Rebirth 70: I am a Koi

The knocks on the door were rapid and heavy, beating my nerves one by one, like the drumbeats of death. I took a deep breath, tried to stay calm, and said "Come in".

The door opened, and it was Accountant Liu. She looked pale, holding a stack of documents in her hands, and her lips trembled slightly. "Manager Mu, someone from the bank... someone from the bank is here again."

My heart suddenly sank, and a chill ran from my feet to my head. I knew without asking that they were here to collect the money again. Ever since Boss Zhou withdrew his investment, the bank has been like a shark smelling blood, sending people to my door every few days, and each time they are pressing harder.

Almost at the same time, the office door was pushed open again, and a man in a suit and leather shoes walked in, followed by an anxious Accountant Liu. He walked straight to us and handed us a document expressionlessly: "Manager Mu, this is the latest collection notice, please take a look."

I took the document and felt dizzy after just one glance. The numbers on it were shocking, like a mountain pressing down on me and making me breathless. Bai Hanchuan's face was also terribly gloomy. He pursed his lips tightly and said nothing.

After the bank collector left, I slumped in the chair, feeling like all the strength in my body had been drained away. Bai Hanchuan walked over to me, gently hugged my shoulders, and whispered comfortingly: "Don't worry, we will find a way."

Although his words were gentle, they could not dispel the fear in my heart. I knew that we were walking on a tightrope and we would fall into the abyss if we were not careful.

Before I could catch my breath, the office door was pushed open again. This time, a strange man came in, dressed in a suit and with a cold expression. He was the representative of the raw material supplier of our base.

"Manager Mu, our boss Zhou has instructed that starting today, we will stop supplying all raw materials to your base." His tone was cold, leaving no room for negotiation.

My heart sank to the bottom in an instant. This was undoubtedly the last straw that broke the camel's back. I suppressed my despair and tried to force a smile: "Sir, we have always paid on time. Is there any misunderstanding?"

"There is no misunderstanding," the man remained expressionless, "This is Boss Zhou's decision, we are just following orders."

I begged him desperately, even lowering my stance and offering to raise the purchase price, but he remained unmoved. In the end, he left the office with a cold “Please find another supplier”.

The office fell into dead silence. Bai Hanchuan and I looked at each other and saw deep despair in each other's eyes.

Suddenly, there was a noisy sound outside the office, mixed with the employees' discussions. Bai Hanchuan walked to the window, looked out, and his face suddenly changed. He suddenly opened the office door and strode out...

I stumbled after Bai Hanchuan, feeling confused. Before I even reached the door, the noisy discussions clearly reached my ears, pricking my nerves like needles.

"I heard that Boss Zhou has withdrawn his investment. Is our base going to close down?" Employee A lowered his voice, but could not hide the panic in his tone.

"That's right. Even the raw materials have been cut off. How can we continue our business?" Employee B's voice was tearful, and it made me feel sad.

"I heard that the Lijia Village next door is recruiting workers, why don't we go and give it a try?"

"Alas, if the base really goes bankrupt, what will we do..."

The voices of the employees were getting louder and louder, like a tide, drowning me. I felt that it was difficult to breathe, and my eyes were black. Bai Hanchuan pushed the crowd away and shouted: "What are you doing! Instead of working properly, why are you gathered here to talk!"

His voice was filled with unquestionable authority, and the crowd instantly fell silent. The employees lowered their heads, not daring to look at him, but still couldn't hide the anxiety and uneasiness on their faces.

I pulled myself together, walked up to them, and tried to force a smile: "Don't worry, everyone. The base has encountered some temporary difficulties, but we will definitely overcome them. Please believe in us and believe in yourself. If we work together, we will definitely get through this difficult time!"

Although I was firm in my words, I couldn't even convince myself. Looking at the worried eyes of my employees, my heart sank to the bottom.

When I returned to the office, Accountant Liu was already waiting there. She looked pale, holding a report in her hand, and said with trembling lips: "Manager Mu, Manager Bai, our financial situation... is very bad. There is almost no liquidity in the account, and we can't even pay the employees' salaries..."

Her voice became weaker and weaker, and finally turned into sobbing. I took the report and felt my eyes go dark after just one glance. The bright red numbers were like sharp swords, piercing my eyes and my heart.

I sat weakly on the chair, feeling that all the strength in my body had been drained away. Bai Hanchuan walked over to me and held my hand tightly. His hand was cold, but it gave me a little strength.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here." His voice was low and firm, like a reassurance, making me feel a little more at ease.

"But...what should we do now?" I raised my head and looked into his eyes, my tone full of helplessness and despair.

He took a deep breath, and a trace of determination flashed in his eyes: "I will contact other suppliers, there must be a way."

After he finished speaking, he turned around, picked up the phone, and started dialing. I sat quietly by the side, listening to him being rejected again and again, listening to him lowering his posture again and again, and my heart sank again and again.

Suddenly, he put down the phone, his face turned pale, and he slammed his fist on the table, making a dull sound. I looked at him, and a bad feeling rose in my heart... "Damn it!" He growled, his tone full of anger and helplessness.

