Chapter 1655 Who Did You Contribute to GDP For?
When Zhuo Minglan was stopped at the last step before leaving the country, she was almost in despair.
Lately, she's been wondering if she's the "jinx" people talk about, that no matter how good the opportunity is, she'll end up losing everything.
For example, when Zhuo Minglan was transferred from the No. 1 factory to Shang Bin's side, it was an opportunity that many people envied. However, a perfectly normal land transaction resulted in her being detained by the police.
Although her grievances were cleared after a rigorous investigation and active compensation, Shang Bin had already changed jobs by the time she returned, and it was inconvenient to transfer her again for the sake of "negative impact".
However, Zhuo Minglan has a nuclear weapon in her belly and a dog leash in her hand. She can marry any suitor and be "both offensive and defensive," so she doesn't have to worry about not having a chance to turn things around.
But after only a few days of settling in, Lu Junyi changed his mind, broke his promise that "I don't mind your past," and insisted on divorcing her.
Then she lost her child, and all sorts of rumors spread like wildfire. Some of the older women at her workplace labeled her a jinx.
This time, she finally managed to get on the good side with Zhang Chaoxian and was about to go to the beacon of civilization to enjoy life, but then she encountered the issue of getting her tuition refunded.
Am I destined for a life of suffering, where all my struggles are in vain?
Fortunately, the amount of tuition fees that the relevant personnel requested Zhang Chaoxian to return was not high, only 23,000 US dollars.
Two years of study abroad for 23,000 yuan, that price is really not high.
So Zhuo Minglan quickly urged Zhang Chaoxian, "Old Zhang, hurry up and pay the money, let's go change our flight to tomorrow."
However, Zhang Chaoxian remained silent with a stern face, and only after a long while did he ask, "Minglan, how much money do you have left?"
Zhuo Minglan exclaimed in shock, "What? How much money could I possibly have? I only have two hundred US dollars!"
Zhang Chaoxian frowned: "Didn't I give you two thousand dollars a few days ago? How come you only have a few hundred dollars left? Why did I come back to find a Chinese woman to be my partner? It's because Chinese women are frugal and know how to manage money. How can you be so wasteful?"
Zhuo Minglan paused, then said with a wronged expression, "I didn't waste it, but after I went to the lighthouse with you, I didn't know when I would be able to come back, so I left the money with my parents."
Zhang Chaoxian exclaimed in surprise, "You gave it to your parents? You left all 1,800 US dollars to your parents? How could you do this?"
Zhuo Minglan also asked in surprise, "Wasn't that two thousand dollars my betrothal gift? What's wrong with me giving the betrothal gift to my parents?"
Zhang Chaoxian was taken aback by Zhuo Minglan's retort, but he immediately said anxiously, "You should hurry up and get the money back. Also, please ask your parents-in-law to think of a way to help us raise some money to get through this crisis."
"Get your money back? And you want my parents to help you raise more money?"
Zhuo Minglan found it utterly unbelievable.
Because Zhang Chaoxian wrote "annual salary of over $250,000" in his marriage advertisement, but now he's almost turning against me for $1,800.
Zhuo Minglan suddenly remembered something Xiahou Xiaojuan, the person she disliked the most at work, said before she left.
Do you think Zhang Chaoxian might be a fraud? He earns 250,000 yuan a year, so why is he almost forty and still unmarried? And why did Factory Director Li refuse to vouch for him and testify?
Zhuo Minglan became increasingly panicked as she thought about it, and asked in a trembling voice, "Old Zhang, are you lying to me? Have you been lying to me all along?"
Zhang Chaoxian was confused: "What did I lie to you about?"
Zhuo Minglan asked angrily, "You said you could earn more than $250,000 a year, and you said you could take me to live a good life, but now you're even haggling over $2,000 with me. When we get to the Lighthouse, are you going to just sell me off?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Zhang Chaoxian said angrily, "My annual salary of 250,000 is quite a lot, but the use of that 250,000 is all planned in advance, while 23,000 US dollars was not included in the plan."
Zhuo Minglan, who studied finance, immediately grasped the hidden key point in Zhang Chaoxian's words.
