Chapter 115: A Familiar Scene

"President Qu, the workers have gathered at the gate to cause trouble again. They say if you don't pay their wages, they're going to storm the office!" In an office that was far from luxurious but quite stylish, a secretary clutched a stack of files, looking at her boss in terror.

"What is there to be afraid of? We live in a society governed by the rule of law. Let them try to eat me if they have the guts!" Qu Wei, the president, looked at the crowd outside the window and bit her lip.

She looked like a desperate gambler who had lost everything.

In truth, as a returnee from abroad and a moderately famous international fashion designer, Qu Wei had always projected the image of a sharp, capable, and fashionable woman. She would never normally say such things.

However, since returning from overseas and investing her entire life savings into establishing this clothing company in Wenzhou, she had been forced into this state of reckless desperation.

It couldn't be helped; anyone would undergo such a transformation after watching the clothes they designed pile up in a warehouse, almost none of them selling, with not a single person interested in buying them.

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"This company looks quite similar to our old one!" Standing at the entrance of the clothing enterprise named "The Flowing Stream and the Gathering of Wei," Boss Huang He couldn't help but sigh.

"Does it?" Leng Zhiwen, the secretary following Huang He, was startled.

"Of course. Look at the workers surrounding the place so tightly, the wage-demand signs and banners in their hands, and the fact that the boss is a returnee—this is exactly the same situation we were in at the Jiangnan Leather Factory back then!" Boss Huang exclaimed.

Indeed, the scene was so familiar that it stirred up memories for Boss Huang, bringing back the images and atmosphere of those days.

"Were we really that miserable back then?" Leng Zhiwen looked at the hundreds of employees who had completely encircled the office building, and the bloody banners and debt-collection signs in their hands.

These banners and signs seemed to have been written in real blood; every character appeared to be dripping. Combined with the near-maniacal expressions of the crowd, who looked as if they wanted to tear someone apart, Leng Zhiwen couldn't help but shiver instinctively. The scene was truly terrifying.

"Brother-in-law, did you really face people like this back then?" Leng Zhiwen couldn't help asking.

"The situation was even worse than this. After all, we had 1,500 employees back then, while there are only a few hundred here!" Huang He chuckled.

"I had no idea..." Leng Zhiwen murmured to herself.

"Of course you didn't. You were studying at university, only coming home once every ten days or so, and you never visited my company. Naturally, you couldn't have known what the situation was like," Huang He said calmly.

"But Brother-in-law, I remember my mother saying that you still gave our family over ten thousand in living expenses every month. And the money for my self-funded registration for the National Martial Arts League—you paid for all of that. Weren't you in massive debt?" Leng Zhiwen asked again.

"Oh, right, massive debt—a full 350 million!" Huang He grinned. "But, precisely because the debt was so large, your little bit of money didn't matter. It was only a few thousand total; it couldn't even compare to a single hair on the back of that 350 million. So, there was no point in trying to save money from you. Besides, I promised your sister that I would take good care of you five sisters for life and ensure you lived happy, wonderful lives. Your brother-in-law will always keep his word!"

"You say you promised my sister, but then why did you treat me like that!" Leng Zhiwen had been somewhat moved by Huang He's words and the context of the scene, but as soon as she mentioned her sister, she recalled the indelible memory of that night and couldn't help but challenge him.

"Huh? How did I treat you? Was there something I didn't do well enough?" Huang He was actually quite surprised by this question. Leng Zhiwen’s attitude toward him hadn't been good to begin with, and it had only gotten worse over time. Heaven knows why; Huang He himself couldn't figure it out.

"You don't know... Hmph..." Leng Zhiwen snorted. Just as she was about to say something, the crowd in the factory began to surge, rushing toward the locked office building as if they intended to break in by force.

"Not good!" Huang He's expression changed. He pushed open the unlocked factory gate and rushed in. Leng Zhiwen was startled and hurriedly followed. She then saw Huang He shouting at the edge of the crowd, "Everyone, don't be impulsive! Stay calm! Let me in, I can help you!"

However, Huang He didn't have a megaphone, and no one paid any attention to his voice. The crowd didn't change at all.

"Damn, if only I had a megaphone!" Huang He muttered, cursing.

"Would a megaphone do the trick?" asked Leng Zhiwen, who had caught up to him. Huang He nodded. To his surprise, Leng Zhiwen rushed into the crowd and returned a moment later, holding a megaphone.

"Where did you get this thing?" Huang He asked, astonished as he looked at the megaphone.

"I borrowed it from someone!" Leng Zhiwen said indifferently. That’s right—borrowed, not snatched!

"Good, I'll give you credit for this!" Huang He chuckled. He picked up the megaphone, turned it to the maximum volume, climbed onto a nearby stone lion, gathered his energy, and shouted with all his might, "Everyone, be quiet! I am here to purchase stock from your factory. Once I pay, your boss will have the money to pay your wages!!!"

Huang He was experienced; whether it was jumping on the lion or roaring at the top of his lungs, he quickly brought the chaotic scene to a standstill. Of course, expecting them to be convinced immediately was unrealistic.

"Who are you? Why should we believe you?" a worker shouted.

"I am Huang He," Boss Huang stated his name calmly. The chattering workers instantly closed their mouths, all looking at Boss Huang with hopeful eyes.

There was no one in Wenzhou who didn't know about Huang He. After all, when the Jiangnan Leather Factory was truly on the verge of bankruptcy years ago, it was Huang He who had single-handedly pulled it back from the brink.

Now, this company, "The Flowing Stream and the Gathering of Wei," was in the same position as the Jiangnan Leather Factory had been six months prior. Their warehouse was filled with unsold goods. If even a tenth of them were sold, there would be hope for their overdue wages.

Consequently, the agitated workers parted, clearing a path for Huang He to reach the office.

"My god, is he my Great Sage Equaling Heaven?" Qu Wei, who had just finished watching the two-part film *A Chinese Odyssey*, clutched her heart as she watched the man who had instantly calmed the crowd and was now walking toward her door.