Lao Li set off from his dilapidated rental house early this morning, and his destination was a high-rise building under construction in the city. The promise made by the boss on the phone yesterday echoed over and over again in my mind, "Lao Li, this time I'm a little tired, you carry the cement to the 8th floor alone, and I'll give you 1,500 yuan, okay?" Although the words are easy, Lao Li knows that the 20 bags of cement weigh 50 kilograms each, which is a big challenge for him in his 50s.
Walking on the road leading to the construction site, Lao Li met Aunt Wang, who had been setting up a stall nearby. Aunt Wang greeted warmly: "Lao Li, so early, go to the construction site again?" Lao Li smiled bitterly and nodded: "Yes, Aunt Wang, I have to carry 20 bags of cement to the 8th floor today." ”
"Ouch, it's not easy for you to do such heavy work at your age." Aunt Wang's words were full of sympathy.
Lao Li took a deep breath, and a sense of pride rose in his chest: "For the sake of the family, I have to grit my teeth and get through." His son Lao Yang is in high school, his wife Li Juan is not in good health, and the hope of the whole family is in him.
When he came to the construction site, Lao Li immediately began the hard work of moving. The cement was dusty, his back was already soaked, and every time he carried a bag of cement, Lao Li had to secretly cheer himself in his heart: "This bag is my son's textbook money, and this bag is the family's rice oil money." Although the sweat made his eyes uncomfortable, he had no intention of stopping.
Time passed minute by minute, and when the last bag of cement was delivered to the 8th floor, Lao Li gasped, his hands were already peeling open. But all he had in mind was the promised 1,500 yuan. "This money can allow my wife to go to the hospital for a good look, so that my son does not have to worry about charging tuition."
Lao Li picked up his mobile phone and sent a WeChat message to his wife: "I earned a sum of money today, you and your son wait, and I'll buy you delicious food when I go back." Li Juan's reply was full of concern: "Don't be too tired, you can't earn enough money, and your body matters." ”
Just as Lao Li was drinking water on the construction site and taking a break, a discordant voice suddenly sounded next to him. When he looked up, it turned out to be several young porters, who complained as they moved the materials: "This job is too tiring today, and the salary is so small." ”
Lao Li thought to himself, if these young people were allowed to do this job, what would they think? He silently thought that no matter what, his money was earned by hard work, and he hoped that the boss would keep his promise. Lao Li rubbed his waist, sweating profusely and standing on the 8th floor of the newly built high-rise building, looking at the cement bag on the side, he felt tired and sore. Just as he was about to find Foreman Liu to settle his salary, he heard the sound of an argument in front of him.
"Engineer Liu, you can't do this, we're almost done, what did you say about adding money?" Young Zhang complained, his face full of dissatisfaction and fatigue.
"Where can I control it, you also see that this construction period is too rushed, the boss is pressing us, and we also have difficulties." Foreman Liu was expressionless and pushed the responsibility away.
Lao Li stepped forward and wanted to talk to Engineer Liu, but was interrupted by the phone in his hand. "Wait, Lao Li, I'll talk about that part later." Engineer Liu held the phone in one hand and waved it in the other, so as not to disturb him for the time being.
Xiao Zhao whispered on the side: "Lao Li, you may have to lose money this time, and your money has to be discounted." He squinted his eyes and didn't dare to look directly at Lao Li.
Lao Li's heart sank, and his face was solemn: "What's the matter?" Didn't you say 1,500 yuan yesterday? ”
Engineer Liu hung up the phone, frowned and said, "Lao Li, I'm really sorry, I can only give you 600 yuan this time." ”
"How's that going to work? I worked hard to carry 20 bags of cement and moved to the 8th floor step by step, and now tell me that's all? Lao Li's voice became higher and higher.
Xiao Zhao stepped forward to reassure: "Lao Li, you also know that our line of work is not good, you have also seen the situation on the construction site, everyone is under pressure." ”
"Hmph, I didn't see it, I experienced it myself!" Lao Li pointed to his shabby overalls and said, "This 1,500 yuan may not be much for you, but for me it is money for my son to go to school and treat my wife!" ”
Engineer Liu opened his mouth, but he didn't know what to do, after all, he was also ordered to act: "Lao Li, it's not that I don't want to give, it's that the boss hasn't given us enough budget." ”
"The top didn't give a budget, so you will take us migrant workers?" Lao Li's emotions became more and more excited, "I don't care, if I don't get 1,500 yuan today, I won't leave!" ”
Xiao Zhao looked at Foreman Liu, the two looked at each other, and in this stalemate, Engineer Liu contacted his boss by phone, hoping to solve it.
As time passed, other workers also began to watch, Xiao Zhang, Xiao Wang and others stood next to them and discussed, "Lao Li has encountered a problem this time." ”
"Hey, our hard work is not easy, I don't know if Lao Li can ask for an explanation this time." Xiao Yang on the side also expressed sympathy.
