Chapter 76 Workers

Chapter 76: The Workers

In the restaurant, at a square table draped with a white tablecloth, Zhao Guangyuan sat quietly, checking his watch again, clearly awaiting someone.

As a Director, a mid-ranking official, Zhao Guangyuan typically exuded a calm and gentle demeanor, whether at work or in his leisure time.

Yet, at this moment, as he sat waiting, occasionally glancing at his watch and looking towards the restaurant entrance, a subtle anxiety, uncharacteristic of his usual self, began to surface—

He was waiting for Jiang Luo.

He knew Jiang Luo would certainly not agree to see him.

However, his desire to meet and talk with Jiang Luo led him to leverage his authority and connections as a Director. He called Juxiang Town, using the town government's influence to arrange a meeting with Jiang Luo.

Consequently, Jiang Luo was unaware that he was scheduled to meet Zhao Guangyuan today.

The town government had simply informed him that a municipal bureau official wished to see him.

Jiang Luo arrived. Just as he was about to inquire with the restaurant server about the reservation of the official surnamed Zhao and whether he had arrived, he looked up and saw Zhao Guangyuan gesturing to him.

Jiang Luo immediately realized who he was truly meant to meet and that he had been misled.

He betrayed no emotion, turned, and began to walk away.

"Jiang Luo!"

Zhao Guangyuan quickly rose, intending to pursue him.

Jiang Luo, who had already taken a few steps, silently halted. He knew that if he didn't address the matter today, the Zhao family would continue to pester him.

He wasn't concerned about another factory-wide scandal or gossip, as had happened before; he simply wished to avoid dedicating any more of his limited energy to the Zhao family's entanglements.

So, Jiang Luo stopped, turned back, and re-entered the restaurant.

"Sir?"

The server, puzzled, inquired.

Jiang Luo raised a hand, indicating nothing was amiss, and walked directly towards Zhao Guangyuan.

Seeing his return, Zhao Guangyuan breathed a sigh of relief. As Jiang Luo approached, he gestured for him to "sit." Once Jiang Luo was seated, Zhao Guangyuan also sat down.

The server came to pour water. Zhao Guangyuan and Jiang Luo, seated opposite each other, remained silent. Zhao Guangyuan observed Jiang Luo, who, in turn, looked down at his watch.

After the server departed, Jiang Luo looked up and immediately cut to the chase: "I know what you want to say."

"Let me be clear, and I'll repeat it for you."

"I have absolutely no connection with your Zhao family."

"I will stay where I am and will not go anywhere your Zhao family is."

"You don't need to, nor should you, come to the company or the factory looking for me, telling me to 'come home.'"

"Understand this: I have no home."

"The silk mill is not my home, and your Zhao family is not my home either."

"I have no parents, I acknowledge no parents, and you are not my parents."

Despite Zhao Guangyuan's mental preparation, hearing these words still left him feeling deeply hurt and aggrieved.

However, Zhao Guangyuan was, after all, neither Zhao Guangqian nor Su Lan; he displayed neither anger nor overt sorrow.

He simply paused, looked calmly at Jiang Luo, and said earnestly: "I... I understand."

"You've expressed yourself very clearly, and I've heard everything."

"My purpose in meeting you today isn't to ask you to come home. I know your stance."

"I merely wish to ask you, calmly: why?"

"Why won't you come home?"

"Why won't you acknowledge me, your mother, and your brother?"

"What are your true thoughts?"

"Is it resentment that we found you but didn't bring you home immediately?"

"Or is it because you believe Zhao Mingshi stole your life, yet we continued to treat him as our son, and you deeply resent this?"

"Or if it's none of these, then what is it? Can you tell me?"

"I genuinely want to know."

Jiang Luo looked at Zhao Guangyuan, at his humble and earnest demeanor, and found it utterly ridiculous.

In his past life, he had yearned for Zhao Guangyuan to truly see him, for them to have a calm father-son conversation, hoping Zhao Guangyuan would love him as much as he loved Zhao Mingshi.

But what was the outcome?

In this life, the very things he once craved were now offered freely, eagerly, and sincerely by Zhao Guangyuan, presented on a silver platter.

How could Jiang Luo describe the stark contrast between these two lives?

