Chapter Twelve: Fated Adversaries

"Foreman Wang."

Xu Fei entered the room with a smile.

Zhang Dajun was sprawled on the bench as usual, a cap covering his face, but Xu Fei knew he wasn't asleep.

"Xu Fei, how was it today?"

"Not bad, though I ache all over now."

Zhang Dajun snorted coldly.

He lifted the cap, glanced at Xu Fei, and said, "You're still lacking. Come early tomorrow; I'll add to your workload."

Was he trying to work me to death?

Xu Fei fumed inwardly but dared not speak. He still counted on keeping his job at the sugar factory—his family depended on him.

"Foreman Wang, I'm here to collect my piece-rate wages for the morning."

Wang Guoqing drew a five-yuan note from the drawer.

"I've got it ready for you."

Just as Xu Fei reached for it, Foreman Wang withdrew the money.

"What's this, Foreman Wang?"

"Every family has its rules, every trade its customs, and our workshop has its own regulations," Wang Guoqing said, glancing at Zhang Dajun. "Big Guy, you explain it to him."

Zhang Dajun reluctantly sat up from the bench.

"What a hassle—how much time do I waste talking to you?"

Xu Fei forced a smile.

"Master Zhang, I know. Tomorrow I'll have my wife pack two extra steamed buns for you."

"Enough, you think I can't afford buns?"

Xu Fei could only laugh awkwardly at Zhang Dajun's deliberate difficulties.

"Xu Fei, you ought to know—the work is assigned by Foreman Wang, and he has a family to feed too. Even if you brought ten buns a day, what good would it do?"

What did he mean by that?

There was more to his words.

"Master Zhang, just tell me straight—I'm new and don't know the rules."

"Let me put it this way: The morning's work could go to anyone, but there's no such thing as a free lunch. So you can't just take your wages today and walk away, can you?"

Xu Fei was stunned.

Did even these hard-earned wages require a kickback?

"Then...?"

Zhang Dajun held up two fingers. "The rule here is, Foreman Wang takes a two-yuan cut."

What? Two yuan?

"Why are you shouting? Two yuan, is that much? You're getting the lion's share."

Damn it!

Xu Fei truly wanted to slap Zhang Dajun.

How could he say such things?

This wasn't the old society—why did working a job still mean getting fleeced?

"Will you pay or not? If not, you'll be on loading duty again tomorrow."

Xu Fei was taken aback.

Loading was truly backbreaking. It required more strength than hauling sacks, and the pay was only a dozen yuan a month.

Three yuan?

Fine.

Xu Fei nodded.

He felt humiliated.

But what could he do?

They called the shots.

He could only obey.

Seeing Xu Fei silent, Wang Guoqing put the five yuan back in the drawer and took out the three yuan he'd prepared in advance.

"Xu Fei, don't dwell on it. We're all working to earn a living—no choice. Everyone has mouths to feed."

Xu Fei took the reduced three yuan.

The money felt like lead in his hand, heavy—a weight pressing on his heart.

He never thought such things still happened in the 1980s.

"Unhappy? If he's unhappy, let him become workshop chief! If not, he can stop coming to work!"

Zhang Dajun sneered at Xu Fei.

"Go on, don't forget what I said—bring two extra buns tomorrow."

Xu Fei clutched the three yuan, turned to his locker, and changed out of his work clothes.

Without a word, he headed for the door.

As he exited the office, he saw Old Liu wheeling his bicycle from the shed.

"Brother Liu."

"Xu Fei, worn out, huh?"

"I'm alright," Xu Fei said, rubbing his shoulder.

He hardly had the strength to walk home.

"Come on, I'll give you a ride."

"This..."

"Enough, don't be shy with me."

Old Liu mounted the bike.

"Hop on."

Xu Fei climbed onto the rear seat.

The two left Donghai Sugar Factory.

Xu Fei glanced back at the bright red characters over the factory gate.

Who would have thought, after being reborn into the 1980s, he'd end up so down-and-out?

Struggling desperately for five yuan, only to have two eaten away, leaving just three.

Wronged!

Resentful!

Xu Fei sighed from the back seat.

"Let me guess—Wang Guoqing docked your pay?"

Xu Fei was startled.

"Brother Liu, you know?"

"Haha—did he say it's the workshop's rule?"

"Yeah."

Xu Fei was bitter.

"Xu Fei, I don't get it—how did you offend those two?"

Offend?

Aside from some old grudges with Zhang Dajun, Xu Fei didn't even know Wang Guoqing.

He shared his thoughts.

Old Liu pondered for a moment.

"Even if Zhang Dajun were bold, he doesn't make the decisions here."

Xu Fei felt the same.

But as for Wang Guoqing, he really couldn't figure out where he'd crossed such a person before.

"Xu Fei, the rules Wang Guoqing talks about—he made them up himself. Even if you disagree, there's nothing you can do. He's the workshop chief, and he really does have the power to deny you piecework."

Xu Fei nodded.

If Old Liu and the others took the job, Wang Guoqing wouldn't dare skim off the top.

But now, earning money mattered most.

As for Wang Guoqing docking his wages, he could only endure it.

"No one wants this job in the workshop because the pay is so low."

"What?!"

Xu Fei was shocked.

"Five cents isn't enough?"

Old Liu was surprised too.

"What did you say—five cents? Wang Guoqing only gave you five cents?"

"Yes."

"That Wang Guoqing is ruthless."

"Brother Liu, what do you mean?"

"I mean, the factory set this job at eight cents a bag. We don't take it because there are jobs at ten or fifteen cents—so no one wants this one."

Ten cents!

Fifteen cents!

That was several times what Xu Fei got!

Xu Fei regretted not smacking Zhang Dajun just now—giving him a mouthful of broken teeth.

"What, thinking about beating up Wang Guoqing, that bastard?"

Xu Fei grunted.

"Brother Liu, you don't like him either?"

Old Liu nodded.

"He's not really flawed, just a bully who curries favor with the bosses. Actually, when he first came to Donghai Sugar Factory, I was his mentor."

"Really? Wang Guoqing worked with you?"

"Of course. Back then, he couldn't even lift a sack—I'd have to help him shoulder it."

Old Liu shook his head with a chuckle. "But things are different now. He's Foreman Wang, and I have to watch his mood."

Hearing Old Liu speak, Xu Fei felt a little more at ease.

As they talked, Xu Fei spotted someone approaching ahead.

That person immediately saw Xu Fei.

"Xu Fei, get off the bike!"

Xu Fei recognized him and muttered inwardly, "Why did I have to run into this nemesis?"