Chapter 196 Winning Hearts and Minds Through a Combination of Kindness and Strictness
Wang Shengli's mind went completely blank with a "buzz". He wanted to shout, to defend himself, to say that it was slander, but he couldn't utter a single sound.
He collapsed to the ground, terrified and at a loss for what to do. His only instinctive reaction was to grab Bai Shu's trouser leg and beg for mercy.
Bai Shu frowned, took a few steps back, but her smile remained sweet, though the smile didn't reach her eyes at all.
"Director Wang, have you made up your mind?"
"My time is very precious."
“I…I choose…I choose the second one…” After a moment, Wang Shengli, having recovered, almost squeezed out these words through clenched teeth.
"Very good." Bai Shu nodded in satisfaction and gave Qin Zheng a wink.
Qin Zheng stepped forward, took out a document he had prepared beforehand from his briefcase, and threw it, along with a pen, in front of Wang Shengli with a "thud".
"Sign it," Qin Zheng said, looking at him.
Those were the factory's equity transfer agreement and Wang Shengli's early retirement application. The price section clearly stated—fifty thousand yuan.
With trembling hands, Wang Shengli signed his name crookedly under Qin Zheng's cold gaze, then pulled out the official seal from his pocket and stamped it heavily at the signature line.
"Alright." Bai Shu told Qin Zheng to put away the deadly ledger, then turned and walked out.
She stopped at the door and said, "Qin Zheng, please ask Director Wang to leave. Keep it down and don't scare the factory's veteran employees."
"yes."
Qin Zheng grabbed the limp Wang Shengli and dragged him out the back door. Outside, his men had already prepared a jeep. Wang Shengli was unceremoniously shoved into the back seat, the car started, and quickly disappeared down the small road behind the factory.
From beginning to end, this factory director, Wang, who had been bullying others for over a decade, couldn't even utter a proper cry for help.
Outside the office building, the old workers who were smoking dry tobacco were still squatting in the corner.
"Hey, look, that little girl is coming out." A worker pointed with his pipe.
"It's been less than half an hour. I told you, they must have been scared away by Wang Bapi's exorbitant demands." Another worker curled his lip, with an expression of "I didn't expect it."
"What a pity, he's really good-looking. If we could take over the factory, we might still have food to eat."
"What kind of dream are you having! Let's go, let's go home and starve."
Just as everyone was about to disperse, they noticed that the stunningly beautiful girl hadn't left. Instead, she walked straight to the open concrete area in the center of the factory. The towering man in black, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a loudspeaker and handed it to her.
A piercing electrical hum rang out.
"All workers still in the factory, assemble in the square immediately! I repeat, all workers, assemble in the square immediately!"
Bai Zhu's voice blared throughout the dilapidated factory area via loudspeakers.
The workers looked at each other, bewildered. But soon, more than a hundred people emerged from the dormitories, workshops, and canteen. Most of them were emaciated, with blank stares, wearing faded gray work clothes. They gathered sparsely in the square, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
"What's going on? What kind of trouble is Wang Bapi trying to cause us now?"
"Who knows? Who's that girl next to you? The one who went in to discuss business just now, right?"
"The talks probably broke down. Wang Bapi sent us to put pressure on them. It's the same old trick."
An atmosphere of distrust and schadenfreude permeated the crowd. They had been lured with empty promises and grand schemes too many times, and all their expectations had long been worn down.
Bai Shu and the others had almost all arrived. She looked around and spoke calmly.
"Everyone."
“From today onwards, I have taken over the Hongxing Canned Food Factory. Wang Shengli has voluntarily applied for early retirement due to health reasons and has gone home to live out his retirement.”
These words caused an uproar in the audience.
"What? Wang the Skinflint is gone?"
"Really? Who is this girl? She's got such amazing skills?"
"You're just bragging! Do you think Wang Bapi is so easily fooled?"
Faced with the workers' questions, Bai Shu simply smiled faintly. She clapped her hands.
Du Kangnian, accompanied by two men in Zhongshan suits, carrying two heavy wooden boxes, walked to Bai Shu's side and opened them with a loud "bang" in front of everyone.
Under the sunlight, everyone gasped.
Inside the box, neatly stacked, were two brand-new boxes of "Big Unity" (a type of Chinese currency)!
"Enough with the nonsense." Bai Shu picked up a wad of cash and patted it in his hand. "I don't know how much Wang Shengli has embezzled over the years. But this money is what he 'voluntarily' offered to compensate everyone."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone's faces, which were frozen in shock.
