The Last Mr. Dongguo

"Old Wu, what's up? Working overtime again?" Xiao Li wiped his sweat with a discolored towel. "That's enough. If you ruin your health, it's your own problem." Xiao Li shouted against the rumbling machines.

"I understand. It's not that my elderly mother is unwell. I just wanted to earn as much as possible, and it doesn't matter if I suffer a little," Wu Lian said with a simple and honest smile.

"You can't work that hard. Our factory isn't as profitable as it used to be, and the overtime pay might disappear in a heartbeat. If it does, you'll have worked for nothing!"

Wu Lian shook his head helplessly, but still maintained his smile. "So, while there's still time, we should do as much as we can. It's okay, I'll work for another two hours. You can go now!"

Wu Lian draped the towel around his neck and returned to his work. Perhaps only amidst the roar of the machines could Wu Lian truly forget everything.

Everyone is multifaceted, with different spaces, times, and people controlling their bodies. Perhaps even they themselves don't know which one is their true self. People constantly renew themselves driven by desires, and Wu Lian is no exception. He desperately wants everyone's respect, regardless of status, wealth, or social standing. He hopes to always be true to himself, but all he ever receives are illusions.

"Stop! Stop! Stop everything!" Suddenly, a shrill voice pierced everyone's ears. A woman with eyes shaped like belly buttons swayed her hips as she walked in through the workshop door. "Shut up all the machines! It's after get off work hours! Do you think electricity is free?!"

"Director Wei, I'll work a little overtime, I'll leave soon. I've already spoken to Factory Director Feng!"

Wu Lian turned around to turn the equipment back on, but was blocked by a burly man.

"Oh, working overtime! What a good employee! I'll have to talk to Factory Manager Feng and see if you can get an award for outstanding employee at the end of the year?" Wei Li's sarcastic voice made Wu Lian feel uncomfortable all over.

"You just want some overtime pay. Don't think that money in the factory is easy to earn. The factory's profits are so low every month. If we pay you too much, everyone else will have less! If you act diligent in front of the factory manager, doesn't that just make everyone else look lazy? The factory's profits are getting worse every year. What you're doing is taking money out of our pockets!"

"Director Wei, I earn my living with my own hands, this is what I deserve." Wu Lian didn't expect Wei Li to say such a thing. "I just wanted to earn more, I didn't think about it that much." Originally, there was nothing wrong with her, but now she suddenly felt a sense of guilt. "Then I'll take less, my family is really struggling."

"Difficulties? Brothers and sisters here, whose family isn't struggling? To put it bluntly, who among the wealthy is here? We pity you, but who pities us?" Wei Li spoke in an aggressive tone. "Today I'm here to relay the factory manager's message: starting today, our factory will no longer pay overtime. In addition, everyone's wages will be affected. Everyone must leave work on time and go home! However, the factory manager also said, please rest assured, once the factory's performance improves, we will definitely make up for it in the future."

"Director Wei, what do you mean by 'salary being affected'?" Xiao Li seemed not to understand and looked at Wei Li with an innocent expression.

"Haha," Wei Li rolled up her eyelids, which she thought were very charming, and slowly approached Xiao Li, making Xiao Li back away repeatedly. "It means that the salary won't be as much as before. We'll see how things go at the end of the year and make up for it."

"Well, Director Wei, half the month has already passed. Will we be able to pay the overtime pay for the first half of the month?" Wu Lian asked, unwilling to give up, but he seemed unsure of himself.

"That's all, that's all! Hurry up and leave work, don't waste your time here!" Wei Li was already getting impatient, staring at Wu Lian with her belly button-like eyes.

"Is this what Factory Manager Feng wants? This won't do! We've all worked so hard for a month, and instead of rewarding us, you're cutting back? We all have elderly parents and young children to support, how are we supposed to live? No way, let's go find the factory manager! Brothers, let's go find the factory manager!"

