The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 226 A Large Amount of Benefits Distributed
"Secretary Li, can our factory keep that much money?"

Deputy Factory Director Hou began by asking a question, but after saying that, he suddenly noticed that many cadres in the meeting room were looking at him, so he added...
"I don't know much about the factory's finances, but wasn't the factory's retained profits abolished this year? I remember they were uniformly converted into a factory bonus fund, and that amount shouldn't be much."

Not just few, but pitifully few. According to the policy, even if the Second Machine Tool Plant had a large number of employees, probably only a few hundred thousand would remain.

At this moment, Deputy Factory Director Liu spoke up to remind him: "Deputy Factory Director Hou, you may have forgotten about the excess profit supplement. Our factory has actually been exceeding its annual production targets."

If we only aim to meet the production targets set at the beginning of the year, then the factory workers will only need to work twelve or thirteen hours a day.

Working fifteen hours a day is purely for the purpose of generating extra benefits beyond the planned scope.

"The Second Machine Tool Plant is not afraid of overproduction. If it produces one more machine tool, it can sell one more machine tool according to the unplanned production schedule."

No matter how the department sets production targets, they cannot exceed the daily working hours of frontline workers.

After hearing Deputy Factory Director Liu's explanation, Deputy Factory Director Hou also remembered this incident.

The department will not set an excessively large production target. At most, it will only ask frontline workers to work overtime for a while. It will never set a production target that is impossible to complete and is almost exploitative.

However, since the department's demand is large, we will purchase the extra production volume outside the plan. This way, we can meet the department's planned needs and also allow the factory to reap the extra revenue from the plan.

It can be said to be a win-win situation.

Otherwise, if all the factory's profits were taken away, it would be a huge blow to the factory's production.

However, it also has its advantages for the Second Machine Tool Plant. At least when the Second Machine Tool Plant applies for R&D projects and mechanical equipment maintenance, the ministry takes full responsibility.

Overall, it's less than last year, but not by much. After all, the Second Machine Tool Plant has significantly improved its production efficiency this year, and it has also produced a lot of machine tools that were not originally planned.

By the end of the year, the factory should have a surplus of over 1.2 million.

Following Zhou Zhiqiang's suggestion, frontline workers would receive an extra month's salary, and cadres would receive an extra half month's salary. The total amount paid would be less than 500,000 yuan, leaving a surplus of 700,000 to 800,000 yuan.

After listening to the report from the head of the finance department, Deputy Factory Director Hou said he had no objections and then offered no further comment.

He came to the Second Machine Tool Factory to make a good impression, not to go against everyone in the factory; he only asked earlier because he was worried that the factory didn't have enough money, but now that he knows the factory has money, why should he care anymore?

Even higher authorities can't control the Second Machine Tool Plant's practice of paying workers, as long as it's approved by the plant's Party Committee and doesn't violate any laws or regulations.

Well, let them pay then. After all, the Second Machine Tool Plant produced more machine tools than planned, and this money was earned through the hard work and overtime of everyone in the plant.

"Is there anything you'd like to say about production? If not, then I have a few more things to add."

As Secretary Li spoke, he looked at Deputy Factory Director Liu and said, "If there's anything about production that needs to be discussed, then Deputy Factory Director Liu, you can speak first."

"I don't have anything to hold on to, except that I need to get familiar with the production process in the precision workshop as soon as possible. I must be familiar with the production process and get into production before the end of the year."

Deputy Factory Director Liu said to the workshop directors of the precision workshop: "You workshop directors should remember to talk to the workers about the production process manual left by Factory Director Zhou."

While production efficiency is important, production accidents must be avoided at all costs; this is something we remind you of every month, and if it still happens, the factory will hold the person responsible accountable.

This "individual" must be the workshop director, since the factory reminds them every month, and if they don't complete the task, it's definitely their responsibility.

After hearing the workshop directors of the precision workshop respond, Deputy Factory Director Liu turned to Secretary Li and said, "Secretary Li, I have said what I needed to say. Now you can tell me what to do next."

"What about the others?"

Secretary Li looked around and, finding no one interrupting him, nodded and began to speak.

"Actually, this matter was discussed with me by Director Zhou. He won't be coming back for the Chinese New Year, so he talked to me and Director Zhou quite a bit about it."
After distributing bonuses to workers and managers, the factory had a surplus of about 700,000 yuan.

Factory Director Zhou suggested that since there was no other use for the existing facilities, they could be used to build a dormitory building for the factory workers. What do you think?

"Dormitory building?"

"Employee dormitories? It seems the factory doesn't have any."

Director Liu from the factory office said, "Many employees want the factory to help coordinate with the street office so that they can allocate some of their vacant rooms to the factory."

But now the housing situation in the neighborhood committee is becoming increasingly tight; there probably won't be any vacant rooms for at least six months.

"Using all of it to build houses? Isn't that a bit wasteful?"

"What else can it be used for?"

