Chapter 15: Never Take the Blame! Pay Up, Then? What Else...

Hearing this, Chen Dazhu and Ma Yulian were both taken aback once more. They both thought Li Junsheng was raising the price on the spot, and the fire that had just subsided in Ma Yulian’s heart flared up again.

“What are you playing at…” Ma Yulian began to question him, but Chen Dazhu hurriedly shot her a look, signaling her to stop talking recklessly. Chen Dazhu realized that he couldn’t allow her and Zhiyuan to take the initiative, or things might go awry.

Catching Chen Dazhu’s look, Ma Yulian could only swallow her words. She rolled her eyes in frustration!

At this moment, Chen Dazhu’s expression grew more grave as he asked Li Junsheng, “Junsheng, didn’t I give you a thousand yuan already? We agreed that this job would cost a thousand yuan, so why are you asking for more?”

“You know that thousand yuan wasn’t all for me, right? When I got the letter of proof done for you, it all came out of that thousand—none of it was really mine.”

“The factory is all about personal connections. Over there, nothing gets done without money changing hands. Now that I have to get another proof, shouldn’t you reimburse me for what I’ll need to spend?”

On hearing this, Chen Dazhu froze. This was even worse than Li Junsheng simply raising the price for himself—at least then, they could negotiate. But if it was because the factory had such demands, Chen Dazhu found himself unable to argue or refuse.

“Think it over.” Li Junsheng was in no rush, leaving these words behind and reclining on the lounge chair with his eyes closed to rest.

Before Ma Yulian could say anything, it was Chen Zhiyuan who looked the most indignant.

“This is a state-run factory? How can they be so black-hearted?”

“Zhiyuan! Be quiet, this isn’t your place to speak for now.” Chen Dazhu reprimanded him lightly, stroking his chin in thought.

He was weighing whether Li Junsheng’s words were true. Looking at Li Junsheng, who sat openly and met his gaze without a hint of guilt, Chen Dazhu didn’t think he was lying or cheating him out of money.

In truth, after reincarnating, Li Junsheng was no longer the same man as before. There was no way he would falter in a stare-down with Chen Dazhu.

Chen Dazhu had long heard that state enterprises were a hassle; anything you wanted to do had to be reported and approved step by step. Even a simple task might require several stamps, and each stamp meant owing someone a favor. Now, seeing Li Junsheng’s situation, Chen Dazhu felt that what he’d heard was probably true.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Ma Yulian, still fuming, began to berate Li Junsheng.

“Money, money, money—you’re obsessed with it! Must you haggle over every penny? What’s wrong with taking a loss sometimes? Guojun just let you off, and you and your son always make things difficult for me!”

“You had the proof in your hands—how could Guojun have snatched it away? You’re useless at everything, you can’t even eat without leaving leftovers, like a block of wood. If you’d just dodged out of the way, we wouldn’t need a new letter now!”

Astonishingly, Ma Yulian was blaming him again. Li Junsheng’s face darkened, his displeasure obvious.

“Why don’t you say it’s Chen Zhiyuan’s fault? He was the one who shouldn’t have brought up the job transfer right in front of Guojun, showing no restraint at all. It’s only been a day and he’s already so impatient!”

“I brought the proof out at the time—he just didn’t grab it first. I don’t think he really values either the proof or the job. I’m taking the risk of being resented by Guojun to go back to the factory and get a new letter for you, and you’re blaming me?”

Ma Yulian was momentarily speechless, unable to out-argue Li Junsheng. Her chest tightened with anger—had Li Junsheng always been this sharp-tongued?

“Enough, enough, Yulian, just say a little less. Old Li’s right!” Chen Dazhu sided with Li Junsheng, uncharacteristically dropping his facade with Ma Yulian.

Li Junsheng snorted coldly, knowing full well that Chen Dazhu couldn’t afford to offend him right now.

“Chen Dazhu, be honest with yourself—haven’t I done everything I should? And now, because of your son, trouble has come to my door and disturbed my peace.”

“I haven’t refused to help you. If I have to go back to the factory and ask for favors again, of course I’ll need to spend more money. I haven’t even complained about making another trip!”

Li Junsheng laid it all out before Chen Dazhu. He wasn’t a saint, nor did he intend to be considerate of Li Junsheng. But for the sake of obtaining the factory job, he had no choice but to put on a fawning smile for Li Junsheng.

What Li Junsheng wanted was to see him gnash his teeth in hatred, yet be completely helpless.

Sure enough, Chen Dazhu forced a smile, nodding along with Li Junsheng. “Yes, yes, Old Li, I know this is a lot of trouble for you, but it just so happened everything came to a head at once.”

“Don’t be angry. Yulian’s just upset; she didn’t mean what she said. You two are husband and wife—you shouldn’t quarrel.”

At the mention of husband and wife, Ma Yulian looked thoroughly disgusted. Who would want to be married to Li Junsheng? Meanwhile, Chen Zhiyuan was still unconvinced, aggrieved that Li Junsheng was blaming him for exposing the job transfer in front of Li Guojun.

Chen Zhiyuan couldn’t care less, muttering under his breath, “You took my dad’s money and gave me the job—that’s only right and proper!”

“You didn’t explain things to your son, and now you blame me.” Chen Dazhu nudged Chen Zhiyuan in private.

He now understood clearly: Li Junsheng was simply short of money, and if he wanted things done, he couldn’t be afraid to take a loss. Having already given a thousand, what did a bit more matter?

Still, he felt stifled and uncomfortable. Who knew how much Li Junsheng would ask for this time? Chen Dazhu didn’t want to give him a cent more, but he had no choice.

It was all his son’s fault for being so loose-tongued and impatient. If not, everything would be settled by now, and there’d be no need for extra expenses. With that thought, Chen Dazhu glared at the indignant Chen Zhiyuan, vowing to teach his son patience and strategy once they returned home.

Chen Zhiyuan, on the receiving end of the glare, was utterly baffled, never seeing himself as having done wrong.

After composing himself, Chen Dazhu began to flatter Li Junsheng. “I have to say, Old Li, you’re truly capable. If I tried to handle this myself, I probably wouldn’t even get to see the leaders of your factory, would I?”

Li Junsheng played along. “Indeed, the leaders aren’t easy to meet. Besides, as an old worker, everyone knows I’m reliable, easy to get along with, and clean-handed. They wouldn’t want me handing over the job to some young man of unknown character.”

“I understand all that. When you’re asking someone for a favor, treating them to a meal or bringing a gift is only proper, right? Isn’t that so?”

Li Junsheng nodded, then gestured to the things Chen Dazhu had brought, which Li Guojun had kicked into a mess.

“They have discerning tastes. Just look at what you brought today—they didn’t even give it a second glance. Otherwise, these things would have come in handy!”

He spoke with a serious and convincing air.

Chen Dazhu quickly believed him and sat down next to Li Junsheng, probing, “So, how much will it take to get another letter this time?”

“Old Li, just give me a number. I’ll get you the money—please handle this for me.”