County Magistrate Bai took the lead in bringing up the issue of Ancheng Food Factory, and based on the information previously disclosed by Lin Chuxia, the main topic of discussion was still the resettlement of over a thousand employees of the factory.
As long as this matter could be properly resolved, other aspects were negotiable.
Today, before coming here, Lin Chuxia had already discussed this matter with Su Wensong, and she had made her mind up, having been on the same page with Su Wensong.
Su Wensong had no objections to her decision, and now Lin Chuxia spoke directly about her thoughts.
"I understand the intention of County Magistrate Bai, but as you are also aware of Xiyang Food Factoryâs situation, Xiyang has been established for merely two years, with only over three hundred employees. To expect Xiyang to take on the livelihood and production responsibilities of over a thousand more employees is absolutely impossible. Itâs not that I donât want to helpâitâs really beyond our capabilities," she said.
County Magistrate Bai flashed a slight smile and said, "Lin, if you say your capabilities are limited, you are underestimating yourself. You know what I value isnât Xiyang Food Factory."
"County Magistrate Bai, you think too highly of me," replied Lin Chuxia.
For a moment, the office fell silent, only the sound of the teacup lid touching the cup could be heard.
Lin Chuxia sipped her tea gently without any rush to make a statement, while County Magistrate Bai seemed to be lost in thought.
After a while, County Magistrate Bai said, "Donât hesitate to speak your mind. You young people always have more ideas. You know my purpose. As long as we can resettle these thousand-plus employees, the county is willing to make concessions on other conditions."
"County Magistrate Bai, asking me to resettle these thousand-plus workers is like giving me an impossible problem to solve."
Lin Chuxia stood her ground firmly.
What a joke, she was all too aware of what those state-owned enterprise employees were like. She was Lin Chuxia with a kind heart, not the Virgin Mary.
Wouldnât it be better to use the money to serve more people in need than to support these parasites?
Moreover, while County Magistrate Bai kept emphasizing the issue of resettling the thousand-plus workers, she had yet to see any specific benefits.
With the conversation reaching this point, County Magistrate Bai understood Lin Chuxia wasnât going to leap without seeing the rabbit.
Taking a deep breath, he said, "The County Committee and the leadership of Ancheng Food Factory have already consulted. We prioritize addressing the staff resettlement issue of the factory. We were actually more inclined to integrate Ancheng Food Factory into Xiyang Food Factory, with all of Ancheng Food Factoryâs assets being used in exchange for the resettlement of its employees. The management rights of Ancheng Food Factory would also be transferred to Xiyang, while other aspects would still remain in the hands of the County Committee. This is also to take responsibility for these thousand-plus employees."
Lin Chuxia and Su Wensong exchanged glances, as this outcome was within their expectations.
But...
"County Magistrate Bai, I know that the county leaders are also considering the workersâ best interests, and the workers of Ancheng Food Factory are fortunate to have a leader like you. However, every issue has two sides. I also want to relieve the government from a tight spot, and you know my situation as well, with shallow roots and little experience. If we were to take on all these thousand-plus employees, in the end, we might fail to solve their problems, and even Xiyangâs few hundred employees might end up in jeopardy. I donât suppose thatâs what the leaders would like to see either. Iâve been thinking about this issue since our last meeting in the city, trying to find a solution that not only addresses the governmentâs urgent needs but also doesnât affect Xiyangâs current production. Ideally, we could achieve a win-win situation that could also contribute to our hometownâs tax revenue..."
County Magistrate Bai nodded, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, and said, "If only all our private enterprises had your level of awareness, Lin. Go ahead, since you have plans too, letâs lay them out. Whether itâs feasible or not, letâs work together to find a solution."
"Right, itâs like this, we can consolidate the assets as suggested by the county leaders, but as for the employees, itâs definite that we canât take on a thousand-plus..."
After nearly two hours of negotiations, they finally reached a preliminary consensus.
The assets of Ancheng Food Factory would be transferred to Xiyang, along with the management rights, while Xiyang would be responsible for conditionally integrating Ancheng Food Factoryâs employees.
Employees under fifty years old for men, and under forty years old for women, could participate in the assessment of the reorganized food factoryâs workforce. Those who meet the assessment criteria would become official employees of the Food Factory.
The next steps would involve negotiations between County Magistrate Bai and Ancheng Food Factory, as well as scheduling the upcoming meetings between the two sides.
Lin Chuxia knew that Ancheng Food Factory was about to experience some significant disruption.
Even if a portion of the employees were to be integrated, there would certainly be various complaints from those who were not resettled, and even among eligible employees, there would be dissatisfaction due to the assessment system hanging over their heads like a guillotine.
Of course, that was a worry for the county leaders and the management of Ancheng Food Factory.
She was just waiting to handle the handover procedures.
..................
Lin Chuxia was right; as soon as the workers of Ancheng Food Factory heard the news, they were all incensed.
Ancheng Food Factory had been a longstanding establishment of Ancheng County with generations of families working there.
Now, men over fifty and women over forty who were not yet of retirement age were facing elimination.
"Does this mean we older ones are retiring early?" someone curiously asked.
"What are you thinking, Old Sun? Theyâre just saying that weâre too old and not as effective as the young workers. They donât want us. Weâre going to be laid off."
"Laid off? Then weâll have no income at all? How are we going to live? Is the government going to abandon us?"
"Donât even talk about those of us whoâve reached a certain age. Even those of us who havenât need to take some exam. I never had to take any test when I took over my fatherâs job at the Food Factory. Who knows what theyâre going to test? I think Xiyang Food just remembers the grudge from two years ago; they just donât want to deal with us factory workers."
Thinking of the past feud with Xiyang Food Factory, the people of Ancheng Food Factory had vivid recollections. Who would have known after all that turmoil, Xiyang emerged unaffected, leaving themselves with such a problem.
"We canât just accept this. Handing us over to Xiyang is like giving them free rein to manipulate us."
"Right, we canât just accept this. Xiyang has bad intentions. I remember that woman; they say women are petty, and sheâs holding on to past events, wanting us to beg for a living like dogs before her."
"Thatâs true. Letâs go talk to the leaders. We canât just let them slaughter us."
In the midst of the crowd, someone weakly said, "If we donât let them exploit us, well, we havenât been paid for nearly half a year. Weâve seen the situation in the factory. Even if we donât let Xiyang merge and take over, sooner or later the factory is going to close down. Then it wonât just be the younger workers who are integrated into Xiyang, but all the factory workers will be laid off..."