2000年9月30日上午,正在北京參加全國(guó)勞模觀光團(tuán)的海鹽縣特種纖維織造廠廠長(zhǎng)趙榮華的手機(jī)突然響起,一個(gè)熟悉而又略顯陌生的聲音傳來(lái):“是榮華嗎?”
趙榮華不由一愣,脫口而出:“哦,是先生。”
“先生”,是原浙江海鹽襯衫總廠職工對(duì)有著中國(guó)企業(yè)改革第一人之稱的廠長(zhǎng)步鑫生的習(xí)慣叫法。
通話中,已定居上海的步鑫生說(shuō)他已來(lái)海鹽,想和趙榮華見(jiàn)上一面。
關(guān)上手機(jī)后,趙榮華沉默良久。自從離開(kāi)海鹽襯衫總廠后,他和步鑫生再?zèng)]有過(guò)任何聯(lián)系,屈指算來(lái),當(dāng)年那場(chǎng)轟動(dòng)全國(guó)的“罷免”風(fēng)波,已經(jīng)整整過(guò)去16年了。
(一)
1983年7月的一天,浙江海鹽襯衫總廠廠長(zhǎng)步鑫生突然召開(kāi)廠工會(huì)委員會(huì)議,宣布改組廠工會(huì),任命工會(huì)副主席趙榮華任主席,原工會(huì)主席馮織娟不在新名單之內(nèi)。
當(dāng)時(shí),馮織娟照顧生病的孩子沒(méi)有參加會(huì)議,趙榮華也因出差沒(méi)在廠里,回來(lái)后聽(tīng)說(shuō)此事感到十分突然。在步鑫生的幾次催促下,趙榮華考慮再三,對(duì)步鑫生說(shuō):“按照《工會(huì)章程》,工會(huì)主席是由會(huì)員們選舉后報(bào)縣總工會(huì)批準(zhǔn)的,這樣做恐怕不合適。”

這次擅自改組廠工會(huì),在步鑫生的預(yù)想中,馮織娟不服上訪是可能的,但趙榮華不聽(tīng)自己的安排倒是沒(méi)有料到的。他幾次找趙榮華,催他立刻上任,并要他立即從馮織娟手里拿回廠工會(huì)的公章。由于趙榮華始終不肯,而步鑫生的話在廠里向來(lái)是金科玉律不容改變,顯然這一個(gè)騎虎難下的局面讓步鑫生十分惱火,對(duì)這樣一個(gè)“不識(shí)抬舉”的“逆臣”,他終于要發(fā)雷霆之怒了。
1983年12月8日上午,兩位副廠長(zhǎng)和幾個(gè)廠中層干部來(lái)到趙榮華辦公室,說(shuō)一會(huì)兒廠里召開(kāi)全廠職工大會(huì),你就不要參加了,我們陪你在這里聽(tīng)廣播。
不一會(huì)兒,高音喇叭里傳來(lái)步鑫生的聲音,宣布撤消趙榮華一切職務(wù),開(kāi)除公職,留廠察看兩年,罪名是“拉幫結(jié)伙,亂中篡權(quán)”,連從1978年起一直在廠里做臨時(shí)工的趙榮華妻子劉培英也被株連解雇。
對(duì)不聽(tīng)步鑫生的話就任廠工會(huì)主席,趙榮華預(yù)感到會(huì)給自己帶來(lái)麻煩,但先生對(duì)他如此痛下殺手,卻是萬(wàn)萬(wàn)沒(méi)有料到的。他強(qiáng)壓下心中的怒火,對(duì)幾個(gè)“陪”著他的人說(shuō):“我必須找先生談?wù)劇!?/p>
