NCCnovel Chapter 37 The New Boss Arrives
Chapter 37 The New Boss Arrives
"Here he comes! The new boss is here!"
"So young? Is he reliable?"
"Boss! When are we going to pay salaries?! It's been over half a year since we were paid!"
"They're just talking about taking over, when can we actually start working?"
A cacophony of voices, each with its own accent, surged forth, engulfing Ling Yun. The crowd surged forward, almost pressing against him. Several burly, experienced workers stood in front, their eyes scrutinizing him; behind them, female workers wore worried expressions, their eyes filled with longing for "money to eat."
"Everyone, please be quiet! Listen to me!" Ling Yun raised his voice, but it sounded weak in the face of the noisy crowd.
"Quiet down! Quiet down! Let's talk about what to do about the owed wages!" a dark-skinned man with a booming voice shouted, his neck stiff. Several people around him immediately echoed, "Yes! Let's talk about the money first!"
"Exactly, anyone can make empty promises. Let's settle the old scores first!"
"Are you trying to fool us? We've seen this kind of thing a million times!"
Doubt and discontent spread through the crowd, and some began to stir up trouble, causing the situation to spiral out of control. The dark-faced man even tried to push forward another step to put pressure on Ling Yun.
Faced with this chaotic, distrustful, and even somewhat hostile atmosphere, Ling Yun's mind raced. He knew that any explanation targeting individuals would be futile at this moment; everyone needed to be placed in an open and transparent setting.
He suddenly raised his hand, not pressing it down, but pointing to the relatively empty concrete area in the center of the factory, the area previously used for large meetings, and with all his might, his voice pierced through the noise:
"Fellow workers! Foremen! Please hear me out!"
The crowd quieted down for a moment, their eyes following the direction he was pointing.
"I know what everyone cares about most! Salary! Work!" Ling Yun seized this brief moment, his voice steady and powerful, brooking no argument. "It's not something that can be explained here! Everyone, right now, immediately, assemble in that open space over there! We're having an all-staff meeting! I will give you all clear answers to your questions today, in front of everyone!"
"Hold a big meeting?"
"What does he want to do?"
The crowd was buzzing with discussion, some of them hesitant.
At this moment, an elderly man with gray hair, a thin frame, but clear eyes pushed his way to the front. It was Ma Baoguo, the former workshop foreman whom they had met at the internet cafe entrance that day. He took a deep breath, turned to face his coworkers, and spoke in a hoarse but authoritative voice:
"Stop arguing! What kind of behavior is this, standing around like this! Since the new boss is here and willing to talk to us face-to-face, that's a good thing! Everyone, follow the instructions and gather over there! Let's hear what the boss has to say!"
Ma Baoguo clearly held considerable prestige among the veteran workers. His shout, coupled with Ling Yun's undeniable aura, caused the restless crowd to slowly move toward the open space.
Ten minutes later, hundreds of people gathered in the open space. Those in front sat on the ground, while those behind stood. All eyes were focused on a discarded wooden box that had been found on the spot—Ling Yun stood on it.
He didn't bring a prepared speech; his gaze slowly swept over the weathered faces below, faces filled with expectation and doubt.
"Fellow workers, masters! My name is Ling Yun!" His opening remarks were simple and direct. "From today onwards, the municipal electronics factory will be officially taken over by my 'Spark Technology Co., Ltd.'!"
A commotion arose below, but no one interrupted.
"I know, with the factory shut down for so long, everyone's biggest concerns are two things!" Ling Yun held up two fingers. "First, what about the wages owed from before? Second, will we be able to go to work again, and how will we get paid?"
He went straight to the heart of the matter, and the room fell silent instantly.
"Regarding the unpaid wages!" Ling Yun's voice echoed clearly in the empty factory area. "I solemnly promise everyone here: every penny of wages owed to you by the factory will be acknowledged by the new company, Xinghuo Technology! And it will definitely be paid!"
"Whoa—!" The crowd erupted in an uproar! A promise to pay their back wages! This was news they had been waiting for far too long!
"But!" Ling Yun raised his hand, suppressing his excitement, "There must be rules for distributing money! Money can't be distributed haphazardly!"
His gaze sharpened: "This money is an old debt. If it's to be paid out, it must be done legitimately! That premise is—workers who are willing to stay, trust me, Lingyun, trust Xinghuo Technology, and re-sign formal labor contracts with us at Xinghuo Technology!"
He paused, letting the workers process the meaning of his words.
"What do you mean? It means that you've signed a new contract with me and become a full-time employee of Xinghuo Technology, so we're family now. As the new head of the household, I'll pay off all the debts we had before! The first payout after the contract is signed will be this back pay!"
This was a reasonable argument, and most of the people below showed expressions of understanding and anticipation. Why should someone pay off the debts of the previous factory without a contract?
"So... Boss, how will wages be calculated from now on?" someone shouted impatiently from below.
"Alright! That's my second point!" Ling Yun continued, his voice booming, "The new company won't support lazy people or practice a free-for-all! From now on, salaries will be divided into two parts: base salary + performance-based salary!"
"Basic salary is determined by your position! Experienced workers and technical staff will definitely earn more than regular operators! This salary is guaranteed every month as long as you have regular attendance and complete your basic tasks!"
"Performance-based pay, based on your skills and how much work you produce! We're about to resume production, focusing on mice and keyboards. Everything will be piece-rate! The more you produce, the better the quality, the more you earn! There's no upper limit!"
Piece-rate system! The more you work, the more you earn! This concept was like a boulder thrown into water, creating huge ripples. Some people's eyes lit up, as if they saw the hope of making a living with their skills and earning more money; others looked worried, concerned that they would be too slow and earn less.
"Tomorrow!" Ling Yun didn't give them much time to question, directly announcing the next step, "Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, still here! I will post a detailed list of everyone's owed wages! Everyone carefully check it, and after confirming that it's correct, sign, affix your fingerprints, and hand it in!"
"This is the basis for calculating the back wages, and also the basis for signing new contracts and issuing back wages in the future! Verifying this clearly is responsible to both of us!"
"At the same time, we will also begin job registration and skills assessment! Those who want to stay are welcome! Those who have better opportunities will not be forced to stay!"
The logic is clear and the steps are well-defined: first, verify the old accounts, then sign the new contract, then pay the back wages, and at the same time, start production and receive payment according to the new rules.
Standing below, Ma Baoguo looked at the young yet articulate figure on the wooden crate, each word ringing with conviction. His initial anxiety subsided considerably. This new boss, unlike the previous leaders who only knew how to shout slogans, truly understood the business and was genuinely committed to getting things done!
The dark-faced man who had started the disturbance opened his mouth, as if to say something, but was pulled back by the person next to him. Ling Yun had already made his point clear; any further arguing would only appear unreasonable.
"Fellow workers!" Ling Yun surveyed the room one last time, his voice carrying an undeniable determination. "I won't waste time with empty words! Let's see the results! Tomorrow, we'll see the details! Next, we'll see production, and then we'll see the pay slips you all receive! Whether I, Ling Yun, can get you all to eat, or even eat well, we'll—wait and see!"
After saying that, he jumped off the wooden crate, said no more, and walked straight to the factory office building.
Behind them were hundreds of workers engrossed in heated discussions and complex calculations. Hope, doubt, calculation, expectation... a mix of emotions mingled in the air.
But in any case, a sense of reassurance, along with the crystal-clear salary plan, has been placed in the hearts of most people.
The once-dormant electronics factory seemed to have been injected with a powerful stimulant. The real recovery will begin tomorrow with the meticulously checked payroll.