Chapter 58

Machinery Plant

It was lunch time, and many workers gathered in the first and second canteens. Everyone had a lunch box in their hands, but no one went to get their food. Instead, they confronted the people in the canteen with anger on their faces.

Just because the fixed amount has been reduced again, from 37.5 catties at the beginning to 32 catties, then to 27 catties, and now directly to 20 catties.

When the ration was 27 kilograms, they could only eat until they were 60% full. Every time they ate, they had to drink a lot of water to get enough water.

Now the fixed amount has been reduced to 20 kilograms. Even if they eat as much water as before, their stomachs will be empty after a short pee.

They are all people who do heavy physical labor. How can they have the energy to work if they are hungry?

In the conference hall of the machinery factory, all cadres at the section level and above are meeting here, and the content of today’s meeting is quantitative issues.

Everyone’s eyes were on a thin old man wearing black-framed glasses. This was Deputy Factory Director Zhou Daoyi, who was in charge of the logistics of the machinery factory.

“Blind Zhou, you let the workers work on an empty stomach. Who will be responsible if something goes wrong?” Song Zhi started to scold Zhou Daoyi as soon as he came up.

“Song Duizi, stop slandering me. The higher-ups only give me this much food. Where can I get it?” Zhou Daoyi stretched his neck and fought back at Song Zhi. He was just nearsighted, but they actually said he was blind.

This old fellow Song Zhi really lives up to his nickname ‘Song Diaozi’. He scolds everyone he sees, even a dog passing by.

Don’t be fooled by his thin and skinny appearance, he is full of energy when he scolds people, and is on par with Song Zhi.

“You are the deputy director of the machinery factory. You are in charge of logistics. If you can’t get food, it’s your dereliction of duty. Our machinery factory doesn’t keep idle people. If you don’t have this ability, don’t sit in this position.” Song Zhi said coldly, occupying the toilet without doing anything, he bah…

“Okay, I’ll let you have my position as deputy director of logistics. I’ll go to the workshop to work today. Do you really think I’m too old to work? No matter what, I’m better than you.” Zhou Daoyi looked at Song Zhi with contempt. He was a grown man but had a broken mouth.

If you are a real man, you can fight shirtless. Anyway, when they were young, he was always the winner when they fought.

He’s just a defeated general, yet he dares to jump around in front of him.

“You quit your job when you encounter difficulties. That’s like a deserter. If you were on the battlefield, you would have been shot.” When Song Zhi saw the contempt in Zhou Daoyi’s eyes, he became angry like a cat whose tail was stepped on.

“That…” Li Mingcai stood up and tried to stop the two from arguing. They were sitting here to solve the problem, not to listen to them quarreling, but they were interrupted before they could even finish their words.

“Shut up…” Song Zhi and Zhou Daoyi yelled at Li Mingcai in unison.

Li Mingcai shrank his neck and thought, forget it, let them quarrel. It’s better than getting covered in blood.

Chen Zhihua was filled with relief. Fortunately he did not stand up just now, otherwise he would have been criticized as well.

Du Yimeng, who was attending the meeting to gather the people, looked at Song Zhi and then at Zhou Daoyi. My goodness, the two old men’s quarrel was no less fierce than that of the young people.

She shrank her neck to lower her presence; she was just here to make up the numbers.

Yu Lang: He is just here to make up the numbers. As the head of the security department, he has to come to every meeting. He never gets a chance to speak from beginning to end. I don’t know what he is here for?

“Okay, stop arguing. This is not Old Zhou’s fault.” A middle-aged woman with short hair spoke up. The person who spoke was the union chairman Ma Jianfang. Outsiders called her Sister Ma, and Zhou Daoyi was her husband.

“Ma Jianfang, you are the union chairman and should speak for the workers. But you actually spoke for Blind Zhou. Well, a father and son fighting together, a couple quarreling together?” Song Zhi glanced at Ma Jianfang, then his eyes fell on Zhou Daoyi. Don’t think that he is afraid of them just because the couple are together.

When Director Yu left, he patted his chest and promised that he would be in charge of everything in the factory. However, just a few days after he left, such a big thing happened in the factory.

If he dares to take a step back, he will have no face to live in this world.

Also, when Director Yu was here, nothing happened. But after he left, such a life-threatening reduction in dosage happened. So they were bullying him because he had just taken office?

Du Yimeng secretly gave Song Zhi a thumbs up in his heart. He even dared to confront the union chairman, Sister Ma. He was so brave.

The first time she witnessed Sister Ma’s reputation was because a worker in the factory slapped his wife some time ago, and his wife reported it to the Trade Union and the Women’s Federation.

Then Sister Ma brought a few female soldiers and found the worker. They didn’t do anything to him, but just beat him up. As a result, the seven-foot tall man burst into tears.

“Deputy Director Song, it’s working hours now. Please correct your attitude.” Ma Jianfang tapped the table with his fingers and said to Song Zhi in a cold voice.

She supports the principle, not her relatives!

Who wouldn’t worry about quantitative reduction?

Last night, she and Lao Zhou were so worried that they couldn’t sleep the whole night. The children thought they had had an argument and were very embarrassed.

“Okay, stop arguing. If arguing can solve the problem, then go ahead and argue.” As soon as the Party Secretary Wan opened his mouth, Song Zhijiang closed his mouth.

“Old Zhou, what’s the situation in other factories?” Secretary Wan asked.

“Except for the steel mills, the quotas of all other mills have been reduced.” Zhou Daoyi said angrily. He almost tore his throat, but no one paid any attention to him.

“Why didn’t the steel factory reduce its pay? They do heavy physical work, and we in the machinery factory only get embroidery needles? Are we raised by our mothers?” Song Zhi couldn’t help but stand up and start to criticize again.

This time, most people nodded in agreement with Song Zhi’s point of view, including Secretary Wan. They also did heavy physical work in the machinery factory, so how could they be classified as doing light physical work?

“We have to solve this problem ourselves. We can’t let Director Yu worry about the affairs of the machinery factory outside. So everyone, put aside your prejudices, work together, and overcome the current difficulties.” Secretary Wan said to everyone with a smile.

Everyone nodded. Song Zhi and Zhou Daoyi looked at each other and saw the dissatisfaction in each other’s eyes, but they still nodded.

“When you go back, please do some ideological work for your fellow workers. The difficulties are temporary and the factory will definitely give them an explanation for this matter.” Secretary Wan said to everyone again.

This time everyone looked hesitant, but they still agreed reluctantly. What else could they do if they didn’t agree?

We can’t let the workers go on strike, can we?

Their machinery factory is developing in an increasingly better direction, and any loss will affect the factory’s progress.