寄人籬下太無奈

Too helpless to rely on others

“大漠黃沙，望瘦天涯。幾片黑色的羽毛，抖落于祁連山下。目之所及的無非是，斷壁殘垣枯樹昏鴉……”這是一個詩人對西北荒涼景象的描繪。

"Desert of sands, looking at the thin horizon. A few black feathers fluttered down from Qilian Mountain. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but a broken wall, a dead tree, a raven in the evening..." This was a poet's description of the desolation of the northwest China.

而今，周興和來到甘肅高蘭縣的心境，比這位詩人描繪的還要荒涼，還要焦慮，還要悲哀。

Now, Zhou Xinghe's mood in Gaolan County, Gansu Province, was more desolate, more anxious and more sorrow than the poet described.

“這簡直就是一群烏合之眾！”這是1985年夏天的一個早晨，周興和一起床，就聽到工地上幾個工段長卷起工人們的工資，甚至飯票逃離工地的消息！

"What a rabble!" It was one morning in the summer of 1985. As soon as Zhou Xinghe got up, he heard the news that several foremen on the construction site had made off with the workers' wages and even the meal tickets and ran away from the construction site.

“興和，這個事你要趕快想個辦法呀，要馬上把他們追回來！不然，這里的工程就要泡湯了呀！”建筑工地的負責人馬經(jīng)理此時已經(jīng)完全束手無策了，他焦急地要周興和趕快去把這些人追回來。

"Xinghe, you must do something, and get them back at once! Otherwise, the project here will be ruined!" Manager Ma, who was in charge of the construction site, was at a loss for what to do. He anxiously asked Zhou Xinghe to go and take them back.

“這種事，你該早點采取措施呀！”周興和說。

"You ought to have done something about it earlier!" Zhou Xinghe said.

“我該采取的措施都采取了，可沒想到這些人最后會這樣干哪！”

"I did all the things I was supposed to do, but I didn't know these people would do this!"

“好吧，我去追就是了，但能不能把他們追回來，我可不敢打包票?！敝芘d和想了想，跳上一臺卡車，就往蘭州火車站追去。

"Well, I'll go after them, but I'm not sure I can get them back." Zhou Xinghe thought about it, jumped into a truck and chased to Lanzhou Railway Station.

工地上出現(xiàn)這樣的情況，其實早在周興和預料之中。

The site had such a situation, in fact, was early expected by Zhou Xinghe.

1984年，周興和組建的“東風建筑工程隊”，加入了“三臺縣富順建筑工程公司”。又是他四處奔走，通過一些關系，承攬到甘肅蘭州高蘭縣的一項水泥廠建設工程。當時的工程造價為790萬元，相當于今天7000—8000萬元，應該是一項很不錯的建設項目了。

In 1984, Zhou Xinghe formed "Dongfeng Construction Engineering Team" and joined "Santai County Fushun Construction Engineering Company". He also went around, and contracted to build a cement plant in Gaolan County, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province. The project cost at that time was 7.9 million yuan, equivalent to 70 to 80 million yuan today, which should be a very good construction project.

工程落實后，周興和回到三臺縣，當即給公司馬經(jīng)理建議：由于這項工程施工質(zhì)量高，工期又緊，但公司的技術力量太弱，技術人員和施工人員奇缺，很難勝任這項工程，應該到其他建筑公司多聘請一些技術人員參與這項工程。同時，第一二期工程的利潤，要讓這些技術人員多獲得一些。這樣，表面上好像吃了點虧，但在兩年時間里，就可以為我們培養(yǎng)出一批工程技術人員來。這些技術人員，將來就是公司的一筆財富。

After the project was contracted, Zhou Xinghe returned to Santai County, immediately suggested to the company’s Manager Ma: due to the high construction quality of the project, and the comstruction period was limited, while the company's technical force was too weak, in the shortage of technical personnel and construction personnel, so it was difficult to be competent for the project, and should go to other construction companies to hire more technical personnel to participate in the project. Meanwhile, the project's profits in the first and second phase shall allow these technical personnel to share more. This might seem to be a disadvantage, but in two years, we would have trained a number of engineers and technicians. These technicians would be an asset to the company in the future.

可這馬經(jīng)理不但不懂管理，還自信而又自負，把建筑這樣的工程項目，當成像在農(nóng)村修房造屋一樣簡單，當成組織一群村民們修個堰塘那么容易。他完全聽不進周興和的建議，于1985年初，不切實際地組織起近200人的建筑大軍，大造聲勢說支援大西北建設，敲鑼打鼓為這支大軍送行。這讓周興和暗暗叫苦：在這200人的隊伍中，只有7個人是磚瓦工和鋼筋工，其余的人都是剛放下鋤頭糞桶的農(nóng)民呀！

But Manager Ma was not only ignorant in management, but also confident and conceited. He thought that to build a project like this was as easy as to build a house in the countryside, or as easy to organize a group of villagers to build a dam. He did not listen to Zhou Xinghe's suggestion, in early 1985, unrealistically organized the construction team of nearly 200 people, and said to support the northwest construction, to see off this team by beating drums and gongs. Zhou Xinghe complained in his heart that, out of the 200 people, only seven were the bricklayers and rebar workers, while the rest were farmers who had just put down their hoe and dung buckets.

