People in the Republic of China era began to rise from industry.

Chapter 125 The mastermind behind this is Lin Yi; please, Chairman, come out and take a few steps.

"Beep, beep."

The night was deep when a rapid knocking on the door startled Duan Xinde, who had just fallen asleep, awake.

He was extremely busy from noon onwards that day.

Various phone calls and visits.

They even came up with a brilliant idea.

He also controlled most of the newspaper business in Guangzhou.

At a single command, the newsboys who had been wandering the streets vanished without a trace.

This directly and physically cut off a channel for public opinion to ferment.

It has a touch of divine inspiration.

However, this did not cheer him up.

Because the several important figures he personally visited all agreed to help him smooth things over with Chen Bonan.

However, almost everyone complained that he was making trouble out of nothing and did something incredibly stupid.

This made Duan Xinde feel frustrated and increasingly aware of the seriousness of the problem.

I tossed and turned like this until the middle of the night, and finally couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep.

He'll just wait and see how things go tomorrow before deciding whether to use his connections in Nanjing to put in a good word for Chen Bonan...

"what's up?"

Duan Xinde, who sat up in bed, paused for two seconds before asking a question.

I had a vague sense of unease.

The people in the villa knew that he had only just fallen asleep.

If someone knocks on the door at this time, it must be because something extremely urgent has happened.

"Sir, Chief Wu from the police station is calling and wants you to take the call personally."

Hearing the reply from outside the door, Duan Xinde didn't dare to delay.

He rushed to the study without even putting on his shoes.

"Director Wu, this is Duan Xinde."

"Hey Duan, are you fucking crazy?"

The first thing he heard was a barrage of insults, but Duan Xinde wasn't angry; he was just completely bewildered.

"Director Wu, what's wrong?"

"What exactly happened at the Yude Cotton Mill in the suburbs? Did you set it on fire?!"

"What arson? I don't even know where Yude Cotton Mill is... No, my dear Director Wu, even if I were stupid, I would never do such a thing at this time."

Realizing what had happened, Duan Xinde jumped up and down in a panic: "I didn't even have time to put out the fire, how could I possibly start it?"

"Someone must be trying to frame me!"

His voice was anxious, and Director Wu, who had been questioning him, fell silent.

He then said, "Whether someone is trying to harm you or not, this is a big deal."

What do you mean by "major trouble"?

Duan Xinde continued to jump up and down in a panic: "I didn't do it, why should I be the one to be implicated..."

"Who believes it?"

Director Wu, who was opposite him, interrupted him directly and said earnestly, "Brother Duan, I will try my best to find out the real culprit."

"Also, take my advice: from now on, stay on Shamian Island and see how things go."

"You might have to leave for a while."

"……understood."

Duan Xinde responded with a resentful expression, and only hung up the phone listlessly when the dial tone came through.

It's quiet at night.

The subordinate waiting nearby heard the contents of the phone call clearly.

Seeing Duan Xinde's uncertain expression, he cautiously said, "Sir, could it be that some fool down there did this?"

Duan Xinde was taken aback, then asked, "Yu De is also a member of that damn association?"

"Yes, Yu Tak is on Changdi Avenue today."

"Oh shit!"

Duan Xinde cursed, his eyes flashing with murderous intent.

If that's the case, then it's very likely that it was the work of one of the idiots under my command.

Thinking it over, he gritted his teeth and said, "Go investigate and see which bastard it is."

"Find him, and I'll tear him to pieces!"

……

Director Wu is quite perceptive about public opinion.

The first consequence of Yude's fire was that the next morning, Chen Qiyuan, along with dozens of factory owners, gathered in front of the provincial government office to request an audience with Chen Bonan.

Almost at the same time, several major newspapers in Shanghai, thousands of miles away, also began reporting the detailed origins of this matter on their front pages.

The focus is on the tragic plight of the bonded laborers.

At noon that day, Wu Derong held a press conference on behalf of the Textile Federation.

