Respectfully

The sixth year of the Republic of China, October 1914, 4 in the Gregorian calendar

Outside Guanbei City, a total of 570 workers in three factories including Lou's Brush Factory, Yang's Match Factory and Yongxing Candle Factory held a joint strike.At least half of the workers in the three factories participated in the strike.

Boss Yang of the match factory and Boss An of the candle factory were anxious like ants on a hot pot, and orders were still pressed in the factory. The longer the strike lasted, the greater the loss.They also thought that if these people's demands were not excessive, they would agree. However, when the strike representatives put forward the conditions, the two bosses couldn't nod at all.

Increase the monthly salary to 25 yuan, free three meals, three sets of work clothes a year, and no more than forty hours of working time per week?

If this is agreed, they don't need to open the factory, they just close it!

25 yuan, thanks to them, they can say it!In Guanbei, 25 yuan can buy an acre of medium-sized fields!Free three meals, three sets of clothes a year, there is no such rule in any factory!In addition, the working hours did not exceed forty hours a week, and they said that if they did not agree, they would all go to work in foreign factories.What do they all think?Don't they know that the factories of those foreigners can't wait to let them work seven days a week, ten out of twelve hours a day?

Both Boss Yang and Boss An frowned. Why did these striking workers bring up foreign factories?Could it be that this matter has something to do with foreigners?In the early years, the factories opened by the Chinese people were often squeezed out by foreigners, and all kinds of methods were exhausted. Some factories that had developed well after opening for a period of time could not survive, and they either closed down or sold at low prices. After changing hands, it fell into the hands of those foreigners.

It is rare in China that Qixin cement factory can survive, develop and become famous in the world.

Take the glass factory and the newly opened paint factory in the industrial zone as an example. Didn’t the Japanese make it impossible to open before?Without Li Sanshao, these factories would not be able to come back to life again.

The two met to discuss it, and they always felt that this matter must not be as simple as it appeared on the surface.They noticed that next to the people who took the lead in the strike, there was a new face they hadn't seen before, and these people seemed to listen to him very much.

"I'm afraid this can't be good."

The two made up their minds and immediately went to meet Li Jinyan hand in hand.

Li Jinyan saw Yang and An, and after learning the details of their negotiations with the workers, he was silent for a long time, and said to them: "This incident should be caused by me. The two bosses were involved. I sincerely feel ashamed." .”

"Third Young Master, how do you say that!"

Boss Yang and Boss An quickly waved their hands and shook their heads.

"Third Young Master, you are the head of the chamber of commerce of our six northern provinces. If this matter is really aimed at you, it will be a slap in the face of our entire business community in the six northern provinces! No matter whether it is a Chinese or a foreigner, you have not let them go. reason!"

"Yes, Third Young Master, although I, An Qilin, don't have much ability, I can still tell the big things from the small. No matter what, as long as you give me an order, I will never say anything."

"You two, leave this matter to me, and I will definitely give you two an explanation." Li Jinyan clenched his fists, his face was frosty, "I will definitely find out whoever provokes the workers to make trouble. Don't care if he is the king of heaven. Don't even think about it!"

"With San Shao's words, we can rest assured."

In addition, Li Jinyan assured Boss Yang and Boss An that he would fully bear the loss of their factory.Yang and An repeatedly declined, but Li Jinyan still insisted. In any case, they were dragged down by themselves. Judging from the information sent by the intelligence department, this matter was indeed aimed at him, or he The people from Lou’s house, who are backed by their backs, came to the match factory and candle factory, just to make a smoke bomb.

In fact, in addition to these two factories, workers in three or four other factories have also been incited, but the effect is very mediocre. It’s not that there are no people who are tempted, but most of them still shake their heads, and some even reprimanded the people who went to them in private , "I feel uneasy after eating a full meal for a few days, what is the trouble! Wait until something goes wrong, and you will know it's serious!"

Even so, things still got into trouble.

