Spy Wars: I can get rewards by being a bully!

Chapter 873: Ma Mingyuan's unexpected turn of events

Zhang Quanyou coughed twice and sat up with all his strength, "Son, please don't talk nonsense!"

Zhang Youye also poured a bowl of cold water and handed it over carefully.

There was no other way. Firewood was expensive, and they couldn't boil hot water unless there were guests at home. They lived on two bowls of porridge from the Zhang family all day long. When had they ever lit a fire at home?

Among the so-called firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea, there is a reason why firewood is ranked first.

Zhang Quanyou drank two sips of water. Seeing that he was feeling better, Zhang You continued excitedly, "Dad! It's true. I saw it with my own eyes. That Zhang Gongji offended the officials and his house was ransacked! He had to move out boxes and cages one by one. It took him an entire afternoon to finish moving everything!"

The reason why they called Zhang Yijian "Zhang Gongji" was that this man was obsessed with money and was stingy. He could enjoy squandering money himself, but he couldn't stand seeing others waste money. Even his own wife and children were treated harshly by him.

Zhang Youye talked for a long time, but seeing that his father still looked gloomy, he couldn't help but ask, "Dad, this rooster fell down, why are you not happy?"

Zhang Quanyou smiled bitterly and said, "Son, I've seen everything in my life. When your mother was sick and vomiting blood, which door in the city did I not kneel at? I was either beaten out or bitten by dogs. What's the reputation of Master Ma? He just had someone send me away, saying that I was a salt collector in the Zhang Mansion. He didn't dare to help unless the Zhang Mansion saved me. Alas, son! Your father is uneducated and can't read a single word, but I also understand one thing. Whether it's a high official or Master Zhang, they are our own people. Who confiscates whose property or who executes who is their own business. What does it have to do with us? Without Zhang Gongji, are there no Wang Gongji or Li Gongji?"

Zhang Youyou listened to his father's words and thought of his deceased mother. He also thought of his current life. He dried salt in exchange for two bowls of porridge during the day and had to work as a porter at night. However, the wealthy family was feasting all day long, singing and dancing...

He couldn't help but think of what Brother Jin from the Salt Team said...

Brother Jin is a learned man. I don’t know how he ended up like this. I will definitely ask him why the world is like this when I get back!

"Zhang has one too! He has one too! Hurry up, let's go to Qiligang! We're at the gate of the Salt Company, and we need to get our back pay!"

Zhang Youyou was feeling angry when he heard the voices of his coworkers outside and hurriedly shouted, "I just got off work, don't mess with me!"

Before he could finish his words, the people outside rushed in. They were also dressed as salt workers, with bare backs. Their skin had been eroded by the sun and salt, and large patches of it had fallen off, leaving horrifying scars over time.

"Who's entertaining you? Go quickly! The higher-ups have ordered that all outstanding wages must be repaid at the rate of one and a half dollars per month. You've worked for the Zhang family for over two years, and you're only earning dozens of dollars. You can use that money to treat your father's illness!"

Zhang Youyou stood up suddenly, his eyes red, "Is this true!?"

"If you don't believe what Master Ma sent, just go and see for yourself!"

After saying this, the man ran away quickly.

Zhang Youyou was about to follow when his father coughed and said, "How can such a good thing happen? I heard the Japs are always conscripting men. Don't let anyone trick you!"

"Dad! If someone tricks you into going away, you'll just die. What's the difference between the two of us being like this, and being dead?"

The square in front of the Salt Company.

Although it is called a square, it is just a compacted open space. At this moment, it is bustling with people, and hundreds of salt workers have gathered here.

There was a pergola at the door, and Lin Ze sat upright on the armchair.

The salt workers who received the money all shouted loudly, but were soon stopped by the people from the Salt Company and told to go and thank Mr. Lin.

Mr. Lin did not say that he was the chairman of the maintenance association. He only said that he was from Peking and was both the director of the Coordination Bureau and a shareholder of the Salt Company.

No one understood what the Coordination Bureau was, but the shareholders of the Salt Company did understand.

"It turns out to be Master Lin! Thank you, Master Lin! We kowtow to you!"

Lin Ze did not stop him.

Ma Mingyuan stood aside and watched, his mind in turmoil.

The so-called favor cannot come from the hands of others. This Mr. Lin first confiscated the house, and then distributed the so-called wages, which was a bit like dividing gold and silver. After dividing it, he did not mention his identity as the chief of the gendarmerie headquarters, nor did he mention that he was also the chairman of the Jinnan Maintenance Association. Instead, he emphasized that he was a shareholder of the Salt Company. What does this mean?

"President Ma, you also visited the salt fields today. What do you think of Yuancheng Salt Industry?"

President Ma bowed his waist and said, "I dare not speak nonsense in front of the commander."

"But there's no harm in talking."

"The development of Yuancheng's salt industry has been due to favorable weather and location. This salt pond is actually an endorheic lake, with countless underground undercurrents bringing brine here. Honestly, anyone here can produce salt; it's just a matter of quality. The so-called five-step salt drying method may have had merit in the past, but with the widespread use of machines these days, the salt pond still relies on the weather for its survival. I'm ashamed of this."

“How can that be changed?”

Ma Mingyuan didn't dare to say anything again.

Lin Ze laughed and said, "Why? I'm not someone who gets angry easily. What are you afraid to say?"

Ma Mingyuan thought to himself, you can confiscate my property with just one word, this is much more serious than turning against me.

"To reply to the Commander, if the Yuancheng salt industry wants to reform, it must be consolidated in one person. All official and private fields must be consolidated, and standards must be standardized. There must be established rules for when to draw brine, when to adjust the water, when to spread and dry the salt, and when to collect it. Western machinery and technology must also be introduced. This way, the quality of the salt will be improved, and production will increase."

Lin Ze nodded.

Ma Mingyuan is a talented person!

But this man has been operating in Yuancheng for decades, has deep roots, and is very thoughtful, so it is not easy to use him well.

"Old Ma, even though you're hiding something, I'm a straightforward person. When the salt company takes back your salt fields, I'll have Takeuchi Doukai add more machines, hire more workers, and renovate the salt fields. By then, Yuancheng Salt Industry will definitely have a new look."

Ma Mingyuan was unwilling to give in, but he could only say, "Everything is up to the commander."

"Of course I have to compensate you for taking back your salt fields. I think this compensation should be converted into shares in the salt company. I'm going to set up the North China Development Corporation Salt Administration, which will manage several salt fields. Since you have shares, you're one of our own. The Changlu Salt Field has been neglected in recent years, and production is poor. I'm transferring you to manage it. Can you manage it well?"

Ma Mingyuan was shocked!

I originally thought that my family property was going to be taken away for nothing, but in an unexpected turn of events, it was going to be converted into shares for me. How could I not be surprised?

Besides, the Changlu Salt Field is one of the best salt fields in the world, and the Pingjin area is more than a hundred times more prosperous than Yuancheng. Although he used to be the chairman of the Salt Merchants Association in Yuancheng, the Salt Company actually controlled the Yuancheng Salt Industry. How could he have more power than managing the Changlu Salt Field?

He immediately disregarded his old face and knelt down with his head on the ground, "Mingyuan is willing to die for Director Lin!"

Well, Director Lin, Lao Ma is a smart man, he even changed the address.