Cerdy Stoke's intuition told him that this was a major event concerning the future of the entire factory.
Although he had never been treated as an outsider and was even used as an accountant, he still felt it was best to remain silent on such matters.
That was why he let Aunt Maggie speak.
Facts proved that this was indeed a very sensitive issue.
It was understandable that he, as an outsider, would avoid suspicion.
Everyone fell silent, but they all looked at Yu Lian, who should also have been an “outsider.”
The latter was already accustomed to this scene.
He pondered for a moment, then answered irrelevantly, “Miss Maggie, there are almost two hundred thousand people in the factory city, and your accounting department only has seventeen or eighteen people.
Can you handle it?”
The dark and plump Aunt Maggie was divorced, and she was very pleased that Yu Lian called her “Miss” instead of “Auntie,” “Madam,” or “Mrs.”
Although she didn't quite understand why he asked this, she still said, “How busy can we be!
We just tally the goods submitted by everyone and then distribute them according to everyone's positions and needs.
If we wait until salaries start being paid later, it will be even easier, right?
Anyway, how much everyone receives is determined by a system.
With computers helping, we just do some auditing…”
At this point, Aunt Maggie felt as if she had discovered a crucial point, and a look of confusion immediately appeared on her face.
“Isn't that how finance works?
But the previous bosses had to employ so many accountants, all of whom looked like well-educated gentlemen.
They lived in separate dome villa areas, ate food prepared in small kitchens, used the most advanced instruments, and every day… I really don't understand!”
Aunt Maggie was indeed posing her thoughts in a simple way of thinking.
Yu Lian knew that her idea was a bit naive, but for a moment, he actually felt she had a point.
Yu Lian decided to temporarily ignore this question and said, “For now, this deposit is probably the first deposit the factory has received in a long time, so it should temporarily be kept as reserve funds.
As for everyone in the factory, you can issue some temporary tickets based on your positions, seniority, and previous salary system.
These tickets can be used to collect daily necessities and food.
Of course, this is all temporary.”
“Can't we just distribute it through the Workers' Self-Government Committee, like before?” Buska didn't quite understand and instinctively looked at his good friend Babalu.
He was also the chairman of the Workers' Self-Government Committee, and if things changed, he would be the most affected.
However, Babalu pondered for a moment, then shook his head, “That was before.”
Buska still seemed a bit confused, and the latter continued, “Perhaps it can last for a while out of respect for us.
But over time, everyone will hate me… And this is really not a long-term solution.
The Captain’s opinion is correct.
Everyone needs to get moving afterwards and explain things clearly to everyone.
Temporary tickets are also just a transitional measure.
Once long-term cooperation is reached with New Seville, everyone will definitely be given back pay.”
Yu Lian looked at this young worker leader and gave him a thumbs up.
The Red Maple Factory used to have nothing, so everyone could share hardships, but now that it had something, that was another matter.
Forcing everyone to pretend to be deaf and wait for unified allocation of resources was neither realistic nor humane.
The concept of ‘not worrying about scarcity but about uneven distribution’ is simple to say, but when a person sits in that position and holds power, their mind often isn't so clear.
There was no way around it; since distribution according to need was impossible, it could only be distribution according to work.
In this matter, Babalu made a very correct decision.
If it was because he understood this principle, Yu Lian's trust in him would rise another level; if it was due to his character, in addition to trust, there should also be a degree of respect.
“In the future, the Workers' Committee's responsibility may purely shift to the management and supervision of the factory.”
“Isn't that what we used to do?” This time, it was Babalu who didn't understand.
Of course, if even he didn't understand, the others understood even less.
Yu Lian then explained, “At the same time, everyone also needs an organization that can bring together the workers and their families, where everyone helps and supports each other.
Their medical care, education, job training, assistance for the elderly and disabled, and even organizing entertainment activities during festivals should all be within the scope of this organization's authority.
If the factory treats its workers as family, the workers will also protect the factory with the awareness of protecting their home.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
They had always done so, and precisely because of this, even when the Red Maple Factory was on its last breath, so many people were still willing to stay and face life and death together.
