"50 cents?!"
Director Zhou nearly jumped off the long chair, his eyebrows knitted into a knot, his voice raised several decibels!
"Old Li! You're too ruthless with your bargaining! The recycling station gives 80 cents, and this is scrap, but the purity isn't low! Your price... no, no, it's too low. I'd rather let it rust at home than sell it so cheaply! This isn't just a loss, it's cutting flesh!"
Director Zhou waved his hands repeatedly, his face showing pain and unwillingness, thinking Li Junsheng was taking advantage of him.
He thought Li Junsheng solving the problem would be good, but this price was too outrageous!
The previous contact in the black market was giving him 90 cents!
Li Junsheng didn't rush to refute, instead showing an understanding smile, even a bit humble.
He leaned forward, lowering his voice, "Director, don't rush, let me finish. 50 cents is low, but think about it, you can't just look at the current price difference."
Director Zhou frowned at Li Junsheng, also wanting to hear what he had to say.
Li Junsheng held up two fingers.
"First, if you go to the recycling station, they only give scrap copper prices, 80 cents at most, and you have to handle transportation, counting, and weighing yourself. Not only is it troublesome, but it makes a lot of noise. What if someone asks why Director's house keeps transporting scrap... right?"
"My 50 cents includes everything - transportation, risk, you don't have to worry about anything. Once it leaves your house, it's none of your business, clean and hassle-free. Isn't that peace and stability worth the 30 cent price difference?"
When Director Zhou heard "noise," "someone asking," and "risk," his eyes flickered, his tightly furrowed brows slightly relaxed, but he didn't speak.
These things came out of the factory for free, whatever he sold was profit.
If he took too big a risk for this money, it would indeed be counterproductive!
But he didn't rush to respond, waiting to see what Li Junsheng would say next.
Li Junsheng saw in his eyes that he had hit the other party's soft spot, then raised his second finger.
"Second, this 50 cents isn't a one-time deal. I, Li Junsheng, may not have great abilities, but once I find a way, I want to do it well. This is the first time, consider it my way of showing loyalty, testing the waters, and building trust!"
"As long as this cooperation goes smoothly, if Director has similar... um, factory leftovers or other channels for disposal, we can cooperate long-term! The price will definitely not let you down, definitely better than you finding your own way to sell scrap, and the process will be the same, safe and hassle-free!"
Director Zhou was silent.
He reevaluated this Li Junsheng, who usually worked quietly in the factory and seemed honest.
50 cents was indeed painful, but Li Junsheng's point about hassle-free, safe, and risk-free hit his sore spot.
More importantly, Li Junsheng's vision of long-term cooperation was too tempting!
Occasionally, the factory would have some unplanned, written-off items, or some gray area "losses," which he couldn't handle himself because the risk was too high, and he didn't trust outsiders.
So if there was really someone like Li Junsheng, who knew him well, seemed reliable, and was willing to take the risk, it would solve his biggest worry!
This steady stream of income was much more important than the one-time price difference from these boxes of scraps!
Li Junsheng saw Director Zhou's changing expression, knowing the timing was right, and added fuel to the fire, his tone sincere, "Director, consider it helping the factory clear inventory and giving a way out to this old worker who's leaving. This 50 cents is a solid price now, and a price of trust for future cooperation."
"Rest assured, I, Li Junsheng, follow rules and know my limits. What's yours will never be less."
Director Zhou took a deep breath.
His fingers tapped on the armrest of the long chair, finally showing a smile, pointing at Li Junsheng, "Well, Old Li! I really underestimated you in the factory!"
"Okay! Just for your words, for your understanding, and for your willingness to take this risk... 50 cents it is! Get it out of here quickly!"
He stood up, walked to the pile of boxes and patted them, "But, Old Li, we agreed, this matter..."
"Rest assured, Director!"
