Chapter 176

After Su Ruo and the others finally finished moving, looking at that half-room of money, several people's eyes couldn't help

Li Zhaodi exclaimed in shock: "I've lived this long and never seen so much money."

Su Ruo had never seen it either; today's events moved her too deeply, and even Su Ruo could not remain calm.

Only the mistress remained calm, as if to her this money was no different from floor tiles.

But after meeting An'an's wary gaze, she raised her eyebrows and said: "Little brat, did you see? This time I really helped your mom solve a big trouble—aren't you supposed to thank me properly?"

After saying that, the mistress reached to touch the little tuft on An'an's head, and this time An'an did not dodge.

As the mistress stroked the fine soft hair on her head, she couldn't help sighing inwardly, this little brat is really pragmatic.

Su Ruo then came to her senses: "Mistress, I only need 200,000; I don't need this much money."

But the mistress said indifferently: "After you buy the Clothing Factory, hiring workers, buying materials—where wouldn't you need money?"

"Consider this my dowry for you; a girl who wants to live well can't have no money in her hands."

Su Ruo knew the mistress was right; she indeed needed the money, so she didn't pretend, only silently vowing in her heart to repay the mistress once she had money.

The next day, Su Ruo told Bai Xinya and Zhou Feng about the money she had raised; although they were surprised, it wasn't too unexpected.

Although the national economy is currently sluggish, there are no shortage of hidden talents.

Just speaking of these aristocratic families, which one doesn't have some reserves; it's just a matter of whether they bring them out.

Zhou Feng said he would go make some inquiries to see what the higher-ups meant, while Su Ruo, Bai Xinya, and Li Zhaodi thought of going together to inspect the Clothing Factory.

Although they were not strangers to the State-owned Clothing Factory, they had never gone inside; for such a major purchase as a factory, they wanted to see everything clearly before buying to feel at ease.

After Zhou Feng learned of their plan, he had the driver take them there.

Before Su Ruo and the others even reached the Clothing Factory, they saw a large crowd noisily gathered at the gate, so the three of them got out of the car without letting the driver approach.

Upon approaching and looking, they realized that the State-owned Clothing Factory, due to poor management, had not paid wages for several months.

The workers were worried they wouldn't get their wages back, and hearing that the factory was to be sold, they feared losing their jobs, which is why they gathered here to protest.

The old factory director, Wei Ming, shouted hoarsely to explain: "Even if the factory is sold, we will arrange everyone's placement and pay their wages in full, so don't worry."

But these words had no effect; the workers remained emotionally agitated, clamoring for an explanation.

At that moment a small car pulled up, and a plump middle-aged man stepped out; the protesting workers seeing him automatically made way.

The middle-aged man walked up to Factory Director Wei and said: "Director Wei, why don't you just sell the factory to me? Why go looking for trouble?"

Upon seeing the visitor, Wei Ming's face showed suppressed anger.

The surrounding workers, however, shouted: "Yeah, Director, the factory is already like this—obviously beyond saving; since it will go bankrupt sooner or later, why not sell it to Boss Li?"

That would not only pay everyone's wages but also secure their jobs.

Or is it that you've been an official for so long you're reluctant to relinquish power, unwilling to let go unless you drag everyone down to death?

Wei Ming's face turned livid with anger at those words, while Li Furén looked smug.

He wanted to see how long Wei Ming's old bones could hold out under these circumstances.

In fact, Wei Ming also knew that at this point the factory was beyond rescue, destined to be sold, which was also the decision from above.

The reason he refused to sell to Li Furén was that Li Furén's offer was too low.

The higher-ups set the price at 500,000; to ordinary people that's an astronomical sum, but compared to the factory's investment, it's already as low as it can go.

The combined value of the machinery, equipment, factory buildings, dormitories, land, and materials comes to at least 1,800,000.

The higher-ups' price of 500,000 is already a halving; the workers don't understand this, but Li Furén does, which is why he wants to buy the Clothing Factory, yet he calculated that the factory is eager to sell, so he only offers 300,000.

This is practically outright robbery; Wei Ming refuses to sell, so he daily incites the workers to cause trouble at the factory, wearing Wei Ming out mentally and physically.

Even so, Wei Ming stubbornly refuses to sell, because at the asking price of 500,000, after deducting the factory's owed machinery and equipment fees, raw material bills, and these workers' wages plus layoff subsidies, there's basically nothing left.

Although Li Furén's name suggests wealth and benevolence, he is actually rich but unkind; he now promises the workers that if he buys the factory, he will give them work, doing whatever they did before.

But Wei Ming knows how ruthless Li Furén is; after he took over the Cotton Spinning Factory, although he still gave workers job opportunities, he forced them to work overtime day and night and even docked their wages.

As soon as the workers showed any resistance, they were immediately fired; although they harbored grievances, thinking of their families to support, they could only endure.

Yet under such high-intensity labor, many workers fell ill, and accidents were commonplace; even so, Li Furén never relented, usually just paying a bit of compensation to settle matters.

In his eyes, human lives meant nothing.

Wei Ming had struggled for the factory his whole life; this place had long become his home, and the workers were his family. He truly did not want them to end up like that, but they failed to grasp his painstaking efforts.

Li Furén said with a satisfied grin: "Alright, you all disperse today! Just consider it giving me, Li, some face."

Those protesting workers, upon hearing Li Furén's words, indeed silently dispersed, indicating they had reached some kind of agreement with him.

After everyone had left, Li Furén looked at Factory Director Wei with a satisfied grin and said: "Factory Director Wei, I don't know what you're insisting on, but if you sell the factory to me, wouldn't that be good for you, me, and everyone?"

"To be frank, besides me, Wei Ming, no one else could buy this factory; if you keep resisting like this, you're just asking for trouble."

"You've seen how these workers behaved today; if one day they truly can't hold back and, in their excitement, do something, it won't be good!"

Wei Ming's face stern, he said: "Are you threatening me?"

Li Furén still smiling, he said: "How can you say that? I'm advising you! In business, harmony brings wealth; I most respect someone like you, Factory Director Wei, and I'm urging you out of concern lest you come to harm."

If you won't listen, then forget it; I'll come back in a few days, hoping Factory Director Wei can give me a satisfactory reply then.

Li Furén said his piece and left, leaving only Wei Ming standing at the gate with a weary face, the weight of life bending his waist.

Although Su Ruo had anticipated that the clothing situation wasn't great, she never imagined it would be this bad.

Li Zhaodi and Bai Xinya's expressions weren't good either, after all, seeing those people's demeanor, they feared that buying the factory would bring trouble.