Chapter 209
Relying on his outstanding appearance, Wang Zaofu has always been popular with the opposite sex. He never dreamed that he would be beaten by a group of women in his new unit.
"Stop! Stop!" Wang Zaofu flailed his arms and legs like a tortoise that had been overturned. "Miao Sufen, get out of here right now! You're not going to beat up the deputy director of the Revolutionary Committee anymore, are you?"
"What's so great about being the deputy director of the Revolutionary Committee? I'm also the deputy director of the Revolutionary Committee. Others don't dare to hit you, but I dare to hit you!"
Pah pah pah——
Miao Sufen slapped him twice in the face.
After all, Wang Zaofu was a young and strong man. After struggling to break free from the militia's grip, he grabbed Miao Sufen's hand which was about to hit someone.
Unfortunately, two fists are no match for more than twenty hands.
Less than three seconds after Wang Zaofu's arm stood up, the female militia grabbed it again and pressed it to the ground.
Miao Sufen scolded him as she beat him, "I see you've just had two days of full meals and are completely lost! A washing machine costs two or three hundred yuan, and you destroy it just like that. Our village's annual surplus isn't even three hundred yuan, so why are you so arrogant?"
"Washing machines are products that serve the bourgeoisie. Can you see any proletarian home with a washing machine? Uh-huh..."
Wang Zaofu argued angrily, and when he wanted to say something else, some stupid female soldier covered his mouth.
He could only stare with his eyes and make an angry roar.
The workers who were watching only heard Miao Sufen's rebuke, but did not hear Director Wang's subsequent rebuttal. They could not help but stretch their necks to look in surprise.
However, under Miao Sufen's order, more than a dozen female soldiers surrounded Wang Zaofu who was lying on the ground. They covered him so tightly that outsiders could only squat down to peek into the battle situation through the gap between his legs.
"What's going on in there? Why can't I hear Director Wang's voice?" someone asked anxiously.
"I don't know. I guess he was speechless after being scolded by Sister Miao and couldn't think of any rebuttal."
"Director Miao is truly amazing! A true heroine!"
Ye Manzhi listened to the workers' discussions and was also curious about the situation inside.
After she ran to the workshop, she only saw Sister Miao slap Wang Zaofu twice, and the wonderful scenes that followed were all blocked by the female militia.
well--
The last time I saw such a scene was when I was working in the street office. A pregnant woman was about to give birth. She had no time to go home or to the hospital, so she gave birth on the street.
Then, just like now, enthusiastic female comrades surrounded the pregnant woman lying on the ground, leaving no chance for outsiders to peek.
Wang Zaofu, whose mouth was covered, was furious. After struggling for a few breaths, he opened his mouth and bit the hand in front of him.
The female militia member shouted angrily, "Why are you still acting like a hooligan? Why are you licking my hand?"
"Who the hell licked your hand!" Wang Zaofu, his face flushed, shouted to the crowd outside: "Chen Jiefang, Hu Deqing, are you all dead? Get these women out of here!"
He is the deputy factory director, so it is impossible for him to destroy the washing machines himself.
Before coming, he gathered a group of young people in the workshop.
Under the strange gazes of their fellow workers, the two people who were named felt a little uncomfortable.
Chen Jiefang tried to persuade him: "Director Miao, please help Director Wang up quickly..."
Miao Sufen spat, "You're not a good person either. You smash things when someone asks you to. Then when you get home, your dad will punish you!"
"Director Wang said washing machines are a product of the bourgeoisie, designed for lazy people. We can't have such things in the factory!"
"Bah, you do whatever he says. If he tells you to jump into the river, will you jump?"
Ye Manzhi was standing behind Chen Jiefang. When everyone looked at Chen Jiefang, they naturally noticed the top leader, Director Ye.
The good show was over. Director Ye walked out of the crowd with regret, frowning and shouting, "Militia soldiers, please let Director Wang go first. We are all comrades, so let's talk it out!"
If Wang Zaofu were really beaten to death, the black and white TV production line would be in danger.
Hearing this, Miao Sufen snorted, released her hand that was grabbing Wang Zaofu's collar, and stood up from the ground.