Li Junsheng immediately responded, his expression serious, "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, I know. I understand the rules, I won't cause any trouble for Director! When there's good material, I hope Director will think of your old brother."
"Ha ha, good, good!"
Director Zhou finally felt at ease, his smile more genuine, "When will you call people to pick it up?"
"Don't worry, it's not good to move during the day. I'll call the truck tonight!"
Li Junsheng responded cheerfully, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders.
The first step was done!
Director Zhou had about 1,500 pounds.
After leaving 750 dollars, Li Junsheng planned to go home and change his appearance before lunch, then go to the black market.
Otherwise, going from Director's house straight to the black market would be bad if someone saw.
Although he told Director Zhou he had connections, he actually still had to find them.
He wasn't afraid Director Zhou would play him by giving him all the money at once, after all, the goods were still in his house.
Just as he got home, opened the door, and was about to go in, someone called him from behind.
"Hey, Old Li, where have you been? Don't need to go to the factory today?"
Li Junsheng turned around to find Chen Dazhu and Chen Zhiyuan.
This father and son were really eager!
It had only been one day, and they couldn't stay home, directly coming to probe for news.
Asking if he needed to go to the factory today was just a roundabout way of asking if he had the certificate ready!
"Just got back from the factory."
Li Junsheng replied to Chen Dazhu with a calm expression.
Let Chen Dazhu wonder - had he finished the certificate or not?
He didn't say it outright - was he thinking of backing out?
Just then, Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua came to the door and saw Chen Dazhu father and son outside.
"Uncle Chen, Zhiyuan, why did you come?"
Chen Dazhu had some tact and smiled at them, "We just happened to pass by and came to sit for a bit."
"Quickly come in, why stand in the doorway!"
Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua stepped aside to let Chen Dazhu father and son in.
Li Junsheng followed closely behind, feeling a good show was about to start!
At this moment, Ma Yulian was fussing with her newly permed hair in front of the mirror. Seeing Chen Dazhu father and son come silently, she suddenly felt uneasy.
"Hey, Old Chen, why did you two come at this time?"
Ma Yulian pulled Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua aside, standing in front of Chen Dazhu and frantically giving him eye signals.
Chen Dazhu didn't understand what Ma Yulian meant by her eye signals - was it that things weren't going well, Li Junsheng wasn't cooperating after sobering up, or what?
It was Li Guojun who picked up the conversation.
"Mom, Uncle Chen came by our house, specially to sit for a bit."
Chen Dazhu nodded, then asked where to put the things he was carrying.
Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua, who were kept in the dark by Ma Yulian, exchanged glances, both feeling strange.
Was Uncle Chen really just passing by their house to sit for a bit?
Why did he bring so many things? These were specially bought, right?
"Uncle Chen, you didn't have to bring so many things when you came."
Li Guojun probed Chen Dazhu.
Chen Dazhu smiled but didn't answer.
Instead, Ma Yulian tried to cover up Chen Dazhu's real purpose for coming, to prevent the eldest son from making a fuss.
"Hey, Uncle Chen is a thoughtful person, he won't come empty-handed when visiting someone's house!"
Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua were half-believing, half-doubting. Seeing their son and daughter-in-law didn't believe her, Ma Yulian was worried and angry at Li Junsheng's efficiency.
If he had finished the certificate yesterday, she wouldn't have to rack her brains to hide it from her eldest son and daughter-in-law.
Seeing these people with different thoughts, especially Ma Yulian's awkward attempt to hide things from her eldest son, Li Junsheng felt secretly satisfied.
You, Ma Yulian, have your moments of fear too!
Li Junsheng really wanted to see what would happen when the eldest son found out Ma Yulian was favoring outsiders.
"Old Li, do you need to go to the factory in the afternoon? If not, let's have a drink?"
Chen Dazhu probed, trying to see if the certificate was done.
If he had the certificate, he wouldn't need to go to the factory in the afternoon, and Li Junsheng would definitely say let's have a drink.
