Factory Director Zhang was so annoyed by the coordinated actions of the steel rolling mill workers that he couldn't get angry. He felt uncomfortable, but then he suddenly remembered that his own men had given the money to the steel rolling mill's purchasing department after they snatched the fat pig.
So, even the dignified factory director ended up doing the work of collecting debts.
Originally, Li Wenming thought that since he had gotten his meat back, he should return the money, so he was prepared to agree to the other party's request.
But Xu Damao beat him to it.
"Director Zhang, it's good that you're here today. Otherwise, I was planning to have someone look for your factory later."
Here's the thing: when your factory's purchasing department was robbing our pigs, they injured our driver and damaged the tires on our truck. We just got the truck back and the tires repaired.
We've calculated our driver's medical expenses, disability compensation, lost wages, and the cost of replacing our truck's tires. In addition to the money you've already given us, you still need to give us an extra 120 yuan.
This is a list of expenses; please take a look.
After speaking, Xu Damao took out a handwritten piece of paper that he had prepared beforehand and handed it to Director Zhang. The paper was stamped with the official seal of the Transportation Department.
Factory Director Zhang tremblingly took the paper, glanced at it, and placed it on the table. He remained silent for a long time, but his increasingly heavy breathing revealed his true feelings.
"These people at the steel rolling mill are utterly shameless," Director Zhang thought to himself.
He knew that his factory workers had said they had only deflated the tires and then beaten the person up, but now, looking at this invoice, it seemed like a completely different story.
“That doesn’t make sense. I heard from my family that it was just a minor conflict, it shouldn’t have cost this much money,” said Director Zhang.
Xu Damao listened to Director Zhang's words but did not reply. Instead, he walked out of the conference room, leaving everyone stunned and wondering what he was up to.
When Xu Damao came out of the conference room, he saw several people from the transportation department standing outside waiting, among whom the beaten driver stood out. He wasn't just beaten; he was beaten into a mummy.
His entire body was wrapped in bandages, leaving only his eyes, mouth, and nostrils exposed, making him look utterly ridiculous.
But some spots were oozing red blood, which startled Xu Damao. Could it really be broken? Upon closer inspection, it wasn't blood at all, but clearly tomato juice with a few tomato seeds on it.
"Hmm, not bad, not bad. Come in with me. You were beaten so badly by the machine factory workers that you're dizzy and your mouth is split open so you can't speak. Just listen to me later."
Xu Damao praised him, then quietly removed the tomato seeds.
When the people in the meeting room saw Xu Damao return with a mummy, they knew that Xu Damao was determined to swindle them to the very end.
"Director Zhang, this is our driver who was beaten. Look at the state he's in! He's dizzy and disoriented, and he's even crashing into walls while driving. The doctor advised that he needs to rest at home for at least three months before he can drive again."
But we already have too few drivers. Isn't this causing delays? There's simply no one to haul the steel from our factory. It's a small matter if it affects their personal health, but it's a big deal if it disrupts national economic production.
The others could only see Xu Damao rambling on. The people from the steel mill almost burst out laughing, they were really struggling to hold it in, while the people from the machine factory had faces as black as soot from a pot that hadn't been washed for years.
Shen Xingwang secretly gave Xu Damao a thumbs up, then regretted not having used that same tactic himself. After all, his purchasing department staff had been beaten much worse; their faces were swollen.
"Director Li, isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Director Zhang looked at the troublesome kid in front of him and had no choice but to ask Li Wenming for help.
"Hey, Xu Damao, you should let this injured comrade go back and rest as soon as possible. He's injured like this, he should go back and recuperate properly," Li Wenming instructed.
He hadn't expected Xu Damao to go to such lengths, practically fleecing this sheep to death. But while Xu Damao could do this, Li Wenming couldn't.
We're all influential people; we see each other all the time in the city, and we can easily find mutual friends by exchanging a few words. We can't go too far.
After the other members of the transportation department carried the mummy away, Li Wenming acted as a peacemaker.
"Da Mao, look, this whole thing is a misunderstanding. The machinery factory didn't do it on purpose. Let's just let it go and not bother each other, okay?"
If he gets injured and anything happens, he can be treated at our steel mill hospital, and I'll reimburse him. As for any other expenses, I'll take care of them too. We can't put Director Zhang in a difficult position, right?
"Director Zhang, how about this? You won't mention the money for buying the pigs, and we won't ask you for any compensation." Li Wenming presented his proposal, which was the final word.
Factory Director Zhang dared not say anything more. If he did, he worried that Xu Damao would come back with a broken tire and demand compensation for the vehicle.
With an agreement reached, the atmosphere in the meeting room immediately relaxed, as if the earlier confrontation was merely a memory lapse. This is the adult world; there are no eternal enemies.
"Director Zhang, how about we have some food at our little canteen tonight?" Li Wenming felt that since the other party had already spent money, it was reasonable to invite him to a meal.
“Eat, of course I’ll eat! I spent a few hundred yuan on this meal, so what? Not only will I eat, but I’ll also represent all the employees of the machinery factory. Old Li, cook more meat tonight, don’t be stingy, we’ve already paid for it too.”
At this point, Director Zhang was willing to risk everything. Who cared about saving face? Wasn't the meat more appealing?
Director Zhang also had acquaintances at the steel rolling mill. After resolving the matter, he would visit them and then wait to eat at the canteen after get off work.
"Director, should we be compensated for this money?" Xu Damao asked shamelessly.
"If I give you this money, would you dare take it? Here's what we'll do: have that driver go to the office later to collect his 60 yuan subsidy. Shen Xingwang, have your purchasing agent collect his 30 yuan subsidy as well," Li Wenming said boldly.
Shen Xingwang was surprised that his purchasing agent also had some. Although it was 30 yuan, less than others, it was money those mummies earned; it was good enough that he had some.
Xu Damao never intended to take the money for himself. Once he saw that the workers' subsidies had been implemented, he returned to his office.
When other drivers learned that they could receive a subsidy of 60 yuan, equivalent to a month's salary, after being punched a few times, they all lamented why such a good thing hadn't happened to them.
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