Return to Singapore 1995

Lin Qianxue introduced: "Everyone, let me introduce you, this is our new workshop FORMAN Chen Zhenwei!"

FORMAN in English means workshop supervisor, which is equivalent to deputy workshop director, assistant engineer, and Lin Qianxue's deputy in Ximu Electronics Factory. In the past, this FORMAN position in the electrical testing workshop of Ximu Electronics Factory was generally held by rookies who graduated from the local polytechnic in Singapore.

It is said that the previous two FORMANs felt that it was difficult to get along under Lin Qianxue, and later they simply packed up their bedding and resigned.

First, Lin Qianxue is very strong, capable, and has high requirements for her deputies. The two college students who just graduated from the polytechnic were often scolded by her. Second, the team leaders under the workshop are all experienced and technical experts. It is difficult for a FORMAN who has just graduated from a polytechnic and has little work experience to manage them, and he is often "bullied" by several team leaders.

So the FORMAN is caught in the middle, often like Zhu Bajie looking in the mirror - neither inside nor outside, and under great pressure.

After the last FORMAN resigned, the position of FORMAN in the electrical test workshop has been vacant for a month or so. The HR department finally recruited another one this time.

"Good morning, colleagues and workers. My name is Chen Zhenwei. I graduated from Temasek Polytechnic last year. You can call me Awei..." Chen Zhenwei briefly introduced himself to everyone in Chinese and English.

After the morning meeting, Lin Qianxue took Chen Zhenwei to familiarize himself with the various process flows and equipment and machines in the workshop.

When she came to the machine operated by Li Xiaofan, Lin Qianxue introduced to Chen Zhenwei: "Let Li Xiaofan from the mainland introduce you to the situation of this TAIYO second-generation test machine. I feel that he is better than the engineers from Japan!"

This FORMAN must be flattered well. After Lin Qianxue left, Li Xiaofan carefully introduced the various performance and technical parameters of the machine to Chen Zhenwei.

Chen Zhenwei listened very carefully, and Li Xiaofan's explanation was also excellent, from the simple to the deep, which made Chen Zhenwei feel very comfortable.

"Afan, your English is really good, and your professional knowledge is also very strong. Have you studied in Singapore?" Chen Zhenwei asked curiously.

"No, I am just a level 5 operator at the lowest level. How can I be so lucky to study in Singapore! I studied in a technical secondary school in China, and then studied in a working university for two years..."

"Oh, so, I worked in another electronics factory last year, and there were also colleagues from your mainland. It is said that they all graduated from your famous universities in mainland China. To be honest, I feel that their level is really not as good as yours!"

Seeing FORMAN Chen Zhenwei and Li Xiaofan getting along well, the team leader Ade next to him was jealous.

As usual, he should be the team leader to introduce the new machine to the new FORMAN Chen Zhenwei, but now they just ignored him. He has no sense of existence!

...

After lunch at noon, Li Xiaofan came to the FORMAN's exclusive desk in the corner of the workshop.

"Brother Wei, I feel a little uncomfortable in my stomach. I want to ask for leave this afternoon to go to the clinic!"

Everyone should still respect the FORMAN. No matter how old he is, everyone should still respectfully call him "Brother Wei".

Chen Zhenwei looked through the records. This was the first time Li Xiaofan asked for sick leave after arriving at the Ximu Electronics Factory.

"Here! Take care of yourself!" Without saying a word, he gave Li Xiaofan a ticket to go to the clinic.

When working in a factory in Singapore, the employer factory of the migrant workers would help Li Xiaofan and other mainland workers to apply for medical insurance.

Migrant workers like Li Xiaofan, including local Singaporeans, usually go to a nearby clinic first for medical treatment. If the doctor at the clinic thinks your illness is serious, he will refer you to a professional large hospital for further diagnosis.

Workers can go back to the dormitory to rest only after getting a formal sick leave note from a professional doctor at the clinic. They don't have to go to work, and their wages won't be deducted.

