78: Bringing his wife and children to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 157 Bank

Ye Bingwen rode his bicycle to the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China in Daoli District. This time, he did not choose the same branch he had visited before, but a different sub-branch. He did not have high expectations for the loan; he just wanted to try again. After entering the bank lobby, he went straight to the loan counter. A female staff member in her thirties was sitting at the counter. When she saw him approaching, she simply raised her eyelids to acknowledge him.

"What service do you need?" she asked.

"I'd like to inquire about loans," Ye Bingwen replied.

Are you a sole proprietor or a business seeking a loan?

"enterprise."

"Which company specifically?"

"It was a school-run factory, called Hongqi Machinery Factory."

Upon hearing the words "school-run factory," the female staff member immediately shook her head: "We do not handle loan applications for school-run factories."

"But I have military orders in my hands," Ye Bingwen hurriedly added.

"Even if there are military orders, corresponding collateral must be provided," the other party replied coldly.

I have no collateral.

"Then I can't help you."

Ye Bingwen stood in front of the counter without leaving immediately, and tried to ask again, "Comrade, may I have a few words with your loan department head?"

"The section chief is not at the office today."

"When will he be there?"

"It's hard to say."

Ye Bingwen knew perfectly well that the other party was just giving him the runaround. He didn't insist any further, turned around and left the bank. Halfway there, he stopped by the roadside and took out the power company's payment notice from his pocket. The notice stated that the deadline for payment was the day after tomorrow; if the electricity bill wasn't paid by then, the factory would be shut down, and the workshop would have to stop operating. If the workshop stopped operating, the order from the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense couldn't be delivered on time; failure to deliver would constitute a breach of contract; and the consequences of breaching the contract would not only mean the complete demise of the Hongqi Factory, but also the ruin of his reputation.

Ye Bingwen stood by the roadside, watching the bustling pedestrians on the street, unsure of where to go next. Then, he remembered what Zheng Shuyun had said the night before: "Isn't this the time for an emergency?" He then thought of the hundred yuan that Master Li had left on the table, the fifty yuan that Old Hu the carpenter had left, and the sixty yuan that Liu Xiaojun had in his pocket. Thinking of these things, Ye Bingwen's nose suddenly stung with tears. He rubbed his eyes hard, got on his bicycle, and continued on his way.

When Ye Bingwen returned to the factory, Chen An was waiting for him in his office. "Director Ye, you're back," Chen An said. "Yes," Ye Bingwen replied. "Principal Zhao called earlier," Chen An continued. Ye Bingwen looked up and asked, "Principal Zhao?" "Yes, he wants you to come to his office at three o'clock this afternoon." "Did he say what it was about?" "He didn't say, he just wanted you to come over." Ye Bingwen checked his watch; it was 1:30 in the afternoon. He sat in his office for a while, ate a few bites of the steamed buns Chen An had bought for him, and then rode his bicycle to Harbin Institute of Technology.

At exactly three o'clock in the afternoon, Ye Bingwen arrived at Zhao Zhiyuan's office door. He knocked on the door, pushed it open, and went in. Zhao Zhiyuan was sitting behind his desk reading a newspaper. Seeing him come in, he said, "Xiao Ye, you're here. Have a seat." After Ye Bingwen sat down, he asked, "Principal Zhao, what brings you here?" Zhao Zhiyuan put down his newspaper, looked at Ye Bingwen, and said, "I heard that things aren't going well at your factory right now." Ye Bingwen gave a soft "hmm." "What exactly is going on?" Zhao Zhiyuan pressed, and Ye Bingwen recounted what had happened in the past two days: the power company had issued an ultimatum, Fatty Deng had come to collect debts, Boss Zhou was pressing for payment, and the bank wouldn't grant a loan. However, he didn't mention Zheng Shuyun's watch, nor did he mention the money that Master Li, Chen An, and Old Hu the carpenter had pooled together.

