◎ First update ◎ 

Reported? 

Liang Baozhen asked for more details and learned that due to the frequent equipment problems, factory workers had been constantly working on maintenance and inspections. Equipment aging was one factor, but another issue was the cotton. 

Inferior cotton is rough to begin with, and when it passes through the cotton equipment and is pulled into coarse sand and fine yarn, it is bound to cause blockages and damage to the equipment. In fact, this generally does not cause big problems, but the current machines in the State Cotton Factory have been used for too many years. Coupled with the heavy production tasks in recent months, the already worn-out equipment started to act up and break down frequently. 

Replacing machinery and equipment is a huge expense. The thousands of machines in the factory would cost millions, but Chen Yong has yet to agree to this. 

The workers could only focus on the cotton problem first. They were all veterans who had worked in the workshop for many years and could easily distinguish good and bad cotton. Especially recently, more and more inferior cotton had entered the factory, which made everyone’s work much more difficult. A lot of the coarse yarns failed to meet the standard. 

A month ago, the director of the cotton cleaning workshop reported this problem to the deputy factory director Wu Bingnian. After all, the purchasing director Chen Siming, was the son of the factory director Chen Yong, he didn’t feel it was appropriate to complain directly to him. 

Wu Bingnian asked him to go back for the time being and said he would knock on a few words on Cheng Siming. 

However, until now, there is still a steady flow of inferior cotton entering the factory, which has seriously affected the coarse sand and fine yarn workshops. Today, the directors of the three workshops stopped the factory director Chen Yong at the factory gate and reported that purchasing director Chen Siming had purchased inferior cotton and passed it off as good quality, which seriously harmed the interests of the State Cotton Factory. 

Chen Yong listened to the workers who had gathered in circles. Standing before him were three workshop supervisors, all seasoned veterans of the factory. He looked a bit displeased, but he couldn’t afford to lose his temper. 

If this matter wasn’t handled properly, it would turn into a serious public opinion issue! 

“I understand this matter. Don’t worry, I will investigate it thoroughly. If the purchasing director, Chen Siming, is indeed at fault, I can assure you that he will face severe consequences!” 

“Now, everyone, return to work and don’t let this affect the production. I promise to provide an explanation to everyone.” 

When the workers heard what the factory director said, the workers were filled with excitement. They believed the director intended to handle the matter fairly and in the best interest of the factory. 

When the crowd dispersed, many people were still discussing the Chen family’s affairs. 

Liang Baozhen and Xu Shengjie watched the excitement from the side for a while. She knew clearly that Chen Siming in the book had also been reported, but not in public. Someone privately reported it to Chen Yong, and Chen Yong suppressed the matter and asked Chen Siming to restrain himself. In the end, the issue was quietly resolved. 

But why had it escalated publicly this time? 

“Why did the three workshop directors go to the factory gate to block the factory director?” Liang Baozhen found the three to be quite daring but thought it was also quite risky. 

Reporting the factory director’s son so openly could easily make enemies. 

Xu Shengjie had just gathered some information. “I heard that Director Feng of the cotton cleaning workshop privately requested the factory to investigate the source of cotton, but Chen Siming found out about it and came to his house to give him a lecture, saying that it was a technical problem of their cotton cleaning workshop, not the cotton? 

“Director Feng knew that he was the factory director’s son and was not easy to mess with, so he could only swallow his anger. As a result, the situation became more and more serious. People from other workshops complained, especially Director Wei from the coarse sand workshop, who had been in the factory for nearly thirty years and has a lot of influence. He slammed the table and went to find Chen Yong to make trouble.” 

Although Chen Yong is the factory director, in a factory like the State Cotton Factory, there are always some old and senior employees who have worked diligently in the factory for decades, trained countless apprentices and have a high status among the workers. Now that there is such a commotion in public, Chen Yong has to take it seriously. 

In the deputy factory director’s office, Wu Bingnian was drinking tea. When he heard the commotion outside, he knew the plan had worked. 

When Wei Yingxiong from the coarse sand workshop had brought up this issue with him, Wu Bingnian had hinted that he was powerless. As the deputy director, he couldn’t discipline the director’s son—it would be too difficult. 

Only by having the director himself deal with his son would it be proper, and no one would bear a grudge. 

Also, the report must be made public. Reporting privately would only result in sweeping the issue under the rug. At most, it will make Chen Siming restrain himself for a period of time, but he will surely return to his old ways sooner or later. 

“Director, do you think this time Director Chen will deal with his own son…” Secretary Xiao Ying subtly opened the subject. 

Wu Bingnian blew away the foam from the tea leaves, watched the tea leaves floating in the tea water drift to the side, and smiled, “It depends on whether Chen Yong protects his own reputation or his son’s future.” 

*** 

Liang Baozhen returned to the factory office and prepared the manuscript for the noon broadcast. She would read the contents of the daily newspaper today. 

However, today everyone in the office was clearly not focused on work. They were chattering about interesting things that happened during the New Year, and of course, more of them were about the fact that the factory director’s son was reported in public this morning. 

Who doesn’t love a bit of drama, especially when it involves the factory director? Despite their usual respect for him, everyone was excited to see how this would be handled. 

Huang Cuie quietly glanced at her colleagues in the office. She got up, closed the door, and said, “If we’re going to gossip, we should be careful. You never know who might be eavesdropping and reporting back.” 

“Do you think it can be handled?” 

