Chapter 223: Who dares to try these reform measures?

"This……" Factory Director Wang was dumbfounded at once.

What a joke, the factory has no kindergarten, no school, how to solve the education of workers' children? No hospital, how to solve medical care for workers? No cinema, Cultural Palace…… how to build the workers' spiritual civilization?

The factory is now just a factory—what human touch remains?

The West promotes its civilization, constantly shouting about welfare measures from cradle to grave, sounding tempting; in fact, in the East, in state-owned enterprises, they've long been doing this—once you become a worker, you don't have to worry about anything: food, drink, bodily functions, the factory covers it all; your monthly wage need not be saved, you spend it all!

So many people miss that era; it was absolutely the golden period, but…… the all-encompassing approach incompatible with a market economy is doomed to be short-lived; if the East had not undertaken the sweeping reforms of the 1980s and continued on the old path, the Soviet Union would be the example.

North Korea is also a typical case; even though they were developing well before, it was only thanks to Soviet aid; after the Soviet Union collapsed, look at their lives— the whole country has only one fat person!

A factory is meant to create value; once people discover that it's nice to cool off under a big tree, who knows how many will lie down to sleep there— even the sturdiest tree will be dragged down.

If the factory doesn't go bankrupt, then only the state can go bankrupt.

To solve this problem, reform is necessary!

Leader Rao was also shocked speechless; if your remarks get out, the nation's working-class brothers will probably come after you with wrenches and hammers.

"San Shui, you said that in a factory the proportion of workers engaged in production is no less than ninety-five percent—how should the factory's ancillary facilities be resolved?" Zhang Wanhe spoke up; now, only he still retains a shred of sanity.

"Workers' schools and hospitals—these should be allocated to local governments, managed uniformly by the government; the issues of schooling and medical care are originally the government's responsibility. If factories operate independently, many problems will arise: the teaching quality of workers' children's schools is always the worst; in workers' hospitals, casually issuing sick leave lets workers draw wages long-term without working—this sort of thing…… every factory has it, right?"

Those present fell silent.

Workers' children who can study in peace are few; after all, they can take over their fathers' jobs when they grow up—who cares about academic performance?

As for workers' hospitals, they're all part of the same unit—you ask me to help issue a sick leave note, and I refuse? Everyone sees each other every day; moreover, when hospitalized they exaggerate drug reimbursements, then take the medicines out to sell…… it's just milking the public purse, not the doctors' own gain.

In the era of the communal pot, various drawbacks are countless.

But who dares to reform these drawbacks? Whoever moves touches the interests of those vested interests, and will be targeted and attacked.

In later times, the Yellow River Factory was on the brink of bankruptcy; during the reform, the factory director then had to bring two bodyguards, always on guard against someone swinging a plank.

"Other ancillary institutions, like the Cultural Palace, cinemas, etc., can be contracted out; frankly, to pursue a market economy now, these are money‑making…… value‑creating; keeping them in the factory's hands means they're only occasionally used—pure waste!"

Now, recreational activities are severely lacking; open the cinemas to the outside, show movies that young people in society like, and they'll surely be packed to the rafters; turn the Cultural Palace into a skating rink or the like—still no worry about making money?

"Of course, we can prioritize contracting these out to the factory's workers; frankly, tightening screws on the assembly line earns only a dead‑end wage—going out on your own, that's where the real opportunities lie……"

The 1980s were full of business opportunities everywhere! It all depends on whose mind is more agile and whose courage is greater.

"Some other non‑production‑related items in the factory can also be gathered together to form a Third‑Industry Company, engaging in services; workers who want to go solo can also be helped—for example, everyone here works in the heavy‑truck plant; if a worker wishes to become an individual entrepreneur and run transport, the factory can support them in buying heavy trucks!"

In the 1980s, driving a truck was high‑pay! One Steyr heavy truck could generate tens of thousands of profit in a month! Not like later, where blowing a tire makes a trip a total loss.

"Thus, everything in the factory unrelated to operations should be spun off, left to sink or swim on their own; the factory would then focus solely on production, creating benefits, shedding the burden, marching light‑armed, and will surely thrive in a market economy like a fish in water……"

"Hmph, silver‑tongued, doing this—what's the difference between us and capitalist countries? The masters of our factory are our working class!" An angry voice sounded from outside.

The director of Red Rock Factory, Zhao Xingguo!

Although excluded, the people of Red Rock Factory still did not leave; unable to enter, they listened from outside.

Qin Miao, when speaking of these reform plans, sprayed spittle, grew more fervent with each word, his voice rising, and those outside could hear him clearly.

Then…… they became angry.

What the hell kind of reform measures are these? This is clearly meant to throw society into chaos!

"If the factory is top‑profit and can thrive without state subsidies, I admire you; if it needs subsidies to survive, then I can only scoff. The next ten years are the golden period of reform; after ten years, the state will surely not grant a single penny more—by then the factory will go under, and the workers will be the most pitiable."

Qin Miao's single sentence left Zhao Xingguo's face flushed red, wanting to rebut but unable to speak.

Exactly, they're after state subsidies; the so‑called masters are just freeloading off national resources……

"Hmph, we'll show you—we can develop without state subsidies, without taking the capitalist road; our Red Rock Factory can also flourish! Those ancillary facilities, we won't consider them superfluous……"

Having said that, the people of Red Rock Factory strode off.

Qin Miao was speechless.

The 1980s were the best era; carrying out reform then, workers spun off could still earn big money, and would enjoy various policy supports—for example, buying heavy trucks, the factory writing a guarantee, they could borrow money without collateral!

Running a heavy‑truck transport business yields hundreds of times more than tightening screws on the assembly line!

Ten years later, those still tightening screws are still doing so, while those who went into transport already have their own transport companies!

By the 1990s, laid‑off workers were everywhere; starting over was no longer easy—all they could do was set up a street stall or take odd jobs……

He recalled the saying about boiling a frog in warm water—stay too long in a comfortable setting and nobody wants to jump out……

"San Shui, your reform plans are bold and decisive; our Capital Industrial System will evaluate them, then try them out on a small scale." Zhang Wanhe said this, speaking to his son‑in‑law, whom he fully supports!

"Our Yellow River Factory also wants to give it a try……"

Now it was Qin Miao's turn to be surprised— offending people, huh? Does the Yellow River Factory dare to do this?