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

"If we don't refund it, they'll keep bringing it up. If we refund it, the contract will be clean. If they don't acknowledge the contract, then it'll be treated as if there was no prepayment. If they do acknowledge the contract, whether the prepayment is refunded or not won't make a difference."

Ma Kui thought for a moment. "That works. But if you withdraw, you'll lose some start-up capital."

"It's alright. The Light Industry Bureau has made an advance payment, that's enough."

In the afternoon, Ye Bingwen went to the motor factory.

He didn't go to Director Wang, but went directly to Li Guoliang. Li Guoliang was in the workshop inspecting the prototype production when he saw Ye Bingwen arrive, and pulled him aside.

"I know about Director Wang going to the school. Factory Director Han sent him, and I couldn't stop him."

"Chief Engineer Li, I'm here to request a refund of the advance payment."

Li Guoliang was taken aback. "You withdrew?"

"Refund it. We should discuss the contract issue, or go to court if necessary. But refund the prepayment first, so they don't use it against us."

Li Guoliang was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. I'll take you to the finance department."

The two went to the finance department. Li Guoliang spoke a few words to the head of the finance department, who then took five hundred yuan from the safe and handed it to Ye Bingwen. Ye Bingwen counted the money, signed the papers, and put the money in his pocket.

After leaving the finance department, Li Guoliang escorted him to the factory gate.

"Ye, what are your plans next?"

"I'll set up my own factory. Principal Liu has already agreed. The school will provide the equipment and factory buildings, and I'll find a way to raise the funds myself."

Li Guoliang sighed. "What a pity. If it weren't for Director Han having powerful connections, it would have been best to do this project within the factory."

"Chief Engineer Li, thank you no matter what."

"You're welcome. I'm retiring next month. If you need anything, feel free to come find me. I'm not at the factory, I'm at home."

Ye Bingwen nodded, turned and left.

Reaching the bus stop, he paused and glanced back at the gate of the motor factory. The chimneys were still belching smoke, the machines inside were still humming—everything was as usual. But Ye Bingwen knew that his partnership with this factory had come to an end.

When Zheng Shuyun got home in the evening, she had already prepared dinner.

An'an sat in her high chair, a carrot in her hand, her face covered in crumbs. When she saw Ye Bingwen come in, she held up the carrot and called out, "Daddy, Daddy."

Ye Bingwen walked over and picked her up. An'an put a carrot to his mouth, and he pretended to take a bite. An'an smiled, revealing her four tiny teeth.

"I heard about what happened today." Zheng Shuyun placed the food on the table. "Director Wang came to cause trouble, are you alright?"

"It's alright. The prepayment has been refunded, and the contract is settled."

"Returned?" Zheng Shuyun was taken aback. "What about the money for setting up the factory..."

"The Light Industry Bureau has made an advance payment, that's enough." Ye Bingwen put An'an back in the high chair. "And the school will provide some equipment, so the funding gap isn't large."

Zheng Shuyun didn't ask any more questions and served him a bowl of rice.

After finishing his meal, Ye Bingwen continued writing the feasibility report. When he got to the budget, he stopped and did some calculations. The equipment, materials, labor, and site renovations would add up to about 20,000 yuan. The Light Industry Department's advance payment was only 5,000 yuan, leaving a shortfall of 15,000 yuan.

He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Fifteen thousand yuan is not a small amount these days. Borrowing is possible, but it must be repaid. Loans are also possible, but collateral is required.

There was a knock on the door.

Ye Bingwen went to open the door. Su Min stood in the doorway, carrying a canvas bag and smiling.

"Comrade Ye Bingwen, I apologize for bothering you. The department asked me to bring this to you." She took an envelope out of her bag. "Five thousand yuan, an advance payment. The contract hasn't been formally signed yet, but the leader said to give it to you first as a show of support."

Ye Bingwen accepted the envelope. "Comrade Su, thank you."

"No need to thank me. The leader also said that the department will help you with setting up your factory as much as possible. Just ask for equipment, materials, and sales channels."

"Comrade Su, I'm short of money. Could you help me find a loan?"

Su Min thought for a moment. "I'll inquire about the loan for you. The department has a partnership with the provincial Industrial and Commercial Bank; perhaps it can be approved."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Su Min smiled. "I'll be going now. You should get some rest."

She left. Ye Bingwen closed the door and placed the envelope on the table. Zheng Shuyun walked over, her eyes reddening as she looked at the money in the envelope.

"Bingwen, you really have a way with things."

"It's not that I have any solutions, it's just that this technology is valuable." Ye Bingwen held her hand. " Valuable things will always be fought over. What we need to do is protect it."

The next morning, Ye Bingwen went to the post office.

He sent the patent application materials to Lao Zhao at the Beijing Patent Office, and returned the proof of his paper to the editorial department of the Journal of Mechanical Engineering. Sending both documents out made him feel a little more at ease.

After leaving the post office, he stood by the roadside, watching people come and go on the street.

Some people are selling candied hawthorns, some are repairing bicycles, and some are carrying children on their way. Everyone has their own business, and everyone has their own difficulties.

Ye Bingwen bought a string of candied hawthorns, took a bite, and frowned at the sourness. He held the candied hawthorns in his hand and walked towards school.

As he approached the school gate, he saw a black sedan parked on the side of the road. It wasn't Zhao Jianguo's, nor Director Han's, nor Su Min's.

The car door opened, and a man stepped out. He was in his sixties, with completely white hair, wearing a gray cotton-padded jacket, and leaning on a cane.

Ye Bingwen recognized him. It was the old man, the one he had seen in the provincial party committee's residential area last time.

"Ye Bingwen, we meet again." The old man smiled. "Get in the car, I have something to tell you."

Ye Bingwen got into the car. The car started and drove into traffic.

The old man sat in the back seat, leaning back with his eyes closed. "I've heard about everything you've done. Zhao Jianguo, the motor factory, the Light Industry Bureau, and your brushless motor."

Ye Bingwen remained silent.

"I know Zhao Jianguo. He's capable, but his heart isn't pure." The old man opened his eyes. "He's been eyeing your technology for a long time. It's right that you want to start your own factory. But you can't do it on your own."

"I know. That's why I'm looking for someone to help me."

"Who should I look for?"

"Principal Liu, Su Min, Chief Engineer Li, and you."

The old man smiled. "I'm old, I can't help you much. But I can tell you something." He turned to look at Ye Bingwen, "The person above Zhao Jianguo is being transferred."

Ye Bingwen's heart skipped a beat.

"Next month, the deputy senior official in charge of industry is being transferred to Beijing. Zhao Jianguo is his man; with his backer gone, he won't be as capable." The old man paused. "So, you need to get through this month. After a month, his pressure will be much less."

"Thank you for telling me this."

"You're welcome. I'm telling you this not to help you, but to help the country." The old man looked at him. "Your skills are useful to the country. We can't let them be wasted."

The car stopped at the school gate. Ye Bingwen got out of the car, and the old man rolled down the window.

"Ye Bingwen, there's one more thing. I had someone investigate the footprints downstairs. They were sent by Zhao Jianguo to monitor your movements. Be careful in the future."

The car drove away.

Ye Bingwen stood at the school gate, still holding the unfinished candied hawthorn skewer in his hand. The sugar had melted and was sticky, dripping onto his hands.

He looked down at the sugar stains on his hands.

Was the person Zhao Jianguo sent that gray-clad figure? Or the woman with the small footprints in the snow?

He looked up and gazed across the street.

A Jeep without license plates was parked on the side of the road with its windows tinted.