CHAPTER 128: CHAPTER 127: SISTER, THIS IS AS FAR AS I CAN HELP YOU

After listening to Wen Hong’s account, Leyu found that this matter really had something to do with him.

According to the intelligence from "Yin Yin Hidden," White Night’s merchants proactively contacted the Shi Family, proposing to purchase the glass factory at a high price. Naturally, the Shi Family was overjoyed and didn’t care about the rules of the Silver Blood Association, directly transferring the glass factory to White Night.

Then White Night started repairing the factory and recruiting workers, planning to use the glass factory as a base to gather strength, develop revolutionary masses, build high walls, store ample food, and be ready to overthrow the Silver Blood Association at any time.

Everything was originally going smoothly, but when the factory was about to start operations, trouble finally came.

In fact, the trouble was not specifically targeting White Night, but all factories in Xuanzhu County: The Jing Family took the lead, uniting several business associations to simultaneously lower workers’ wages and introduce a new welfare system.

The so-called welfare system is the corporate hierarchy system proposed by Jing Zhengtang during a family banquet, with levels like Bronze, Silver, and Gold. This year you’re Iron, next year you’ll be Silver, and the year after, you’ll be a senior Gold worker!

In short, it was all about empty promises, and if you wanted to achieve them, you must first work hard to mine.

Originally, with the influx of refugees from Tianji and the backlog of goods unsold, the business associations had long planned to lower wages and cut jobs. Now led by the Jing Family, they naturally followed suit immediately—they planned to observe the welfare system a bit more, but everyone felt it was wise to lower wages.

Capitalists uniting is much easier than the masses at the bottom; the market was already sluggish, and other factories had the same idea but were afraid of not being able to suppress the workers, so they didn’t dare to act rashly. Now the Silver Blood Association gave them a good reason: Brothers, it’s not this capitalist that’s heartless, but the Silver Blood Association is forcing me. If I don’t go with the flow, the Silver Blood Association will target me!

This isn’t just an excuse: The essence of the Silver Blood Association is a group of capitalists uniting to monopolize.

Usually, there are constant internal struggles within the Silver Blood Association, you annex this business association, I annex that factory, and so on—they’re all class internal struggles. But when they face a bad economic climate, they unite and join forces to pass the pressure onto the bottom!

Moreover, the Silver Blood Association doesn’t only target the bottom but also many small business associations. If small business associations can’t hold on, they will be annexed by the Silver Blood Association and become their food!

The glass factory faced such a situation. There was already not a large gap in glass products in Xuanzhu County, and now with wages decreasing, the other two glass factories could compete for glass orders at a lower price.

In fact, they weren’t just competing for orders; they even wanted to force a new competitor to death. If it was the Shi Family, they might hesitate, but a newcomer small business association—they couldn’t care less!

When White Night’s glass factory couldn’t hold on, they could easily acquire it at a low price!

White Night could either lower prices to snatch orders, which would inevitably lead to losses, or lower workers’ wages to at least maintain a profit balance.

But in doing so, White Night discovered a problem—if surviving relied on exploiting workers, how were they different from those profit-hungry capitalists?

The position determines the mindset; it’s an eternal truth.

"...We believe the focus of this storm is still the Jing Family. In terms of worker numbers, the Jing Family has the most." Wen Hong said: "As long as the Jing Family persists, this joint wage reduction will become a reality. But if they can’t withstand the pressure and have to give up their gains, workers from other business associations will definitely make trouble, and the idea of lowering wages will naturally vanish. Other glass factories can’t squeeze more profit by exploiting workers, so naturally, they won’t compete on price with us and will instead cut staff and reduce output. Our factory can at least gain some breathing space."

Leyu asked, "So are you planning to strike or cause trouble?"

Wen Hong nodded, then shook her head: "But according to our investigation, workers in other factories have significant resistance, except for the Jing Family’s workers, who seem to fully accept the change."

"Why?" Leyu realized the reason as soon as he asked the question.

And Wen Hong’s answer was just as he expected: "The system."

"Junior workers are all Bronze workers, and after 800 days of service, they can be promoted to Silver workers. Silver workers have more wages, shorter working hours, and various benefits, and if they perform well, they can take on the role of team leader. After 1,500 days, they are promoted to Gold workers, who enjoy better treatment and, if they perform well, could even be supervisors—even if wages have decreased, they feel they have more hope and don’t want to make trouble."

At this point, Wen Hong glanced at Leyu: "Many workers, after reading the inspirational stories in the ’Youth Daily,’ feel that although they can’t achieve the diligence and wit of the protagonists, as long as they work hard in the Jing Family, maybe one day they’ll stand out..."

Damn!

Become successful just by working!?

Leyu never expected that his ’Youth Daily’ would be used by the Jing Family brothers—heavens pity him, he wrote those inspirational stories clearly with satire and cynicism.

