When Baiyun returned, Guan Wenru and she went to work at the factory.
Guan Wenru had just stepped into her office when Lei Yongkang followed her in with a serious expression and closed the door behind him.
Lei Yongkang sighed, "Factory Manager, you've arrived. I was just about to report to you that last night, as expected, two more groups of people tried to climb over the wall into the factory area, but the security personnel spotted them in time and chased them away. Nothing was stolen. However..."
Guan Wenru put down her bag, looked at him, and frowned. "But what?"
Lei Yongkang: "I was worried early on, so I went to the commune to find Director Chen Jianhui to find out what was going on."
He said, "It's not just our factory; the homes of members in several nearby production brigades have also been restless these past few nights. Strangers, looking extremely hungry, keep sneaking in to knock on doors begging for food or trying to steal something."
Guan Wenru's heart tightened. "The members gave it to them?"
Lei Yongkang sighed, "The director said that most families have already given money. Sigh, they are all fellow villagers. Seeing those people with children in tow, starving and barely clinging to life, how can anyone feel good about it?"
They shared a bite or two of food with everyone.
Director Chen said that although he understood everyone's feelings, he was very worried, feeling that something bad was about to happen, and fearing that even more people would rush over!
Guan Wenru pursed her lips, her eyes sharpening. "So that's how it is... I understand now. It's because everyone who comes here can get some food, the news must have spread, so the number of people coming is obviously increasing day by day!"
"I'm afraid it won't be long before even more disaster victims from nearby cities and counties that have been hit even harder flood into our communes!"
Lei Yongkang's expression changed. "Then...what can we do? We can keep an eye on the factory, but there are so many villagers' homes; it's impossible to guard against everything! What if a looting breaks out..."
Guan Wenru raised her hand to interrupt him, "There's nothing we can do about it! Don't panic. We can't relax the security at the factory these next few days; we need to step up our efforts."
Tell the security personnel that during this critical time, they should keep their eyes peeled and report any suspicious activity immediately, but they shouldn't act too rashly for now; after all, these are all pitiful people who have nowhere else to turn.
Lei Yongkang nodded, "Okay, I'll make the arrangements right away, but this isn't a long-term solution!"
“Yes.” Guan Wenru’s gaze was calm. After a moment’s thought, she spoke, “I know that defense alone won’t work. Let me think… let me think about how to solve this problem at its root. There must be a way!”
The problem can be solved as long as she takes out the items from her space in a reasonable way!
......
Guan Wenru spent the whole morning processing documents. Just before lunch break, the office door was suddenly pushed open.
Hua Xiaoyu rushed in, panting, her expression grim. "Director Guan, something terrible has happened! There's been an accident!"
Guan Wenru looked up from the document. "Sister-in-law Xiaoyu, don't rush, tell me slowly, what happened?"
Hua Xiaoyu was so angry she wanted to stomp her feet. "It's Gu Siyu! She's brought a whole bunch of disaster victims and is blocking the gate of our factory!"
They were crying and shouting, saying things like...that we should help each other, and that the factory should open its granaries to save lives! They were making a huge scene!
Guan Wenru looked bewildered and stood up. "Gu Siyu? Is she crazy? When she came back before, she was bragging everywhere about how capable her man was and how well she was living. How come she's here? And with disaster victims?"
Hua Xiaoyu didn't know either, and said angrily, "I don't know what she did, but... she doesn't look like she's doing well! And now she's dressed in rags, and her face is all dusty."
Guan Wenru frowned. "Let's go! I'll go take a look!"
The two walked quickly toward the factory gate.
From a distance, one could hear chaotic crying and a shrill female voice coming from outside.
Gu Siyu shouted hoarsely, "Guan Wenru, open the door! Open the door and see!"
These are living, breathing people! Your feed mill has so much grain piled up, can't you have a little compassion and save their lives?! How can you stand by and watch them die?!
The security personnel were blocking the way outside; the door was closed.
Guan Wenru looked out through the crack in the factory gate and saw a dark mass of emaciated disaster victims. The woman at the head of the group, although dressed in rags and covered in dust, was indeed Gu Siyu, who had remarried in a grand manner a few years ago!
Bai Yun saw it too, and whispered to Hua Xiaoyu, "How did she become like this? And she even came here to cause trouble..."
Hua Xiaoyu was furious. "Who knows! It looks like the family she married into also suffered a disaster and couldn't make ends meet!"
After a moment of silence, Guan Wenru pushed open the factory gate and walked out, her gaze falling on the woman at the head of the group.
Despite being mentally prepared, she was still stunned by Gu Siyu's appearance.
The woman I remember, who always wore a military uniform and had a touch of arrogance, is now so thin she's almost unrecognizable. Her cheeks are deeply sunken, her skin is rough and sallow, and fine wrinkles have crept around her eyes. She looks like she's in her forties!
She held a little boy tightly in one hand and a smaller girl in the other. Both children were thin and sallow, and timidly huddled behind her.
The moment Gu Siyu saw Guan Wenru, a light mixed with despair, jealousy, and resentment flashed in her cloudy eyes, and her voice became shrill and piercing:
"Guan Wenru! You've finally come out! Look at this! Look at these people! They're almost starving to death! Your feed mill has mountains of grain piled up, can't you take some out to save these people?!"
She waved her withered arm, pointing to the dark mass of people behind her, and immediately a chorus of pleas and agreement rose from the crowd.
"Yes! Director Guan, please give us some food!"
"Help! My child is dying!"
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