The cause and process are easy to ascertain. The leader of the disturbance was a cook who was fired by Lou’s Brush Factory not long ago because his hands and feet were not clean. The pork, soybean oil, meat oil and white noodles in the cafeteria often unknowingly Serve less, at the beginning the amount was very small, almost no one noticed, gradually, the food in the cafeteria began to change the taste, the steamed buns of Lianghe noodles became smaller, not to mention white noodles, pork Stewed vermicelli with cabbage, except for a little oil on the soup surface, there is not even a piece of meat!

On the contrary, this chef's family often eats meat and made dumplings from time to time, and the whole family is full of greasy faces.

After Li Cheng found out about this, he fired him without saying a word, not even leaving behind the two people who worked with him in the kitchen. There is no way to count how many things he took from the kitchen before, seeing him cry It was really pitiful, a big man in his 40s, with a runny nose and tears, felt compassion, deducted his salary for the month, and did not ask him to compensate.

I don't want the cook to be repentant on the surface, but he harbors a grudge secretly. He doesn't think it's wrong for him to take things from the cafeteria privately, but only thinks that Li Cheng cut off his life.

Although Li Cheng didn't publicize the reason for his dismissal, all the factory owners who had contact with Li Cheng knew a thing or two. In addition, Li Cheng belonged to Li Jinyan, and the brush factory had the sign of Loujia. Will you still hire him?Even the restaurants in the city were reluctant to hire him again when they heard that he was fired by Li Sanshao's factory.

Li Sanshao is a well-known kind-hearted person. He was fired from his factory. How can he be a good person?

Just when the cook could only support himself and his family by doing odd jobs, a man approached him and told the cook that as long as he did what he said, he would keep the delicious and spicy food in the future.

The cook was a little hesitant at first, but when he saw the 50 yuan ocean in front of him, he was tempted.

He started to contact his former acquaintances in the brush factory, invited them to drink and eat, and complained to them at the wine table, saying that he was fired because he discovered Li Cheng's tampering in the factory!

Everyone is curious, so when he said that, he would naturally ask a few more questions.

"Brother, why do you think the food in the cafeteria is getting worse and worse? To tell you the truth, it was Li Cheng who got greedy! He said he was the boss, but he also showed Li Sanshao the factory. The cafeteria is so big, why don't you take the opportunity to get some? I can see it for real, every month he deducts more than half of the canteen’s purchase expenses! When I buy good things, I also spend a trip in the canteen, and take them to his own home through the back door.”

"Can't you?" Li Chengcheng was the director of the workshop when the brush factory was still a subordinate workshop of the clothing factory. When the factory became independent, he was directly promoted to the director of the factory. Most of the old people in the factory knew him well. He was not such a person. ah.Also, he was trusted by Li Sanshao, and he would never do such a thing.

"Li Sanshao? Hey!" Perhaps because he was drunk, the cook's words became less and less decent.

The man couldn't listen anymore, if word got out, they wouldn't even want to live.Regardless of whether the meal was invited by him or not, he hastily checked out with the clerk and left the restaurant, and he will never be able to contact this person again, this whole bastard!

There are sensible people, but there are also a lot of dirty minds.After all, the cook's words spread in the factory.Under the instigation of the man who claimed to be surnamed Huang, the cook bought some restless people in the factory, and secretly urged the workers to go on strike, saying that he could get more money in this way.

"Don't worry, Li Cheng doesn't dare to do anything to us, neither does Li Sanshao! The law doesn't blame everyone, and what can he do? Send troops to arrest us? Unless he doesn't want fame anymore."

More wages, better treatment... The workers are tempted.

They have long been envious of the wages that the workers in the Jiahua Factory and the Clothing Factory get. They don't think about the difference between the work they do and the workers in the other two factories, and they don't think that Li Sanshao really wants to lose his reputation for the sake of his reputation. There is a prerequisite for dealing with them, let alone thinking about not blaming the public, that is, they must be reasonable!

Unfortunately, none of them thought of it.

I only think about more wages, better food, and easier work.Some people like to eat and be lazy in their bones. Before, they had to work because of the driving force of the environment. This time the trouble is even worse.

Workers in the match and candle factories were similarly agitated.

