Chapter 4753: Understanding the Situation

"It's that serious?" Upon hearing Kong Shenghui's words, Zhao De could not help but feel a bit surprised. He then said to Zhu Liansheng, "Director Zhu, could you tell me about your factory's operations and financial situation?"

"The two leaders, please go to the factory conference room; I will report to you in detail," Zhu Liansheng said, nodding hurriedly. He was terrified that the higher-ups would investigate, as that would mean his position as factory director would truly be unstable.

In the factory conference room, two young, pretty female workers were busy serving them. Zhao De drank tea and, along with Kong Shenghui and the others, listened to Zhu Liansheng's report. The situation was indeed far more serious than he had imagined. Today, the textile factory had a massive backlog of products, and at the same time, it owed large loans to banks and suppliers. The book losses alone were ten million. The enterprise had been unable to pay wages for three months, and each person could only receive one hundred yuan in living expenses per month.

Zhu Liansheng also summarized a few points regarding the reasons for the losses: the poor export situation, fierce market competition, and the heavy burden of the factory's many retired employees.

Zhao De looked at a registration form for the factory's state-owned assets and interjected, "Director Zhu, I see that your equipment is relatively new. Was it all purchased in the last few years?"

"Yes," Zhu Liansheng replied with a nod, looking somewhat embarrassed. "This was purchased two years ago after the factory underwent technical upgrades and took out bank loans. Unfortunately, the export situation is poor now, and the cost of cotton keeps rising. We lose money on every piece we produce. These new machines can't be used; it's a waste."

"I think your mind is stagnant, stuck in old ways, holding a golden rice bowl while begging for food," Zhao De said nonchalantly while looking over the documents. Meanwhile, he was cursing inwardly: *The workshops in Wenzhou can produce things that sell well across the country, yet you have such good machines and can't produce anything? * However, he did not say this out loud. He knew it was not yet time to offend Zhu Liansheng; as a deputy to the People's Congress, Zhu Liansheng held votes in his hands.

After listening to Zhu Liansheng's report, Kong Shenghui provided some explanations on the side. Zhao De did not offer further opinions but asked other questions, particularly regarding the situation of the retired employees. Then, unwilling to give up, he went to other workshops to personally understand the workers' thoughts before smiling and bidding farewell to Zhu Liansheng.

Zhu Liansheng hurriedly stopped him, saying it was already noon and that he had prepared a table of food to treat the leaders to a simple meal. Kong Shenghui waved his hand, signaling that they would not eat.

But Zhao De saw Zhu Liansheng's awkward expression and figured the meal had already been ordered; if they didn't go, it would be a waste. To give Zhu Liansheng a way out and ensure he would be remembered, he smiled and said to Kong Shenghui, "Old Kong, this is just the heartfelt intention of Director Zhu and the entire textile factory. It's lunchtime anyway; it's the same wherever we eat."

Seeing Zhao De say this, Kong Shenghui echoed him, smiling and saying, "Since Director Zhu has this intention, let's just eat here."

Seeing the two men so enthusiastic and sincere, they followed Zhu Liansheng to the factory canteen. The canteen was divided into two: one for workers and one for leaders. Naturally, they went to the leaders' canteen. What Zhao De did not expect was that the private room in the leaders' canteen was very luxurious, looking just like a hotel. The food was also sumptuous, with Wuliangye and Zhonghua cigarettes on the table. This made Zhao De feel very uneasy eating this meal. Thinking of the words of the female workers earlier, he felt that what he was drinking was not wine, but the blood of these workers. However, Zhu Liansheng, accustomed to 'drinking blood,' felt this meal was excellent.

Looking at Zhu Liansheng, who had no sense of crisis at all, Zhao De really wanted to go up and slap him twice. This was purely a bloodsucker feeding on the common people; it was no wonder the factory was losing money with such a director.

The group ate and chatted. The meal was short. Just as they finished eating and were preparing to leave the leaders' canteen, a dozen female workers suddenly appeared at the canteen entrance. Seeing the men, who were flushed from drinking, they rushed forward, blocked them inside the leaders' canteen, and began shouting all at once.

"You leaders, you say you're here to inspect work, but I think you're just here to eat and drink!"

"You have it good, coming down to look around for a bit, then coming here to feast and drink, while we workers can't even afford to eat! As leaders, don't you care about whether we live or die?"

"Oh, there's even Wuliangye wine!"

"And Zhonghua cigarettes too!" The young female worker named Ma Lianlian stood on tiptoe to look at the table in the private room and screamed loudly, "The factory can't pay my wages, but they have money to entertain these big shots? A single bottle of wine is worth my wages!"

"Ma Lianlian! What are you shouting about! These two leaders are here to research the factory's situation and will solve our problems when they go back! What are you shouting for!" Seeing Zhao De and Kong Shenghui's awkward expressions, Zhu Liansheng hurriedly shouted at the somewhat attractive female worker, "All of you, get back to the workshop!"