Wu Lian pushed Wei Li aside and headed straight for the factory manager's office, followed by the remaining workers, all demanding a reasonable explanation from the manager. Wei Li didn't stop them, letting them march into Feng Zi's office in a grand procession.

Feng Zi sat alone in his office. He ignored the sudden influx of people and simply waved his left hand casually while writing something in his notebook with his other hand.

Wei Li swayed her hips as she squeezed through the crowd and arrogantly sat down on the sofa by the door. She gestured with her chin to Wu Lian, who was standing in the front row, as if she were on her own stage, ignoring him with haughtiness.

"Director Wei, what's going on?" Feng Zi put down his pen, crossed his hands on the table, and looked up at Wei Li with an expression that seemed to be familiar only to the two of them.

Wei Li first gave Feng Zi what she thought was a cute expression before she spoke.

"Oh, I see, factory..."

"Director Feng," Wu Lian interrupted Wei Li, "We just heard from Director Wei that this year's wages will be reduced. We don't understand why, so we all wanted to ask you about the specifics." For the sake of his own wages, Wu Lian mustered his courage and explained the situation. In his heart, survival was the bare minimum, and the means to survive now rested in the hands of the man before him. At this moment, sweat poured down his forehead; this was perhaps the bravest moment of his life.

"Oh, is that what it is? Perhaps Director Wei didn't explain things clearly. I apologize to everyone here," Feng Zi stood up, casually stretched his waist, then sat down again, adopting a comfortable posture, and looked around.

High and mighty, looking down on everyone.

"As you all know, our factory's financial situation over the past two years is quite different. The competition in the electronics industry is fierce, especially since we're just a small processing plant. So, our profits have been a bit lower. We were originally planning to lay off some employees, but considering everyone's struggles, we've decided to slightly reduce everyone's wages so that everyone can still make a living. That's better than losing your job, right? Of course, if any of you here are capable, I won't stop you; you can settle your wages right now."

After Feng Zi finished explaining, everyone looked blank, except for Wei Li, who seemed to have known this would be the outcome all along. She crossed her legs and hummed a song softly.

Wu Lian didn't have time to pay attention to Wei Li and asked again, "Then, factory manager, what about the overtime pay for the first half of the month...?"

"Oh, as for overtime pay, it's been cancelled starting this month. I'll make up for the overtime pay for the first half of the month in the following months' salaries. If the year-end results show some improvement, I'll still give you some benefits. Don't worry, as long as you're my employees, I won't let you go hungry."

After Feng Zi finished speaking, he picked up his pen and began writing again. Wei Li stood up amiably and winked at Wu Lian with her belly button-like eyes.

"Did everyone hear me clearly? If there are no further questions, you can all leave!"

"Could you tell us about the current profit and loss situation of the factory?"

"Okay, Director Wei will make a list of these matters and display it in our work log. If there are any problems, come to me." Feng Zi did not look up.

"So how much will I receive this month?"

"This hasn't been calculated yet; it's just a preliminary estimate, so let's not have too high expectations."

"How much is 'not high'? Factory Manager Feng, you need to give us a precise figure today!"

"Half, I guess!" Feng Zi still didn't look up, but his voice left no room for doubt.

"How can that be? Half? What can that do?" Xiao Li lost his patience and strode towards Feng Zi. But before he could take two steps, he felt a powerful force clamp down on his neck from behind.

"Kid, speak properly. These are the company's current conditions, and nobody can change them!" Feng Zi took out an asset assessment report stamped with the official seal of the Industry and Commerce Bureau from his drawer. "Everything I said is based on evidence, and I haven't forced anyone to work, so..."

"Then I quit!"

"I quit too!"

"And me, settle your wages now!"

"Okay, no problem, Director Wei, the rest is up to you."

"Anyone who wants a salary, come with me."

This time, the shrill voice didn't reach Wu Lian's ears. Wu Lian shook his head, turned around, and slowly left the factory area.