Compared with the brush factory, their treatment is worse.But compared with factories in other provinces, especially those opened by foreigners, their wages are not too low.Rao is so, people's hearts will not always be easily satisfied.Coupled with intentional calculations and unintentional, herd mentality, the strike finally started.

Li Jinyan did not rush to the strike site immediately. He knew that it would be useless for him to go at this time. He could not agree to the conditions proposed by these workers. Once this opening is opened, it is impossible to stop it in the future.

Li Jinyan can understand and will support if the managers of the factory are rich and unkind and go on strike to fight for legitimate rights because the income is far less than the labor they pay.But this sudden strike is not the case at all.

It is purely the agitation of people with ulterior motives and the speculative psychology of some people.If he gave in first in order to calm things down, the consequences would be completely predictable.

Want to rework money, strike!

If you are not satisfied with the food in the cafeteria, strike!

If you feel the hours are too long, strike!

If there is any dissatisfaction, all strikes!

Compared with factory owners, workers are indeed a disadvantaged group, but their disadvantages are also relative.It is true that many capitalists squeeze workers in order to obtain greater profits, but it does not mean that all factory bosses are black-hearted.

The six northern provinces are managed by the military government. There is a young marshal Lou in Guanbei City. Li Jinyan’s factory is located in the industrial zone. Many veterans and even military officers work in these factories. Once any factory is found to violate the law and The situation of local regulations will be reported immediately, and the factory boss will also be punished.

Previously, the owner of a tannery was punished for excessive working hours and deduction of workers' wages.Under such circumstances, even if there are still people who can do something, they dare not go too far.

He dare not say anything about the match factory and the candle factory, but the regular workers in the brush factory can receive at least 12 yuan a month, plus a quarterly bonus, and one person can support a family of five.

"I will agree to reasonable requests, and I will never nod to unreasonable ones."

Li Jinyan said these words in front of Li Bing and Li Cheng.

When something like this happened in the factory he managed, Li Cheng was so guilty that he wanted to find a way to sneak in. The second master trusted him, and the third young master also used him, but he couldn't even manage a factory well!

If I had known earlier, I shouldn't have softened my heart towards that cook!He suffered a soft-hearted loss when he was in the Li family, why doesn't he have a long memory now?Just like what Brother Li Bing said, his momentary soft-heartedness caused the third young master to be in a dilemma... Thinking of this, Li Cheng slapped himself hard!

"Third Young Master, it's my fault, you can punish me."

Li Jinyan shook his head, "This has nothing to do with you. What you do is in accordance with the rules and regulations. The fault is that cook who knows his mistakes and never corrects them, and those guys who are behind the scenes."

"Third young master, what shall we do about this?"

"The quilt factory needs to strengthen management. As for the brush factory, isn't there still some workers who did not participate in the strike? Arrange a workshop in the quilt factory, move a few machines, and let them work there."

Li Bing responded and went down to make arrangements, and Li Cheng, who was full of guilt, followed him and left.He really remembered the lesson this time, and kindness must be given to the right person.

Time passed quickly, the sun was setting and the dusk was heavy, Li Jinyan was sitting on the sofa, resting his forehead with one hand, not wanting to move or talk anymore.

He is very tired.

Tired.

The door of the room was pushed open, and the heels of military boots knocked on the floor with a dull sound.

The sound of footsteps stopped behind him, big warm hands covered his forehead, his callused fingertips brushed against his forehead, and a familiar aura surrounded him.

"do you need my help?"

"No." Li Jinyan closed his eyes, grabbed the hand covering his forehead, turned his head, and patted the sofa beside him, "Young commander, sit down?"

Lou Xiao put his big hands on the back of the sofa, jumped up, stood still, and sat down.

Li Sanshao: "..." Showing off his height, long legs and excellent jumping ability?

The next moment, his shoulders were embraced, and his whole body was pulled into Lou Xiao's arms.Li Jinyan moved and changed himself into a more comfortable position.He wanted to find a "place" to lean on.

"You really don't need my help?"

"It's really not necessary."