If the doctor feels that you are in good condition after the examination, you can't get a sick leave note and have to go back to the factory to work. Otherwise, it will be considered absenteeism.

There are a few old-timers from West Malaysia in the workshop who like to play "cat and mouse" games with the doctors in the clinic. When they smoke together on the lawn late at night, they often exchange tips on how to deceive doctors and get sick notes...

The Lin's Clinic designated by the Ximu Electronics Factory is near the factory, a ten-minute walk away.

Other pedestrians walk in the shade, but Li Xiaofan chooses to jog in the sun. When he arrives at the clinic, he is almost half soaked and sweating.

There is only a general practitioner Dr. Lin and a female nurse in the clinic.

"Where do you feel uncomfortable? You stink, why are you sweating so much?" Dr. Lin asked curiously.

"My stomach hurts..."

"How long has it been?"

"I didn't rest after lunch today, I went to pull a truckload of circuit boards, and I don't know why my stomach started to hurt..."

"Lie down on the bed, I'll check!"

"Does it hurt here?"

"Not bad..."

"What about here?"

"A little bit! It hurts!"

"Maybe it's a spasm..."

"Does it hurt a lot?"

"Not bad, I can still hold on."

"Then take a half-day break and observe?"

"Okay!"

For workers like Li Xiaofan who come to see the doctor occasionally, Dr. Lin is very generous and quickly wrote him a half-day sick leave note.

If it was an old hand, it might not be that simple...

Today was the first time that Li Xiaofan pretended to be sick.

After taking the sick leave note, returning to the terrace house to take a shower and change into clean clothes, the first thing Li Xiaofan did when he went out was to go to POSB Bank to open an account and deposit money.

At the POSB bank branch in Orchid Village, Li Xiaofan opened a new bank account and took out several thick stacks of SGD cash from his backpack and handed them to the counter.

"Wow, Alama, so much CASH!" The old lady teller was stunned when she saw so much SGD cash for the first time.

In their remote branch, it is rare to see 10,000 SGD notes, let alone 29 10,000 SGD notes. These stacks of SGD cash add up to 632,000. Even the Indian security guard next to him looked sideways.

She took Li Xiaofan's WP worker permit and looked at the photo of Li Xiaofan on the permit and repeatedly checked it with Li Xiaofan in front of her.

"What's wrong? Doesn't it look like me?" Li Xiaofan smiled.

"Such a large sum of money, we have to be responsible for you!" The old lady looked very serious.

"This money is the prize money I won in the lottery!" Li Xiaofan took the initiative to explain.

"Oh, that's really LUCKY!" After hearing this, the old lady was finally relieved.

If he continued to dawdle, Li Xiaofan was worried that the old lady would call the police. How could an ordinary migrant worker have such a huge amount of money of unknown origin?

After depositing the money and leaving the bank, Li Xiaofan came to the grocery store next to the Orchid Village Market.

He said to the Indian owner of the grocery store, Uncle Singh, in English: "Uncle Singh, give me a pack of green Marlboro cigarettes!"

Uncle Singh smiled and said: "OK! Li, I haven't seen you for a long time. Have you traveled anywhere?"

"No travel, I went back to my hometown in mainland China to visit relatives last week!"

"Oh, so that's why I haven't seen you for a long time..."

"Uncle Singh, how much do you sell these sunglasses for?"

Li Xiaofan pointed to the several pairs of sunglasses hanging on the wall of the grocery store. Next to the Orchid Village is Changi Beach Park, and there is also a pier to Pulau Ubin, which is a gathering place for outdoor sports enthusiasts.

In Li Xiaofan's impression, although the sunglasses in Uncle Singh's grocery store are not high-end, the business seems to be good. Singapore is close to the equator, and the ultraviolet rays are relatively strong. Wearing sunglasses for outdoor sports can protect your eyes.

"12 Singapore dollars a pair! Li, if you want it, we are old friends, and I will give you a discount price of 10 dollars!"