"You planned this in advance? What kind of expenses did you plan to spend 250,000 yuan? You haven't even saved more than 20,000 yuan in all these years?"
"Oh dear, you wouldn't understand even if I explained. It's extremely urgent right now. I'll explain it to you later."
"No, explain yourself to me now. If you don't, I'll go to the police station and I'll never forgive you!"
Zhuo Minglan almost blurted out "I'll sue you for fraud," but her almost insane expression terrified Zhang Chaoxian.
Zhang Chaoxian quickly said, "Minglan, don't worry, let me explain. I really do have an annual salary of $250,000 now, it's just that I didn't have one in the previous years."
In addition, taxes have to be paid before my annual salary is received, and I just bought a large villa worth several hundred thousand dollars, with monthly mortgage payments of four thousand dollars. I also have an outstanding car loan, and social expenses also apply.”
As Zhuo Minglan listened to Zhang Chaoxian's explanation, her face flushed red and then turned pale, and she even laughed out loud for a moment.
Isn't what Zhang Chaoxian said exactly the same as the state-owned enterprises in mainland China?
The annual output value sounds substantial, but after paying taxes and wages, the final result is often minimal, and in some cases, losses may even occur.
I thought that Zhang Chaoxian's annual salary of 250,000 was as generous as the wages of mainland workers, but I never expected that I would marry a company that was operating with debt.
But what's done is done, and Zhuo Minglan had no more straws to grasp at. So he could only ask Zhang Chaoxian, "How much money do you have left? How much more do you need me to raise?"
Zhang Chaoxian immediately began counting his wallet, and after counting it twice, he said, "I still have more than three thousand US dollars here. Add your two thousand, and we'll have enough for eighteen or twenty thousand US dollars."
Zhuo Minglan could hardly believe her ears: "Twenty thousand US dollars? Where are you expecting my parents to find twenty thousand US dollars?"
"A bank loan!"
Zhang Chaoxian said matter-of-factly, "Don't many people in the mainland take out loans and not have to pay them back? And didn't Li Ye say that the average salary in your unit has reached seven or eight hundred?"
People in mainland China have a habit of saving money. Why don't you borrow money from a few more people, and then pay them back with interest later?
"A bank loan? Borrow money from a colleague?"
Zhuo Minglan was utterly stunned; he couldn't understand why Zhang Chaoxian had spoken so casually.
There are indeed people in mainland China who default on their loans, but that doesn't include Zhuo Minglan's honest and simple parents.
The average salary at the light vehicle company is indeed quite high; the average salary at the first branch factory is almost over 1,000 yuan, and there are quite a few couples where both spouses work and earn over 10,000 yuan a month.
But among all these people, the number of those who could lend Zhuo Minglan money could probably be counted on one hand.
Moreover, the 20,000 that Zhang Chaoxian was short was in US dollars, while the mainland workers had saved in RMB, which, when converted, was an astronomical figure.
Zhuo Minglan said quietly, "Even if what you said is true, what if your job is affected? How will you pay your mortgage and car loan?"
"It's affected my work? My job is very stable, and my annual salary will only increase in the future, and my life will only get better."
Zhang Chaoxian launched into a long, boastful speech, as if he could earn a million-dollar annual salary next year.
But he deliberately avoided Zhuo Minglan's question, which made Zhuo Minglan even more suspicious: "You don't need to say so much, just tell me what the consequences would be if your work went wrong?"
Zhang Chaoxian was cornered against the wall and said helplessly, "Does this even need explaining? My house and car both have loans!"
Zhuo Minglan said with amusement, "Isn't it okay to owe money and not pay it back?"
"Owes money and won't pay it back?"
Zhang Chaoxian seemed to have heard an incredibly ridiculous joke.
In mainland China, people who owe money and don't pay it back are treated like royalty; even deadbeats can't stop you from drinking beer and eating barbecue. But in Lighthouse, you'll see what happens if you owe someone!
...
Zhuo Minglan certainly couldn't borrow $20,000. Not to mention borrowing money from colleagues, even when she tried to get the $1,800 back from her parents, she was scolded by them and didn't get a single cent back.
[You've raised us for so many years, and you haven't given us a single penny. Now you're living the high life in Lighthouse, and you think we don't need your retirement money?]
