Tian Xin hurriedly followed Xiao Liu to the quarry.
Stones piled up like mountains were placed in the courtyard, while the truck drivers responsible for transportation just sat on the ground smoking and drinking tea, with cigarette butts thrown everywhere.
"What's going on here? What are you all doing?" She couldn't help but shout!
"Xiao Tian is here! Quick, everyone come over, Xiao Tian is here!" A group of people saw her coming and immediately surrounded her.
"Xiao Tian, you make the call for everyone. The factory is running now, and originally, the transportation team agreed to pull three loads a day, each load of 20 tons. Now they're making us run without day or night, not only at night but also with heavier loads. Tell me, is this fair?"
"Exactly. These stones are pulled from the mountain to the factory, and the road has two ditches. Running at night like this is too worrying. Even if you don't consider us, you have to think about our families. Everyone's got old and young to take care of; how do our families live if something happens?"
"And they promised initially, saying they would add a wage for each extra carload pulled. Up until now, not a dime has been added, and deductions are made every day. Huang Shiren is ruthless.
"That's right, even the donkeys in the production team get to rest, but we're worked like dogs here. Tell me, how can we work like this?"
After a lot of chattering, Tian Xin finally understood.
"Where's Director Li? Hasn't he come to explain things to everyone?" She angrily asked.
"The director hasn't been seen for ten days to half a month. When asked, he says he's figuring out a solution, but it's been so long with no sign of one. The factory has been running for three months now; the problems remain unaddressed. How are we supposed to work?"
"Exactly, give us an answer."
"Right, give us an answer. You're from our village, how can this problem be solved? Give us a clear answer.'
More people gathered, the noise rising, and Tian Xin felt she could barely stand.
Just then, Xiao Liu chimed in: "Director Li has said for everyone to wait, don't make things difficult for Xiao Tian. Everyone first reflect the situation to Xiao Tian, let her go back to seek a solution from the director, standing around isn't helping."
"What's your business here? I know you're the director's brother-in-law; your brother-in-law sets us up, and you follow along. You're no good either."
"I'm no good, and you're the good ones? If you had the ability, you'd go work in the city. Without the ability, quiet down. Don't think the factory won't run without you. Each of you is as cheap as grass but dreams as high as the sky..."
Xiao Liu's words provoked public anger, and before he could finish, a worker delivered a punch straight to his face.
"What the hell did you just say...?"
Now it was big trouble; that phrase "cheap as grass" completely triggered everyone's anger.
The demands turned into arguments, and arguments into fights.
Everyone seemed to forget Tian Xin was still in the middle; once the fight started, no one paid attention to who was who.
Tian Xin tried hard to break up the fight, shouting "Stop." but no one heard, and the fighting escalated.
She struggled to squeeze out, about to pull someone's hand apart, but was accidentally hit on the forehead when the person swung their arm.
That's it! She wasn't prepared, and the hit was on the head, leaving her dazed and buzzing.
The crowd pushed back and forth, and in the shuffle, she was knocked to the ground.
......
"Stop fighting..." she weakly called out, then fainted!
When she awoke, she was lying on a hospital bed in the village clinic, with her mother sitting beside her, along with Director Li Baiwan.
"You finally woke up, scared me to death." Her mother looked at her with loving eyes.
"I'm fine, Mom, don't worry!"
Ever since she returned to life, she's been striving to rely on herself, wanting to protect her family. Reuniting with her mother again was a blessing from heaven, so she didn't want to let her mom suffer at all, not even because of herself.
Being a village official would bring many grievances, but she never mentioned them in front of her family, just to avoid making them worry.
Li Baiwan, seeing her awake, let out a small sigh of relief and quickly apologized, "Really sorry, Xiao Tian. I've been busy these days and didn't expect these people to make such a mess, truly these poor villages breed troublemakers, they even hurt you."
Poor villages breed troublemakers? Nonsense!
"Director Li, how could you say that?" Tian Xin was displeased, turned her head wanting to ignore Li Baiwan.
Say what you wish about her but not about the villagers!
They worked hard just to earn a living, how could they be called troublemakers! Poor is poor, but poverty is not a sin! She couldn't stand for talking about them like this!
Li Baiwan, noticing her unhappy face, quickly apologized, "That's not what I meant, don't think too much!"