“However, I must now pour a basin of cold water on you all.
Today's burning passion, today's boiling blood, today's sacrifice and struggle, none of it can last.
It's still the same saying: when everyone has nothing, as long as they are willing to work hard, as long as they are willing to risk everything, they can always open up some situations.
However, when this Red Maple Factory returns to normal, or even, according to our original plan, becomes a flourishing large factory, can you still guarantee today's passion?”
Everyone fell silent.
If the people Present were those naive, arrogant young officers with 'chuunibyou' or students stuck in ivory towers, perhaps someone would jokingly say, “Captain, you worry too much” or something similar.
However, they were laborers, and among them, the most elite batch, who had seen the realities of the world and experienced human suffering.
Even if their education level wasn't high, they were far more sensible than most of those self-proclaimed highly educated 'favored children of heaven'.
Since ancient times, it has been easy to share hardships but difficult to share pleasures!
“You can, your children can, but what about your grandchildren?
Will there come a day when they believe that everything they possess is taken for granted?” Yu Lian added.
“Captain, do you have a solution?” Babalu looked at Yu Lian with anticipation.
“This is a social problem, and it can even be elevated to the height of philosophy and human nature, involving the ultimate dilemma of civilization.
As civilization has developed to this day, this remains a difficult problem for everyone to solve.” Yu Lian shrugged.
Babalu was a little disappointed.
“...However, perhaps we can search for this method together.” Yu Lian added.
Everyone wasn't too concerned.
Things like philosophy, human nature, society, and civilization were indeed too far removed for them.
Normal people wouldn't have too deep an understanding of these surreal concepts.
However, the only person Present who had received higher education, Cerdy Stoke, seemed to think of something, and his eyes lit up.
“...Captain, I understand.”
Everyone looked at the graduate student.
“I really understand,” he said, suppressing a hint of excitement.
So what exactly did you understand?
People with high education and much knowledge are most prone to overthinking.
Yu Lian was now too lazy to bother with his mental state and said to everyone, “Before long, even if only to prevent the Red Maple Factory from completely stagnating, a Elimination will inevitably appear.
For efficiency, for survival, for development, the factory's management will once again become the dominant party.
Then, the union should still act as the representative of the workers, communicating and negotiating with the management's decisions regarding the workers' treatment.”
Yu Lian saw that everyone was deep in thought, then added, “The Workers' Committee used to lead workers in opposing bosses and capitalists, but now, this Red Maple Factory is run by everyone.
The union, which stands on the workers' side, and the management, which stands from the perspective of development, should be separated.”
Babalu seemed to have understood, and nodded.
However, upon hearing the words “run by everyone,” he seemed to think of something and looked a bit troubled.
“I have a draft of the factory regulations here, which will be called the An… Red Maple Factory Charter from now on!
Everyone, please take it home and read it, and we'll discuss it at our next meeting.”
Perhaps the amount of information in today's meeting was truly overwhelming.
When the meeting adjourned, everyone was a bit silent, their state infinitely close to high school students forced to solve a dozen difficult problems during evening self-study.
Yu Lian also packed up his things, ready to go see Feifei's class, but saw that Babalu hadn't left yet.
“Can we talk for a few minutes?” he said.
Yu Lian nodded, pulled out a pack of lao dao (old blade) from his pocket, then thought better of it and put it back.
Babalu, meanwhile, started walking.
The two left the conference room and went up to the roof.
This was the highest point in all of Maple City, offering a complete view of the factory area across the way.
The scenery was good and it was quiet and deserted, making it perfectly suited for a private conversation.
Babalu perhaps hadn't yet organized his thoughts, and for a moment, he didn't speak.
He looked at the factory area in the distance, where lights and sparks flickered, and mechanical roars continuously emanated, his eyes distant, as if he were gazing at the goddess he dreamed of.
Yu Lian understood the other party's mindset very well and did not disturb him.
It wasn't until he had finished smoking an entire lao dao (old blade) that Babalu said, “Captain, I just thought of a very troublesome problem… It's hard to discuss with others, so I can only tell you.”
