Chapter 13

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When someone capable acts arrogantly, they are called a "bullshit," but if someone incapable acts arrogantly, they are just a "fool." This saying fits Ma Lin perfectly.

At the county agricultural bank, Ma Lin was loudly threatening to take revenge on Zhou Ming, and even targeting Zhou Ming's parents. This was something Zhou Ming couldn't tolerate. After more than twenty years in his previous life, Zhou Ming was very clear that no matter how many numbers were saved in his phone, the only ones who truly cared for and supported him, and would help him in critical moments, were his parents and a few close friends.

Because of this, as soon as Ma Lin left the county agricultural bank, Zhou Ming immediately called Dai Zhenjiang, who then contacted Dog Grandpa in Santang. Dog Grandpa's response put Zhou Ming at ease: "Little brother, don't worry. I've already sent someone to talk to Ma Jianjun. He should come to you by tonight."

Zhou Ming thanked him and hung up the phone. He knew that Ma Jianjun was Ma Lin's father and the deputy factory manager of Factory 760. To Zhou Ming's parents, Ma Jianjun was a leader because they were just ordinary workers. But to Dog Grandpa, he was nothing. Since Dog Grandpa dared to openly lend money at high interest rates in Santang, he must have a very powerful backer in the county.

Zhou Ming had no way of knowing exactly how Dog Grandpa communicated with Ma Jianjun, but it certainly wasn't just a casual chat over tea. By evening, Ma Jianjun had brought Ma Lin to Zhou Ming's house.

As soon as Ma Jianjun arrived at Zhou Ming's doorstep, Zhou Ming heard a series of greetings from outside. Although Zhou Ming thought the Ma family was despicable, Ma Jianjun was still the deputy factory manager, holding the jobs of many workers in his hands. One word from him could make a worker lose their job. Therefore, whether the workers liked or disliked this leader, they would still greet him respectfully, especially in this era when the concept of hierarchy was much stronger than in later times.

When Ma Jianjun came to Zhou Ming's house, Zhou Ming's parents were surprised that the factory manager would visit their home. They hurriedly invited Ma Jianjun in and made tea for him, while Zhou Ming followed his parents in their routine.

Sitting down, Zhou Ming saw pain and reluctance in Ma Jianjun's eyes. It must have been very humiliating for a factory leader, who was usually high and mighty, to come to a worker's home to apologize, but there was no other way; the situation was more powerful than the person.

Ma Jianjun adjusted his emotions and said to Zhou Ming's father, Zhou Guoping, "Old Zhou, you are the best model worker since the factory was built. The factory hasn't shown you enough care. Do you have any difficulties in your work or life?"

Zhou Ming was unhappy. It seemed that Ma Jianjun, used to being a leader, was still using official jargon even when apologizing. Zhou Ming had originally intended to give him some face, but now it seemed unnecessary.

So Zhou Ming said, "Factory Manager Ma, just get to the point. Don't beat around the bush."

Hearing this, Ma Jianjun and Ma Lin's faces immediately darkened, but they didn't dare to scold Zhou Ming. They could only suppress their anger and say, "Old Zhou, my son Ma Lin and your son Zhou Ming might have had a misunderstanding today, so I brought him here to apologize."

Zhou Ming's parents were shocked. They looked at Zhou Ming in disbelief, unable to accept this reality. In the past, when workers' children had conflicts with Ma Lin, they would always go to Ma Jianjun to apologize to keep their jobs. How could the situation be completely reversed today, with Ma Jianjun coming to a worker's home to apologize?

Zhou Ming's parents hurriedly waved their hands and said, "Factory Manager Ma, you're too kind. It must be our son who was too naughty. We should be the ones to come and apologize."

But Zhou Ming remained firm and said, "Factory Manager Ma, just make sure Ma Lin thinks more before acting and doesn't be so impulsive."

Ma Jianjun nodded with a dark face. He made Ma Lin apologize to Zhou Ming, but Ma Lin was unwilling to bow down. Ma Jianjun raised his hand and slapped Ma Lin across the face. The loud sound made Zhou Ming wince. Ma Lin, the idiot, had already made Ma Jianjun furious by coming to a worker's home to apologize, and now his attitude only made Ma Jianjun angrier.

But Ma Lin's intelligence was questionable: "Dad, why did you hit me? It was Zhou Ming who set me up. He should be the one to apologize!"

"Are you still talking?"

Ma Jianjun roared and kicked Ma Lin to the ground, then smiled apologetically at Zhou Ming and his parents, "Sorry, I usually don't discipline him well. I hope you can forgive him."

On the ground, Ma Lin still tried to be stubborn: "Dad, I did nothing wrong. It should be Zhou Ming who apologizes!"

"Are you still talking?"

Ma Jianjun, enraged, grabbed Ma Lin's hair and slapped him repeatedly. Ma Lin screamed in pain, like a pig being slaughtered.

