Chapter 32 What decision did the factory make regarding the mess?
Ruan Xiaofen's situation is indeed a mess.
When Lu Zhe returned to the factory that evening, he received a message—the security department had caught a thief who broke into the technical department's data office that afternoon. According to the preliminary investigation, the thief's name was Ruan Xiaofen, a female worker in Workshop 3. Although no confidential materials were found on her, her behavior was suspicious, so she was temporarily detained in the security department's solitary confinement room, which only had one high window.
Why are you in the technical department office during working hours?
"Don't you know that's a classified unit?"
"The technical staff all went to the administration building for a meeting on Monday afternoon. How did you manage to sneak in during this quiet time? What were you trying to steal?"
Faced with a barrage of questions from Zhou, the head of the security department, Ruan Xiaofen shook her head repeatedly, tears streaming down her face like a sawed-off gourd.
After being scolded by Lu Zhe for Chu Yanxi's injury, and then being questioned by his superiors, Lao Zhou was in a bad mood. When he saw Ruan Xiaofen looking like a victim after being caught red-handed by Lao Wang, the person in charge of guarding the gate in the technical department, he was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table.
"Comrade Ruan Xiaofen! Don't think you can get away with it just because you didn't take any valuable classified information. You sneaked into the technical department office when no one was looking, ransacked the desks, drawers, and filing cabinets, and your fingerprints are everywhere. I'm asking you this now to give you a chance. If I send you directly to the police station, let's see what you do then!"
Ruan Xiaofen is now filled with both hatred and regret.
There was a noise outside the technical section window, and she panicked, thinking she had to get out as soon as possible. But she didn't expect that although the security guards patrolling the corridor had all run to the freight yard, Old Wang, who was on duty at the gate and dozing in the next room, was also disturbed and happened to peek out to look.
Their eyes met. Ruan Xiaofen's hand was still on the doorknob, and her face turned deathly pale. Seeing her guilty look, Old Wang's eyes widened, and he grabbed her arm: "Thief!"
And so, Ruan Xiaofen was arrested.
Fortunately, she was only in there for a short time and hadn't found any of the strictly confidential core technical information. But even so, the charge of attempted burglary was enough to break her down.
What could she say?
They're saying she was bribed for 3,000 yuan to infiltrate the technical department and steal data? Wouldn't she go to jail? What about her seriously ill mother?
Ruan Xiaofen opened her mouth, but then closed it tightly again.
There were many things she wanted to say, but she didn't dare to say them.
She wanted to say that what the township weaving factory wanted was the operating process and technical parameters of chiffon satin. She had the process flow and operating tips in her mind, but she didn't understand the technical parameters, so she could only "steal" them.
She wanted to ask, was what she was doing stealing? She had worked in the factory for six years, and even her foreman praised her for her skillful hands; she had woven countless bolts of chiffon. All she wanted were some technical specifications. The textile factory was poorly managed, so many workers were laid off, and it seemed the factory was on the verge of bankruptcy. Why was she still clinging to these documents?
Seeing that Ruan Xiaofen refused to say anything, Lao Zhou had no choice but to report to the factory.
The factory took this matter very seriously and held an emergency meeting overnight.
"This matter must not be tolerated!" The factory director slammed his fingers heavily on the table, making a dull thud that revealed his immense anger and pressure.
"Technology leaks are undermining socialism and sabotaging reform. The factory is facing such difficulties right now, and morale is low. We need to make an example of someone to firmly stop this unhealthy trend! This must be dealt with seriously. Those who should be dismissed should be dismissed, and those who should be handed over to the public security organs should be handed over to the public security organs as a warning to others!" His voice echoed in the conference room, carrying an unquestionable determination.
Several deputy factory directors echoed this sentiment, their words vehement. At this turbulent juncture, the authority of the leadership and the factory's "ironclad rules" were of paramount importance; making an example of one to deter others was the most direct and effective way to demonstrate resolve.
It was in this atmosphere that Lu Zhe barged into the office.
The factory union chairman winked at Lu Zhe: "Officer Lu, what are you doing here? Didn't you deliver your injured colleague from the delivery yard to the hospital? Go back and rest after you're done, and come back to report to me tomorrow."
Lu Zhe stood ramrod straight, his tone calm: "Leaders, the importance of technical confidentiality is beyond doubt, but Comrade Xiao Fen's actions did not cause serious damage. The list of laid-off workers will be published tomorrow, and now is a time of unrest in the factory. [The following sentence appears to be unrelated and possibly a fragment from another context:] It's crucial to handle this rashly, as it could cause a public opinion crisis, which would be counterproductive."
He described in detail the tragic situation of Xiao Fen's mother, who was in the late stage of uremia, on the verge of death, and burdened with debt. His tone was heavy and full of sympathy. Without deliberately trying to evoke emotions, he clearly presented Ruan Xiao Fen's situation to the attendees.
