Chapter 4

The factory has six sedans, one minivan, and two trucks. Three of the sedans were given to the factory as debt repayment, including a Toyota Crown, which not only was a debt repayment vehicle but also a smuggled car with the steering wheel on the right side.

The fleet has only six drivers, who are busy delivering or purchasing items urgently needed by the workshops.

With more cars than drivers, it was a great relief to have a new driver assigned. In the future, when the factory leadership urgently needs a car and no one is available, he can be asked to step in.

Zhang Qingmin spared no effort to persuade Han Bo to get a driver's license quickly.

The exam is too troublesome; it's better to go directly to the neighboring city's traffic police team, which issues driver's licenses for a fee. A copy of your ID card, a few photos, and 860 yuan, and you can get the license in a few days. The fleet can submit an application, get the leadership to sign it, and the factory will cover the cost of the driver's license.

860 yuan is several months' salary for an ordinary worker, but it's nothing for Han Bo, a "rich second generation."

What he is now considering is not the driver's license, but the things and scenes he dreamed about last night. The dream was fragmented, and he could only recall a little bit. Perhaps encountering certain events or being in a specific environment could help him recall more.

If the dream comes true, he must take the three things he can now think of seriously.

His father will be deceived and undertake a renovation project worth over two million. The project funds will be embezzled by the general contractor, leaving him in debt. The carpenters he brought from Sihetown will demand their wages, and the material suppliers in Donghai City will demand payment. Without money, he will have to hide, and the Han family will decline.

The silk factory will not go bankrupt but will be restructured. If he doesn't find a way to transfer, a private boss will try to get rid of him in a few years, and he will have to study hard to take the civil service exam. It's too bizarre and shocking. Although there is now a provisional regulation for civil servants, the implementation plan and detailed rules have not been issued, and the personnel department will assign positions without an exam.

The last thing is also related to the silk factory.

A female worker, after her night shift, was returning home around midnight when she encountered two thugs near Liuba Bridge. They brutally raped and murdered her, throwing her body into the Liuba River. It took the police two years to catch the killers.

Things have different levels of urgency.

A project worth over two million is not something that can be decided in a few words or a day. A phone call can determine if it's true. If it is, he must remind his father not to be deceived. If necessary, he can go to Donghai. Actually, he doesn't need to go; his sister will give birth in two months, and he and his mother will definitely return.

The silk factory won't be restructured in the next three to five years, so there's no rush to transfer.

In the fragmented dream, it seemed that a tragedy would happen soon after work starts. The incident involving the female worker should be taken seriously. As the deputy head of the security department and the captain of the economic police, he has the responsibility and obligation to protect his colleagues.

Without evidence, how can he tell people he had a dream!

No, it's a matter of life and death, and he must find a way to prevent it. If necessary, he can start with a new official's three fires.

"Director Han, Director Han, it's time to go off duty. I'll go to the main gate to keep an eye on things. Are you coming?"

Han Bo came to his senses and quickly said, "Let's go and take a look."

The workshop is hot, and the female workers are sweaty. They will go to the bathhouse to shower and change clothes, then go to the bicycle shed to get their bikes. Some have no one to cook at home and will eat dinner in the canteen before leaving. There's no one at the main gate for now.

The security department has two officers, and the deputy head is also a leader. Xiao Gu and Xiao Yan, who were on duty, ran over to greet him from a distance.

"Director Han, there's no TV in the dormitory. Come over in the evening. There's a fan, and it's cool."

"Director Han, are you thirsty? I just prepared a pot of tea."

"Not thirsty, I just drank some when I came out."

A veteran, very capable, with several rubber police batons hanging on the wall in the guard room. With a few non-duty people, dealing with two thugs shouldn't be a problem.

Han Bo stood at the gate for a while and turned to ask, "Xiao Gu, have you seen Director Jiang?"

"No, he probably went home directly after the meeting."

"Close the gate. I have a few words to say to the workers when they leave." If he has to take charge, so be it. Han Bo pointed to the newly installed sliding gate.

On the first day of work, he wants to speak. Will Director Jiang have any thoughts? How will others view the security department? This is a silk factory, and the security department has no status, just a gatekeeper, with no right to speak. Xiao Gu was stunned, and Yang Xiaomei also felt it was inappropriate.

Xiao Yan, with a single-minded mind, pressed the switch, and the sliding gate, which had just opened, creaked shut again.

A few factory office cadres rode their bicycles toward them. Han Bo realized it was inappropriate to close the gate completely and turned to say, "Leave a gap so one person can pass."

"Sure thing."

In the morning, the factory office director Qian introduced him. The young man is good, checking the posts on his first day. The cadres all got off their bikes to greet him. Soon, the female workers came in groups of three or two. The cadres and male workers could leave, but the female workers had to wait.

At lunch, they heard that a college graduate had joined the security department.

While showering, they heard that the newly assigned Deputy Director Han is young and wealthy, paying over 20,000 for a house without complaint, and even joking about it when stopped from leaving.