Stories like those where a worker saved 5 gold coins himself, and got another 995 gold coins from a rich woman to buy a shop and get rich;

Or where a worker relied on perseverance and wit, being a bootlicker to a boss, and finally embezzling a large amount of money as his starting capital.

Inside and out, weren’t they all about how working hard leads nowhere, while crooked ways bring wealth, and that overthrowing the boss is the only way forward for modern youth?

How did they interpret ’working can lead to success’ from that?

Was it because the editors wrote too subtly, lacking impact?

Or were they just seeing what they wanted to see?

But Leyu couldn’t deny that this hierarchical system was indeed quite misleading,

It feels like the third issue of "Youth Daily" should include "The Family of Chen She," a serious problem needs a strong remedy!

"...So what does White Night expect me to do?"

Wen Hong looked at Leyu and said, "According to our intelligence, the four sons of the Jing family are vying for the position of Patriarch, and this recent salary reduction is jointly led by Jing Zhengwu, Jing Zhengtang, and Jing Zhengfeng. The only one not involved is Jing Zhengwei, who is currently managing the newspaper..."

"If the three brothers really succeed, the victory will tip in their favor. If we’re not mistaken, Jing Zhengwei must be overwhelmed with this news."

Leyu: No, I just found out about this news too. Writing novels is exhausting, you know, where’s the time to play cards or listen to gossip? It’s all day slumped over the desk typing, not a moment to relax.

"We plan to send people to disrupt and set fire to the factory stores of the three brothers, destroying their goods," Wen Hong said candidly. "We hope you...’Phantom Voice’, can you find a way to influence Jing Zhengwei, make him condemn the other brothers’ failures before the Jing family Patriarch, forcing the three brothers to hold back?"

After saying this, Wen Hong also felt that the request was too much, quietly closing his mouth, awaiting the response of ’Phantom Voice’.

’Phantom Voice’ fell into silence, and during this time, Wen Hong openly scrutinized her physical details: almond eyes, slender legs, arms like spilled milk, exuding a pleasant scent, a slightly perky rear, a seemingly flat chest, which Wen Hong envied greatly.

Wen Hong was now completely convinced that ’Phantom Voice’ was actually Jing Zhengwei’s current companion—Qing Lan!

Just look at this figure, this skin, these brows and eyes, who would believe this is a man!

Although her male voice sounded very natural, it was obviously meant to deceive. The clear and crisp female voice was her true sound!

Suddenly, Wen Hong noticed a particularly fair patch of skin on ’Phantom Voice’s’ elbow.

That was the new skin healed from an injury.

After spotting one, Wen Hong quickly found more similar marks elsewhere: collarbone, neck, fingers... among the exposed skin of ’Phantom Voice’, there were actually three or four signs of healed wounds!

Beneath her clothing, how many more marks of abuse and harm could there be?

For a moment, Wen Hong wanted to grab her hand, take her home, and not let her return—what kind of abuse did she endure from Jing Zhengwei to end up with such battle-like injuries?

She shouldn’t have to endure such pain; she’s just a beautiful girl around my age...

But soon, Wen Hong composed herself, suppressing her sympathy.

She had no right to judge others’ lifestyles, let alone unilaterally save someone else.

White Night would not sacrifice members to achieve the greater good.

Hence, a White Night Walker must voluntarily sacrifice themselves; this is White Night’s common knowledge.

She couldn’t just sympathize; she had to respect ’Phantom Voice’s’ choice. Otherwise, she would trample on their dignity and the principles of White Night.

After waiting for a few minutes, she finally got a response: "I don’t think... it’s possible."

"Got it," Wen Hong immediately said, "it was presumptuous of us."

"No, what I mean is, just setting fire to destroy goods is not enough," Leyu’s eyes sparkled, "once the goods are gone, as long as there are materials and workers, the factory can quickly produce another batch."

"You have to break into the factory and destroy the production materials! In other words, sabotage the machines in the Jing family factories! Only such severe loss can truly threaten the capitalists!"

Wen Hong was taken aback and nodded, "Alright, I will go back and discuss with the branch..."

"Also, you shouldn’t just target Jing Zhengwu, Jing Zhengtang, and Jing Zhengfeng," Leyu said, "you must also go after Jing Zhengwei’s factory!"

Wen Hong said, "But Jing Zhengwei didn’t participate in the salary cuts this time, if we attack him as well, it seems..."

Leyu said firmly, "In dealing with such capitalists, there’s no need for chivalry, strike hard when necessary, leave no one behind!"

Wen Hong blinked, suddenly moved, and couldn’t help but grab Leyu’s hand, nodding heavily, "Alright, no problem! I promise you, White Night will definitely send someone to destroy Jing Zhengwei’s factory!"

Sister, this is the most I can do for you.

I can understand your hatred for Jing Zhengwei.

A White Night Walker will certainly help you vent your anger!