After listening, Zhao Zhiyuan didn't speak immediately. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said, "Xiao Ye, about the loan in the city, I asked Li Jianguo the day before yesterday." "What did he say?" Ye Bingwen asked hurriedly. "The review has been approved, and the materials have been submitted to the leaders of the Economic Commission, but it still needs final approval from the municipal government." "How long will that take?" "A week if it's fast, maybe two weeks if it's slow." Ye Bingwen fell silent. A week or two—he couldn't possibly hold out that long. Zhao Zhiyuan looked at him and said, "Xiao Ye, can't you hold out that long?" "No," Ye Bingwen replied. "Then how much more money is needed?" "Electricity costs 1,000, wages 5,000, materials 4,000, totaling 10,000 yuan." "Hmm," Zhao Zhiyuan responded, then fell silent, pondering for a moment. He opened a drawer and took out a bankbook. "Xiao Ye, take this bankbook." Ye Bingwen was startled. "Principal Zhao, what is this—" "There's 5,000 yuan in here, my own money, not the school's." "Principal Zhao—" "Don't refuse," Zhao Zhiyuan pushed the bankbook towards Ye Bingwen. "My wife sent it back from our hometown a while ago. She told me not to keep it all in the bank, but to take it out if I needed money." He hadn't expected... "It's already come in handy so quickly," said Ye Bingwen. "Principal Zhao, I can't accept this money." "It's not a gift, it's a loan." "How long?" "You can pay me back once the loan comes through." Ye Bingwen looked at the passbook but didn't touch it. Zhao Zhiyuan sighed, "Xiao Ye, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart." "Go ahead," Ye Bingwen said. "I've been to your factory twice. The first time was after the last meeting, but I didn't tell you. I rode my bike there and took a look around." Ye Bingwen was stunned. He had never heard Liu Xiaojun or Chen An mention this before. "I went in through the main gate, and no one stopped me. I walked to the workshop entrance and looked around for a long time, but no one paid any attention to me." "I saw Master Li working on the milling machine, I saw Liu Xiaojun squatting next to the mixer recording the temperature, I saw Chen An measuring something with calipers." "I stood there for half an hour, and no one noticed me." "Do you know what that means?" Ye Bingwen shook his head. "It means everyone in your factory is doing their own work; no one is idle." "I knew it then; this kind of factory can't be allowed to go under." Zhao Zhiyuan paused, then continued, "Xiao Ye, I'm not rich, and five thousand yuan isn't a small amount for me, but I'm lending it to you because I believe you can pay it back." Ye Bingwen took out his bankbook: "Principal Zhao, I..." "Here'll give you an IOU." "Go ahead," Ye Bingwen borrowed paper and pen, wrote an IOU, and handed it over. Zhao Zhiyuan put it away. "You still owe five thousand yuan," Ye Bingwen said. "Hmm, I'll think of another way for you," Zhao Zhiyuan replied. "What way?" "I'll discuss it with Professor Cai and have their lab issue you a purchase advance payment invoice." "Purchase what?" "Purchase your factory's products, carbon fiber sheets. The lab really needs them. The money will come from the research funding. I'll talk to Professor Cai; he has some funding coming in this month and can advance part of it to you." "Principal Zhao, will this work?" "Research funding has a special..." "There are usage regulations, but purchasing consumables is possible. The lab does use the boards from your factory," Ye Bingwen said, a glimmer of hope rekindling in his heart. "About how much?" "Four thousand five hundred, Professor Cai's budget is limited; it's already quite good that he can come up with this much." "Four thousand five hundred plus your five thousand, that's nine thousand five hundred in total, that should be enough." "Hmm." "And the remaining five hundred?" "You'll have to figure out how to get the five hundred yourself," Ye Bingwen smiled wryly. "Okay, I'll figure out how to get the five hundred myself." Zhao Zhiyuan took another sip of tea. "Little Ye, I'll help you this time, but don't do it again." "I know," "Loan application..." "After you come here, your factory needs to set a good example. I'm not helping you for the money, but to make sure you don't misjudge me," Ye Bingwen said. "Principal Zhao, I won't let you down," Zhao Zhiyuan nodded. "Alright, go ahead. Professor Cai is in the lab this afternoon, go there on your way." Ye Bingwen stood up, but turned back at the door. "Principal Zhao," "Hmm?" "I thank you on behalf of the twenty-odd people in the factory," Zhao Zhiyuan waved his hand. "Don't give me that. Go do your work." Ye Bingwen left Zhao Zhiyuan's office and went straight to the chemistry lab building. Professor Cai was in his office; Zhao Zhiyuan should have already... After exchanging greetings, Professor Cai saw him arrive and said directly, "Xiao Ye, Principal Zhao told me that this matter is urgent." "Professor Cai, thank you for your trouble." "What trouble? Our lab is indeed using those boards from your factory." Professor Cai gave him an order form for ten carbon fiber boards, with a prepayment of four thousand five hundred yuan. "The finance department will transfer the money tomorrow." "Professor Cai, we'll send the boards over as soon as possible." "No rush, you just need to handle things at the factory first." When Ye Bingwen left the laboratory building, it was already getting dark. He rode his bike back to the factory, clutching Zhao Zhiyuan's bankbook and Professor Cai's order form tightly in his hand.