Chapter 146: I Hope My Former Colleagues Are Somewhat Prepared

Feng Weizhi glared at Chen Huajiang with intense malice, his heart growing increasingly resentful, yet shadowed by a budding fear.

"You think you’re the only one expanding quickly? You think I’ve been standing still?"

"No, I’ve just chosen not to expand near the staff quarters. The Red Flag Factory is considered a relatively efficient enterprise, yet new employees have gone three months without pay, and the veterans have gone two. People still have spare cash for now, but what happens in a few more months? Four, five, half a year, or even a year?"

"Do you really think anyone will be eating at the factory gates then? Will your shops have any business left? The only reason I stopped competing with you at the factory gates is because I don’t see a future in the factory’s economic situation."

Chen Huajiang spoke with disdain, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding crowd. His words were not just an attack on Feng Weizhi, but a warning to the Red Flag Factory workers. Having been a worker at the Red Flag Factory himself, Chen still held a deep attachment to the place. In every crisis, only those who are well-prepared have the best chance of survival. Even if only a few people listened and made preparations, they would be better equipped to weather the storm when the crisis finally hit.

"Impossible! That’s just nonsense!"

"You're making me laugh. Isn't it normal for a factory to have its ups and downs? Just because wages are two months late doesn't mean they won't be paid next month."

"Chen Huajiang, I think you're just spreading rumors to stir up trouble. You were fired by our factory, so you can't stand to see the Red Flag Factory do well. You’re truly a small-minded person!"

Following Chen Huajiang’s words, the surrounding workers retorted with disdain. However, some began to ponder, their expressions turning grave.

"Impossible, he’s just spouting nonsense!"

Feng Weizhi was panicking. Although he gritted his teeth and his face was full of hatred, his eyes were flustered. He couldn't help but think about how he had been aggressively expanding lately, while Chen Huajiang had stopped opening new shops at factory gates—the very area where Chen had been the pioneer. But he quickly dismissed the thought; it had to be nonsense. Like most people, he believed that since the factory belonged to the state, it was impossible for them to run out of money. If they couldn't pay wages, the factory would go bankrupt, and that was inconceivable.

"If that’s really the case, then why are you still running shops here and at the gates of the textile mill?" Feng Weizhi pointed at Chen Huajiang and shouted, using his own logic against him. If Chen truly believed the factory wouldn't be able to pay wages for long, why would he open shops at the factory gates at all?

Sure enough, the crowd began to look at Chen Huajiang with strange expressions.

"He's just spreading fear!"

"Does he think we're fools? If he really thought the factory couldn't pay wages, he wouldn't be opening shops there."

"Boss Feng is right. This guy clearly can't compete with you, so he’s just talking rubbish." The crowd chimed in, their eyes filled with mockery. It was clear they shared Feng’s view that Chen was simply babbling.

"I’m just making some quick money. Since I was fired, I have to do something, or I’d be eating through my savings," Chen replied calmly, not intending to say much more. Everything he had said was based on his foresight; if he pushed further or sounded too certain, he wouldn't be able to explain himself. He couldn't exactly tell them he had memories of the future or that he was a reincarnated soul—they’d likely have him dissected for study.

"Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!"

"Smash it! Smash it all for me! I’m going to wreck his shop to pieces today!" Feng Weizhi, now flustered, gritted his teeth and ordered his thugs. He had already decided internally that, after today, he would stop his expansion and focus on recouping his initial investment. He would wait to see how the factory's situation developed before deciding whether to expand or move to another location.

"Brothers, smash it! Whoever blocks us, take them out!" The thug known as Wolf Dog gave Chen Huajiang an arrogant look before waving his men toward the shop.

A cacophony of smashing erupted. But the triumph lasted less than five seconds. Before they could finish, a few of his subordinates came racing over on bicycles.

"It's bad, boss! Something's happened!"

"They're demanding refunds on their membership cards! Customers at the Steel Mill and Cotton Mill branches are all demanding refunds!"

"There’s no money left in the shops. They want you to get there immediately!"

A young man in a "Tasty and Fresh" uniform jumped off his bike and shouted at Feng Weizhi. He looked anxious and terrified. Unlike previous days, the customers were firm in their demands. When told there was no money in the till, they didn't agree to come back later; instead, they had surrounded the shops, demanding cash on the spot and nearly coming to blows.

"No money?"

"Wait, was Chen Huajiang right? Did Boss Feng and the 'Tasty and Fresh' restaurant use the customers' prepaid money to fund their expansion?"

"We must not top up those membership cards. Something bad is going to happen."

As the employee spoke, the crowd grew restless, their eyes fixed on Feng Weizhi with suspicion.

"Shut up!" Feng Weizhi was furious. He glared at the employee with such malice he could have killed him. Was this something that should be shouted in public?

"If there’s no money, can’t you go withdraw it? Is the bank closed?"

"You idiot, don't you know to tell the finance department to go queue at the bank?" Feng Weizhi had some quick wit, and he roared loudly. This managed to dispel some of the suspicion, leading many to believe that Feng still had money.

"Let’s go, to the bank!"

"Chen Huajiang, I’ll spare you today. I’ll give you one more day—get this shop cleared out."

"Otherwise, I’ll smash every single thing, even if it's just a stool!"

Afraid to linger, Feng Weizhi threatened Chen Huajiang bitterly and led his men away. With the show over, the workers dispersed as well. However, a few workers who were closer to Chen approached him.

"Huajiang, how certain are you about what you said earlier? Is it really possible our Red Flag Factory won't be able to pay wages for half a year?"

The speaker was a master worker in his forties with graying hair. He handed Chen Huajiang an Ashima cigarette and asked with a frown. Several other senior workers also looked at Chen, waiting for an answer.

"It’s all just speculation and analysis. Who dares to speak with certainty about things that haven't happened yet?"

"But if you pay more attention to the news from the Northeast, you might share my concern. They have more factories than we do, and some of the less efficient ones have gone nearly half a year without paying wages."

"Their today might just be our tomorrow. You know what I mean? Preparing for the worst is never a bad thing."

Chen Huajiang took the cigarette, took a drag, and spoke. In those days, the Northeast was the country's economic powerhouse and the bellwether for economic trends, so as soon as they heard this, their expressions grew increasingly grave. After chatting with Chen for a while longer, they left, deep in thought.