Li Jinyan simply lay down on Lou Xiao's lap, looked at Young Marshal Lou who was looking down on him, and laughed in a low voice, "I can solve this matter, if the young marshal comes forward, the matter may be more troublesome."

"How to say?"

"Young Marshal, do you still remember Xing Wu?"

"Xing Changgeng's youngest son?"

"Yes, he is mixing with those workers now, and there is another interesting thing.

"what?"

"Zhang Jiancheng recognized him and said that Xing Wu was the Russian gentleman who encouraged him and Lu Yin and others to go to the Marshal's mansion to make trouble. When he was in Tianjin, Boss Song also saw him. Young Marshal, you said this man Have you grown two guts?"

Young Marshal Lou frowned.

"However, we can't move him easily for his blatant appearance." The strike has already attracted many reporters, and it can be said that it affects the whole body.

Li Jinyan pulled Marshal Lou's hand and clasped his fingers together, but there was always a time to clean him up, together with the people behind him.

On the third day of the strike, apart from Boss Yang and Boss An talking with the workers’ representatives, Li Jinyan not only did not show up, he didn’t even say a word.

On the fourth day of the strike, the news that the brush factory had reopened in the quilt factory workshop started to cause commotion among the strikers.

On the fifth day of the strike, the two owners of the match factory and the candle factory rented factory buildings from Li Jinyan respectively, and rehired workers to start production.The products produced by these factories do not have much technical content. After teaching the workers to use the machines, they can check the quality and there will be no major problems.

On the sixth day of the strike, Zhang Jiancheng, who also taught at Zidi Primary School after graduation, led many alumni to give a speech in front of the strike crowd, persuading everyone not to be deceived by those who want to instigate, which will only make loved ones hurt and enemies happy.

On the same day, Yang Pingting and other teachers from the school, together with the students from Zishao Elementary School, went to the scene where the striking workers gathered. Many workers' children were among them.

They looked at their relatives with doubts, puzzlement, and something unclear. Seeing these children, many people who participated in the strike bowed their heads.

On the same day, many people left the strike team.

On the seventh day, the leaders found that more than half of the people did not gather at the scene again.Among the more than 200 people who came, many of them began to waver.

"It can't go on like this." Xing Wu, whose pseudonym is Mr. Huang, said to the leaders: "We must strengthen our momentum!"

Xing Wu took out several newspapers from his arms and unfolded them one by one in front of everyone, "Look, everyone, this is a British newspaper, this is a Russian newspaper, and this is a newspaper from Shanghai and the capital! There are our newspapers on them." The news, it says, I am fighting for my legitimate rights! Many people are supporting us, we must persevere, and we will win if we persevere!"

Immediately afterwards, he took out two more newspapers from his arms, one of which was current affairs news.

"Let's take a look again. This is the Guanbei newspaper. What is written on it?! It even said that everyone was instigated by people with evil intentions! Who has evil intentions? It is the person who wrote this report! It is the one who is behind the scenes. The newspaper! Who is it? Tell me, who is it?!"

Xing Wu shouted loudly, with blue veins popping up on his neck, and two reporters took pictures of this scene.However, no matter how impassioned Xing Wu said, the crowd participating in the strike became more and more shaken.

The development of things is completely different from what they thought, more wages have not been received, and better treatment is unthinkable. The family has not received any income for almost ten days, and the children are the first to ask when they come back from school. That is: "Father, mother, why don't you work? Aren't our lives better now than before?"

Yeah, don't they have better days now than before?

Many people suddenly woke up, what did they do?But they wanted to go back to work in the factory, but found that the doors of the three factories were all locked. When they found a new factory, the guards would not let them in at all.Someone in charge came out and told them directly that this is a temporary factory, and the workers working here have been fully recruited, and there is no work for them to do.

All these people panicked.

It was only then that they remembered that the person who encouraged them to strike only said that Li Jinyan and the factory owner would give in, but did not tell them that if the other party fired them regardless, what would happen to their livelihood?

