Chapter 597: Visitors

Although Mother Yang described her house as being unfrequented, somehow there were people coming to the door today! Yang Ming's family returned home and before they settled themselves, there was a knock on the door.

Yang Dahai was still very puzzled. He said to Yang Ming as he was baffled, "Who is this? The person comes in the first day of Chinese New Year. Can this person be your classmate?"

"My classmate?" Yang Ming was also puzzled. "Apart from Zhang Bing and Chen Mengyan, none of my classmates know my house address."

Yang Ming looked at the door. He couldn't help but be amazed. The person who came was actually the factory manager and the union chairman of his father's factory! What's wrong? These people had never been to Yang Ming's home before. Was it a trend right now to have the leader bless his workers for a Happy Chinese New Year?

"Dad, can they be your colleagues?" Yang Ming hinted.

"My colleague?" Yang Dahai shook his head as he turned around and opened the door. "Who is it?"

"Old Yang, it's me, Old Liang from the union. Factory Manager Feng and I came to visit you!" said the union chairman Liang Yanjun.

"Ah?" Yang Dahai was immediately shocked. He quickly opened the door and saw the smile from Factory Manager Feng Wanjiang and Chairman Liang Yanjun. He said in trepidation, "Factory Manager Feng Wanjiang, Chairman Liang, why did you all come?"

"Isn't it Chinese New Year? Factory Manager Feng took me to visit the excellent staff in the factory. Old Yang, you are considered as a senior of the workshop. You did a great job and have a good reputation. The factory manager and I came to your place first!" Liang Yanjun said.

"I see. It's embarrassing to have Factory Manager Feng and Chairman Liang come in person. Please quickly come into the house." Yang Dahai said happily.

"Good, good." Feng Wanjiang said, "Then I will stay here with Old Liang for a while! Old Liang, let us move those things in!"

"Alright!" Liang Yanjun nodded. When he walked to the door, he moved a box of fruit in. There was a bag of swordfish as well.

"What are you doing? There is no shortage of things at home. I'm happy with just your visit." Yang Dahai was somewhat overwhelmed. Usually, employees gave gifts to leaders. There was rarely a case where the leaders gave gifts to employees.

"Old Yang, you are an excellent employee in the factory. Naturally, we as the leaders have to express our appreciation!" Feng Wanjiang said, "And, here is a two hundred yuan Song Jiang Xin Mate Supermarket shopping card. You can use it to get some Chinese New Year's goods."

"That can't be done. I can't accept it..." Yang Dahai quickly rejected. "Factory Manager, what's wrong with you today?"

"What can't be done? This is for the welfare of the union. You should take it!" Liang Yanjun also interjected, "Old Yang, this is the welfare that an excellent employee like you deserves!"

"Well then... I will accept it! Thanks to Factory Manager Feng and Chairman Liang for your concern." Yang Dahai thanked them after receiving the shopping card.

Mother Yang served cups of tea for both Feng Wanjiang and Liang Yanjun. The two of them quickly thanked her, but it made Mother Yang somewhat uncomfortable! How come I feel like the situation is reversed? Our own Old Yang is like the leader. Factory Manager Feng and Chairman Liang are like the soldiers who came to their leader for the Chinese New Year.

Even Yang Ming, who was watching TV by the side, was also confused. Aren't these two people a bit too humble? Generally, even if the leader comes to console the workers, it shouldn't appear as such, right? Why do these two people seem to be asking for help?

After chatting for a while, Factory Manager Feng suddenly sighed and said, "Ai, our factory is also facing difficulties. There are hundreds of workers in the factory. It is already difficult to pay off the wages, let alone the bonuses."

"Ah?" Yang Dahai didn't expect Factory Manager Feng to bring up the topic of the development of the factory. He was somewhat shocked since he didn't understand what the factory manager meant. But listening to the factory manager's tone, he seemed to be complaining to him. So, he quickly said, "Since there are difficulties in the factory, then I can't take this shopping card, likewise for the apples and the fishes. The living conditions in my family aren't very difficult. You can bring this to other factory workers who are facing difficulties!"

"Of course, your home has no difficulties!" Factory Manager Feng said with a seeming smile, then he said, "These items, as compared to the number of factory employees, is simply a drop in the bucket. It couldn't resolve any problem at all!"

Yang Dahai didn't understand Factory Manager Feng's intention, but he still said, "At least it can patch things up a little and that is what counts, right?"

