Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 712 Success and Failure

Transport team.

"See that, Lao Liu? This is the real deal! Towels, soap, one for each person! And this certificate! It's stamped with the factory's big red seal!"

Master Zhao's voice was loud and clear, and he couldn't hide his pride. He almost spat on Master Liu's face next to him.

Master Liu quickly stepped back: "I know, I know, it's not like I don't have any. Why are you showing off to me? If you want to show off, show it to the people in the workshop."

"That's right, that's right. They're all talk and no action, unlike us, who have already got our hands on the goods."

An apprentice was grinning widely, his rough fingers carefully stroking a new towel and a bar of soap that exuded a faint fragrance.

There was also a certificate for 'Outstanding Individual' tucked under his arm.

Almost everyone in the transport team has one, so naturally the certificate doesn't seem that important. But if everyone else has one and you don't, wouldn't you feel even more ashamed?

"That's why it's important to follow the right person. Look at us, we've been following Director Li, and this stuff has been issued in no time. Meanwhile, the workshop staff still have to wait until the end of the year."

"That's right!"

"That's it!"

For a moment, the transport team's office was filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.

Mixed in the sounds of towels rubbing together, the faint scent of soap, and the rustling of paper as certificates were passed around.

Li Huaide is in charge of logistics. He is always generous when it comes to logistics, and things can be distributed quickly. That's what makes him so attractive.

Logically speaking, it shouldn't have been this fast to restart, but Li Huaide deliberately did this to compete with Director Yang.

Soon, the news from the transport team reached the third workshop.

Upon hearing this, and comparing it with what happened in the third workshop that morning, the other workshops all realized what had happened.

"These two departments are still having conflicts, but this time, could it be that even the two factory directors are involved?"

While people from other departments watched the show, the people in the third workshop did.
"Director, Director!" The group leader rushed into Jin Lijing's office.

At this moment, Jin Lijing was still in a good mood, and immediately scolded the flustered team leader: "What are you panicking about! How can you be a team leader like this?"

After being lectured a few times, the team leader immediately became unhappy.

"looking for me?"

"Oh, there's a commotion outside. I heard the transport team just received their awards. Everyone got a towel, soap, and a big red certificate, one for each person!"

“Our workshop has nothing, and now there’s a commotion outside.”

"What?!" Jin Lijing exclaimed in shock. "What happened? When did this happen? Who sent it?"

"Just now! Deputy Factory Director Li made a special approval! He said it was to commend the transportation team for completing the emergency transportation task!"

Suddenly, I heard a commotion outside.

"Why should they get away with this? In terms of hard work and contributions, how are we any worse than them? The transport team gets towels and soap after just a few trips! We can't swallow this!"

"Exactly! It's so unfair!"

"We need a reward too! Right now!"

"Yes, let's go to the higher-ups and reason with them!"

Immediately, the crowd gathered and found Jin Lijing.

Jin Lijing had just sensed that a storm was coming, but before he could think about it, the office door was slammed open with a loud bang.

"Director Jin, you need to give us an explanation for what happened today! We don't get our awards until the end of the year, so why is their transportation team getting one today? Why?"

"Yes, we've worked ourselves to the bone, and all we've got is empty talk from Director Yang. We've gotten nothing, and we have to wait until the end of the year. Who knows, he might just give us a piece of his mind at the end of the year, or we might not get anything at all!"

"That's right, Deputy Factory Director Li approved the goods for the transport team, so what about us? We want them too! We demand equal treatment! Fairness!"

Instantly, the crowd became agitated, with everyone talking at once and their voices growing louder, completely drowning out Jin Lijing's words, "Everyone, calm down."

Jin Lijing looked at the indignant workers, his face flushed red, and for a moment he was at a loss for what to do.

After the workers had been making a fuss for a while, Jin Lijing forced a reassuring smile and pressed his hands down:
"I completely understand how everyone feels! Everyone has worked hard, and the factory leaders see and appreciate all your efforts."

Before he could finish speaking, a worker interrupted, "What's the use of just looking? It has to come down to real benefits! They can't just say they won't give it to us, they can't say they won't. We need it now, we can't let the transport team outdo us!"

"Correct!"

"That's right!"

Jin Lijing felt a throbbing pain in his temples. He couldn't possibly say something like, "This was Deputy Factory Director Li's own decision," because that would be tantamount to directly criticizing another factory leader.

We cannot make decisions on behalf of Director Yang without his consent; we should issue the commendation now.

