Chapter 60: Bluff
"Uncle Ma" Qin Zhengguo finally spoke, and he changed his words to call Director Ma Uncle Ma. Hearing this title, Song Yuanchao's eyelids twitched involuntarily twice, and he knew in his heart that Qin Zhengguo was going to fool people.
"Logically speaking, since you've said this, it would be unreasonable for me to refuse. The school is difficult, the teachers are difficult, and the students are difficult, but I think you, Uncle Ma, are the one who has it the hardest!"
Qin Zhengguo's words hit the nail on the head. This was indeed the situation. It was originally a good matter, but now he was stuck in the middle and was neither a good person nor a good person. If he had known this would happen, he would have agreed to it in the first place. But now, look what he said, but it turned out like this.
"Xiao Qin, you are right. Uncle Ma, I...sigh."
"But Uncle Ma, this is indeed not a fair thing for you to do, isn't it?" Before Director Ma could finish his sigh, Qin Zhengguo suddenly changed the topic and asked.
Director Ma's face froze and he nodded silently.
Just when Director Ma was feeling a little embarrassed, Qin Zhengguo changed his tone and said, "Although what the school did was not right, I can't help but give you face, Uncle Ma. You are an elder and a hero of the country. You have shed blood and sweat for the country. You also visited Andong during the Korean War. So we are half fellow villagers."
"It's reasonable for fellow villagers not to help each other. We can't let outsiders laugh at us. Don't you think this is reasonable?"
Director Ma opened his mouth, wondering why Xiao Qin was talking in circles. He had been the director for so many years, but he couldn't say anything worse than him. However, Qin Zhengguo's words were not wrong, as every word stood on his own standpoint, so he nodded again.
Seeing that Director Ma was about to be fooled by him, Qin Zhengguo immediately struck while the iron was hot: "Uncle Ma, the problem is here, and our key is to solve the problem. A great man once said that everything has two sides and contradictions, a good side and a bad side, a major contradiction and a minor contradiction. We should look at the good side and solve the bad side. Then solve the major contradiction first, and then most of the problem will be solved. Don't you think this is right ?"
Director Ma was a little confused and nodded subconsciously.
Qin Zhengguo patted his thigh and said generously: "In this case, for Uncle Ma's sake, I can't make things difficult for you. No doubt, I'll take the risk. Isn't it just 300 books per subject? It's only 1,000 books in total. I, Qin Zhengguo, will pay for it all!"
"Xiao Qin, you...are you telling the truth?" Director Ma looked up suddenly, unable to believe his ears. Qin Zhengguo was still angry about this matter, but who would have thought that he would agree to it in the blink of an eye.
"right!"
Qin Zhengguo waved his hand and said firmly: "I, Qin Zhengguo, always stick to my words. I must pay the money! Even if your uncle Ma wants to stop me, you can't!"
Qin Zhengguo then said with emotion: "In fact, whether or not we can make money from this is secondary. The key is to help educated youth like me to have the conditions to enter university and have a good future and a way out."
"It's not just our generation of educated youth, but also our next generation and the next generation, just like the students studying in school now. Looking across the country, how many students are working hard for the college entrance examination? However, due to the current conditions, they are clearly capable of making further progress , but they don't have good review materials. It's really a pity. If their future is delayed because of this reason, do you think we can live with it?"
"Now, the country is in a state of disrepair, and all walks of life are short of talents. Going to college is not only a personal matter, but also a national priority. When our generation returns to society after graduation, we can use the knowledge we have learned to enter all walks of life, serve the motherland, and practice the four modernizations as soon as possible. Isn't this the real purpose of the restoration of the national college entrance examination?"
Qin Zhengguo is indeed good at speaking. With just a few words, he raised the matter to the national level. One has to admit that there is some truth in what he said. Director Ma nodded secretly, thinking that what Qin said was absolutely right and his awareness was higher than his own.
Just when Director Ma was lamenting that his awareness was not as good as Qin Zhengguo's, Qin Zhengguo changed the subject again: "Uncle Ma, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. I will definitely do this for you, and I guarantee that I will do it beautifully and clearly. It's just some money, isn't it? What's money? Money is a bastard! I have this little money! Otherwise, if I don't do this for you, I will have no face to show when I leave your place today."
