Chapter 36: No More Delays

Liu Jie seized the opportunity and scrambled out.

Cheng Shi patted Cheng Juan on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't do anything foolish."

Cheng Juan let go of him. "Don't tell Mom and Dad about what happened today."

Cheng Shi nodded. "I won't."

Telling them would solve nothing and only cause them unnecessary distress, so it was better for him to handle it himself.

Liu Jie tripped and stumbled, scrambling all the way down the stairs. Cheng Yongjin and Cai Aiping, having finished cleaning the utility room, were just reaching the stairwell and nearly collided with the panicked Liu Jie.

Cheng Yongjin muttered, "What's wrong with that kid? He looks like he's seen a ghost."

Qian Xiaoying had been hounded and berated by the workshop director all day, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted, and filled with anxiety. As she paced her room like an ant on a hot pan, trying to figure out a solution, she caught a glimpse of Liu Jie running away in the distance.

A thought suddenly flashed through her mind: if Liu Jie were willing to help, all her problems could be solved. The son of a factory director carried far more weight than a laid-off worker. Qian Xiaoying quickly tidied herself up, rushed out of the room, and followed after Liu Jie.

After walking quite a distance, Liu Jie finally sat down on a concrete bench by the side of the road to catch his breath. He glanced down at his wet trousers, pulling the shirt he had tucked into his waistband out to cover them. A wave of lingering fear washed over him: when had Cheng Shi become so terrifying? He was like the King of Hell himself.

Qian Xiaoying pretended to be passing by and said, "Oh, Comrade Liu Jie, why are you here? Are you alright? You look terrible."

Still shaken, Liu Jie replied, "That Cheng Shi must be a lunatic. He’s absolutely terrifying."

Qian Xiaoying sighed. "He’s always had a temper like that. I’m just glad you weren't hurt."

Liu Jie looked at her. He had only ever seen her in her work uniform before; he hadn't realized she was quite pretty. Her voice was pleasant, too. And besides, she was Cheng Shi’s woman. If he could get her into bed, wouldn't that be a form of revenge against Cheng Shi?

***

The provincial television station soon rebroadcast the news from the city station. Although it had been edited to omit Cheng Shi’s mention of being laid off, and the headline read, "Young Private Entrepreneur Actively Participates in Technical Research to Solve State-Owned Enterprise Dilemmas," the impact of Cheng Shi’s layoff continued to grow.

Because more media outlets would be coming to interview Cheng Shi, the leadership called Liu Jianshe again. "Why haven't you resolved the issue of buying out Cheng Shi's seniority yet?! Do you intend to wait until this becomes an unmanageable disaster?"

Liu Jianshe replied vaguely, "Because he is the first, there is no standard to reference. I don't know how much to give him."

If the amount was too high, every future laid-off worker would expect the same, and no one could afford it. If it was too low, it would surely lead to trouble—after all, Cheng Shi alone had already caused such a massive stir.

The leader retorted, "What do you mean you don't know the standard? Calculate it based on half his salary per year of service; that should be plenty. If higher-level media come to interview him and he says he hasn't received his buyout pay, I will have you removed from your post!"

Liu Jianshe shivered. "I understand. I will handle it immediately."

He summoned Cheng Shi to collect his severance and made sure to call the media. Cheng Shi wanted to get this over with as well; besides, he would be a fool not to take the money—especially since it was rightfully his.

In front of television and newspaper reporters, Liu Jianshe handed Cheng Shi two thousand yuan, equivalent to a year and a half of salary. "We have compensated Comrade Cheng Shi according to the highest possible standard," he announced. "If anyone asks in the future, please be sure to report this truthfully."

Cheng Shi, a shrewd man, played along. "I appreciate the attention from the media and even more so the efficiency of the leadership in resolving this issue. As the director of a major state-owned factory, Director Liu has always been very considerate of his employees."

Liu Jianshe was satisfied with Cheng Shi’s words, secretly surprised that this troublemaker had learned how to speak the language of diplomacy so well. He was reasonable, firm, and composed. He had clearly underestimated him before.

A reporter named Guo, who loved to stir the pot, asked Liu Jianshe, "Director Liu, last time everyone was too focused on the machine tool incident to ask: why didn't the machinery factory find a way to retain talent like Comrade Cheng Shi?"

This was a question on everyone’s mind. A worker who had just been forced out of the factory by the management had managed to repair a CNC machine tool that had been broken for ages within a single day. Where had things gone wrong?

Liu Jianshe felt as though he had been slapped in the face; he was both embarrassed and furious. *What kind of question is that?* If I had known he could fix CNC machines, why would I have forced him to be laid off? If I say I didn't realize he was talented, I admit to being blind. If I say I knew he was talented and still fired him, I admit to being stupid. It was a lose-lose situation.

Cheng Shi spoke up quickly, "It was my own decision to be laid off. It had nothing to do with Director Liu."

Reporter Guo pressed, "Then why didn't Comrade Cheng Shi fix the machine tool while he was still at the factory?" If he could have fixed it then but waited until he was laid off, wasn't that intentional sabotage of state assets?

Cheng Shi replied, "I never had the chance to even see the machine until I bought it." Let alone fix it, he hadn't even been allowed to touch it.

Reporter Guo asked, "I'm still confused. If you never had the chance to use the machine, how did you learn to fix it?"

Cheng Shi said, "I am self-taught."

Liu Jianshe felt even more awkward. A young talent who had no opportunity to learn, was buried by the system, and then ended up outperforming the factory’s senior engineers through self-study—no matter how you looked at it, it pointed to a massive failure in the factory's management.

Fearing the reporters might ask more embarrassing questions, Liu Jianshe signaled his secretary.

The secretary stepped forward. "Comrades from the media, today’s event was primarily to announce that Comrade Cheng Shi has received his seniority buyout. The interview ends here. If you have any further questions, you are welcome to communicate with us privately."

He emphasized the words "communicate with us privately," a warning to the reporters, and a reminder to Cheng Shi not to have any unauthorized contact with the media.

Cheng Shi, having received his money, couldn't be bothered to engage any further.

The newspaper ran a photo of Cheng Shi receiving the money from Liu Jianshe with the headline: "First Laid-Off Worker in Our City Receives Seniority Buyout."

Auntie Qian brought the paper to show Cai Aiping, saying, "Look, Cheng Shi is in the paper again." She was actually trying to be snide about him being laid off. But since Cai Aiping couldn't read, she completely missed the malice, took the paper, and said, "My son looks so handsome." She then walked away with a smile, leaving Auntie Qian absolutely stifled.

Provincial leaders, having seen the news as well, called Zhang Guohua. "Since that young man is so capable and has already left the machinery factory, why haven't you invited him to join the automotive plant? How can we let such talent go to waste?"