Chapter 65: Something New, Every Day

Anderson was an ordinary worker. Recently, the factory had been shutting down more and more frequently, causing widespread unease.

Starting last year with one week off each month, now it was alternating: one week working, one week stopped. Fear was spreading among the workers, especially since Anderson heard the factory might soon collapse.

It wasn’t that the factory was losing money—it wasn’t. But sales were drying up, products piling up in warehouses gathering dust.

No sales meant no income. Coupled with costs, storage fees, workers’ wages, and other losses, the factory owner faced a serious headache.

Though he assured workers the factory would survive as long as possible, everyone felt their days there were numbered.

Today was payday. Anderson arrived early, neatly dressed. Groups of workers chatted casually, mostly about who suddenly got rich or which nearby factories had closed.

They hadn’t felt life so hard before. In past years, the factory ran nonstop from dawn to dusk. Workers ended each day exhausted beyond raising their arms.

It was tough but fulfilling—work meant good pay. The owner even expanded the factory and created more jobs.

As they reminisced or feared the future, suddenly loud noises erupted from the finance office.

The shouting pierced everyone’s nerves. Most stopped what they were doing and rushed to the finance office door.

Anderson found several workers arguing fiercely with the factory owner. The dispute was about two things.

First, the factory would fully shut down starting next month, with any reopening left uncertain.

This effectively meant the factory was finished. The federal wage system paid based on hours worked—you earned only what you worked.

This system was fair, especially to hardworking workers. They put in effort and earned accordingly.

Full shutdown meant no income next month for these workers.

Most ordinary families didn’t save much, and recent cuts to bank interest rates made saving less appealing.

Money has a peculiar power: having it sparks a strong desire to spend it—more money means stronger urge.

Maybe to buy a luxury hot dog once in a while or a pack of premium cigarettes to savor the burn.

Without savings, life depends entirely on wages. Lose wages, and many families face collapse.

Worse yet, installment payments on houses and cars came due, becoming unbearable burdens.

A few years ago, the world was stabilizing after turmoil. The federal area, largely untouched by war, was booming.

New products and consumer credit flourished—houses, cars, even TVs could be bought on installment with social security and citizenship.

Everyone enjoyed unprecedented prosperity, as if money was everywhere to be picked up.

Now, those unpaid installments felt like nooses tightening around people’s necks, threatening their lives.

The workers demanded the owner restart operations next month with at least ten working days—that was their last stand.

Work one day, rest two. If not guaranteed, their lives would be in trouble.

The owner remained stern, shaking his head. He couldn’t accept these demands.

Business was bad. The local and regional markets were saturated; goods couldn’t be sold in bulk like before.

Cash flow was slow, and incoming money barely covered storage and wages.

Continuing work meant inevitable bankruptcy. His only choice was full shutdown to find a solution or a market before resuming.

Both workers and owner were puzzled—why had strong-selling products suddenly stalled in just a year or two?

In the past, trucks queued outside the warehouse, but now some called asking to return goods—even if it meant only 30% refund.

The second dispute was about salary payment.

“The factory account is nearly empty. I can’t pay everyone, so I thought maybe we could try another method…”

Arguments about shutdown ceased. Workers turned cold and hostile, seeing the owner as an enemy.

The owner’s eyes twitched; he rubbed them dry and hoarse, “I don’t know what to say… You all know the situation. I have no money left…”

Before he finished, nearby workers erupted into noise that spread quickly, filling the factory with chaos.

Eventually, silence returned as shouting solved nothing.

A bitter smile appeared on the owner’s face—both at the workers and himself—then he quickly withdrew it.

“I’ll pay you in goods at cost price as wages.”

“You can refuse, sue me, or go to the union or court. Fine, I’ll file for bankruptcy, and we all lose.”

“If you accept, go to the warehouse and collect your wages!” With that, he turned and returned to the finance office. Accountants and management emerged to calm tensions.

Anderson felt like a puppet drifting with the crowd. His mind was noisy, ears ringing, only thinking the sky was falling.

But he knew he’d soon adapt.

Some workers caused scenes; others quietly took inventory goods. At least it was something—anything had value better than nothing.

Outside the warehouse, Anderson mechanically signed the wage ledger and stared at three large boxes of home appliances, his head buzzing.

What now…?

Carrying three boxes, Anderson stepped outside when a strong wind blew. Something fluttered onto his face.

He tore it off—a common street poster showing a handsome man smiling broadly, holding a shining advertisement: Something new, every day.