The other female militiamen also made way, and finally Wang Zaofu, whose nose was bleeding, was revealed.
Ye Manzhi asked two male workers to help Wang Zaofu up. Seeing that his face was only red and one nostril was bleeding, but he had no other skin injuries, he turned around and asked, "What economic losses have the workshop and warehouse suffered?"
The workshop director replied, "Director Miao arrived just in time. Only one single-tub washing machine had a dent in the body, but the others were fine."
"Alright, Director Song, organize some people to clean up this place and get everyone back to work," Ye Manzhi commanded. "Get a few more people and take Director Wang to the factory hospital for a checkup! Director Wang, can you walk? If not, find a door panel and carry you over!"
Wang Zaofu's face was gloomy. He had already lost face among the workers today. If he was carried out of the factory again, he would never be able to work in Shuguang Factory again.
Without saying a word, he walked out of the workshop door. Before leaving, he looked back, and his resentful eyes swept across the faces of the female militiamen one by one, as if he wanted to remember all those who had humiliated him firmly in his heart.
When he is silent, he is more intimidating than when he is struggling with his teeth and claws bared.
However, the blood running from the nose to the cheek greatly reduced the deterrent effect.
The female militiamen had all undergone several years of military training. They held their heads high and chests puffed out, and as soon as they met his gaze, they glared back fearlessly.
What are they afraid of? Director Ye and Director Miao will definitely be on their side!
Before Ye Manzhi left, the workshop director caught up with her and asked, "Director, many workers in the workshop are actually skeptical about the washing machines. Otherwise, so many wouldn't have listened to Director Wang and destroyed them. Do you think we should strike while the iron is hot and explain things to the employees?"
Ye Manzhi waved her hand and said, "What's there to explain? Some things are useless no matter how much you say. Let's get back to work first."
*
Ye Manzhi and Kang Jian accompanied Wang Zaofu to the factory hospital, and of course Miao Sufen, who had injured others, also went with them.
Miao Sufen only hit Wang Zaofu in the face, and the injuries were exposed. In fact, it did not cause any serious harm to Wang Zaofu. It was not as serious as Zhu Kehai's ankle fracture.
But Ye Manzhi still insisted on completing the hospitalization procedures for Wang Zaofu, allowing him to recuperate well in the hospital and observe any changes in his injuries at any time.
Only members of the factory revolutionary committee were left in the ward, and the blood on Wang Zaofu's face had been cleaned.
He said with a dark face: "I demand that the factory party committee severely punish the culprit Miao Sufen!"
"Bah!" Miao Sufen spat. "I was demanding you be severely punished! I'm the militia company commander, and you're a saboteur attempting to destroy state property. What's wrong with me stopping you?"
Kang Jian sighed gloatingly, "Director Wang, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but those washing machines were trial products from the past, and the factory hasn't planned to officially put them into production. Why did you go and destroy them for no reason?"
Miao Cuifen is the company commander of the militia and is responsible for protecting the factory's property.
Wang Zaofu deserved this beating, and it was all in vain.
Wang Zaofu confidently argued, "Washing machines serve the bourgeoisie. To prevent the restoration of capitalism, I must tear off the bourgeois masks beneath the red flag of Marxism-Leninism!"
Ye Manzhi said, "The factory's original intention in trial-producing the washing machine was to free up more comrades' hands, freeing them from tedious housework so they could focus more time and energy on work and study. Director Wang, you don't have to do laundry or cooking when you get home, right?"
"Hmph," Miao Sufen glanced at the pair of white hands, "I can tell he doesn't work at home."
Ye Manzhi said unhappily, "In most families these days, all the housework falls on women. In some dual-income families, women do more laundry and cooking. Factory work clothes, bed sheets, and quilt covers are all large items that are difficult to rinse. Soaking, scrubbing, changing the water, and hanging them out to dry—how many large items doesn't take at least an hour or two to wash? Can't we use that time to read books and newspapers and improve our cultural and ideological and political knowledge?"
Wang Zaofu scoffed, "A washing machine costs a few hundred yuan. Which proletarian family would be willing to buy one?"
"If one family can't afford to buy one, what about ten or a hundred families sharing it?" Ye Manzhi lamented. "Luckily, Director Miao saved those washing machines. Today's incident has given me a wake-up call: our factory could open a 'convenient laundry service station' in the staff housing complex."