"I'm not trying to excuse her for barging into the technical department," Lu Zhe said sincerely to the leaders. "However, if we simply and crudely fire or even hand over this young female worker, who is desperate and only trying to save her mother, what will the other employees think? They will feel that the factory has no humanity and will be disheartened! The factory is already in a state of panic. Won't this approach exacerbate the conflict and even trigger unnecessary collective emotions?"
Lu Zhe cleverly avoided the debate over "right or wrong" and instead focused on weighing the "advantages and disadvantages".
He lowered his voice, his eyes fixed intently on the leaders present: "If this matter blows up and gets out into the public eye, how will the media report it? Headlines like 'Cruthless Factory Forces Filial Daughter to Steal Secrets to Save Mother' will completely ruin the reputation and image that our Hongxing Factory has worked so hard to maintain! Then, what's the point of talking about attracting investment? What's the point of talking about employee stability? Internal disciplinary action, criticism and education, making her deeply reflect on her actions—this upholds the seriousness of factory rules and regulations, preserves the factory's reputation, and demonstrates organizational education and redemption. Isn't that better?"
His words struck at the very core concerns of the leaders—stability, reputation, and influence. This was not an emotional plea, but a calm analysis based on practical interests.
Just as the meeting fell into a brief silence, with the leaders looking thoughtful, there was a gentle knock on the meeting room door.
The factory office secretary brought in several documents. The factory director casually flipped through one; it was a statement jointly written by several female workers from Workshop 3. Their words were earnest, confirming the extreme hardship of Xiao Fen's family and pleading with the factory to be lenient and give her a chance to reform. Another document was a certificate from the hospital regarding Ruan Xiao Fen's mother's medical condition.
These materials were naturally the result of Lu Zhe's prior arrangements. As a seasoned lawyer, he was well aware of the importance of written evidence.
He observed the subtle changes in the leaders' expressions as they reviewed the materials without making a sound.
After a long silence, the factory director exchanged a glance with the other leaders and said to Lu Zhe, "Alright, we know about Ruan Xiaofen's situation. You can go out now."
Lu Zhe knew this meant the factory leaders would reconsider their decision regarding Ruan Xiaofen. He nodded, turned, and left the meeting room, standing in the corridor to await the final result.
He had just stood by the window to get some fresh air when he was stopped by a clumsy figure.
It was his younger brother, Lu Ming.
Lu Ming was wearing a floral shirt that was out of season, his hair was slicked back, and he had an excited look on his face as if he had discovered big news. He was completely unaware of the fatigue and anxiety between his brother's brows.
"Brother, brother! I heard your factory caught a female worker for stealing technical data?" Lu Ming lowered his voice, his eyes shining. "Hey! What's the big deal? Let me tell you, I know a few bosses in the south who specialize in taking in these kinds of workers who jump ship with their skills. The price is negotiable. Anyway, this crappy factory is about to go under, so why don't we..."
"Shut up!" Lu Zhe abruptly interrupted him, his face instantly darkening. He pulled him to a corner at the end of the corridor, his voice low but filled with anger, "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you understand that this is illegal and criminal? Do you want to kill her, or do you want to kill yourself?"
Lu Ming was startled by his brother's sudden outburst of anger and said awkwardly, "I, I was just trying to help you think of a quick way to solve the problem and make money... Why are you being so fierce?"
"Solve it? You call this a solution?" Lu Zhe wanted to slap his good-for-nothing brother. "I'm warning you, Lu Ming, you are absolutely not allowed to interfere in this matter, and you are not allowed to say a single word about it to anyone else, do you hear me?! Now, immediately, go home and stay there!"
Lu Ming left dejectedly, muttering "stubborn" and "inflexible."
Watching his retreating figure disappear at the stairwell, Lu Zhe felt a deep sense of powerlessness and a headache. The temptations of the external environment were so great that even his own younger brother disregarded the rules, which made him understand more deeply the dilemma Xiao Fen was facing.
Half an hour later, the meeting results were finally announced.
The union chairman walked out of the meeting room and pulled Lu Zhe aside: "You, you, why are you sticking your neck out at this crucial moment?"
Lu Zhe was anxious and urged, "Chairman Yang, what's the factory's decision?"
The union chairman gave him a reproachful look, then suddenly burst into laughter, patting his shoulder forcefully as she laughed: "You little rascal, I didn't expect you to be so eloquent! You managed to persuade several of the factory's top leaders to let her off lightly, issuing only a verbal warning before releasing her. You're right, Ruan Xiaofen was already on the third batch of layoffs, so there was no need to create any more trouble at this time."
Lu Zhe breathed a sigh of relief.
The union chairman, somewhat curious, lowered his voice and asked, "She's just an ordinary female worker, why did you go to so much trouble? It's such a serious factory leadership meeting, and you barged in without warning. It's really unbecoming. If what you said wasn't reasonable and your materials weren't so well prepared, you would at least have had to make a public apology."