"Now, the finance department will begin taking attendance. First, all salaries owed to everyone for the past six months will be paid in a lump sum! Not a penny less!"
"Secondly, in addition to this, we will pay an extra three months' salary as severance pay."
The square fell into a deathly silence.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe their ears. Back pay? And an extra three months' severance pay? Had the sun risen in the west?
They stared blankly at the two boxes of money, then at the smiling young woman on the stage, feeling as if they were dreaming.
"Now, let's begin roll call. First up, Li Jianguo," Du Kangnian called out loudly, taking the roll call list.
An elderly worker in his fifties with gray hair was pushed forward by the people around him, and he walked to the front of the stage with a blank look on his face.
"Mr. Li, this is for you. You owe 1,200 yuan in back wages, and 600 yuan in severance pay, totaling 1,800 yuan. Please count it." The finance clerk quickly counted out a large stack of money and handed it over.
Li Jianguo's hands trembled as he took the thick wad of cash. The heavy, unmistakably real feel of it sent a shiver down his spine. He couldn't believe it. He counted it several times over. Yes, it really was 1,800 yuan!
"My God...it's true! They really gave out money!"
Li Jianguo suddenly burst into tears. His elderly mother was bedridden and had been without her medication for several months! This money was her life-saving money!
"They've given us money! They really have given us money!"
"Am I dreaming? Someone pinch me!"
"Waaaaah... My son's tuition for next semester is covered!"
Cheers, cries, and screams mingled together, deafeningly loud. The workers pushed forward like madmen, each face etched with ecstasy and disbelief.
"Everyone, don't rush! Line up! Everyone gets a turn!" Du Kangnian shouted to maintain order.
Although the scene was chaotic, the money distribution process proceeded in an orderly manner. Bai Shu stood quietly to the side, watching this human tragedy and comedy unfold before him, a faint smile still on his face.
Looking at them, Su Wantang's mind drifted back to her past life. Ten years of battling cancer had taught her that money was no longer just a number, but a life-saving drug, a source of hope. She understood better than anyone that money, in crucial moments, could truly buy life. Therefore, she was also better than anyone at using money to win people's hearts.
The line to receive the money stretched for a long time.
Bai Shu picked up the megaphone again and waited until the scene quieted down a bit before continuing, "You can take the money. Once you've taken the money, we're even. But let me make this clear: the Red Star Canned Food Factory is gone from today onwards. This place will be converted into 'Tangdi Pharmaceutical'."
"I also need manpower here. Those who are willing to stay can go to Manager Du now to sign a new contract. All positions will have double the salary! Those who are not willing can take their money and leave. I will not force them to stay. The choice is yours."
Upon hearing this, the workers, who had just received their money and were still ecstatic, were stunned once again.
Double your salary?
A bold middle-aged worker shouted, "Boss! Are you serious? You're really going to double our pay?"
"My word is as good as gold."
There was almost no hesitation.
"I'll stay! Boss, I'll stay!"
“I’ll stay too! I’ve been a fitter for twenty years, and I’m very skilled!”
"Don't push! Count me in! I can do anything!"
The workers who had just been thinking of grabbing their pay and leaving now surged towards Du Kangnian like they'd been injected with adrenaline. Seriously? After being out of work for so long, they'd finally found something new, and the new boss not only paid their back wages but was even willing to give them double pay—where else could they find such a good deal? Only a fool would leave!
At this moment, people's hearts are completely won over by money and hope.
That afternoon, the engineering and management teams, who had been transferred from Shanghai day and night, entered the factory. Surveying, planning, demolition, renovation…
...
That night, Courtyard No. 1.
After taking a shower, Su Wantang, dressed in a comfortable silk nightgown, dried her hair and told Lu Jingyan about what happened at the factory during the day as if it were an interesting story.
"You didn't see how cowardly Wang Shengli was, like a deflated balloon, it was so funny." She smiled, her eyes crinkling, a sly glint in them.
Lu Jingyan was reading a military report when he heard this. He looked up, took the towel from her hand, and naturally helped her dry her wet hair.
After listening, he didn't laugh; instead, he frowned slightly.
“I think I’ve heard someone mention this Wang Shengli before,” he said thoughtfully. “He has a cousin who is the deputy director of the city’s industrial department, and his surname is Qian.”
Su Wantang's smile slowly faded.
Hitting a dog will attract the attention of its owner.
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