People in the Republic of China era began to rise from industry.

Chapter 123 Strike: Shooting Yourself in the Foot?

"Puga!"

After reading the article with a furrowed brow, Duan Xinde cursed through gritted teeth.

It's about the bonded laborers in Guangzhou.

Although it only talks about bonded laborers and the tragic plight of child bonded laborers, it doesn't mention its own name.

But Duan Xinde was certain that this was aimed at him!

Who in Guangdong's business community doesn't know that his Xinde Company occupies 80% of the bonded labor market in Guangdong Province?

As for the child laborers who were not paid, which he described in great detail... a bunch of country kids, if it weren't for him giving them a bite to eat, they would have starved to death long ago.

Besides, it was a matter of mutual consent.

The family couldn't afford to raise the child, so the parents voluntarily signed a contract to become indentured servants, and I didn't force them with a knife!

Even if we take a step back and say that at this age, one is destined to be an apprentice in any industry, who will pay their wages?

Isn't working sixteen hours a day reasonable?

The newspapers all say that eight hours of sleep a day is enough.

"Park your mother!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Duan Xinde cursed again and slammed the newspaper he was holding onto the table.

No need to guess, this must have been done by Chen Qiyuan and his gang.

As for why it was published in Hong Kong newspapers but not in today's Guangzhou newspapers...

It's nothing more than this kind of thing; I'm afraid that given the courage of the Guangzhou press, no one would dare to publish it.

It's true that they're talking about their own misdeeds, but when things escalate, it's the government that gets slapped in the face.

He thought angrily, a hint of disdain rising in his heart.

That's all the tricks they have left.

Unfortunately, it was destined to be useless.

It's just a Hong Kong newspaper. Apart from people like me who are interested in international affairs, how many people actually read it?

It won't cause any trouble.

However, these idiots are really taking advantage of my kindness and thinking they're some kind of saint!

"Somebody come!"

He called out, and a servant who was waiting outside the study rushed in.

"Pass on my message: all Chinese-owned textile factories in Guangzhou must cease operations today."

"Let those poor bastards go out into the streets, unfurl banners demanding a pay rise!"

"Damn it, let's see how they get out of this!"

Do you really think you've been reading newspapers for nothing all these years?

They dared to insult me! This time, if I don't make those scoundrels bleed, they won't know who I am...

The organization capabilities of illegal intermediaries are quite strong.

Less than two hours after Duan Xinde issued his order, all the Chinese-owned textile factories, large and small, in Guangzhou were shut down.

Even textile factories that are not yet members of the association were not spared.

Several thousand textile workers, like a stream, quickly converged on the long embankment road.

A white banner with black lettering led the way, and the people shouting slogans like "We want food!" and "We want our wages!" blocked the entire road.

The ten-story Yangcheng Hotel is located on Changdi Avenue.

Lin Yi, who was returning from looking at land plots, was stuck in traffic.

In the end, I got off the bus and walked two miles back to the hotel.

"President, you're finally back!"

As soon as Chen Qiyuan saw him at the door, he hurriedly came to greet him.

"Brother Qiyuan, what's the panic?"

Lin Yi chuckled.

He walked back, listening to the slogans shouted by the striking crowd, and he understood what was going on.

I also have a little admiration for Duan Xinde.

I originally thought that the person who made a living in this field was just a brute who only knew how to shout and fight.

I never expected him to be involved in the workers' movement.

Whether it's to confuse the public or to shift the blame, it's all part of the argument.

This tactic, at first glance, does seem quite intimidating.

Hearing Lin Yi's words, Duan Xinde knew that he must know what was going on.

This made him even more anxious: "President, what should we do about this?"

"The losses from the work stoppage don't matter, but if Duan Xinde lets this matter be manipulated, then all the blame will be placed on our heads!"

We must find a way to quell this as soon as possible!

"Simple. Just issue a notice in the name of the association, and all textile workers will get a two-yuan raise on their monthly salary."

"But this only applies to individual workers; all indentured laborers under the management of foremen are not included."

"However, we welcome them to sign labor contracts with the factory in their own name."

Lin Yi casually offered a solution.

Duan Xinde is cunning, yet incredibly stupid.

This kind of situation, which starts with demanding a pay raise, can be easily resolved with a pay raise.

Textile workers in Guangzhou earn slightly less than those in Shanghai.

Add two more, and that's nearly 30% off.

Even the underground Communist Party would be grateful to this rate of growth, let alone these bonded laborers who were being directed by others.

As for whether this incident will lead to insatiable greed and endless troubles, it remains to be seen whether such a fuss will cause this situation to arise.

Lin Yi wasn't worried at all.

There is a national characteristic called gratitude.

There is a relationship where there is no troublemaker without cruel exploitation.

Initially, their own textile factory stopped production and started paying wages. Later, they started assembling bicycles. At the busiest time, the female workers volunteered to work overtime for free.

So even if there's a small group of bad people among them, they won't amount to much.

The solution came rather suddenly, and Chen Qiyuan was a little caught off guard.

Seeing him in a daze, Lin Yi smiled and said, "Brother Qiyuan, are you reluctant to spend the extra two yuan?"

"No."

Chen Qiyuan quickly shook his head.

He would definitely be excited about those two dollars when the market is tough.

However, with Feng Hua's production line, production costs dropped significantly, making it irrelevant.

Moreover, he was also a director of the association and knew that the issue of a salary increase would be raised in the near future.

Besides enhancing the association's social reputation, another objective is to further increase the production costs of foreign-invested textile factories by raising wage levels.

It also allows us to bring over skilled workers.

The same purpose was also involved in targeting the foremen of the bonded laborers.

The foreman, as a product of the industry, originated in foreign-owned factories.

"Then let's do it this way. As for some small factories that can't afford it right now, the association won't make things difficult for them. They will definitely provide the assistance they need."

"clear."

Lin Yi solved the last problem with a single sentence, and Chen Qiyuan immediately smiled.

As for factories that are not members of the association, he, as an association director, certainly has no say in them.

After all, he's someone who's seen the world.

Chen Qiyuan did not leave. He went to the hotel front desk, asked for some parchment paper, rolled it up into a paper megaphone, and rushed into the striking crowd.

Perhaps due to their slow reaction, the large number of police officers only arrived at this point with a few fire trucks...

"It's over already?"

The Civil Affairs Bureau received a report from its secretary that the strike and demonstration on Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro had ended.

Chen Bonan, who had just received the news twenty minutes earlier and immediately issued the order to disperse, was somewhat surprised.

He had experienced strikes many times.

Each time, a strong crackdown is needed, with a batch of people arrested or even a few ringleaders executed, before things can be settled.

This is the first time I've seen something end so quickly.

"The Textile Federation intervened, and Chen Qiyuan agreed on the spot that all workers in textile factories belonging to the Federation would receive a two-yuan raise."

"The factory owners who came also made statements."

"However, the ringleaders disagreed and insisted on doubling the wages. As a result, they were pointed out by several factory owners as foremen of indentured laborers. The crowd was enraged, and one of them was beaten to death on the spot by the striking workers."

Hearing his secretary's words, Chen Bonan was dumbfounded.

After a moment, he realized what was going on.

"Is today's incident related to the bonded laborers?"

"should be."

The secretary nodded: "You just gave instructions on this matter yesterday, and this situation has arisen today. I'm afraid it has affected the interests of some people."

"Ah."

Chen Bonan was so angry he laughed: "Damn it, how come I didn't know there was such a powerful figure in Guangdong Province?"