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Chapter 65: Every Day Is a New Day
Recently, the factory's increasing frequency of shutdowns had everyone feeling uneasy. It all began with a week off each month last year, and now it had escalated to working one week and shutting down the next. A sense of panic was spreading among the workers, especially since there were rumors that the factory might not survive much longer.
It wasn't that the factory was losing money; in fact, it wasn't operating at a loss. The problem was the diminishing demand for its products. Many goods were piling up in the warehouse, slowly accumulating dust. If things didn't sell, there would be no income. With the costs of production, warehouse management, workers' wages, and other losses, it became the factory owner's biggest headache.
Despite the factory owner's assurances to the workers that he would do everything possible to keep the factory running, everyone had a feeling that the days of finding a new job were not far away.
Anderson (安德森) was a very ordinary worker, and today was his payday. He arrived at the factory early in the morning, neatly dressed. People gathered in small groups, chatting about ordinary topics—mostly about who suddenly became wealthy or which nearby factories had recently closed.
In the past, they never felt life would be this challenging, especially a few years ago when the factory operated continuously from morning till night. Back then, they were tired but fulfilled. Hard work brought generous rewards, and the factory owner even expanded the facilities, creating more job opportunities.
As they reminisced about the past or feared the future, a commotion erupted from the factory's finance office.
The noisy sounds instantly pricked everyone's sensitive nerves. Most people immediately stopped what they were doing and hurried towards the finance office.
Upon approaching, Anderson discovered that some workers were arguing with the factory owner— their boss. There were two reasons for the argument.
First, the factory would shut down completely from next month onwards, and they would have to wait for further notice about resuming work. This essentially meant the end of the factory, as the prospect of resuming work seemed non-existent. The federal salary system was based on working hours, meaning they earned money for the tasks they completed. This system had always been reasonable, especially for hardworking individuals who received more in return for their efforts. If the factory shut down entirely, these workers would have no income next month.
Most ordinary families in the federation did not have a habit of actively saving money, and with the recent lowering of interest rates in the six major federal banks, the difference between keeping money in the bank and holding it in hand had become negligible. This further diminished the incentive to deposit money in banks.
Money has a unique property—when one has it, an inexplicable desire to spend arises. The more money one has, the stronger the desire to consume. It could be buying an extravagant treat or indulging in a pack of high-quality cigarettes one hadn't tried before. Without savings, life depended entirely on salaries. If salaries were gone, many households would immediately face the terrifying prospect of coming to a halt.
Another frightening aspect was the expiration of various installment products, including houses and cars. This would become an overwhelming burden in people's lives.
In the past few years, as the world stabilized after the chaos, the federation, previously staying out of wars, began rapid development. Many new things emerged, including new ways and concepts of consumption. Not only could houses and cars be purchased in installments, but even a television could be bought on installment plans, as long as one had a social security card and legal citizenship. Everyone enjoyed enormous benefits from the era, where money seemed abundant.
Now, those unpaid installments became a noose around people's necks, ready to tighten and snatch away lives at any moment.
A few workers were arguing with the boss about the factory shutting down. They demanded that the factory must resume operations next month for at least ten days, which was their final insistence. Working for a day and resting for two was the only way to ensure their livelihoods.
However, the boss remained stern, constantly shaking his head. He couldn't accept such demands. Business was tough now, and the markets in and around Sabin City, even within the state, were saturated. Products were difficult to sell in bulk like before, and the slow return of funds mainly went towards warehouse fees and salary.
Continuing operations would only lead to bankruptcy. The only option now was a complete shutdown, finding a way for the products, or identifying and solving the problem before resuming operations.
Workers felt lost, and so did the factory owner. The products had clearly been selling well, but within a short span of one or two years, they suddenly became unsellable. In the past, numerous people would drive trucks, rushing to load goods outside the warehouse. However, nowadays, some individuals were even calling the factory, inquiring about the possibility of returning goods, even if it meant getting only thirty percent of their money back!
Apart from the shutdown issue, there was another problem—the payment method for this month's salary.
"The factory's account doesn't have much money left to pay all of you, so I thought maybe we could use a different method to issue your salaries," the boss explained.
The discussion about the shutdown had stopped, and the workers decided to let the union handle it. At this moment, their faces were icy cold as they stared at the factory owner, devoid of the past friendliness. Not only was there a wall between them, but they had also become adversaries to each other.
The boss's eyelids twitched, and he rubbed his eyes. His voice was dry and hoarse as he continued, "I don't know how to say this.” He glanced around the surrounding workers and sighed, “You're already aware of the factory's current situation. I can't come up with the money anymore."
Before he could finish, the workers nearest to him erupted in an uproar. The commotion quickly spread, engulfing the entire factory in noise. Eventually, even the boss suppressed unnecessary emotions and looked coldly at the workers arguing and making a scene.
After a while, the noise subsided. Unable to achieve any response or resolution, the workers quieted down.
At this moment, a faint sneer appeared on the factory owner's face, directed not only at these workers but also at himself. However, he quickly restrained it.
"I will compensate you by providing the products we manufactured, with the salary being determined based on the standard cost of production for those items."
"You can refuse to accept it, or you can go to the union or the court to sue me. I can simply apply for bankruptcy protection, and then we can all go down together!"
"If you're willing to accept, go to the warehouse and collect your 'salaries'!" After saying this, he turned and walked back into the finance office. Shortly afterward, an accountant and a few members of the management team came out to calm the emotions.
Anderson, like a puppet, stood in the crowd, swept along by the current. His mind was filled with buzzing and ringing noises. At this moment, he felt like the sky was collapsing.
In reality, he had nothing to worry about because he would soon adapt.
Some workers started to protest, while others silently went to collect the unsold products. At least these items were something, and anything was better than nothing.
Outside the warehouse, Anderson numbly took out a pen and signed his name in the salary book. Then, he stared at three large boxes of household appliances, his mind buzzing.
What should he do in the days to come?
Anderson, with three boxes on his back, had just stepped out of the factory gate when a gust of wind picked up. Out of nowhere, something drifted along with the breeze, briefly covering his face.
Taking it off his face, he found a common poster featuring a man with an extraordinary demeanor, showing a full smile and holding a dazzling advertisement slogan— "Every day is a New Day."
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