The conference hall of Pingjiang Match Factory is full of stepped seats. Normally, this place may be shown to everyone only when there is a general meeting. Basically, it only happens once a year at most, and the number of times ordinary people come in is even less. Very few.
The dim light casts on everyone's face, reflecting their inner anxiety and uneasiness. On the surrounding walls, the former certificates of honor and trophies seemed to have lost their luster, silently telling of the past glory. There was a depressing atmosphere in the air, as if even breathing had become difficult.
The workers gathered together in twos and threes, whispering to each other, with worried and uneasy expressions on their faces. Their voices were kept low, as if they were afraid of being heard. Some people looked up at the podium from time to time, with expectations and doubts in their eyes. Throughout the hall, people's emotions were complex and heavy, as if there was an invisible pressure hanging over everyone's heart.
Since the weather was getting hotter at this time, there was an inexplicable smell in the entire venue, but it still couldn't stop people from talking about it there.
"Our factory is really going to end this time. Director Hou went to the capital a few days ago. He has not been seen since he came back some time ago. It seems that he only met once in the lobby of the office building. Others I don’t even know where the time is, it looks like we’re going to get out!”
"Yes, maybe Hou Hongwen has already found a way out. He is a cadre recruited from the province. He just casually talks to the people above him and goes back directly. He can retreat to the second line before retiring. A good salary will be improved a lot when you upgrade to half a level, but it will be a hardship for us people, hey, it’s true!”
"Hurry up and figure out how to make money. If we fail in the factory, then maybe my wife will make trouble with you. The children are not allowed to eat milk powder, and the wife is not allowed to buy expensive jewelry during the holidays. Just Needless to say, from now on our brothers will not have a good place to go out to drink, so from now on we can just grab a bottle of wine and squat on the roadside to drink!"
"Hey, I have thought about it anyway. When the time comes, it will be useless for me to pay a sum of money to get any pension. I might as well use the money to go out and do a small business. Anyway, there is no such thing as speculation like before. People are not talking about reform and opening up, I will go to the sea to try it out, and if I make money by then, I will move away with my family directly!"
…
Everyone was talking in the conference hall, and what they were discussing was nothing more than the fact that the factory was about to close down. Everyone regretted the collapse of the match factory. After all, this iron rice bowl fell down like this, which can be regarded as the collapse of the faith in their hearts. .
Those who say they should go out to do business and make more money by doing business are just saying that they are powerless. It is too difficult for them to fall down like this. Starting from scratch, starting from scratch, this This is not a simple matter.
While people were discussing, Hou Hongwen walked out of the door next to him, and Song Tianying and other leading cadres also followed behind. Everyone's steps were very heavy, their faces were expressionless, and there was no reaction at all. Although the person already knew the result, he still looked at Hou Hongwen, hoping to see the only hope from the other person's face, even though this hope was almost zero.
Hou Hongwen stood on the rostrum, his eyes sweeping across the audience, with mixed emotions in his heart, including anger, helplessness, and a hint of determination. He knew that he had to step forward at this moment for the factory he loved so much.
"Ahem!"
Hou Hongwen sat on the podium and cleared his throat. The microphone in front of him also made a dull sound, as if he was announcing the results for the workers.
"Pingjiang Match Factory is a century-old factory. It is really not easy to reach this place this year. Generations of people have been working in the match factory. To be honest, I am an outsider, but after so many years, After getting along with each other, I dare to say that the people in the match factory are the most loyal people, and they are also the hardest working group of people in similar companies!"
"Our match factory is under great pressure this year, and has even had to cut down a lot of workload, and those who have workload do not receive their wages as soon as possible. This has caused a lot of harm to the people in our factory. There are also many different voices arising from the problem. As the director of the factory, I, Hou Hongwen, should bear the greatest responsibility, and I also express my understanding!"
"The annual factory-wide meeting is being held today. I just want to say that the task of our match factory is still very heavy, and we will issue all the arrears of wages to the arrears of workers as soon as possible. The match factory will definitely overcome this difficulty, and more I hope that everyone can work together as a team and work together for the future of the match factory. Our Pingjiang Match Factory has passed the approval of the superior department this time..."
…
Before Hou Hongwen finished speaking, the people below had become commotion, and some people had even stood up and walked towards the stage. In an instant, it exploded like a bomb in the audience.
A worker rushed to the rostrum, grabbed Hou Hongwen's microphone, and shouted loudly: "Hou Hongwen, please stop talking nonsense to us. Now, no matter how hard you try to pay us, our wages have not been paid for three months." , you promised to give us the money a long time ago, but where has it gone now? Our family can’t even afford food, what did your factory director do!"
"That's right, Hou Hongwen, please step down. The match factory fell in your hands. You must be responsible. Step down, step down!"
His words were like igniting the fuse of a dynamite barrel, and for a moment, the entire venue was boiling.
The workers stood up from their seats one after another. Some shouted protest slogans loudly, while others directly questioned the factory director. The originally quiet venue turned into a battlefield full of tension and confrontation.
The lights on the podium swayed amid the fierce quarrel, as if they would go out at any moment. The smell of matchsticks in the air became stronger, as if indicating the intensity of this conflict.
Some workers began to use the tools in their hands as weapons, waving them in the air, their faces full of anger and despair. The factory windows were smashed and shards of glass flew everywhere.
Suddenly, an alarm sounded and several security guards rushed into the venue to try to control the situation. But at this time, the workers had been carried away by anger, and even a group of people had a fierce conflict with the security guards.
In this chaotic moment, the old machines in the factory roared, as if they were also shouting for the workers' suffering...
