Chapter 59 Coercion

The Third District was a major industrial area, and Executive Sun naturally interacted with these large factory owners frequently. He understood all too well just how difficult these people were to deal with.

He had no doubt that if he were to bring up this proposal on stage right now, it would not result in a joyful consensus, but rather a riot, leaving both parties with no way to back down, ultimately ending in discord.

After that, he would get to experience the terrifying network and connections of these factory owners—

From the low-level administrative clerks doing the grunt work, all the way up to the mid- and high-ranking leaders across Jinghai City, everyone would either overtly or covertly greet him, or even apply pressure.

In the end, even if he wanted to act as a lone wolf, ignoring all obstacles and forcibly pushing the policy through, he wouldn't be able to do it.

The reason was simple: even if he issued a mandatory order, the ones actually executing the tasks were still the clerks, and a vast majority of these clerks were cultivated by the local prestigious clans.

Excuse me, but the major factory owners present here today also mostly originated from these very prestigious clans of Jinghai City.

Then...

"...Mr. Chu!" Hai Tie raised his hand, and upon seeing Chu Zhu nod, he immediately stood up.

Taking a deep breath, harsh words were stuck in Hai Tie's throat, unable to be forced out.

"If you have nothing to say, you may sit back down!" Chu Zhu said calmly. "If you want to object, say it out loud! It's fine if you want to curse at me, after all... I think I'm still quite democratic!"

Among the middle-tier factory owners in the middle rows—who stood to receive two extra months of bonuses upon hearing this—quite a few stubborn ones felt a bit eager to try.

However, the major factory owners in the front rows were practically breaking out in cold sweat at this moment.

Hai Tie panicked, losing his composure, and finally stammered out, "The Jinghai City Municipal Office, Executive Lu, strongly promoted the disability insurance system a month ago. At the time, due to various reasons such as profit margins, we were unable to effectively implement this protection system..."

"...Oh?"

"Of course, what I mean is that now the timing is roughly right, we can try to... well, try..." Hai Tie pulled out a tissue and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Just tell me directly how long it will take you to finish implementing it!" Chu Zhu rudely interrupted Hai Tie's words.

"Half, half a year? I think half a year is a relatively reasonable number, after all..."

"One month!" Chu Zhu said calmly, his sharp gaze sweeping across the others' faces. "If it exceeds one month, then I have reason to suspect that it is you, or the forces behind you, who harbor strong dissatisfaction with the union!"

Before the meeting even started!

He had secretly spread the news about the deaths of Zhou Ze and the other executive officers, even intentionally emphasizing how miserably they had died.

Therefore, the subtext of this sentence right now was—if you dare to object, then it means you are the ones who murdered Zhou Ze! I will exact revenge on you at any cost.

Without a doubt, this was a threat, a form of coercion!

***

But...

In the end, the major factory owners voted unanimously in favor, and the small-scale factory owners also uniformly agreed. Surprisingly, about sixty percent of the middle-tier factory owners voted against it...

Well, but the moment these middle-tier factory owners realized that all the big factory bosses had agreed, they suddenly panicked! They hurriedly tried to hedge their bets.

They did not doubt the decisions of the major factory owners—the vision of these tycoons was definitely much longer-term than their own.

Especially under the circumstance where all the major factory owners had made the exact same decision!

After all this commotion, less than ten percent of the middle-tier factory owners—those who were stubbornly bent on prioritizing money over their lives—disagreed. But obviously, it was useless!

The final result of the vote was something everyone had to execute; otherwise, they would face collective suppression.

...

Watching the dispersing crowd, Executive Sun doubted his entire existence at this moment, his gaze toward Chu Zhu shifting continuously.

Bro, are you the executive here or am I?

He looked at Chu Zhu, who was also standing up to leave, and opened his mouth several times, but ultimately failed to utter any words of retention.

"What are you standing there stunned for? Let's go." Li Kang walked up to Executive Sun, a hint of puzzlement on his face.

"I'm pondering a rather serious..." Executive Sun had just started a long, complex sentence when Li Kang cut him off directly. "I know your confusion! Stop thinking about it; your situation and Chu Zhu's are completely different."

"?"

"Yes, your authority might indeed be greater than Chu Zhu's, but..."

Li Kang gave a bitter laugh, his tone complex, "When Chu Zhu says he'll kill their entire family, he actually will kill their entire family!"

"...?" Executive Sun understood even less. "Then wouldn't they be able to report him to the authorities and have Chu Zhu arrested? Wait, is it because you forcibly sheltered..."

"Forcibly sheltered my foot..." Li Kang laughed out of exasperation.

"It's because this group of factory owners also knows at the same time that, actually, Chu Zhu doesn't even need to kill them. If Chu Zhu simply resigns and leaves the union unattended, then their lives will probably come to an end."

It was a dark sense of humor!

Yet this batch of major factory owners at the very top of the capitalist ladder could see one thing very clearly—

The union not only protected the workers, but it also protected the factory owners.

The "sacrifice" of a chief executive officer, coupled with several high-ranking officers, was enough to completely ignite the fury of the union and unleash the immense energy of the organization.

***

Even if the factory owners got wind of the news in advance and fled quickly to save their own lives, while they could run, the equipment in their factories couldn't.

The wasted time alone, coupled with the scrapped equipment, would probably cost more than the money needed for disability insurance.

Of course, besides that, there was another heavyweight reason...

"Didn't Factory Owner Hai already mention it? A month ago, Executive Lu already rolled out policies regarding this!" Li Kang shook his head.

Executive Sun was stunned for a moment as a flash of lightning crossed his mind, sudden realization dawning in his eyes.

So that was how it was...

Under the current circumstances, what protected them was the official establishment.

However, because the authorities had already issued this policy a month ago, if it actually came down to a legal battle in the official courts, they wouldn't win either.

Chu Zhu looked reckless and arbitrary...

In reality, he had extremely skillfully grasped the balance between the union, the municipal office, and the major factory owners.

The major factory owners were not fighting against Chu Zhu alone! What they were fighting against was the combination of Chu Zhu—who could unite the workers of the entire shanty-renovated district—and the official will!

...

Outside the district government office.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Chu Zhu turned around, looking at Ning Linglong with a strange expression.

What was wrong with this girl? Did she have multiple personalities?

Why was her attitude one way yesterday, another way this morning when they met, and yet another way right now?

"Her estrus period has arrived, obviously!" Guan Feiyi rolled his eyes from the side. He still couldn't tell whether Chu Zhu was genuinely oblivious or just pretending to be, though considering Chu Zhu's capability, he figured there was a high probability he was faking ignorance. He said, "I think..."

Ning Linglong expressionlessly threw an elbow strike, heavily slamming into Guan Feiyi's flesh-padded neck, sending ripples rolling across layers of fat.

"…Hah, joke's on you, do you think this defense of mine is fake?" Guan Feiyi didn't mind at all, even mocking her instead. "Do you take me for a bulletin board?"

"You!" Ning Linglong viciously gnashed her teeth, but after glancing at Chu Zhu, she finally forced herself to suppress her unladylike posture.