此時(shí)的步鑫生根本不愿見(jiàn)趙榮華,他知道趙榮華身兼保衛(wèi)科長(zhǎng),有廠里所有辦公室的鑰匙,于是把自己關(guān)在電梯上面的一個(gè)小房間里,一支接一支地抽著“萬(wàn)寶路”。找遍了全廠不見(jiàn)步鑫生的趙榮華,無(wú)奈前往縣委、縣總工會(huì)和二輕局反映情況。走到廠門(mén)口,一張剛剛貼出來(lái)開(kāi)除他的通告墨跡未干,他再也按捺不住心頭的憤怒,三把兩把扯了下來(lái),大步?jīng)_出廠門(mén)。
第二天有人告訴步鑫生,趙榮華已前往杭州向省總工會(huì)申訴。這對(duì)步鑫生來(lái)說(shuō)無(wú)疑是火上澆油,赫然貼出第二號(hào)通告,對(duì)趙榮華不作留用,立即開(kāi)除。
一個(gè)月后,1984年1月24日,《浙江工人日?qǐng)?bào)》頭版頭條刊發(fā)了題為“擅自改組工會(huì),隨意撤銷和開(kāi)除工會(huì)主席”的報(bào)道,對(duì)此事進(jìn)行了披露。在上級(jí)工會(huì)的過(guò)問(wèn)和海鹽縣委的直接干預(yù)下,步鑫生不得不勉強(qiáng)恢復(fù)了趙榮華的廠籍,但對(duì)趙榮華的職務(wù)和他妻子的工作,步鑫生死活不肯恢復(fù)。
(二)
三天后,在北京參加完全國(guó)勞模觀光團(tuán)活動(dòng)的趙榮華回到海鹽,帶上在北京買(mǎi)的十條“萬(wàn)寶路”香煙,驅(qū)車(chē)前往步鑫生下榻的賓館。他知道,煙癮很大的先生只抽這種牌子。
車(chē)子路過(guò)原海鹽襯衫總廠門(mén)前,那熟悉的廠房讓趙榮華不由心頭一動(dòng)。多年來(lái),趙榮華似乎有意無(wú)意地避免從這里經(jīng)過(guò),今天看到已是幾易其主的工廠,不由得幾分感慨浮上心頭。
1976年,趙榮華和另外二十幾個(gè)知青被招進(jìn)廠里,分到整燙包裝車(chē)間。接下來(lái)的幾年,趙榮華的聰明、干練,在擴(kuò)大生產(chǎn)規(guī)模和新廠建設(shè)中得到了充分的發(fā)揮。除了被職工選為廠工會(huì)副主席外,還同時(shí)擔(dān)任了保衛(wèi)科長(zhǎng)、后勤科長(zhǎng)、治保副主任、基建領(lǐng)導(dǎo)小組副組長(zhǎng)等職,最多時(shí)兼職達(dá)到10個(gè),而且每個(gè)職務(wù)都像是一枚枚棋子被步鑫生擺在了急需的位置,絕非虛設(shè)。
就是這樣一種諧和,卻被1983年最后一個(gè)月的兩張通告徹底顛覆了,用步鑫生的話說(shuō):“趙榮華是我一手提拔的,我讓他上就上,讓他下就下!”步鑫生固執(zhí)己見(jiàn),趙榮華寧折不彎,此刻他們倆猶如拳擊臺(tái)上的一對(duì)拳擊手,兩個(gè)男人對(duì)視的目光盡管游動(dòng)著些許迷惑和無(wú)奈,但誰(shuí)也不會(huì)自動(dòng)走下拳臺(tái)。
