Chapter 83: If the Factory Has No Money, I Will Pay

"Let me in! Why won't you let me in? I need to find Director Wang! My husband, Old Zhang, is still waiting for the factory's money to save his life!"

"Sister Fang, it's not that we're not letting you in, but the factory director is currently inspecting the workshop."

"Director Wang is here? Great! I need to speak to him. Does this factory even care about the lives of its workers anymore? If you don't let me in, I'll die right here today!"

…

When Zhou Ming and Director Wang arrived, they saw several workshop workers blocking a woman in her thirties at the entrance, preventing her from entering the workshop. The woman was anxious and insisted on going in, causing a commotion. By the time Zhou Ming and Director Wang got there, it had likely been going on for some time, and a crowd of workers had gathered around to watch.

Zhou Ming was surprised to see the woman and said, "Aunt Xiao Fang!"

Zhou Ming recognized this woman. Her name was Wan Fang, the wife of Zhang Jianjun, an apprentice trained by his father. Although Zhang Jianjun shared the same name as the troublesome Deputy Director Ma, their personalities were completely different. Perhaps because he worked closely with Zhou Ming's father, Zhang Jianjun had become honest, kind, and dependable. His wife, Wan Fang, was also a good person, and Zhou Ming had always called her Aunt Xiao Fang. He remembered how, when he was a child, Aunt Xiao Fang would secretly buy him snacks without his parents' knowledge.

Hearing Zhou Ming's voice, Wan Fang was taken aback. She hadn't expected to see him there. "Zhou Ming, what are you doing here?"

But then she noticed Director Wang standing beside Zhou Ming and immediately said, "Director Wang, it's great that you're here! We can't delay Old Zhang's situation any longer. I beg you, you must help us resolve this quickly!"

Director Wang glanced at Zhou Ming awkwardly, then put on a stern face and said to Wan Fang, "Wan Fang, the factory is aware of your family's situation and is working on resolving it. You know the factory's financial situation isn't good right now, so stop making a fuss here. If you cause any trouble, I'll have the security office arrest you!"

Wan Fang pleaded, "Director Wang, I don't want to make a fuss, but Old Zhang's condition can't be delayed any longer. I beg you, please save my husband!"

"Wan Fang!" Director Wang said sternly, "I've told you we're working on your case. Now go home and stop making a scene!"

"I'm not leaving!" Wan Fang cried out. "You keep saying you're working on it, but are you really? Old Zhang is lying in the hospital, can you at least go and see him?"

Hearing Wan Fang's words, Zhou Ming frowned and questioned Director Wang, "What's going on here?"

Faced with Zhou Ming's question, Director Wang hesitated, unable to provide a clear answer. Zhou Ming stepped forward and said to Wan Fang, "Aunt Xiao Fang, don't worry. Tell me exactly what's happened."

Seeing Zhou Ming, Wan Fang felt as if she'd grabbed onto the last lifeline. She clutched Zhou Ming's hand and said, "Zhou Ming, Aunt Xiao Fang knows you're a good kid. Please help me find Director Wang. They said he's inspecting the workshop right now."

Zhou Ming knew she was referring to the former director, Wang Chunhua. "Aunt Xiao Fang, Director Wang isn't here, and he's no longer the factory director. You can tell me what's going on."

As soon as Zhou Ming finished speaking, Wan Fang's body wavered, and her eyes became lifeless and filled with despair. Pointing at Director Wang, she said, "Liar! You're all liars! You're all lying to me, aren't you? You said the factory is working on it, you said the director is inspecting the workshop—it's all lies, isn't it?"

Seeing her like this, Zhou Ming hurriedly said, "Aunt Xiao Fang, don't worry. My father is now the director of Factory 760. You can tell me whatever you need."

Wan Fang gave Zhou Ming a bitter smile. "Zhou Ming, I know you're a good kid, but don't lie to your Aunt Xiao Fang."

Director Wang said to Wan Fang, "He's telling the truth. Old Master Zhou is indeed our factory director now."

"Is that true?" Wan Fang's hope reignited. She quickly said to Zhou Ming, "Zhou Ming, then you must tell your father that Old Zhang is in the hospital and can't hold on much longer!"

This news shocked Zhou Ming. He immediately instructed Su Han to inform his father. Before long, his father hurried over with Su Han, and they all followed Wan Fang to the factory hospital.

Seeing Zhou Ming's father, Wan Fang hurriedly said, "Master Zhou, I heard you're the director now. That's great! You must save my husband!"

"Aunt Xiao Fang, don't worry. Let's go to the hospital and see Uncle Zhang first. You can tell us what happened on the way." Zhou Ming said.

Wan Fang, now overwhelmed, agreed and went with Zhou Ming and the others to the hospital.

