Chapter 28: One Man Saves a Factory

Zhang Ziqiang felt a mix of sheepishness and shyness under Cheng Shi’s gaze, his face burning. He knew his request was overstepping. This was, after all, how Cheng Shi made his living; was it really something he could just teach him so easily? In the factory, learning a trade required a formal apprenticeship, gift-giving, and a trial period set by the master before one was accepted. If a master agreed to teach a disciple even half of his craft, the disciple would be expected to treat that master like a father for the rest of his life. Such a master was effectively a second parent, providing the very means for the disciple to survive in this world. What made it even more awkward was that Cheng Shi was actually a few years younger than him. Zhang Ziqiang had hesitated for a long time before finally summoning the courage to ask.

Cheng Shi didn't answer directly, asking instead, "Why do you suddenly want to learn this?" It wasn't as if one could just walk up and ask to steal a trade so brazenly.

Zhang Ziqiang replied, "I just think you’re amazing. One person saved an entire factory. I want to have that kind of ability, too."

Cheng Shi remained noncommittal, saying only, "Finish handling the procurement of raw materials first." It was a way to leave a door open for Zhang Ziqiang.

"Alright," Zhang Ziqiang agreed.

Cheng Shi narrowed his eyes. "Are you done eating yet? If you’re finished, I have work to do. Who has all day to sit here and drink porridge with you?"

"I'm done, I'm done! I'll come with you," Zhang Ziqiang said.

After the news broadcast, many people recognized him as the young man who had saved someone at the department store. The phones at the Machinery Factory, the Automobile Factory, the television station, and the city and provincial offices were ringing off the hook. Some were cursing: "Is this how you treat a hero? He saved people and he saved the Automobile Factory! Do you have any conscience left?!" Others were petitioning: "Please help Comrade Cheng Shi resolve this issue; don't let the workers' hearts turn cold." Others still were calling to inquire about Cheng Shi’s address on behalf of themselves or their daughters. It was a chaotic mix of everything.

***

Liu Jianshe didn't go to work today. He was simply too embarrassed after yesterday. In truth, a problem in one workshop wasn't enough to threaten the overall operation of the Machinery Factory. He just couldn't swallow his pride: how could a factory director of a grand plant with thousands of employees be manipulated by a laid-off worker?

Upon waking, he called the director of the Second Workshop to have a bearing machined and sent to the Automobile Factory. He promised that if they could secure the Automobile Factory’s order, he would handsomely reward the workshop. The director agreed readily. Just as Liu Jianshe hung up, the phone began to ring incessantly. Hadn't he told his secretary not to bother him today unless it was something important? Annoyed, he answered, but it was the voice of the city's industrial supervisor on the other end: "Is what that young man said on the city news yesterday true?"

Liu Jianshe paused, stunned. Cheng Shi had said so much yesterday that he didn't know which part the leader was referring to.

The leader continued, "There is already a lot of dissatisfaction regarding the conversion of contract workers. Now that he has become the first laid-off worker in Zhu City—and possibly the entire country—you must handle this well and appease him. It would be best to call in a reporter to witness the settlement so he can't later claim he never received his buyout money."

Cold sweat beaded on Liu Jianshe's forehead. "Yes, I understand," he stammered.

No sooner had he hung up than the city labor union called about the same matter. Then came the city retirement office—Cheng Yongjin was a retired employee, and they were obligated to protect the rights of retirees. Then, provincial leaders called. Their tone was even more severe, warning that higher-ups were watching, and if a major scandal erupted, Liu Jianshe would bear the burden alone. The message was essentially the same.

Liu Jianshe spent the morning taking seven or eight calls, his throat parched and his ears ringing. He had originally intended to find an opportunity to evict the Cheng family from their two-bedroom staff apartment into a single dormitory room. After all, the family now only had one retired employee, Cheng Yongjin; the others had no connection to the Machinery Factory. Now, however, it seemed he couldn't touch them for the time being. That meant the machine tool would have to stay under his nose for now. Could he just requisition the storage room? The apartment came with the storage room as an attachment anyway. Yes, he would act once the heat died down.

Liu Jie walked out from the inner room; he hadn't gone to work either. No one dared to discipline him regardless of whether he showed up. He had returned late last night, and Liu Jianshe hadn't seen him properly, but now he noticed that Liu Jie’s face was covered in bruises, and he was leaning against the wall as he walked.

Liu Jianshe stood up abruptly. "What happened to you?"

Liu Jie certainly couldn't admit he had been soliciting a prostitute and gotten ambushed. He waved a hand dismissively. "I fell off my bike." Luckily, the attacker had covered his head with a burlap sack, so they hadn't been able to aim for his eyes.

Seeing that the injuries were only on his forehead and cheek, Liu Jianshe didn't suspect anything. "Be more careful. Go to the hospital and get checked out. Don't let there be any lingering effects."

"I'm out of money," Liu Jie said.

"What are you doing all day that you spend so much?" Liu Jianshe asked.

"Buying books, reading. What else?"

"Fine, fine. Take some from the drawer."

Liu Jie remembered the scene from last night and felt a lingering chill. He had briefly suspected Cheng Shi, but quickly dismissed the thought. If it were Cheng Shi, he would have just called the police, which would have been easier. Besides, Cheng Shi couldn't possibly have known where he was; he had chosen the hotel at random. It was a mercy the man had only beaten him; otherwise, Liu Jianshe would have had to go to the police station to bail him out.

He paused and asked, "Dad, if one day I were framed and ended up in the police station, would you come to save me?"

Liu Jianshe assumed he was still shaken from the incident with the machine tool yesterday. "Of course. Who would dare frame my son? I certainly wouldn't let them get away with it."

"What if the police insisted it was my fault?"

"How could my son ever be at fault? It would certainly be someone else's mistake. You are the son of a dignified factory director, after all."

"Good." Liu Jie felt relieved. After a moment, he added, "Dad, what do you think if I propose to Cheng Juan?"

Liu Jianshe frowned, taking a while to answer. "Why would you have such a thought?"

Liu Jie sat down. "Think about it. Cheng Juan is beautiful and works at the credit union. And since Cheng Shi is some kind of technical genius, once I marry Cheng Juan, I’ll be his brother-in-law. He’ll have to work for me then. Once he’s no longer useful, I can just divorce her. I won't have lost anything." Even if he didn't divorce her, he could do whatever he wanted behind her back; she wouldn't be able to control him. Even Liu Jianshe himself had a mistress.

Liu Jianshe considered this. "Cheng Juan is indeed pretty. But it is her honor to be noticed by my son. If you like her, go ahead and tell her. It would be even better if we can pull Cheng Shi over to our side. If not, we don't care. But we must never lower ourselves to beg them."