"How can you give it to us for free?" Secretary Yang was a little displeased. "How can we accept your things for nothing? Besides, your car factory is also in difficulty."
"It's okay, Secretary," Wang Yu smiled and interrupted Secretary Yang. "This is a new product. I can give a batch to various units and departments in our county for trial use first. If the effect is good, then the county leaders will support it, and we can purchase in batches."
"Hmm, that works too." Secretary Yang thought about it. What Wang Yu said seemed reasonable. He had given him many surprises today. He didn't expect the car factory to be resurrected silently under his hands. Wang Yu left him a very good impression, especially when compared with Xu Guangping and Fang Zhongtian. It's rare to see such a young person who is neither arrogant nor impatient and takes responsibility. At the same time, he made a mental note that he would never let this young man suffer losses in future procurements.
...
"Young Master Xu, why did things end like this today?" Outside the car factory, in a rare and high-end Hongqi sedan of this era, Fang Zhongtian, covering his swollen red face, said aggrievedly to Xu Guangping. He was good at flattery and had been invincible since he hitched his wagon to Xu Guangping. He never expected to be repeatedly frustrated by Wang Yu, and today he was slapped in the face by his master in front of everyone. This was simply unimaginable!
"Hmph! What else could we do? Should we stay there and lose more face?" Xu Guangping said irritably, holding a cigarette. Fang Zhongtian then lit it for him. "Isn't it all your fault for getting inaccurate information? This car factory is so well-funded that we don't need to acquire it. What else is there to discuss?"
"However..." Changing the subject, Xu Guangping looked out the car window at the busy car factory, his eyes revealing a sinister look. "The old man hasn't completely relinquished power yet. I need some achievements to show for myself if I want to move up. I originally thought acquiring this car factory was a good plan, but now it seems it's obviously not feasible. Of course, the matter of Wang Yu embarrassing me today cannot be let go just like that... Hmm, that electric kettle product is a good thing. You think of a way to get it."
Hearing Xu Guangping's "think of a way," Fang Zhongtian immediately understood and nodded obsequiously, "Don't worry, Young Master Xu! I will arrange it properly."
"Alright, let's go! We'll settle the score with them next time!" The sedan slowly drove into the distance, leaving the car factory.
...
After Secretary Yang left, it was already late. Wang Yu was in a very good mood. He didn't expect such a pleasant surprise today. He had been worried about how to open up the sales channels for his products. Now, it was like delivering a pillow when one was sleepy. With Secretary Yang's assurance, he would produce a batch of electric kettles and send them to various government departments. Wang Yu didn't believe that after they used the convenient and fast electric kettles, they would still be willing to squeeze into the boiler room to get hot water!
"Uncle Ming, Uncle Ma, convene a general meeting of employees." Wang Yu called out to the old director Li Ming and old Ma. Since everyone was working overtime on Sunday, they could consider it an early holiday.
"Employee meeting? Is something wrong?" The two were stunned. Employee meetings were not held casually. They were only convened for important matters and required prior arrangements, such as leadership speeches.
"Cut the tedious and useless parts. Let's speak directly," Wang Yu saw their thoughts. "The factory has been quite busy lately. Everyone has worked hard. I plan to make up all your previous wages and also give out some bonuses."
"That's great! I'll go arrange it now!" Immediately, everyone went to make arrangements. Soon, the factory's production lines were temporarily halted, and everyone was gathered in the huge, empty test drive area. The tarpaulins, tables, chairs, and benches used for the product launch event at the county high school playground were not put away and were directly set up.
The workers were whispering to each other, not knowing what had happened.
"Is it because of what they said earlier about the acquisition by the Metallurgical General Plant?"
"It's said that we'll all be laid off, and the small factory manager will be fired directly!"
"Impossible, we're not going anywhere. What acquisition? Can't you see the factory is getting busier? The small factory manager can definitely make the factory work well!"
"What's the use of being busy? The wages are still owed and not paid. I say it's fine to acquire it, and we each get a severance package to find our own way out!"
"You're talking nonsense! You are..." The workers were discussing animatedly. At first, it was just quiet murmuring, but it soon turned into debates with each holding their own opinions and arguing. Some hot-tempered ones even pushed each other, and it looked like a fight was about to break out!
"Quiet!" The amplified sound from the loudspeaker, with its distorted tone, drowned out everyone's voices. Wang Yu, holding the loudspeaker with some effort, walked to the stage. Annoying, this thing is too heavy! Wang Yu thought to himself. His small arms and legs struggled to lift it. It seemed he needed to make a smaller megaphone later, as this thing wasn't technically difficult...
"Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me!" Wang Yu shouted at everyone, and the scene immediately quieted down. After all, his prestige had grown considerably in recent days, and the workers respected him, at least... the vast majority did.
"I won't waste too much time. I've called everyone here today to announce three things." Wang Yu got straight to the point.
"Small factory manager, is it about us being acquired?" Someone among the workers asked worriedly.
"The factory is the result of the hard work of several generations of our people! You can't agree to be acquired!"
"Yes, yes! We're counting on you to lead us to earn a living!" Voices came from all directions, revealing simple faces. This made Wang Yu a little touched. The hardworking, honest, sincere, and reliable working class. These were lovely people who once belonged to the factory culture circle of this era!
"Everyone, please rest assured, I will not sell our factory!" Wang Yu gestured to stop everyone. "The three things I want to say are: First, after our efforts during this period, the factory has gradually returned to the right track. Although we haven't made a fortune yet, at least we can turn losses into profits. So I announce... that all previously owed wages, including all wages up to now, will be paid out!"
As soon as Wang Yu finished speaking, it was met with a thunderous roar of cheers.
"Long live the small factory manager!"
"Pay wages, pay wages!"
... The crowd was too enthusiastic, and the cheers continued one after another. It was no wonder they were so excited. It was very difficult to survive without wages in this era. If most people weren't diligent and honest, and there was simply no other way out, the factory would have disbanded long ago!
"Alright, alright, quiet down!" Wang Yu stopped everyone and then said with a smile, "The second matter is, in view of everyone's recent overtime work, which has been too exhausting, I have decided to issue a bonus... Well, the reason is to celebrate the upcoming Labor Day. Everyone can go to the finance department to register and collect their money. Oh, and Uncle Ma in the finance department is old and about to retire. You roughnecks must behave yourselves. If anyone offends the old man, I'll kick his butt." Wang Yu added at the end, which immediately led to a burst of laughter and subsequent cheers. Wang Yu's vulgar remark did not make people uncomfortable; instead, it made them feel down-to-earth and cordial.
"Then what's the third matter, small factory manager!" Someone in the crowd shouted at him.
"The third matter..." Wang Yu put on a solemn expression. "The third matter is that our current production tasks are becoming heavier and heavier, and we will probably have to work overtime every day from now on. Today, I will let you go home early to rest. Starting tomorrow, if you want to rest well, forget it! Of course... overtime pay will not be short by a penny!"
Hearing Wang Yu say this, everyone cheered again. The immense sound was almost enough to lift the sky. Outside the gate of the car factory, a group of people in suits and leather shoes looked at the scene with confusion.
"What are they doing here? Are they crazy?" A middle-aged man and woman, who looked like senior intellectuals, were confused. The woman with a stern look adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses and said.