Nothing but laughable—completely laughable.

He held no desire for any of it; in fact, he coldly perceived Zhao Guangyuan as somewhat pathetic in that moment—

Wasn't it pathetic?

If not, why would he stoop so low?

He was a respected Director, after all.

In this life, he wanted to reconcile, acknowledge kinship, and reclaim his son?

Was it because this biological son wasn't squandering his life at Oriental No. 1?

Not only was he not squandering it, but he had also established a legitimate business, hadn't disappointed them, and had even earned their respect?

Ha.

Jiang Luo merely wanted to laugh.

He should have realized it long ago—he should have realized it in his previous life.

What did blood, parents, family ties, or love even mean?

Utter nonsense! Pure rubbish!

There was no genuine love in the Zhao family's bones!

Their love was conditional.

If you were doing well, they would actively show you affection;

If you were not, you were trash in their eyes, even if you were their biological child.

Jiang Luo truly couldn't restrain himself, and a mocking smile touched his gaze as he looked at Zhao Guangyuan.

He parted his lips, letting out a scornful chuckle: "For what reason? A reason? Don't pretend you care so much."

He asked Zhao Guangyuan: "Do you truly care?"

"To be blunt, if I were to nod right now and agree to return to your Zhao family, would any of you still care about the 'reason' or 'why'?"

Jiang Luo was done with the entanglement. He stated clearly, word by word: "I'm telling you, there is no reason, no why."

"I, Jiang Luo, acknowledge no one. No one has the right to be my parent."

"I didn't care then whether you came to the silk factory to acknowledge me or take me back."

"I don't care whether you continue to treat Zhao Mingshi as your son or whether you like him."

"I don't care about anyone or anything in your Zhao family."

"Listen closely, I'll say it one last time—"

"I, Jiang Luo, have no connection, absolutely no connection, with anyone in your Zhao family."

"I am me, and you are you."

"Please stop coming to find me, and stop talking about 'going home' or not."

"I, Jiang Luo, have no parents and no home."

"I am my own home."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Luo stood up and walked away without a single backward glance.

Zhao Guangyuan listened, his face etched with devastation and loss.

He finally understood: Jiang Luo wasn't merely sulking, nor was there some specific reason he refused to acknowledge them or return home.

Jiang Luo simply wanted no connection with them whatsoever.

Put simply, he didn't want them.

He didn't want them.

Didn't.

Zhao Guangyuan, usually so composed in the face of adversity, found his eyes welling up with tears.

His son didn't want him.

His biological son didn't want him.

They had lost eighteen years due to the mix-up, a full eighteen years.

From now on, Jiang Luo would remain a stranger to them.

Zhao Guangyuan's heart turned to ice, as if someone were twisting a knife in his chest. He was so pained he wanted to weep.

Jiang Luo, oh, Jiang Luo, Jiang Luo...

Zhao Guangyuan could only repeat his name endlessly in his mind.

He, too, felt regret, just like Su Lan. Regret that when they went to the tenement building back then, they hadn't immediately brought Jiang Luo home.

If they had taken the child home that day, if only...

Alas, the world offers everything but "what ifs."

There are no "what ifs," only the disappointment and disdain they felt when they saw Jiang Luo last April, and their decision to turn back and leave.

What kind of cause ultimately yields what kind of effect.

In the face of karma, there are no "what ifs," no lucky breaks, only the relentless march of destiny.

And at this very moment, Jiang Luo's and the factory workers' destinies were also unfolding—

In a state-run chemical oil factory in Juxiang Town, on an empty plot behind the workshop, a group of workers gathered, some sitting, some squatting, some standing.

Initially, the group was a cacophony of voices, everyone speaking at once.

Suddenly, someone shouted loudly: "Right! We must fight for our own rights as workers!"

"Exactly!"

Someone immediately echoed.

A man with a crew cut raised his hand, signaling for silence.

Once everyone quieted down, the crew-cut man spoke: "Let me first summarize our current demands for everyone."

"I'll go first, point by point. If I miss anything, you can all add it later, alright?"

"Alright."

"Okay."

The workers responded from the crowd.