1984年2月26日晚,中央人民廣播電臺(tái)全文播發(fā)了由新華社和《浙江日?qǐng)?bào)》記者共同采寫(xiě)的《要積極支持敢于改革創(chuàng)新的干部》的文章,并以“中共中央整黨工作指導(dǎo)委員會(huì)辦公室”的名義加了編者按語(yǔ)。第二天,《人民日?qǐng)?bào)》《工人日?qǐng)?bào)》《解放日?qǐng)?bào)》《浙江日?qǐng)?bào)》等全國(guó)各大報(bào)紙均在頭版頭條刊登了全文,對(duì)步鑫生給予了異乎尋常的肯定。幾乎一夜之間,步鑫生“火”了。縣城武原鎮(zhèn)上,迎來(lái)了潮水般的參觀人流,高峰時(shí)每天多達(dá)幾千人,后來(lái)規(guī)定只有師、局級(jí)干部才能見(jiàn)到步鑫生,其他人只能聽(tīng)聽(tīng)錄音。這樣的火爆場(chǎng)面連步鑫生也幽了自己一默:“干脆把我放到動(dòng)物園給人看算了。”
此時(shí),離貼出開(kāi)除趙榮華通告還不到三個(gè)月。
許多年后,趙榮華回憶起這段日子,說(shuō)其實(shí)他一天都不想在廠里呆了,之所以硬著頭皮留下來(lái),只是想有機(jī)會(huì)為自己討回個(gè)公道。后來(lái)面對(duì)如日中天的步鑫生,看來(lái)想為自己討回公道已無(wú)可能,他沒(méi)有必要再在這里耗下去了。1984年11月7日,趙榮華悄然離開(kāi)了他工作八年的工廠,回到縣城西南大約20公里的老家——古鎮(zhèn)澉浦。
(三)
汽車(chē)在步鑫生下榻的賓館停了下來(lái),也打斷了趙榮華的回憶。他跳下車(chē),直奔登記處打聽(tīng)步鑫生住的房間。服務(wù)員的回答出乎他的意外:“步先生今天早晨返回上海了。”
趙榮華默默地走出賓館大門(mén),不知道這次擦肩而過(guò),今后還會(huì)不會(huì)有見(jiàn)面的機(jī)會(huì)。手中的“萬(wàn)寶路”香煙,他托人捎去上海,算是告知先生,自己沒(méi)有爽約。

趙榮華屬牛,回到老家那年35歲。經(jīng)過(guò)一段時(shí)間的痛苦和迷茫,終于找回了他那寧折不彎的牛脾氣。他邀集了另外4戶農(nóng)民,每家投入5000元,租用了幾間生產(chǎn)隊(duì)廢棄的倉(cāng)庫(kù),招收了十來(lái)名農(nóng)村青年,買(mǎi)了4臺(tái)織機(jī),辦起了全省第一家聯(lián)戶企業(yè)。
四年后的1988年,趙榮華獲得了全國(guó)“五一”勞動(dòng)獎(jiǎng)?wù)隆?/p>
也是在這一年,一段步鑫生語(yǔ)錄不脛而走:“1988年事情多,火車(chē)相撞,飛機(jī)墜毀,鬧洪災(zāi),還有就是——我被免職了。”
后來(lái),步鑫生先后去了上海、北京、遼寧等地。1990年,他在接受《浙江科技報(bào)》記者采訪時(shí),說(shuō)到趙榮華,心情有點(diǎn)沉重:
“那是我的錯(cuò),我的脾氣不好,現(xiàn)在想來(lái),那時(shí)的做法有點(diǎn)過(guò)分了。”
“關(guān)于他(指趙)我在報(bào)上看到過(guò)介紹,知道一些情況,他的確是個(gè)人才,我心里很佩服他,他在逆境中能頑強(qiáng)生存下來(lái),確實(shí)不簡(jiǎn)單啊!”