The call is for the entire industry to protect workers' interests and prevent foremen from exploiting them.

They also called on the government to protect the safety of businesses.

In the afternoon, the Guangdong Provincial Police Department officially issued an arrest warrant for Duan Xinde, demanding that the Shamian authorities apprehend and hand over the ringleader.

He was therefore refused.

Another day has passed in the blink of an eye, and things are getting increasingly serious.

The newspaper articles began to move beyond the bonded laborers and went on to explore the nature of the slave trade, specifically the overseas labor service.

Moreover, the reports on this matter are no longer limited to Chinese newspapers.

Western newspapers in the concessions, such as The Mainland Daily and Lianhe Zaobao, also began to report on it.

Several influential newspapers in Hong Kong were no exception.

Even several major newspapers in the United States, located across the ocean, published the story in the form of telegrams.

They also called on the authorities to investigate this serious human rights violation.

Airing family scandals in public is a serious matter.

Chiang Kai-shek, who thought he was used to ignoring criticism, was finally alarmed at his official residence in Lushan, Nanjing.

"Damn it, blinded by greed, utterly inhuman!"

In the office, the cane thumped against the ground.

Kong Yongzhi, who had just been summoned, glanced at his brother-in-law, whose face was dark, and said with a forced smile, "Chairman, this matter needs to be viewed from two perspectives."

"With lagging technology in China, the only way to control production costs is often to focus on workers' wages."

"Is finding a solution just to not pay a single penny of wages?"

Chiang Kai-shek gave him a cold look and pointed to the newspaper on the table: "It is clearly stated in the newspaper that the factory paid wages, but these foremen severely deducted wages in the process, even to the point of deducting them completely."

One person criticizes another and they remain silent.

Seeing that Kong Yongzhi had shut up, Chiang Kai-shek snorted and then softened his tone: "Yongzhi, your industrial department needs to take the initiative in this matter."

"If you had taken initiative, none of this would have happened today."

"Even American newspapers have reported on it. What kind of image will the KMT have?"

"The Chairman's lesson is correct."

Kong Yongzhi nodded, then said, "Chairman, although this is the truth, the sudden surge in public opinion must be due to someone pushing things behind the scenes."

"This point must not be overlooked."

"You mean the underground Communist Party?"

Before Kong Yongzhi could speak, Chiang Kai-shek said irritably, "The facts are all there. We were caught red-handed, and this is our own fault for making things this way!"

"Therefore, Yongzhi, there's no need to say such things."

"The Ministry of Industry needs to take a stand as soon as possible, kill a few people, and quell public anger."

"..."

With American newspapers and textile associations involved, it's obvious that Lin Yi is behind this.

He was feeling down when his office door was suddenly pushed open.

Then Chiang Kai-shek's chief secretary, Yang Changqing, held a document in his hand and said, "Chairman, the Guangdong Provincial Civil Affairs Office has just issued a telegram stating that..."

"In his statement, Chen Bonan said that Guangdong Province will thoroughly investigate the issue of bonded laborers and has already negotiated with the Shamian authorities regarding the arrest of Duan Xinde."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chiang Kai-shek's face darkened even further.

That Chen Bonan, he managed to absolve himself of responsibility and play the good guy.

But what will happen to the Nationalist government now that he has made this suggestion?

We can't keep handling this discreetly, can we?

"Chairman, there's no time to lose. Should we also issue a statement in the name of the Executive Yuan?"

Chiang Kai-shek remained silent, first frowning, then looking at Kong Yongzhi.

Premier Wang Chao-ming has gone abroad for medical treatment.

He now holds this position concurrently.

To express a stance in the name of the Executive Yuan is to express a stance in his name.

He would never do something so shameful!

"Yongzhi, the lady told me last time that she wants you to act as her successor..."

"Thank you, Madam, but my abilities are limited, and the Industrial Department is also very busy."

"I think Wenchang is more suitable."