Chapter 82: Bundled Donations
Heh, if they’ve already offered, why be afraid of getting burned?
Don’t they know people wear white gloves?
“Sometimes, I get really angry. We people at the bottom… those bastards.”
“Forget it, forget it. Talking about this is pointless. Let’s get to the point. Thanks to you, elder brother has recovered my Lieutenant Colonel rank!”
“Oh, then I must congratulate Lieutenant Colonel Xu!” Cao Weida was surprised, recovered his Lieutenant Colonel rank?
He hadn’t watched much of the TV series “Wolf Smoke Beiping,” and it had been a long time, so he only remembered the general characters. As for the specific time or what happened, he truly had no memory.
That makes sense, though. It was just to track down a female spy. If that’s all it took to be promoted from Major to Lieutenant Colonel, then promotions in the Military Statistics Bureau would be too easy.
If it was just a recovery, then it makes sense.
Xu Jin’ge smiled broadly, “They say that in our line of work, friendship is the most useless thing, but I, Xu Jin’ge, can’t repay kindness with ingratitude. I owe you a favor, and as long as I’m alive, it will always count.”
Cao Weida immediately probed, “Then can I use this favor to get out of joining your so-called non-staff personnel?”
Xu Jin’ge’s face twitched, and he said speechlessly, “The requests you make must also be within my capabilities. If the boss gives an order, how can I have the ability to control it?”
Cao Weida rolled his eyes, “Fine, fine, pretend I didn’t say anything.”
Noon, inside a safe house.
Cao Weida pushed a box over, “Here, the twenty thousand silver dollars I promised you.”
“You’re serious.” Zheng Chaoyang was speechless, waving his hands repeatedly in refusal, “No, no need. You’re helping us exterminate traitors, and we’re grateful. How could we possibly take your money? Hurry and take it back.”
“What do you mean? I, Cao Weida, stand by my word. I said I’d give twenty thousand, so I’ll give twenty thousand. If you don’t take it, aren’t you slapping me in the face?”
“No, no, we really can’t accept it. If we accept it, what does that make us? We appreciate your kind intentions.”
“Just take it.”
“I really can’t accept it!”
“Oh, why be so polite? Didn’t we agree?”
“That’s what you agreed to, I never agreed.”
The two pushed back and forth, one insisting on giving and the other refusing to accept. Anyone who saw them would think it was something bad.
“Hey, this is really strange, to the point where money can’t even be given away.” Seeing Zheng Chaoyang’s firm attitude, which wasn’t just polite refusal, Cao Weida shook his head helplessly.
It had to be said that the Communist Party at this time had its own principles and faith, with extremely firm principles. They said they wouldn’t take a single needle or thread from the people, and they truly did it without compromise.
Seeing his desperate refusal, Cao Weida wanted to give it even more.
Such a lovely and respectable person, he actually felt that only taking two thousand was too stingy.
Putting on a show of helplessness, he sighed regretfully, “Is that so? I have some penicillin here. I originally wanted to donate it to you, but since your attitude is so firm, I suppose you wouldn’t accept it either.”
“That can be accepted!” Zheng Chaoyang grabbed Cao Weida’s hand, smiling obsequiously, “Esteemed Cao, thank you for your generous contribution on behalf of our comrades who have fought through bloodshed!”
Money could be refused, but medicine could not be!
This was something that concerned the lives and deaths of their comrades, so how could he possibly refuse!
Cao Weida said with a half-smile, “Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t accept it?”
“Esteemed Cao’s kindness is so great, if we were to refuse again, wouldn’t that be too disheartening?” Zheng Chaoyang was embarrassed but refused to let go.
In the face of the lives and safety of countless comrades who had fought through bloodshed, what was face worth?
Not to mention a lot, as long as he could exchange it for a box of penicillin, he was willing to have his face trampled underfoot, even if it was twisted into eighteen bends!
Seeing the other party’s shameless, or rather somewhat humble, attitude, Cao Weida felt a pang of discomfort.
These were revolutionary predecessors worthy of respect and admiration!
The prosperous future of China was won by these respectable and lovely people!
Taking a deep breath, Cao Weida’s smile faded, and he said earnestly, “Alright, I’m not joking with you anymore. Last time you told me you wanted me to get some medicine, and I’ve kept it in mind. It’s just that I don’t have many skills, and in this long time, I’ve only managed to get forty boxes of penicillin.”
“But don’t worry, I’m already trying to find ways to get more medicine, but it will take some time.”
Forty boxes?!
Zheng Chaoyang’s eyes immediately lit up. Twenty boxes per unit meant eight hundred doses!
If used sparingly, it might save eight hundred brave veteran soldiers!
“That’s not a small amount, not at all! Esteemed Cao, we will definitely remember your kindness! But what I need to say is that we may not be able to publicize your deeds for now.” To avoid misunderstanding, Zheng Chaoyang added an explanation:
“It’s to protect the safety of those who donate supplies to us, like you. You know, special agents are everywhere…”
Cao Weida shook his head, “I understand that, no need to explain. Even if you had the intention, I’d be afraid of being found out, as I still want to make a living in Beiping. Moreover, I’m donating voluntarily and never thought of gaining fame through such actions, nor have I ever expected any reward.”