"The washing machines are provided by our factory, and routine maintenance is handled by the logistics department and the neighborhood committee. With the service station, we can alleviate the burden of housework on our employees to a certain extent, allowing them to focus more on socialist construction!"
Wang Zaofu: “…”
He opened his eyes wide in surprise and looked at Ye Manyi who was speaking righteously.
I spent a long time organizing my words, but couldn't come up with anything to refute.
Miao Sufen clapped excitedly and praised, "Director Ye, this is a great idea! The washing machines don't have to be destroyed, and they can still serve our working class, allowing more comrades to benefit. Great!"
She glanced at Wang Zaofu. Since the washing machine served the proletariat, his previous behavior of leading people to destroy the washing machine was wrong!
It's pure destruction of national property!
Ye Manzhi was still counting on Wang Zaofu to bring a production line to the factory, so he couldn't push him too far.
She tried to smooth things over, "Director Wang was indeed a bit too impulsive this time, and nearly caused irreparable damage. But I believe everyone's intentions are good, so let's just let it go this time. From now on, everyone should control their emotions..."
She kept on talking about a lot of truths in the ward, which made Wang Zaofu a little annoyed. So she let him have a good rest and left the ward with everyone.
After leaving the hospital, Ye Manzhi shook Miao Sufen's hand and said, "Sister Miao, our militia played a huge role at the critical moment. Fortunately, the female soldiers rushed to the front and saved the national property from loss."
She whispered about the situation of the black-and-white TV production line. She had to use Wang Zaofi recently, so she couldn't praise the female militiamen in a big way for the time being.
"Although there won't be any spiritual rewards, there will definitely be material rewards," Ye Manzhi said, holding her hand. "After our laundry service station opens, we'll give ten laundry tickets to each of the female comrades who participated in the battle today!"
"Hahaha, laundry tickets are more practical than verbal praise!"
Miao Sufen felt refreshed. She loved working with such a leader!
*
The Shuguang Factory Logistics Department acted very quickly. After receiving the task, it only took two days to prepare, and on the third day, the "Shuguang Convenience Laundry Service Station" was opened.
The opening day is a weekend.
Ye Manzhi mobilized Wu Zhengrong and her daughter early in the morning to go to the service station with her to check out the new things.
The three of them rode their bicycles from the Military Academy, stopping and starting all the way to the Shuguang Factory.
Ye Manzhi's butt hurt from the back seat. She hugged Wu Zhengrong's waist and complained, "I have a monthly bus pass. Why should I suffer by riding with you guys?"
"I'm asking you and Youyan, isn't this the result of your discussion?"
Wu Yuzhuo was full of energy and rode her bike very fast. She rode a children's bike and quickly surpassed the competition by two hundred meters.
Turning around, she found her parents were left behind, so she turned the car around and rushed back, her two pigtails bouncing on the dirt road.
"Dad, please ride faster!" Wu Yuzhuo said anxiously, "I still want to watch the firecrackers!"
The service station is opening, so we must set off firecrackers!
Wu Zhengrong stopped the car and turned to ask, "We're out of the city now, and there aren't many people on the road. How about you sit on the beam?"
"The main frame is not as good as the back seat!" Ye Manzhi jumped off the bike, rubbed his butt and said, "Let's switch. I'll ride the bike and you sit in the back!"
Wu Zhengrong seemed to have anticipated her request. Without saying a word, he gave up the driving seat and handed over control of the handlebars to her.
Then he straddled the back seat, holding the waist in front of him with both hands.
"..." Ye Manzhi turned around and said angrily, "Your palms are burning hot, can't you change places?"
Wu Zhengrong used his eyes to signal her to look at his curled legs, "How about we switch back?"
Ye Manzhi put his head down on the pedals and hummed, "Tomorrow I'll buy a 26-style bicycle, one for each of us!"
"Buy it."
After they sold their first bicycle for over five hundred dollars, they never bought a new one.
Even though the price of bicycles kept falling, they didn't buy them.
Wu Zhengrong bought this 28-inch bicycle two years ago, mainly for riding with his children.