靠這樣一群人，就要去承建水泥廠這樣大的工程么！周興和這時是寄人籬下，人微言輕，公司領導根本沒把他的建議當回事！

Relying on such a group of people, it was impossible to undertake such a big project - the construction of a cement plant! Zhou Xinghe at this time was dependent on others, and the company leadership did not take his suggestion seriously!

這樣荒唐的事，在改革開放初期，其實是屢見不鮮的。

In fact, such absurd things, in the beginning of the reform and opening up, were common.

這支浩浩蕩蕩建筑隊伍，登上向北的火車，過秦嶺，穿秦川，進西北，大部分人都還是第一回坐火車，一路上大家都情緒高昂歡天喜地?？傻搅烁咛m縣工地一考核，這些人所報的鋼筋工、磚瓦工連一點基本的常識也沒有。

This huge construction team boarded the train heading north, crossed the Qinling Mountains, crossed Qinchuan and entered the northwest China. Most of the people were in high spirits and happy all the way for their first-time journey by train. But when they arrived the site in Gaolan County for assessment, these people were reported as the rebar workers or bricklayers, but they actually did not even have a little basic knowledge.

這時，公司領導完全還可以采取緊急補救措施，馬上組織這些人學習、培訓后再上崗。但習慣了在農(nóng)村大呼隆種莊稼的領導，堅持要讓這些人員邊干邊學。領導不懂管理，工人不懂技術，這個團隊就像一群放出蜂巢的馬蜂，各行其是亂飛亂蟄。由于工地管理混亂，時間不長，有的工人就將破銅爛鐵、板車內(nèi)帶等偷出去賣錢，半夜跑到附近農(nóng)村偷吃地瓜水果。進而，有些人還跑到農(nóng)民家去偷雞摸狗，在附近惹是生非打架斗毆。

At this moment, the company leader still could take emergency remedial measure, to organize these people to learn and train immediately, before working. However, the leaders, accustomed to growing crops collectively in rural area, insisted that they could work while learning. The leaders didn't know the management, the workers didn't know any technology, and the team was like a group of hornets released from the hive, acting wilfully. Due to the site management chaos, not after a long time, some workers stole the scrap metal and cart tube out to sell for money, or ran to the nearby countryside to eat the sweet potato or fruit at midnight. Moreover, some people even went to the farmers' houses to steal things, or cause trouble and fight nearby.

這樣混亂的局面持續(xù)了不到半年，由于工程質(zhì)量屢次檢查都出現(xiàn)問題，不久前，工地上就傳出建設方要勒令停工的消息——這下好了，幾個工段長聽到這個消息后，經(jīng)過一番密謀，如今竟卷起工人們的一點工錢，腳下抹油想溜之大吉。

Such chaos lasted less than half a year, due to the problems frequently appeared in the engineering quality inspection, not long ago, on the construction site came the news that the construction company would have to stop work. Well, several section foremen took the workers' wages and wanted to run away after hearing the news.

這樣的隊伍，其實就是一群烏合之眾呀！

Such a team, in fact, was just a rabble!

還好，周興和趕到蘭州的第二天，就在火車站找到了這幾個卷款欲逃的工段長。

Fortunately, Zhou Xinghe arrived in Lanzhou, and found those section foremen on the second day in the railway station.

“我說你們幾個蠢豬呀，怎么招呼都不打一個就跑了呀！”一路上，周興和早想好了對付他們的辦法。多年在外應付各種突發(fā)的情況，他不但具備了處理突發(fā)事件的智慧，還練就了比較好的口才。見到逃走的幾個人后，周興和并不著急，他只是不疾不緩地對幾人說道，“馬經(jīng)理是貸款到這里來搞工程的，他才希望你們這樣干呢！你們不知道吧，馬經(jīng)理早就通知公安機關，在進站口等著抓你們，說你們是卷款潛逃！”

"You stupid pig, why you ran away without a word!" Along the way, Zhou Xinghe had already figured out how to deal with them. After years of dealing with various emergencies, he not only had the wisdom to deal with emergent conditions, but also had a better eloquence. Seeing the runaways, Zhou Xinghe was not in a hurry, but just said to them in a leisurely manner, "Manager Ma came here with a loan to do the project, and that's what he wanted you to do! Do you know, Manager Ma had already notified the public security organs, waiting to catch you at the entrance, he said you took all the money to abscond!"

“是么？”幾個人聽周興和如此一說，不但沒跑，反而都主動湊了上來。

"What?" Those people listened to Zhou Xinghe said so, and gathered up initiatively instead of running away.

“我清楚，你們現(xiàn)在帶走的只是一點小錢，更多的資金不在你們身上。你們這一跑——那好了，馬經(jīng)理的貸款和工地上的虧損，就會全部算在你們頭上，你們就是滿身是嘴，也說不清了呀！”

"I know that what you take with you is only a little money, and more money is not with you. But if you run away - well, Manager Ma's loan and the loss on the site will all be on you, so you can't explain clearly with all your mouths!"