“Is it about the ownership and future management of our Red Maple Factory?” Yu Lian asked.
The word “ownership” was a bit beyond Babalu's knowledge, but he quickly reacted and nodded, “...Nothing escapes you.”
“You don't need to worry about the military.
Since I am here, I represent the will of the military.
In the future, the military will still send military representatives to be stationed here, but they will not directly intervene in the factory's production and management.
You only need to hand over the profits you are supposed to, according to the original equity.
Moreover, this portion of profit can be directly offset by products.
It saves a lot of trouble, doesn't it?”
Seeing the other party's incredulous expression, Yu Lian smiled, “For ten full years, the Red Maple Factory couldn't provide the military with a single cent of profit or a gram of Taishi Alloy, so they had long wanted to get rid of it.
Since that's the case, why not let you do it?
The big figures on the Defense Committee have long forgotten about you and won't come to cause trouble.”
Anyway, after the previous restructuring, the Red Maple Factory was no longer a military enterprise, and naturally, it would not be under the direct control of the military.
And once it returned to normal, the Distant Shore Defense Fleet and the fortress clusters in the two Corridors would procure the necessary military spare parts and metal consumables from here, close by.
This was a win-win future.
Marshal Paris, who had just taken office, also expressed his approval.
After all, even if it failed, the military would not suffer any losses, so why wouldn't they be happy to see it succeed?
With Yu Lian's explanation, Babalu finally understood.
He knew that Yu Lian had already made more long-term plans for the factory, and for a moment, he was deeply moved.
But the more he understood, the more worried he became.
“I believe you,” Babalu said.
“You will surely be able to persuade the military to let go… But when the factory truly resumes operations, Xingsheng Company will definitely return.
Can you persuade them to compromise?”
Yu Lian thought for a long time before remembering that the so-called Xingsheng Company was precisely that private enterprise after the restructuring.
Its full name was Xingsheng Metallurgical Trading Company.
After the Far Shore Star Region Government withdrew from the Red Maple Factory, it handed over its shares, as well as management and operating rights, to it.
Of course, because their management's operational level was even lower than that of the military representatives, it triggered protests and boycotts from the workers, so they withdrew even faster than the military representatives.
However, only the management personnel retreated.
Xingsheng Company had, of course, thought about selling off its shares back then, but simply couldn't find a reliable buyer, and as a result, it unexpectedly worked out for them.
At least legally speaking, that enterprise indeed owned a portion of the Red Maple Factory's ownership.
Once the Red Maple Factory regained vitality, they would surely return like sharks smelling blood.
Once the bosses returned, what would become of these employees?
This was the reason Babalu felt helpless.
“You are not their employees, what is there to worry about?” Yu Lian said, as if it were obvious.
“...Not?”
“Of course not.
Feifei has already reviewed the legal documents of the Red Maple Factory's ownership, and they are not particularly regular.
At least, it cannot be confirmed that the shares owned by Xingsheng Company exceed the collective ownership of the original factory workers.
Therefore, according to Commonwealth law, and even according to the enterprise laws of most countries in the All-Galaxy, they do not have legitimate management rights!”
Babalu was a bit stunned.
With this description, could it be that the biggest boss in his mind actually couldn't form any obstacle at all?
“The military needs you to provide good quality and inexpensive military supplies, and the government needs you to pay taxes legally.
As long as you do this, you don't have to worry about external constraints.
Then, it's a direct battle between you and the capitalists!
As long as you don't mess up yourselves, and you always remain united, then there's nothing to be afraid of.”
“However, that is also the most difficult part.” Babalu let out a breath.
He and his companions had endured until now, and he had been full of confidence in them, but now he had little confidence left.
“...Yes, so you, and even you, must be prepared to physically eliminate the other party,” Yu Lian said with a smile.
Babalu was completely speechless for a moment.
He really didn't know if the other party was joking or not.
The old book fan group has been restored.
The book number group is still 182627336, and the group name is “Miao Xing Ren Shui Jing Gong.”
