"Hi, Jerry. Don't you say hello to an old friend?" Just when Jerry was starting to believe he could avoid being noticed, Charlie Lee stood in front of him, a faint smile on his face.
"Hi…" Jerry lifted his head reluctantly, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. His voice quavered, cracking into an unnatural tone.
"Come on, show me around. It's been a long time since I've been here," Charlie said, his tone laced with subtle amusement.
Jerry was on the verge of panic, unsure how to handle the situation when a voice called out in the distance. "Mr. Lee!" It was Larry, the factory's boss.
"Thank God," Jerry muttered under his breath. As Charlie turned his attention toward Larry, Jerry hastily crossed himself, vowing to repent at church for his misdeeds.
"This is Larry, our boss," said a junior worker, nervously introducing him.
"Welcome, Mr. Lee," Larry greeted, maintaining a composed demeanor despite the tension. Internally, however, his emotions churned. The man standing before him, once dismissed as an insignificant laborer sold by the Spaniards, had now risen to a position that commanded respect—even fear.
Charlie glanced briefly at Larry before turning back to Jerry. "I want my old friend here to give me the tour. Is that a problem?"
Larry's face paled, his composure cracking slightly. "Of course not," he replied reluctantly.
"Boss…" Jerry muttered in disbelief, hoping Larry's presence would shield him.
"Oh, I almost forgot to mention," Charlie said, smiling as he clamped a hand on Jerry's shoulder like an iron vise. "As of today, I'm the new boss here." With a slight push, Jerry obediently stumbled forward, leading the way into the factory.
Behind them, Larry followed at a distance, flanked by Charlie's trusted aides, Wang Dagou and a junior assistant nicknamed Little Elk.
"The place has changed a lot," Wang Dagou commented as they passed the cleaner, more organized production line.
"How many units can this line produce in a shift?" Charlie asked, pointing to the idle machines.
"Twenty-three frames in a five-hour shift," Jerry replied promptly, his familiarity with the operations evident.
"Not bad, but far from enough," Charlie said thoughtfully. He turned to Larry and added, "We'll revamp the production process. These stacked parts are too disorganized—they're slowing workers down. We'll also eliminate fixed working hours and introduce a piecework payment system."
Larry hesitated, his concern evident. "Mr. Lee, I'm afraid the workers won't agree to these changes."
Charlie smirked. "It doesn't matter. There are thousands of people outside waiting for these jobs. I doubt they'll object to earning money through honest work."
He continued, "For those who genuinely want to work, piecework will mean higher pay. For those who've been slacking, well… their days are numbered."
Larry opened his mouth to protest, but Charlie dismissed him with a wave. "Jerry, you'll work alongside your friends to implement these changes."
"No, I didn't say that!" Jerry immediately denied the implication, his voice rising in panic.
"It's settled," Charlie said firmly. "You'll thank me later."
Charlie's approach was deliberate, a stark contrast to the exploitative treatment he and other Chinese laborers had endured in the past. He wanted to teach those who took advantage of the system a lesson they wouldn't forget.
"This is discrimination! I'll report this to the guild! They'll take you to court. Your factory will be shut down, and all the workers will resist you!" Jerry raged, his voice trembling with desperation.
"Discrimination? Take me to court?" Charlie's smile widened. "I'd like to see you try."
"Oh, by the way," he added, his tone light, "I have a team of nearly 100 lawyers and millions of dollars to cover litigation costs. Do you have the resources to match that?"
Jerry's face fell as Charlie described the lengthy legal process he'd face—evidence collection, hearings, delays, and more. It was clear that if Jerry pursued a lawsuit, he'd be financially and emotionally ruined before it even reached a conclusion.
"You can't do this to me," Jerry muttered, his voice barely audible.
"Maybe you should consider a career change," Charlie suggested, his tone dripping with mock sympathy.
But Jerry knew better. Outside these walls, jobs were scarce, and competition was fierce.
"I quit!" Jerry shouted in a fit of anger.
"Fine," Charlie replied calmly. "But as per your contract, you need to give two months' notice. It's early June, so I'll approve your resignation in August."
Turning away, Charlie left Jerry standing there, pale and defeated, his shoulders slumping in despair.
As they continued the tour, Charlie discussed his vision with Wang Dagou. "We'll inject $5 million into upgrading the factory. The focus will expand from industrial boilers to smaller, household units. Imagine a compact water heater in every home—that's the future."
Larry interjected hesitantly, "Mr. Lee, shouldn't these decisions go through the shareholders' meeting?"
Charlie smirked. "Of course, we'll go through the process," he said, his voice laced with irony.
Holding 62% of A.O. Smith's shares and 85% of the voting rights, Charlie's dominance in the company was unquestionable. The shareholders' meeting would be nothing more than a formality.
"Mr. Lee," Larry ventured cautiously, "a company thrives on collaboration. Having diverse partners ensures balanced growth."
Charlie nodded, then called out to his assistant. "Jesse, have a team of ten from the think tank sent here to oversee operations and strategy."
Larry froze, his thinly veiled protest silenced.
Leaning in close, Charlie said in a low voice, "I hate companies that treated Chinese laborers like cattle. So here's the deal: sell your shares and step aside, or prepare to be pushed out."
With a clenched jaw, Larry turned and stormed off, leaving Charlie unfazed.
"Dog brother," Wang Dagou said hesitantly, "you think this will work?"
"Just wait," Charlie replied with confidence. "One day, they'll have no choice but to respect us."
Standing in the factory's courtyard, Charlie raised his arms and announced, "From now on, Chinese workers' wages will be doubled!"
Cheers erupted from the workers, their faces lighting up with hope and excitement. As Charlie gazed at the rising sun, a satisfied smile crossed his face. "Money is power," he murmured.