In recent years, every time the family of three traveled together, he suggested that Ye Lai Ya buy a bicycle as well.
But once she got stingy, no one could persuade her.
Ye Lai Ya only rides once or twice a week and doesn't want to spend money.
The two adults were riding slowly behind, but Wu Yuzhuo had already rushed far away like an arrow.
She knew the way to her mother's workplace, and she pedaled very fast in front, looking back from time to time to check if her parents had caught up.
It took less than a quarter of an hour to ride to the staff quarters of Shuguang Factory.
The service station is located inside the compound, and outsiders entering the compound must register.
Wu Yuzhuo doesn't live here, but she has acquaintances in the factory.
When I accompanied my mother to the factory to work overtime, I met several friends.
She called Uncle Kang's sister Xuanxuan last night, and the two girls made an appointment to go together to see the washing machine.
When she arrived at the gate of the compound, Kang Zhixuan was waiting by the guard room. Seeing her, she waved and said, "Hurry up! The firecrackers are about to be set off!"
Wu Yuzhuo pulled her to sit on the beam, and according to her instructions, he rode slowly to the door of the service station that opened today.
At this time, many employees and their families who heard the news were waiting at the door of the service station with dirty clothes.
The staff set off a string of firecrackers, and after a while of crackling noise, the service station officially opened for business.
The neighborhood committee director held up a loud speaker and shouted, "Residents, the service details and fee schedule are posted at the door. Everyone, please go and take a look when you have time! Let me emphasize again, our service station has a total of six washing machines. Three single-tub machines with a capacity of 2.5 kg each charge 0.1 yuan per load. Three single-tub machines with a capacity of 3.5 kg each charge 0.15 yuan per load. Please choose according to the amount of laundry you need!"
"Director, can the washing machine wash anything?"
"No, no!" the neighborhood committee director quickly explained, "Underwear, socks, and shoes are not allowed to be washed here! Prioritize work clothes, bed sheets, quilt covers, curtains, and tablecloths. Our equipment is disinfected twice a day and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected once a week..."
While she was explaining, someone had already gone to the door to buy a ticket and was carrying dirty clothes in.
Wu Yuzhuo and Kang Zhixuan also went into the service station and watched people washing clothes.
A staff member was on hand to help. After counting the clothes and sheets, he smiled and said, "Auntie Sun, it takes about 40 minutes to wash the clothes. You can go back and rest first, and come back later to pick them up."
"I haven't even seen a washing machine yet. I'll just wait here and see if this thing cleans everything!"
The washing machine was a new object, especially since it was almost smashed by Wang Zaofu before, which cast a veil of mystery over these washing machines.
Because of Deputy Director Wang's words, some workers remained skeptical about the nature of this washing machine, but after the convenient laundry service station opened, no one said it served the bourgeoisie anymore!
The people living in the family compound are all working class. How can the equipment that is convenient for the working class be said to serve the bourgeoisie?
The service station was crowded with residents who came to see the strange sight.
Some people think that spending ten cents on washing clothes is a bit expensive.
With this dime, he could go to the cold drink store and buy five scoops of ice cream!
"What's so expensive about ten cents? Ten cents is just for the water and electricity bill," the cashier advised. "You can hand-wash other things, but not your work clothes. The fabric is thick and hard, and it's the hardest to wash. Let your wife take a break. She sweats a lot in the summer, and her clothes get rotten. You can find two coworkers to wash the clothes together. It'll only cost three cents per person, which is a great deal."
Hearing the familiar voice in front of him, Wang Zaofu, who was standing on the edge of the crowd, couldn't help but widen his eyes.
He only suffered minor skin injuries and was discharged from the hospital after two days.
I just came back from the factory hospital this morning and saw a notice posted at the gate of the compound that a convenient laundry service station had opened.
He had mixed feelings about the service station and followed the crowd when he heard the sound of firecrackers.
Originally, he just wanted to stand outside and see what was going on before leaving, but unexpectedly, he heard his mother's voice!
He's sitting at the service station door selling tickets!!!
Wang Zaofu was so angry that he almost coughed up blood, and his cheek, which had just subsided, began to ache slightly.
