On September 9, 2001, the entire Jiangnan Group factory premises were adorned with red flags and colorful banners, with numerous streamers hung throughout. To an outsider, it might have seemed like a newly opened enterprise, but in reality, it was an event to disburse back pay to all employees.
A stage had been erected in the open space outside the Jiangnan Leather Factory, complete with a full set of audio equipment. To the left of the stage, a queue area was demarcated by winding railings. Near the stage, several computers were set up.
At 8 AM, a large number of employees began to enter the factory grounds. Some were those who had already returned to work, while others were those who had not returned since the previous commotion, until they received notification to collect their wages.
By 10 AM, the open space was almost completely filled. Many outsiders also lingered outside the perimeter fence with keen interest. While celebratory events were common, an event for compensating wages was a rare sight.
Finally, to everyone’s anticipation, Boss Huang made his appearance.
Everyone had expected Boss Huang to have a lot to say, perhaps a speech of at least an hour, detailing the company's arduous journey in repaying wages, how great he, Huang He, was, what a benevolent figure he was, and so on.
However, holding the microphone, Boss Huang spoke with a slightly apologetic tone, “I, Huang He, am very regretful and saddened by the wages owed to everyone for so long. But today, through the efforts of all of us, our Jiangnan Leather Factory has truly been resurrected. Today, I, Huang He, will fulfill my promise and personally disburse all the owed wages to everyone. Furthermore, I will also issue an additional three months’ wages as compensation for this period!”
“Personally!” The crowd was taken aback. There were over 1,500 people present; was he really going to hand out the wages to everyone personally?
Indeed, it turned out to be the case. Leng Zhiruo arrived with her team, instructing everyone to bring their identification cards and queue up in the designated waiting area.
The crowd surged forward. The first workers to enter the waiting area went to the computers. They presented their identification cards to verify their identities, cross-referenced with company data to confirm their total owed wages, and then received a printed voucher. With this voucher, they could queue up on stage to receive their wages personally from Huang He.
The wage distribution process was rather imposing. Behind Boss Huang stood dozens of stacked bank-grade cash boxes. One cash box was opened and placed on a nearby table, revealing a full box of Mao Zedong banknotes.
Each such box could hold fifty thousand yuan in Mao Zedong banknotes.
Considering the dozens of cash boxes behind him, it was enough to tempt many to commit robbery.
However, this was impossible. The distribution was a collaboration with GS Bank, which had dispatched an armed escort team. Over a dozen guards, armed with live ammunition, were there to protect the cash boxes. It was believed that these armed escorts would help many maintain their composure.
Soon, the first employee stepped onto the stage to collect his wages.
“How much do I owe you?” Huang He asked, shaking his hand with a smile.
“Including three months’ bonus, it’s a total of 10,480 yuan!” the employee said, a little emotionally.
“I’m sorry for making you wait!” Huang He shook his hand again more firmly. Leng Zhimeng, standing behind him, took out a stack of one hundred 100-yuan Mao Zedong banknotes, bundled with a paper band, from the box. She then extracted five more individual 100-yuan banknotes and handed them to Huang He, who then personally gave them to the employee.
“I still want to apologize for the trouble I’ve caused you. I am truly sorry!” Huang He said, holding the employee’s hand again with deep emotion.
“Thank you, Chairman! Thank you, Chairman!” Although there were some malicious individuals in the world, most people were simple and kind. Seeing Huang He personally returning the money and apologizing so sincerely, the employee was moved to tears, feeling a sense of loyalty that one would die for a benefactor.
After the employee left with his money, profusely thanking them, Leng Zhimeng whispered into Huang He’s ear, “Brother-in-law, that took 43 seconds. That’s way over time. Didn’t we agree that each employee should be limited to 20 seconds? Otherwise, with 1,500 people, we’ll be distributing until dark!”
“Oh, it’s the first time, I didn’t quite get the rhythm. It will be fine from now on!” Huang He sincerely admitted his mistake and assured her he would control the time within 20 seconds.
“But then again, this feels rather like a handshake event!” Boss Huang grumbled inwardly.
Despite his grumbling, such handshake events were necessary. Otherwise, the workers wouldn't know who was giving them the money. Simultaneously, over a dozen cameras were filming the entire event, capturing detailed and abundant footage that would be immediately usable.
***
“Boss, long time no see, I’ve missed you so much!” Shen Yuequn said, gripping Huang He’s hand excitedly.
“Yes, you’ve worked hard in the Northeast. Here is the wage I owe you, a total of 12,350 yuan. See if there’s any shortage!” Boss Huang said with a smile.
“Boss, I don’t want this money. The money I earned in these three months is far more than this. I don’t want it!” Shen Yuequn quickly declined.
“Is that so? Then I’ll save this money,” Huang He nodded and threw the money back, leaving Shen Yuequn with a slightly awkward smile.
The boss, in this way, liked to deviate from the usual script.
“Come to the company tomorrow, and I’ll treat you to a meal! Consider this money as your meal expenses!” Huang He patted Shen Yuequn’s shoulder and smiled. Shen Yuequn nodded repeatedly and hurried away.
It wasn’t just Shen Yuequn; most of the people who had been sent out to sell goods had also returned. They had all changed, as if transformed. They were no longer wearing their old, worn-out clothes but were all dressed in suits and ties, wearing mechanical watches, leather shoes, and with slicked-back hair, exuding the demeanor of successful individuals. Only a few, like Shen Yuequn, maintained their previous attire.
However, the appearance of these individuals made the employees who had not chosen to become salespersons deeply regret their decision. If they had known, they would have sold blind boxes too and earned incomes far exceeding their current ones.
This face-to-face wage distribution event continued from ten in the morning until past six in the evening. In the interim, Boss Huang had the cafeteria prepare a buffet, with dozens of large dishes served in basins for anyone to take freely.
Even more absurdly, after all the money was distributed in the afternoon, Huang He announced that he had hired three local troupes to perform local dramas that evening, continuing until two in the morning. Furthermore, around 10 PM, he organized a fireworks display, setting off 200,000 yuan worth of fireworks. The wage repayment event seemed to have transformed into a grand carnival for Jiangnan Leather Factory.
No one had ever seen wage repayment celebrated with such festivity.
This became a story that many long-term employees often reminisced about and a legend that countless new employees listened to with yearning.