Chapter 85: Wage Reform

In the morning, the door to the factory director's office was knocked on, and Deputy Director Cai Zhongxian entered, greeting Zhou Ming, Wang Fengqin, and Su Han individually. Since her father insisted on going to the workshop, Wang Fengqin didn't want to stay alone in the office, so Zhou Ming and Su Han had to move to the factory director's office as well. The other cadres in the factory found this unreasonable, but they had no choice.

"Boss Zhou, was Comrade Zhang Jianjun's surgery successful yesterday?" Cai Zhongxian asked cautiously.

"The debridement surgery was very successful. Uncle Zhang's necrotic tissue on his back was completely removed, but because the wound area was too large and the optimal treatment time had long passed, bacteria had entered his bloodstream. He still needs follow-up antibiotic treatment and long-term care."

Zhou Ming then said to Cai Zhongxian: "Deputy Director Cai, as the director of Factory 760, you always talk about encouraging everyone to take ownership of the factory and have a sense of ownership. But now, when one of our employees has an accident and suffers a work injury, the factory doesn't even cover the most basic medical expenses. If I hadn't been there yesterday, would you have let Uncle Zhang die on the hospital bed without caring? Your actions are disheartening! How can you expect our employees to have a sense of ownership? How can they strive to take ownership of the factory? Is this just an empty slogan?"

Faced with Zhou Ming's barrage of questions, Cai Zhongxian lowered his head, but then he heard Zhou Ming say: "Raise your head and look at me."

Cai Zhongxian looked up, and Zhou Ming saw cold sweat on his face, his eyes evasive. Zhou Ming pointed at Cai Zhongxian's nose and continued: "Cai Zhongxian, remember this: today, it's not just me scolding you, but I'm representing all the employees of Factory 760 in denouncing you! If something had happened to Uncle Zhang because of this incident, you would go down as the worst deputy director in the history of Factory 760!"

After Zhou Ming finished speaking, Wang Fengqin gently tugged on him from behind. She felt that although Cai Zhongxian was an old leader in the factory and was nearly fifty years old, it wasn't appropriate for Zhou Ming to scold him like this, even if Zhou Ming had bought the factory.

Zhou Ming, understanding his mother's intentions, waved his hand and said, "Alright, how's the meeting preparation going?"

Seeing Zhou Ming finally change the subject, Cai Zhongxian dared to breathe a sigh of relief. He didn't even have time to wipe the cold sweat off his face and quickly responded to Zhou Ming: "Boss Zhou, the meeting is ready. All the cadres have arrived; we're just waiting for you to start."

Zhou Ming nodded and walked out of the office with Wang Fengqin and Su Han, heading to the meeting room. Just as Cai Zhongxian had said, the meeting room was already filled with people. Zhou Ming glanced around and saw that all the deputy directors, office directors, and department heads were present.

Zhou Ming, Wang Fengqin, and Su Han sat down, with Wang Fengqin naturally taking the center seat, and Zhou Ming and Su Han sitting on either side.

The meeting began with the office director calling the roll. After confirming that everyone was present, the leadership was invited to preside over the meeting.

Zhou Ming said: "Just like at the last general staff meeting, I'm not a fan of those empty formalities. The main content of today's meeting was already announced yesterday, so if you're ready, go ahead and speak."

After saying that, Zhou Ming gestured to indicate: "Director Bai, why don't you talk about the factory's current financial situation?"

The one being called out was Bai Yong, the factory's finance director. He immediately took out a prepared document and read it verbatim: "Boss Zhou, the factory currently owes all employees three months' wages, including a two-month summer period, plus the customary ice allowance for employees, totaling 550,000 yuan. In addition, the factory still owes for waste disposal fees and some other official expenses, totaling 250,000 yuan."

By the end of his report, Bai Yong was a bit embarrassed to speak further. After all, everyone present was a factory cadre, and they all knew that the so-called "other official expenses" were actually funds the cadres had taken for themselves and later found various reasons to report to the factory. The amount alone was half of the employees' three months' wages. How could he be embarrassed to report this to the boss? As for the ice allowance, it was specifically for the employees to purchase cold drinks and popsicles during the summer with ice tickets issued by the factory.

Zhou Ming wasn't surprised by this situation; in fact, he would have been more surprised if it hadn't occurred.

"So, the current financial gap is a total of 800,000 yuan?" Zhou Ming asked, glancing around the room. The cadres, who usually wielded power in the factory, all involuntarily lowered their heads, none daring to meet Zhou Ming's gaze.

Zhou Ming looked around again and asked: "If I remember correctly, there should still be some processing fees and payments that the factory hasn't collected."

"Yes," this time, it was Yuan Zhigang, the new head of sales who replaced Huang Zheng, who replied, "but most of this money is tied up in triangular debts, and a significant portion is owed by the relatives of Director Huang… I mean, Huang Zheng."

"How much in total?" Zhou Ming asked.

"Altogether, 300,000 yuan," Yuan Zhigang thought for a moment and added, "and 200,000 yuan of that is related to Huang Zheng's family and the money that passed through his hands."