He had just been beaten up by a group of women a couple of days ago over some washing machines, and now his mother was actually selling tickets at the laundry service station?
Isn't this making a fool of himself?
He took a deep breath, walked through the crowd to his mother, and said in a low voice, "Mom, what are you doing here? Come home with me!"
No one has told Aunt Wang the story about Wang Zaofu and these washing machines. Aunt Wang doesn't understand the situation and refuses to leave.
"You go back first. I'm already an employee at the service station and I have to work here!"
The day before yesterday, the logistics chief of Shuguang Factory came to her home and asked her to work at the service station.
Aunt Wang is illiterate and actually doesn't want to come.
But the section chief said that they just wanted to find illiterate people.
There are only two employees in the service station, one is responsible for collecting money and selling tickets, and the other is responsible for accounting and maintaining equipment.
The factory has already found a young man who can repair machinery from among this year's high school graduates. It also needs a cashier who knows money but is illiterate to be responsible for collecting fees.
It is said that many units do this, which can effectively prevent collusion between cashiers and accountants.
Aunt Wang didn't understand these things, she just believed what others said.
Only a fool wouldn't want to earn ten dollars a month just to sit at the door and collect money and talk!
Wang Zaofu tried to persuade her in vain, and he was too embarrassed to argue with her in front of the workers, so he had to put on a gloomy face and go home alone.
Zhao Weihong was at home alone with her child. When she saw him walk in, she asked with concern, "Did you have breakfast at the hospital?"
"Eat it," Wang Zaofu asked with a frown, "Why did you let Mom go to work at the service station? Can you handle taking care of the children by yourself?"
"The factory logistics manager came to ask me personally. The work is easy and I get paid, so why not go? The service station is not far from home. If I need anything, I'll go to the service station to see my mother."
Zhao Weihong thought this was great. Her mother-in-law had a proper job, earned a salary, and could occasionally help her take care of the children.
And from now on, her family can use the free washing machine to do laundry.
Catching a glimpse of the gloomy look on the man's face, she paused before advising, "I've asked around. Miao Sufen is a martyr's relative from a poor peasant family, and the only seventh-level female worker at Shuguang Factory. She enjoys a high reputation and prestige among the workers. A few years ago, Lei Wanyuan relied on her and promoted her to the Revolutionary Committee. If you suffer at her hands, consider it a lesson. Now's not the time for a head-on confrontation. First, gain a firm foothold in the factory..."
Wang Zaofu shook her hand and said, "I'm a little embarrassed this time. I don't even want to work at Shuguang Factory anymore."
Zhao Weihong let her son play by himself, then pulled him aside and whispered, "My dad's been trying to find a way out for Weidong lately. You've only been at Shuguang Factory for less than three months, so it's impossible for you to be transferred to another unit. Besides, there's no suitable position for you right now. Since you're going to take root at Shuguang Factory, then you should just focus on your work and establish yourself here first. Shuguang Factory has a good foundation, and Ye Manzhi doesn't seem like someone who's difficult to get along with. She's already been there for five years, so she might be transferred soon. A gentleman's revenge is never too late, so don't act rashly..."
Wang Zaofu thought to himself that Ye Manzhi seemed easy to get along with. He was smiling all day long and looked warm and caring.
But this kind of person is more difficult to deal with than someone with a tough temper and an upright character.
Just look at the laundry service station this time and the work assigned to his mother, and you can see something.
He was still upset about the beating a few days ago. He was thinking about the things at the factory with an expressionless face and didn't say anything else.
*
The popularity of the convenient laundry service station far exceeded everyone's expectations.
On the first day of opening, more than 100 laundry tickets were sold, and the six washing machines continued to work until after 10 o'clock in the evening when the power was finally cut off.
Colorful sheets and quilt covers were hung everywhere in the yard.
Even people outside the Shuguang Factory heard the news and came to the door to ask if people from outside the factory could come and wash clothes.
After seeing the washing machine, Wu Yuzhuo suggested installing one in his own home to free the hands of the three people.
Her parents are busy, so she has started washing some of the small clothes herself.
If there was a washing machine at home, it would free her hands.
Wu Zhengrong said: "There are no washing machines for sale on the market. If you want to use a washing machine, you have to find a way yourself."
