Zhang Liunian could understand why this was the case. When he arrived, it was dinnertime, also the time for them to get off work and go home. Most of the meat bought would be taken home for their families, hence their high demand.
After collecting over nine hundred yuan from the food factory, Zhang Liunian headed to the glass factory. However, at the entrance, he was stopped by the same security guard from yesterday.
"Uncle, I'm here to sign a contract with your factory director. Just let me in," Zhang Liunian explained to the hesitant guard.
The security guard, upon hearing this, was half-believing, "Sign a contract? With our factory director? You know him?"
The three consecutive questions clearly conveyed the guard's confusion.
"I visited his home yesterday and he told me to come now, otherwise you'd be off work. Uncle, please don't worry, I'm not lying. If you don't believe me, you can come in with me, or you can go inside and ask. Is that okay?"
Zhang Liunian didn't want to make things difficult for the old man and tried to persuade him with kind words.
The guard was also a simple and honest person. Seeing Zhang Liunian's politeness and recalling the instructions from Deputy Factory Director Tang yesterday, he decided it was best to go and ask the factory director first, so as not to offend either party.
"Wait here, I'll go and ask." The security guard said, then closed the factory gate and hurried to find the factory director.
Within moments, the security guard happily opened the gate, "Follow me."
Zhang Liunian smiled and followed, "See, I wasn't lying to you, Uncle."
"You really weren't. I just went to ask the factory director, and he told me to bring you in quickly."
"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle." Zhang Liunian smiled and handed another pack of Da Qian Men cigarettes to the guard.
The guard initially refused, but couldn't resist Zhang Liunian's enthusiasm and finally accepted it, putting it in his pocket. He couldn't help it; as people get older, they appreciate such gestures. "You are truly a very courteous comrade."
As they spoke, they entered the office area of the glass factory. Coincidentally, they met Tang Shimen just as they arrived.
"Why did you let him in again? Didn't I tell you not to let him in?" Tang Shimen was quite angry that the guard didn't listen to him and brought Zhang Liunian in.
"And you, Zhang Liunian, we couldn't reach an agreement yesterday, why are you here again? I already said that if you want to cooperate, you have to accept my quoted price. If you can't accept it, then leave. Why are you here to humiliate yourself now?" Tang Shikaimostly did not wait for the guard to answer before turning his attention to Zhang Liunian and attacking him.
Zhang Liunian was amused and angered. "Deputy Factory Director Tang, we must have some sort of feud. As a deputy factory director of a glass factory, you are abusing your power for personal gain. If the factory director knew, you would be criticized!"
"Don't be so conspiratorial. We didn't know each other at all before yesterday, so what kind of feud could there be? Don't think too highly of yourself."
"Then I find it strange. As a deputy factory director of the glass factory, someone comes to cooperate with you, to bring you money and increase revenue, why would you try to scare me away with such a high price of 1.2 yuan?
If there's no feud, then tell me, why did you quote such a high price only for me? Don't tell me it's the same for everyone else, I don't believe that."
"This price isn't high for others. For you, a country bumpkin, a penniless person, it is indeed high.
It's my fault for overestimating your financial capabilities.
But you can't just shamelessly pester me for cooperation!
To tell you the truth, even if you persist, I won't agree.
So, give up and don't come over anymore, leave with some dignity!" Tang Shimen wanted to drive Zhang Liunian away quickly before he went to find the factory director again.
Because he knew very well that the factory director was in his office right now, easy to find. So, without waiting for Zhang Liunian to speak, he ordered the guard, "Hurry up and escort this person out of the factory. If you dare to bring such disreputable people into the factory again, I'll have you fired."
"Deputy Factory Director Tang, I didn't bring him here. The factory director requested it. I'm just a doorman, why are you making things difficult for me?" The security guard was truly speechless. The factory director had asked him to bring the person over, so how could he refuse?
He wondered what this Deputy Factory Director Tang was trying to do, and why he was suddenly targeting this young comrade Zhang Liunian.
The person was clearly fine, so why did he take such a disliking to him?
"Making things difficult for you? Clearly, you're lying. Our factory director is busy to death every day, where would he have the time to get to know an unknown person? And you say the factory director requested it, you're really trying hard to help him! You can even utter such lies." Tang Shikai didn't believe a single word the guard said. If Zhang Liunian knew the factory director, he wouldn't have come to him yesterday; he would have gone directly to the factory director.
Moreover, how could a country person like Zhang Liunian, who had never seen the world, know the factory director? Therefore, this guard must be saying this to help Zhang Liunian.
The guard was speechless. How was he lying?
Zhang Liunian couldn't stand it anymore. He stepped forward, blocking the guard, "Deputy Factory Director Tang, please move aside and don't block our way. I'm not here to discuss cooperation with you this time, but to sign a cooperation with your factory director."
"Sign a cooperation with the factory director? Don't be afraid of your tongue twisting when you brag. Someone like you knowing our factory director, what a joke!"
"If you let us pass, you'll know if I'm joking." Zhang Liunian's expression was confident and serious, not like someone lying. This made Tang Shikaim's heart pound. Could it be that he was indeed here to sign a cooperation with the factory director?
Then he definitely couldn't let him pass.
"Who do you think you are, ordering me around? Do you think our glass factory is a place you can just come and go as you please?
Besides, the factory director isn't here today. You'd better leave!"
Tang Shikaim wouldn't let Zhang Liunian meet Luo Wei. If he really met him, Zhang Liunian's business would indeed go through.
Because their factory director was always open to everyone. As long as there was profit, he would cooperate, even if the profit wasn't high, he would agree.
Therefore, he couldn't let Zhang Liunian meet the factory director.
But sometimes, things don't go as planned. As soon as Tang Shikaim finished speaking, Luo Wei's voice appeared behind him, "Who says I'm not here?"
Luo Wei's expression was not good because he had been waiting for Zhang Liunian in his office. After waiting for a long time and not seeing him, he got up to see what was going on. He didn't expect to see his deputy factory director blocking someone outside, and even trying to send him away.
He was furious. This Tang Shikaim was actually turning business away and deliberately saying he wasn't here. What was he trying to do?
Upon hearing Luo Wei's voice, Tang Shikaim knew it was over. He turned to Luo Wei with a fawning smile, "Factory Director, this is a misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding my ass!" Luo Wei, seeing that he was still trying to quibble, directly swore.