Chapter Ninety-Six: Divergent Intentions

“Thank you to all the parents for your generous donations. This time, we have collected a total of four hundred and thirty-three yuan.”

“We will hire workers as soon as possible to repair the outer walls and the playground equipment. Please rest assured, everyone.”

At last, Zhang Cuilian announced the total amount, sweeping a grateful gaze over the parents below.

Once again, everyone’s eyes turned to Chen Huajiang and his group. Out of the more than four hundred yuan donated, the seven of them alone had contributed two hundred—nearly half the total.

Bear in mind, the kindergarten had more than sixty children, which meant more than sixty families.

Wu Lei’s expression was particularly grim, cold as the icy depths of the underworld, as if he wished he could ward off every living soul with a mere glance.

The meeting soon ended, and the parents began to disperse.

“Chen Huajiang, very well—let’s see how things go.”

Wu Lei walked over, glaring at Chen Huajiang with venom in his eyes, his teeth clenched. He didn’t wait for a response, turning on his heel and striding away.

“What a joke. If he didn’t have Wu Min’s influence behind him, who would even notice him?”

“Chen, you’d better watch out. Wu Lei’s a schemer—he might try to get back at you for this.”

“That’s right. Wu Lei’s not like Wu De; he prefers to trip people up from the shadows.”

He Song and the others all chimed in.

Although the donation was made in the name of seven people, everyone knew that Chen Huajiang had been the true benefactor.

After all, each of them had only contributed a single yuan. They had exchanged glances earlier, considering whether they should quietly add a few more yuan each to make up for it, but before they could speak, Wu Lei had come over to hurl his threats.

“Thank you all for your concern. I know what I’m doing,” Chen Huajiang nodded, smiling at his friends, then glanced toward his wife, Lin Jiayin.

Lin Jiayin was chatting with a group of women, keeping one eye on Huanhuan as she played in the yard with her friends.

A bright smile lit Lin Jiayin’s face. News of the seven men’s two-hundred-yuan donation had spread, and the women’s attitudes toward her changed in an instant.

Colleagues who’d rarely spoken to her before now crowded around, eager to curry favor, some even envying her family’s ability to earn money.

In the past, she’d heard them make quite different remarks—even overheard them mocking her husband for being fired from the factory while she was in the restroom. When they started the barbecue stall, their sneers hadn’t stopped.

Back then, standing among them only brought Lin Jiayin feelings of inferiority and pain, as if her family were the butt of every joke.

But now, surrounded by eager, fawning smiles and flattery, Lin Jiayin felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

“Chen, how about we each add four more yuan?” Suddenly, He Song looked at Chen Huajiang and suggested it.

With his words, Wang Dali and the others nodded as well.

Chen Huajiang was jolted from his reverie. He smiled.

“We’re all colleagues and friends. There’s no need for such formality.”

“There’s something I wanted to discuss with you all anyway. Come on, let’s head over there and have a smoke.”

He reached into his pocket, intending to hand out cigarettes, but since they were still in the kindergarten yard with so many children around, this was hardly the right place.

Soon, the seven men made their way around to a small grove, where Chen Huajiang finally handed out cigarettes. They lit up, exhaling clouds into the air.

It was true—the facilities and environment at the factory were remarkable in those days. Everyone treated the factory as their own, with a strong sense of ownership.

Take this bamboo grove, for example—over an acre of land. When Chen Huajiang worked at the factory, he often came here to clean and help prune the branches.

He did so out of habit, viewing the factory as his home—at least a second home.

In the future, who would volunteer to do such work for free after hours?

“Chen, if you have something to say, just say it. We’re listening,” He Song urged after several drags, anxious that Chen Huajiang had yet to speak.

The others nodded, turning their attention to him.

“The factory might not last much longer,” Chen Huajiang said, stunning the six men, who instinctively shook their heads.

“Chen, don’t say such things.”

“That’s not right—the factory’s just going through a rough patch. Things will get better.”

“That’s all it is—they’re a month behind on wages, but they’ll pay us next month. The old hands and the women have already been paid.”

The others echoed their disbelief, rebutting Chen Huajiang’s words.

Chen Huajiang took a long drag, considering how best to phrase what he needed to say.

At that time, their trust in and sense of belonging to the factory were unshakable. Even as layoffs loomed, many still believed the factory would recover.

“I mean to say, the factory’s troubles might last a while—a long while.”

Seeing their reactions, Chen Huajiang softened his tone.

He Song and the others exchanged glances, frowning, then looked back at him, conflicted.

“Chen, we believe you about that. So what are you suggesting?”

It was a possibility, after all—the wages had never been delayed before.

“If any of you run into trouble, you can come to me. We’re brothers; we should help each other.”

“If it ever comes to that, I, Chen Huajiang, won’t let you go hungry. If need be, I’ll support you in starting your own ventures so we can make money together.”

“But I won’t force anyone. Just bear it in mind.”

He smiled, took one last drag, and stubbed out his cigarette.

“All right. If things really get desperate, I’ll come to you, Chen,” He Song replied.

“So will I,” Wang Dali said earnestly.

“Same here,” the others added, though their expressions varied.

He Song seemed casual; Wang Dali nodded resolutely; Zhang Yu and the rest sounded half-hearted. Ma Qiang and Zhang Heng didn’t speak, only nodding indifferently.

Chen Huajiang didn’t press them. This had been a sudden decision, after all.

It was Wu Lei who had provoked him that day, and Chen Huajiang had decided to take action.

From memories of his past life, he knew Wu Lei’s weakness and the source of his fortune: the coal furnace workshop.

As the Red Flag Factory faced hard times, the coal furnace workshop became increasingly important, and Wu Lei was promoted by Wu Min to workshop director.

That was when his corruption truly spiraled—he inflated the price of the factory’s coal furnaces on one side, while selling them at low prices to his cronies on the other.

Most outrageous of all, in the later days, the Wu family even had the factory workers produce coal furnaces for their private workshop, using the factory’s money and materials for their own gain.

In the end, it was the Wu family’s workshop that became the final straw that broke the Red Flag Factory.

Since Wu Lei wanted to play games, Chen Huajiang didn’t mind playing along.