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

Chapter 158 The Last Five Hundred

Back at the factory, Chen An was still waiting for him in the office. "Director Ye, you're back," Chen An said. "Yes," Ye Bingwen replied. "What did Principal Zhao want with you?" Chen An asked again. Ye Bingwen placed the bankbook and order form on the table: "Principal Zhao borrowed five thousand yuan, and Professor Cai prepaid four thousand five." Chen An stared at the two documents for several seconds, stunned: "Director Ye—" "Factory Director Ye, you still owe five hundred yuan," Ye Bingwen said. Chen An lowered his head and didn't speak. The office was quiet for a while.

Master Li walked in from the workshop: "Xiao Ye, what did Principal Zhao say?" Ye Bingwen explained the situation, and after listening, Master Li wiped his face: "Principal Zhao is truly a good person."

"Yes," Ye Bingwen replied, "Still five hundred yuan short?" Master Li asked again. "Yes," Master Li took out five more bills from his pocket: "Little Ye, this is what I got from selling a few things today."

"What is it?" Ye Bingwen asked. "That old radio from home, the Red Lantern brand. My daughter wanted it a few years ago, but I couldn't bear to give it to her. I sold it for fifty yuan today." Ye Bingwen looked at the fifty yuan but didn't take it. "Master Li, what is this—" "Xiao Ye, there are more than twenty people in our factory, and you're carrying it all by yourself. It makes me feel bad."

Chen An also stood up and took out a few more bills from the drawer: "Director Ye, I have two hundred and thirty left in my pocket."

"Chen An————"

"Don't say anything more, I'll add it all," Liu Xiaojun said, having entered at some point. He had stood at the door listening for a while before walking over. "Uncle Ye," he said.

Liu Xiaojun took out the sixty yuan from his pocket: "Take my sixty yuan." Old Hu the carpenter came out of the storeroom with another fifty yuan in his hand: "Xiao Ye, I have another fifty yuan at home, I'll give it to you."

Ye Bingwen looked at the pile of money on the table: fifty for Master Li, two hundred and thirty for Chen An, sixty for Liu Xiaojun, and fifty for Old Hu the carpenter, totaling three hundred and ninety yuan. He was still one hundred and ten yuan short. He lowered his head and remained silent. He knew that these people weren't unwilling to pay more; they genuinely couldn't afford it. No one spoke in the office. After a long while, Ye Bingwen stood up: "That's enough for today. I'll figure out a way to pay the remaining one hundred and ten yuan."

"Director Ye—" Chen An wanted to say something, but Ye Bingwen said, "Chen An, take this money to the power company tomorrow and pay the electricity bill first. If you're short by a little over a hundred yuan, just ask them for a two-day extension." "What about the loan—" "We'll hear about the loan in the next couple of days. Hang in there." Chen An nodded. Master Li, Liu Xiaojun, and Old Hu the carpenter didn't say anything. Ye Bingwen waved his hand, telling them to go back.

As Ye Bingwen walked out of the office, he stood at the workshop door for a while. Only the lights for the night shift were still on in the workshop; all the machines had stopped. He suddenly remembered that he had done twenty fewer pieces of work today. At this rate, the second batch of 150 pieces would not be delivered until the end of next month. But there was nothing he could do; there were not enough materials, not enough manpower, and not enough time.

He rode his bike home. When he arrived, Zheng Shuyun was tidying up the house. An'an was already asleep. Ye Bingwen came in and changed his shoes. Zheng Shuyun poked her head out from the kitchen: "How was today?" "I'm five hundred yuan short," Ye Bingwen replied. Zheng Shuyun hummed in agreement, went inside, opened the dressing table drawer, and took out the red velvet box: "How much did I pawn that watch for?" "One hundred and eighty-five yuan." "There's still a little over two thousand left in the savings account."

"I spent two thousand," Zheng Shuyun said, looking at Ye Bingwen. "Still five hundred short?" "Yes," Zheng Shuyun walked to the cabinet, opened the door, and pulled out a cloth bag from the bottom. Inside the bag was a silver bracelet. Ye Bingwen was stunned when he saw the bracelet; it was a gift from Zheng Shuyun's grandmother, which she had kept without wearing. "Shuyun—" "Take it and pawn it," "No way,"

"Why not?" "This was left by your grandma." "My grandma left it for me to use, not for me to worship."

