Anderson was a very ordinary worker. Recently, the frequency of the factory's downtime had increased, which made everyone very uneasy.
Since last year, there had been a one-week downtime every month. Now, there was a one-week downtime every month. A kind of panic was spreading in every worker's heart, especially … when he heard that the factory was about to collapse.
It wasn't that the factory was losing money or anything. In fact, the factory wasn't losing money. It was just that the products it produced were getting worse and worse. Many of the products were piled up in the warehouse and slowly covered in dust.
If the products couldn't be sold, there would be no income. In addition to the cost of investment, the warehouse management fees, the workers' wages, and other losses, it became the factory owner's biggest headache.
Although he always promised the workers that he would do his best to keep the factory alive, everyone had a feeling that the day of changing jobs was not far away.
Today was payday. Early in the morning, Anderson tidied himself up and came to the outside of the factory. Everyone was chatting in groups of three to five about some common topics. Most of them were about who had suddenly become rich, or how some of the surrounding factories had closed down.
In the past, they didn't feel that life would be so difficult, especially in the past few years. The factory was running non-stop from morning to night. After work every day, the workers were so tired that they couldn't lift their arms.
At that time, it was very tiring, but also very fulfilling. As long as they worked, there would be great rewards. The factory owner even expanded the factory and added more jobs for this reason …
Everyone was chatting, reminiscing about the past, or filled with fear for the future. At this moment, there was a sudden noise in the factory's finance office.
The noise instantly pricked everyone's sensitive nerves. Most of them immediately stopped what they were doing and jogged toward the finance office's door.
When Anderson got closer, he found that a few workers were arguing with the factory owner, who was their boss. There were two reasons for the argument.
First, the factory would be completely shut down from next month. As for the resumption of work, everyone had to wait for the notice.
This was equivalent to telling everyone that the factory was finished. The so-called resumption of work might not even exist. The Federation's salary was based on the working hours. You could get as much money as you did.
This system had always been very reasonable, especially for the hardworking workers. The more they worked, the more they would get. Everyone worked hard to contribute to the factory.
Once there was a complete shutdown, it meant that these workers would not be able to earn a single cent for the next month!
Most families in the Federation didn't have the habit of actively saving money. In addition, the interest rates of the six major banks in the Federation had been constantly decreasing recently. There wasn't much difference between saving money in the bank and holding it in their hands.
This further reduced people's impulse to deposit money in the bank.
Money had a very special attribute. When you had money in your hands, you would have an inexplicable desire to spend. The more money you had, the stronger the desire to spend.
Maybe he wanted to buy a Haute Dawg that he rarely bought to satisfy his appetite, or maybe he wanted to buy a pack of cigarettes that he had never bought before to enjoy the mellow smell of burning money.
Without savings, their livelihood depended entirely on their salary. If they didn't even have a salary, many families would immediately fall into a terrible situation where their operations would cease!
What was even more frightening was the expiration of the payment terms for all kinds of products, including houses and cars. This would become a burden that would overwhelm the lives of the people!
A few years ago, the whole world began to stabilize from the chaotic war. The Federation, which had been drifting away from the war, began to develop rapidly.
A lot of things were introduced, including the way of spending and the concept of spending. Not only could houses be paid in installments, but so could cars. As long as one had a social security card and legal citizenship, even buying a TV could be paid in installments.
Everyone was enjoying the huge benefits of the era. It was as if there was money everywhere. As long as one bent down, one could pick up the money.
But now, these unpaid installments had become a noose around people's necks. It could tighten at any time and take away people's lives!
A few workers were arguing with their boss about this matter. They demanded that the boss start work next month, and no later than ten days. This was their final insistence.
They would work for a day and rest for two days. If this couldn't be guaranteed, their lives would become a problem.
Obviously, the boss kept a cold face and kept shaking his head. He couldn't accept such a request.
Business was not good at the moment. The markets around Saibin City and even within the state were saturated. It was difficult to sell the products in large quantities like before. The rate of return was slow. The money that was returned was basically spent on storage fees and wages.
If he continued to work, he had no other choice but to go bankrupt. The only thing he could do now was to stop work completely and find a way to sell his products. Or, he could find a way to solve the problem and continue work.
The workers were at a loss. In fact, the boss was also at a loss. The products were very popular. Why did they stop selling in just one or two years?
In the past, a lot of people drove trucks outside the warehouse and rushed to load the goods. But now, some people were calling him to ask if they could return the goods, even if it was only 30% of the price!
Other than the problem of stopping work, there was another problem, and that was the way to pay the workers' salaries.
"The factory's account doesn't have much money left. We can't pay all of you. So, maybe we can use another way to pay you …"
Regarding the issue of stopping work, everyone had stopped arguing. The workers decided to let the union step in. At this moment, they were looking at the boss coldly. There was no longer any friendliness between them. Not only was there a wall between them, but they were also enemies.
The boss's eyelids twitched. He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes. His voice was a little dry and hoarse. "I don't know how to say this …" He looked at the unfamiliar workers around him and sighed. "You already know the factory's current situation. I don't have any more money …"
Before he could finish, the workers closest to him suddenly burst into an uproar. The uproar quickly spread in all directions, and the entire factory was noisy. In the end, even the factory owner put away his unnecessary emotions and coldly watched the workers quarrel and make a ruckus.
After a while, the uproar didn't get any response. Since they couldn't solve the problem, they quieted down.
At this moment, the boss had a sneer on his face. He was sneering at the workers and also at himself. However, he quickly withdrew his sneer.
"I will pay you your salary based on the cost price of the products we produce."
You can refuse to accept it. You can even go to the union or the court to sue me. Just as well, I can apply for bankruptcy protection. Everyone will be finished together!
If you are willing to accept it, go to the warehouse and get your 'salary'! "
After he finished speaking, he turned around and went back to the finance office. Then, an accountant and a few managers came out to calm the workers down.
Anderson stood in the crowd like a puppet. His mind was full of noise and ringing in his ears. The only thing he could think about at this time was that the sky was falling.
In fact, he didn't have to worry at all because he would get used to it soon.
Some of the workers started to make a fuss, while others quietly went to get the goods in the warehouse. At least these things were more or less things. As long as they were things, they had value. It was better than nothing, wasn't it?
Outside the warehouse, he numbly took out a pen and signed his name on the account book for receiving his salary. Then, he looked at the three big boxes of household appliances. His head was buzzing.
What should he do in the future?
Anderson, who was carrying the three boxes, had just walked out of the factory when a gust of wind blew. Suddenly, something floated in the wind and covered his face.
He tore it off and opened it. It was a poster that was commonly seen on the streets. A handsome man with eight teeth was holding a glittering advertising slogan — "Ariedai, A Niudai".