Jin Lijing felt like a bellows forced into a corner, caught in the middle and suffering from both sides.

“I have heard everyone’s demands. I will report to Director Yang immediately. Everyone go back to work and wait for my news.”

"Please rest assured, Director Yang will definitely take our voices seriously and give everyone a satisfactory answer."

These words finally calmed everyone down, and the crowd dispersed like a receding tide, returning to their workstations.

But that's all. There's no point in doing any work. Before we get results, what's the point of doing anything?
Jin Lijing didn't care about anything else. He fled the workshop like a stray dog ​​and went straight to Director Yang's office.

Director Yang's office.

Factory Director Yang did not review documents or approve reports as usual.

He sat silently, a half-smoked "Daqianmen" cigarette between his fingers, looking at the list report about the transport team that had been sent by the General Affairs Department.

Although the expenses for towels, soap, and certificates of merit are not large, the fact that this happened at this time makes the situation very serious.

"Li Huaide, what exactly do you want to do?" Director Yang's brows furrowed so deeply they could almost trap a fly.

"Are you trying to cause me trouble, or are you trying to use this incident for some other purpose?"

Outside the window, a louder commotion could be faintly heard from somewhere in the distance.

Director Yang couldn't understand why he stopped thinking about it; the most urgent thing was to solve the immediate problem.

"boom!"

Jin Lijing practically slammed open the door to Director Yang's office, the impact making his chest feel tight.

"What are you doing! Jin Lijing, have you no manners at all?" Factory Director Yang scolded, his brows furrowed.

"Factory Director! Factory Director Yang! Something terrible has happened!" Jin Lijing ignored Factory Director Yang's reprimands: "The workers! The workers are going to rebel!"

"Nonsense! What rebellion? Explain yourself!"

Jin Lijing swallowed hard: "Factory director, transport team! Deputy Factory Director Li! The transport team just distributed towels to everyone."

"The workers in the workshop are all in an uproar! Everyone feels it's unfair. They're all shouting that they must receive the same reward as the transport team right now, otherwise... otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?!"

"Otherwise, we won't do it! We can't get any work done! The workers are extremely agitated right now, and we can't control them at all."

After listening to Jin Lijing's explanation, Factory Director Yang felt a headache coming on. He hadn't expected the situation to be far more serious than he had imagined. He had thought it was just a grumbling, but it turned out to be a threat of a strike. "You, Li Huaide! You've put me on the hot seat!"

Factory Director Yang slammed his hand on the table with a loud "bang," startling Jin Lijing.

Jin Lijing dared not reply, only feeling cold sweat trickling down his spine.

Could this be a conflict between two factory directors, with him and the third workshop unfortunately becoming the frontline battlefield?

Thinking of this, Jin Lijing breathed a sigh of relief; then this matter was no longer his concern.

Factory Director Yang seemed to have calmed down a bit: "It's understandable that the workers are upset and demanding fairness."

"But we can't act recklessly or go on strike. I know the workers in the third workshop have worked hard and made great contributions to the factory!"

"Their contributions are far more valuable than towels and soap! The year-end factory-wide conference, with its awards for advanced workshops and individuals, is the reward they truly deserve!"

Jin Lijing inwardly groaned: What he said was true, but it was too late to solve the immediate problem! The workers needed to see tangible benefits right now!
He forced a smile and reminded them, "Factory manager, the workers understand the logic, but the transport team has already received the actual goods, and everyone... everyone's upset! They're all competing with each other!"

Factory Director Yang snorted coldly, his fingers, which were holding the cigarette, turned slightly white, and ash fell from his fingertips.

After a long pause, Director Yang finally spoke with an unquestionable determination.

"Jin Lijing!"

"To!"

"Go back immediately and inform the General Affairs Department. Issue a copy to every worker on duty in the Third Workshop, exactly the same as the list Deputy Factory Director Li approved for the transportation team!"

"Towels, soap, and 'Outstanding Individual' certificates—everything is there!"

Jin Lijing hurriedly nodded and bowed, "Yes, yes, the factory director is wise! I'll take care of it right away! The workers will be extremely grateful when they hear this news and will immediately feel at ease to work!"

“Grateful to tears? I’m just trying to calm things down! Remember, it’s ‘After careful consideration, the factory leaders have decided to issue the same amount of incentive materials’.”

"Do you understand what I mean? Not a single word about the transport team is allowed! Not a single word!"

