Chen Li Shu did not speak. She glanced at Gu Xing Ye, who understood and asked, "Manager Li, can you give us a specific time?"
Li Guo Jun frowned, "I can't give you a precise time, but it will be before the New Year, definitely before the New Year."
He was referring to the Lunar New Year's Eve, not the Gregorian calendar year.
Chen Li Shu certainly couldn't wait that long. Nan Hai Tao's debt was due in less than a month. The most important thing for a person is integrity. Since she had promised others, Chen Li Shu would definitely fulfill her commitment on time.
Besides, she was waiting for the funds to buy shops.
She absolutely couldn't let Manager Li's situation delay both of these matters.
"Since the company's funds are a bit tight, I shouldn't make things too difficult for Manager Li."
Manager Li scoffed inwardly as he looked at Chen Li Shu. It seemed she was still just a woman. She had spoken so forcefully earlier, but in the end, she had caved.
"Your company can offset the debt with assets. A loader costs only tens of thousands of yuan. Although it's been used for a year, I can value it at ninety percent of its new price, and you can pay me the difference in cash."
Chen Li Shu had already thought about it these past two days. If she was really short on cash, she still had a pen holder. Chen Guo Ping had examined it when she bought it from the scrap yard, and it should be worth quite a bit. In any case, things are inanimate, and it wouldn't be a loss to use them to make money.
The company's scale was currently limited, and to acquire equipment, a permit was needed. With her current strength, it was very difficult to obtain one.
Upon hearing Chen Li Shu's words, Li Guo Jun's expression kept changing. It seemed he had indeed underestimated her; she had set her sights on his equipment.
Chen Li Shu smiled, "Or it could be other equipment, not just loaders. I'm not picky." Anyway, she had already made up her mind. The company lacked everything right now, so she would take whatever she could get.
Li Guo Jun's hand, holding the cup, trembled. She said it so casually, "I'm not picky." But all that equipment was something he had painstakingly acquired, a bonus for company bids. How could he easily give it to Chen Li Shu?
"Equipment..." As soon as he spoke, he suddenly remembered something. The company had indeed decommissioned a batch of equipment, scaffolding, concrete mixers, and the like. Although they weren't completely unusable, they had bought new ones. These were stored in the warehouse and would eventually be sold as scrap. It might as well be valued and given to Chen Li Shu.
Thinking of this, Li Guo Jun changed his mind, "There is equipment. How about I take you to see it?"
Chen Li Shu nodded, and soon followed Li Guo Xing to the warehouse.
The provincial construction company's warehouse consisted of over ten bays resembling garages. Since operations had ceased, all sorts of equipment, including loaders and concrete pumps, were stored inside.
Walking through, Chen Li Shu was immensely envious. No wonder they could undertake so many projects.
Chen Li Shu secretly thought that in another two years, when the policies were better, she would buy all this equipment herself.
As the three walked further inside, they reached the very back, where Li Guo Jun stopped. Chen Li Shu looked around and finally followed his gaze, noticing a pile of items stacked in the corner.
Wheelbarrows, scaffolding, small mixing tanks, and various other miscellaneous items. However, they were either rusted or covered with uncemented concrete lumps, and they looked quite old.
"Don't look at them as old, but actually, we've been continuously using all of them. If it weren't for the lack of funds, I truly wouldn't bear to part with these things to you."
Chen Li Shu truly wanted to spit on the ground upon hearing his words. His ability to lie with a straight face was truly impressive.
She had clearly seen newer equipment elsewhere on her way here; these were obviously the old, discarded ones.
"Manager Li really knows how to joke. These things will just take up space if I take them back. If you can use them, I won't force the issue."
Li Guo Jun was determined to use the equipment to offset the debt, so how could he give up easily? "Then what do you think? Besides this equipment, the company genuinely doesn't have that much cash. These are not expensive. If you want them, valuing them at five thousand yuan would definitely be a good deal."
Chen Li Shu twitched the corner of her mouth. Five thousand? She would have to think twice even for five hundred.
"Actually, there is another way. I heard your company is negotiating a project to build a roller skating rink at the cultural center. Since there are problems with cash flow, it must be very difficult to undertake, right?"
Li Guo Jun's expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant. "What do you mean?"
Chen Li Shu smiled, "Manager Li misunderstood. I'm not a gossiper. I just feel that since you're having difficulties, why don't we cooperate? You can subcontract the project to us, and when your company has sufficient funds, you can pay us then."
Even without a single cent in her hand, Chen Li Shu's demeanor was still strong, her tone firm.
Seeing Chen Li Shu's stance, if he refused to repay the money, the cultural center project would definitely not be quiet. Moreover, he wasn't the only one eyeing the cultural center; there were two other construction companies lurking nearby. Any negative news at this time would surely have an impact.
Li Guo Xing's expression shifted a few times. Finally, he said, "Three days. Within three days, I'll have the finance department transfer the money to your company's account."
With a clear commitment, Chen Li Shu was no longer worried about him going back on his word. After all, if he didn't pay, she could directly ask two people to go to the cultural center and spread some news.
As she was leaving, Chen Li Shu looked at the pile of items and said after some thought, "Manager Li, there are so many things. How about you name a price? Sell them to me for one thousand yuan. It would definitely be more than selling them as scrap iron."
Currently, the price of scrap iron was about one yuan per kilogram. Chen Li Shu estimated that this pile of items should not weigh a ton.
"Although my equipment is outdated, it can still be used. If you don't believe me, I can call someone to test it for you."
Manager Li then called a staff member, connected the electricity, plugged it in, and soon the mixer made a muffled sound. Not long after, the rollers and blades began to emit a harsh grinding noise...
After some bargaining, Chen Li Shu finally bought all the items for one thousand five hundred yuan. The money was directly deducted from the outstanding debt.
Since Li Guo Xing had said three days, Chen Li Shu didn't push further. Before leaving, they agreed that she would find a truck the next day to pick up the scaffolding and other items. Then she and Gu Xing Ye left.
The previous warehouse had burned down, and due to weather conditions, it could only be rebuilt next spring. Additionally, fearing the tools might be stolen, Chen Li Shu went to the shop to discuss with Wang Ai Xiang. For the time being, the items would be temporarily stored at their place. Then, Gu Xing Ye and Wang Da Zhu would simply erect a simple shed. Next spring, after clearing it up, they could be used directly.
As for vehicles, the only person she had a good relationship with and could ask for help was Han Sheng Lin. Chen Li Shu went to the wool textile factory and, as soon as she mentioned wanting to borrow a delivery truck, Han Sheng Lin agreed without hesitation.
The heavy lifting would naturally be handled by the men. Most of the arrangements were almost complete. Chen Li Shu didn't go on the day they collected the items. Gu Xing Ye, Wang Da Zhu, and Liang Chun Sheng transported them from the provincial construction company to Wang Ai Xiang's home.