When Zhang Chaoxian saw that Zhuo Minglan was useless, he was so anxious that he had no choice but to borrow money himself.
His first thought was of his teacher, Zhang Qiyan. Although Zhang Qiyan might not have that much money, he had many disciples! With just a word from Zhang Qiyan, twenty thousand US dollars would be a piece of cake.
However, to Zhang Chaoxian's surprise, he didn't even get to see Zhang Qiyan this time. He wasn't even allowed to enter Zhang Qiyan's workplace or residence.
When asked, the answer was always that they were too busy with work to handle personal matters.
Zhang Chaoxian almost ground his teeth to powder. Back then, he had called him "teacher" with utmost respect and humbly acknowledged him as a teacher. How could he be so heartless now?
If the teacher's approach doesn't work, then the only option is to turn to classmates and fellow students.
At least half of Zhang Chaoxian's classmates and fellow students who stayed in mainland China are doing quite well, some in ministries and some in banks. If they really thought of old friendships, they would be willing to pay $20,000.
But when Zhang Chaoxian set aside his dignity and begged them, he was met with only meaningful refusals.
"Hey Lao Zhang, stop teasing us. We only make a few hundred dollars a month, and we have to be very careful with every penny. You're a big shot with an annual salary of $250,000, and you're asking us for money? Isn't that making us look bad?"
"Senior Brother Zhang, it's not that I don't want to lend you money, it's just that our bank has no precedent for lending to overseas individuals. You don't even have a guarantor in mainland China, so I really can't process your application!"
"Old Zhang, you've come to the wrong person. Among all of us fellow apprentices, only one person has twenty thousand US dollars, but it seems you offended someone recently, so... this is difficult!"
"Who? Who have I offended?"
"Don't you know who you've offended? Lao Zhang, I've seen all the posts you made on that company's BBS, all sorts of veiled insults and innuendos. How did you manage to offend anyone?"
Zhang Chaoxian felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, finally understanding why his teacher and fellow disciples disliked him so much.
After Li Ye helped Zhuo Minglan get rid of the police troubles, the couple vented their anger online, cursing all the "injustices" they had encountered in mainland China, including veiled attacks on several of their fellow apprentices and Li Ye.
Now that Li Ye has probably shown the post to his teacher and fellow students, wouldn't it be humiliating for me to come to him for help at this time?
Even if it means humiliating himself, Zhang Chaoxian has to try. After all, he has humiliated himself many times over the years at Lighthouse, so it's no big deal.
Zhang Chaoxian entered Jingnan Group under the pretense of handling some trivial matters after Zhuo Minglan's resignation, because he was afraid that Li Ye would not let him in.
When he arrived at Li Ye's office, Li Ye, as expected, said with a cold face, "If you've come here to interrogate me, then I can tell you that I was the one who distributed that post you made to everyone."
I really don't understand, what heinous things have we done to you that made you insult us so harshly and hatefully?
"Brother Li Ye, you've misunderstood. We're from the same sect, so there's no way I'm guilty of anything heinous. It's just that I've been in the Lighthouse for many years and am unfamiliar with the ways of the people on the mainland, which is why some misunderstandings have arisen."
"A misunderstanding? Hehe~"
Li Ye smiled, then asked with a playful tone, "So, Senior Brother Zhang came to see me today just to explain the misunderstanding?"
"Hehehe, yes, yes, misunderstandings always need to be cleared up! Otherwise, wouldn't it affect our camaraderie? Besides, you may have heard from Shang Ruilin and the others that I've run into some difficulties and would like to borrow some money from you."
"Borrow money?"
Li Ye chuckled and said, "Senior Brother Zhang, why did you suddenly decide to borrow money from me? My monthly salary is only a thousand or so yuan!"
Zhang Chaoxian laughed heartily: "Hahaha, Brother Li Ye, you're joking. Everyone knows that you sold the copyright of your novel to Hong Kong Island many years ago. You can get a lot of US dollars just by writing a few words!"
"Senior brother, I won't borrow too much, just thirty thousand US dollars. We're both compatriots in China, and fellow disciples. You wouldn't refuse such a small favor, would you?"
