Chapter 7: Xiaolin, You Come and Be the Factory Manager (Fourth Update, Third Update Arrived)

The roar of the old factory manager was no joke. With one angry shout, there was an immediate clatter outside, and soon a man in his forties rushed in. Seeing Lin Zheng wiping the table with the old factory manager, he was momentarily at a loss, scratching his head awkwardly, "Oh, Xiaolin is here? I thought you were going to rest for a few days. How did you come so quickly? Are you feeling better?"

"Thank you, Director Ding. The doctor said I'm fine, and I feel strong enough to kill a bull," Lin Zheng sighed inwardly, smiling at the office director who was still fawning over him, a poor and powerless student, "Besides, it's better to work than to sit idle at home."

"Better, better," just like the old factory manager, Ding Datong was a good person. Hearing that Lin Zheng was better, and seeing his complexion, he was relieved. He picked up a broom and swept the floor while talking, "Xiaolin, you should have said hello when you came. You didn't say a word, and others might think I, Old Ding, am bullying you, a college student."

"How could that be?" Lin Zheng smiled, "The doctor said it's better to work and sweat more."

"That's true, the doctor's words are reasonable..." Director Ding nodded repeatedly, not knowing if the doctor really said that, but ordinary people often do that—when they have a cold or fever, they sweat in bed and take a bath, and they feel better. Since the doctor said it, it must be the same principle.

After sweeping a few times, Director Ding tentatively asked Lin Zheng, "Xiaolin, you have broad knowledge and are a top student, very smart. Do you think... our factory can be saved?"

As soon as Director Ding said this, the old factory manager turned his head sharply, staring intently at Lin Zheng. Since Lin Zheng came in, he had wanted to ask him.

In his view, Lin Zheng was a college student, an undergraduate, a high-level intellectual. Such a high-level intellectual must have a way.

"This..." Lin Zheng didn't want to say anything, but seeing the cautious, humble, and hopeful looks of the old factory manager and the old director, he couldn't bring himself to say no. After hesitating, he smiled bitterly, "There is a way."

"Really, there is a way?" The eyes of the old factory manager and Director Ding lit up.

"Yes," Lin Zheng nodded, affirming, "As long as we have a start-up fund and choose a new project, it can be done. But that's just the beginning. The real challenge is the subsequent management: we need to abandon the current system of equal sharing and adopt the scientific management practices of joint ventures. It's not difficult to turn a loss into a profit, after all, our factory still has a solid foundation, but..."

The eyes of the old factory manager and Director Ding dimmed: Lin Zheng was right. Doing so could indeed turn a loss into a profit, but getting the start-up fund and choosing a suitable project was no easy task.

The factory had a large area, but no research and development capabilities, only able to assemble a few outdated radios. What suitable project could they choose?

Even if that were not the case, the real headache was that the district radio factory was a state-owned enterprise. Who would dare to change these rules? If they did, would the district radio factory still be a state-owned enterprise?

"This..." The old factory manager hesitated, then bit his lip, seemingly making a very difficult decision, "Xiaolin, if, I mean if, the old man gives you the management of this factory, can you develop it?"

Lin Zheng was startled by the old factory manager's words, waving his hands, "Uncle Wu, don't joke. This is a district-owned state factory. You are respected, who would dare..."

"Respect is useless, can it feed you? Can it help everyone live a good life?" Before Lin Zheng could finish, the old factory manager angrily cursed, sitting down at the door without caring about the clean floor Lin Zheng had just mopped, spitting on it, "I've been in the factory for almost 40 years. To be frank, no one knows this factory better than me, but what good is knowing it? It's useless!"

"I'm not capable. When the old factory manager handed the factory to me, he hoped I could lead everyone to a better life, but I'm just a rough man, only good at beating people. Xiaolin, do you know how I feel seeing the factory decline day by day, workers resigning one by one? It's like cutting my heart with a knife!"

"I've let down the old factory manager and the people who trusted me. Even though they haven't blamed me, I can't forgive myself. I'm retiring in two years, but seeing the factory in this state, I can't sleep at night. I'm in pain, feeling helpless!"

"Xiaolin, I've been observing you these days. You are a capable intellectual. I may not be capable, but my old eyes haven't failed me. I can see people. I beg you, think of a way to save our factory, to bring it back to life. Otherwise, even in my coffin, I won't be able to rest in peace. Do you understand?"

Moved, the old factory manager was already in tears, his face covered in snot and tears.

Listening to this respectable old man pouring out his heart, Lin Zheng felt a painful tug in his heart.

To be honest, he had no good feelings about his internship unit. It was a broken place, and it was normal to feel that way. It was hard to make anyone feel good or have a sense of belonging.

But now, seeing the old factory manager reveal his heart, crying like a baby for the factory he had worked hard for all his life, Lin Zheng suddenly felt a strange stirring in his heart.

This stirring was not just sympathy for an old man's plight, but a real desire to do something for the factory, a desire that he hadn't acted on...

This realization startled Lin Zheng: What the hell! Why do I have such a thought?

Poor Director Ding, already pale with fear, thought the old factory manager was warning him not to have any improper thoughts about the factory manager's "throne." But after hearing more, he realized the old factory manager wasn't warning him; he genuinely hoped Lin Zheng could find a way to save the factory.