幾個人再聽周興和這樣一說，都有些面面相覷起來。

Those people listened to what Zhou Xinghe said, and all looked at each other in speechless despair.

“伙計們，你們想得太簡單了！今天就算你們跑了，跑到別處去打工，當然暫時可以逃避。但，你跑得了和尚還跑得了廟么！馬經(jīng)理肯定會通過公安機關，去找你們的父母和愛人算賬，難道你們就忍心讓家里的人不得安寧，在家鄉(xiāng)造成不良影響么！”周興和態(tài)度很誠懇，他關切地接著對他們說道，“你們就算住旅館，走的時候也要給店老板打個招呼，被子枕頭是否齊全，連這么點規(guī)矩都不懂，可惜你們還在社會上闖蕩了這些年！”

"Guys, you think too simply! Even if you run away today, to work elsewhere, of course, you can escape temporarily. But, how about your families? Manager Ma will certainly go through the public security organs, to find your parents and wife to pay the money, do you want your families getting in trouble, and causing bad influence in your hometown?" Zhou Xinghe was sincere and concerned for them, "Even if you stay in a hotel, you should tell the boss when you leave, that whether the pillows and quilts are intact, isn’t it? How could you not know these rules and make a living in society for years?"

周興和不輕不重的一番話，起到了立竿見影的效果，讓這幾個人當即緊張起來。一時間，他們顯得束手無策，進而還相互埋怨起來。

Zhou Xinghe’s words were not light or heavy, and had an immediate effect, to let those people immediately felt nervous. For a moment, they looked helpless and began to blame each other.

“其實你們也不用緊張。我給你們出個主意：你們馬上去買幾樣工地上需要的工具，帶回去主動找馬經(jīng)理說理去！就說這幾天你馬經(jīng)理不在，我們幾個人商量后，到蘭州去買工具去了，好早點把工期趕上去?！敝芘d和主動給他們出主意道，“這樣，你們還可以給他說，我們拼死拼活給你干，你還污蔑我們卷款潛逃，我們到底卷了你多少款？叫他說清楚——這樣，你們不但錢不退，還要找他報銷差旅費哩！”

"You needn't be nervous either. Let me give you an idea: you just go to buy some tools needed on the construction site right away, take them back and find Manager Ma initiatively! Just say that Manager Ma was not here these days, after discussing, we went to Lanzhou to buy the tools, so as to catch up with the construction period as soon as possible." Zhou Xinghe offered advice to them, "In this way, you can also tell him that we have worked hard for you, but you still accuse us of escaping with money. How many monies have we got from you? Tell him to say it clearly - and then you'll not return your money back to him, but ask him for reimbursement for your travelling expenses!"

“這個辦法好、這個辦法好！”就這樣，這幾個人不但服服帖帖跟周興和回到了工地，一路上還給他說不完的好話。

"That's a good idea!" In this way, those people not only obediently followed Zhou Xinghe back to the construction site, but also spoke kindly to him all the way.

但，令人遺憾，甚至悲哀的是：周興和承攬到的這項工程，才干了不到半年，由于多處工程質(zhì)量不合格，最后被建設方勒令停工了！工人們干了幾個月，不但沒拿到工資，連回家的路費和伙食費也沒有。領導一走了之后，許多人爬貨車或混客車，躲在車上廁所或座椅下，歷盡千辛萬苦才回到四川?；氐郊依锬且豢?，許多人衣衫襤褸，一身污濁，頭發(fā)比女人的還長，比流浪要飯的叫花子還可憐！到了家門口那一刻，兒子見了父母，妻子見了丈夫的那副狼狽相，不少人一句話都沒說，就抱頭痛哭起來！

However, it was regrettable, even sad that: Zhou Xinghe contracted the project, and worked for less than half a year, but the construction party was finally ordered to stop working because the quality of many items was not up to standard! The workers worked for months without payment, and even had no money for travel or food to get home. After the leader left, many people climbed onto the trucks or buses, hid in the toilets or under the seats, and went through all kinds of hardships to return to Sichuan. When they got home, many of them were ragged and dirty. Their hair was longer than woman's and they were more miserable than beggars. Arrived at the door, when the son saw his parents and the wife saw the husband of that dispirited appearance, many people did not say a word, just cried on each other!

外出打工的農(nóng)民兄弟們啊，難怪后來連溫家寶總理都要親自替你們討要工資！

No wonder, even Premier Wen Jiabao personally asked for the wages of rural migrant workers!

周興和在干這項工程中，他費力淘神弄得心力交瘁，可公司連差旅費、生活費都沒給他報銷，半年多時間不但沒掙到一分錢，反而負債達4000多元！這，讓他深切地體會到寄人籬下的無奈和悲哀，從此更堅定了他個人創(chuàng)業(yè)的決心和信心。

When Zhou Xinghe was working on the project, he felt exhausted both mentally and physically. However, the company did not even reimburse him for his traveling expenses and living expenses. Instead of earning a penny, he owed more than 4,000 yuan in debt in half a year. This made him deeply realized the helplessness and sorrow of relying on others, and firmed his determination and confidence of personal entrepreneurship.