Rebirth 93: Break off the engagement at the beginning and marry Bai Fumei

Zheng Mei's voice was very low, almost inaudible. She kept her head down, not daring to look Fang Ziwei in the eye, her hands unconsciously twisting together until her knuckles turned white.

Fang Ziwei looked at her, at this long-time employee who had been with her for three years, and felt as if her heart had been violently squeezed.

“Zheng Mei,” her voice remained calm, but a slight tremor could be heard if you listened carefully, “give me a reasonable explanation.”

Zheng Mei fell silent. She stood there, head bowed, fiddling with the hem of her clothes. After several seconds, she slowly raised her head. Her eyes were red, filled with guilt, helplessness, and deep pain.

“President Fang,” her voice was hoarse, as if squeezed from deep in her throat, “I…I had no choice.”

She took a deep breath, as if gathering her courage, and then said in one breath, "The factory was investigated and is now shut down. I don't know when it will be able to resume production."

"As you know, I have elderly parents and young children to take care of. My mother-in-law is 73 years old and takes medication regularly. My father-in-law suffered a stroke last year and is now hemiplegic, requiring daily care."

“My husband’s factory went bankrupt last year, and now he’s unemployed and stays at home doing odd jobs. Our whole family depends on my meager salary to eat!”

Her voice grew louder and louder, and finally, tears streamed down her face: "I'm afraid... I'm afraid that if I don't get paid, my whole family will starve!"

As Zheng Mei was speaking, she suddenly covered her face and started crying.

The crying was like a knife, stabbing deeply into Fang Ziwei's heart.

Fang Ziwei opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that she couldn't say anything.

What could she say?

Saying the factory is fine? But the factory is definitely in trouble. Thirty thousand masks were seized, a fine of 800,000 yuan was imposed, and production was suspended for a month for rectification—these are all facts.

They said the wages would be paid on time? But if this matter can't be resolved and the factory is shut down, I can't even guarantee that I'll pay them on time.

Should she tell everyone that she's the Party Secretary's woman and will definitely pull through? She herself wasn't sure.

Just then, another person stepped forward.

"Mr. Fang, I want to leave too."

He was a middle-aged man surnamed Wang, and everyone called him Lao Wang. He was a mechanic in the factory, very skilled, and usually the one who fixed the equipment when it broke down.

Fang Ziwei looked at him: "Old Wang, you too..."

Old Wang lowered his head, not daring to look at her: "President Fang, my son was admitted to university this year, and the tuition and living expenses are not a small amount. I have to earn money for his tuition."

“If the factory shuts down, I’ll be fine, but my son… he worked so hard to get into university! I can’t let my son’s future be ruined because of me!”

He paused, his voice growing softer and softer: "I know it's not a safe way to go at this time, but... I have no choice."

The third person to step forward was a young man surnamed Li, whom everyone called Xiao Li. He had just arrived last year, was hardworking, and had good interpersonal relationships.

“Mr. Fang, I…I want to leave too.” Xiao Li’s voice trembled. “My mother is unwell and needs money for medical treatment. I…”

He couldn't continue.

The fourth, the fifth, the sixth...

One by one, people stood up and gave their reasons.

Fang Ziwei stood there, looking at those familiar faces, at the guilt and helplessness in their eyes, and suddenly felt dizzy.

She grabbed the machine next to her to steady herself.

Some of these workers had been with her for three years, while others had only been there a short time, but she remembered each and every one of them. When Zheng Mei's son was hospitalized, she paid 5,000 yuan out of her own pocket; when Old Wang's wife was laid off, she arranged for her to work as a cleaner at the factory; when Little Li's mother fell ill, she gave her three months' salary in advance…

She was kind to them, and she thought they would stay with her forever.

But now...

"Anyone else?" Fang Ziwei's voice was hoarse, as if it were being squeezed from deep in her throat. "Who else wants to leave? Step forward, all of you step forward!"

A few more people slowly stepped forward.

In the end, more than twenty people stepped forward.

These people stood there, heads bowed, not daring to look at Fang Ziwei. The factory was indeed good, and Manager Fang treated the workers very well, but kindness alone couldn't put food on the table!

The remaining workers, some with their heads down in silence, some hesitatingly looking this way and that, some clenching their fists tightly, their eyes filled with pity, but even more so with fear.

