78: Bringing his wife and children to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 154 Apprentice

Chapter 153 Apprentice

At this moment, Master Li put out his cigarette and walked over to say something.

"Xiao Ye, you need to be aware of this."

I know what I'm doing.

"I'm not talking about Xiao Zhang's matter, I'm talking about what happened afterward."

Ye Bingwen turned around and looked at Master Li.

"What is it?"

Master Li looked around before lowering his voice.

"After Xiao Zhang left, the other apprentices all came to ask me this afternoon what was going on at the factory."

"What exactly were asked?"

"They asked how long our factory could hold on, when our wages would be paid, and finally asked if they should prepare to go home as well."

After listening to these questions, Ye Bingwen didn't know how to answer them and remained silent.

Master Li showed no sign of stopping and continued, "I told them the factory was fine, that everything was going well, but they still didn't believe me. After seeing Xiao Zhang leave, they were all on edge."

"Old Liu is an old man who won't leave, but the new apprentices are a different story; they might really leave."

Ye Bingwen nodded and said, "Master Li, could you please call a few of my apprentices over for dinner tonight?"

"Have a meal?"

"Yes, it's my treat. Let's meet at that little restaurant next to the factory."

"Okay, how many people?"

"Seven of us, plus you, Liu Xiaojun, Chen An, and Lao Hu, are sitting at the same table."

"Are you sure it's tonight?"

"right."

Without asking any further questions, Mr. Li turned around and went to the workshop to talk to someone about it.

After making the arrangements, Ye Bingwen went straight back to his office, sat down, and started looking at the ledgers and doing the accounting.

Eating at a restaurant, a meal would cost tens of yuan.

Ye Bingwen was out of money; he had just given his last fifty yuan to Xiao Zhang.

Ye Bingwen rummaged through the drawer and found an iron box at the very back.

The metal box was opened, and inside was the savings book that Zheng Shuyun had given him.

There was still a little over two thousand yuan left in the savings account. This was the emergency money Zheng Shuyun gave him, and he couldn't touch it unless absolutely necessary.

Ye Bingwen picked up the passbook, looked at it for a while, and then put it back.

Ye Bingwen muttered to himself, "This money isn't ready to be used yet."

Just as Ye Bingwen was worrying about money, the office door was pushed open.

It was Chen An. Chen An came in carrying the account book.

"Director Ye, I saw Xiao Zhang leaving just now."

"Um."

"After Xiao Zhang left, the remaining apprentices were completely out of sorts when they worked in the afternoon."

,"I know."

"Are you treating them to dinner tonight?"

"Yes, you have to come too."

"That—money?"

Ye Bingwen took out a piece of paper from his pocket; it was an IOU.

"Could you go and borrow fifty yuan from Old Wang next door for me?"

"Old Wang? The Old Wang who fixes bicycles?"

"Yes, just say I borrowed it and will return it to him in three days."

Chen An didn't ask any more questions and left with the IOU.

Ye Bingwen sat in a chair, staring blankly out the window.

Sunlight streamed into the office, making the wood grain of the desk clearly visible.

Ye Bingwen recalled what Engineer Sun from the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense had said.

"Your factory is quite interesting."

At the time, I thought it was a compliment.

Looking back now, it seems like a joke.

What's the use of being interesting if you still have no money?

It's 7 p.m. at a small restaurant next to the factory.

The small restaurant was called Hongguang. The owner, surnamed Song, was a plump woman who used to be Zheng Shuyun's colleague.

Ye Bingwen booked a large round table and ordered eight dishes, all of which were relatively inexpensive.

Sweet and sour pork, stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, green peppers, and green peppers, braised pork ribs, shredded potatoes, cabbage and tofu, home-style tofu, scrambled eggs, and finally, a dumpling soup.

Once everyone had arrived, Ye Bingwen arranged to begin serving the dishes.

The eldest apprentice was Zhao Jianjun, a 21-year-old local from Harbin, who graduated from a technical school.

The second son, Wang Zhigang, is twenty years old and also attends a technical school.

The third child is Tao Bao, who is nineteen years old.

The remaining three are named Ma Chunlai, Liu Dequan, and Guo Xiaosi.

With Master Li, Liu Xiaojun, Chen An, and Lao Hu included, it made a perfect table.

Ye Bingwen sat in the main seat.

After the waiters had served all the dishes, Ye Bingwen stood up.

"I invited everyone here for dinner today for no other reason than to have a chat with you all."

"Xiao Zhang left today. Something happened at his family, and he had to go back to see his father. I can't stop him from doing this."

"I know what's going on with the rest of you. The factory has been short of funds for the past two months. We're behind on wages, electricity bills, and material costs."

I won't hide it from you.

