The next day, in the morning.

At the crack of dawn, Ji Jue drove to the factory area. After circling around, he heard a small electric scooter entering the factory grounds. The middle-aged man riding it was balding, with a pale face and dark circles under his eyes, clearly having not rested well all night.

"You're here, Yan Gong?"

Ji Jue waved at him, smiling, "Have you thought about it? I've had a discussion with their side, the compensation can go up to..."

Yan Jian interrupted him, telling him, "I want to stay and give it a try first."

Ji Jue was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

"Then stay, do you have any conditions?" Ji Jue told him, "We can discuss anything freely. Whether you stay or leave, the contract will be renewed. Ah, your years of service will be retained, don't worry."

"As for conditions, we'll talk about it later."

Yan Jian sighed, looking at Ji Jue's calm demeanor, his expression grew heavier, showing no joy nor ease.

Instead of being a spirited restart, it was more like the numb acceptance of reality—this is how it is, just put it aside for now.

It's already in the late stages, the worst that could happen is death.

Struggling once again can be considered a dying struggle. At worst, just continue to stay in the pit, what else could happen? Bankruptcy? That would be excellent, I'd be free again, starting over.

Back then, he followed the old director to build this place. He couldn't say every brick and tile was laid by him, but at least he had some emotional attachment.

After those high-spirited days, the old director passed away, and after wasting away for so many years, there must be some kind of conclusion.

Let's just see it through to the end.

"I'll go check the equipment, many are already broken, not many can be started." After finishing his cigarette, Yan Jian said, "Later you take a look, repairs, patches, replacements, it's not a small amount."

He paused, looking at him: "The site plans to rebuild, the news about Coastal's restart has already spread, you need to be mentally prepared."

"Don't worry."

Ji Jue waved confidently.

And then, five minutes later, he saw...

A massive crowd, surging in!

In the past ten-plus years, the entire Coastal Automobile Factory had never been this bustling.

A couple of cars were parked from the entrance to the main road, more simply took taxis or buses to get here.

People from all directions gathered in high spirits, joyfully greeting and acknowledging each other. On those weathered faces, joy and happiness were evident.

Upon hearing the news of Coastal Automobile Factory's planned restart, they rushed here day and night.

Now, it's just the first wave.

At this moment, many saw Ji Jue wandering in the factory area and immediately surrounded him, offering cigarettes, shaking hands, greeting him enthusiastically.

"Director Ji, you must be Director Ji, right?"

Their eyes gleamed with excitement, "I heard the factory is restarting, is it true?"

Ji Jue was stunned, and for a moment, he couldn't help but blush and feel deeply ashamed.

He hadn't expected that after so many years, so many people still cared about this broken factory, rushing back the moment they received the news, with such deep affection.

"Yes, yes, that's right."

Touched, Ji Jue found himself momentarily at a loss, "Please rest assured, Coastal will definitely restart, and in the future, it surely will..."

As a result, the crowd became even more excited, the joy seemed tangible, passing between each smiling face, filled with happiness and hope.

Someone was moved to tears almost, overwhelmed with joy.

That's great!

It's really great!

The Coastal Automobile Factory finally has hope!

"Is it convenient to settle the previous payment?"

The person at the forefront took out an IOU from his pocket and presented it to Ji Jue.

"Mine too, the final payment from years ago still isn't settled!"

"Director Ji, the second phase of the previous water and electricity project hasn't been settled yet!"

"Mine, mine, look at mine!"

"And me!"

In an instant, people surged forward, almost engulfing Ji Jue, with IOUs and contracts flying like snowflakes, ascending into the air, falling in Ji Jue's dumbfounded expression.

Burying him deep inside...

Not even having a chance to struggle.

In the distance, in the corner of the factory, Yan Jian squatted smoking, couldn't help but shake his head.

Told you to be careful...

.

.

All morning, Ji Jue did practically nothing, instead, he entertained creditors the whole time.

At the same time, regretting his own naivety.

What were you thinking!

You thought this was some kind of passionate inspirational morning drama!

Just think with your heel, this dilapidated factory has been shut down for so many years, there's no way there would be so many die-hard fans... No, if there really was such unity back then, would it have fallen to this extent?

As the saying goes, lovers might abandon you, brothers might betray you, but creditors will never leave you. When they say they won't leave, they won't leave, a single spit is a nail, we're tied together for life.

This is our passionate bond!

In a two-dimensional world, perhaps there'd be a cute, long-haired black beauty blushing, saying to you: We've agreed that you owe me for life!

In reality, it's countless old faces with smiles, anger, or fear of you defaulting, blocking the door, lingering persistently.

Ji Jue sat in the drafty office, only feeling his heart colder and more lifeless than the frozen zombie meat stored in the warehouse for eighty years.

Nothing to live for.

Anyway, the creditors, in turn, behaved quite decently—mainly because the noisy clamor went on, with everyone speaking at once, making it impossible to clarify anything. Everyone politely lined up outside, forming an impenetrable wall to shield Ji Jue from the elements, swearing to stick with him to the end.

