CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 183: BRIBING DIRECTOR BAI

Lin Xue and Zhang Yuan arrived at the brick factory, and the old guard ran out as soon as he saw strangers.

"Comrades, who are you looking for?" Since the brick factory had workers’ dormitories, people coming to look for someone was a common occurrence.

"Sir, we’re here to buy some bricks. Who should we talk to?" Lin Xue spoke, her attitude particularly nice.

Immediately, Zhang Yuan offered the guard a cigarette.

The old guard took a puff of the cigarette, his eyes squinting with pleasure.

Seeing this, Lin Xue signaled to Zhang Yuan, who understood instantly and stuffed the remaining pack of cigarettes into the guard’s pocket.

The guard only resisted slightly before accepting it; he couldn’t resist since it was so enjoyable to smoke.

"The two young comrades, you need to book in advance to buy bricks, and all the orders have long been filled up; it’s estimated that you won’t be able to buy any in the first half of the year! But you can go find our Director Bai to see! Go inside, see that worker’s dormitory? The office is just around there!" The guard pointed with his hand and also lifted the pack of cigarettes in his pocket!

Implying they should not forget to offer some bribe; that way, the chances of getting some bricks would be higher.

With Lin Xue and Zhang Yuan’s understanding, how could they not get it? They thanked the guard and went inside.

They headed straight to the office.

Director Bai was a man in his forties, looking sharp. When he saw the two kids knocking on the door and entering, he looked over with confusion.

"Hello, Director Bai!"

Zhang Yuan immediately stepped forward to light a cigarette for him and then discreetly placed the pack on the table.

Director Bai took a puff and looked at the pack on the table, raising his eyebrows. Wasn’t this that popular cigarette from some time ago? A pack costs ten yuan, while his monthly salary as the director was only a hundred yuan, and he had a big family to support, so he couldn’t afford it.

Yet, the kids in front of him casually put a ten-yuan pack of cigarettes on his desk like it was nothing.

He wasn’t stupid; it was obvious they wanted something from him.

"Young comrades, what do you need?" he asked tentatively.

"Director Bai, to be honest, we’re from Chaoyang Commune, and our family wants to build a house, so we’re here to see if we can order some bricks." Lin Xue deliberately acted cute, like a little girl her age.

"Buying bricks? Well, you’ll have to wait for that. Orders are piled up, and if you book now, it’d be good if they’re ready by August or September! How many do you need? I’ll give you a ticket to pay the deposit first!" Director Bai said officially.

"Well... Director Bai, our house can’t withstand the rainy season and needs to be built urgently! Can we move up the line?" As Lin Xue spoke, she took out two bottles of Wuliangye and a pack of cigarettes from her bag and placed them on the desk. "This is a small gift for you!"

Laughing, if it’s August or September, it’d be good to live in by winter, but they couldn’t wait that long. The dilapidated mud house would collapse during the rainy season for sure; though they didn’t mind moving to town, Lin Xue had to keep her chicken farm, and she had things to do in the village, so living there was more convenient.

"Young comrade, I can’t accept this! That’s the rule!" Director Bai looked at the premium liquor and cigarettes, almost drooling. Even if he didn’t smoke, selling this would be two or three months’ salary!

Otherwise, if he used it as a gift, could he miss the vice factory manager position?

Right now, they were selecting a vice factory manager, and as the head of the sales department, he had a good chance. If he could give gifts and pull some strings, it’d be within his grasp.

"Director Bai, these gifts aren’t bribes; they’re for personal reasons, and don’t conflict with the rules!" Lin Xue smiled sweetly. "You could say I’m your niece! Isn’t it normal for a niece to bring gifts to her uncle?"

Lin Xue noticed that Director Bai was very tempted by the cigarettes and spirits.

After lighting the cigarette, Zhang Yuan stood next to Lin Xue without speaking.

Director Bai happily responded to Lin Xue’s words.

"Good niece, come, sit down!" Director Bai stood up, pouring water for them with a friendly demeanor.

Lin Xue laughed too as they sat on chairs opposite the desk.

"Niece, how many bricks do you need? Uncle will arrange it for you, cut the line!" As the sales department head, Director Bai had rights like this. Making others wait a few more days wasn’t a big deal.

Who would bother to report to the factory manager? Besides, he’d have already given gifts to the manager, who would just let it slide.

"I want to build a five-room tiled house; how many bricks would that take?" Lin Xue asked.

She and Zhang Yuan discussed it, and building a house like the ones in town seemed impractical in the village; it was too showy. But a small one wouldn’t suffice, so a five-room tiled house was the middle ground. The rooms could be small yet enough for six or seven rooms like those in town.

They also planned to build a warehouse.

"This requires quite a lot! Our bricks now are two and a half cents each! A five-room tile house will need a lot... if we cut in line, the people behind will surely complain!" Director Bai said with difficulty.

Lin Xue thought it over and considered adding more chips, bringing out more good stuff for bribery if necessary.

"About how many bricks are needed?" Lin Xue asked again.

"Probably need about forty thousand bricks; it’ll take two to three days to fire them. The ones lining up behind are also anxious..." Director Bai kept emphasizing.

Estimating forty thousand, it could mean more, and since she also plans to build a small warehouse, it wouldn’t be just forty thousand.

"Director Bai, how about this: can you cut the line by selling us fifty thousand bricks? We have some grains to sell if you need them! You know how scarce food is, so getting a chance to buy is rare! Don’t you think so?" Lin Xue offered a bait.

"Grains? Are you talking about coarse or fine grains?" Director Bai immediately became interested.

"Fine grains! Rice!" Lin Xue stated.

Director Bai got excited over rice; it was a prized commodity hard to find. Although Xiangyang Commune grew rice, most were given as tributes, leaving only a few pounds.

"Isn’t it very expensive? What’s the price for me?" Director Bai asked again. His mood fluctuated, excited at the prospect of getting rice, but wary since the black market price was one and a half per jin; how much could he buy with his month’s salary?

"Two cents per jin for you!" Lin Xue showed two fingers.

Even though the black market price was one and a half, she knew Director Bai couldn’t afford it. But if priced like the supply point, there would arouse suspicion, so adding five cents avoided doubt and achieved her goal of buying bricks.

To her, food wasn’t that rare; she had plenty, but bricks were hard to get. By comparison, selling at two cents per jin was fine.