"No, forget it, let's move on and not talk about that!" Tian Xin shifted topics, "Do you know the reason for the workers' strike, Director?"
"Of course I know! It's not something that can be solved immediately. I'm working on a solution, don't worry!"
"I'm not worried? Everyone has made such a big mess, how can I not be worried, waiting for what..." She was getting annoyed, suddenly slapped her forehead, "Oh no, the workers are still making trouble! If someone gets hurt, it'll be a real disaster! Have they dispersed? Is anyone injured?"
Li Baiwan was startled by her, quickly comforting, "Rest assured, only you and my brother-in-law are lying here. Everyone else is fine, I've already had them disperse. The workers just want a raise in wages and to add a transportation team!
It's only been three months since opening, and there's no profit yet, how can we raise wages? Moreover, the transportation team, is this something that can be solved just like that? Even if I got the trucks, where do we find large truck drivers? Who would want to come to such a place?"
"So you're hiding and not coming out, letting everyone fight and make trouble?" Tian Xin was somewhat angry, hiding won't solve the problem!
"I'm not hiding, am I not trying to find trucks and people?" Li Baiwan felt helpless, "Just recently, I solved the truck issue. Now, it's only missing a few experienced truck drivers, isn't that being looked for?"
Oh...
Tian Xin sighed, he also had it tough!
As the director, these minor issues shouldn't need his concern, the subordinates naturally should take care of it! But this small factory just began operations, staffing isn't complete, both major and minor matters need the director's attention.
She felt a little guilty, her attitude just now was indeed not very good, so she softened her voice, "Then... how many drivers are needed,"
"At least five!" Li Baiwan said.
"Okay, I'll think of a way for the drivers! First, pay the salaries for overtime in the past period to everyone, ease their minds, don't let any more trouble arise! It's really frightening!" Tian Xin rubbed her sore head, wincing slightly.
"You think of a way? What way can you think of?" Li Baiwan skeptically glanced at her, could such a young girl handle this?
"Don't worry about it, just follow what I said, first pay the wages, ease everyone's minds, leave the driver issue to me!" Tian Xin patted herself with an air of "I'll hold up the sky if it falls!"
Li Baiwan saw this and couldn't help but laugh!
"Hehe, didn't expect such a young girl could handle things? Even after being hit, still speaking up for these villagers." Li Baiwan handed Tian Xin a cup of water.
"Thank you! We're all from the same village, it's necessary." Tian Xin took the cup and drank a mouthful: "Besides, when I initially wanted to build this factory, it was to provide benefits for the villagers, give them jobs to support their families. You've taken up this responsibility; you must be accountable to us." She spoke with sincerity and seriousness, making Li Baiwan naturally smile.
He was already over forty, stocky and muscular, distinctly a boss. Accustomed to the deceit on business fields, he found some admiration towards this daring and responsible young girl, not minding her casual tone of communication.
Tian Xin rested the entire afternoon, and the next day went to the factory to report back to the workers.
Everyone was waiting for news, and upon hearing she arrived, they gathered around.
"Sorry about yesterday, didn't expect you got hurt." The worker who unintentionally hurt Tian Xin apologized awkwardly.
"It's alright, I know it wasn't intentional, and you were the one who sent me to the clinic. Rest assured, I've already discussed with Director Li, he'll compensate you for the overtime wages for the past few months."
"Moreover, the matter of increasing the transportation team is being handled. Director Li has found trucks, and the drivers will be in place within a week.
So, over this one week, let's work a bit harder, the factory just started, a halt in production would incur huge losses; please endure for a few more days.
Everyone just needs to pull one more trip a day, no need to add night shifts. Safety is most important, be cautious while driving on the road. I'm bowing to everyone."
"No, no need, you've solved the problem for us and we're thankful, that's more than enough. As long as those two issues get resolved, we'll definitely work hard, so we can earn more money! Isn't that right, everyone?"
"Right, thanks, Xiao Tian."
Sigh... no need for thanks! She lightly sighed!
Truly "starting is the hardest part"! With issues lining up from both ends, she's felt like her legs have nearly worn thin over the months!
Once the factory resumed operations, she promptly started seeking drivers.
Speaking of truck drivers, she actually had a suitable candidate in mind; if this person was willing to come, organizing a transportation team shouldn't be a problem.