Bai Hanchuan sat back in his chair dejectedly, rubbing his temples with his hands, his brows full of fatigue. I have never seen him so depressed, his shoulders seemed to collapse, like a mountain about to collapse. My heart seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand, and I could hardly breathe.

"How is it?" I asked even though I knew the answer. My voice was so weak and trembling.

He shook his head and smiled bitterly, "They either refused to supply or proposed...harsh conditions, which is simply taking advantage of the situation." He paused, with a hint of self-mockery in his tone, "It seems that Boss Zhou's influence is greater than I thought."

I bit my lip and said nothing. Boss Zhou, this name is like a huge rock, weighing down my breath. Since he withdrew his investment, our planting base has been in trouble. The supply of raw materials has been cut off, the capital chain has been broken, the employees are panicking, and orders have begun to decrease. I feel like I am in a huge whirlpool, being drawn deeper and deeper, and I can't see a glimmer of hope.

I stood up and walked to the window, looking at the busy figures in the base. The bustling scene in the past has now become lifeless, the employees are listless, and some even began to secretly pack up their things and prepare to leave. My heart felt like being stabbed by needles, and it hurt.

"Jinli," Bai Hanchuan walked over to me and gently put his arm around my shoulders, "Don't worry, we will get through this."

Although his words were firm, they could not hide the weakness in his tone. I knew that he was also holding on, and his heart might be more tormented than mine.

"But..." I choked up and couldn't say anything. Everything in front of me made me feel desperate. I put in so much effort, was I going to watch it all go to waste?

Bai Hanchuan didn't say anything, but just hugged me tightly. His body temperature was transmitted to me through the thin clothes, bringing me a sense of warmth and strength.

Suddenly, the office door was pushed open and Accountant Liu stumbled in. His face was as pale as paper, his lips were trembling, and he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

"Accountant Liu, what's wrong?" I quickly supported her and asked anxiously.

She took a deep breath and said intermittently: "Manager Mu...Manager Bai...Manager Bai...something bad...something bad..."

Her voice was filled with fear and panic, and my heart sank, and I had a feeling that something bad was going to happen.

Accountant Liu raised a few sheets of paper in his hand and handed them to me, trembling. “Just now…just now…several…several old customers…called…”

I took the papers and took a look at them, and then I felt dark. They were notices of order cancellation, which clearly stated, "Due to the recent negative news about your company, we have decided to cancel our cooperation with you."

My hands dropped weakly, and the pieces of paper fell lightly to the ground like a few withered leaves.

Bai Hanchuan snatched the papers and his face instantly turned pale. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turned white and veins bulged.

The office was dead silent, with only our rapid breathing echoing in the air.

Suddenly, a rapid knock on the door broke the silence...

The knocks on the door became more and more urgent, like a death warrant knocking at my heart. Bai Hanchuan suddenly opened the door, and standing outside was a young employee of the base, Xiao Wang, his face was pale, his lips were trembling, and his eyes were full of fear.

"Manager Mu...Manager Bo...Manager Bo..." He stuttered, "A few more old customers...want to cancel their orders..."

My heart sank to the bottom of the valley, and a chill ran straight up from the soles of my feet to the top of my head. One wave after another, this is simply a disaster! I could hardly stand, and my body swayed for a while. Bai Hanchuan held me up, his hands were cold, but they gave me a little support.

Before I could say anything, the office door was pushed open again, and this time it was the bank's debt collector who came in. He handed me a document expressionlessly, "Manager Mu, this is a loan collection notice, please process it as soon as possible."

I mechanically took the documents, and everything in front of me was blurry. Loans, orders, raw materials, employees... everything was like a mountain, weighing me down and making me breathless.

The office was filled with despair. Accountant Liu covered his face and sobbed softly. Xiao Wang leaned against the wall dejectedly with a blank look in his eyes. Bai Hanchuan's face was terribly gloomy. He pursed his lips tightly and said nothing.

I know that he, like me, is struggling to hold on, trying not to let this last line of defense collapse. Boss Zhou, this name is like a sword hanging over my head, and I don't know when it will fall and completely defeat us. What else does he have? What is his purpose?

I took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. "Xiao Wang," I tried to make my voice sound calm, "go and comfort the other employees and tell them that we will definitely find a way to solve the problem and tell them not to panic."

Xiao Wang nodded blankly, turned and left the office.

I looked at Bai Hanchuan and said, "We have to think of a solution." My voice was hoarse and trembling a little.

Bai Hanchuan nodded, walked to the window, lit a cigarette, and took a deep puff. The smoke blurred his face, and I couldn't see his expression, but I could feel the powerlessness emanating from him.

"Boss Zhou's move is too cruel," he exhaled a smoke ring and said in a low voice, "He is trying to force us into a dead end."

I walked up to him and held his hand. His hands were cold and without a trace of warmth.

"We can't give up," I said firmly, "We still have a chance."

Bai Hanchuan turned his head and looked at me. His eyes were full of fatigue, but also a hint of hope. "You are right. We can't give up."

Suddenly, the office door was gently pushed open, and an old and familiar voice came in, "Children, don't lose heart..."