Chapter 57 Hanging Banners

"Give us back our money!"
"You bunch of swindlers, return our hard-earned money!"

Struggling to make his way through the main factory gates under the escort of the security department, Liu Jiande found himself surrounded by a barrage of curses, accompanied by flying rotten vegetable leaves and stinking eggs. Confronted by the furious and agitated crowd, Liu Jiande actually felt a twinge of guilt.

Previously, to purchase a television production line, the Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory had promised its employees high interest returns once the television sets went into production and began making a profit. But now, forget about the interest—even the principal was gone.

"A mob of unruly hoodlums with zero understanding of the painstaking efforts made by the factory leadership! If the factory goes under, where will you find your next meal? You people have no sense of the bigger picture whatsoever!"

Once inside the factory grounds and safely behind the security guards, Liu Jiande put on a righteous front, criticizing the debt-collecting crowd blocking the entrance. Yet, not daring to linger, he hurried off toward the administrative building.

Upon entering the conference room, Liu Jiande saw that the veteran factory director, Xu Yongjin, was already seated there, looking pale and grim. Liu Jiande suspected that the rumors about Xu Yongjin collapsing at the hospital were probably not unfounded.

Only, Liu Jiande wondered how much longer this stubborn old codger could hold on. If Xu Yongjin didn't retire, Liu Jiande would never be able to claim the factory director's chair.

"Director Xu, how is your health holding up? Everyone has been deeply concerned about you lately. Just a few days ago, I went to the hospital to visit you, but the nurse said you weren't accepting visitors." The moment he sat down, Liu Jiande began showering Xu Yongjin with hypocritical expressions of concern.

Xu Yongjin merely cast a cold glance at Liu Jiande. Remembering Liu Shirong's performance on the day of the color television launch made Xu Yongjin feel even worse than if he had soiled his trousers. Back in Pingyang, Xu Yongjin used to be a figure of some standing, but after that day, his old face had been utterly disgraced, and he had been too ashamed to face anyone during the Lunar New Year.

Feeling that Liu Jiande was deliberately twisting the knife in his wounds, Xu Yongjin snapped irritably, "What's the use of an old man like me being missed? I'm not dead yet. Instead of wasting time on that, you should spend more energy figuring out what the factory is going to do!"

Rebuffed, Liu Jiande felt a bit awkward, unable to understand why Xu Yongjin, just discharged from the hospital, was harboring such a massive temper.

"Since everyone is almost here, Director Xu, should we start the meeting now?" Liu Jiande asked, changing the subject.

Glancing at his watch, Xu Yongjin shook his head. "Wait a little longer!"

Yesterday, Pingyang municipal leaders such as Luo Junwu and Yao Zhenru had a profound talk with Xu Yongjin. Though framed as a discussion, it was essentially a notification of the municipality's final decision regarding the disposal of the Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory, regardless of whether Xu Yongjin was willing to accept it or not.

Once the municipality helped resolve the trouble caused by the employees' collective fundraising, the future of the Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory would rest entirely in Xu Yongjin's hands. Even if it went bankrupt, the city would no longer intervene. When Xu Yongjin learned of this outcome, he felt both resentful and helpless. Being able to plug even a portion of such a colossal financial hole was already a remarkable feat; expecting the Pingyang municipal government to completely bail them out was a pipe dream.

Toward the end of the meeting yesterday, Luo Junwu told him that today all the senior executives of the Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory would be summoned for a meeting, and that someone else would also be coming. Xu Yongjin had no idea who that might be.

Just as Xu Yongjin was pondering this, the door to the conference room was suddenly pushed open, and a group of individuals in dark uniforms strode in.

"Which one of you is Liu Jiande? We are from the municipal economic investigation brigade. You are hereby placed under arrest on charges of embezzling public funds, corruption, and abuse of power!"

When the arrest warrant was placed before Liu Jiande's eyes, his mind went completely blank, leaving him in a state of utter dizziness. He wanted to argue that he wasn't the only one involved in these shady dealings, but he couldn't comprehend why they had targeted him.

He wanted to talk back, but no words came out. His limbs turned to jelly, and he was hauled away directly. Everyone in the conference room watched this scene in stunned silence, while Xu Yongjin was so enraged that a sharp pain stabbed at his chest.

The creditors blocking the factory gates watched as Liu Jiande was dragged out like a dead dog. Initially stunned, they erupted into cheers and applause. Had the economic investigation officers not blocked the way, Liu Jiande likely would have been beaten to death on the spot.

After washing up and shaving, Liu Shirong put on a Western suit, slicked his hair back with pomade he hadn't used in ages, and prepared to head out to see Zhao Wanrong, the woman who constantly occupied his thoughts.

At that moment, a massive pounding shook his door, and a group of people burst inside. They dragged Liu Shirong out and informed him that the apartment had been reclaimed by the factory. After the belongings inside were screened and verified, they would be returned to the Liu family.

The sudden turn of events left Liu Shirong standing there dumbfounded. Dressed in his fine suit, he watched helplessly as the apartment he had lived in for so many years was abruptly confiscated, his brain struggling to process the reality. Liu Shirong tried to force his way back in, but he was blocked, beaten black and blue, and tossed down to the entrance of the residential building. Previously, as the general manager's son, no one dared to cross him. But now, he was absolute nobody!

With Liu Jiande imprisoned, the Liu family, which had lorded over the Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory for so many years, suddenly collapsed. The Pingyang Daily carried a front-page news report about a certain manager at the Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory being arrested for corruption, acting as a convenient scapegoat for the rumors of the factory's impending bankruptcy, making it seem as though Liu Jiande alone was to blame for the radio factory's demise.