Looking at these people, at those familiar faces she once trusted, Fang Ziwei suddenly felt very tired.

It's not physical exhaustion, it's mental exhaustion.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, such as "You can go now," "I don't blame you," or "I wish you all the best in the future."

But she couldn't utter a single word, and Fang Ziwei knew very well that if these people left today, even more would leave tomorrow.

Just then, a clear female voice came from behind the crowd:

"Who says the factory can't pay wages?!"

Everyone was stunned. Turning around, they saw a young girl squeeze out of the crowd and stand next to Fang Ziwei.

Her name is Xiaofang, she is 22 years old, and she is a quality inspector at the factory. She has only been there for six months. She doesn't talk much, but she works very hard and has never made a mistake in quality inspection. She is the youngest worker in the factory and everyone's favorite "little sister".

"Xiao Fang?" Fang Ziwei was stunned.

Xiao Fang didn't look at Fang Ziwei. She turned around and faced the workers who wanted to resign. Her face was flushed, and tears were welling up in her eyes, but her gaze was unusually firm.

"You..." Her voice trembled slightly, but each word was clear and forceful, "Do you have any conscience at all?!"

The workers were stunned and all looked up at Xiaofang.

Xiao Fang took a deep breath and said loudly, "Sister Zheng Mei, your son was hospitalized last year, and Boss Fang paid 5,000 yuan out of his own pocket! Have you forgotten?!"

Zheng Mei's face flushed red instantly, her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word.

Xiao Fang turned to Lao Wang: "Uncle Lao Wang, your wife was laid off, and Boss Fang arranged for her to work as a cleaner in the factory. She'll be paid 300 yuan a month! Go and find out which factory pays that much for a cleaner?"

Old Wang lowered his head, not daring to look at her.

Xiao Fang turned to Xiao Li: "Brother Xiao Li, your mother is sick, and Boss Fang gave you an advance of three months' salary! Have you forgotten?!"

Xiao Li's eyes reddened, and tears welled up in them.

Xiaofang pointed to each one and recounted the benefits they had received:

"And you, Sister Zhang, your mother-in-law is in the hospital, and General Manager Fang has approved half a month of leave for you, with your full salary!"

"And you, Brother Liu, have you forgotten that when you first came here, you didn't even work a full month before you got an advance on your salary? Ask around, which factory lets you get an advance on your salary if you don't even work a full month!"

"And you, you, all of you..."

She became increasingly agitated, her voice growing louder and louder: "Don't we all know how Mr. Fang has treated us?!"

“Go out and see for yourselves. In the past few years, how many state-owned enterprises in Jiangcheng have laid off employees and reduced salaries? What about General Manager Fang? He not only pays salaries on time, but also gives everyone subsidies during holidays!”

"Honestly, where can you find a boss like this?!"

The workers lowered their heads, no one dared to speak, and some began to wipe away tears. Others began to question, "Xiaofang, you can't say that. Aren't we all supporting families?"

"Yes, if we were like you, with parents working in government agencies and you living alone in Jiangcheng, we could rely on you too!"

"We will always remember Mr. Fang's kindness, but kindness can't put food on the table!"

Xiao Fang looked at them, listened to what they were saying, her eyes widened, she nodded defiantly, and finally tears streamed down her face: "Okay, okay!"

"The factory's running into some trouble, and you're already leaving? Where's your conscience?!"

"You want to leave? Fine! Go ahead!"

She suddenly raised her hand and pointed to the door: "You all go! I'm staying here alone!"

"Even if I'm the only one left in the factory, I'll still work for Boss Fang!"

As she spoke, Xiaofang turned around, looked at Fang Ziwei, tears streaming down her face, but her eyes were incredibly firm: "President Fang, I'm with you!"

Fang Ziwei was stunned. She looked at this young girl who had only been there for half a year and was usually not very talkative. Seeing the determination and trust in her eyes, she suddenly felt a lump in her throat and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Just then, a deep and powerful voice came from the workshop door: "Let me see who wants to resign!"

Everyone turned around at the same time. At the entrance of the workshop, there were two people. The one in front had a smile on his face and a mink coat draped over his arm. He was walking in with big strides.

Chen Yang!