"Don't embarrass me, everyone. I'm just a worker." The steward grabbed the melon cap on his head and laughed twice, "Don't worry, everyone. The boss didn't say goodbye to you. Everyone will have work. Sooner or later I'm still busy, so I won't accompany you, everyone go home and wait patiently."

What you said is reasonable, but no matter how you think about it, it is wrong.

Waiting for this home, until when?

A voice suddenly came from the crowd: "Let's sue them! Like Mr. Huang said..."

"Fuck! What are you suing? That they won't give us work? We're the ones going on strike. Who are you suing, the foreigners?"

"It's all caused by that surnamed Huang and that unlucky cook! Otherwise, we wouldn't have ended up like this!"

"Yes! It's all them! If it weren't for them, we would still be working in the factory! We would have been paid this month's wages, but now we have nothing!"

"Yeah, why am I so confused by lard, 12 yuan is enough for my family to eat for a month, why am I so greedy!" The man who spoke squatted on the ground and gave himself a hard blow hand.

"It's all their fault, let's find them!"

"Yes, go find them!"

Everyone has a herd mentality. It was like this in the previous strikes, and now it's the same when all the faults are pushed onto the leaders.

They admit that they are guilty of covetousness, but do not think that the main fault is their own.

It's the one surnamed Huang, and those leaders!

The menacing workers rushed to the place where they gathered yesterday. Xing Wu was still giving an excited speech when he realized that the expressions of the people opposite him were not right. Looking back, the workers who were anxious and red-eyed had already rushed over...

Among the chaotic crowd, several unremarkable men made gestures to each other, one of them retreated quietly, and the others stared at the reporters who had been taking pictures at the side before, seeing that they were taking pictures vigorously, one man pulled out his arms Put the whistle in your mouth.

The sharp whistle silenced the chaotic crowd for a moment.

Everyone living in Guanbei City knew what this whistle meant.

Soon, policemen in black uniforms and batons gathered from all sides. The workers became uneasy, but the reporters suddenly became excited. They were waiting for this moment. As long as the police do something, the photos can be reported. Write it down with oil and vinegar, no matter what the truth is, the money will be in hand.Those foreigners are generous, if it weren't for the big money, would they come to this place from thousands of miles away?

No, the police just surrounded the crowd and didn't act immediately. Director Zhao personally led the team this time, and he didn't dare to be sloppy in the slightest according to Li Sanshao's orders.

After clearing his throat, Chief Zhao said, "According to the report, someone is making trouble here!"

The workers didn't speak, Director Zhao went on to say, "Where are the troublemakers?"

Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, is this unclear?Just now they punched and kicked these few on the ground...

and many more!

Some were a little smarter, and after recollecting it, they immediately pointed to Xing Wu and the others lying on the ground moaning, "It's them, it's them who made trouble!"

"En, that's right!" Looking for the chief to pretend to go over to look at a few people, and said: "These are the robbers that the police station has been chasing before, take them all back!"

As a result, the guys on the ground who had been beaten into pig heads were dragged away like dead dogs.

Several reporters who were waiting to take the "thrilling" scenes were also held down by the shoulders by several fierce-looking men.Even those who hid in the shadows and did not show their faces were caught.

When the man was brought in front of him, Director Zhao immediately recognized him. Lu Chengzhong of the Railway Bureau, the father of Lu Yin who was imprisoned outside the city,

Although after Lu Yin's accident, Lu Chengzhong's newly ascended position of deputy director was dismissed, but he still managed to stay in the road administration department.Director Zhao didn't expect that he would be involved in this matter.

As for the workers on the scene, Director Zhao also told them that everyone deserves credit for helping to catch these gangsters.

As soon as he finished speaking, a black car that had been parked not far away drove up. Li Jinyan, Li Cheng, Boss Yang and Boss An got out of the car.

Seeing them, the workers began to commotion. They wanted to say goodbye to them, and they wanted to work, but they couldn't say anything.Especially when they saw Li Jinyan, many of them had lived in shelters, and Li Jinyan was almost their savior.How could they do such a foolish thing as before?

"I know that everyone is encouraged by someone with a heart." Li Jinyan stood still, his tone no longer as gentle as before, "But a mistake is a mistake."

