Perhaps it was really the candy that took effect, the two felt a lot better. At least they wouldn't involuntarily tremble anymore and sat down more calmly at their destination.
Emerging from the subway station, they felt as if a lifetime had passed. The children couldn't describe this feeling in detail, but it was as if they had taken a walk around Hell's gateway.
"We're almost there, the dock is right over there. Look, so many people." Steve said to Baki, also reassuring himself, though he was just outwardly composed.
"Great, they're normal people. Look at their eyes."
Baki pulled him along a bit further. After seeing that these people had quick eyes and smiles on their faces, he finally felt at ease.
"This place seems different from the others. This is where normal people should be."
Steve also let out a sigh of relief, like a shipwreck survivor seeing land.
"Let's go, let's see if there are any people in charge, and if there's any work we can do."
Baki pulled him along once more, leaving behind the previous fear, with food being the top priority.
Indeed, just as Baki had guessed, last night was merely a simple registration, and today there was a lot of follow-up work to be done.
For example, some people were assigned to a tractor factory or an aircraft factory. These factories weren't in New York; last night, they were merely notified to prepare, and today they would receive work numbers, ID cards, some basic items, and a settling-in allowance.
To get people to work for you, you at least have to remove their family concerns, letting them settle their homes before they head out to work peacefully.
This big warehouse has been used over the years to store grain and serve as a logistics supply depot. Now, even if there's money in the market, food is hard to come by, and Wilson Enterprises provides them with commodities.
Employees' families can register with their work numbers and proofs to purchase essentials here. The money Su Ming gives to the employees eventually circulates back to him.
If you're not an employee or family, no service will be provided. This policy may seem unfair, but the farm's grain is also limited. According to Gin's calculations, it can only sustain the consumption of its people each year.
But this is good too, as it enhances employees' sense of belonging and honor, making them feel fortunate and proud to be a part of Wilson Enterprises.
Though these factories aren't too far away and they can come back by train on weekends, transportation is not easy in this era, always giving a feeling of a long journey. Now, with the enterprises taking care of the home, they are more at ease.
These warehouses by the dock were bought by Su Ming, meant for future shipment transfers. They're empty now, used as temporary offices.
Steve felt a bit self-conscious about his skinny build, but Baki was much bolder and more outgoing.
He pulled Steve through the crowd; there were too many people here. The winter air even carried a strong smell of sweat, like a pile of fish packed together.
They zigzagged through the gaps and finally squeezed into the warehouse, where rows of people were distributing items, and the food they wanted was piled up in the back.
While the workers hadn't left New York yet, Su Ming was still providing meals; he wasn't short of money. As long as the stock market kept falling, his short-selling profits would continue to grow significantly each day.
"Wow, Steve, look over there, the heap of food is like a mountain."
Baki immediately spotted the same paper packages as yesterday, his eyes sparkling as he began to swallow hard.
Steve saw it too but was thinking about other issues. The work here was orderly, with seemingly no need for extra help.
Just then, a bearded man near them noticed them. Despite his fierce appearance, the thick calluses on his hands suggested he was an honest worker, likely having shoveled coal or carried goods in the past.
"Hey? Kids, what are you doing here?"
He squatted down, placing his duffel bag on the ground, and spoke to them.
Steve shrank back a bit; he wasn't good at talking to strangers, so Baki answered the big man's question.
"Sir, we're here looking for work."
"Hahaha..." The big man laughed, patting their heads, though Baki pulled away and glared at him. The bearded man didn't mind, even found it amusing, "Last night, some little guy came looking for work, but unfortunately, Wilson Enterprises turned them down. Their boss doesn't hire child labor."
"Why not? We may do less, but we eat less as well and don't need much pay."
Baki found it hard to understand. There were child workers all over New York, like those selling flowers outside cinemas, wiping floors in hotel lobbies, or cleaning cars at crossroads. If he and Steve were farm kids, they should have been helping milk the cows years ago.
Not to mention, the newspaper didn't turn them down for work before.
The big man didn't answer them but asked another question, "Knowing about this place means at least one of your parents works in the brewery, right?"
"Yes, our father should be here, but there are so many people, we haven't seen him yet." Baki replied.
"That's it, because the enterprise gives extra money to employees with children, called a settling-in allowance. The boss believes children need to grow and learn, not engage in heavy labor at an inappropriate age."
The bearded man dragged his duffel bag forward, and the queue continued to shorten; it was almost his turn.
Steve was thoughtful and nodded, "That's similar to what my dad told me, he sent me to study."
"Haha, though I don't quite understand why, I respect that approach. You know, I used to work in a factory, feeding materials to huge stamping machines. There were a few child workers in the workshop at that time." The bearded man moved forward again, stroking his chin in recollection, "But they weren't strong enough, that job wasn't for them. Many ended up with severe illnesses, and one, who was unlucky, went... crunch!"
Steve and Baki couldn't help but shrink their necks. They knew all too well what "crunch" meant. They'd heard about those big machines often devouring kids, leaving them disabled if lucky, and dead if not.
Su Ming didn't employ child labor because he needed efficiency. Everyone was a link in the workshop, and any weak link was a shortcoming.
Besides, it was just unethical. There's no need to risk kids' lives to save a few bucks; it's better to give households with children more money as a settling-in allowance, which wins more hearts and minds.
Even though using child labor was mainstream until Roosevelt banned it in 1938, Su Ming didn't want to wade into these murky waters.
Baki thought for a while, took off his hat, and kneaded it in his hands, "We're not looking for that kind of work, just a few days of odd jobs. We can read, like helping write a sign or something."
"Well... I can't say for sure. After all, I'm new here too. You might want to ask the staff handling reception later; They're likely to know."
Baki nodded; he understood. Though a bit disappointed, he had really wanted to start working straight away.
"Thank you, sir." Baki thanked him and looked around carefully to avoid being spotted by his father, but he soon noticed at the back of the warehouse, a young man with glasses and an stout old man standing, having a casual chat.
Based on their clothes and demeanor, they seemed to be the ones in charge.
"By the way, sir, are those two gentlemen over there the ones in charge?"
The bearded man looked up and immediately nodded, "Yes, the one with glasses should be. At least yesterday, I saw everyone following his instructions."
Baki smiled and tugged at Steve, "Thanks again, kind sir, we're going to try our luck."
"Hehe, go ahead. Even if nothing works out, they'll probably give you something to eat, considering you came all this way." The big man hoisted his duffel bag back onto his shoulder and continued queuing, knowing the two kids were mainly driven by hunger.
But who here wasn't, really?