The crew-cut man stood, facing the crowd, and declared: "First, we demand the factory sign a 20-year contract with us to ensure we can keep our jobs and won't be laid off again due to some restructuring, leaving us without work or wages."

"Second, we demand the factory ensure our monthly wage is no less than 350 yuan..."

...

The man listed several demands, one after another. By the end, the workers were once again talking over each other, and the order broke down.

However, one point received unanimous approval.

That was the crew-cut man from earlier, who was elected by everyone as their representative. The crew-cut man would serve as the workers' representative to "negotiate" with the expanding Shengfei Clothing Factory in their town.

The crew-cut man, like a leader, raised his hand again, signaling for silence, and once more declared loudly: "Don't worry, everyone. I represent all of you, and I will certainly have a proper discussion with them."

"We won't simply accept being assigned to work there without a clear outcome from the negotiations."

"Exactly!"

"Right!"

"We need an explanation!"

"We must fight for our rights as workers!"

"Right! We're not donkeys—we won't work for free with blinders on!"

"We must negotiate! We need to get everything we're entitled to!"

"Absolutely!"...

Jiang Luo arrived at the town government building, where Deputy Mayor Wu Dayong's secretary personally ushered him inside and led him upstairs.

As they ascended the stairs, Jiang Luo asked the secretary: "What's the reason for calling me here?"

The secretary, still walking, replied: "There's definitely something, but I'm not entirely clear on the specifics, Mr. Jiang. Once you're upstairs, Town Mayor Wu will discuss it with you."

He then added warmly and politely: "We just received a batch of new tea. I'll go prepare some for you. Please go ahead into the office—I'll bring the tea in shortly."

Jiang Luo mused that bringing out the new tea likely indicated that this matter was out of the ordinary.

"Town Mayor Wu."

Entering the office, Jiang Luo greeted him with a smile.

"Xiao Jiang, you're here. Please, have a seat, come, sit."

Wu Dayong was also very enthusiastic, making a point to rise from behind his desk to welcome Jiang Luo.

The two sat down on the wooden sofa nearby and exchanged pleasantries and light conversation.

Wu Dayong pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "Things must be busy at the factory lately, right?"

He offered one to Jiang Luo.

Jiang Luo accepted it, holding the cigarette between his fingers. "Busy, yes—there's a lot going on. But no matter how busy, it certainly can't compare to how busy you must be here, Town Mayor Wu."

Knowing Jiang Luo didn't smoke, Wu Dayong lit his own cigarette and, as he smoked, chatted with Jiang Luo about the factory's expansion.

Upon learning that the first batch of equipment had already arrived, Wu Dayong nodded: "Excellent, excellent. New equipment is here—we'll put it to good use..."

Shortly after, the secretary brought in tea, smiling. "New tea—give it a taste."

"Yes, yes, new tea," Wu Dayong urged Jiang Luo. "Try it."

He added: "I don't really distinguish between new and old tea; I just drink it casually. See what you think."

Jiang Luo lifted the teacup, blew on the tea, took a careful sip, and exclaimed, "Mmm! This is good tea."

"Good to hear."

Wu Dayong also took a sip of tea as the secretary exited.

Once the door closed, Wu Dayong took a couple more sips before saying: "Well, Mr. Jiang, the reason I called you here is about a certain matter."

Wu Dayong got straight to the point. As deputy town mayor, he felt confident and held a certain standing when dealing with private business owners like Jiang Luo.

Of course, Jiang Luo was different from other private business owners—he had business interests and collaborations with the town government, so Wu Dayong valued Jiang Luo and their relationship.

Thus, Wu Dayong spoke very politely: "Here's the situation. There used to be a state-owned factory in town, a chemical oil plant."

"It underwent restructuring, as you know."

"That factory was originally slated to transition from state to private ownership."

"But due to some special circumstances, that factory was later acquired by an oil plant from the city."

"After the acquisition, the factory was re-planned, and they no longer needed so many workers."

"As you know, these workers are all locals from town..."

Wu Dayong continued, sighing: "So many people, if they all end up unemployed, their livelihoods will be a problem. Men, women, old, young—town security could become an issue too..."

Jiang Luo understood: Wu Dayong wanted the workers laid off from the oil plant during restructuring to join his clothing factory.