"Cough cough? What did you do to need 80,000 yuan?"
Wang Yu was startled by Brother Hu's words.
It wasn't that he was blaming Wang Yu, but anyone whose subordinate suddenly asked for 80,000 yuan would wonder if something terrible had happened!
What's more, considering Brother Hu's past criminal record, it could be compiled into a book as thick as an idiom dictionary!
Who knew what kind of trouble this guy had gotten himself into again?
Gambling? Honey trap? Or some other messy stuff?
Wang Yu's heart suddenly tightened. It wasn't about the 80,000 yuan he mentioned; it was a considerable sum, but not a big deal for him. His only concern was whether Brother Hu had fallen back into his old ways and gotten into trouble again.
He didn't want this guy to get himself into a jam, and then he'd have to bail him out!
"Little factory director, the money I'm asking for this time is for a legitimate business, you don't need to worry!"
Brother Hu, probably sensing Wang Yu's concern, patted his chest and said loudly.
"The more you say it like that, the more worried I get! If you say it's for a legitimate purpose, why are you acting so shifty?"
Wang Yu helplessly curled his lips, his probing gaze falling on the young girl who had come with Brother Hu.
He couldn't tell where Brother Hu had found such a delicate-looking young girl. Her eyes looked very pure, not like their kind of people.
"Are you the director of that car factory, Wang Yu?"
The young girl, Jin Xiumin, directly met Wang Yu's gaze, showing no signs of timidity.
On the way, Brother Hu had been constantly flattering Wang Yu, praising him as someone who could divine the future, strategize with wisdom, be a scholar of heaven, and possess vast knowledge... in short, he showered Wang Yu with exaggerated compliments without restraint.
This caused the young girl, Jin Xiumin, to form a vague image of a powerful figure in her mind, perhaps like Zhao Guozhu, dignified and unapproachable.
However, when she actually saw him, she realized that Wang Yu was excessively young and had a very kind smile on his face.
"Yes, if there isn't another person named Wang Yu at the car factory."
Wang Yu said with a grin, then casually patted Brother Hu's forehead, "Why aren't you letting go quickly? Can't you see your claws are about to turn the girl's arm red?"
Scolded by Wang Yu, Brother Hu immediately released his hand and kept apologizing to Jin Xiumin.
But she didn't seem to mind much and kept staring at Wang Yu.
"Brother Hu said you could lend us 80,000 yuan, is that true?"
"Ah? What's going on? What is this 80,000 yuan you're talking about?"
Wang Yu asked with a bit of seriousness. The girl's solemn demeanor made him take it seriously. Perhaps it really was for a legitimate purpose?
Then, Jin Xiumin explained that her mother was seriously ill and needed surgery, and her father's excavator business had been owed rebates by Zhao Guozhu and Xia Ping.
"My mother is currently in the hospital. This is a matter of great urgency, and we urgently need 80,000 yuan for surgery. That's why Brother Hu came to you. I hope you won't mind if we've offended you!
As long as Director Wang can help my family, I am willing to serve you like an ox or a horse..."
Jin Xiumin couldn't finish her sentence and immediately knelt down to kowtow to Wang Yu. Then, her father, Jin Changming, also began to kowtow beside her.
"Uh, little factory director, I also want to help them, so... please."
Brother Hu hesitated for a moment, then mumbled and also knelt down to kowtow to Wang Yu.
"..."
Wang Yu looked at Brother Hu helplessly. It was understandable for the father and daughter, who were strangers, to beg for help and kowtow, as he wasn't a saint.
But why was this scoundrel kowtowing? His reason was that he wanted to help them? Such a low-level, childish, and ridiculous excuse, not something that your "tiger skin plaster" could say!
However, looking at the delicate and gentle young girl again, Wang Yu suddenly understood. This guy had taken a liking to the girl and wanted to play the hero to show off?
He casually shoved Brother Hu, telling him to get up quickly and stop embarrassing himself.
Then, Wang Yu very solemnly helped Jin Changming and his daughter up and invited them to sit down.
"Old sir, please don't panic. Have some water first," Wang Yu said soothingly, then kicked Brother Hu's butt. "What are you standing around for? Go pour some tea for the old gentleman."
Brother Hu then scurried off to pour tea, and Wang Yu slowly began to speak, "Old sir, please tell me the whole story in detail. You said you deal in excavator products?"
"That's right. My family used to be in a state-owned enterprise, but it went bankrupt, so I had to start my own business, and then..."
Jin Changming quickly explained the situation. He was one of the first wave of people from state-owned enterprises to go into business after they closed down. However, because of his status as a private entrepreneur, he was somewhat marginalized, being the one who got the soup while others ate the meat.
After all, excavators were very expensive, considered heavy assets. Loans weren't easy to get back then, so life wasn't great.
"I see. And Jiangping Machinery Industry Company has been owing you rebate policies and not settling them?"
Wang Yu asked Jin Changming. During their conversation, Brother Hu also brought over the tea.
"Yes, there's almost 170,000 yuan outstanding. Actually, I don't make much profit from selling their excavators; it's all on the rebate policies. Now my wife is in the hospital needing surgery, and we need 120,000 yuan for the operation. We've sold everything we could and only managed to scrape together 40,000 yuan."
Jin Changming sighed helplessly. Although he was only in his forties, he looked as aged as a man in his fifties or sixties, showing the immense pressure he was under!
"Is that so!"
Wang Yu nodded. Jiangping City Machinery Industry Company's actions were indeed not very decent, but... this was a very common reality. Many heavy asset companies would default on rebate policies for distributors and agents... Don't ask why, because Wang Yu's car factory had done this before.
However, holding onto someone's life-saving money was going too far!
Also... excavators?
A very catchy line suddenly popped into Wang Yu's mind, "Who has the best excavator skills..."
For a moment, Wang Yu was lost in thought. Everyone present dared not disturb him.
Only Brother Hu was restless, like an ant on a hot pan. After waiting for a while, he boldly asked Wang Yu,
"Little factory director, what about this 80,000 yuan?"
"Well, I help in emergencies, not poverty. Since you've found me, there's no problem. I'll get the money and arrange the surgery to save a life first."
Wang Yu nodded in agreement, causing Jin Changming and his daughter to excitedly want to kowtow again!
Brother Hu was also extremely excited and fumbled with his words, flattering Wang Yu.
"Don't celebrate too early... this money will be deducted from your salary. If it's not recovered, you'll have to work for free for ten or eight years. Otherwise, if anyone comes and says they need money to save a life, we'll just give it to them? That would be too easy?"
Wang Yu said directly to Brother Hu with annoyance, then, as if remembering something, he turned to Jin Changming and said,
"However, Mr. Jin, if it's convenient for you, could you do me a small favor?"