After hearing Yuan Zhigang's answer, Zhou Ming nodded and said, "Now listen to Manager Su's plan for the restructuring."

This statement left everyone, including Cai Zhongxian and Yuan Zhigang, stunned. They all looked at Zhou Ming with bewildered eyes, not understanding why Zhou Ming, after hearing about the financial gap and outstanding payments, didn't respond but instead skipped directly to the issue of restructuring the factory.

Everyone exchanged confused glances: What's going on? Did we all lose our memories? Did Boss Zhou make a decision just now, and we don't remember it?

Zhou Ming ignored their thoughts and gestured to Su Han, who took out a notebook, opened it, and began to read: "In the future, all cadres and employees of Factory 760 will have their fixed wages canceled. A new wage system combining fixed wages with floating wages will be implemented. The floating wage will be higher than or equal to the basic fixed wage. Ordinary workers' floating wages will be calculated based on the number of molds completed—the faster they finish, the higher the floating wage. Workshop cadres' floating wages will be calculated based on the overall efficiency of the workshop. If a safety accident occurs, half of the workshop cadres' floating wages will be deducted."

Su Han paused at this point, and everyone in the room perked up their ears because they knew that next would be the announcement of how their wages would be calculated.

"Leaders' floating wages will be calculated based on the completion of each department's quarterly tasks. If the tasks are exceeded, the floating wages will double. If not completed, all floating wages will be deducted."

As Su Han's clear voice finished speaking, everyone in the conference room gasped. No one sitting there was foolish; they all understood what this wage reform meant. From now on, they would have to work themselves to the bone for Zhou Ming, and the leisurely days of sitting in the office with a newspaper and a cup of tea would be gone forever.

But what they didn't expect was that Zhou Ming's purpose in introducing the wage reform was not just that.

"Alright, everyone is now aware of the floating wage system that Manager Su just explained. It must be implemented within a week at the latest, and every employee must be informed that this wage system will officially take effect next month."

Zhou Ming then turned his gaze to Bai Yong, the finance director: "This afternoon, I'll deposit 500,000 yuan into the financial account. Use it to pay the wages owed to all factory employees and some of the summer ice allowances."

Hearing this, not only Bai Yong but also the others were stunned: 500,000 yuan? What about the remaining 300,000 yuan?

This question had just arisen in everyone's minds when the answer immediately became clear. They all turned in unison to look at Sales Director Yuan Zhigang, causing his face to change color.

Sure enough, Zhou Ming continued: "As for the remaining 300,000 yuan financial gap, it will be up to your sales department to resolve it."

Yuan Zhigang looked distressed: "But Boss Zhou, this 300,000 yuan is very difficult to collect!"

"That's your sales department's problem!" Zhou Ming said. "I'm a businessman who returned from Hong Kong. In my view, being able to sell something and collect the payment is a complete deal. If you only have the ability to sell but not to collect, why do I need you as a sales director? To help run the factory into bankruptcy?"

Zhou Ming thought for a moment and added: "Yuan Director, your current salary is 400 yuan a month. After switching to the floating wage system, it will be 200 yuan basic salary plus no less than 300 yuan in floating wages. But if you don't collect that

 300,000 yuan, you won't get a penny of your floating wage."

"Boss Zhou, that's not fair!" Yuan Zhigang complained.

"Why do you think it's unfair? Speak." Zhou Ming said.

Yuan Zhigang gritted his teeth and said: "Boss Zhou, it's not that I don't want to work hard, but most of these debts are triangular debts. The rest are owed by some local connections in the county. They are chronic debtors who have been delaying payments for years, and it's impossible to collect from them."

After listening to Yuan Zhigang's complaint, Zhou Ming said: "Maybe you didn't hear me clearly just now, so I'll reiterate: you, Yuan Zhigang, are the sales director, and collecting business debts is your job. How you collect them is your problem."

"I'm sorry, Boss Zhou, but this is something I simply cannot do!" Yuan Zhigang, feeling hopeless, decided to give up.

Zhou Ming sneered and said: "Is that so? Does that mean you're planning to give up your position as sales director?"

"What?" Yuan Zhigang's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Zhou Ming.

"I said, if you don't have the ability to collect payments, why should I keep you as the sales director? Of course, I'll replace you with someone who can. Did you think I'd keep paying you?" Zhou Ming said.

Yuan Zhigang gathered his strength to argue with Zhou Ming, but his mouth opened and closed several times, and in the end, he couldn't say a word. Finally, he resigned himself to his fate and said, "Okay, Boss Zhou, I understand. I'll do my best to collect all the debts."

"That's better. I also understand that many of these debts are old and difficult to collect. If you encounter those who are particularly difficult, using normal methods won't work, you can come to me. I'll have a way to deal with it," Zhou Ming added. "If you complete the entire 300,000-yuan task within this month, I'll personally give you a 300-yuan bonus."

This statement immediately brightened the eyes of the previously dejected Yuan Zhigang. He said excitedly: "Please rest assured, Boss Zhou. I will definitely work hard to complete the task!"