AWB Chapter 124 Increasingly Resembling the Factory Manager
Chapter 124 Increasingly Resembling the Factory Manager
Ling Yun opened the drawer and took out old photos of the electronics factory. They were taken in the early 1990s, with a sign that read "Advanced Enterprise" hanging at the factory gate, and the workers wearing neat work clothes, smiling brightly.
Later, the sign was taken down, and the smile disappeared.
He recalled the scene when he first came to the electronics factory in March 1996.
Back then, the factory grounds were overgrown with weeds up to waist height, and the machines in the workshops were rusted. The workers surrounded him, their eyes filled with anxiety and doubt. Some were shouting for their wages, while others were cursing and swearing.
In less than a year, the new sign was put up.
Now, the machines run sixteen hours a day. The workers have smiles on their faces and walk with a brisk pace.
He picked up the phone and dialed Ma Baoguo.
"Old Ma, the year-end bonus standard has been raised. Compile a list of outstanding employees, keeping the percentage around 20%. The bonus will be equivalent to three months' salary."
On the other end of the phone, Ma Baoguo's voice was loud.
"President Ling, this...this is far too much!"
"Do as I say. In addition, all staff on duty during the Spring Festival will receive triple pay, plus an extra 200 yuan per person."
"Okay, okay, I've got it."
"Also, you need to finalize the plans for building the new factory next year. Construction should begin after the New Year."
"clear!"
After hanging up the phone, Lingyun leaned back in his chair.
The company had over four million in cash and a profit of four million. In 1997, this was a very good result.
But he knew this was just the beginning.
Mouse and keyboard products are low-tech products with low barriers to entry. They're profitable now because of a market gap. Once other manufacturers follow suit, a price war will quickly ensue.
We must go upstream.
Motherboard, power supply, monitor... even the entire system.
There is also an operating system.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is putting increasing pressure on StarCraft. Although they have temporarily stabilized their situation, they are far from safe.
He needs more money and faster speed.
A loan is one way.
Using bank money to develop your business is a game of capital. Play it well, and you'll achieve twice the results with half the effort; play it wrong, and you'll be doomed.
But he was confident.
Because he knows how computers will change the world in the next twenty years. He knows which technologies will emerge and which markets will explode.
This is the biggest advantage.
The end-of-get off work bell rang outside the window.
The workers gradually left the workshop and headed towards the factory gate. Some pushed bicycles, while others walked. They greeted each other and made plans to drink together that evening.
Several female workers walked along, discussing what new clothes to buy for the Chinese New Year.
"I have some money this year, so I'm buying my daughter a down jacket; she's wanted one for a long time."
"I want to get a new color TV for my home."
"My son got into high school, so I need to buy him a Walkman..."
The sound gradually faded into the distance.
Ling Yun stood up and put on her coat.
He's going home too. An Shiyu said she'll make dumplings tonight.
He closed the door and went down the stairs.
The lights were still on in the finance department. Wu Jianguo and two accountants were working overtime, checking the final year-end data.
In the hallway, the cleaning lady is mopping the floor.
"Is President Ling off work?"
"It's time to get off work. You should go home early too."
"I'll leave after I finish this. Mr. Ling, I've collected the New Year's gifts, thank you."
"Of course."
Stepping out of the office building, a cold wind hits my face.
The streetlights in the factory area were on. The snow reflected the light, a pristine white expanse.
Three days later, on the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month.
A long queue formed at the entrance of Xinghuo Electronics Factory's warehouse.
The workers received their New Year's gifts in order of their workshops. The cardboard boxes were specially made, with "Xinghuo Electronics" and "New Year's Benefits" printed on a red background with yellow lettering. They were packed full of rice, flour, cooking oil, pork, eggs, apples, pastries, and a bag of dried goods.
Two boxes per person.
"So many?" a young female worker exclaimed in surprise.
The young administrative girl distributing the items smiled as she registered everyone: "President Ling said that everyone should have a good New Year."
The line moved forward slowly. Each person received a box, opened it, glanced inside, then closed it, picked it up with difficulty, and couldn't hide their smile.
Old Wang took the box, walked to the side, put it down, and took out a cigarette to light it.
His apprentice came over.
"Sir, shall I help you carry it?"
"No need," Old Wang exhaled a puff of smoke. "I can carry it myself."
He stared at the manufacturer's logo on the box for a long time.
"Master, what are you thinking about?"
"Back this time last year," Old Wang said, "we were squatting in the labor market, and nobody wanted us even for ten yuan a day."
The apprentice fell silent.
Old Wang stubbed out his cigarette.
"Let's move and go home."
The factory gate was filled with bicycles and tricycles. Workers carefully secured the boxes to the back seats of their vehicles. When family members came to pick them up, the couples would lift the boxes together.
Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, helped maintain order, his face beaming with smiles.
"Old Li, you'll need a tricycle to pull this!"
"You bet! We haven't been this extravagant in two years!"
Laughter, voices, and the sound of wheels rolling over the snow.
Ma Baoguo stood at the office building window and looked down.
The administrative director stood next to him.
"Ma Chang, this time we've lost over 400,000."
"It's worth it," Ma Baoguo said.
He saw Old Wang pushing his tricycle out the door, the cart piled high with boxes. Old Wang's son sat next to the boxes, his little hands touching the words on the cardboard boxes.
The child looked up and asked what was wrong, and Old Wang answered loudly.
It's too far away to hear clearly.
But Ma Baoguo knew what Lao Wang was talking about.
He said, "It was given to me by my dad's workplace."
That evening, Lingyun received a call from Ma Baoguo.
"They've all been distributed. A few people haven't come to collect them because they live far away. I'll have the workshop foreman drive them over tomorrow."
"it is good."
"General Manager Ling, it's like Chinese New Year at the factory gate today... no, it's like Chinese New Year." Ma Baoguo's voice was a little hoarse. "Many female workers were wiping away tears when they received their gifts. Old Wang, that old technician, pulled me aside and said that after working for thirty years, this was the first time he had received such a generous amount of New Year's gifts."
Ling Yun listened.
"There's something else," Ma Baoguo said. "I don't know who spread the word, but they said our factory gave out generous New Year's gifts. This afternoon, several people came to ask if the factory was still hiring. I told them we'd be hiring after the New Year, but they insisted on leaving their phone numbers."
"Um."
"Mr. Ling, thank you."
"No need to thank me, the worker deserves it."
After hanging up the phone, Lingyun went to the balcony.
An Shiyu is washing fruit in the kitchen.
There were sporadic firecrackers going off in the distance. The Lunar New Year is approaching.
He recalled that in March 1996, he stole his father's bankbook and ran away from home. At that time, all he thought about was making money and changing his fate.
Now he has a factory, workers, and responsibilities.
Ma Baoguo is right. Some things aren't a matter of convenience.
It's a matter of dignity.
The snow is still falling, silently covering the city.
Ling Yun turned and went back into the house.
An Shiyu brought over a fruit platter.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about next year," Lingyun said. "Next year's New Year's goods distribution needs to be even better."
An Shiyu smiled.
"You're becoming more and more like a factory manager."