The incident provoked sighs of sorrow across Pingyang as yet another veteran factory went under, but within the Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory itself, the shockwaves were even greater. Liu Jiande had wielded absolute authority at the factory for years; his sudden downfall provided a long-awaited release for many who bore deep grudges.

Shortly after, Xu Yongjin announced that the Feiyan brand and the radio production line would be sold off, with the proceeds used to repay the principal of the employees' collective fundraising, finally allowing the storm to begin subsiding.

However, after that, banks refused to lend it money, and other state-owned factories were unwilling to throw it a lifeline. The Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory ground to a complete halt, essentially entering formal bankruptcy.

Right as the Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory sank into bankruptcy, a new sign reading "Dongling Hi-Tech Electronic Industrial Park" was erected. Various engineering teams and heavy machinery poured onto the site, working around the clock to construct factory buildings.

The Dongling Hi-Tech Electronic Industrial Park planned to first put up simple workshops to commence production, followed by the construction of administrative buildings, dormitories, and other facilities across the entire industrial park.

Stepping out of the factory gates, Xu Yongjin looked back at the gloomy, lifeless, and deathly still radio factory behind him, then turned his gaze not far away to the bustling Dongling Hi-Tech Electronic Industrial Park. Although construction was just beginning, it was already hiring workers. Seeing numerous employees—who had realized the old radio factory was beyond saving—applying for early retirement or quitting outright to run over and sign up at the Dongling Hi-Tech Electronic Industrial Park in hopes of being hired, Xu Yongjin let out a deep, heavy sigh.

Xu Yongjin knew that the era belonging to the Xicheng No. 1 Radio Factory had passed. The time had truly come for him to retire. Decades of past glories had turned into drifting smoke, and by the time of his retirement, it seemed as though nothing was left.

Amidst his sighs, Xu Yongjin thought of Liu Jiande, and hatred burned fiercely in his heart. Once upon a time, a chance for a comeback had been placed right before the radio factory—Li Dongling had previously worked at the factory, after all.

And what happened? He was heartlessly driven away by Liu Jiande. Thinking of this, Xu Yongjin felt another wave of dizziness wash over him. Gritting his teeth, Xu Yongjin resolved to pull whatever strings he could—not to reduce Liu Jiande's sentence, but to ensure the bastard got a few extra years behind bars. Even if he couldn't get him the death penalty, he wanted to make sure that when Liu Jiande finally got out, he would be too old and decrepit to even take care of his basic bodily functions. Only then would Xu Yongjin's bitter hatred be appeased!

Han Qianyi, Dean of the Radio Engineering Department at Hexi Communications University, walked with his hands behind his back toward the residence of Professor Liu Youguo, who taught in the same department.

Today, Liu Youguo had suddenly invited Han Qianyi to his home as a guest, claiming there was an important matter to discuss with him. That was the only reason Han Qianyi had come.

Upon stepping through the door, he caught the rich aroma of a lavish spread on the dining table, including several heavy meat dishes featuring chicken, duck, goose, and fish, which made Han Qianyi's nose involuntarily twitch.

However, he quickly regained his composure and looked at Liu Youguo with guarded suspicion. "Old Liu, what on earth is going on? Lay your cards on the table first. If it's something I can help with, I certainly will. If not, I wouldn't dare sit down at this table!"

The funding at Hexi Communications University was currently woefully inadequate, and even the professors' salaries weren't particularly high, meaning everyone lived rather frugally. Liu Youguo, in particular, was famous throughout the department for being a miser who couldn't bear to splurge on a restaurant meal even once in a blue moon. For him to suddenly put on such a grand display of hospitality naturally made Han Qianyi uneasy.

Glaring at Han Qianyi, who was acting like he was guarding against a thief, Liu Youguo walked out holding a bottle of Moutai and said with dissatisfaction, "What kind of person do you take me for, Old Han? Can't I even treat you to a meal?!"

"You're telling me there's really no catch?!"
"What kind of catch could I possibly have for you to handle?!"

Han Qianyi sat down with a skeptical look, only to hear Liu Youguo add, "Even if there is a matter, it's a good thing. I have a student coming over today who wants to meet you."

Hearing this, Han Qianyi finally relaxed slightly and asked, "Who is this person wanting to see me?!"
"Li Dongling, the founder of Dongling Hi-Tech!"

Han Qianyi, who had just taken a sip of water after sitting down, choked and coughed violently. "Is that the company that developed the Yindiao mouse?!"

A moment later, Liu Youguo, who had been dragged downstairs by Han Qianyi, said helplessly, "My dear Dean Han, do you really have to make such a grand fuss over this?!"

"A grand fuss?" Han Qianyi glared at him. "Drop the 'grand'! If I had enough time, I'd string up several welcome banners across our department's teaching building! Let me tell you, someone like Li Dongling will be a renowned and distinguished alumnus of our Hexi Communications University in the future. Haven't you heard how renowned alumni from foreign universities donate massive sums of money to their alma maters every year? If our department could secure just one such donation, how many new laboratory experimental devices could we buy? Salaries for faculty and staff could be paid in full, and a pay raise of three to five hundred a month for you wouldn't even be an issue anymore!"

Even as the dean of the Radio Engineering Department, the funds at Han Qianyi's disposal were excruciatingly tight, and he had far too many places where money was desperately needed. To guarantee laboratory research funding, pay faculty and staff wages, and distribute scholarships and subsidies to outstanding and struggling students, Han Qianyi often wished he could split a single penny into two.