Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

Chapter 187 This order cannot be refunded.

Before the people from the Light Industry Bureau had even left, Director Liang of the lock factory rushed back.

He climbed all the way to the second floor, his blue cotton jacket soaked through on the back, and the briefcase in his hand was crumpled from being gripped so tightly.

Section Chief Ge was pouring leftover water into a teacup when he saw him blocking the doorway and frowned.

"Aren't we rushing to catch the train back to the factory?"

Factory Director Liang took a few breaths and placed a stamped piece of paper on the table.

"The lock manufacturer is exiting the market."

Mr. Sun picked up the paper.

The collaboration slots, which were only finalized in the morning, were voluntarily given up in the afternoon.

"What happened at the factory?"

"Nothing happened."

Director Liang sat down next to the chair, then quickly stood up again.

"The accountant just recalculated the costs for this batch of goods. We'll lose over three hundred yuan after it's done."

Section Chief Ge put the teacup back on the table.

"Delivery in five days, plus a year's supply. Yesterday, several factories almost overturned the table over this order. And today you're telling me you don't want it anymore?"

"That's why I don't dare to accept the offer, because there's still a year to go."

Factory Director Liang had a bitter face.

"I lost 300 this time, and I'll lose again next time. The more I work, the bigger the hole gets. How am I going to pay the factory workers' wages at the end of the year?"

After he said that, no one in the room urged him to hurry up and drive.

Lin Xiuhe took the accounting sheet.

It's clearly written in the account book.

After the steel arrived at the factory, only about 60% was made into locks; the rest was considered waste. Adding in labor costs, transportation fees, and rework costs, this order indeed yielded no profit.

She turned to the last page.

"What about the money from selling the scrap?"

Factory Director Liang turned to look at Accountant Xu.

Accountant Xu sat by the door with the ledger in her arms, hesitated for a moment, and then flipped to the back.

"We sold seventy-eight pieces last month."

Lin Xiuhe flipped the damage table back over.

"We've lost money on this whole thing. What about the money from selling it?"

Accountant Xu looked embarrassed.

"The accounts have always been separate. Production losses are attributed to the workshop, while the money from selling scrap is recorded under other income."

"Who told you to remember it this way?"

The room was quiet for a while.

Factory Director Liang tugged at his collar in frustration.

"They've kept these records like this for years. One old record after another, who bothers to dig them up anymore?"

Accountant Xu pursed her lips, but finally spoke.

"I mentioned it last year."

Factory Director Liang looked at her.

"When?"

"When reconciling accounts at the end of the year."

Accountant Xu hugged the ledger tighter.

"I said that we should consider both losses and profits from selling scrap materials, so we should look at both together. You said that production matters should be handled by the workshop, and the finance department shouldn't interfere."

Factory Director Liang looked rather grim.

Did I say that?

"I did say that."

Accountant Xu did not change her tune.

"Master Qian also came to us, saying that some scraps could still be used. Later, the warehouse staff thought he was being too nosy, so no one mentioned it again."

Sun Gong closed the accounting sheet.

"It's hard to explain just by looking at the accounts. Let's go back to the factory."

Factory Director Liang picked up the resignation application from the table.

"Let's get the paperwork done first. They've been selling scrap metal for years; what can they possibly see when they get back?"

Lin Xiuhe pressed down on the paper.

"It's a real loss, but it's not too late to refund later."

She looked at Director Liang.

"You didn't even go back to the factory gate, and you cancelled all the work for the next year?"

Director Liang's hand was still resting on the document bag.

"Mr. Lin, the factory can't afford any more disruptions."

Lin Xiuhe recalled his earlier words.

What will we use to pay salaries at the end of the year?

A refund request, once on paper, is merely stamped with an official seal. But once it reaches the workshop, those who have no work to do are the ones waiting for their wages to buy rice and coal.

That's why I had to go back to check.

She let go.

"The accounts weren't settled, yet the orders were cancelled. The factory workers don't even know why there's no work."

Factory Director Liang stood for a few seconds, then stuffed the withdrawal application back into the document bag.

"Walk."

The tractors in the lock factory yard have already started.

The truck bed was filled with several baskets of scrap materials, and the warehouse keeper stood beside it urging the driver on. An elderly man with gray hair stood in front of the truck, clutching a piece of steel in his hand, his neck red with anxiety.

"This car can't move!"

The custodian stood with his hands on his hips.

"Mr. Qian, if you stop them again today, and the scrap yard refuses to collect our factory's materials, will you take responsibility?"

"This is considered waste?"

Master Qian held the steel sheet up in front of him.

"It only needs two cuts to be usable. If you sell it for a few cents per pound, the workshop will have to spend money to get new materials later!"

"Why didn't you take it away sooner if you could use it?"

"The accounts have already been wiped out, so how am I supposed to claim the money?"

The two were arguing when Director Liang strode over.

"Turn off the engine!"

The tractor sputtered twice and then stopped.

When the custodian saw that people from the research institute and the Light Industry Bureau had arrived, his anger subsided considerably.