幾乎與此同時(shí),趙榮華也在一次回答記者關(guān)于步鑫生的詢問(wèn)中說(shuō):
“先生這個(gè)人,說(shuō)真的,他有許多地方值得我學(xué)習(xí),至于對(duì)我的處理,不是我們兩個(gè)人有什么成見(jiàn),出現(xiàn)這種情況,主要是他剛愎自用的性格造成的。”
(四)
2001年5月25日下午5時(shí)許,從天津出差回來(lái)的趙榮華剛剛在上海浦東機(jī)場(chǎng)走下舷梯,接到了步鑫生打來(lái)的電話,說(shuō)他現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)在海鹽,準(zhǔn)備參加明天坐落在南北湖黃沙塢獅子頭的“源亭”落成儀式。這里既是錢(qián)江潮的發(fā)源地,也蘊(yùn)涵著海鹽是改革大潮發(fā)源之地的意思,“源亭”二字,就是步鑫生親手所書(shū)。電話中,步鑫生問(wèn)趙榮華能否來(lái)南北湖會(huì)面。趙榮華欣然應(yīng)允,催促前來(lái)接站的司機(jī)馬上返回海鹽。
這是兩人自1984年分手后的第一次見(jiàn)面。久別重逢,情緒似乎并不像人們通常想象的那樣熱烈,最初的寒暄過(guò)后,大家重新坐了下來(lái)。顯然,兩位有著極強(qiáng)個(gè)性的人,對(duì)過(guò)去的事是絕口不提的,相互注視的眼神,握手的力度,乃至簡(jiǎn)單的問(wèn)候,一切都心知肚明了。
在趙榮華的眼里,實(shí)在看不出年屆七十的步鑫生有什么變化,頭發(fā)一絲不亂,襯衫雪白,領(lǐng)帶光鮮,不禁感慨地說(shuō):“先生,你一點(diǎn)都沒(méi)變。”
這也是步鑫生一直引為自豪的事。他那瘦小的身軀里,仿佛有著消耗不完的精力,特別是在著裝上,決不容許有半點(diǎn)馬虎。
告別時(shí),趙榮華請(qǐng)步鑫生到他的廠里參觀,步鑫生說(shuō):“已經(jīng)到了這里,我聽(tīng)你的。”
第二天上午,趙榮華派車(chē)將步鑫生接到廠里。面對(duì)占地70畝的廠區(qū),2萬(wàn)多平方米的廠房,200多人的職工隊(duì)伍,5000萬(wàn)元的年產(chǎn)值,一向說(shuō)話滔滔不絕的步鑫生沉默了。臨走,他對(duì)趙榮華說(shuō):“你是我們襯衫總廠出來(lái)的人中,干得最好的一個(gè)。”
從此以后,步鑫生每次回海鹽,趙榮華都事先安排好賓館,吃飯會(huì)客,外出用車(chē),一一關(guān)照妥當(dāng),而且只要不是出差,都盡量抽出時(shí)間陪陪他。
2003年10月7日,《浙江工人日?qǐng)?bào)》刊登了題為“步鑫生著文向趙榮華表達(dá)內(nèi)疚之情”的報(bào)道,披露步鑫生近日撰寫(xiě)了一篇回憶文章,這位當(dāng)年用一把剪刀剪開(kāi)了中國(guó)企業(yè)改革大幕的人,向20年前被他開(kāi)除的趙榮華表達(dá)了心中深深的歉意:
“我在外地有時(shí)靜下來(lái),會(huì)想到他(指趙),這種回憶既有好的一面,也有內(nèi)疚甚至痛心的一面。很明顯,當(dāng)時(shí)襯衫總廠職工有目共睹,襯衫總廠能夠有較好的業(yè)績(jī),其中趙榮華做出很大的努力,可以說(shuō)是功不可沒(méi)。他們夫妻倆被打擊,身處逆境責(zé)任全在我個(gè)人的錯(cuò)誤決斷。雖已時(shí)過(guò)境遷,但這個(gè)問(wèn)題在我的腦海里永遠(yuǎn)抹不去,每每想到一個(gè)人遭遇不公正處理后的那種心情,愧疚之情油然而生,成了平生的一大憾事。”
熟悉步鑫生性格的人,對(duì)他著文公開(kāi)向趙榮華道歉,多少感到有些吃驚。回首當(dāng)年,步鑫生從云端直落谷底,也不過(guò)淡淡說(shuō)了句 “那時(shí)候沖的太猛,規(guī)模搞大了,人才又跟不上,失控了”的話。如今,把開(kāi)除趙榮華視為“平生一大憾事”的步鑫生,這遺憾恐怕也并非針對(duì)趙榮華本人,當(dāng)年那場(chǎng)“罷免”風(fēng)波,無(wú)論是對(duì)步鑫生,還是對(duì)趙榮華,都出乎他們的意外,我們雖不能說(shuō)這個(gè)“意外”導(dǎo)致了襯衫總廠的“失控”,但由此暴露出步鑫生為后來(lái)的結(jié)局埋下了伏筆。
同樣,這場(chǎng)“意外”在將趙榮華推入絕境的同時(shí),也調(diào)動(dòng)起了他身上所有的潛能,在一次次手足胼胝中實(shí)現(xiàn)了在逆境中的崛起。
Feud Dies after 16 Years
On the afternoon of September 30, 2000, Zhao Ronghua, director of Haiyan Special Fibers Plant on a business tour in Beijing, received a phone call on his mobile. It was a voice he hadn’t heard for 16 years. The call was from Bu Xinsheng, Zhao’s former employer who had sacked him for disobeying his instructions in a dispute 16 years before.