Song Ming shook his head, believing that a father wouldn’t severely punish his own son. “Maybe he’ll find a reason to cover it up.” 

Zhu Jinyu had a different opinion. “But with so many people watching, can they really sweep it under the rug? I think it’s doubtful.” 

Huang Cuie looked at Liang Baozhen, who was concentrating on writing, and asked her opinion, “Baozhen, stop busying yourself and come over to talk.” 

Liang Baozhen had just selected the content to be broadcast at noon today. She put down her pen and walked over with a smile, “We can’t guess what the factory director is thinking.” 

“Yeah, that’s true. But his son sure is a headache. The director is such a capable man, yet Chen Siming keeps dragging him down.” 

Zhu Jinyu said the words “dragging him down” in a low voice, afraid of being overheard. 

It was almost noon when Liang Baozhen went to the radio station with her script. Today was so exciting that she had to add to the fun. 

*** 

“Good afternoon, fellow workers. I am Liang Baozhen, the broadcaster at the radio station. Today, I will read the third issue of the daily newspaper…” 

In the canteen, many workers were eating, and hearing the clear and pleasant voice, many of them were waiting to listen to the broadcast carefully. 

But more workers weren’t paying attention to the broadcast this time. They were enthusiastically discussing the report against Chen Siming and waiting for the result. 

To an individual worker, the factory director’s son represented authority and status, but to a group, he was nothing. Everyone was loudly complaining. 

“So it’s Chen Siming’s fault that we’ve been forced to work overtime recently!” 

“That scoundrel! He is so cruel! He even bought an inferior cotton and broke our equipment!”

“He Dazhuang, you’re so brave! You dare to attack the factory director’s son. Aren’t you afraid of being hated by others?” 

“What should I be afraid of?” the big worker said, clearly frustrated. “I’m part of the working class—the most honorable worker! What’s he going to do? Retaliate? I’d like to see him try!” 

Some workers were pessimistic. After all, Chen Siming’s status was there. “It’s easy to talk big, but what can really be done? He might just apologize, if that’s even necessary…”  

One worker whispered, “They’ll probably just find a scapegoat to take the fall.” 

He had experience and had read some things in the newspaper. He also heard from others about how things sometimes went. 

“Alright, enough talk. Focus on your meal and stop with the nonsense.” Security Section Chief Pang Lin walked into the canteen and addressed the crowd. 

“No more gathering in groups, and no idle chatter.” Earlier today, Factory Director Chen Yong had spoken to him and asked him to prevent negative thoughts from corrupting the workers. 

He was clever and understood what the factory director meant, so he rushed over to put out the fire. 

After all, some things get more heated, and people become more united the more they talk about it. They should be handled separately and not let everyone pull in the same direction. 

The arrival of the head of security was indeed effective. The canteen quieted down significantly, and no one discussed the issue loudly anymore. 

However, the sound in the radio station became clearer. 

“The last report is about a corruption case from the daily newspaper. The financial head of the neighboring city’s match factory colluded with the procurement office director to falsify accounts, accept bribes, and purchase inferior quality wood, which eventually led to a large number of substandard matches being produced, causing serious economic losses to the match factory and affecting the payment of salaries to factory workers…” 

Liang Baozhen’s voice was clear and precise. When reading the corruption case from the newspaper, her pace was steady, with emphasis on the serious economic losses to the factory and the impact on workers’ salaries. 

The canteen, which had just quieted down, immediately became restless again. Everyone was talking about it, worried that Chen Siming would ruin the factory and that it would affect their own salaries.

The factory is where thousands of workers depend for their livelihood. Anyone who damages or disrupts the factory is their enemy! 

“What are you talking about? Finish your meal and get back to work quickly.” 

“Why can’t we talk about it? Chen Siming is the one causing trouble in the factory, so why are you not allowing us to speak?” 

“We won’t allow you to sabotage us, we can’t just accept it. If necessary, we’ll report it to the Revolutionary Committee or even write to the central government!” 

“Really!” The head of security shouted a few more times but couldn’t calm the crowd. He could only return and discuss countermeasures with the factory director. 

The factory’s broadcast station had a theme arrangement. In the past two months, Chen Yong decided on ideological and disciplinary propaganda, including propaganda on rectifying lifestyles, cracking down on speculation, and punishing corruption and bribery. Once the theme was decided, Liang Baozhen would look for newspaper content on her own and carry out ideological propaganda through the radio. 

However, today, Chen Yong was in the office talking with three factory leaders. 

The doors and windows were closed, and all four were focused on Chen Siming’s issue. They could only hear the usual broadcast outside but didn’t pay attention to what was being said. 

Chen Siming hadn’t come to the factory yet and was missing. Chen Yong’s face turned dark. He was preparing to stabilize the public opinion first and asked the head of security to intervene and try to minimize the situation. After all, a tiger doesn’t eat its own cubs; even if his son is in trouble, it’s still a family matter. 

After talking with a few people and preparing to investigate the matter, he turned to Secretary Fang to find Chen Siming. 

“Bring that bastard Chen Siming here! Don’t let Wu Bingnian and the others see him first. I’m afraid he’ll talk nonsense.” 

Secretary Fang nodded, and just as he was about to go out, he saw Chen Siming rushing in. 

He looked panicked and rushed directly to Chen Yong, “Father!” 

Slap! 

Chen Yong looked at his son who had finally appeared and slapped him, “You still know how to call me Father?” 

The author has something to say: 

Liang Baozhen: I have an interesting report that I should talk about today. 😎