"Understood! Understood!" Sweat beaded on Jin Lijing's forehead as he repeatedly assured him, "It's all part of the factory's unified plan! Unified rewards!"

Jin Lijing vaguely guessed that Director Yang was trying to silence the workers and also to prevent Li Huaide from using the situation as an excuse to cause trouble.

Once the supplies are distributed, everyone will appear to be "the same" on the surface, and there will be no reason for trouble.

"Go quickly!" Director Yang waved his hand impatiently.

Jin Lijing felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He scrambled out of the office, and the sound of his slightly disordered footsteps could still be heard fading away in the corridor.

The moment the door closed, Director Yang's tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Li Huaide, what exactly do you mean?" Factory Director Yang muttered to himself.

Workshop 3.

Jin Lijing practically sprinted back to the third workshop. Panting heavily, he shouted, "Comrades! Quiet down! Listen to me!"
"Factory leaders! Factory Director Yang!" Jin Lijing emphasized deliberately, "We completely understand everyone's feelings. The factory has decided to immediately issue everyone additional incentive supplies."

"Towels, soap, and big red certificates—well, the factory has a standard set, everyone gets one! They'll be issued right away!"

After a brief silence, a loud "boom" erupted in the workshop, followed by cheers and applause that were even louder than before!

The people who had been glaring angrily just moments before instantly brightened up, their faces beaming with excitement and joy.

"Long live the factory director!" someone shouted first.

"Director Jin is awesome!" someone shouted to Jin Lijing.

"I knew it! Director Yang wouldn't abandon us!"

"Yes! Our third workshop is the backbone of the company!"

The budding rebellion seemed to be instantly extinguished by this bucket of cold water, and the tools that had been slack off at the workstation were picked up again.

Everyone's thoughts were drawn to the General Affairs Department, waiting to receive that "real" certificate.

Looking at the harmonious scene before him, Jin Lijing wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his heart.

He forced a relieved smile, raising his hand to reassure everyone, "Don't be anxious," while thinking to himself, "Did I finally manage to fool them? Everything should be alright now, right?"

Soon, the General Affairs Department brought people over to deliver things, almost like a delivery service, towels, soap, and certificates of merit were distributed to everyone.

In an instant, the entire workshop was filled with the scent of soap, accompanied by satisfied chatter and laughter, and the tense atmosphere from before almost completely disappeared.

It's a joyful time.

"It's done!" Upon seeing this, Jin Lijing confirmed that everyone had received their items and immediately went to report the matter to Factory Director Yang.

Director Yang stood behind the window of his office, the heavy curtains slightly drawn back, his gaze fixed on the direction of the third workshop.

He could imagine the chaotic scene of supplies being distributed in the third workshop. The workers were temporarily satisfied, the workshop was quiet, and the potential danger seemed to have been eliminated.

But he felt no relief whatsoever.

The compromise he was forced to make at that moment felt like a branding iron, burning his heart with unbearable humiliation.

If I, the factory manager, can't even control the emotions in one workshop, wouldn't I become a laughing stock if word got out?

"Li Huaide!"

The matter was already decided, but if Li Huaide hadn't suddenly interfered, there wouldn't have been so many problems.

"Li Huaide, do you want to seize power? Or do you want to rise to the top?" Director Yang muttered to himself.

"Dong Dong~"

"Enter!"

"Director Yang, the supplies have all been distributed. Everyone is overjoyed and is shouting 'Long live you!'" Jin Lijing couldn't help but report the good news.

"Yes, I understand." Factory Director Yang nodded lightly.

Seeing Director Yang's calm demeanor, Jin Lijing's heart skipped a beat.

"Is there anything else?" Director Yang asked in return.

"That's all."

"If you're done, go back to work." Factory Director Yang waved his hand impatiently.

"Yes!" Jin Lijing turned and left.

Just as they were about to close the door, they suddenly faintly heard Director Yang's voice: "There are so many people in the steel rolling mill, it's not like we're short of you."

Although it was just a simple sentence, left unfinished, it felt like a cold needle piercing Jin Lijing's already anxious heart.

"Director Jin, is there anything else?" Wan Shen asked, looking at Jin Lijing who was standing dumbfounded at the door.

"Oh, it's nothing." Jin Lijing left immediately, but he was filled with anxiety.

Factory Director Yang muttered to himself, "We've only just started to achieve something, and then this huge thing happens. We can't even handle the situation or calm people down. What good are we?!"

"There are so many people in the steel rolling mill, you're not indispensable as the workshop director!"

(End of this chapter)