geng felt that Shen Jianhua would definitely cause trouble, but he didn't expect the guy to be so patient, enduring until now. But, you couldn't hold it in anymore, could you?

Chen Hongjun's face suddenly turned red with anger!

If it were just him that Shen Jianhua was targeting, he could still bear it, but now this bastard was targeting his son, and that was absolutely unacceptable!

Just as he was about to say something, Chen Hongjun noticed Chen Geng shaking his head calmly.

This brat isn't angry at all? Chen Hongjun, who thought Chen Geng would be furious, was taken aback and suddenly felt a bit ashamed: He, the father, was not as calm as his son.

When Shen Jianhua spoke up, Liu Qianjin's expression turned sour. He glanced at Peng Guangming: Old Peng, your man is causing trouble, and you're not doing anything about it?

Peng Guangming, whose face was already red with embarrassment, frowned and said sternly, "Comrade Shen Jianhua, which of Comrade Chen Geng's requests do you think are unreasonable?"

Shen Jianhua, who had clearly thought this through, remained calm under the pressure from his superior and said, "Secretary, everyone can see the situation in the Third Industry Office. I admire Comrade Chen Geng for stepping up and taking on the responsibility. ..."

Peng Guangming frowned again and said heavily, "Get to the point!"

"Alright, my point is that Comrade Chen Geng is young, energetic, and a college graduate with talent and broad horizons. The Third Industry Office has the potential to develop under his leadership. To further motivate Comrade Chen Geng, I think we could reduce the profit share even more."

Peng Guangming thought Shen Jianhua was there to cause trouble, but now he was shocked: So, you're actually speaking up for the Chen family's kid?

He subconsciously looked at the Chen Hongjun and his son, his expression strange.

Not only was Peng Guangming's expression strange, but everyone else's faces were also not much better. Shen Jianhua and Chen Hongjun were known as the eternal rivals of the Third Armament Repair Factory. Everyone thought it was natural for them to oppose each other, but who would have thought that one day Shen Jianhua would speak up for Chen Hongjun's son?

Is Shen Jianhua out of his mind?

"What do you mean...?" Peng Guangming couldn't help but ask.

"I mean, could Comrade Chen Geng consider taking over the Third Industry Office on a contract basis, paying a certain annual fee to the factory...?"

Liu Qianjin suddenly slammed his hand on the table and pointed at Shen Jianhua, angrily shouting, "Shen Jianhua, what the hell are you doing?"

He had felt something was off from the beginning. How could Shen Jianhua, of all people, speak up for the Chen family's kid? Now he understood: This old man was setting a trap to push the Chen family's kid into it!

If it were just a trap for the Chen family's kid, it would be one thing, but Chen Geng was someone even the military leaders were paying attention to. If he listened to Shen Jianhua and let Chen Geng take over the Third Industry Office, what would the military leaders think? That Peng Guangming was deliberately suppressing young talent? That he had such a small heart?

You're even trying to trap me?!

Thinking of the serious consequences, Liu Qianjin felt an urge to kick Shen Jianhua.

Peng Guangming's face was also dark, "Shen Jianhua, what are you doing?!"

Liu Qianjin just wanted to kick Shen Jianhua, but Peng Guangming, who clearly understood the impact of Shen Jianhua's suggestion, had the urge to throw Shen Jianhua's child down a well.

Chen Geng was somewhat tempted by the idea of taking over the Third Industry Office, but after hesitating, he decided against it. He had just started working, and he lacked both experience and influence. Forget it.

The meeting ended in discord, and Shen Jianhua's proposal was immediately rejected without any discussion.

Chen Geng becoming the manager of the Third Industry Office, or the Labor Service Company, did not cause any waves in the Third Armament Repair Factory, not even a ripple.

No one thought the factory's arrangement was inappropriate. Some even felt sorry for Chen Geng: Chen Geng is the only college graduate in our compound, and he could have been placed anywhere, but they put him in the Third Industry Office?

This is clearly bullying.

When Chen Geng was assigned to the Third Industry Office, Zhang Xiangyang, holding a stick, rushed to Chen Geng's house, angrily pulling him out.

Chen Geng was startled by Zhang Xiangyang's reaction and quickly held him back, "What are you doing, Second Brother?"

"No one should be bullied like this. Today, your Second Brother will help you get justice!" Zhang Xiangyang said through gritted teeth, his face twisted, "You're a top student from Huqing University. If they don't explain this and give you a better job, I'll fight them to the end!"

Zhang Xiangyang's determination to fight to the end was both amusing and touching to Chen Geng. He quickly took the stick from Zhang Xiangyang and threw it aside, smiling, "Don't be silly. This is the military. You can go and talk to them, but with a stick? Do you think that will work?"

Zhang Xiangyang was momentarily speechless.

Although the Third Armament Repair Factory was a military equipment repair factory, it was also a military unit. Zhang Xiangyang could go and report the issue to the leadership, even confront them in their offices, but he could not use "weapons." Once he did, the nature of the issue would change.

He understood this, but in his view, his brother was being bullied, and as an older brother, he had the responsibility to stand up for him. The rest didn't matter... What could you expect from a guy who only finished junior high school?

PS: Brothers, starting today, I will be updating twice a day, with another update around 6 PM.