"Director Han, what are you doing, like Tang Bohu choosing Qiuxiang?"

"Look at our Xiao Hui, she's nineteen and hasn't dated anyone."

...

Han Bo is not a bookworm with thick glasses. He is a student party member and a student union leader, a prominent figure in college, and has seen bigger scenes. He was not nervous.

"Comrades, thank you for your concern about my personal matters. We can talk about introductions later. I'll take a few minutes of your precious time to formally introduce myself and give you a reminder."

Han Bo pointed to a slogan on the wall and said with a rising and falling tone, "Do you see it? 'Come to work happily, go home safely.' I have two points to make. First, traffic safety. Don't ride so fast on the road. After a day of work, you are physically and mentally exhausted, and your attention and reaction abilities are affected. If you fall or get hurt, how much will you suffer? For your own safety and your family's, it's better to be slow than to rush. At crossroads, don't be in a hurry. Stop, look, and then cross."

A new official's three fires, really taking himself as a leader.

But it's also a good intention and a concern. The young women rang their bells and clapped, making a lot of noise. Whether they listened or not is another matter.

"Second, personal safety!"

Han Bo's face turned serious. Though only in his early twenties, he had a bit of an official's authority.

"The social security situation is not good, and various criminal activities occur frequently. Therefore, the higher-ups require our factory to establish an economic police team. We can ensure your safety in the factory, but we cannot guarantee your safety on the way to and from work, especially for night shifts.

You are all female workers, and as the weather gets hotter, you wear less and less. Many criminals see female workers in short sleeves and skirts and get the urge to commit crimes. You must have a sense of prevention. If your partner or family has the time and energy, it's best to ask them to drop you off or pick you up.

It's difficult at midnight, as your partners and family also have to work the next day and can't be disturbed. So I suggest you try to go in groups. Also, you can coordinate. There are dozens of people on this route, and not all of their partners or family have to work the next day. You can take turns. Today, your partner can take us home, and tomorrow, my partner can take you home. In short, safety first."

"Director Han, you are so kind. Whoever marries you will definitely be picked up and dropped off every day and will be very safe."

"Director Han is a college graduate, sophisticated, unlike your husband, who is not considerate and even gets violent when drunk."

"Your husband is good, but he's like a dead log!"

...

It was in vain. These women often work night shifts and walk alone, and they are all quite bold. They didn't listen. There was no choice but to open the gate and let them go.

"Xiao Han, you're getting into the role quickly."

Just about to go to the canteen for dinner, a cadre around fifty years old, pushing a bicycle to the gate, with a bag on the handlebars and a pen in his shirt pocket.

"Director Jiang is back. Deputy Director Han was just talking about you." Yang Xiaomei quickly took the handlebars, letting the two leaders talk.

It turned out to be his direct superior. Han Bo took out a cigarette, offered one, and gave two to Xiao Gu and Xiao Yan.

Yuxi, about 20 yuan a pack, is not uncommon in the supply, sales, and infrastructure departments, but it's rare in the security department. Jiang Guoping usually smokes Hongmei and only smokes Hongtashan when on business. He took the cigarette and was surprised, feeling that this tall and capable college graduate was not simple.

"Director Jiang, I am now your subordinate. Do you have time tonight? I want to invite you and the non-duty colleagues in the department to have dinner together."

A college graduate, a party member, and a student union leader.

His file is impeccable, and the personnel bureau has called the factory office several times, reminding the factory not to treat him like a junior college or vocational school graduate. Such a person won't stay long in the silk factory and might be transferred in a few days.

Jiang Guoping wasn't upset about what happened earlier but smiled and said, "I was thinking the same thing, but it's not you who will treat us, it's me who will treat you to welcome you."

"How can I let you do that? I should respect my superiors and treat you."

"I'll treat you today, and you can treat us next time."

Jiang Guoping patted his arm and said frankly, "Actually, I watched from the opposite side for a while. Secretary Ding and Director Qian must have told you about the fabric theft. I thought you would start with a new official's three fires and check each person with Xiao Yang, but you talked about safety instead.

Summer is prone to accidents, and it's necessary to remind them and enhance their awareness. Today, at the police meeting, the internal security and public security teams also mentioned it. Our factory has many female workers and night shifts, and it's indeed worrying."

"I acted on my own initiative as a newcomer. Director Jiang, I admit my mistake."

"There's no mistake. Why admit it? Xiao Han, our security department is not like other departments. I, Jiang Guoping, am a veteran, and Xiao Yang is a military family member. The other colleagues are also veterans. There's no backstabbing here. Young people should have some courage. When it's necessary to manage, manage, and when it's necessary to speak, speak."

The security department is the least prestigious and least profitable department in the textile factory.

The working conditions are the worst, and the employee benefits are the lowest. When no one is available to load or unload goods, they have to do it themselves, and the office budget is zero. They have to ask the factory office for paper and pens and make phone calls either at the factory office or the supply department. The guard room has a programmed telephone, but it's locked and can only receive calls, not make them.

Since there's nothing to compete for, there's no backstabbing.

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