Chapter 59 Red and White Face
Seeing that no one was talking, Song Yuanchao distributed cigarettes to everyone, lit up and took a puff and said, "I've estimated that with just a few of us promoting the books, we can only sell a few thousand copies at best. Even if we find someone to help sell them, the number will probably be limited. If there are no requirements from the school, it won't be a problem to make a profit in just one month. Even if there are some backlogs, we won't lose money."
"But now the school has taken nearly a thousand books at once, which will cut a lot of our profits. The risk is too great. But I thought again, this job is not impossible. Since the school has put forward conditions, we can also put forward our own conditions. If the school can agree, the benefits of this deal may be far beyond our initial imagination."
Song Yuanchao's words were like a shot of adrenaline for everyone, and everyone's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Yuan Chao, can you tell me in detail what your plan is and how you are going to do this?" Li Daqi asked impatiently.
"It's very simple, this is what I think..." Song Yuanchao smiled and lowered his voice before speaking out his thoughts. Everyone frowned slightly at the beginning of his speech, but when Song Yuanchao broke the whole thing down and analyzed it carefully, and then put it all together, everyone's eyes gradually lit up.
"This...maybe it will work!"
"Maybe? Maybe, we can just remove these two words. It's a must! It must work!" Qin Zhengguo was the most excited among the few people. Although he came late, he encountered such a big event as soon as he arrived. He was already gearing up to do a big job.
It seems that it was the right decision to leave Andong and come to Shanghai. If what Song Yuanchao said became a reality, even if only half of it came true, it would be enough for Qin Zhengguo . When he thought of the scene where pictures of great unity fell from the sky like snowflakes, he couldn't stop smiling.
"Zhengguo, you have to take action on this matter." Song Yuanchao said to Qin Zhengguo in a serious tone, "Daqi and I are unable to come forward to discuss this matter. We originally planned to let Gu Jie go, but Gu Jie is too honest. I am afraid that he can't fool the school. So you and Gu Jie go together tomorrow to officially finalize this matter."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it!" Qin Zhengguo patted his chest and agreed without thinking. Song Yuanchao had originally mentioned this matter to him and asked him for help, and now he directly handed this important task to him. This was a trust in him, which Qin Zhengguo couldn't ask for more.
Seeing that Qin Zhengguo agreed, Song Yuanchao told Qin Zhengguo, Gu Jie and others the key points and scale of tomorrow's discussion. The two of them took careful note of it and asked a few questions. Song Yuanchao explained it patiently and only felt relieved after they fully understood it.
After finishing talking about things, it was getting late. Song Yuanchao took out the cooked food and wine he bought on the road and placed them on the table. He poured wine for everyone and said, "Come on! Let's drink together to toast to tomorrow's success. After the work is done, we will have a good meal to celebrate."
"No problem, cheers!"
Everyone laughed, raised their glasses, clinked them together, and drank them all in one gulp.
The next day.
Qin Zhengguo and Gu Jie went to the school-run factory, and Song Yuanchao was already waiting there. He took them directly to the factory director's office on the second floor and introduced them to Director Ma.
As for Qin Zhengguo and Gu Jie, Song Yuanchao simply said that they were his friends, and did not introduce the others in detail. Director Ma warmly received the two of them, served tea, and sat down to start talking about printing college entrance examination review materials.
Director Ma first introduced the situation of his factory and the school's decision, and clearly stated the requirements raised by Principal Zhou.
After listening to Director Ma's story, Qin Zhengguo frowned and asked sternly, "Director Ma, is n't your school's request too much? We paid for the printing and the school uses it for free? Isn't this a bit inappropriate? If it's just a few copies, I can make the decision here, and it's only right to help each other, but don't forget that this is nearly a thousand copies! You are the director, don't you know better than me how much money it is? Do you think this is appropriate?"
Qin Zhengguo stood up and said angrily, "You are the elder and we are the younger. Some things are not appropriate to say, but you also know that we are ordinary educated youth, not landlords or capitalists. The money for this thing was collected by several friends with great difficulty. So much money is thrown into the water for nothing. Isn't this like dividing the land among the rich? How can this be justified in the world?"
