Chapter 7

After finishing the meal, Wang Fengqin, the mother, was clearing the table, while Zhou Guoping, the father, and Zhou Ming were watching TV. Zhou Guoping said to Zhou Ming, "I don't understand what you're doing with these treasury bonds. I don't oppose it if you say it's legal and profitable, but this kind of business is ultimately speculative. You say it's financial economics, but I don't think the country will let this continue indefinitely. You can't keep doing this forever. Besides, since treasury bonds are so profitable, it's only when others don't know about it. Once everyone knows, you probably won't be able to continue."

Although the father was just an ordinary worker at the factory, he was quite wise and saw the problem right away. In fact, treasury bonds were a product unique to this era. Later, with the reform and opening up, the central government began to regulate, and people gradually understood the concept of the financial sector, so the business of treasury bonds no longer existed.

Zhou Ming nodded and said, "Dad, don't worry. I'm doing this now just because it's very profitable. Once I make enough money, I'll do other businesses."

"Just make sure you understand," Zhou Guoping said.

After Zhou Ming and his father had their heart-to-heart talk, Zhang Lei came to Zhou Ming's house and knocked on the door. Zhou Ming went out and found that Zhang Lei had come early because he was worried that Zhou Ming would be scolded by his parents. However, Zhou Ming told him that he had already told his parents about the treasury bond business, but he hadn't mentioned that the money they used to buy the bonds was borrowed from loan sharks. Zhou Ming reminded Zhang Lei not to slip up and worry his parents unnecessarily.

Zhang Lei felt relieved. When they were about to go find Su Han to continue collecting treasury bonds in the evening, Su Han ran over to them, saying, "It's not good! Someone is trying to take our business!"

Zhang Lei was surprised, "How is that possible? Hasn't no one known about the use of treasury bonds in this factory for years?"

Zhou Ming was calmer, "Han, don't panic. Tell us what happened slowly."

Su Han bent over, lightly patting her chest, and after a while, she caught her breath and said to Zhou Ming and Zhang Lei, "Zhou Ming, it's not good. Ma Lin and his cousin are trying to take our treasury bond business!"

It turned out that Ma Lin, his cousin, and Zhang Qian were having dinner at Su Han's restaurant. Zhang Qian told Ma Lin about seeing Zhou Ming collecting treasury bonds at the factory in the afternoon. Ma Lin initially mocked Zhou Ming as a fool, but his cousin reminded him, and he realized Zhou Ming's money-making trick.

"Zhou Ming has no other skills, but he's an expert in these speculative and illegal schemes. Now that I, the young master, know about it, you can forget about getting rich!"

Su Han said this was Ma Lin's exact words at the time. As for what Ma Lin planned to do, Su Han was in a hurry to tell Zhou Ming and didn't listen further.

"What?" Zhang Lei said angrily, "Zhang Qian is a bitch, daring to betray us. She probably followed Zhou Ming on purpose today."

"In the afternoon, she probably wasn't following me on purpose. She must have just happened to see us collecting treasury bonds," Zhou Ming sighed, "No matter what, it was my mistake."

Zhang Lei comforted Zhou Ming, "Zhou Ming, it's not your fault. Who would have thought this woman would be so shameless? And Ma Lin is really annoying. Why don't I go teach him a lesson?"

"Zhang Lei, don't be impulsive. Do you want to repeat my mistakes?" Zhou Ming said.

Zhang Lei said reluctantly, "I know Ma Lin's father is powerful in the factory, but are we just going to let him bully us?"

"Zhou Ming, Ma Lin's father is a factory leader, and his word is more influential than ours. If he uses his father's name to collect treasury bonds, the factory workers will definitely trust him and not us," Su Han also said.

"Then should we raise our purchase price a bit?" Zhang Lei suggested.

"What if Ma Lin also raises the price? In the end, we'll be the ones who suffer," Su Han said.

Zhang Lei was silent. He understood Su Han's point. Since Ma Lin's father was a factory leader, it was easier for him to do things in the factory. If they raised the purchase price, he could also raise it, and with his father's name, he would collect more treasury bonds than they could. In the end, they would be the ones to suffer.

"Hey? What kind of three-way meeting are you having here?" a hateful voice came. Zhou Ming, Zhang Lei, and Su Han knew it was definitely Ma Lin without turning around.

"What we're discussing here is none of your business," Zhang Lei said impatiently.

"Is that so? Let me guess, you're probably thinking about how to continue your treasury bond business, right?" Ma Lin said smugly. "I knew there was something wrong when the boss of the Little Han Restaurant suddenly left her shop. I followed to see what was going on, and sure enough, it was as I suspected. A slut is still a slut, not only seducing men but also eavesdropping on others' conversations."

