Chapter 141: The Factory-Wide Assembly

The factory assembly was held in the grand auditorium of the Red Flag Factory, and only workers holding a level-four trade certificate or above, along with the leadership, were allowed to attend. Naturally, this was due to the limited space in the auditorium; if all the workers of the Red Flag Factory tried to squeeze in, there simply wouldn’t be enough room.

“Chen Huajiang, we’re giving you one more chance. If you’re willing to raise the rent for the gatehouse to match Boss Feng’s price, our factory will still let you lease it,” Wu Lei and his brother Wu De approached. Wu De loudly declared with a pretentious air.

Wu Lei, meanwhile, gave me a provocative look, his expression arrogant.

“Wu De, haven’t you invested quite a bit in Feng Weizhi’s Wei Mei Xian Catering?” Chen Huajiang suddenly asked.

Wu De’s face changed instantly, and he retorted sharply, “Don’t spout nonsense! I’m just an ordinary friend of Boss Feng. What investment? My family doesn’t have that kind of money.”

He thought Chen Huajiang was about to expose his relationship with Feng Weizhi at the factory assembly, which would spell big trouble. If everyone found out, the entire Wu family could be in grave danger.

“You don’t need to be so surprised. No matter what relationship you have with Feng Weizhi, what belongs to me, Chen Huajiang, no one can take away,” Chen Huajiang said disdainfully, waving his hand to signal Er Mao to show them out.

“Haha, Boss Chen, you really are generous. No wonder you’ve made a fortune. But you’re seriously underestimating Feng Weizhi. Today, I’m going to take your shop away!” Feng Weizhi, who had been listening nearby, suddenly stood up and boomed defiantly.

The two men’s direct confrontation sparked a murmur among the crowd, a mixture of envy, jealousy, and excitement.

“No matter who ends up with the factory’s shop, the rent will definitely not be low. Our factory won’t suffer losses.”

“Exactly, it has to be this way.”

“Whatever happens, it benefits the factory. I hope these rich folks bid higher and higher.”

For a moment, the auditorium was filled with lively chatter.

“Lawyer Niu, is there truly nothing that can be done? We leased the shop first, with clear written contracts—aren’t there any solutions?” Lin Jiayin asked Niu Sanshui, the lawyer Chen Huajiang had brought in a couple of days ago to seek legal recourse regarding the Red Flag Factory’s storefront.

But the answer they received left Chen Huajiang speechless and helpless. Times have changed; the power of lawyers and the law is not what it used to be.

“There really isn’t much I can do. At most, I can help Boss Chen buy some time,” Niu Sanshui explained, shrugging. “The Red Flag Factory is a state-owned enterprise. Unless it’s a major issue, the law generally doesn’t apply. More importantly, I’ve reviewed your contract—it doesn’t specify penalties for breach. Even under contract law, without specific breach clauses, you can only claim your losses.”

He refrained from telling Lin Jiayin more—what good would it do? Even if there were breach clauses, as a private individual, who has the standing to sue a state-owned factory? And even if a judge accepted the case, it would almost certainly end in defeat.

Chen Huajiang squeezed his wife’s hand and smiled, “Don’t worry.”

Lin Jiayin could only nod.

Soon, Factory Director Liu Jun gave an opening speech, lamenting the factory’s current difficulties and urging everyone to unite and work together to overcome challenges, before looking ahead to a brighter future.

Chen Huajiang listened to his rhythmic words, pumping his fist for the crowd. Seeing the workers applaud enthusiastically stirred a bittersweet feeling within him. He knew the future of the Red Flag Factory. This year’s assembly would likely be the last.

Next year, the factory wouldn’t be able to pay wages for the whole year. Workers would be agitated, and the factory wouldn’t dare to hold assemblies for fear they’d turn into wage protests.

Eventually, the final assembly would come when the factory was restructured and sold off. Chen Huajiang later heard from Liang Long that the place was filled with cries.

Then Wu Min stepped onto the stage, delivering some encouraging words to the workers before turning the topic to the leasing of the factory’s storefronts.

“This year, the poor performance of the Red Flag Factory can be attributed to three main factors: first, the overall economic downturn; second, extravagance and waste; and third, some factory assets being sold or rented off cheaply.”

As he spoke, Wu Min deliberately fixed his gaze on Chen Huajiang’s spot.

The crowd followed his gaze, some eyes filled with hatred.

Chen Huajiang smiled inwardly—who knew the biggest drain on the Red Flag Factory was actually the Wu family?

“For the better development of the Red Flag Factory and the interests of all our worker brothers, the factory leadership has decided to re-lease the storefronts of the Red Flag Factory.”

“This time, the leasing of the factory’s storefronts is open to all—no restrictions on who can bid. Anyone interested may compete for the lease.”

Wu Min said gravely, scanning the crowd.

“Three hundred a year!” Feng Weizhi stood and shouted provocatively, locking eyes with Chen Huajiang.

“One thousand.” Chen Huajiang didn’t rise but calmly raised his right hand.

The auditorium stirred in surprise.

Feng Weizhi’s three hundred a year was already high. Who would have expected Chen Huajiang to suddenly raise the bid to one thousand?

“Is Chen Huajiang crazy?”

“When did he get so rich? He was just fired not long ago—only half a year! And now he’s got this kind of money?”

“No wonder the state cracks down on capitalism—this guy must have become a capitalist, exploiting the working masses. Where else would the money come from?”

The crowd looked at Chen Huajiang with a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Feng Weizhi was stunned, not expecting Chen Huajiang to be so reckless as to raise the bid to one thousand.

His gaze fixed on Chen Huajiang, who, however, didn’t look back. He remained indifferent, legs crossed, as if Feng Weizhi wasn’t even worth his notice.

At the same time, he exuded absolute confidence, as if victory was already assured.

“One thousand five hundred,” Feng Weizhi shouted, then taunted from his seat, “Boss Chen, today this Red Flag Factory shop belongs to me, Feng Weizhi.”

He had already given up inside, aiming only to make Chen Huajiang pay more.

*Clap, clap, clap.*

Chen Huajiang slapped his hand on the briefcase resting on his lap, sneering at him, “Boss Feng, why so arrogant? My Nantan Catering pays thirty-six hundred a year. A mere fifteen hundred, and you’re shouting like that—haven’t you been out much?”

After mocking him, Chen Huajiang raised two fingers and said, “Two thousand.”

“Two thousand? My goodness, two thousand!”

“Chen Huajiang has really struck it rich! Earlier, he mentioned Nantan Catering—wait, does that mean the Kunlun Catering outside Nantan Hotel is his shop too?”

“Don’t you know? Your information is way out of date. I’ve known for a while. The Kunlun Catering always has long lines out front. Clearly, they’re making a fortune every day.”

Whispers and excited chatter erupted anew throughout the auditorium.