"Old Yang, let's not beat around this bush." Factory Manager Feng waved his hand and said, "Old Yang, you are also an old worker in the factory. Since you've been in the factory for over twenty years, you should be aware of the factory's current status."

Yang Dahai was confused with it. He nodded in doubt. He knew the situation in the factory was deteriorating.

The Song Jiang Bus Factory, in the 1980s, was a good company. The buses manufactured were sold nationwide and even exported to neighboring countries such as North Korea. During that time, many buses, trolleybuses, and motorcycles running on the streets were produced by the Song Jiang Bus Factory.

The commuter buses of major enterprises and institutions in the northern provinces were also Song Jiang brand buses, which could be described as famous at that time!

However, with the progress of times, the practice of building a cart behind closed doors [1] by the Song Jiang Bus Factory had obviously been eliminated. As many bus manufacturers introduced imported production lines, the innovation made the buses of the Song Jiang Bus Factory seemed old fashion. Not only did the design not work, but the craftsmanship also couldn't keep up with the development of the times.

Gradually, the bus industry was replaced by Dongfeng, Jinlong, Huanghai and the other brands. The Song Jiang Bus Factory now produced less than 100 buses per year. They were even sold to remote mountainous areas.

Apparently, there was no advantage in terms of performance and appearance. They could only reduce their price. In fact, in China, there were several automobile manufacturers that were in a similar situation like the Song Jiang Bus Factory. In order to survive, they could only put their strategy in selling at a lower price.

Therefore, with the low profit of these low-end buses coupled with the pessimistic sales record, it was almost impossible to sustain a large factory!

The wages of workers were also not issued when the time was up. Only when a batch of buses was sold would they send some money. If it wasn't sold, they would just hold out.

"So, being a factory manager is difficult. I don't think that I could retire and enjoy life. It is close to Chinese New Year and yet I have to bustle around to a few government departments so that I could convince the government to purchase a few of our buses. Only then, could I resolve the emergency." Factory Manager Feng shook his head.

"Factory Manager Feng, you have worked hard. We all know that you are a good leader who thinks about the factory, but what is the use of saying these words to me?" Yang Dahai hesitated and asked.

"Old Yang, are you part of our Song Jiang Bus Factory?" Factory Manager Feng said, "You don't want to watch the Song Jiang Bus Factory go bankrupt, right?"

"This is natural... but..." Yang Dahai still didn't understand what Factory Manager Feng wanted to say.

Yang Ming heard this and he realized something deep in his heart. Is Factory Manager Feng trying to ask my dad to do something for him? Hence, Yang Ming couldn't help but pay attention to the situation here.

"Old Yang, now only you can help us with the factory!" Feng Wanjiang said as he slapped his thigh, "Old Yang, you see, why can't our factory compete with other factories? In the end, our technology is outdated. The buses we manufactured are rarely used by people. The general accessories for production simply can't be sold. It is tough..."

"Me? Help the factory? How can I help?" Yang Dahai was inexplicable.

"Old Yang, at this moment, the only thing that our factory is mostly lacking is funding. As long as there are funds invested, we can immediately carry out technical improvements and re-launch the production line. With that, we can produce an excellent quality product!" Feng Wanjiang continued.

"Funds? Factory Manager Feng, this... seems to have nothing to do with me, right?" Yang Dahai asked.

"How does it have nothing to do with you?" Factory Manager Feng said. "Old Yang, the fate of our factory all depends on you! You can't just leave it be!"

"This... How do I put it?" Yang Dahai looked at Factory Manager Feng while baffled. "I don't know anyone at the bank. How can I get funds for the factory?"

"You don't know anyone from the bank, but don't you have a big brother who is particularly capable?" Feng Wanjiang said, "Your big brother, Yang Dashan, is the famous big boss of Song Jiang who invested tens of millions to open up an Entertainment City. He is rich and overbearing. If he is willing to help our factory, our factory would be saved! Moreover, I heard the retired old factory manager say that President Yang was also a staff member of our Song Jiang Bus Factory. Our bus factory can be considered as President Yang's root! Old Yang, can you persuade him as a middleman?"

"This..." Yang Dahai smiled bitterly. "Factory Manager Feng, aren't you troubling me? Although my big brother has money, he can't just simply invest... For our bus factory, I'm afraid that it can't be revived without funding over a hundred million!"

"No need. No need. I calculated that the other day. We can cooperate with other auto manufacturing companies just to introduce production lines which supply them OEM parts [2]. With that, a mere twenty million is enough." Feng Wanjiang said.