Then, they selected a few representatives to come inside.

To talk.

We have to talk.

It was then that Ji Jue finally realized the astonishing wisdom and capability of the former director.

Before he stomped off and left, to keep production going, he borrowed from almost everyone in Cliff City, ranging from hundreds of thousands to a couple of thousand dollars...

Plus the unsettled balances, the total inflated to a terrifying scale of over four hundred million.

This didn't even include the bank's mortgage loans...

Ji Jue did a simple arithmetic calculation, then felt unable to draw a breath although he wanted to inhale sharply.

In the cold weather, he was covered in cold sweat.

This is just too damn uncanny.

Did that bastard do it on purpose?

Either he was dumb and didn't even know he was being played, or he was malicious, ready to smash the pot to catch the fish and leave.

Leaving this mess for Ji Jue to clean up.

"It's really not us being aggressive, really, for these years, life's honestly been unbearable."

The parts factory owner, selected as a representative, was nearly in tears: "Tens of millions of money, all of it I footed the bill, the bank is pushing for the money, the employees need their salaries, I've sold my house and car, and the factory is almost bankrupt. Until now, I don't even dare to eat a hot dish costing more than thirty bucks, Director Ji, Mr. Ji, I also have feelings for Coastal Auto, but life's really unbearable... Please have mercy."

"Yeah, yeah." The people beside him also sympathized, some had reddened eyes unable to speak, some were smoking sullenly.

Laying out the facts, reasoning, playing pathetic, pretending to be poor, issuing harsh words and threats...

After running through the whole process, tears and accusations over, everyone's gaze fell on Ji Jue.

An explanation has to be given.

Ji Jue looked at the small mound of cigarette butts piled in the ashtray before him, and even though he had always kept a respectful distance from tobacco, he couldn't resist wanting to borrow a light.

If life were good, who'd touch smoke or alcohol? These days are just too damn hard.

"The situation at Coastal, you all can see it."

He paused for a moment and then slowly said, "The situation is, just as it is."

Seeing that others were about to speak, he raised his hand, indicating to wait for a moment.

Some people wanted to cry or say something, others impatiently stood up wanting him to give a definite answer, but being stared at by those calm eyes, they couldn't help but pause for a moment.

Ji Jue raised his palm.

A silence enveloped the room.

"Listen to me finish."

Ji Jue looked at them, glanced at the figures peeking around the doorway, and sighed.

With the money given by Lv Yingyue, it could definitely resolve this ancient debt, but forget about reconstruction. That money was meant for building and maintenance, using it to fill the bottomless pit left by the predecessor would be too idiotic.

How can one justify slashing several deep cuts into their own economy just as things begin? Moreover, how much of this massive debt is padded, and how much wrangling would it involve?

"As it stands, I've just taken over Coastal, and haven't even officially assumed the position yet.The specific accounts need to be counted and assessed before they can be confirmed.

However, if everyone needs an explanation, I can indeed give one."

He straightforwardly said:

"There's no money to give."

Boom!

In an instant, the crowd roared to life, everyone couldn't help but stand up, pushing forward, with curses and pleas filling the air. Amidst the sea of heads, a scruffy middle-aged man pushed to the front, reaching into his coat, clutching something tightly.

Yet he had no time to draw it out.

Ji Jue's gaze had already fallen on his face.

With an ambiguous smile.

Staring at him.

Despite doing nothing, even just looking at him made the middle-aged man freeze in place, from the inside out... a chill ran through him.

When those pitch-black eyes flickered with a faintly burning flame, an intense sense of dread seemed to engulf the entire office, be it fury, grief, mockery, or calculation, everything came to an abrupt halt.

"I can understand everyone's feelings and intentions, it's reasonable that it's hard to accept the situation now."

Ji Jue spoke slowly, "Life for a life, debt for money, that's the natural order. No matter how much I try to justify, I can't change this fact.

But please, everyone, think carefully, consider seriously, can Coastal now pay you back? Even if we flattened this broken factory, selling the bricks block by block, how much would it fetch?"

"Everyone please—"

Someone in the crowd raised a hand angrily, wanting to rally, but hadn't finished speaking before they choked violently, losing their breath, collapsing to the ground, faced turning crimson and purplish blue.

"Oh no, it's asthma."

Ji Jue was shocked, rushing up, pushing away the surrounding people, checking the collapsed person's condition: "Everyone get out of the way, open the windows, he's not going to make it."

The gasping person on the ground struggled violently, clawing, grabbing at Ji Jue's sleeve, making unintelligible noises.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I will save you."

Ji Jue smiled gently, comforting: "The hospital is too far from here, let me provide some first aid, don't worry, I'm a professional."

Then he raised his hand, delivering several crisp slaps.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Strangely enough, after a couple of slaps, the previously asphyxiated face actually looked a bit better, with the chest rising and falling, exhaling a breath.

"It worked, it really worked!!!"

The people nearby didn't even have time to be stunned, already floored by reality.

What an impressive first aid method!

Go Director Ji!

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