Director Tian's rebuttal is quite correct; it seems that the factory's money has no other use.

Although it was for the factory's own use, every penny had to be discussed by the factory's Party Committee and approved by all members before it could be used.

Now the central government has taken away most of the financial power, and factories can apply for funding for the maintenance of machinery and equipment and for technological research and development, so the money is not used for much anymore.

Listening to the discussion in the meeting room, Secretary Li then said, "If no one has any objections, then let's build dormitory buildings. It will improve the conditions for the factory workers. I heard that some workers live far away and have to walk for more than half an hour to get home after work, which wastes their rest time."

The union director chimed in, "I agree with Secretary Li's proposal. The factory does indeed need to provide a dormitory for workers who have difficulty going home."

We've considered the inconvenience of getting home, and even contacted the district government to arrange for an extra bus trip at night for those areas, but it's just a drop in the ocean.

After the union director finished speaking, the other cadres also expressed their opinions.

If they don't have any better suggestions, then building staff dormitories is a good option.

We can't possibly use this money for food and drinks; that's simply impossible. Besides, there aren't many opportunities to use the money right now.

"Since no one has any objections, then this matter is settled. Let's start preparations before the new year. Deputy Factory Director Sun, you will follow up on this matter."

Secretary Li specifically mentioned that the staff dormitory falls under the category of logistics, so it can be left to Deputy Factory Director Sun.

"The estimated allocation is 450,000 yuan. I have two requirements for the factory's employee dormitories: they must be well-fed and have enough rooms for the workers."

Leave about 300,000 yuan for the factory in case of emergencies, otherwise it would be awkward if the factory had no money at all if something happened.

However, after hearing this, Deputy Factory Director Sun immediately clicked his tongue, wondering why another person wanted both.

However, 450,000 is quite a lot. Upon hearing this, Deputy Factory Director Sun nodded and said, "I understand, Secretary Li."

Nowadays, the cost of building a dormitory building is only fifty or sixty yuan per square meter. 450,000 yuan can build three four- or five-story staff dormitory buildings to accommodate nearly two thousand people.

Spreading word about things that benefit the factory workers is a way to improve one's reputation.

Although it was Factory Director Zhou who proposed it, it was he, the deputy factory director, who supervised the construction.

Nothing particularly important happened at the subsequent meeting. The Second Machine Tool Plant was thriving, and everything else was a minor issue compared to production.

Secretary Li essentially wanted to say these two things, which can actually be combined into one: 'Everyone worked hard last year, and now the factory is doing well, so everyone should share the profits!'

When Zhou Zhiqiang made the proposal, he didn't just suppress the cadres. After all, many of the cadres in the factory had really put in a lot of hard work.

Although they may not work as hard as frontline workers, their year-long efforts absolutely qualify them to receive half a month's salary at the end of the year.

------

Nanluoguxiang.

The postman rode his bicycle to the gate of No. 63 courtyard and shouted at the top of his lungs, "No. 63, come out and collect the registered mail!"

Is anyone at number 63?

After the postman called out twice, Guo Yuting pushed open the door and came out, saying, "Comrade, is this the only letter?"

"No, I also sent some other things, quite a lot. They're at the post office; you'll have to go pick them up yourself."

As the postman handed over the letter, he said, "It weighs over twenty pounds, so please be careful when you take it. Just sign here."

He has been in charge of this area for many years and has gotten to know Guo Yuting and others who frequently send letters to him.

After signing and delivering the letter, the postman rides his bicycle to the next address.

As Guo Yuting walked back, she opened the letter. Seeing that it was sent from Liaoyang but without a specific address, she knew it was from Zhou Zhiqiang.

Upon opening the package, Guo Yuting found several photos inside. When she saw her husband's picture, she couldn't help but laugh.

He hasn't changed at all; he's still as energetic as before he left. That's good, at least Guo Yuting knows that her husband hasn't gotten sick or lost weight over there.

However, after reading the contents of the letter, her face immediately fell.

When Mei Xiuxue came out of the kitchen, she saw her daughter's sullen face and asked, "Didn't you go to get the letter? Why do you look like that? Who sent the letter?"

Guo Yuting said dejectedly, "Zhiqiang wrote a letter saying he can't come back this year, and sent me some Liaoyang specialties. I didn't see him come back for the New Year. Is he that busy over there?"

“You should have been prepared. Don’t let the child see your dejected face. Zhiqiang and the others are busy with national affairs, aren’t they all this busy?”

Mei Xiuxue comforted him, "Is Zhiqiang's biological father coming back this year? They'll definitely want to see their grandson then. Have you talked to them about the New Year?"

"They didn't say. I'll ask them when I have my next holiday."

Guo Yuting remembered that she still had something to pick up at the post office, probably food or something, so she said to Mei Xiuxue, "Mom, I'm going to the post office. Zhiqiang sent something, and I need to go get it."

"Okay, go ahead, remember to come back for dinner early."

(End of this chapter)