"Shuyun, I can think of another way,"

"What idea do you have?" Ye Bingwen didn't answer. He'd thought about it all night but couldn't come up with anything else. He couldn't borrow money, and he didn't have much to sell: his bicycle was for taking him to the factory every day, the sewing machine was for An'an's clothes made by Zheng Shuyun, the radio was a wedding gift, and all he had left was this bracelet. Zheng Shuyun shoved the bracelet into his hand: "Pawn it tomorrow." "I'll redeem it the day after tomorrow." "It's okay if you don't redeem it." "Shuyun—"

"Ye Bingwen, listen to me," Zheng Shuyun said, looking at him. "We've saved up this life for each other slowly, and it's meant to be used. If we save it up for a lifetime, and in the end, all the people who work for you end up suffering because of you, what's the point of saving up this life?" Ye Bingwen didn't say anything, but held the bracelet in his hand. Zheng Shuyun sighed and said, "Go to sleep."

The next morning, Ye Bingwen went to the pawnshop in Daoli again. The owner raised an eyebrow when he saw him: "What did you bring today?" Ye Bingwen placed the bracelet on the counter. The owner picked it up and examined it with a magnifying glass: "The silver purity is quite good. It's an old item, from the 1920s, right?" "Yes," Ye Bingwen replied. "Six hundred yuan," Ye Bingwen said. "A little more?" Ye Bingwen said. "Seven hundred, that's the most," Ye Bingwen said.

"Deal," the shopkeeper wrote out the pawn ticket and handed it to Ye Bingwen. Ye Bingwen took the ticket and seven hundred dollars, then rode his bicycle directly to the power supply bureau.

Several people were queuing in front of the power supply bureau's payment window. When it was Ye Bingwen's turn, he pushed the money in: "The electricity bill for Hongqi Machinery Factory is three thousand two hundred yuan." The cashier counted the money: "Three thousand two hundred yuan has been deposited into your account." She stamped the receipt and gave Ye Bingwen a receipt. Ye Bingwen came out and stood at the entrance of the power supply bureau looking at the receipt, which had a line printed on it: "Electricity bill for this period has been settled." He folded the receipt and put it in his pocket, then rode his bicycle back to the factory.

When he returned to the factory, Chen An was waiting for him at the entrance: "Director Ye, how did it go?" "It's done," Chen An breathed a sigh of relief: "So the power company isn't coming to cut off the power?" "No, they're not coming."

E

"Salary?" "Principal Zhao's five thousand yuan can be withdrawn tomorrow, plus Professor Cai's four thousand five, that should be enough for salary and material costs."

Chen An nodded: "Director Ye, I need to talk to you about something." "What is it?" "Fatty Deng called again this morning." Ye Bingwen's heart sank: "What now?"

"He said his factory manager couldn't hold back anymore and demanded the settlement be made by the end of the month." "The end of the month?"

"Yes, there are still ten days until the end of the month," Ye Bingwen thought to himself: the payment for the goods hasn't come through, the loan hasn't been approved, and he needs to raise 4,200 yuan within ten days. Adding the 3,000 yuan from Boss Zhou, that's more than 7,000 yuan. Plus his salary, it'll be at least 10,000 yuan.

Ye Bingwen stood there without saying a word. Chen An looked at him and said, "Factory Director Ye—" "Chen An, hurry up and prepare the carbon fiber sheets."

"What?" "You need to prepare those ten boards that Professor Cai requested right away." "Oh, right, that's when the money will be transferred." "Start working on them today, prioritize these ten."

"What about the work with the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense—" "Put it aside for now. Take out the machine and make the boards first. We'll have working capital once Professor Cai's money comes in," Chen An nodded. "What about the deadline for the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense—" "I'll talk to Engineer Sun and ask him to give us a few days' grace," Chen An turned and went to the workshop to make arrangements.