"Factory manager, the order is ready, and the scrap yard people are waiting. If we return the truck today, they won't come back, and the warehouse will be overflowing with waste—who's going to take responsibility?"

"Don't open it yet."

Factory Director Liang took the steel sheet from Master Qian.

"Does this really work?"

Master Qian grabbed the steel sheet back.

"Come with me."

He led a few people into the workshop and inserted the steel sheet into the old mold. With a stomp of his foot, the machine clanged and sent down a locking tongue blank.

Master Qian picked it up and threw it in front of Factory Director Liang.

Whether it works or not, you can decide for yourself.

The bolt blank rolled twice on the cement floor and bumped into the edge of Director Liang's shoe.

The workers in the yard all gathered around.

The custodian turned pale and quickly explained:

"The scrap list was issued by the workshop, and the warehouse just accepted it accordingly. Now they're bringing it up and saying these things are still usable. What about the previous accounts? They can't possibly pin it all on me in the end."

Master Qian turned around and rushed towards him.

"Didn't I say that?"

"You think it's usable just because you say so? The warehouse handles receiving, issuing, and bookkeeping materials every day, and the two of us have to pick out each piece for the workshop?"

"So you're afraid of trouble, so you just throw the factory's money away?"

"The person who issues the invoice doesn't care, the person who weighs the goods doesn't care, so why only question the warehouse?"

Director Liang's forehead throbbed as he listened.

"Say less, everyone!"

The two turned their faces away, neither willing to yield to the other.

Accountant Xu walked over to the tractor and rummaged through the basket for several pieces of steel of similar size. She usually sat in the finance office, and now her hands were covered in rust, but she didn't bother to wipe them clean.

"Master Qian, can all of these be used?"

"The big ones can be cut, and the small ones can be recycled. There aren't that many that can truly only be sold as scrap metal."

Accountant Xu turned to look at Factory Director Liang.

"If these weren't all destroyed, the cost accounting would have to be recalculated."

Factory Director Liang pursed his lips.

"Calculate."

The custodian was still blocking the car.

"Factory manager, we returned the scrap truck today. We've offended the scrap yard. If they really bring up the old invoices, they need to clarify who issued them and who signed them. We can't leave me to take the blame alone in the end."

Sun took the waste material list from his hand.

"We won't bring up old grievances today."

He pointed to the cargo bed.

"Let's get this truckload sorted out first. Keep the usable parts, and sell the unusable ones as is. If the scrap yard asks, let Director Liang handle it."

The warehouse keeper looked at Director Liang.

Factory Director Liang nodded.

"I'll go tell them."

This time he finally stepped aside.

Master Qian called over two workshop workers to unload the steel sheets that were clearly still usable from the truck. Instead of carefully sorting each piece, he simply weighed the largest baskets again.

Accountant Xu squatted beside the scale, moving the abacus beads rapidly.

Factory Director Liang paced back and forth nearby, asking every now and then:

"How is it?"

"It's not over yet."

"Is it possible to avoid paying compensation?"

"Don't rush me."

Accountant Xu got annoyed by the questions and glared at him.

"A few years ago they told me not to worry about the production accounts, but now they're complaining that I'm too slow at calculating them."

Director Liang was cornered by her. He took out his cigarette case, but then remembered that smoking was not allowed in the yard, so he could only hold it in his hand.

After about ten minutes, Accountant Xu finally stopped using the abacus.

She turned the old accounting sheet over and wrote the new numbers on the back.

"We won't have to lose money on this batch of goods."

Factory Director Liang suddenly turned around.

"Really no compensation?"

"The money from selling the reusable steel will be deducted, and the proceeds from the scrap metal sales will also be included."

Accountant Xu then turned the abacus a few more times.

"After deducting wages and transportation fees, there's still over a hundred left."

Factory Director Liang took the paper, read it twice, and then relaxed his shoulders.

The workers standing nearby also spoke up.

"Can you still take on jobs for the following year?"

"Do we need to cancel this order?"

Master Qian squatted on the ground and wiped the bolt blank with his sleeve.

"I told you, we can't live like this."

"The factory keeps saying it's out of money, but it's also hauling out anything usable. Who can afford to squander money like that?"

The custodian stood outside the crowd, his face flushing red and then turning pale.

"There was never a fixed number before."

Accountant Xu copied the recalculated figures onto the official form.

"Let's start recording from this batch."

She looked at the custodian.

"Give me the warehouse figures at the end of the month. I'll go to the workshop to check them myself, so we don't have to keep separate accounts later."

The custodian did not argue further.

Factory Director Liang took the withdrawal application out of the document bag.

The paper made a dry, crisp sound when it was torn.

He tore it in half, then stacked it up and tore it again.

"This order is non-refundable."

The courtyard suddenly became lively.

A young worker couldn't help but ask:

"Director Liang, will the year-end salaries be paid out soon?"

The smile on Director Liang's face froze for a moment.

"Deliver this batch of goods first."

He didn't say anything definitive, but the workers were still much more relaxed.

Engineer Sun put the original accounting sheet into his document bag.