Just when everyone was indignant, the owner, Mr. Zhao, appeared, saw the red-faced Lao Li, and asked puzzledly: "What's wrong?" ”
Lao Li told the owner of the situation one by one, and the owner, Mr. Zhao, frowned, was silent for a moment and said, "Let me come forward and say something." ”
In the cloudy atmosphere, there seems to be a turning point. Mr. Zhao's intervention gave Lao Li a glimmer of hope, but it was really hard to say what would happen in the end. Mr. Zhao appeared in the arguing crowd, his gaze like a beacon, casting questions in people's hearts. "What the hell is going on?" Mr. Zhao's voice was slightly stern, and it was clear that he didn't want to see any disputes at the construction site where he had invested.
A glimmer of hope flashed in Lao Li's eyes, and he quickly explained to Mr. Zhao everything that had happened today. "Mr. Zhao, I just want justice. I did so much work, and now they tell me that I have to get a big discount on what I said I was going to do. ”
Mr. Zhao turned his head to look at Engineer Liu and Xiao Zhao, and the tall figure gave people an invisible sense of intimidation. "Engineer Liu, what the hell is going on?"
Engineer Liu said bitterly in his heart, he knew that Mr. Zhao was a person, and he would never tolerate the promise being inconsistent with reality, but he had to explain: "Mr. Zhao, it is really our budget problem, and we are trying our best to solve the workers' wages." ”
At this moment, the stagnant atmosphere was broken by a sudden conflict. A young porter accidentally bumped into Lao Li, who may be new to the scene and does not understand the intricacies of the scene. "I'm sorry, man."
"You don't have to say I'm sorry!" Lao Li lost control of his emotions for a while, and pushed the other party hard, and the young worker's body shook and almost fell.
"Lao Li!" Engineer Liu's voice raised slightly. "We're discussing it right now, what are you doing here?"
"I'm asking for an explanation!" Lao Li pointed to his hands, which were a pair of calloused hands, "Look at my hands, they are the traces left by work, but I can't get the money I deserve." ”
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Mr. Zhao's forehead, and he was well aware of the various pressures of this situation, but he also knew that as an owner, he had to protect the basic rights and interests of workers. "Foreman Liu, as I said before, I hope that this project will satisfy the workers and that there will be no wage disputes as much as possible."
Xiao Zhao cautiously added: "Mr. Zhao, we will solve this problem as soon as possible to satisfy the workers." ”
At this moment, Lao Li has reached the limit. "Resolved? You said it so easily, I carried the cement to the 8th floor alone, how much sweat flowed into my eyes, these hands are almost unable to hold chopsticks, you say easy is easy? ”
The atmosphere at the scene almost got out of control, and other workers began to echo Lao Li's emotions, and their voices rose higher and higher. "Yes, your words don't count!" "Do you dare to default on the hard-earned money of the workers?"
Mr. Zhao picked up his phone and decided to contact the project leader directly. "I'm going to talk to the project side personally, and the workers should be rewarded for their work. As for today's events, I will give you a satisfactory answer. ”
Lao Li's eyes flashed with complicated feelings, he really didn't want to be so stiff because of this matter, but on the issue of principle, he couldn't back down. He watched Mr. Zhao call from afar, wondering if the call would bring him a just result. As the call between Mr. Zhao and the project leader ended, the atmosphere was tense again. Workers gathered around, anxiously awaiting news that would bring them comfort. Lao Li stood quietly aside, the wound on his hand had stopped bleeding, but the tension in his heart could not be calmed.
Mr. Zhao hung up the phone with a hint of firmness in his tone: "Engineer Liu, everyone who works on my project deserves their due remuneration. This old comrade Li, you can give him 1,500 yuan, he has contributed a lot to this project. ”
Engineer Liu was relieved when he heard this, and a wry smile appeared on his face: "Lao Li, did you hear it?" We will pay you as agreed. ”
When Lao Li heard this, the tension on his face was finally relieved, but there was still a bit of disbelief in his voice: "Really give me 1,500 yuan?" ”
"Yes, Lao Li, this is what you deserve." Mr. Zhao answered, "And, in order to apologize, we will give you some extra compensation." ”
A hint of surprise flashed in Lao Li's eyes, he didn't expect this to be the result in the end. He said in a trembling voice, "Thank you, Mr. Zhao, you are a reasonable and good person." ”
Under the gaze of the surrounding crowd, Lao Li took the stack of banknotes handed to him by Engineer Liu, which he had exchanged for sweat and hard work. Lao Li held the money tightly, remembering this lesson in his heart, and he must deal with problems more wisely in the future.
Back home, Lao Li told his son Lao Yang about the experience. Lao Yang listened to his father's words, his eyes were full of admiration and thought.
"Lao Yang, you have to study hard in school, and don't work as hard as your father in the future. Remember, justice is in people's hearts. Lao Li said earnestly.
Lao Yang nodded, deeply moved: "Dad, I understand, you are so brave." ”
When the night was getting dark, Lao Li and his family sat around the dining table, and they bowed their heads and prayed, thankful for a good result today. Lao Li silently asked in his heart: "Shouldn't this world be respected for justice?" ”