"Xiao Qin, I sincerely thank you for what you said. Thank you for all you have done for education. I am ashamed. I am so much older than you, but I am not as conscious as you..."
"What do you mean by that?" Qin Zhengguo asked in surprise, "Uncle Ma, this is too much! This is my feeling as an educated youth, a student taking an exam, and a junior."
"I understand, Uncle Ma understands, Xiao Qin, thank you!" As he said this, Director Ma held Qin Zhengguo's hands tightly with both of his hands, and excitedly shook them up and down, as if revolutionary comrades had successfully joined forces.
"What are you thanking me for, Uncle Ma? I really can't stand it if you keep saying that." Qin Zhengguo replied sternly. His arrogant attitude made Director Ma feel even more guilty.
"By the way, Xiao Qin, it's not right to let you pay for all this. This is not something you should bear in the first place, and such a large sum of money is not a small amount. How about this, let's not talk about the rent we discussed before. The equipment will be free for you to use, and the raw materials such as paper and ink will be sold at cost price. What do you think?"
Director Ma was a kind man. He immediately thought of a solution that would satisfy both parties. After he finished speaking, he looked at Qin Zhengguo, hoping that he would nod in agreement.
"How can this be possible!" Originally, Director Ma thought that Qin Zhengguo would readily agree to it, but Qin Zhengguo refused righteously as soon as he opened his mouth: "Uncle Ma, what you said is a slap in my face, isn't it? You are the director of the factory. These equipment and raw materials are all public. I, Qin Zhengguo, cannot take advantage of the public no matter what. If this gets out, not only will I, Qin Zhengguo, be embarrassed, but it will also have a bad impact on you, Uncle Ma. This is absolutely not possible!"
"Why not?" Director Ma was moved but said firmly, "This is for the entire education cause and a major national event. You are willing to disregard your own interests for the sake of the overall situation. As the director, how can I remain indifferent? This matter is settled, no room for negotiation!"
"No! Uncle Ma, if you say so, I don't want to do this. No matter what, I can't let the government suffer losses, and I can't let your uncle Ma make a mistake in this!"
For a moment, the two of them argued fiercely about this, their faces turned red. This scene stunned Gu Jie, who had been silent on the side. Before coming, he had never thought that things would develop to this point. It was really beyond his expectations.
"Master, Zhengguo, sit down and talk it over. Let's talk it over." Song Yuanchao smiled secretly in his heart. This Qin Zhengguo really surprised him. The effect of his tricks was much better than he had imagined.
But then again, people of this era are relatively naive. If Qin Zhengguo had done the same thing a few decades later, the other party might have been so thick-skinned that they would have agreed to it directly, which would have been embarrassing.
Of course, the reason for the current result is that Song Yuanchao specifically told Qin Zhengguo about Director Ma's personality and temper yesterday, and predicted Director Ma's reaction, otherwise Qin Zhengguo would not have deliberately come up with such a plan.
Seeing the two people arguing endlessly, Song Yuanchao hurriedly came out to mediate, which made Director Ma and Qin Zhengguo, who were refusing to give in to each other, stop arguing.
He handed out cigarettes to everyone and lit them with matches. Song Yuanchao advised, "Master, Zhengguo, this is a good thing. Why do we have to argue like this?"
"Yuan Chao, am I arguing with Uncle Ma? Not at all!" Qin Zhengguo took a puff of his cigarette and said sincerely, "I can't watch Uncle Ma make a mistake on this matter! He has helped me so much. If he uses the equipment for nothing and doesn't pay the rent, and prints at cost price, what will others think if this gets out? What if Uncle Ma is criticized for this matter and someone with ulterior motives makes a fuss about it, how can I live with it?"
Song Yuanchao was silent after Qin Zhengguo said this. Qin Zhengguo's words were not without reason. The movement had just ended not long ago, and there were many villains in society. It was hard to guarantee that such a thing would not happen. Once it happened, it would not be a good thing for Director Ma. Even if he could explain it clearly at that time, it would be like shit if there was yellow mud in his crotch.
After thinking for a while, Song Yuanchao turned his gaze to Director Ma and advised: "Master, why don't you ..."
"What's wrong with me? I, Old Ma, have come through all the gunfire and hail of bullets. Am I a coward?" Director Ma glared at Song Yuanchao without any fear, with an awe-inspiring righteousness in his body.
