RPAGF Chapter 65 First Steps into the Factory
Chapter 65 First Steps into the Factory
On the morning the factory opened, just as dawn was breaking, Chan Sau-lin and Lee Ah-chen, carrying simple luggage, boarded a bus bound for Yuen Long in the New Territories. The bus wound its way along the mountain road, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from dense tenement buildings to open fields. The fresh air, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, made their already excited hearts even more so.
"Look, that's Zhonghua Industrial Park up ahead!" Li Azhen pointed out the window, her voice full of surprise. Chen Xiulian looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a neat cluster of buildings in the distance. The off-white factory buildings stood out in the morning light, the dormitory building's pillars gleamed softly, and the landscaping trees on both sides of the road were lush and green. Compared to the photos in the newspaper, the actual scene was even more impressive.
The bus stopped outside the park gate, and the two joined the other new employees in queuing to register. The security guards at the gate, dressed in neat uniforms, politely checked everyone's employment notices before guiding them to the dormitory building. The woman in charge of reception, surnamed Liu, was a long-time employee of the factory. She smiled and took their luggage: "You must be Chen Xiulian and Li Azhen? Come with me, I'll take you to your room."
The dormitory building's corridors were clean and tidy, with light gray tiles on the floor, spotless, and the walls painted white and smooth, without a single stain. Sister Liu led them to room 302 on the third floor, took out her key and opened the door: "You're really lucky. This room faces south, so it has excellent natural light, and currently only the two of you are living here."
Chen Xiulian and Li Azhen entered the room and were instantly amazed by the scene before them. The room wasn't very large, but the layout was reasonable. Four bunk beds were placed against the wall, with thick, soft, one-meter-wide mattresses covered with brand-new white sheets and blue quilts, all neatly folded. Between the two beds was a rectangular desk, on which sat eight brand-new enamel mugs, each bearing the words "Zhonghua" printed on it.
What surprised them most was the ensuite bathroom in the corner of the room. White tiles stretched from the floor to the walls, so clean they seemed to reflect light. Inside was a toilet and a showerhead, with a simple shelf nearby. The balcony was right next to the bathroom; opening the glass door let in the morning sunlight, illuminating the entire room. Four small plastic chairs were placed on the balcony, offering views of the fields outside the park and the distant green mountains.
"This is so comfortable!" Chen Xiulian couldn't help but sit on the bed, feeling the softness of the mattress, a satisfied smile on her face. In the attic she used to live in, the bed was made of wooden planks covered with thin straw. Not to mention the mattress, even the quilt was full of patches. The conditions she had now were like a dream.
Li Azhen ran to the bathroom, carefully turned on the shower, and watched the clear water cascading down. Her eyes welled up with tears of excitement: "Back in the textile factory, we had to queue for hot water to shower, and we could only shower for ten minutes each time. Now I can actually shower in my own room, and there's so much hot water!"
Sister Liu said with a smile, "Our factory has hot water available 24 hours a day. There are public laundry rooms on each floor with washing machines and drying racks, so it's very convenient to do laundry. The canteens are a row of two-story restaurants in front of the dormitory building and between the factory buildings. There are several, and you can choose whichever one you want to eat at. Breakfast is from 7:00 to 8:00, lunch is from 12:00 to 1:00, and dinner is from 6:00 to 7:00. Just go on time, and there's plenty to eat. But you must not waste food, or your wages will be deducted."
She then pointed to the wardrobe next to the desk and said, "Each wardrobe has two keys, one for each of you. You can lock your valuables inside. The factory provides daily necessities like laundry detergent and soap every month, all free of charge. If you need any help, you can always find me in the dormitory manager's office on the first floor."
After Sister Liu left, the two women eagerly began packing their belongings. Their luggage was simple: a few changes of clothes, a small cloth bag containing toiletries, and several family photos. Chen Xiulian placed the photos on her desk, looking at her parents' smiles in the pictures, and secretly resolved to work hard, earn more money, and give her family a better life.
After tidying up their room, with a little time before breakfast, the two decided to take a stroll around the campus. Stepping out of the dormitory building, they saw that the campus roads were wide and flat, lined with neatly planted ornamental trees, with trash cans placed under the trees; the entire campus was spotless. The aroma of food wafted from the nearby cafeteria, and many new employees were heading towards it.
The canteen was a spacious, bright, two-story building with neatly arranged tables and chairs, the surfaces and floors spotless. The two of them, carrying the utensils provided by the canteen, lined up to get their food. Breakfast consisted of congee, steamed buns, eggs, and pickled vegetables; the selection was simple, but the portions were generous, and everything was piping hot.
"These steamed buns are so delicious, white and soft, and they're even filled with meat," Li Azhen said with satisfaction after taking a bite. Back in the textile factory, breakfast consisted of watery porridge and rock-hard cornbread. Now, being able to eat breakfast like this made her feel incredibly happy.
After breakfast, the new employees gathered at the canteen entrance. Factory manager Zhao Jianguo and HR manager Zhou Minghui, along with a group of factory leaders, sat down at the table in front of the group. Zhao Jianguo, dressed in blue overalls, wore a gentle smile and held a wired microphone: "Welcome to Zhonghua Home Appliances. From today onwards, we are family. Over the next month, you will undergo pre-job training, including safety knowledge, operating procedures, and product knowledge. I hope you will study diligently and adapt to your positions as quickly as possible."
Zhou Minghui then explained the factory's rules and regulations in detail: "Our factory operates on an eight-hour workday, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with a one-hour break at noon. During work hours, workers must abide by labor discipline, wear appropriate protective equipment, and are not allowed to leave their posts or wander around without permission. Wages are paid on the 15th of each month, without delay."
Then came a long chatter, and half an hour later they began assigning factory buildings and workshops. The new employees were assigned to factories and workshops, and then further divided into several groups by the workshop foremen. After registering, they were led by different technical experts to visit and train in the factory buildings. Chen Xiulian and Li Azhen were assigned to the same group, led by a technical expert known as Master Zhang. He had over ten years of experience in electronic assembly in Hong Kong, was highly skilled, and very easy-going. He had seen an advertisement in the newspaper from Zhonghua Home Appliances recruiting assembly technicians, offering the highest salary and benefits in the industry, so he switched jobs to join them.
The factory doors slowly opened, releasing a distinctive smell of machine oil from the new equipment, but it wasn't pungent. Stepping into the vast factory, one was greeted by sections divided into areas, each housing neatly arranged production lines. The silver equipment gleamed under the lights, appearing exceptionally advanced. Each production line was clearly labeled, making every step—from component selection and welding to assembly and testing—obvious at a glance.