Chapter 105: Factory Manager Huang Arrested

Perhaps the anger had been suppressed for too long, and the workers' fury at the Red Star Food Processing Factory exploded completely. Even though Zheng Yun and the factory security department's guards tried hard to dissuade them, they could not stop the angry crowd.

The door of the factory manager's office was violently kicked open, and the portly Factory Manager Huang was instantly beaten until his head was bloody, wailing incessantly.

Zheng Yun worried that the situation would escalate, so he brought Chen Yang forward. 'Everyone, stop fighting. Our factory is about to be acquired, and the new boss will help everyone solve the wage problem.'

'Yunzi, you're talking nonsense. Who would want this broken factory?'

'It's true, the boss is right over there.' Zheng Yun immediately pointed to Chen Yang, who was watching the commotion outside the factory manager's office.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Chen Yang could only politely return a smile.

'Yunzi, who are you fooling? Isn't he the boss of your supermarket?'

'That's right! He's my boss, and he's about to become everyone's boss.'

'A little boss who sells vegetables wants to buy our huge factory? You're kidding.'

'It's true. If you don't believe me, ask my boss.'

At this point, Chen Yang could no longer hide it and frankly said to everyone, 'I am indeed interested in buying this factory, but the transfer procedures aren't finished yet, so I can't yet be considered the boss here.'

As soon as Chen Yang finished speaking, someone immediately asked, 'Boss Chen, what about our wages?'

Chen Yang said, 'Regarding wages, I can't answer you for now. Before the transfer procedures are completed, everything is uncertain. But I hope you can be a bit more rational. Beating people is illegal; if someone gets killed, the problem will become even more serious. You don't need to ruin your own future over a corrupt individual.'

'Exactly!' Zheng Yun hurriedly added, 'Everyone, calm down. It's not worth suing over this scum.'

Just as everyone was hesitating, a sudden, prolonged siren sounded from outside. Immediately after, two police cars sped toward the factory gate.

The boss surnamed Huang hurriedly got up, rushed out of the office, and, like clutching a lifeline, ran to the police car, shouting at the officer about to get out, 'Chief Zhou, you've come just in time—quickly save me, they're going to kill me!'

'Factory Manager Huang, someone has reported you for soliciting prostitutes—come with us.' As soon as Chief Zhou finished speaking, two officers got out, handcuffed the Huang-surnamed boss, and quickly escorted him into the police car.

'Damn, no money for wages but money for prostitutes! If I'd known, I'd have hit him harder earlier.'

'Don't act rashly; if Factory Manager Huang broke the law, the law will naturally punish him.' Worried that something else might happen, Chief Zhou quickly took Huang away.

Everyone saw the police take Factory Manager Huang away, and then turned their attention back to Chen Yang.

'Boss Chen, are you really going to take over the factory?'

'I can't answer that for now. But my company is indeed in talks to acquire the Red Star Food Processing Factory.'

'Boss Chen, you won't make us sell vegetables with you, will you?'

'Um, I'm quite democratic; I won't force anyone to do something they don't want to do.'

'Boss Chen, can you help us get our wages back?!'

'This issue can only be discussed after I become the boss here; for now, I have nothing to say.'

'Boss Chen, is your company still hiring? Helping you sell vegetables would also be fine!'

'Thanks for your support! If we take over the factory, we'll properly arrange everyone's work. You all might as well disperse for now.'

Under Chen Yang's patient persuasion, the workers were finally dispersed.

Seeing everyone leave, Zheng Yun took Chen Yang to tour the workshop. As they walked, he sighed to Chen Yang, 'Actually, the factory used to do quite well. At its busiest, a dozen or so trucks would come in for supplies each day.'

Chen Yang looked at the desolate surroundings of the factory and curiously asked Zheng Yun, 'If business was so good, why has it become like this?'

Zheng Yun sighed, 'Ever since the surnamed Huang became factory manager, the food produced has often been problematic. Every shipment out could only be sold cheaply.'

Chen Yang asked, 'I've heard your factory's quality control is poor—is that true?'

'I just got back from the army not long ago, so I'm not really sure.' Zheng Yun shook his head. 'But my father once mentioned that the factory's product quality inspections used to be very strict.'

Chen Yang felt there was definitely something fishy going on. It's likely that Factory Manager Huang colluded with outside purchasers, deliberately using quality issues to drive down prices and reap high profits.

Of course, Chen Yang lacked solid evidence, so he felt uncomfortable voicing his opinion in front of Zheng Yun.

He inspected the workshop and found it indeed very old—all brick buildings from over thirty years ago. Much of the plaster on the brick walls had peeled off, and some walls were carved with inscriptions like 'So-and-so was here.' The roof's western side also had a large hole; whenever it rained heavily, water could flood in like a deluge.

Chen Yang then examined the other three workshops, each with its own problems.

If the workshop is to quickly restart production lines, the required funds will definitely not be a small amount.

He had also roughly observed earlier that there were very few young and strong workers; most were elderly and children.

Even if production resumed, the original lines would have to be cut in half. Would that not provoke new public resentment?

Leaving the workshop, Chen Yang also toured the staff dormitories, which were all old apartment buildings. They lacked private toilets and kitchens, being crude and monotonous.

After finishing the factory tour, Chen Yang escorted Zheng Yun to the Double Forest Market, then went straight home.

He told Lin Wei that Factory Manager Huang had been taken away by the police station officers. She, however, told him that after Huang arrived at the police station, personnel from the City Supervision Committee took him away. Afterwards, he is likely to be detained in prison.

Chen Yang didn't expect Xu Li to work so quickly. Shen Anna had only just mentioned it, and she had already resolved the issue.

Having captured the corrupt mastermind, and with Luo Xue coming to handle personnel placement, the effect will surely be twice the result with half the effort.

Of course, for over a hundred workers' six months of wages, calculated at an average of 500 per person per month, the minimum is over 300,000. Plus there are resettlement fees, severance for service years, retirement wages, etc. All of this will have to come out of Chen Yang's own pocket.

That night, Su Mingyue called Chen Yang. She had two things to say.

First, she had successfully built a position in these two stocks: Xingcheng Heavy Industry and Cloud City Biotech.

Second, she had deliberately set a trap for her senior Ma Chaoyun, and she has now resigned from Xingcheng Securities.

Chen Yang didn't expect the mild-mannered Su Mingyue to also have an explosive moment; he was somewhat surprised. However, he was not surprised by her leaving Xingcheng Securities.

The financial industry is too deep. A woman lacking outstanding ability, without a deep background, and unwilling to sell her charms, finds it very hard to survive.