There was no more sound from the crowd.

"Today, let's open the skylight and speak honestly. I dare to tell God that I, Li Jinyan, have never done anything wrong to you. Boss Yang and Boss An are not so black-hearted, but how did everyone treat us?!"

"If you are dissatisfied with the wages, you can mention it. If you are not satisfied with the food, you can also raise it. You can even express your opinions about the factory and myself! Why are several people fired by the factory and an outsider With just a few words, such a thing happened? If something goes wrong, what do you get? If Boss Yang and I, Boss An, would quit you all right now, we can definitely recruit other workers, and some people can’t get enough to eat ! But what do you get?"

"Master Li, we were wrong, don't dismiss us!"

"Don't quit us, we were wrong!"

"I have been deceived by lard, you are so merciful, I still have my mother and children at home!"

Some begged Li Jinyan, and some begged Boss Yang and Boss An. During the conversation, many people burst into tears.Before they came to Guanbei, they couldn't even eat enough to eat. Now they have food, clothing and a house to live in, and their children can still go to school and read. What the hell were they making a fuss about before?

I really became a white-eyed wolf!

"Quiet!"

Li Jinyan raised his voice, and waited until the voices of the workers quieted down before continuing, "This incident is a lesson for you, and it is also for me. I am also at fault for this incident."

Having said that, Li Jinyan paused, "I won't fire everyone, but all workers who participated in this strike will have their wages deducted this month, and starting from next month, they will be paid as probationary workers for three consecutive months. If you perform well after three months, you will become a regular worker again."

As soon as these words came out, most people breathed a sigh of relief. It doesn't matter if they deduct money, and there are eight oceans for probationary workers.As long as you can keep the job, be thankful.

"One more thing," Li Jinyan changed the subject, "In order to avoid such things from happening again in the future, a trade union organization will be established in each factory, and a special person will be in charge. If you have any opinions, you can ask the trade union to raise them. Reasonable opinions put forward by everyone , will be adopted. Things like today, I hope will never happen again."

The establishment of the guild was proposed by Shen Heduan to Li Jinyan. After consideration, Li Jinyan accepted his opinion and handed over the matter to him.Then transfer some people from the government to cooperate with him.

Shen Heduan, who had studied in France and had some relationship with the Second International, would definitely get twice the result with half the effort if he did these things.

After Li Jinyan said these words, he asked Boss Yang and Boss An to speak to the workers in their factories respectively. I believe that after today, these people will definitely not be easily incited by others.What happened today has also become a model for other factories in the industrial area to deal with similar things.

Everyone is for life, and things can be discussed and discussed.Anyone who is not black-hearted to the end will not do things that will poke people's spines.

When the workers dispersed, Boss Yang and Boss An also left. The factory will resume work in three days, and they will be very busy these days.

Li Jinyan turned around and walked to the side of the car, but saw Marshal Lou approaching on horseback.

"Young commander, why are you here?"

Young Marshal Lou didn't speak, but stretched out his hand to him on the horse. Li Jinyan blinked, understood, and put his hand on Lou Xiao's palm. The next moment, he was pulled to the horse.

The whip was swung, the black horse neighed, and the four hooves were raised. The early spring wind brushed against the cheek with a slight chill, but it seemed to be able to wipe away all the gloom in an instant.

The horse ran faster and faster, but the smile on Li Jinyan's face grew bigger and bigger. The depression and fatigue of the past few days were all swept away at the moment of galloping the horse.

The speed of the scenery passing by in front of his eyes began to slow down. Li Jinyan patted his cheek and found that Marshal Lou had galloped his horse into a forest. The guards were all left behind by him, and the sound of horseshoes could be heard in the distance.

"Young commander?"

Lou Xiao didn't speak, but lifted Li Jinyan's chin and kissed his lips.

When Xing Wu woke up, he found himself in a torture room, Xiao Youde stood opposite him with his hands behind his back, looking at him with a smile, "Master Xing Wu, hello, maybe, I should call you Wu Beizi? "