"Dad, how about we design a washing machine together?" Wu Yuzhuo leaned on the table to discuss with him.
"No time."
Wu Yuzhuo was not discouraged and picked up the phone to call his great-grandfather.
Her grandfather must be free!
Sure enough, she only mentioned the washing machine on the phone, and her grandfather asked her to come over in the afternoon so that they could discuss it together.
Wu Yuzhuo had nothing to do during the summer vacation, so he hung up the phone and ran to find his great-grandfather.
Shuguang Factory only has six washing machines, and Ye Manzhi can't help much in this matter.
She just received a call from Deputy Director Zhao's secretary yesterday, asking her to go to the Municipal Revolutionary Committee on Friday.
The city will hold a discussion meeting regarding the black-and-white TV production line that the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building will allocate to Binjiang.
Both Shuguang Factory and Radio Factory No. 2 will send representatives to attend.
Ye Manzhi guessed that this should be the opportunity that Deputy Director Zhao had secured for Shuguang Factory, so she gathered the team members together in the past two days to prepare for the meeting on Friday.
When Ye Manzhi went to the cafeteria for lunch at noon, Zhou Ruyi called her.
The two of them found a seat in a corner and sat down.
Ye Manzhi asked, "How are things going recently? Is the child's cold better?"
"Just a few days ago, hey, before we got married, I never thought raising a child would be so troublesome!" Zhou Ruyi briefly chatted about the child's situation and then got back to the point, "Director, Lu Peng told me that Director Wang sent a temporary worker to their guesthouse!"
Lu Peng is Zhou Ruyi's lover and works in the guesthouse of Binjiang Steel Plant.
The steel plant is a related unit of Shuguang Factory and supplies steel to Shuguang Factory on a point-to-point basis. Therefore, when the social gathering was organized, unmarried young people from the steel plant were also invited to participate.
Zhou Ruyi and Lu Peng met at a social gathering.
The two got married two years ago, and Lu Peng was promoted to deputy director of the steel plant guesthouse this year.
The young couple both got promoted after marriage, and both sets of parents said that they were a match made in heaven and had found the right person for each other.
"Wang Zaofu assigned someone to the steel mill?" Ye Manzhi asked in confusion. "Why did he assign someone there? What position?"
"It was a waitress," Zhou Ruyi said in a low voice. "We have business dealings with the steel mill, so Director Wang might have struck up a conversation with them during work. Lu Peng and I both found it a bit strange. Our factory has a guesthouse, and if he wants to arrange for temporary workers, wouldn't it be more convenient to place them here?"
"Maybe he wants to avoid suspicion. As deputy director, he has to be mindful of the impact."
After saying this, even Ye Manzhi himself didn't quite believe it. What impact could Wang Zaofu pay attention to?
"It's possible. The woman he introduced is also surnamed Wang. She might be his sister." Zhou Ruyi sighed. "Director Wang's family is quite well-behaved. Director Wang is already very handsome, and I heard that his sister is also very beautiful."
"Has this comrade already gone to work at the steel plant guesthouse?"
"Not yet. I just went to the steel mill to show my face, as part of the entry process." Zhou Ruyi smiled. "The director of the guesthouse knows that Director Wang is the son-in-law of a city leader, so he personally helped to supervise this matter. Lu Peng said that he had never seen their director do things so efficiently."
Ye Manzhi recalled Wang Zaofu's family relationship. It seemed that he had an older sister and a younger brother, and both of them had jobs. It was unlikely that he would have to work as a temporary worker in the steel plant guesthouse, right?
"What's the name of the woman Director Wang introduced? How old is she?"
"She's about twenty years old, and her name seems to be Wang Zhuoya," Zhou Ruyi said with a smile, "She must be a reader influenced by Zoya and Shura, and she changed her name when she registered her household registration!"
Ye Manzhi nodded and continued to eat. Her mind was all on the TV production line. She had to go back for a discussion meeting in the afternoon!
She finished her work quickly and returned to the office alone after lunch.
While drinking water from the teacup, she picked up the phone on the table and called her elder sister's workplace.
"Sister, I remember there seems to be an actress named Wang Zhuoya in your drama troupe, right?"
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