“Thank you for your understanding, Esteemed Cao, and thank you for your silent contributions!”
Zheng Chaoyang was deeply moved in his heart, almost to the point of tears.
This was medicine comparable to gold. Including the previous donation, this was an astronomical sum!
As long as there were these lovely people who loved their country, loved their compatriots, and loved this land, China would never be defeated!
Even if the Communist Party fell, another Communist Party would rise!
“However…”
Zheng Chaoyang’s heart tightened, “However, what?”
“However, I’m not donating it individually; it’s a bundled donation.” Cao Weida said with a smile, “My forty boxes of penicillin are bundled with twenty thousand silver dollars. This means that if you want to accept these forty boxes of medicine, you must also accept the donation of twenty thousand silver dollars. If you don’t accept the donation of twenty thousand silver dollars, then the forty boxes of penicillin cannot be given.”
Hmph, you don’t want my two thousand silver dollars, fine, then I’ll donate twenty thousand silver dollars!
I’ll do a bundled donation and see if you accept it!
I refuse to believe that I can’t donate the money I want to donate!
“This…” Zheng Chaoyang was completely dumbfounded by Cao Weida’s maneuver. Could it be like this?
He refused two thousand just now, and then immediately donated twenty thousand, and it was a bundled donation?!
He was considered one of the rare intellectuals in China during this era, and he understood some marketing tactics like bundled sales, but he had never heard of donations being bundled. He was dumbfounded.
“What, you can’t?” Cao Weida sighed regretfully, “Then there’s nothing I can do.”
“Don’t,” Zheng Chaoyang immediately became anxious. This was something concerning the lives and safety of hundreds of comrades who had fought through bloodshed. How could he give up?
“How about this, I’ll report to my superior and give you an answer as soon as possible. Is that acceptable?”
“That won’t do. I’m very busy. Do you want it or not? If not, I’m leaving. Let me tell you, once this opportunity is gone, it’s gone forever. I might even take this medicine to the black market.” Cao Weida made a move to stand up, but Zheng Chaoyang grabbed him tightly, speechless and laughing, “Alright, I accept, I accept, is that okay?”
How could this be? Donating could be forced, without even giving any time to think.
Cao Weida then smiled with satisfaction and sat back down, “That’s more like it. We’re all men, why be so hesitant? Isn’t it better to be straightforward?”
“Alright, tomorrow night, same place, I’ll bring everything over.”
Money, Cao Weida wasn’t lacking. Enough was enough; any more on him was just kept as a collectible.
Only money spent is money; if not spent, it’s just a pile of metal and paper.
If it could help those lovely people, it would be considered making the best use of it.
“By the way, Brother Chaoyang, I have a question I’d like your advice on.”
“Go ahead,” Cao Weida’s image had been infinitely elevated in Zheng Chaoyang’s mind by his actions. As long as it didn’t involve secrets or the organization, he would surely tell him everything.
“It’s just that I’ve recently encountered a problem.” Cao Weida pretended to hesitate, and after much deliberation, he reluctantly spoke:
“A while ago, I helped the Military Statistics Bureau with a small favor, and then they wanted to recruit me.”
“But, I really don’t like the Kuomintang much. If it weren’t for the current United War of Resistance period, and being fellow Chinese, I couldn’t stand by and watch a patriotic person be persecuted. I really wouldn’t want any contact with them.”
“But then I helped them with another small favor, and their boss noticed me and insisted I join.”
“To be honest, you’ve probably heard about the conduct of some of their high-ranking officials. I really don’t want to get involved with them, but I don’t dare refuse. You know their boss’s reputation; he’s very petty.”
“So, I wanted to ask if you could help me find a way, some excuse to legitimately refuse.”
Hearing this, Zheng Chaoyang’s expression immediately changed. Damn, as expected, capable people couldn’t be hidden. He had already attracted the attention of the Military Statistics Bureau so quickly!
He asked nervously, “What favor did you do for them? Can you reveal it? Of course, if it’s something confidential, you don’t have to say.”
“There’s nothing confidential,” Cao Weida rolled his eyes. “I just helped them rescue someone from the Matsui Special Agency, and then helped them track down two people. Nothing else.”
“To be honest, I don’t want to get involved with them, so I haven’t had much contact. I don’t know what their boss is thinking, insisting on bringing me in. If I don’t agree, they give me some kind of non-staff personnel status. Isn’t that just making things difficult?”
“The key is that I don’t dare to refuse outright, I’m afraid of being targeted… Sigh.”
“So that’s how it is.” Zheng Chaoyang’s heart immediately relaxed. After a myriad of thoughts, he tentatively asked, “Cao’er, the war situation is currently very good, and I believe victory is just around the corner.”
“The Kuomintang’s situation is also very good right now. Aren’t you tempted?”
“Joining the Kuomintang at this time would bring countless benefits to your future.”
