The Bravest

The director of a machinery factory in the International Settlement received Lin Jie and his wife in his office.

"Manager Lin, you are finally here. Although you have only come here twice after Mr. John left and sent a few people to protect the factory, the environment in the concession is very unstable now. The workers ask me for news every day, fearing that the factory will not be able to operate." The factory director poured tea attentively while telling them about his difficulties.

"Director He, tell me the truth, the factory is going to close." Lin Jie's words shocked Director He.

"No way, with your status, Mr. Lin, can't you keep the factory?"

"Haha, what's my status? I'm just a traitor working for the Japanese. By the way, what do the workers think about me taking over the factory? Director He, tell us." Lin Jie spoke frankly about his identity because he also wanted to know the workers' true thoughts.

"Mr. Lin, you're joking. We are forced to do this by life. But to be honest, some workers still have complaints!" Director He carefully considered his words and gave a tactful answer. He didn't dare to deceive Lin Jie, nor did he want to say anything unpleasant. After all, he still wanted to keep his job!

"Hehe, since you look down on me, Lin Jie, then there is no need for me to hold on. The factory will be closed by the Japanese. With my status, I can get some compensation. Director He, what are your plans for the future? We have known each other for a while, and if you have any difficulties, I will help you. If you can't, I can't do anything. I am here today just to clear the accounts." Lin Jie drank tea calmly, waiting for Director He's reaction.

"Mr. Lin, is it really impossible to maintain it? This machinery factory has been profitable, and its products are not worried about sales. More than 300 workers depend on their wages to survive!"

Director He, who was in his forties, was a little overwhelmed in front of Lin Jie. The Japanese occupied the concession, and many factories stopped working or were forcibly occupied by the Japanese. Some even closed down. People from the machinery factory came several times, but they were all blocked by the guards left by Lin Jie using documents from the military police headquarters.

I didn't expect that Lin Jie would come here today and say that the store was going to close. This is a big deal. If everyone loses their job, the whole family will be left with nothing.

"Actually, there is a other way. We can move to Huajie. There I can guarantee that the factory will not be disturbed." Lin Jie then stated his real purpose. He had first put pressure on Director He so that he would cooperate wholeheartedly later. Otherwise, he would be unemployed.

"Isn't that also Japanese territory?" Director He asked puzzledly.

"Haha, the Japanese also have factions. I have connections in the Military Police Headquarters and the takeover department in the concession, including the Army Department, the Navy Department, and Nanjing. What can I do?"

"Then let's move quickly." Director He blurted out.

"It's easy to move, but you just said that the workers are quite dissatisfied with me. They probably won't follow me. Without the workers, a bunch of machines are useless. It's better to sell it to the Japanese! Unless Director He can convince the workers to follow me."

"Mr. Lin, don't worry about this. The workers are just talking." Director He quickly assured that there was no problem.

"I think it's better to explain it to the workers. I don't like to force others, right? So Director He, please stop work now and hold a general meeting of all employees. I will explain it to the workers in person and give them a day to think about it. Anyway, we will stop work tomorrow and the Japanese will take over the day after tomorrow."

"Ah, someone will take over the day after tomorrow?"

"Why else would I come here today? Either to liquidate or to move the factory."

"Mr. Lin, please take a seat first. I will call a management meeting right away."

……

Twenty minutes later, Director He invited Lin Jie to the conference room, where more than twenty people sat, each with a panicked look. Three or five people gathered together to discuss. It seemed that Director He had already learned about the factory's current situation.

"Be quiet for a moment." Director He's prestige was still very high, and the people below quickly quieted down. "Everyone already knows the situation of the factory. Mr. Lin has something to say to everyone. If you have any ideas, please wait until Mr. Lin finishes speaking before discussing them. Time is running out, so please don't interrupt. Mr. Lin may begin now."

"Okay, I'll just talk about the important things. The Japanese are going to take over the factory the day after tomorrow. Now I'm giving you two choices. One, I'll sell the factory to the Japanese tomorrow. This is a mandatory requirement of the Japanese. The other is that I'll try to delay it for a few days and move the entire factory to a place near the welfare home. You all should know where it is! But there is a prerequisite for the move, which is that you managers and most of the technical workers are willing to move with the factory. Otherwise, I'm too lazy to offend the Japanese for an empty factory. Now if you have any questions, please raise your hands and ask the key questions. Don't talk about trivial matters."

"Mr. Lin, how long will it take for the factory to stop working when it moves over there?"

“About two months.”

"Two is too long. Many workers won't be able to survive at home for two months." When they heard that the work would be suspended for such a long time, those who had calmed down became chaotic again.

"Quiet, quiet," Director He shouted to maintain order and finally calmed the crowd.

