Everyone became quiet upon seeing Wang Yu. After all, the boss had arrived. Especially Brother Hu, who immediately turned into a well-behaved child and flashed a fawning smile at Wang Yu. "Little factory director, I was just messing around with them, haha!"
With no time to deal with the shameless fellow, Wang Yu's gaze landed on the workers in front of him. "Why aren't you making noise anymore? What's the problem, just say it?" Wang Yu asked with a grin. The entire warehouse was silent, save for the crisp sound of him chewing on pickled cucumbers.
"Little factory director, we are..." Wei Liangyong said with shame, wanting to speak but not knowing where to start.
"Are you Wang Yu, that child factory director from the automobile factory?" A man in his forties, tall and burly, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes, stood out from the workers of the state-owned factory. He exuded an air of authority.
"That's right, I don't think there's anyone else with this name," Wang Yu said with a smile, not getting angry at the man's condescending tone. Instead, he earnestly offered the pickled cucumber he was holding. "Would you like to try? Our factory canteen made it themselves, it's quite good. By the way, what should I call you?"
"Thank you, no need! My name is Lin Jianguo," the middle-aged man refused Wang Yu's offer and introduced himself. "I'm from State-Owned Mechanical Factory No. 2. I have a question for Factory Director Wang." He spoke without politeness.
"Oh, please do," Wang Yu replied vaguely, giving Brother Hu a kick in the backside. The fellow had no self-awareness and had tried to grab a pickled cucumber. Perhaps because Wang Yu was usually approachable, the guy had gotten too familiar.
"I'd just like to ask, the organization sent us here to support your automobile factory's work, but why are you treating us with such disdain and neglect? You know, everyone here is a technical backbone and production expert from various state-owned factories!" Lin Jianguo's words were filled with anger, prompting agreement from the other state-owned factory workers.
"That's right, we came to support your work, and this is how you treat us."
"I've never heard of anyone being put in a warehouse before."
"Apologize, we demand an apology."
With someone taking the lead, the state-owned factory workers began to clamor.
"Hmph, who needs you people?"
"Your own factories are out of work and can't even pay wages, so why are you acting so high and mighty here?"
"Exactly, if you're so capable, don't come here to steal our jobs!" The automobile factory workers exploded upon hearing this, retorting without restraint.
"Alright, everyone, stop arguing," Wang Yu said, raising his hand to calm them as he looked at Lin Jianguo. The automobile factory workers immediately fell silent, as Wang Yu still held considerable authority. Seeing that no one responded, the others also stopped their grumbling after a while, and a sparse quiet settled.
"First of all, Brother Lin... I hope you don't mind me calling you that," Wang Yu handed the pickled cucumber to Brother Hu and then spoke seriously. "First, everyone needs to understand one thing: I didn't beg you to come work here. I can say this without any politeness: it's on Secretary Yang's account that I agreed to accept you. If any of you have a problem with that, please just leave directly, go back where you came from! Each to their own home, I, Wang Yu, will not stop you!" Wang Yu's words were filled with authority, completely devoid of his earlier amiability and approachability.
*Go back?*
Hearing Wang Yu's words, no one dared to speak again. What if Wang Yu was truly a stubborn fool who disregarded the bigger picture? If he sent everyone back because of one person's words, what a huge responsibility that would be! Everyone fell silent, even Lin Jianguo was slightly taken aback before slowly speaking.
"But we are here to work, after all. Why are you keeping us in the warehouse instead of letting us work?"
"Why? Don't you see my workers don't welcome you?" Wang Yu sneered and sat down on a discarded machine tool with a swagger. "Your arrival will take their jobs and cut into their income. If it were you, would you be happy? Besides, how do I know what you're good at and what you can do? If I ask you to debug or repair cars, can you? We can't have everyone cleaning toilets, can we?"
Wang Yu's string of questions silenced everyone again. Though his last words were crude, the reasoning was sound. "Don't you know the state of your own factories? You come here acting all high and mighty, but if you're capable, go back and show off to your wives at home, don't flaunt yourselves here!" Wang Yu's words drew laughter from the automobile factory workers, while the other side became even more subdued.
"Alright, alright, we're all here for work. Any conflicts can be resolved by talking it out. Little factory director, please calm down," Old Director Li Ming stepped forward to mediate.
"Hmph, Uncle Ming is right," Wang Yu nodded, feeling he had made his point. He was using this as an opportunity to de-escalate. As they say, the old are wise. Although Feng Daochun was quick-witted, the old director had more experience in such situations.
"So, Director Wang, how do you plan to arrange for us?" Lin Jianguo asked slowly, his tone now filled with respect.
"I've gathered you all here today, along with our existing workers," Wang Yu looked around, seeing some of his own workers were still unconvinced. "I'll make things clear to all of you."
"Our factory's scale will continue to grow, and we will constantly expand in the future. Everyone need not worry about having no work or no money. On the contrary, more people will increase efficiency, leading to more earnings and higher pay for everyone."
"As I said before, we will implement an eight-grade system for all workers, and a 10% profit-sharing bonus at the end of the year. We haven't had the time to implement it because we've been busy. Since everyone is gathered here today, let's all showcase our skills and abilities. Those with talent will get a raise, and those without will watch others eat meat!"
"Eight-grade system?"
"10% year-end bonus?"
The workers from the state-owned factories were initially confused, but after Old Director Li Ming explained it to them, they became excited. This income... was much better than their state-owned factories, wasn't it? Although state-owned factories had more comprehensive benefits, the income here was higher! Faced with a choice between high income and those useless benefits, anyone would know which to choose!
Especially some of the automobile factory workers, angered by the condescending looks from the state-owned factory workers, who treated them like country bumpkins, they took out their wallets to flaunt their bonuses and overtime pay.
"See? Last week alone, I earned 50 yuan in overtime! 50 yuan! Do you understand? And that's just for one week of overtime! Little factory director also gave me an extra bonus of over 20 yuan. It's been exhausting, I just collapse into bed when I get home, and my wife complains I don't even have time to drink water." Wei Liangyong took the lead, waving a few bills from his pocket, his bald head and fleshy face giving him a nouveau riche vibe. His words had a hint of humblebragging from his past life. Other automobile factory workers followed suit, taking out their money and complaining in a similar fashion about how tiring work was, how they had no time to rest, and how they even had to time their bathroom breaks.
...
The workers from the state-owned factories turned red with envy. This was a blatant slap in the face! Compared to their factories not even being able to pay wages, these guys earned in a week what they'd earn in several months! Hardship and fatigue? What did that matter? Old men feared poverty more than hardship! If they came here, wouldn't they also earn so much? No, even half or a third of it would be enough! All eyes on Wang Yu changed again, from initial disdain and contempt to awe and respect, and now to blatant fiery excitement.
"Director Wang, please tell us, how do we prove our abilities?" After a long pause, Lin Jianguo stepped forward and asked Wang Yu.
"It's very simple," Wang Yu chuckled and gave a signal. Han Jun, who had been waiting nearby, quickly stepped forward and produced an item.