Siheyuan: A master brewer starts with a jar of bone-strengthening wine!

"Why?" Liu Dong squinted.

Luo Zhenxuan sighed, "That's too much. The task is only two thousand, and you've produced twenty thousand... If you report it all, the higher-ups will definitely assign you a task of one hundred thousand next year! Believe it or not?"

"I believe you!" Factory Director Yang slapped his thigh. "I believe you a hundredfold! Let alone 100,000, even 50,000 would make me tremble!"

"So my idea is—" Luo Zhenxuan lowered his voice, "Hold onto the money for now, don't report it! At the end of the year, we'll only pay the quota of two thousand yuan, and the rest can be gradually distributed to serve as targets for next year and the year after."

"Don't worry! Not a single foreign exchange certificate will be deducted—every time the factory exchanges currency from now on, it will all be in your name, and all your share!"

"How is it?"

Liu Dong understood.

This isn't about cutting corners; it's about wanting a "slow and steady" approach.

But he paused, then suddenly shook his head with a smile: "Secretary Luo, there's something I need to say... I hope you won't be angry—your move is like putting a rope around your own neck."

Luo Zhenxuan's eyelids twitched: "Huh? What do you mean?"

Liu Dong looked him straight in the eye: "Can this really be covered up?"

"The three of us refused to mention it, but Ding Qiunan was standing at the door and saw it; Viktor left with fifty kilograms of medicine. When he returns to his country, will he brag to his colleagues, 'There's a miracle doctor in China?'"

"If something goes wrong one day, and an investigation finds out—at best, it's considered deceiving superiors and hoarding foreign exchange; at worst, it's seen as treating national plans like a joke and hindering development!"

Luo Zhenxuan and Yang Hongbing's faces turned pale instantly.

Cold sweat quietly broke out.

"...Xiao Liu is right." Luo Zhenxuan took a deep breath. "I was only thinking about getting through the test and treated the risks like candy."

"Then—report the whole thing!"

Yang Hongbing nodded: "Report everything! Leave nothing behind!"

"Can't finish? We've done our best, and the organization will have its own judgment."

"Good!" Luo Zhenxuan slammed his hand on the table. "There's one more thing—it was agreed that whoever secured the factory's first foreign exchange earnings would become the director of the Foreign Exchange Earning Office! Liu Dong not only secured it, but he also took on the entire year's target! I propose that we immediately convene a meeting of middle-level cadres to formally announce Comrade Liu Dong's appointment as the director of the Steel Rolling Mill's Foreign Exchange Earning Office!"

"While we're at it, let's also study the structure, staffing, and scope of authority of the Foreign Exchange Revenue Office!"

"Let's go! Let's go to the meeting!" Yang Hongbing hooked his arm around Liu Dong's shoulder and strode out.

On the way, he couldn't help but sigh: "Oh dear... I was originally planning to give you three years and transfer you to the publicity department as the head; but then I found out you know medicine, so I quickly put you in the medical office—thinking that after a year, you could easily be promoted to the head of the medical department, right? Who would have thought... you would blow up the entire foreign exchange earnings target right away!"

"You've only been here a few days? Less than six months at most!"

He shook his head and strode forward, with Luo Zhenxuan close behind. Liu Dong pushed open the door and strolled out from the infusion room.

Ding Qiunan was the only one left outside.

"Hey Liu-ge~" She grinned, her smile as bright and sweet as a freshly peeled tangerine.

At this moment, Ding Qiunan already regarded Liu Dong as a god.

Putting aside his medical skills, just look at the way he talked to Victor just now—hands behind his back, not even lifting his eyelids, and he said, "Your quote needs to be recalculated." When he took the money, he counted the banknotes slowly, as steady as an old dog! Ding Qiunan was dumbfounded.

"Oh my!" Liu Dong chuckled in response. "From now on, you'll be in charge of the infirmary. Whether it's a staff member having a cold, cough, a cut, or a sprained back, you'll have complete authority to handle it!"

Ding Qiunan immediately nodded: "Okay! I understand! If I really encounter something I'm unsure about, I'll come back to you!"

"Stop!" Liu Dong quickly waved his hand. "They're not looking for me, they're taking you to the hospital! This little place only handles minor ailments like scrapes, bloating, and itchy throats. Serious illnesses? No thanks!"

"Huh?" Ding Qiunan froze on the spot, her mouth agape wide enough to fit a quail egg. Her eyes widened for two seconds before she managed to stammer out, "...Oh, oh...okay..."

Suddenly, she rolled up her sleeve and stretched out her fair wrist in front of Liu Dong: "Brother Liu, could you take my pulse for a moment?"

Liu Dong extended his index and middle fingers, touched her, and raised an eyebrow: "Tsk... Ding Qiunan, your period is a bit irregular..."

"Get lost!" Her face flushed red, she pulled her hand back, stomped her foot, and cursed, "Nonsense! I'm perfectly fine!"

"Hahaha—" Liu Dong laughed so hard his shoulders shook. He turned and left, his back view radiating smugness.

It's really doing great!

Nothing's wrong!

I was just teasing her.

Three days later, Luo Zhenxuan personally visited, holding a stack of foreign exchange certificates and a piece of paper: "Here, read this announcement aloud, and broadcast it over the factory's loudspeaker."

"Okay, sure!" Liu Dong took the money and casually unfolded the documents—

"Holy crap?!" He nearly dropped the paper. "I... got promoted?!"

Three minutes later, he took a deep breath, stood in front of the loudspeaker, and as usual blew three times to test the sound effect.

The entire factory was instantly on high alert.

Good morning, leaders and fellow workers! Now, I have an important announcement to make—

Comrade Liu Dong, the broadcaster from the propaganda department, is quick-witted and resourceful. He helped our steel rolling mill secure its first foreign exchange payment—a full $220! But he didn't get cocky; he immediately pulled off another big one: on March 14th of this year, he secured another "huge sum"! How much exactly? Uh… that's too much to say, the factory won't allow it!

"Because of his hard work and dedication, our factory achieved its annual foreign exchange earnings target ahead of schedule, and even exceeded it by a significant margin! After a meeting of the factory leadership and approval from higher authorities, it is proposed to appoint Comrade Liu Dong as the Director of the Foreign Exchange Earnings Office of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill!"

"This notice will be posted for three days! If you have any objections, please feel free to contact the factory leadership or the disciplinary committee directly!"

Thank you everyone!

"Whoosh—!!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire factory erupted in chaos.

"My goodness... the Foreign Exchange Earnings Office? What's that? I just heard about it!"

Xu Damao jumped up from his chair, his eyes almost popping out of his head: "We reported for duty at the same time... I'm still on probation, how come you're already in the director's seat?!"

After a long pause, he managed to squeeze out a dry, "Brother Liu Dong... congratulations!"

Deputy Section Chief Yu Liansheng froze on the spot, as if he had been struck by a pressure point:

"Director?? How old is he?!"

"I've been stuck at the deputy section chief level for over a decade... and he just jumped right over me?!"

"Thank goodness... thank goodness he didn't stay in the propaganda department... otherwise, my old face would really be covered in tape!"

He immediately stood up, his smile crinkling into crescents: "Director Liu! Congratulations!"

"These two foreign exchange transactions were all thanks to you! You're really capable!"

"A true young talent! A genuine young talent!"

The way they address each other has changed.

Upon seeing this, Xu Damao immediately corrected himself, "Yes, yes, yes! Director Liu! From now on, we must call him Director Liu!"

He leaned closer, his face contorted with embarrassment, and asked, "Director Liu... um... cough cough... can I go to the Foreign Exchange Commission Office with you?"

Liu Dong completely ignored him.