Ye Bingwen paused here.

The apprentices looked at each other without saying a word.

Old Hu, the carpenter, then took a sip of wine from his cup.

"I didn't call you all here today to ask you whether you're staying or leaving."

"I thank those who are willing to stay."

"I won't stop those who want to leave; everyone has their own difficulties."

After Ye Bingwen finished speaking, he sat down and picked up his wine glass.

"Come on, have a drink first."

Master Li was the first to pick up his cup.

Liu Xiaojun, Chen An, and Lao Hu also picked up their cups in rhythm.

Seeing this, the apprentices quickly picked up their bowls as well.

Zhao Jianjun was the first to speak.

"Director Ye, I'll stay."

"I'll stay too," Wang Zhigang added immediately.

"Me too." Tao Bao nodded.

The remaining three, the one named Ma Chunlai, spoke up in a low voice.

"Director Ye, my mother wants me to go back."

The table fell silent instantly.

Ye Bingwen looked at Ma Chunlai.

Ma Chunlai is just twenty years old this year. He comes from a rural area in Bin County. His mother raised him all by herself, which was no easy feat.

"Xiao Ma, what did your mom say?"

"She told me to go back and say that a construction team in the village was hiring workers, earning 1.2 yuan a day, which was more than what I could earn in a factory."

"Construction team?" Liu Xiaojun interjected, "That kind of work is tiring."

"I'm not afraid of being tired, because I earn a lot."

Ye Bingwen did not respond upon hearing this.

Ma Chunlai then said in a low voice, "Director Ye, it's not that I think the factory pays too little, it's just that my mother lives alone at home, and I have to consider her feelings."

"Um.

"I'll do it. I apologize to you. It was my fault."

"What's wrong with apologizing? It's only right that you go back and stay with your mother."

Ma Chunlai didn't say anything more; he lowered his head and shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth.

The remaining two, Liu Dequan and Guo Xiaosi, looked at each other.

Liu Dequan spoke first.

"Director Ye, I'll stay."

Guo Xiaosi hesitated for a moment.

"Director Ye, my family is pressuring me to get married; I need to help with the arrangements for my brother's wedding."

"So you're going back too?"

"I want to wait until the loan comes through before I talk about it. If it doesn't, I'll go back."

Ye Bingwen nodded and said.

"Okay, we'll decide after the loan is approved."

After everything settled down, the atmosphere at the table became awkward, at which point Master Li quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Drink when you're supposed to, eat when you're supposed to, or the food will get cold."

The atmosphere improved a bit, and everyone started eating.

Chen An placed a piece of food on Ye Bingwen's plate.

"Director Ye, have something to eat."

Ye Bingwen nodded and then began to eat.

Ye Bingwen ate a piece of the sweet and sour pork but couldn't taste it.

After a few drinks, Old Hu the carpenter started talking more.

"At my age, let me tell you, if you're going to do something, you have to stick with it. I've carved wood my whole life and never made a lot of money, but I've never starved to death."

"I think the Hongqi Factory is a pretty good place. Director Ye is an honest man, Master Li is a seasoned veteran, Liu Xiaojun is a bit of a rascal, and Chen An—"

Old Hu glanced at Chen An.

"Chen An is a capable person."

Chen An smiled sheepishly.

Old Hu picked up his cup.

"Let me tell you youngsters something: when it comes to making money, the slower you earn it, the longer it will last. It may seem like others are making a lot of money by earning 1.2 yuan a day, but that's money earned at the cost of their lives. After two years, their backs will be ruined, and all the money they earn will end up going to the hospital."

"Although you earn less working here, you can learn real skills and make money in the long run. Besides, Director Ye is very capable. The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense gives us orders. Other factories might not encounter this kind of thing even once in many years."

Old Hu's words silenced the apprentices.

Ma Chunlai didn't look up after hearing what Lao Hu said.

Ye Bingwen realized that Lao Hu was speaking to those who were still hesitant, but since Ma Chunlai had already made his decision, Ye Bingwen did not insist.

Halfway through the meal, Sister Song came over and poured a pot of hot tea.

"Xiao Ye, why have you treated us to such a big meal today?"

"Sister Song, sit down with some of the guys from the factory."

Sister Song looked around, her gaze lingering on Ye Bingwen's face for a moment.

"Xiao Ye, you don't look well."

"It's nothing, I've just been busy lately and haven't had enough rest."

"I'll be fine once I'm done with this busy schedule and take a break."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Sister Song left.

Ye Bingwen didn't say anything, he just kept his head down and ate his rice.

Ye Bingwen knew why he looked unwell.

Because the power company's notification slip was still in my pocket.

There are only two days left, including tomorrow and the day after.