"It's impossible to explain it clearly if you and I talk at the same time. Let me tell you my plan directly. The relocation will only stop production, but the workers will go to work as usual. What will they do at work? We will not hire people from outside to do the relocation, including the dismantling and transportation of equipment, the construction of new factory buildings, etc. We will try our best to use our workers to complete it. In this way, some workers can be kept employed and their salaries can be paid as usual. Of course, how much they are paid depends on how much they work. What about the workers who have nothing to do? I can arrange for them to work in the factory of the welfare home first and earn some living expenses. As for the long commute to work, everyone should overcome it first. At the same time, the construction of staff dormitories will start next to the new factory. As long as more than half of the employees agree with my plan, we will move the factory. If the workers are unwilling, I can't do anything about it. Everyone can only wait for the arrangements of the Japanese. Are there any other problems? I can give you a guarantee. After the management team moves in, the salary will increase by 10%." Lin Jie finished speaking in one breath and waited for the people below to discuss it themselves.

……

"Okay, time is almost up. Let's raise our hands and see how many people in the management agree to move the factory. Those who agree, please raise your hands! Director He, please count the number of people."

"Mr. Lin, there's no need to count. Everyone raised their hands. All of them passed." Director He said excitedly. He was also afraid of losing his job. If the Japanese were to manage the factory, the management would definitely be replaced. No one was stupid. It was difficult to find an ordinary job in Shanghai at that time, let alone a manager.

"Very good. As for how you can convince the workers, especially the skilled workers, it's up to you. And please rest assured that my promise will not change. When the new factory resumes work, the treatment will definitely be better than it is now. You can also make a promise that the workers' treatment will be increased by at least 5% in the future. This is the bottom line."

After Lin Jie finished speaking, there was applause from the audience.

"Okay, I won't attend the meeting of all employees. Director He will preside over it. But there is one thing I want to make clear to the workers. No matter what they choose, no one is allowed to damage any assets of the factory. I have already issued an order to the factory guards. If they find anyone, they can open fire. I am not kidding. In addition to being the director of the welfare home, I am also the section chief of No. 76. The death of eight or ten people is not a big deal."

In addition to promising benefits, Lin Jie also had to use tough measures. In order to completely relocate the machinery factory, Lin Jie was not just talking, he would use extraordinary measures in extraordinary times.

Lin Jie is no longer in the same state of mind as when he first crossed over. Several people have died in his hands, and he himself has been bombed and shot. Lin Jie's heart has become colder and colder. The only thing that can warm him is probably the children in the welfare home, which is why Lin Jie likes to run to the welfare home whenever he has nothing to do.

The people in the conference room fell silent after hearing the warning in Lin Jie's last words. Director He quickly stood up and assured, "Don't worry, Mr. Lin, we will maintain order in the factory and ensure that nothing like destroying the factory will happen."

"Well, that's great. Then we need to count the number of people willing to move with the factory before noon tomorrow. Start the relocation work as soon as possible. We'll leave first." After Lin Jie finished speaking, he stood up and left with his secretary and bodyguard Liu Sheng.

"Brother, where are we going now? Going home?" Liu Sheng drove the car out of the factory gate and asked Lin Jie in the back seat.

"No, it's already five o'clock. I'm going to the International Hotel for dinner with your eldest brother. Liu Sheng, call back later and tell them we'll be back later and you don't have to wait for us." Before Lin Jie could say anything, Sun Yuelan spoke first and specifically asked Liu Sheng to call back, because she didn't want Lin Jie to be called back home when he made the call. Her thoughts were obvious.

"Sister-in-law, I understand." Liu Sheng turned the steering wheel and drove towards the International Hotel.

Lin Jie smiled but said nothing. As for Sun Yuelan, Lin Jie would take it easy. Wasn't she just a spy planted by the Japanese to monitor him? She was still his wife after getting married. Since he couldn't refuse her, he would just enjoy her! As for Ye Wulian conveying the intention of the Military Control Commission to instigate Sun Yuelan, Lin Jie had no such idea. Sun Yuelan could only be Lin Jie's person, not the Military Control Commission's person.

"Manager, what should we eat? I think it would be more romantic for the two of us to have Western food. After the meal, we can go to the movies and then go home, okay?" Sun Yuelan had already made a plan, and she was just being coquettish when she asked Lin Jie.

"Okay, I'll listen to you." Lin Jie naturally wouldn't object.

……

It was already late when Lin Jie and Sun Yuelan returned home. Ye Wulian and Liu Haitang had already gone to bed. Lin Jie would be staying the night at Sun Yuelan's place anyway, and he didn't want to see them being so affectionate, so he simply went to bed early. Out of sight, out of mind.

After a tiring day, Lin Jie hadn't showered for two days. Sun Yuelan's room had Lin Jie's spare clothes, which each woman had bought for Lin Jie. But the gunshot wound was not a minor injury, and it would be very troublesome if it came into contact with water. Fortunately, it was winter, otherwise Lin Jie would have stink by now.

After hesitating for a while, Lin Jie said to Sun Yuelan who was arranging flowers, "Yuelan, can you help me wipe my back later? It's a bit itchy after not taking a shower for two days. Hehe."

"Tsk, you're still embarrassed! But that's not right, didn't Liu Haitang wipe your body?" Sun Yuelan asked curiously.

"Ah, no! I fell asleep as soon as I fell down last night." Lin Jie said embarrassedly.

"Hahaha, this is hilarious. Haitang said today that you guys had a great time last night. No wonder she walked no differently than usual. I thought the instructor was lying."

……