Meeting
In order not to delay production, the meeting was held during the lunch break, and at most half an hour could be squeezed out after deducting the time for eating.
The announcement was made three more times, and then everyone had arrived.
On the stage was a long wooden table that had been moved up, covered with an old red cloth that had been used many times. Factory director Sun Ming's face showed the excitement that had been appearing frequently lately: "Comrades! I have some good news for you all, Xixi, our sugar factory is going to build a new workshop!"
He spent several days venting his frustrations and pleading with the company in the provincial capital before finally managing to get this little bit of support from them. But he was glad he got what he wanted.
As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of applause erupted from below.
The workers had been spreading the word about it for a long time, and the factory was thriving, making everyone happy.
Cheers mingled with applause, and the roaring continued for a long time.
Although many people had previously wanted the factory to build houses for them, it didn't diminish their current joy.
Sun Ming stretched out his hands, made a sweeping motion in the air, then clenched his fists. After repeating this several times, the commotion below subsided.
"Next, Director Li Yuanhong will speak."
Li Yuanhong announced: "Comrades, in addition to the workshops, the factory will build a wall to enclose the dormitory area. From now on, anyone who is not a factory employee and wants to enter will have to go through the gate security department's inspection!"
A man raised his hand high, stood up, and asked, "Director Li, we don't even have enough housing, so why are we building a wall first?"
Li Yuanhong explained, "This amount of bricks won't build many houses; it's a drop in the ocean. Besides, I've heard that thefts frequently occur in the single dormitory buildings!"
She slammed her hand on the table, causing the enamel mug in front of her to tremble.
The man sat down hesitantly, not daring to say more, and muttered to the people around him, "I only said I wanted a house because my home is too cramped. It's not that I don't want a wall built, you all know that."
He was afraid of being misunderstood.
The person next to him nodded, then said impatiently, "Stop talking, keep listening. Everyone knows who you are, no one doubts you."
She had also been robbed before. If building a wall around the factory could solve this problem, that would be great. As a single woman, besides the heartache of losing property, she felt even more fear of outsiders invading her own space.
Fortunately, it was a multi-person dormitory, and everyone huddled together, which eased their anxiety.
Hearing this, the man felt relieved and warned himself that he couldn't be the first to speak up next time. So many people wanted the house, and if he charged ahead alone, no one would speak up for him.
Director Li glanced at them, and everyone trembled. They had said they would go together to get the house, but those people are really unreliable!
Wang Shuitao sat comfortably on the podium and saw the bright, expectant eyes of many young girls below. She suddenly realized that the unease of a thief coming and going freely in one's own home was definitely not as simple as being robbed.
Li Yuanhong feigned anger: "Many people have told me that things are often missing from their dorm rooms."
She paused for a moment, then swept her dignified gaze across the vast crowd below.
Then he continued, "Everyone suspects that outsiders broke into our factory and stole our things. Now! The factory will help everyone build a wall to prevent such petty theft."
The sudden emphasis startled several people.
Actually, the security department patrols frequently. It would be ridiculous if people from outside came so often to steal things, especially odds and ends, and yet they could never be caught.
The people below were beaming with excitement, exchanging knowing glances with those around them.
They all understood Director Li's implication: the wall was in place, and if the same thing happened again, it would be the work of their own people.
Those old, worthless excuses are no longer valid.
The seven classmates who were in the same night school class as Wang Shuitao kept following her around with their eyes.
She actually took their words to heart; this must be the kind of good leader who serves the people that newspapers and radio broadcasts talk about.
They are quite satisfied that the problem has been resolved to this extent.
At this moment, Li Yuanhong said, "Now, Director Wang from the factory office will announce something to everyone."
Wang Shuitao said with a serious face, "Next, those whose names I call, come with me: Zhao Bu, Qian Caiduo, Sun Jiadu, Lin Jiang, and Zhou De."
As names were announced one by one, the restless crowd gradually quieted down.
Several people of different heights, weights, and builds, with ashen faces and trembling legs, followed Wang Shuitao out of the Great Hall.
The whispers that erupted were also shut out behind the door.
"Is it what I think? Yes, it is!"
A person is making faces.
"Zhou De, him? No way?"
"No, it's his mother."
"It's his father!"
"Stop fighting! Everyone's stealing!"
"Then he himself is certainly not a good person either."
Everyone agreed with this.
Of the five people who went out, some only stole from one floor and were not well-known, some had family members stealing for them and had a good reputation, and some did it themselves and were infamous.
But everyone also had their own guesses about why they were called out.
Wang Shuitao looked at the group of people who were practically pressed against the cracks in the windows and doors, eavesdropping on what was happening inside, and suddenly said, "You should know why I called you out here alone."
She suddenly shouted, "Stand up straight!"
Sun Jiadu's legs buckled and he fell on his bottom, but he immediately got up and stood up, standing alongside the other four people.
Their faces were all paler than the last, but no one dared to speak first.
In the past, at most a dozen or so people would surround them demanding an explanation, and they could get away with it by throwing a tantrum. But if they are exposed now, they will probably face the wrath of thousands of people.
Sun Jiadu wanted to beg for mercy; he was terrified that the factory would hand him over to the police station, which would be the end of him. But his tongue was limp, and he couldn't speak at all.
According to Wang Shuitao's idea, it would be best to hand it over to the police station and be done with it. However, the victims have different demands, and it is likely that even if they are taken there, the outcome will only be mediation.
She said, "You're all not going to talk? Now you know you're guilty, where were you before? I'm giving you a chance to make amends. The factory will deduct ten yuan from your wages for six months, ten yuan a month, which will be used in the canteen to help you out. Anyone object?"
Of course he had, Zhou De was very indignant and wanted to say that he had never stolen anything, but under the gaze of this young girl, he didn't dare to say a word.
She struggled, trembling, and managed to let out a sob.
Wang Shuitao immediately said with disgust, "What strange noise! If you have a problem, just say so!"
Fearing he would be implicated, Sun Jiadu quickly regained his composure and said, "No, he didn't."
Wang Shuitao led five more people inside, sat back down, and announced, "The factory has decided that for the next six months, the canteen's budget will increase by fifty yuan each month, provided by Zhao Bu, Qian Caiduo, Sun Jiadu, Lin Jiang, and Zhou De."
The crowd below booed loudly.
However, they were quite satisfied with the factory's handling of the situation. If they had been sent to the police station, these people would have lost their jobs, which were considered secure.
I don't know why, but when someone loses their secure job, even if you haven't made the same mistake, it still makes people panic.
Sun Ming nodded and said, "Meeting adjourned!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
