Chapter 87

(Listening to the third update! Bowing to thank "Fengshen Yushao" for the support, and thank "Fengshen Yushao" and "Hai Bian Yi Li Sha" for the monthly ticket support!)

"Look! The capitalist who cut our wages is here!"

Someone shouted this, and the workers who were originally gathered around the bulletin board, chatting and arguing, immediately turned their heads to look at Zhou Ming. They quickly surrounded him, questioning him one after another.

"Why are you cutting our wages? You also came from our 760 Factory. Although you made a little money in Hongcheng, you can't forget your roots like this! The workers in our factory are not well-off to begin with. Why are you still cutting our wages? Your father was such a kind and honest master in the factory. How did you turn out like this? You've really gone bad in Hongcheng!"

Hearing the workers' complaints and grievances, Zhou Ming felt a headache. Jiang Xia, standing beside him, was extremely nervous, fearing that the workers might lose control and attack him and Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming hurriedly shouted for everyone to calm down. After several shouts, the workers finally quieted down. Zhou Ming loudly said, "I know everyone has questions about the new wage system. I heard all your discussions just now. But have you thought about it? You only see the fixed wage that has been cut, but it also mentions the variable wage. Your monthly wage is the sum of the fixed wage and the variable wage. If you can complete your work tasks on time and in full, the wage you will receive will exceed your previous wage!"

"What variable wage? I think you're just trying to fool us!" someone in the crowd sneered, and others echoed in agreement.

Seeing the crowd about to get noisy again, Zhou Ming quickly gestured to calm them down. When the noise died down, Zhou Ming continued, "Alright, since no one believes me, do you want to make a bet with me?"

"What kind of bet?" someone asked.

"A bet about your work today," Zhou Ming said. "The variable wage system will be implemented next month, but today I can give you a trial bonus system."

Hearing about the bonus, someone in the crowd perked up: "What kind of bonus system? Are you going to give us a bonus today, Mr. Zhou?"

"Exactly, I'm going to give you a bonus today!" Zhou Ming said. "If anyone can complete more than four molds by the end of the day without needing rework, I'll give them a 100 yuan bonus!"

This statement caused a stir in the crowd. Everyone began discussing the 100 yuan bonus, but the discussion soon turned into jeers: "Mr. Zhou, it's not right to fool us like this. We work hard for a whole month and only earn about 100 yuan. You're offering 100 yuan for completing more than four molds today. How is that possible?"

"Exactly, how can anyone complete more than four molds in a workday? Without rework, that's even more impossible!" another person added.

Zhou Ming responded, "Why is it impossible to complete four? You all know my father. He could easily complete five molds in a day without needing rework. As for the 100 yuan bonus, I said it's a bet for today only. You know I'm a capitalist, so I can easily come up with the money."

The crowd burst into jeers again, accusing Zhou Ming of boasting. Zhou Ming, unable to do anything, held up two fingers: "If 100 yuan is too little, what about 200 yuan?"

"How can you increase the bonus? I think you're just trying to fool us!"

Seeing that they still didn't believe him, Zhou Ming held up five fingers: "What about 500 yuan? As long as someone completes the task, I'll pay it on the spot!"

The number 500 made everyone gasp. They looked at each other, unsure whether to believe Zhou Ming, but 500 yuan was too tempting.

Just as everyone was hesitating, a thin worker stepped forward and said, "Alright, I believe you!"

This worker's voice was like a thunderclap, stunning everyone. The other workers looked at him in surprise, commenting, "I didn't think anyone would really believe him! Jianguo, this is clearly a trick. How can you believe him?"

He stepped forward, and Zhou Ming recognized him. He introduced himself: "My name is Zhang Jianguo. I'm Zhang Jianjun's brother. You might not have seen me, but I'm very grateful that you saved my brother. So I'm willing to believe you!"

Zhou Ming smiled and patted his shoulder, saying, "Great, I'm also grateful that you believe me. Work hard today. If you can complete more than four molds without rework, the 500 yuan is yours!"

Zhang Jianguo nodded and turned to head into the factory. Seeing him really going to take the bet, the others tried to dissuade him: "Jianguo, don't be foolish. Can't you see that Mr. Zhou is just fooling you? Even if you complete the task, he won't give you the money. We won't work. Can he fire all of us?"

Hearing their words, Zhou Ming's face darkened, and he shouted, "What are you shouting about? You don't have the ability or the courage, but you won't let others earn money? No one is allowed to interfere with him. If you want to bet, do it with some spirit. You are workers of the 760 Factory, not street thugs!"

