"How many of these female workers in the factory have joined the union?" After swallowing the pigskin, Song Tianyao looked at Sister Xiong and asked seriously.
Sister Xiong scratched her plump face. "Including me... thirty-four."
"You?" Song Tianyao's eyes widened slightly. "Big sister, you're a cook, what are you doing joining the union?"
Sister Xiong patted her chest in dissatisfaction, her fat jiggling, and said proudly, "Isn't a cook a factory worker? Let me tell you, I'm now a representative of the wig industry workers of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions Manufacturing Industry General Union. There are ten worker representatives in the wig industry, and I'm one of them. If any wig factory owner dares to withhold workers' wages, I'll stand up for them."
This surprised Song Tianyao. He knew that the plump cook at his factory was a respected and influential figure, a fact Song Tianyao was well aware of. But he never expected her to become a union representative. Wasn't a good cook someone who didn't aspire to be a leader?
"Really?" Song Tianyao was still somewhat skeptical.
Sister Xiong turned around and shouted at the top of her lungs, "You bastard, am I not a union representative?"
"Union representatives don't get paid, they just talk big all day. Do you think the union pays you when you're broke? What's so great about being a representative?" Brother Xiong was playing chess outside, said disdainfully.
However, everyone could hear the sourness in his words.
"Really a union representative?" Song Tianyao exhaled. "How were you elected as a union representative?"
"Of course, it was the sisters from several nearby wig factories who nominated me to be their representative," Sister Xiong said proudly. "But don't worry, boss, you're a conscientious boss. If any worker in the union dares to criticize you, I'll be the first to jump out and scold them! Those are all scoundrel bosses, that's why I stand up for them. Some bosses' sons got female workers pregnant, and some bosses don't pay wages for months? Some even deduct wages for lost work time when workers are injured, not to mention medical expenses. Those are the factories the union should complain about. Your factory has always been praised by the sisters working there. They all say you're the most conscientious boss in the wig industry. If you recruit again, there will definitely be a huge crowd, everyone will come to help you start work."
Song Tianyao lowered his voice and said to Sister Xiong, "From now on, you will receive double pay every month. One will be recorded in the accounts, and I will have Sister Yun pay you the other in cash privately."
"No way?" Sister Xiong's eyes widened. "I've never heard of anyone saying that becoming a union representative means receiving double pay?"
"People who receive double pay won't tell anyone they do. I was originally planning to ask you to introduce me to the factory's union members, but now that you're the union representative, it's much easier. Could you introduce me to the chairman of the Manufacturing Industry General Union? I'd like to invite him to dinner tonight. Also, do you know any worker representatives at the United Soda Factory? I'd like to give them double pay as well."
Suddenly, a fierce barking erupted outside. Huang Liu said in a low voice from outside the kitchen door, "Boss, that guy surnamed Tang is here."
Chapter 372 The Lin Family Must Not Be in Disarray
Yao Chunxiao was dressed like a homeless scavenger, his dirty clothes patched together, carrying a tattered sack on his back and leaning on a tree branch. He was inconspicuous on the street, because many poor people in Hong Kong look like this.
He let his dirty, half-burnt hair fall loose, covering his cheeks, and leaned against a lamppost, seemingly dozing off. Several half-smoked cigarette butts lay beside him, and he reeked of a sour stench. Occasionally, a beggar would try to approach and pick up the cigarette butts, but he would be so startled by the half-burnt face revealed when he lifted his hair that he tripped and fell, quickly jumping away. Yao Chunxiao, on the other hand, grinned and chuckled.
Upon seeing Lin Xiaokang and Lin Xiaoda emerge from the St. George's Building, Yao Chunxiao, leaning on a tree branch, stood up and quickly approached, head bowed, pleading repeatedly, "Young masters, please have pity on me..."
"Get lost, take the money and go take a shower!" Lin Xiaoda held his breath, took out a few coins from his wallet and threw them on the ground, then hurriedly shook off Yao Chunxiao's entanglement and walked with Lin Xiaokang toward the car on the side of the street.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Lin Xiaokang never once glanced at the beggar beside him.
Yao Chunxiao picked up all the loose change, turned around and glanced into the distance. Ah Si, a rickshaw puller nicknamed "Short Butcher," had stopped, while Ah Gen, dressed like a small businessman, got into the rickshaw.
After Lin Xiaokang started his car, Ah Si's rickshaw hurriedly followed, trailing far behind the car before disappearing into the street.
Yao Chunxiao slowly walked back to the lamppost, took out half a cigarette butt, lit it with a match, and took a puff.
Song Tianyao asked a few of his men to keep an eye on this guy named Lin Xiaokang for the past few days. Stalking and spying were the specialties of these Taishan Squad bandits. Although they couldn't impersonate any big shots to gain entry, they had no problem stalking beggars and rickshaw pullers.
However, judging from his complexion these past two days, it's unlikely that the situation Song Tianyao described to him will come to pass.
As darkness approached, Yao Chunxiao slipped into a deserted alley, changed into clean clothes he had hidden beforehand, and prepared to return to Tai Wo Street. Of the five of them, four had come out to help Song Tianyao keep an eye on Lin Xiaokang, leaving only one to Gu family. Compared to tracking Lin Xiaokang, Yao Chunxiao, perhaps accustomed to being a bandit, felt that protecting Tai Wo Street was more important.
Just as he returned to the British-German Western Pharmacy, before he could even say goodbye to Song Chunliang, who was preparing to close up shop and stay behind to watch the store, Ah Da, who had lost an arm, approached him and whispered:
"Ah Gen just called back, saying something's wrong. Lin Xiaokang and his companion were stopped halfway and switched cars. Judging from the direction they're heading, the car went to Causeway Bay. Ah Si told Ah Gen to get out and make a call, while he pulled the car and followed them. They'll leave coded messages along the way. Ah Gen asked Brother Xiao what to do."
Yao Chunxiao slapped his thigh. "A-Yao guessed right? He said Lin Xiaokang wouldn't live more than a few days! Tell Ah Gen to follow the coded message Ah Si left behind and sneak over there. Once they've dealt with the Lin guy, he and Ah Si will get their hands on the body and then give it to that guy named Yan Hung! A-Yao said he doesn't want the living man, he just wants Lin's corpse!"