I can travel back and forth in 1986

Chapter 66 A Family in Trouble

After leaving Dongfeng Injection Molding Plant, Zhang Beichuan did not immediately return to the county town.

He stood at the crossroads outside the industrial zone, gazing at the hazy outline of the industrial area in the distance, and began to make plans in his mind.

Although the gatekeeper's words were simple, they revealed several key pieces of information.

First, the factory's equipment is still in good condition, but it's unclear what it will produce; second, the cash flow has dried up, workers' wages are in arrears, and the leadership is struggling to cope.

Third, the factory leaders were at their wits' end and were already seeking a solution; otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to the municipal government to try and find a way out.

This is good news for Zhang Beichuan.

"contract....."

Zhang Beichuan repeated the word in a low voice, a glimmer of light gradually appearing in his eyes.

If we could take over the Dongfeng factory, it would not only solve the problem of lighter body production, but also allow us to utilize the existing factory buildings and workers, saving us the hassle of building a factory from scratch.

More importantly, this opportunity allowed him to truly establish himself within the 1986 industrial system, paving the way for future development.

According to the information Zhang Beichuan found, contracting a collectively owned enterprise these days is not as simple as it seems.

It's not just about the back wages and the need for funds for equipment maintenance; more importantly, it's about convincing the factory and relevant departments that you have the ability to revive Dongfeng Factory.

He didn't know anyone at the Second Light Industry Bureau.

The key to persuading the other party is to first gain the trust of the Dongfeng factory leaders.

Zhang Beichuan knew it would be difficult, but he had to give it a try.

After clearing his mind, he went to the hardware factory in the industrial zone to continue inquiring about the hardware production capacity in 86.

......

The Second Light Industry Bureau of Guocheng City, abbreviated as the Second Light Industry Bureau, is in charge of municipal collectively owned enterprises.

In a slightly old three-story office building, at the end of the second-floor corridor, outside the office door with a sign that reads "Enterprise Reform Department," stood three people.

The man in the lead was a man in his early fifties with gray hair; he was Liu Jianguo, the factory director of Dongfeng Injection Molding Plant.

Beside him were Lao Zhou, the factory's union chairman, and Xiao Sun, the accountant. All three of them looked worried and tired, and had been waiting outside the door for almost two hours.

In the office, Chen Mingyuan, the newly appointed head of the Enterprise Reform Section, was frowning as he looked at a stack of documents spread out on his desk.

He heard soft conversations and sighs outside the door. He rubbed his temples and tossed the materials aside.

Less than a month after his promotion, he was assigned the most challenging task: restructuring and turning around a collectively owned enterprise.

"If I'd known it would be this difficult, I shouldn't have...sigh..."

Chen Mingyuan muttered something under his breath and picked up the materials on the table again.

He had learned about the situation at Dongfeng Injection Molding Plant; its products were outdated and the production quality was mediocre.

The most critical issue is that the company owes nearly six months' wages to more than 60 workers, totaling close to 40,000 yuan.

This is no small amount. The workers have already protested several times, and the factory leaders have been confined to their homes and dare not leave. If the problem is not resolved soon, it may really cause trouble.

"Please invite them in," Chen Mingyuan called out to the outside.

The door opened, and Liu Jianguo and the other two hurriedly walked in, their faces plastered with almost ingratiating smiles.

"Section Chief Chen, I'm sorry to bother you." Liu Jianguo rubbed his hands, his tone full of helplessness. "We really had no other choice but to trouble the bureau again."

Chen Mingyuan pointed to the chair opposite him, indicating that he should sit down.

"Director Liu, I have read your factory's situation report. The wage arrears are a top priority, and I understand the workers' feelings."

He paused, then casually picked up a plastic lighter from the table, snapped it on, and lit a cigarette.

"But as you know, the bureau is in a tight financial situation right now, so it's impossible to directly allocate funds to pay your salaries."

Old Zhou said anxiously, "Section Chief Chen, the workers' families are almost starving! If we don't pay them soon, we're really worried about them... Sigh! Last time we almost tore down Old Liu's door!"

"The factory really doesn't have a single penny left in its accounts. Even this month's water and electricity bills were paid by a few of us cadres. Section Chief Chen, please help us and think of a solution."

Liu Jianguo was practically begging him on his knees. If the problem couldn't be solved, he couldn't even imagine what the factory workers might do.

If we end up like rats who can't go home, just thinking about it is terrifying.

"I know your difficulties," Chen Mingyuan said slowly. "You should all understand that simply waiting and demanding won't solve the fundamental problem."

Chen Mingyuan exhaled a puff of smoke. "Several struggling businesses in the city are currently queuing up for relief, and the government doesn't have enough money to fill the gaps."

"Either find orders and resume production, or transform your business and find a new way out!"

Liu Jianguo's forehead was covered in even more sweat, and he subconsciously wiped it away with his hand.

"Section Chief Chen, we've tried everything you suggested. But the plastic buckets and basins we produce can't compete with the goods from the south! The factory's warehouse is still overflowing with stock!"

Hearing his dismissive words, Chen Mingyuan slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup jump and splashing tea onto the table.

"Liu Jianguo! Are you the factory manager or am I? The warehouse is piled high with inventory, why don't you find a way to liquidate it? Even if you sell it at a discount, at least you can recoup some funds, give the workers some living expenses, and calm their nerves! Are you just going to sit here and wait for a windfall?"

Liu Jianguo shrank back as he was yelled at, his face turning pale and then red, his lips trembling, and he couldn't speak for a long time.

Old Zhou, the union chairman standing nearby, quickly tried to smooth things over, "Section Chief Chen, please calm down. It's not that we don't want to sell, it's just that we really can't sell them!"

"Those plastic buckets and basins are outdated in style and color. The goods from the south are cheap and nice, and the department stores don't even want them!"

Looking at the worried and fearful expressions of the three people in front of him, Chen Mingyuan slowly suppressed his anger, which was replaced by a deep sense of powerlessness.

He paced back and forth in the office, then remained silent for a moment.

"If all else fails... have you considered contracting out the factory?"

"Contract it out?" Liu Jianguo said with a wry smile. "Section Chief Chen, to be honest, we've thought about this a long time ago. We asked around privately a couple of months ago and also let some word out."

"But as soon as they heard they were going to take over this mess, with unpaid wages and no orders, even wealthy people from the city and county who had ten thousand yuan came to see it, but they turned around and left after doing the math."

Old Zhou smiled bitterly, "Let alone outsiders, even a few capable cadres in the factory have privately considered it, but after calculating it, it's all a money-losing business, and no one dares to take it on."

The office fell into a suffocating silence, with only the old-fashioned wall clock ticking away.

After a long silence, Chen Mingyuan sighed heavily and waved his hand.

"You all go back first. The factory... calm the workers down and don't escalate the conflict. Let me think about it and see if there are any other solutions."

Liu Jianguo and the other two exchanged glances, knowing that they had returned empty-handed again. Their faces were filled with disappointment and fear as they left the Second Light Industry Bureau.

"Factory manager, where are you going?" Old Zhou asked.

Where to go?

Liu Jianguo recalled the last time workers blocked his doorway, and almost even tore down the door panel.

His wife and children were terrified and have been hiding at his wife's parents' house for the past few days.

"I... I'll go back to the factory for a look." Liu Jianguo forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "At least... there's somewhere to stay."