Chapter 113: The Calm Before the Storm (Part 1)

After filtering out the boasting from his wealthy roommate's previous remarks and matching it to the current situation, Li Xian quickly developed a reform plan for the North Forest Paper Factory.

He reviewed this plan multiple times, ensuring it was flawless, before smiling and extinguishing his second cigarette. He then turned and returned to the factory.

At the North Forest Paper Factory, according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, basic subsistence is at the base of the pyramid. Given the pressing issue of whether there will be food in the future, the workers reluctantly adjusted production to its maximum capacity.

Almost twenty tons of paper were produced yesterday, and today, Chen Shulin had already organized transportation to start shipping out goods.

After greeting Chen Shulin, Li Xian went to the workshop and called the four union leaders, who were still occupied with figuring out how to petition, into his office.

"Director Li, did you see Secretary Wu?" Zhao Dongliang asked anxiously before they even entered the office.

Li Xian smiled and nodded, "Yes, I saw him and had a lengthy chat with Secretary Wu."

"What did he say?" Liu Maoshen, the most senior employee nearing retirement, immediately asked.

Li Xian made a calming gesture and told them a fabricated story about how Secretary Wu was very concerned but felt powerless because the reform was inevitable. He implied that it was not Wu's fault and that the priority was solving the paper factory's property transfer issue.

The four workers were not appeased and were ready to organize another protest at the district government.

Seeing that his provocation was working too well, Li Xian quickly stopped them and said, "There's no point in protesting Secretary Wu. I went to the district office, but they wouldn't even let me in when they heard I was there to convey everyone's concerns. I waited at the door for over half an hour, and they never spoke a word. So, I think it's useless to keep trying."

While the first half of Li Xian's statement was fabricated, the second half was true. Wu Siti was currently tasked with executing the property reform of the North Forest Paper Factory, and as long as no agreement was reached, the issue of worker placement remained unresolved. Conversely, the workers' placement problem directly affected the success of the factory's reform, creating a vicious cycle.

The four workers sighed in resignation upon hearing this.

After a moment, Zhao Dongliang suddenly lifted his head and, seeing Li Xian idly studying the photos under the glass on his desk, said, "Director Li, you're resourceful. Can you give us some advice?"

Ah!

The timing is perfect!

Li Xian praised himself internally and said, "Actually, when I initially sought to outsource work to your factory, I considered directly acquiring the North Forest Factory. At that time, seeing that everyone was struggling, I thought it might be possible to secure jobs for the workers and possibly even make a substantial profit. However..."

Hearing this, Zhao Dongliang and the others straightened up immediately, "Director Li, what's the plan? What's the 'however'?"

Having successfully piqued their curiosity, Li Xian deliberately stood up, opened the office door, and checked to ensure no one was around. He then locked the door, turned back, and motioned for them to come closer. In a low voice, he said, "Let me ask you this: Is your concern about the property transfer due to fear of losing your 'iron rice bowl' and not being able to live a stable life in the future?"

"Yes!" The four workers nodded in agreement.

"Then, what if, after the property transfer, you held shares and became shareholders of the factory? You'd receive annual dividends based on the factory's profits..."

"Is there such a good thing?"

"Well, there's no such thing as a free lunch. You'd need to buy the shares yourself."

"But we don't have money! Our pockets are emptier than our faces. How can we come up with the money?"

This was the harsh truth. Workers had large families and lived tightly on their meager wages. Over time, Li Xian had understood their way of life and their reliance on the factory. They had never lived in affluence and were used to a stable but modest existence.

For them, the idea of buying shares was not only financially unfeasible but also emotionally challenging.

"I have the money! I'll lend it to you. You can pay me back after you receive the dividends from the factory's first year of profit." Li Xian declared, patting his chest.

"Director Li, you're so generous!" Zhao Dongliang was taken aback and then gave a thumbs-up.

Not only him, but the other three were also surprised.

The idea of getting shares in the factory without spending their own money seemed like a good deal to them!

The four workers began discussing excitedly.

"If the workers agree to this, we'll form a petition team and do this and that at the district office, and I'll step in and talk to Secretary Wu about this and that... Once the factory is acquired, we'll do this and that..."

As Li Xian sketched out an increasingly grand vision for the future of the North Forest Paper Factory, the faces of Zhao Dongliang and the others showed a shift from naïveté to eagerness.

The thorns of greed began to spread across their faces...