"Go back to the workshop and drink the northwest wind?" Another woman retorted with dissatisfaction, "You're here feasting and drinking, while we're left guarding the machines to drink the northwest wind!"

"That's right, don't we know what it's like to be hungry?" An older woman's emotions were also stirred up.

"Hmph, research? I don't care if you're researching or not. Since you're here to solve problems, fine, pay me my wages first!" Ma Lianlian said, hands on her hips, looking aggressive.

For a moment, the dozen female workers were criticizing them one after another, which made Zhu Liansheng feel extremely embarrassed. While using his authority as director to drive them away, he kept smiling awkwardly at Zhao De and Kong Shenghui.

Zhao De also felt extremely awkward at this moment. Listening to the words coming from these female workers, although the language was crude, every word made sense. He felt extremely self-reproachful, thinking that the wine he had just drunk was really no different from drinking the blood of these workers. He looked at the dark-faced Kong Shenghui and asked seriously, "Old Kong, what do you think we should do? As leaders, we can't just not solve the problem, right?"

Kong Shenghui shook his head and said, "I don't know what to do in this situation either. You're the leader; you tell me what to do, and I'll listen to you."

"Don't keep shouting here! If you don't leave, you won't even get this month's living expenses!" Zhu Liansheng was out of options and simply used his trump card to threaten the female workers.

Unexpectedly, this tactic didn't work. Ma Lianlian took the lead and cursed Zhu Liansheng with disdain, "Pah! I'm not staying for that hundred yuan of living expenses; I'm staying to get my wages!"

"Exactly! Wages have been in arrears for several months, and we can't even put food on the table at home. How can you be here feasting and drinking while we suffer and starve!"

"If you don't solve the problem for me, I'll go to the district to make trouble, go to the city to make trouble, and find the mayor to solve it!" Ma Lianlian shouted at Zhu Liansheng, hands on her hips and head tilted.

The emotions of the other female workers were also stirred up, and they began shouting one after another. For a moment, the scene was chaotic, leaving Zhu Liansheng at a loss for what to do. He hurriedly turned to Zhao De and Kong Shenghui and said, "Two leaders, why don't you go back to the private room to drink tea and smoke? I'll handle this!"

Watching the almost uncontrollable scene and listening to the harsh words of the female workers, Zhao De thought to himself: *As the saying goes, if you are not in that position, you don't seek that job. * Since he was now the acting district head, his duty was to be responsible for the work of all industries in the district and ensure their normal operation. Now that he had encountered such a situation, solving it was his own business. Zhao De furrowed his brows in thought for a moment and said to Zhu Liansheng, who was sweating profusely, "Director Zhu, I originally came here for research, but I didn't expect to encounter such a situation. How about this: I will hold an on-site office meeting today and try my best to resolve this matter!"

"This is all a sudden situation. District Head Zhao, please don't take it to heart. It's fine. You and District Head Kong go back to the private room for tea and cigarettes; I will resolve this soon." Seeing Zhao De's serious expression, Zhu Liansheng knew this matter had displeased the leader. Sweat poured down his bald forehead, and he didn't even have time to wipe it as he said respectfully.

"Alright, stop saying so much. Have these female workers go to the conference room; I want to hear their thoughts first!" Zhao De said seriously. After speaking, he turned and walked toward the conference room.

Watching Zhao De's serious demeanor, Kong Shenghui felt a bit uneasy and followed him to the conference room. Zhu Liansheng looked at their backs with trepidation, then thought to himself: *Fine, since the leader is willing to solve it, then let him solve it! * So, he frowned, waved his hand, and shouted to the dozen chattering female workers, "You're lucky today! District Head Zhao wants to hold an on-site office meeting to help you solve the problem. All of you, go to the conference room!"

Hearing Zhu Liansheng say this, the female workers cheered as if they had won a battle and surged toward the conference room in groups of three or five.

In the factory conference room, Zhao De and Kong Shenghui had already sat down at the conference table. The two young female workers from the factory office served them tea, and the dozen female workers poured in, pulled up chairs without a word, and sat down, whispering to each other.

Zhao De picked up his teacup, took a sip to calm his mood, looked at the group of chattering female workers, coughed twice, and said, "Everyone, be quiet! Be quiet!"

The conference room immediately became deathly silent. Zhao De looked around and said, "I haven't been the acting district head of our Chanba District for long, and I didn't understand the situation in our factory before. I came for research today to understand the situation, and seeing everyone so agitated, saying wages haven't been paid, I want to hear the specific situation..."

Before Zhao De could finish his sentence, the dozen female workers were already impatiently scrambling to pour out their grievances to him.

(Chapter 2574: Understanding the Situation)! ===== CHAPTER 4754 =====