You're supposed to be a security officer, what case are you solving?

Chapter 33 Who goes to a meeting without wearing a helmet?

Yang Jinwen, who had taken leave, was riding his old-fashioned bicycle through the city's alleyways.

Annan City has three districts and six counties. The Chengbei branch is located in the old city area, which manages a larger population. The buildings are dilapidated, and the facades are all gray and dusty, like black and white photographs.

The oncoming bus was very characteristic of the era, with three blue lines painted on its body, and the bus driver wearing white gloves, maneuvering a slippery steering wheel.

It's 10 a.m. now, and the sunlight isn't very strong yet.

Yang Jinwen didn't plan to go home. Instead, he went straight to Anan Steel Plant, intending to sit in Yang Dachuan's office and have lunch with him in the canteen.

Besides, Jiang Hong helped him last night, so he should go and thank her.

The An'nan Steel Plant is located in the northern suburbs of the city. Yang Jinwen could see two large chimneys in the plant from afar, which were unusually not emitting any white smoke.

Suddenly, he remembered that June 4th in his previous life, which is today, was the first day of layoffs at the Annan Steel Plant.

Yang Jinwen stopped his bicycle, thinking that he might as well just go home, since today was a complete mess anyway.

Yang Jinwen thought for a moment, let out a breath, and decided to go and see if he could at least help.

When I arrived at the gate by bicycle, there were two rows of large red slogans written on the walls on both sides of the gate.

[Be a pioneer in safety work.]

Both the main gate and the side gate were locked, and the only person on duty in the guard room was Wei Dashan, the head chef of the canteen.

He was the one who helped identify Huang Cuicui's body last time.

Yang Jinwen jumped off his bicycle, pushed it to the small window, and called out, "Uncle Wei."

Wei Dashan stood behind the door, tiptoeing, looking anxiously at the factory office building behind him, but because of the factory buildings blocking his view, he couldn't see anything.

Hearing the sound, he sighed and turned around, only to find it was Yang Jinwen. He glanced furtively at the door.

Yang Jinwen knew what he was wary of: he was afraid that the family members would rush into the factory and cause trouble.

The layoff list is selected based on family circumstances. For example, if Zhang San's wife works in a cotton mill and his son also has a job, who will be laid off if he is not?
You say you've received the March 8th Red Banner Pacesetter award? Li Si even received the Advanced Model Worker award.

You said your seventh great-uncle works in the city? He drives for his boss?

Sorry, I made a mistake. I'll cross your name out now.

Wei Dashan opened the door and let Yang Jinwen in, then quickly closed the door behind him.

"Xiao Yang, you're so lucky. Being a policeman is a secure job, while our jobs are like porcelain bowls, which will eventually be smashed."

Yang Jinwen parked his old bicycle in the shed without turning around immediately, because he couldn't face Wei Dashan's words.

A speck of dust in the era can feel like a mountain on everyone's head.

Liu Huan's song "Starting Over" can't inspire the laid-off workers of today. Will they be able to embrace a better life after enduring the pain of this era? Who knows!

"Uncle Wei, please go ahead with your work," Yang Jinwen greeted him and walked towards the factory office building.

After walking around the huge factory building, Yang Jinwen saw several hundred people standing in the yard. They were wearing blue overalls and red safety helmets, and some workers also had armbands on their shoulders.

These people stood in twos and threes, their faces full of worry. Some squatted in the courtyard, their eyes devoid of any light.

A dozen or so security personnel stood on the steps of the factory office building, maintaining order.

Jiang Hong stood at the top, holding a large megaphone, glaring menacingly at the crowd below.

Yang Jinwen walked around the huge flowerpot in front of the door and came to Jiang Hong's side.

"Uncle Jiang."

"Hey, Xiao Yang, what brings you here? Was everything alright last night?" "Not really." Yang Jinwen couldn't talk about the case, so he changed the subject, saying, "Thank you so much to you and Brother Yu yesterday."

Jiang Hong chuckled: "It's no big deal. The North City Branch Bureau is in charge of our Security Section."

Besides, you're a policeman now, and you've solved such a big case. I never expected you to have this ability. You really make our security chief proud!

I heard about it when I was giving my statement yesterday. They gave you a third-class merit, but if you ask me, you should have been given a first-class merit!

Regardless, you're a good worker; at least it's better than staying in our steel mill!

Yang Jinwen smiled, glanced at the silent workers below, pulled him aside, and whispered, "When will you announce it?"

Jiang Hong glanced at her watch: "Ten minutes left."

He then added, "It's not a big deal. The compensation has been prepared and there won't be any delays. Besides, the factory's orders will pick up at the end of the year."

Yang Jinwen pursed his lips, unable to voice the words hidden in his heart.

This is only the first batch of laid-off workers. The second batch in the second half of the year, and especially the third batch at the end of the year, will be laid off, which will coincide with the end of the year and be truly despairing.

In an effort to quell the workers' anger, Jiang Hong, who had long stood up for the factory administration, was among them.

Jiang Hong's wife works in a food factory, but she will also lose her job at the beginning of next year. In order to supplement their income, the couple conspired to steal, which eventually turned into robbery.

Yang Jinwen did not participate in the arrest; he only glanced at the suspect in the case-handling hall after the serious crime team brought him back.

Jiang Hong was later sentenced to ten years in prison, and his wife was sentenced to five years.

Yang Jinwen sighed softly and asked, "Where did the factory office put the safety helmets?"

"What do you need this for?" Jiang Hong casually took off the yellow hard hat that her subordinate was wearing and handed it to him: "Here you go."

Yang Jinwen gestured with his lip towards the workers below: "Put it on yourself."

"What's there to be afraid of? They can't possibly rebel against us, can they?"

"For them, it was like the sky had fallen."

Yang Jinwen walked around the first floor, found a box of safety helmets in the equipment room, and carried it upstairs.

Everyone in the factory office knew Yang Jinwen; after all, he was the son of the deputy factory director, a tall man of 1.85 meters, refined and handsome.

"Ha, Xiao Yang, I heard you became a policeman?"

"Yes, Sister Li." Yang Jinwen smiled and took a safety helmet from the box and handed it to her.

"What would I do with this thing? It's dirty and smelly."

Sister Li waved the documents in her hand and smiled, "I'll introduce you to a girl another day, okay?"

Yang Jinwen smiled and said, "I'll think about it."

"Row."

Along the way, Yang Jinwen saw several factory workers offering each of them a safety helmet, but they all politely declined.

When Yang Jinwen arrived at the deputy factory director's office, the loudspeaker outside was already blaring.

The voice of the factory office director resounded throughout the entire Anan Steel Plant.

"Comrades, facing the industry's profound adjustments and the drastic changes in the market environment, our Anan Steel Plant has experienced an unprecedented period of strategic transformation pains."

Here, we first extend our deepest respect to every employee who has shared the trials and tribulations with the steel plant and poured their sweat into building the production line!

(End of this chapter)