The eldest brother was not in a hurry to explain. He stretched out his hand and said, "Give me a cigarette."
Zhao Dong helped him light it, and after a while, he understood the whole story.
It turns out that the factory has not been performing well in the past two years and is currently laying off employees.
Everyone is panic-stricken and is looking for ways to smoothen the relationship, fearing that this kind of thing will happen to them.
The eldest brother also knew about this a long time ago, but he didn't take it to heart.
He has worked in the factory for nearly ten years, with no credit but hard work. Moreover, he is also the team leader in the workshop. Even if there are real layoffs, it will not be his turn.
The result was not what he expected. Later today, the director of the workshop came to him and asked him to prepare to hand over the work at hand. He just woke up as if from a dream.
"The factory has laid off one-third of its workforce. If the factory is really in trouble, I understand, but tell me, who are the people left behind?"
The eldest brother said, his eyes were red, "The ones who are left behind are those who are just idle and waiting for retirement. The really capable people have been laid off by them. Isn't this nonsense?"
Zhao Dong understood his eldest brother's mood, not because he was unhappy about being laid off, but because he felt a little sad when he saw that the factory where he had put a lot of effort was being messed up by those people.
"Brother, what are you going to do next?"
"I don't know yet. Let's wait until tomorrow. I'll discuss it with a few friends. Xiaodong, tell me, if a good factory does this, doesn't it mean it's pornographic?"
Zhao Dong suddenly said, "Maybe they just want to bring down the factory?"
The eldest brother asked hurriedly, "Xiaodong, what do you mean? Did you hear something?"
Zhao Dong didn't know what to say. Last time he and Yu Zhi were drinking together, he heard Yu Zhi mention this.
It was said that several nearby factories had gone bankrupt, and when he thought of the recent shanty town demolitions that had gone viral, he felt that there might be something fishy going on.
But I didn't think much about it at the time, after all, it had nothing to do with him.
As a result, today, Big Brother's factory was also involved in such trouble.
Seeing his elder brother questioning him, Zhao Dong had no choice but to explain.
The eldest brother didn't understand, "Xiaodong, tell me quickly, what does the bankruptcy of the factory have to do with demolition?"
"To reclaim the land!"
"Recover land? Recover what land?"
Zhao Dong smiled bitterly, "Brother, think about it, after the factory goes bankrupt, you can change the nature of the land, and then the industrial land will become commercial land!"
"What's the difference?"
"Of course there is a difference. Can the price of industrial land and commercial land be the same? There is a great article here!"
The eldest brother still doesn’t understand, “But, what does this have to do with our bankruptcy?”
"If the factory goes bankrupt, old employees like you who have equity, will you have to compensate for a fee? This fee is bought out based on your seniority!"
"Then if I leave my job early, will the subsequent compensation have nothing to do with me?"
"That's pretty much what it means. Anyway, the subsequent land rectification and related compensation have nothing to do with you!"
The eldest brother slammed the table and said, "Let me just tell you that today the workshop director came to me and said that the factory was in trouble and asked me to resign voluntarily. He also said that I would be compensated with three months' salary. It turns out that this was their calculation!"
"Brother, these are just random guesses. After all, we have no real evidence. Anyway, remember your words, no matter what agreement the factory asks you to sign, just don't sign it!"
"Okay, Xiaodong, I understand, just leave this matter alone!"
Zhao Dong saw something wrong with his elder brother's face and reminded him, "Brother, this matter is in deep water and involves the interests of many people. You must not wade into muddy waters!"
"Is it possible to just watch those guys enrich themselves and defraud us of our money?"
"Brother, as long as you don't sign the agreement, no one can deceive you!"
"Okay, I get it."
Although the eldest brother agreed, Zhao Dong was still a little worried.
He understands his elder brother's temper and is very upright. He would not be able to bear the sight of someone engaging in fraud for personal gain in the workshop, let alone such dirty dealings.
But there was nothing he could do now, he could only persuade first.
If the eldest brother really wanted to interfere in this matter, as the younger brother, he would never just sit idly by.
…
The next day, breakfast was as usual.
The eldest brother couldn't hide the matter. As soon as he got to the dinner table, his sister-in-law noticed that something was wrong.
The sister-in-law held up the chopsticks and asked, "What's the matter with you, are you listless?"
The eldest brother was in a daze and didn't hear it for a while.
Zhao Dong hurriedly kicked under the table, "Brother, my sister-in-law is asking you!"
The eldest brother suddenly said, "Ah, what did you say?"
The sister-in-law smiled and said, "I said you lost your mind? By the way, why did you come back so late last night, and you still smell of alcohol!"
The eldest brother explained, "Oh, I worked overtime yesterday, and then I went home and had some drinks with Xiaodong on the rooftop!"
Sophie pinched Zhao Dong's arm, "I said there was so much noise last night, you didn't sleep at night, and you went out to drink?"
Zhao Dong smiled bitterly, "I am also accompanying my eldest brother!"
Sophie raised her voice and said, "Brother, neither can. From now on, you two are not allowed to drink after twelve o'clock. Beer at night is very harmful to the body!"
The sister-in-law laughed, "Did you hear that? If you drag Xiaodong to drink beer again, Xiaofei will enforce the family law!"
Sophie's face turned red, "Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? Who cares about him..."
After breakfast, the sister-in-law took Sophie aside and asked about the cosmetics she had purchased for her colleagues.
Zhao Dong took the opportunity and whispered to his elder brother: "Brother, you are still going to work today. Do you want me to accompany you?"
The eldest brother shook his head, "No need, Xiaodong, just go and do your work if you have something to do, don't worry about me."
After saying that, he picked up his bag and got off the dining table.
On the other side, Sophie packed her things, patted Xiaoman and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to school!"
…
After the family got off the dinner table, Zhao Dong also looked at the time and then called Tang Rou.
Tang Rou asked on the other end of the phone, "What's the matter?"
"Are you in the office today?"
Tang Rou asked suspiciously on the other end of the phone, "You actually want to come to me? Are you asking me for something?"
Zhao Dong said vaguely: "We'll talk about it when we get there."
Tang Rou snorted, "What do you mean we'll wait till the time comes? I don't have time to see you in the morning, so you can come over at noon. Remember, treat me to dinner, you treat me, you pay, otherwise we won't talk!"
She calculated that Zhao Dong must have something to ask for. If he didn't kill her at this time, how could he?
Last time I finally had the chance to kill him, but this guy pissed me off. Today, things are not that good!
Zhao Dong was helpless. He didn't expect this woman to hold a grudge and still remember what happened last time.
But there is no other way, he really has something to ask for, even if Tang Rou really wants to kill him, she can only admit it.
"Okay, let's meet at noon. Let's agree in advance that I don't have money, so please be merciful!"
"I don't care if you have money or not. If you're afraid, don't come!"