“Buying equipment costs money. If the bank lends the money, the bank benefits.”
“When the industry develops industrially, production efficiency rises, and the cost of goods drops.”
“Lower costs, higher efficiency—ordinary people can buy more products at cheaper prices.”
Qian Heng, a Tongji graduate, understood perfectly. He immediately relayed Jiang Luo’s words to their branch manager, Zhou Qian, who listened and felt genuinely moved.
“Alright. Let’s give it a try.”
So Zhou Qian didn’t immediately block Jiang Luo’s loan request. He reported it to higher authorities.
Good news: the higher-ups responded quickly.
Bad news: it was rejected. The district branch leader even called Zhou Qian, yelling: “One million?! Why don’t you just go rob a bank?!”
“Your relative? Waiting to share the money? And you dared to submit this?”
“Since you dare, should I dare?”
“Don’t you fear my superiors scolding me?”
“N-no, no, calm down, sir, calm down.”
Zhou Qian hurriedly smiled and replied, “Not a relative, of course not.”
But that wasn’t the end.
Whether because Jiang Luo’s words genuinely moved him, or his own stubborn nature, or perhaps just luck, Zhou Qian, after hanging up the scolding call, personally took Qian Heng and the loan materials to Bank of China’s Haicheng headquarters.
Jiang Luo didn’t know any of this at first.
Soon, the main and branch offices in Haicheng all knew that a small branch manager was running around tirelessly for a one-million-yuan loan.
After leaving the headquarters, Zhou Qian and Qian Heng stopped for lunch at a street bun shop. Eating, Zhou Qian said, “Someone has to try, right? Drops of water move forward to form a wave. The wave moves forward to join the sea.”
Qian Heng, looking a bit nervous, said, “Do you think this will work? We’ve already run so many trips.”
Zhou Qian: “Run! Why not? This is your first big deal—don’t you want it?”
Qian Heng nodded, trusting him completely.
It was cold outside, winter winds cooling their buns and making the filling less appetizing.
And Jiang Luo? He wasn’t sitting in a cozy office or hotel dining luxuriously.
For the past few days, he’d been running back and forth to the post and telecommunications bureau.
At that time, the postal and telecom services hadn’t separated. Jiang Luo was there to use the phone to make international calls to the German company from which he intended to buy equipment.
A small table, a wooden chair, and a landline capable of long-distance calls—Jiang Luo sat in a corner, speaking fluent English with the German company, negotiating non-stop.
“Do that again, and you’ll face internal discipline!”
Meanwhile, at Bank of China’s Haicheng headquarters, the branch leadership scolded Zhou Qian and Qian Heng as soon as they stepped out:
“Are you out of your mind? The entire head office is busy with Pudong funds, and you come here to cause trouble!”
“Do you think your one million is that great? Trip after trip!?”
“Your stubbornness almost drove me crazy!”
Zhou Qian smiled politely. Qian Heng trailed behind, head down, quietly sniffling.
Back at the branch, Zhou Qian, exhausted, sipped some tea before calling Qian Heng over:
“Go tell Mr. Jiang, the bank can’t approve the full one million. Ask if 100,000 works—we can approve that immediately. For anything more, he’ll need other solutions.”
At Pacific Department Store, in the general manager’s office upstairs, Li Fengrui heard Guo Ronghai’s report and smirked: “One million right off the bat, huh?”
“Did you confirm it? Really Jiang Luo requesting one million?”
“Really. Bank of China’s headquarters is buzzing about it. Branches have run all over the place and gotten scolded.”
Guo Ronghai smiled along.
Li Fengrui chuckled lightly. “I wonder what he’s capable of.”
Back at the post office, Jiang Luo kept making calls.
At this time, different people were on their own paths:
- Huo Zongzhuo stayed in Haicheng, handling land purchases and development procedures.
- Wang Chuang inspected factories, no recent business trips.
- Bai Ting and Wang Junwei sold pagers.
- Jiang Jianmin and Zhang Xiangping worked three shifts at a silk factory.
- Mo Wanzhen went to Jinling to train salesgirls at the boutique.
- The three Zhao family members were busy with work. Zhao Mingshi returned home, outwardly understanding, calmly moved out of his original room, and even received care and small gifts from Zhao Shuo and Su Lan.
- Zhao Mingshi also chatted with Zhao Guangyuan, playing the devoted son, softening his father’s heart.
Meanwhile, Jiang Luo continued making international calls at the post office.
During this time, whenever Huo Zongzhuo met Jiang Luo—whether for meals or casual chats—Jiang Luo never mentioned his loan request. He only talked about business casually, saying:
“I don’t have lofty ideals. I do business to make money. I love money, earning it, spending it, and the satisfaction of succeeding at something.”
“When I win, I’m happy and proud.”
Even with this, Huo Zongzhuo, who admired Jiang Luo, remained silent about the loan issue.
A few days later, Huo had a dinner meeting and heard from a Bank of China leader that two people at a branch had caused a commotion over a one-million-yuan loan, almost turning it into a company-wide joke.
Curious, Huo asked what the loan was for. The leader explained: “A private owner wants to buy imported clothing equipment and applied for one million at a branch.”
He added: “The branch manager, Zhou Qian, is a stubborn one. I don’t think he’s getting any benefits—he just keeps coming to headquarters for this one million.”
Huo asked, “What factory, who’s the owner?”
Leader: “Not sure, the loan isn’t processed through me. I just heard about it.”
Huo didn’t pursue further but suspected it might be Jiang Luo.
Since Jiang Luo hadn’t mentioned it, Huo assumed he had his own reasons and let it be.
A few days later, Huo had business at Bank of China headquarters and mentioned it to a leader there. The leader found Zhou Qian’s previously submitted loan materials, handed them to Huo, and he recognized immediately—this one-million request was indeed Jiang Luo’s.
Seeing the materials, Huo almost didn’t hesitate: “I’ll sign as guarantor.”
The leader paused, tea cup in hand, surprised.
Huo took out his pen, ready to sign.
Another leader suddenly entered: “Old Fang, remember that one-million loan from the branch?”
“The Jiading government just called, said they’re guaranteeing the loan. Approve it.”
Both the leader and Huo Zongzhuo sat upright, puzzled at the unexpected turn.