Zhou Ming's words clearly hit a nerve. They turned to point and curse at him, but Zhou Ming ignored them and personally escorted Zhang Jianguo to the workshop: "I'll stay in the workshop today to show you that I'm not just fooling around!"

Zhou Ming took Zhang Jianguo to the workshop, and he started working at his machine. Soon, a crowd gathered around his machine, pointing and commenting, "Look at this fool. No matter how we try to persuade him, he insists on believing Mr. Zhou. That's 500 yuan! We can't even get our regular wages, and now they're cutting our wages. How could he possibly give Jianguo 500 yuan? Only a fool like Jianguo would believe him."

Hearing the comments, the workshop supervisor was about to drive them away, but Zhou Ming stopped him, saying, "Let them stay. As long as they don't interfere with his work, it's fine."

The supervisor gave up, and Zhang Jianguo started working. At first, he was uncomfortable with so many people watching, but with Zhou Ming's encouragement and his own desire for the 500 yuan bonus, he gradually relaxed and got used to the crowd. He began to focus on adjusting the cutting tool and started processing the molds.

Seeing Zhang Jianguo gradually get into the rhythm, Jiang Xia, who had been accompanying him, let out a sigh of relief and said to Zhou Ming, "Thank goodness for Zhang Jianguo. It's also a good thing that Mr. Zhou saved his brother, or this would have been a problem."

Zhou Ming glanced at Jiang Xia and said, "I don't think so. Even without Zhang Jianguo, there would be other Li Jianjun or Wang Jianguo who would step up."

This surprised Jiang Xia. Zhou Ming continued, "Great rewards will always attract brave people. If 500 yuan doesn't work, then 1000 yuan. I don't believe everyone in the factory would treat money like dirt. Didn't Shang Yang use this method to gain the people's trust during the Warring States period?"

If Zhou Ming's previous words had only surprised Jiang Xia, his current words shocked him.

Jiang Xia suddenly remembered Zhou Ming's plan. He clearly remembered that in the factory manager's office yesterday, when they were discussing the publicity method, Zhou Ming had suggested a different approach and told him the story of Shang Yang's wood-moving to gain trust: In the Warring States period, when Qin was weak, Shang Yang entered Qin to reform and strengthen the state. However, the people did not trust him. To gain their trust, Shang Yang set up a wooden pole at the south gate and promised 10 gold pieces to anyone who could move it to the north gate. The people were surprised but did not believe him. Shang Yang gradually increased the reward to 50 gold pieces, and finally, someone stepped forward to move the pole. Shang Yang rewarded him with 50 gold pieces, and the people began to trust him.

At that time, Zhou Ming said he would also use the method of Shang Yang to gain the trust of the factory workers, showing them that the wage reform was truly beneficial.

Jiang Xia did not believe Zhou Ming could succeed at the time, but the scenes from the bulletin board to the workshop were exactly like the story of Shang Yang's wood-moving.

However, there was one question. Jiang Xia looked at Zhou Ming, hesitating to speak.

Zhou Ming sensed Jiang Xia's hesitation and turned to him, asking, "Are you thinking about what to do if Zhang Jianguo fails?"

Jiang Xia nodded, and Zhou Ming smiled, saying, "Don't worry. I asked my father, and he said that as long as everyone works diligently and doesn't slack off, completing five molds in a day is absolutely no problem. I've lowered the standard. As long as Zhang Jianguo isn't too bad, he will definitely complete it."

Jiang Xia's eyes widened as he looked at Zhou Ming. He didn't realize that Zhou Ming had already considered this issue. He also knew that Zhou Ming's father was a master in the factory and had a deep understanding of the machines.

If that was the case, Zhou Ming might really achieve a modern version of Shang Yang's wood-moving.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xia remembered that the founding leader had once praised Shang Yang as the greatest figure in history. Could Zhou Ming be...

Zhou Ming turned to Jiang Xia and said, "Comrade Jiang, don't look at me like that. Our modern version of Shang Yang's wood-moving has just begun. We still have to stay in the workshop all day to see if he can complete the task."

"Sure, he will definitely complete it. Even if he doesn't, someone else will. Mr. Zhou, your idea will definitely succeed!" Jiang Xia said enthusiastically.

Zhou Ming smiled and patted his shoulder, "Thank you."

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