Along the way, as Wan Fang recounted the events, Zhou Ming finally understood the situation.

It turned out that just last week, Zhang Jianjun had been burned by metal shavings at work, severely injuring his back. Though he was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, the small factory hospital's limited resources could only do so much. After seven or eight days, his wound became infected, and the doctor diagnosed it as tetanus, requiring further treatment.

Treating tetanus isn't difficult, but the problem was the lack of money.

Like many other workers, Zhang Jianjun's family had been struggling because the factory, mismanaged by Huang Zheng and Ma Jianjun, hadn't paid wages for a long time. After the initial emergency treatment, Zhang Jianjun's family couldn't afford any more medical expenses, and even the hospital stay had been borrowed money.

Wan Fang had gone to the factory for help, but the leadership pushed the responsibility onto the workshop, saying the accident happened there, so the workshop should cover the medical expenses. Wan Fang then went to the workshop, but they had no money either, so the issue kept getting delayed. As Zhang Jianjun's condition worsened, Wan Fang grew more desperate and began causing a scene at the workshop every day. Previously, it had all been in vain, but today she ran into Zhou Ming.

"How can this be? Uncle Zhang was injured while working at the factory; how can they keep pushing the responsibility around? What's wrong with the factory leadership?" Su Han immediately questioned after hearing the story.

Director Wang kept his head down, unsure of what to say, while Zhou Guoping reassured Wan Fang, "Don't worry. I'm the director now, and I won't ignore Zhang's situation."

Wan Fang cried, "Thank you, Master Zhou!"

The factory hospital wasn't far, and within a few minutes, Zhou Ming and the others arrived and followed Wan Fang to Zhang Jianjun's ward.

Zhang Jianjun was lying in pain on the bed, his back covered in a large bandage, which was soaked with pus. When he saw Zhou Ming and the others enter, he forced a pained smile, while a faint smell of infection lingered in the air.

"Old Zhang, you're saved! Master Zhou is now the factory director, and he'll figure out how to cover your medical expenses." Wan Fang rushed to Zhang Jianjun's side and said.

Hearing this, Zhang Jianjun seemed pleased, but by this time, the tetanus had already affected his muscle control, and combined with the pain from the infection, he struggled to speak. After a long effort, he finally managed to say, "Thank you, Master. Congratulations, Master."

Zhou Guoping quickly approached him, "Don't speak, it's all my fault. I haven't visited you in a while, I didn't even know you were injured."

Wan Fang said to Zhou Guoping, "Master Zhou, it's not your fault. Old Zhang knew you were having a tough time at home too, so he didn't tell you."

As they spoke, the hospital director, Dr. Huang, came in. He already knew about the factory's restructuring and hurriedly greeted Zhou Ming, Zhou Guoping, and Su Han.

Zhou Guoping questioned Dr. Huang, "Why hasn't Zhang Jianjun received treatment? Can't you see how much pain he's in? Are you even a doctor?"

Dr. Huang immediately defended himself, "Director Zhou, you've got it wrong! The situation is too complicated. Zhang Jianjun might need surgery to remove the necrotic tissue, but our factory hospital isn't equipped to handle it. We can't make any rash decisions! If you don't believe me, let me show you Zhang Jianjun's wound."

As he spoke, Dr. Huang instructed the accompanying nurse to slowly remove the bandage from Zhang Jianjun's back, revealing a horrifying sight. A large wound was festering and oozing pus, emitting a foul odor that made everyone present feel uneasy.

Su Han immediately turned away, gagging. Zhou Ming, frowning, patted Su Han's back and was about to lead her out of the room when Deputy Director Cai Zhongxian hurried in, saying, "Boss Zhou, I'm here."

Hearing Cai Zhongxian's voice, Zhou Ming's anger flared up. He walked over and slapped Cai Zhongxian across the face, pointing at his nose and yelling, "Deputy Director Cai, are you still the deputy director of Factory 760? Uncle Zhang was injured on the job, and the factory should have covered his medical expenses! But you kept pushing

 the responsibility around, even ignoring the man's life! Is this how a deputy director behaves?"

With tears in his eyes, Zhang Jianjun said, "Young Master Zhou, don't blame him. My injury wasn't serious at first, and I thought I could recover quickly, so I didn't report it. Don't make things difficult for Deputy Director Cai because of me."

Hearing Zhang Jianjun's plea, Zhou Ming controlled his anger, but he couldn't hold back his tears. He walked over to Zhang Jianjun, took his hand, and said, "Uncle Zhang, don't worry. I won't let you die!"

Wiping his tears, Zhou Ming told Dr. Huang, "Director Huang, prepare for surgery immediately. If the factory has no money, I'll pay!"