One day in July, 1983, Bu Xinsheng, director of the Haiyan Shirts General Factory, called for a meeting to shake up the factory’s trade union. He sacked the union president and appointed the vice president Zhao to take over.
Zhao refused to take over, citing the union regulations that only the county trade federation had the authority to appoint or sack any union leaders. Zhao’s response was a surprise to Bu, who, a high-handed executive, had expected that Zhao would readily obey his instruction. In the following weeks, Bu approached Zhao on a few occasions and urged him to take over the union leadership. But Zhao was adamant. Bu was incensed by the confrontation.
On the morning of December, 1983, Bu announced through the plant’s public broadcasting system to place Zhao on probation for 2 years and sack his wife, citing Zhao had formed cliques.
Zhao had expected there might be some trouble, but when the trouble came, the blow was harder than he had imagined. He wanted to talk with Bu, but Bu refused to see him at all. Zhao went to the county government and the union to argue his case and then presented his report to the provincial government.
Bu was further exasperated. The probation of 2 years was revoked and Zhao was sacked. But the government intervened. One month later, Zhao was back to the factory, but he was no longer allowed to work in the management. He was banished to a workshop and served as a first line worker.
Zhao was no ordinary worker. Employed in 1976, he had been fast promoted for his brilliant performance as a manager. Now working as an ordinary worker was a punishment.
In 1984, Bu became a national celebrity for his reform in management. For months, people came from all over the country to visit the plant and admire Bu’s reform achievements. Zhao knew he didn't have a future in the plant and the silent feud between him and Bu would never stop. He resigned.
His wife did outsourced work at home. Zhao decided to start a business himself. Together with four other farmers, he rented a warehouse and started a textile factory, a multiple-household partnership. But Zhao encountered troubles. Polyester gabardine, a fabric which had been on high demand on market when the factory started its business, was out of favor when the factory began to sell the product. Zhao was hopeless. But one piece of information rekindled his hope. He learned that China Textile University and Shanghai Research Institute for Labor Protection were inviting bidders for mass-producing a conductive fiber, a high-tech product that would have bright prospects in various fields.
Excited, Zhao immediately rushed to Shanghai and visited professors involved. Finally Zhao won the bidding for 100,000 yuan. However, the factory needed to get upgraded technologically for mass production. Zhao invited nine professors and engineers from top universities and research institutes to advise him on important issues. About one month later, the factory succeeded in manufacturing the product. On April 28, 1988, an evaluation symposium was held in Haiyan. The product passed the strict national evaluation.
While Zhao’s career took a magic turn and began to take off in 1988, Bu was dismissed from the plant in the same year. In 1990, Bu said he was sorry for what he had done to Zhao in an interview.
It was not until May 25, 2001 that Bu and Zhao met again. The reunion was not as exciting as expected. Bu was in his 70s. They shook hands and they sat down to talk. Neither of them mentioned the confrontation. Zhao took Bu around his textile factory: a 20,000-square-meter facility with a workforce of 200 and an annual output value of 50 million yuan. Zhao’s wife now is director of a sweater factory.
In October 2003, Bu apologized publicly in a feature story in Zhejiang Workers?Daily, saying that the dismissal of Zhao and his wife was the biggest mistake of his life. Bu, a pioneer of industrial management across the country, had experienced ups and downs in his business career. Anybody would have expected that he would say something else was his biggest mistake, but Bu talked lightly about his business failures.
(Translated by David)