It was clear that Ma Jianjun was really hitting him hard, showing how much pressure Dog Grandpa had put on him.

After a while, Zhou Ming's parents couldn't bear to watch and tried to stop Ma Jianjun. Ma Lin, with tears and snot streaming down his face, finally stopped being stubborn and cried, "I'm sorry, I was wrong. I won't do it again!"

Ma Jianjun still looked at Zhou Ming, knowing that the matter wouldn't be over until Zhou Ming agreed.

Zhou Ming ignored the cowering Ma Lin and said to Ma Jianjun, "Factory Manager Ma, I think we can end it here. Go home and educate Ma Lin properly. Don't let him do such foolish things again."

Ma Jianjun breathed a sigh of relief, "Alright, I'll make sure to educate him."

This scene left Zhou Ming's parents speechless. Ma Jianjun, who should have been the leader, was being scolded by Zhou Ming like a subordinate, while Zhou Ming was criticizing Ma Jianjun like a leader. What was going on?

Zhou Ming knew he needed to explain to his parents. After sending Ma Jianjun and Ma Lin away, he told his parents that he was doing treasury bond business with the leaders of the county bank. When he had a conflict with Ma Lin, the county leaders intervened and called Ma Jianjun, who, fearing the power of the county leaders, brought Ma Lin to apologize.

Zhou Ming's parents were at a loss for words. The two of them had lived their whole lives in the factory and rarely left Nanhui County, only occasionally going to Linyang City for New Year's shopping. In their eyes, factory leaders were already big officials, and county leaders were only seen on the factory TV news. They never imagined that Zhou Ming, just by doing treasury bond business, could work with county leaders, and it seemed that they were not just ordinary business partners. If they were, the county leaders wouldn't have gone to such lengths.

But thinking about it, it wasn't hard to understand. Treasury bonds were extremely profitable. Zhou Ming had made ten thousand yuan in just one day, and even county leaders couldn't resist such temptation.

"Who would have thought that even the county leaders would help Zhou Ming? You're really capable, Zhou Ming!" Mother Wang Fengqin praised, "Old Zhou, with such a capable son, we can relax a bit more in the future."

Father Zhou Guoping also nodded, "It seems your university education wasn't in vain, but remember, sometimes it's better to be lenient."

"I will remember," Zhou Ming said.

...

The commotion at Zhou Ming's house didn't go unnoticed by Su Han and Zhang Lei, who lived nearby. When they came over and learned that Ma Jianjun had brought Ma Lin to apologize and that Ma Lin had been slapped in front of everyone, Su Han clapped her hands in delight, "Great! Ma Lin deserves it. This will teach him not to mess with us. It's a pity it was Ma Jianjun who hit him. If it were Dazhuang, Ma Lin would remember it for life!"

Zhou Ming smiled and ruffled Su Han's hair, "If Dazhuang hit him, Ma Lin might not just remember it for life; he might be beaten into a fool."

Su Han huffed and pouted, "He brought it upon himself."

Zhou Ming shook his head helplessly, understanding that Su Han was completely on his side and hated Ma Lin.

After this incident, Ma Jianjun and Ma Lin no longer dared to touch the treasury bond business. However, the ten thousand treasury bonds Ma Lin had collected couldn't be wasted. After discussing with Dog Grandpa and Dai Zhenjiang, Zhou Ming decided that Dog Grandpa would buy the bonds at a low price from the factory and hand them over to Zhou Ming to exchange in Jiangxia City.

So, Zhou Ming and Su Han went to Jiangxia City again. This time, because there were many treasury bonds, Zhou Ming went to the provincial branch of the bank in Jiangxia City.

When they received 180,000 yuan, Su Han held the heavy cloth bag with trembling hands, hardly believing it. She remembered how a few years ago, someone in her hometown who became a ten-thousand-yuan household was celebrated with drums and cymbals. Now, she was holding nearly 200,000 yuan. Even if most of it would go to Dai Zhenjiang and Dog Grandpa, they would still get several ten thousand yuan.

"Zhou Ming... Is this real? Do we really have so much money?" Su Han asked Zhou Ming, unable to forget the envious looks from the bank staff. She also realized that with money, she could live a better life, be her own boss, and not have to worry about being bullied.

"Of course, this money is ours, and it's just the beginning. In the future, we'll have even more money, so much that you won't be able to carry it, and even all the factory's trucks won't be able to haul it away!" Zhou Ming said.

Su Han smiled brightly, though Zhou Ming's promise seemed absurd to most people, she nodded firmly, "I believe you."

After getting the money, Zhou Ming and Su Han hurried back. As time passed, Zhou Ming became increasingly worried about his father's health. And as soon as he returned to the factory, a situation he had long anticipated occurred: his father was hospitalized due to illness.

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(End of the chapter)