49: After twenty years of studying, I'm still not as good as a gatekeeper?

“Is this really Guo Li Steel Factory?”

By the car.

Xu Youwei also heard Liu Xun's conversation with the Security personnel.

When he received confirmation from the Security personnel,

He couldn't help but be surprised, a look of astonishment on his face.

Thinking back to this time last year,

It was just a small, dilapidated factory, with crumbling workshops and even a rusted main gate.

He was convinced this broken factory wouldn't last more than half a year.

Most heavy industry enterprises, once they start to decline, truly go downhill without brakes, plummeting to the bottom with no chance of recovery.

The only outcome is bankruptcy.

But now,

This broken factory is not only no longer broken, but its factory area has expanded by at least three or four times.

To be able to turn the tide in such an adverse situation is truly a miracle!

Even with his extensive experience, he rarely saw such things.

However,

In an instant, a question arose in both their minds.

Since they had the ability to expand the factory buildings, why was the factory area now completely dark and unlit?

You see,

As long as it's a factory,

One issue is unavoidable: night shifts.

Factories, as they are called,

Under the premise of a vast market, they rely on the output of goods to make a living.

The more output,

The greater the profit obtained.

Therefore,

Factories, big and small, are basically open 24/7, all year round.

Even at night, the machines cannot be stopped; someone must work the night shift.

This is just for a typical factory area.

For heavy industry enterprises like a Steel Factory, it should be even more so.

Especially the steelmaking furnace, which absolutely cannot be shut down.

Shutting it down once,

When it restarts, who knows how much it will cost.

Therefore,

Unless employees are on an extended holiday,

The steelmaking furnace of a Steel Factory generally will not be shut down.

But what's going on now?

Looking at the silent, pitch-black factory area inside the main gate,

Liu Xun couldn't help but look at the Security personnel and ask:

“Brother, has your factory already closed?”

“That’s right.”

The on-duty person had just finished answering when he looked at Liu Xun, suddenly seemed to realize something, and then immediately shook his head, saying:

“Don’t misunderstand. Our factory hasn’t gone out of business.”

“Not out of business, then why isn’t anyone working?”

Xu Youwei also walked over, asking casually.

Liu Xun also had a hint of curiosity on his face.

A factory that hasn't gone out of business, yet it's not producing at night?

Could it be that there aren't many orders?

If that were true,

Then this factory would not be far from bankruptcy.

Although the factory area looks large, no orders means being eliminated by the market.

If that's the case,

They might as well directly report the situation of this factory to the higher-ups, revoke its production qualifications, and avoid wasting land and environmental resources.

“Hmph hmph…”

Hearing this,

The on-duty person let out two proud snorts, a look of smugness appearing on his face.

Then he spoke:

“Now you've hit the nail on the head.”

“Seeing as you're from a government unit, I'll tell you the truth.”

“Our factory, you see, finishes work at 5:30 PM.”

Hearing this,

Xu Youwei and Liu Xun were stunned on the spot.

Immediately after,

Liu Xun immediately straightened his face and said:

“Don’t talk nonsense here. We are from the Enterprise Qualification Audit Bureau. You should know that what you say will affect the entire enterprise’s evaluation. It’s best you tell us truthfully what we ask.”

Clearly,

He simply didn't believe the factory would finish work so early.

These factory bosses would rather their employees be at their workstations all day long.

How could there be a chance to finish work at 5:30 PM?

What is this if not a wild fantasy?

Xu Youwei also frowned, looking at the on-duty person, his face full of skepticism.

His thoughts at this moment completely coincided with Liu Xun's.

Finishing work at 5:30 PM, how could that be possible, especially in a factory like this?

If such a job truly existed,

The factory's main gate would probably be trampled flat by job seekers!

“I’m not talking nonsense, am I?”

“The boss is so good to me, paying me eight hundred a month, I definitely wouldn’t lie.”

“Everything I’ve said is true. You can verify it yourselves tomorrow.”

The on-duty person looked serious, not at all like someone who was lying.

Xu Youwei and Liu Xun exchanged glances, each confirming the situation in the other's eyes.

This Security personnel might be telling the truth!

Both of them felt a surge of surprise.

This Security personnel's salary was actually eight hundred yuan a month.

And it was in this county City!

Who would believe that?

The two of them worked in the City.

And as civil servants, they only made seven hundred yuan a month!

What was going on now?

Why did a gatekeeper earn eight hundred a month?

They had studied diligently for over a decade, and after passing the civil service exam among thousands of people, they now earned less than a gatekeeper?

Did all their years of studying amount to nothing?

They were very unwilling to believe this fact in their hearts.

But the expression on the on-duty person's face didn't look like he was lying.

Thinking about the eight hundred salary, both of them couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.

This truly was a case of comparing oneself to others, and dying of anger.

“Since your factory is already closed and the boss isn't here, we’ll come back tomorrow.”

After Xu Youwei finished speaking, he wanted to turn and leave.

Liu Xun followed his steps.

Just as the two opened the car door, about to get in,

The voice of the on-duty person suddenly came from the main gate:

“What time are you two coming tomorrow?”

Hearing this,

Xu Youwei looked at Liu Xun and asked:

“Eight o’clock tomorrow, is that alright?”

“I want to resolve this matter early. Tomorrow afternoon, I’m taking my daughter to the amusement park; I promised her before.”

Liu Xun nodded and said with a smile:

“Of course, that’s fine. I also have an appointment tomorrow afternoon. It’s best to finish this matter early, of course.”

Seeing Liu Xun agree,

Xu Youwei then looked towards the main gate and said loudly to the on-duty person:

“We will be here promptly at eight o’clock tomorrow morning.”

The reason for setting this time was:

Firstly, he had other plans later.

Also, he had visited many factory areas, and most of them started work at eight o’clock.

Of course,

There were exceptions.

However, these exceptions were for starting work even earlier, not after eight o’clock.

These factory areas almost had no exceptions.

So, he naturally assumed the start time for Guo Li Steel Factory was 8 AM.

After all, almost all factory areas were like this.

The on-duty person laughed heartily upon hearing this.

“What’s so funny about that?”

Liu Xun scratched his head in confusion, completely unable to find the humor.

He even started to wonder… could this Security personnel be a little off?

But they had just been discussing things logically and reasonably.

The other person didn't seem like someone with problems at all.

Just as the two were puzzled,

The on-duty person’s laughter suddenly stopped, and a voice immediately sounded.

“It’s no use if you come at eight.”

No use?

Why?

Just as Xu Youwei was about to ask why, the on-duty person’s voice preempted him.

“Our factory only starts work at nine.”

“What?”

“Start work at nine? Nine to five?”

Liu Xun’s expression directly froze…