Chen Dazhu paused, then smiled at Li Junsheng, "You're not young anymore, right? Why work so hard?"
He reminded Li Junsheng to take the money and run, don't be too attached to the factory job.
Li Junsheng understood what he meant, but he wanted to see Chen Dazhu's anxious, uncertain look.
"Hey, I don't feel old yet. Fifty is the age to work hard. Besides, my mechanical factory job is good, why would I give it up?"
Chen Dazhu looked at Li Junsheng, really couldn't read this person.
Was he really thinking of backing out?
Chen Dazhu started saying nice things to Li Junsheng, continuing to act nice and friendly.
"You're right, but after working hard for half your life, shouldn't you enjoy yourself and retire early? Working hard all your life, how boring is that? I say, when it's time to let go, just let go."
What a good actor, Chen Dazhu! Honey-mouthed but sword-hearted, using the excuse of doing good for Li Junsheng to get benefits for his son.
Li Guojun looked at Chen Dazhu, then at his father.
Something felt off!
This Uncle Chen bringing gifts was one thing, but why was he talking to his father so politely today?
It sounded like he was speaking with an undertone. Li Guojun had seen how people talked to their leaders.
He felt that now Uncle Chen was like a subordinate, and his father was like a big boss, having the upper hand.
"Uncle Chen, did you come to our house for something? I don't understand what you and Dad are talking about."
Li Guojun hit the nail on the head with Chen Dazhu!
Chen Dazhu smiled and denied it, "What could it be? I just told your father not to work so hard!"
Li Guojun snorted dismissively, "Uncle Chen, I don't agree with what you said. What if Dad achieves something great, it would benefit his children and grandchildren."
How could he justify being a parasite so easily!
Ma Yulian coughed lightly, wanting to send Li Guojun and Wang Xiuhua away so she could talk to Li Junsheng openly.
"Son, I'll give you some meat tickets, take your wife to buy some meat to entertain Uncle Chen. Let them stay for lunch."
Ma Yulian gave the meat tickets to Li Guojun, but he didn't want to go.
He felt that Uncle Chen and his father had something going on.
Even his mother looked strange. When he asked Uncle Chen some questions, Uncle Chen just smiled without answering.
It was his mother who answered for Uncle Chen.
Uncle Chen bringing gifts must have something to ask of his father, right?
No way, he had to find out what Uncle Chen was here for.
Thinking about this, Li Guojun threw the meat tickets to his wife.
"Xiu Hua, take the meat tickets, you buy the meat yourself."
Ma Yulian couldn't help but urge Li Guojun, eager to get him out of the way.
"How can she do it alone? Besides buying meat, get some side dishes too. Xiu Hua is just one woman, how would she know all that!"
Seeing her mother-in-law's eager attempt to get her husband away, Wang Xiuhua also sensed something was off.
So she spoke up for Li Guojun!
"Mother-in-law, Son is right, I can do it myself. You stay home and entertain Uncle Chen."
Wang Xiuhua patted Li Guojun's hand and gave him a secret look.
If Uncle Chen had something to ask their father-in-law, maybe they could get some money from him!
Wang Xiuhua thought well, unaware that not only would they get no money from Chen Dazhu, but they would also lose the factory job they had been looking forward to.
Li Guojun insisted on staying, Ma Yulian and Chen Dazhu fell silent.
It was hard to ask Li Junsheng about the certificate with him around.
What was holding up the certificate?
Chen Dazhu was eager to know!
Not just Chen Dazhu, Chen Zhiyuan was anxious too.
Yesterday he had bragged to people that he was about to start at the big factory. If he couldn't go, he'd be laughed at.
Chen Zhiyuan was young and impatient, eager to show off.
Unable to hold back, he directly asked Li Junsheng in front of Li Guojun, "Uncle Li, don't beat around the bush. Just say, did you get the job transfer certificate done? I'm dying of anxiety!"