Amidst the widespread discussion and doubts surrounding the fundraising, on a quiet evening, after the work bell rang, the crowd in the machining workshop did not disperse as quickly as usual. Many people involuntarily turned their gaze to a corner of the workshop, to the work area belonging to Wang Jianguo, a master fitter of the eighth grade.

Master Wang seemed to finish work a little later than usual today. He slowly turned off the lathe power, carefully wiped his hands and tools clean with cotton yarn, and then tidied the workbench until it was spotless. After doing all this, he took off his oil-stained work clothes, changed into a faded old Zhongshan suit, and then took out a small, square package wrapped tightly in old newspapers from the bottom of his toolbox.

He didn't speak, nor did he look at the subtle glances cast his way around him. He simply tucked the small package into his pocket and walked straight toward the workshop director's office with his usual steady steps.

Workshop foreman Lao Ma was about to lock the door and leave work when he saw Master Wang come in, and was a little surprised: "Master Wang? Is there something else?"

Wang Jianguo didn't say anything, but simply took out the newspaper package from his pocket and gently, yet with an undeniable weight, placed it on Lao Ma's desk.

Old Ma opened the newspaper with a puzzled look. Inside were stacks of neatly bundled banknotes, mainly ten-yuan notes, interspersed with many five-yuan, two-yuan, and smaller denominations, and even some grain coupons and industrial vouchers. It was a thick stack, seemingly representing almost the entire savings of an ordinary worker's family over many years.

"Master Wang, what's wrong...?" Old Ma's voice trembled slightly.

Wang Jianguo's face remained expressionless, and his tone was as calm as if he were giving instructions on an ordinary task: "This is my savings, a total of three hundred and eighty yuan and seventy-five cents, plus some coupons. I voluntarily participate in the factory's fundraising to support the new product project."

His voice wasn't loud, but in the quiet office, it carried clearly to the ears of the workers outside who were eavesdropping.

Three hundred and eighty yuan! At that time, this was an absolute fortune! It was the hard-earned money that Master Wang had saved up for most of his life through frugality!

A series of suppressed gasps immediately rose from outside the door.

Old Ma's throat tightened, and he tried to dissuade him: "Master Wang, this...this is unacceptable! This is so much money, your retirement savings! The project may have potential, but it's still risky, you..."

Wang Jianguo waved his hand, interrupting him, and looked calmly at Lao Ma, as if looking through the door frame at the bewildered workers outside:

“If the factory is doing well, I won’t need this money for retirement. If the factory fails, what can I do with this money?” He paused, his voice low but carrying a tremendous weight. “I believe in that girl Liu Li. She’s not the type to mess around. I’ve seen what she and her team have created, and it’s genuinely good stuff. This approach is right.”

He didn't give a passionate speech, just these few words, yet they struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer. Wang Jianguo, the factory's most skilled, honest, and respected master craftsman, cast his weighty vote of trust with all his savings!

The news spread like wildfire.

"Master Wang took out all his savings! More than three hundred yuan!"

"He said he trusts Director Liu and he trusts the new product!"

"Even Master Wang dared to stake his retirement savings, so what about us..."

Wang Jianguo's actions had an immeasurable demonstrative effect. He was like a flag suddenly raised in the fog, pointing the way for all those who were hesitant.

Soon, several experienced craftsmen who had been observing quietly took out their savings.

"Old Wang's already in, what else can I say! I'll go for it!"

"I don't have much money, just fifty yuan, count me in!"

Old Chen, the foreman of the second lathe operator group, gritted his teeth and took out the two hundred yuan he had saved for his son's wedding: "Damn it, I'm going to gamble! I can't go wrong following Director Liu and Master Wang!"

Zhang Degui, the old fitter who had previously voiced the most doubts, squatted in the workshop and smoked half a pack of cigarettes. He went home with a dark face, retrieved eighty yuan, put it at the fundraising point, and said in a gruff voice, "Count me in!"

The young leaders were greatly encouraged and generously contributed. Zhang Shulan gave almost all of her savings. Even the head chef from the cafeteria, wearing a greasy apron, brought over a stack of change that smelled of scallions…

The ice of trust was shattered by Wang Jianguo's pioneering and resolute act, creating a massive crack. Subsequently, more and more people began to follow this torrent of trust, casting their hopes for the future into the basket called "new products."

When Liu Li learned of Mr. Wang's actions, she was in her office racking her brains over a fundraising plan. The moment she heard the news, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and her vision blurred rapidly. She quickly lowered her head, blinked hard, and forced back the surging emotions.

She knew that what Master Wang gave her was not just money, but priceless trust and support. This profound affection made her sense of responsibility and her belief in her ultimate success even more unbreakable.

The power of leadership was fully demonstrated at this moment. The gears of fate of the Red Star Factory seemed to have been stubbornly turned a little more because of this taciturn but resolute master craftsman.