Su Han immediately denied it, but Ma Lin ignored her and continued, "But it doesn't matter. Let you hear what you want to hear. I'll tell you clearly, the treasury bond business at Factory 760 is mine. Tomorrow, I'll have my father send out notices to all the workshops, saying I'm collecting treasury bonds and not to trust others easily because some people are frauds. Of course, we're all from the same factory, so if you beg me, I might consider letting you make a little money."

Ma Lin is too arrogant! This was the common thought in Su Han and Zhang Lei's minds at that moment. But Ma Lin had a reason to be arrogant. His father was a factory leader, and with his father's name, they couldn't compete with him in the factory.

"Ma Lin, why are you barking like a dog here?" Zhou Ming suddenly said, "If you have nothing to do, get lost and stop bothering me."

Hearing Zhou Ming's words, Ma Lin's mood turned sour. He pointed at Zhou Ming and said through gritted teeth, "You can only talk big here. I'll go find my father right now, and I'll see how you can continue your treasury bond business!"

Ma Lin left, and Su Han and Zhang Lei's moods were bad. Although Zhou Ming's scolding of Ma Lin made them feel very satisfied, it didn't help the current situation.

Seeing Su Han and Zhang Lei's worried faces, Zhou Ming smiled and said, "What? Are you giving up already?"

"It's not that we want to give up, but Ma Lin's father is very powerful in the factory. If Ma Lin really wants to do the treasury bond business, with his father's connections, we can't compete with him in the factory," Su Han said, "And Ma Lin has a small and vengeful heart. He will definitely seek revenge for your scolding today."

Zhou Ming nodded, "You're right, Ma Lin is very annoying, but he has a good father. Since his father is a factory leader, it's very convenient for him to do things in the factory. If his father issues a notice, we won't be able to collect treasury bonds in the factory. But what if we can find someone with even more influence than his father?"

Su Han and Zhang Lei didn't know what to say. They thought Zhou Ming was being unrealistic. They were being bullied by Ma Lin because they had no connections. If they could find a leader, they wouldn't have to listen to Ma Lin's taunts.

Zhou Ming clearly understood Su Han and Zhang Lei's thoughts and said, "I'm not being unrealistic. In this era, money can make the devil work. I have at least a 70% chance of finding a leader to help us."

"Zhou Ming, are you planning to bribe someone? That could get you in jail!" Su Han said worriedly.

"I won't use such a despicable method. Besides, even if we wanted to bribe someone, we wouldn't know who to bribe," Zhou Ming said.

Indeed, bribery isn't something you can do just because you have money. First, you need to know the leader. Otherwise, even with a lot of money, you won't find anyone. It's common to have a pig's head but no temple door.

Zhou Ming said, "Just wait and see. I have a better plan than bribery, and it's not illegal. Although we don't have as good a background as Ma Lin, I have many ways to handle the treasury bond business."

Zhou Ming's confidence made Su Han and Zhang Lei look at each other in surprise. They didn't understand where Zhou Ming's confidence came from, but given the current situation, they had no choice but to believe in him. Ma Lin's sudden appearance was unexpected, but what was even more unexpected was the enthusiasm of Ma Lin and his family in this matter.

The next day, when Zhou Ming came to the Little Han Restaurant and had breakfast with Su Han, preparing to start the day's treasury bond business, Zhang Lei rushed over.

"It's not good! Ma Lin that scoundrel has made a move. You guys, go to the factory gate and look at the bulletin board!" Zhang Lei said, out of breath.

Zhou Ming frowned and hurriedly went with Su Han to the factory gate. By this time, many people had gathered around the bulletin board. Zhang Lei pointed to a prominent red notice and said to Zhou Ming, "Zhou Ming, Su Han, look. This is the notice posted by the factory security department this morning."

Zhou Ming looked up. The notice from the factory security department had large font, and even without pushing through the crowd, he could read it clearly.

Recently, there have been illegal individuals using the pretext of collecting treasury bonds to sell counterfeit money. Please be aware, factory workers. Treasury bonds are vouchers to support national construction. The factory will send designated personnel to collect them. If you see anyone collecting treasury bonds individually, please contact the factory security department.

This was the full text of the notice. Seeing this notice, Su Han immediately cursed, "How despicable! Ma Lin used his father's connections to post such a notice. He's the worst illegal individual!"

As if on cue, Ma Lin walked over and said, "Hey? Isn't this our factory's college student, Zhou Ming? Why are you also here watching the notice? Indeed, these illegal individuals are too rampant, even targeting treasury bonds. It's really hard to guard against them! Zhou Ming, don't you agree?"

Looking at Ma Lin's hateful face, Zhou Ming said, "I have to admit, with your father's connections, it's easy to do some despicable things. But your reason is too weak. Counterfeit money? That can be identified at the bank. Can it really pass as real?"

Ma Lin shrugged and said, "The reason doesn't matter as long as the factory workers believe it. And my father has already talked to the security department. If you dare to collect treasury bonds from the factory workers' families again, the security department will take you to the police station."

"Ma Lin, don't push us too far!" Zhang Lei said angrily.

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