Lu Zhe looked at him seriously: "In state-owned textile factories like ours, Ruan Xiaofen is not an isolated case. If her matter is not handled properly, it will lead to an irreparable tragedy. Reform will inevitably affect the interests of some people, and there will inevitably be sacrifices and growing pains. Do you think that, in this era, you, me, and countless others can completely control our own destiny? Helping her is helping me, helping you, and helping our factory."
Upon hearing these words, the union chairman fell into a long silence.
Lu Zhe is right.
The growing pains of state-owned enterprise reform must ultimately be borne by someone.
Now that workers are being laid off, what's next?
If the factory can't continue operating and has to close down and go bankrupt, what will he do then?
Today, he sits in the conference room as a respected union chairman.
What about tomorrow? Perhaps he will be like other laid-off workers, blending into the ranks of the unemployed, filled with anxiety about a future without any security.
Lu Zhe's words echoed in the corridor and reached the ears of every leader in the conference room.
The factory manager rubbed his temples and sighed, "At least, before the workers leave, we must not let them feel disheartened. The resettlement compensation they are entitled to must be paid in full."
The union chairman turned and went back to the meeting room, and Lu Zhe's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.
He was extremely busy that day, but he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he went to the security office's solitary confinement room.
A moment later, the door to the solitary confinement cell opened. Ruan Xiaofen walked out with her head down and unsteady steps, tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with the bewilderment of someone who had just survived a calamity. When she saw Lu Zhe standing in the dim light of the corridor, she was first stunned, then as if she had found the only piece of driftwood, her tears flowed again.
“Officer Lu…” Ruan Xiaofen choked up, barely able to finish her sentence. She walked up to Lu Zhe and bowed deeply. “Thank you, thank you for saving me. If it weren’t for you, I might… my mother…”
Lu Zhe gently patted her shoulder and comforted her, "Don't be like that, Comrade Xiao Fen. The matter is over. The factory has decided to give you another chance. This is a verbal warning, and it won't happen again."
Ruan Xiaofen raised her head, tears streaming down her face, the long-suppressed fear finally bursting forth: "But the layoff list will be announced tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll be on it. Without a job, without a company, that meager resettlement allowance won't even cover Mom's monthly medical expenses. What will I do? What will Mom do? I... I really had no other choice..."
She sobbed uncontrollably, her thin shoulders trembling violently as if she might collapse at any moment.
Looking at the young female worker in front of him, Lu Zhe was filled with mixed emotions. He waited until Ruan Xiaofen's crying subsided before speaking in a steady and clear voice, "Xiaofen, lift your head."
Ruan Xiaofen raised her tearful eyes in a daze.
Lu Zhe's gaze was sharp and firm: "Do you really think that the purchasing agent from the township factory you contacted would give you three thousand yuan after you stole the technical data? Even if he did, how long can you feel at ease with this ill-gotten money? Have you thought about what you and your mother will face once things come to light?"
Ruan Xiaofen was shocked to find that Lu Zhe even knew the identity of the purchasing agent she was meeting, and her face turned even paler.
“However,” Lu Zhe’s tone softened, his words carrying a guiding force, “this incident also illustrates a point—the skills in your mind, the chiffon you weave with your hands, are valuable! Very valuable!”
Ruan Xiaofen was stunned, looking at Lu Zhe with some confusion.
“State-owned enterprises may go bankrupt, and government-affiliated positions may disappear, but people’s pursuit of a better life and their demand for high-quality fabrics will never disappear.” Lu Zhe’s voice was not loud, but it carried a penetrating power. “Otherwise, why would that township enterprise’s purchasing agent be willing to pay three thousand yuan to buy the technology? It’s precisely because there is market demand, and they can’t produce it themselves! What does this show? It shows that the technology you possess is exactly what the market urgently needs!”
Lu Zhe stared intently at Ruan Xiaofen: "Xiaofen, you have skills, experience, and craftsmanship. That's your strongest asset, far stronger than that soon-to-disappear 'iron rice bowl'! The factory may be gone, but your skills remain. Why insist on depending on a certain unit? Why can't you rely on your own skills to forge a new path?"
Ruan Xiaofen stared blankly at Lu Zhe, as if hearing this for the first time. The despair and confusion in her eyes were gradually replaced by a faint glimmer of light.
"Being laid off is an end, but also a beginning," Lu Zhe encouraged. "You can go to places where your skills are needed more, you can work with a group of people, or you can find a way to do it on your own. As long as there is market demand for chiffon and high-end fabrics, you, Ruan Xiaofen, will never lack opportunities to use your skills. The key is that you must believe in yourself and dare to take risks and try new things."
As Ruan Xiaofen listened to Lu Zhe's words, her eyes seemed to hold a mixture of shock, contemplation, and a glimmer of hope. She murmured, "Can I really do it? With my skills, with myself?"
Lu Zhe nodded firmly: "Let's get through this difficult time first and take good care of your mother. Once you're settled, think calmly about what I said. If you need anything, you can come to the union to find me, and we can discuss it together. Remember, times are changing, but people with real skills will always have a place."
Ruan Xiaofen nodded vigorously, wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, and bowed deeply to Lu Zhe once again.
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