Li Ye glanced at Zhang Chaoxian, then said calmly, "I can indeed come up with thirty thousand US dollars, but I need to ask Senior Brother Zhang a question first."
Zhang Chaoxian's eyes lit up: "Ask whatever you want, not just one question, but ten questions at a time."
Li Ye smiled slightly: "Senior Brother Zhang, we both studied economics. I'd like to ask you, before you went abroad to study, how much did you contribute to the GDP of mainland China?"
Zhang Chaoxian paused, puzzled, and asked, "I was just a student back then, how much GDP could I contribute?"
Li Ye slapped his thigh: "That's right! You were a student in the mainland, but you're contributing to society in the lighthouse."
You've made a huge contribution to the Beacon's GDP, so you should ask the Beacon for help! Should I send a car to take you to the Beacon embassy?
Thank you so much! If you don't want to lend it, you don't have to bring up national interests.
Zhang Chaoxian's gums were sucked until they bled.
He had considered the embarrassment of being rejected by Li Ye, but he never expected Li Ye to be so scathing in his insults.
Unable to reach his relatives and friends in mainland China, Zhang Chaoxian had no choice but to seek help overseas. Although he knew that seeking help from the United States would have many drawbacks, he couldn't afford to worry about that at the moment.
Zhang Chaoxian nervously dialed the number of the financial company where he worked and humbly made his request.
"Mr. Jason, I'm very sorry to inform you of something. My father has become seriously ill, which has delayed my trip home to visit him. Also, I would like to request an advance of one month's salary to support my father's treatment."
“Zhang, I regret to inform you that your request does not comply with company regulations. Also, are you sure you cannot return to work before the end of your vacation?”
If that's the case, you need to prepare for the handover of the client now. We can't allow your personal negligence to affect the client's interests.
“.”
Zhang Chaoxian really wanted to curse. He couldn't understand how that bald guy on the other end of the phone could turn his back on him so easily.
Last year, Zhang Chaoxian achieved the top performance rating for the second consecutive year and sent Jason his "sincere greetings." Jason's assessment of Zhang Chaoxian was: "The most outstanding financial genius and the most dazzling future star."
But now, in Jason's eyes, Zhang Chaoxian has become a tool that can be replaced at any time.
“Mr. Jason, please hear me out. I have a fantastic plan back at the lighthouse that I guarantee will satisfy you.”
Zhang Chaoxian was practically saying, "I'll give you a gift," because he knew that if he couldn't return to the Lighthouse on time, his $250,000-a-year job would be taken by someone else.
If things come to that, Zhang Chaoxian will not only lose his house and car, but countless bills and troubles will overwhelm him.
At that point, Zhang Chaoxian would either have to work in a Chinese restaurant that didn't require credit checks, where he would be provided with food and lodging and wouldn't starve, or he would have to overspend to maintain his basic credit, gambling that he could find a new job before going bankrupt.
But Zhang Chaoxian is almost forty years old, and he can't afford to gamble.
"I'm sorry, Zhang, I have countless backup plans for something like this."
“.”
...
With nowhere else to turn, Zhang Chaoxian dragged his leaden legs back to the hotel, his anger reaching its peak.
[It's all that woman Zhuo Minglan's fault. If it weren't for wanting to avenge her, I wouldn't have posted that message on the BBS, wouldn't have offended Li Ye and my fellow disciples, and wouldn't have been unable to borrow money.]
Zhang Chaoxian was unaware that his post was the fatal reason he was unable to leave the country; he thought the only consequence of the post was that he couldn't borrow money.
Even so, his anger was about to burst forth, and today he had to vent it on Zhuo Minglan, making the young woman in her early twenties bear the brunt of his boundless rage.
However, when Zhang Chaoxian entered the hotel room, he found that Zhuo Minglan was not there.
[Husbands and wives are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly away separately. Hahaha, how ridiculous! How ridiculous!]
What Zhang Chaoxian didn't know was that Zhuo Minglan hadn't actually abandoned him and run away; she had gone to help Zhang Chaoxian borrow money.
These days, Li Ye isn't the only one who can come up with $20,000; Shang Bin is another example.
He can afford to let his wife and children squander money at the lighthouse, so do you think $20,000 is a big deal for him?
(End of this chapter)
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