Qin Zhengguo acted as if he was about to leave, and seeing his reaction, Director Ma looked unhappy. It was not because Qin Zhengguo's words were too much, but because judging from his own situation, the school was indeed going too far. It's not that the school didn't spend any money. Not only did they charge rent and material fees, but they also had to take so many finished products for free. This was a considerable amount of money, and Director Ma would not be able to bear it.
But the matter has come to this point, and Principal Zhou has already agreed. If Qin Zhengguo quits now, wouldn't he be forced into a corner? Director Ma immediately became anxious and hurriedly stopped Qin Zhengguo and Gu Jie, while winking at Song Yuanchao.
"Zhengguo, don't be angry." Song Yuanchao, who was standing by, quickly stepped forward to stop Qin Zhengguo and said apologetically, "This is also an emergency. Didn't I mention it to you yesterday?"
"Mentioned it? Yes! You did mention it, but you didn't say you wanted so many! One subject requires 300 volumes, and three subjects add up to nearly a thousand! Can you calculate how much it costs? How much do ordinary people earn in a month now? Are you kidding me? No wonder everyone says you Shanghai people are smart, so this is how you do things?" Qin Zhengguo retorted bluntly, causing Song Yuanchao's face to freeze.
Not to mention Song Yuanchao, even Director Ma felt a little embarrassed after hearing it.
Shanghai is the largest city in the country and the first place to have contact with the West. Every Shanghainese is proud of being a Shanghainese. It is also recognized that Shanghainese people value the spirit of contract the most. Now Qin Zhengguo, an educated youth from another place, pointed at Song Yuanchao's nose and said such words, which made them feel ashamed.
"Zhengguo, let's discuss this matter again. Since we have come to this point, you are short of time to find other units now. Why don't we sit down and discuss it carefully and come up with a plan that both sides can accept?" Song Yuanchao forced a smile out of his awkward expression, full of sincerity: "We are all friends, please don't hurt the relationship, please give me some face, okay?"
As he spoke, Song Yuanchao blinked desperately at Director Ma. Director Ma also came back to his senses at this time and quickly said, "Yes, Yuanchao is right. You are too impatient, young comrade. I didn't say that we can't discuss it. You can put forward any conditions you want, as long as we can accept them."
Qin Zhengguo glanced at Song Yuanchao, then at Director Ma who was smiling apologetically, and seemed to have calmed down a little: "I'm sorry, this is the bad thing about us Liaodong people. We are too straightforward and impulsive. We can't change the habits we developed since childhood."
"It's okay, it's okay. I'm just as hot-tempered as you are. It's better to be straightforward than to hide things. I was even more capable than you when I was young. Comrade Xiao Qin, are you from Andong? Andong is a good place. Back then, we crossed the Yalu River with great vigor and confidence. Our troops set out from Andong. I was in the team that crossed the river at that time. I still remember every tree and blade of grass in Andong vividly!"
Director Ma sighed and talked about his past when he was young and joined the army to participate in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. This aroused Qin Zhengguo's interest, especially when Director Ma mentioned that he arrived in Andong with the troops and was stationed there. Qin Zhengguo was surprised to find that the place where Director Ma and his men were stationed was not far from his home. Maybe his old man had seen the young Director Ma in those days.
As Director Ma talked about this matter, the atmosphere between the two sides eased a lot. After smoking two cigarettes, Director Ma changed the topic and talked about what was happening at hand.
"Xiao Qin, to be honest, this matter is indeed the fault of our school, but it is also difficult on the school's side!" Director Ma handed over another cigarette and began to complain, saying that the allocation from higher authorities was insufficient, the school lacked funds, it was not easy for students to study, and how hard the teachers worked to prepare for the college entrance examination.
After saying a lot of these words, Director Ma finally said to Qin Zhengguo sincerely: "Xiao Qin, this is the situation, so you can put forward any ideas or conditions you have. As long as I can do it, I will definitely help you. What do you think?"
Qin Zhengguo didn't say anything, he just smoked silently and seemed to be thinking.
