Chapter 3: The Energy Crisis is an Opportunity

  The time has come to December 17th, 1979, today is Monday.

  The world-renowned 11th Third Plenary Session, just one day away from its one-year anniversary, but at this time, no one noticed the celebratory atmosphere, and Xin didn't feel it either, still going to work at the factory as usual.

  The matter of the Carrefour store's goods has not yet been settled, despite Chen Guanyu urging him several times over the past month. Fu Xin remained calm and always said that the time was not ripe.

  In the end, Chen Guanyu didn't ask anymore and wholeheartedly threw himself into his own pile of work, sparing himself the trouble. Although it was like this, Chen Guanyu and others still believed in Fu Xin as usual, believing that this brother would not disappoint them.

  ……

  Liu Yi had not resigned at that time and was still working in the factory. Fu Xin instructed him to wait until the store opened, and it would not be too late to resign then.

  "Hey, Liu Ge, what's going on today? There are hardly any people in the factory. You know it's only Monday!" Payer Xin Yi arrived at the factory gate and noticed something different from usual.

  Normally at this time, Fu Xin would ride his old bicycle to work and had to get off, otherwise he would definitely crash into someone. But today, even if Fu Xin accelerated and rushed in, nothing would happen. The entrance of the factory could only be described as deserted.

  "Alas! This is all my fault!" Just then, Jiang Haiyang appeared out of nowhere.

  "Oh, right, Fuxin, didn't Old Fu tell you yesterday that you don't need to come to work today? The factory has stopped production!" Jiang Haiyang asked in puzzlement.

  "What's going on, Uncle Jiang? What happened in the factory? Has it stopped production?" Yesterday evening, Fu Zhenbang returned home late, looking very tired. As soon as he got home, he lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

  Fu Xin got up early every day to practice with the old Taoist priest, so he left when Fu Zhenbang was still sleeping. Thinking of his father's fatigue last night, Fu Xin didn't wake him up and came to the factory alone for work.

  "Alas! It's hard to put into words......!" Jiang Haiyang sighed again.

  "Alas... Xinzi, don't ask Director Jiang about this matter anymore. I'll tell you!" Liu Yi said, seeing Jiang Haiyang's worried and reluctant expression, as he stepped forward and patted Fu Xin's shoulder.

  Fu Xin suddenly realized something at this time, so he immediately put on a listening pose and waited for Liu Yi's explanation.

  Liu Yi sighed and said, "The power plant in the factory has no coal left, it's all burned out! Without coal, there is no way to generate electricity. Without electricity, the machines in the factory cannot operate, and without operating machines, the workers have nothing to do..." After finishing speaking, Liu Yi pursed his lips.

  "No coal? How can there be no coal? I remember the factory always had a surplus of coal every year!" Although Fu Xin had already guessed why, he still asked in a pretending-to-not-know tone.

  "Let me explain, it's not a secret anyway." Jiang Haiyang stood aside and finally couldn't help but think to himself that perhaps this kid Pei Xin would have a way, and he didn't know where his confidence came from. He explained to Pei Xin: "This matter, we have to start with the household contract responsibility system."

  It turned out that since the introduction of this family contract responsibility system, farmers' enthusiasm for farming has increased significantly. This year, the fertilizer produced by the factory is far from meeting the market demand, so the factory leaders immediately made a clear decision to increase production sharply.

  However, no matter how much they calculated, they didn't calculate the energy aspect, because every year the coal allocated from above according to production ratio would leave a lot remaining, and the factory's employees could even take some coal home for heating during the New Year.

  Who would have thought that this year the factory's fertilizer production would increase, but coal has become scarce. Without coal, what's the point of even mentioning increased production? The factory workers will all have to go home and wait for several months with nothing to do.

  Nothing to do, how can there be wages to collect!

  Recently, the factory has become aware of this problem. During this period, Fu Zhenbang was busy running around, but still couldn't find where to buy coal.

  It's still two months before the Spring Festival, and the factory will be closed for production. If wages can't be paid, how are workers going to celebrate? What if someone causes trouble, it won't be a small matter!

  Besides, after passing the New Year, it's time to start spring sowing. If we don't seize this period of time to produce fertilizers, then we'll have to wait until next year at this time to have another chance.

  During this time, the leaders of the factory were worried to death. One by one, they couldn't care about fighting for power and interests anymore, but instead started running out to find coal. They could get as much as possible, which was related to the stability of the factory and their political future!

  As for the production materials, this does not need to be considered, the factory leaders have already taken it into account before deciding to increase production.

  "Director Jiang, you mean that as long as we find coal, a lot of coal, the crisis in the factory will be resolved, right?" Fu Xin summarized and asked after listening to Jiang Haiyang's description.

  "Right, you look so relaxed, do you have a way? You know, we've run to several coal mines and haven't gotten any coal. They're not willing to sell because retailing is more profitable for them. Besides, winter is coming soon and the miners are unwilling to go down into the pits. Their inventory isn't much either!"

  Jiang Haiyang saw that Fu Xin had a relaxed face, and there was even a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. He couldn't help but feel a sudden jolt in his heart - could it be that this kid really had a solution?!

  "Heh heh, Uncle Jiang, if I were to say that if you encountered this difficulty in front of you and I could solve it, how would you reward me!" Fu Xin said with a sly smile.

