Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 792 A Type of Person

The man surnamed He said, "It's not like you're short of money. You gave 50,000 yuan to the TV station for such a trivial matter. This is a very important matter for our neighborhood."

Xiao Wei said, "My money is mine, I earned it myself, what's it to you? I gave money to the TV station because I paid them, what's it to you? Are donations now subject to limits and mandatory requirements?"

The man surnamed He frowned and said, "How dare you talk like that, kid? Who forced you? Where did your money come from? Isn't it the country's? Isn't it only right that you contribute some? These days, ordinary people have it so hard. They work so hard but can't earn any money. It's all being made by you capitalists. That's all the hard-earned money of the working people."

Xiao Wei was stunned for a long time before asking, "Isn't the money I earn hard-earned? You're blaming me for not making money? Are you saying I won't let you earn it?"

Sister Li tugged at the man surnamed He's arm and said to Xiao Wei with a smile, "Old He comes from a poor peasant family, he's a bit sharp-tongued and doesn't know how to talk properly, don't take it personally. We're all doing this for socialism, right? Look, Xiao Zhang, how much can you donate?"

Li Na came in and handed the form and copies to Xiao Wei. Xiao Wei returned the form to Sister Li and said, "I need to discuss this with the district and city authorities. If there's a real need, I'll definitely donate. And I won't donate money."

Sister Li asked, "So, Xiao Zhang, how do you plan to donate?"

Xiao Wei said, "It depends on what you need. Clothes and luggage, I'll order a batch from the manufacturer."

The man surnamed He said, "How can that be? You must donate cash. We'll arrange everything; you don't need to worry about what we buy. This is a matter for our neighborhood committee; it has nothing to do with the district or city. They have no say in it."

Xiao Wei said, "You came here with documents from the district's Civil Affairs Bureau and told me it was a national priority. After making a mess of things, it became your street's problem, and the higher-ups couldn't interfere. Then you had to give me cash to decide how to spend it. Are you here to raise funds for orphans and the elderly, or to take the money back and distribute it among everyone?"

The man surnamed He stood up, waving his hands and saying, "Look at you, look at your attitude! Is this the right attitude? Don't we, the neighborhood committee, represent the government? How we work and how we arrange donations is none of your business, you young upstart! We have our own considerations, what's wrong with that? We are also serving the people."

Sister Li said, "Our neighborhood committee is also severely underfunded. We're just trying to make ends meet, however small. We can't rely on funding from higher levels. There are so many small factories in our neighborhood committees, and so many families depend on us for their livelihood. Right now, the factories aren't doing well, and it's difficult to even pay wages."

Chen Hui said, "What's the point of continuing if we can't even pay wages? We should just shut down the factory."

The man surnamed He glared at Chen Hui and said, "What kind of talk is this? It's easy for you to say. How will those workers survive if we lock them up? How will the neighborhood get its income?"

Chen Hui said, "Why are you arguing with me? If you can't make money and your business isn't doing well, who can you blame? Just leave it open, and the money will come to you, right?"

The man surnamed He said, "Difficulties are temporary. Everyone is working hard. The country has helped you earn money, so you should be grateful and know how to give back. What are tens of thousands of yuan to you? How many problems can it solve? How many families can live a normal life now?"

Chen Hui said, "So you're saying the government gave me all the money, and didn't let you earn any? Are you holding your hands down so you can't produce? Or are you watching you so you can't sell your goods? People have one head and two hands, why should you be so arrogant? Just because I earn money doesn't mean I have to give it to you to solve your livelihood problems. Why should I owe you anything? Why don't you give me some money from your own home?"

The man surnamed He said, "How can you talk like that? You're rich, aren't you? Where does your money come from? You're so young and you've already learned the ways of capitalists."

Chen Hui curled his lip, threw the form in his hand on the table and said, "If you don't have money to spend, go earn it yourselves. Don't come out here with your old face and act all high and mighty. Do you think I owe you anything? What does it matter to me if you can't pay your salaries? If you can't do the job, move to another place and replace you with someone more capable. I hate people like you the most, understand? You have no ability but you still occupy the place and act all high and mighty."

Sister Li said, "He always talks like that, just ignore him. The neighborhood committee has it tough too. Every year, everyone from top to bottom is busy with the neighborhood's affairs, dealing with all sorts of trivial matters. They may seem insignificant, but there's a lot going on."

There's a shortage of funding from higher levels. My small factories used to be doing okay, but now they're not doing well, so there's nothing I can do. It's tough working at the grassroots level these days. From the street offices to the police stations, which one has enough funding? We all have to go out and beg for donations. How are we going to manage? There are dozens of families involved.

Xiao Wei knew about the police station's begging for alms, and it was true. However, the police station was short-staffed and had a lot of work to do, so their funding requirements were quite high. Could a street be compared to a police station? The street at that time and the street in later generations were two different concepts and not the same thing.

How much money can I use if I don't need a company car or need to travel for work?

"Why don't you try to manage the factory properly? You're going in the wrong direction, aren't you?" Xiao Wei interjected.

Sister Li raised her hand to stop the man surnamed He from speaking, saying, "Our neighborhood used to have five small factories, all small workshops. Calling them factories was just for show. There are still three left: one makes mops, one makes pickaxe handles, and the other sews cloth. We all rely on our jobs at work units. Things were alright back then, but now we can't sell our stuff. Big companies are buying from outside and don't want our stuff anymore. What can we do?"

Xiao Wei said, "Then change careers, do something else. If you can't sell them, why insist on doing this? Aren't you just asking to lose money?"

Chen Hui chuckled and said, "You guys are really something. What era are we living in? Making pickaxe handles in the city. I'm impressed."

Sister Li said, "I was thinking of giving up the fabric factory and opening a small restaurant there, but it hasn't gotten off the ground yet. The restaurant doesn't need that many people. Who should be hired and who shouldn't be hired? Besides, the market is different now. Chefs' salaries are too high. Even the most basic ones are over a thousand. How are the other staff supposed to keep up?"

Chen Hui was stunned. After a long while, he gave a thumbs up and said, "I'm impressed. Instead of thinking about how to do business well and make money, you're thinking about these useless things. No wonder you can't make money."

The man surnamed He said, "How is this useless? We are all revolutionary comrades. Just because you are a cook, does that mean you have to take more? It's people like you who are disrupting the order. Nowadays, people only care about money and don't think about the collective. Let me tell you, this won't last. Just you wait and see."

Xiao Wei said, "You're a manager, right? Why do you pay more than your subordinates? What gives you the right? Did you share it all with everyone?"

(End of this chapter)