  This treacherous little brat, doesn't even consider that his dad is also a factory leader, the matter hasn't been settled yet, and he's already thinking about what benefits he can get for himself!

  "Are you sure you can solve it?" Jiang Haiyang didn't answer Fu Xin's question, but instead grasped a thread from his words, as if grasping a lifesaving straw, and asked excitedly.

  Chiang Sheng didn't get any benefits, but he was unwilling to say anything. All he saw was him saying: "Uncle Chiang, you first tell me how you're going to reward me!"

  Seeing Fu Xin being so unyielding, Jiang Haiyang thought for a moment and said: "As long as you can solve this matter, next year's May Day Labor Medal will be yours. In addition, I'll promote you to seventh-level worker, and your salary will also be raised to the standard of a seventh-level worker!"

  "Don't..."

  Fu Xin didn't say much either, just shook his head and said two words: "Don't want."

  "The rank of a level 8 worker, I definitely can't give you, and I don't have the authority to do so. Let me think... How about this, under the conditions previously mentioned, I'll add one more thing: I'll promote you, and you can be the leader of your production team, what do you say?" Jiang Haiyang added another condition, asking tentatively.

  Fu Xin shook his head again, this time he didn't say a word.

  "I'm telling you, kid, don't try to take advantage of me. If I can't get the truth out of you, I'll go ask Old Fu about it. I bet he'll get it out of you. Are you daring not to tell him?" Jiang Haiyang was getting angry.

  Fu Zhenbang asked, and Fu Xin indeed didn't dare not to speak, so he immediately stood out and "threatened" saying: "Don't do that, Uncle Jiang. If you do this, there will be trouble later on, I have a way to solve it, absolutely won't let you know."

  "Haha, you've even learned to threaten your elders now, not bad, Fu Xin. It seems like you really did learn something in the army." Jiang Haiyang said with a somewhat sinister tone.

  "No, no, I don't dare..." Fu Xin shook his head, firmly denying it.

  "I'm telling you, kid, stop beating around the bush. Spit it out! As long as your conditions aren't too excessive, I'll make an exception and agree to it this once!" Jiang Haiyang said impatiently, not wanting to waste any more time with Pei Xin at the entrance.

  Fu Xin was unwilling to reveal immediately, just to pique Jiang Haiyang's curiosity even more, so that he could get the greatest benefit. So, pointing at Liu Yi's guard room, he said: "Hey, Uncle Jiang, there are many people and loose tongues here, and it's too cold standing outside on a day like today. How about we go inside to talk?"

  "Alright, have it your way. You can't eat me up, can you? Let's go!" With that, Jiang Haiyang led the way into Liu Yi's guard room.

  "Come on, Liu Ge, let's go in!" Anyway, no one is coming at this time, and it won't matter if we sit in the guard room for a while.

  Then, Fu Xin put an arm around Liu Yi's shoulder and invited him in, despite the guard room being Liu Yi's turf.

  "This... isn't good, and I still have to work too..." Liu Yi also didn't know what Pei Xin wanted to do, anyway, having him face his leader directly always made him feel uncomfortable all over.

  This is probably a case of black and white being irreconcilable! Although Liu Yi is not considered black, Jiang Haiyang is also not considered white.

  "Come on, Liu Ge, it's so cold outside, let's go in and warm up by the fire, it's not bad! Now that there's no one else around, Uncle Jiang won't blame you, don't worry..." Before he could even hesitate, Fu Xin pulled Liu Yi inside.

  "Feng Xin, you're coming in now. Speak up! If you dare to play dumb with me again, humph! You know the consequences!" Jiang Haiyang had a threatening look on his face, and if Feng Xin still refused to speak, he would go tell Feng Zhenbang.

  With Pei Zhenbang's temperament, if he knew that Pei Xin was "blackmailing" Jiang Haiyang, haha, the consequences would be severe. Pei Xin thought about it and shuddered at the thought of his shoulders trembling and his scalp going numb. The big deal couldn't be done.

  Fù xīn zhèng zhǔn bèi shuō... -> Just about to say...

  "Liu Yi, Liu Yi, are you there? Come out for a moment..." At this time, Jiang Cheng walked into the guard room with a red face.

  "Dad, I finally found you! I said, it's almost time for breakfast, why did you run out? You got me searching all over for you!"

  Actually, Jiang Cheng didn't have to look everywhere, she just came to the security room. She also guessed that Jiang Haiyang was in the factory. And who knew Jiang Haiyang's situation best? It was Liu Yi, who was still on duty at the factory today!

  As for Pei Xin standing beside her, she was completely ignored by her...

  "Huh? Shin-chan, you're here too! Have you had breakfast? Didn't Uncle Fu tell you that you don't have to go to work today?" Jiang Cheng asked two questions in a row.

  "I had breakfast at home, my dad came back late last night, and he hadn't gotten up yet when I left, so I didn't know about not going to work today." Fu Xin still chose to answer Jiang Cheng first.

  "I guess you've eaten too, let's go, old dad, what are you still sitting there for? Go home and have breakfast, mom is waiting at home!" Jiang Cheng said unknowingly.

  "Hehe, wait a minute, let me talk to Fuxin Xiaozi for a bit......" Jiang Haiyang didn't get up, but lazily said to Jiang Cheng, waiting for Fuxin's answer!

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