Chapter 19

When Cheng Xiangqian went downstairs to find his wife, he saw this scene: his wife and baby were safe and sound, everything around them was so harmonious, the time was so quiet and peaceful, there was nothing better than this, and he couldn't bear to disturb them for a moment.

It was Cheng Jin who saw him first and called out "Grandpa, Grandpa", interrupting his thoughts.

Cheng Xiangqian smiled brightly, picked her up and put her on his shoulders, making Cheng Jin cheer "Gee, gee, gee" all the time for fun.

After riding the horse with Cheng Jin for a few minutes, Cheng Xiangqian put her down and returned her to Aunt Li.

Aunt Li took Cheng Jin to the garden to play.

Tao Zhi sat down and asked the old man, "What's wrong?"

Cheng Xiangqian handed her the plan and said, "Take a look."

Tao Zhi read ten lines at a glance, scanning the entire book from beginning to end. After finishing reading, he turned it over and read it again.

She raised the paper in her hand and looked at the old man in disbelief.

Cheng Xiangqian agreed with her idea.

Tao Zhi calmed down and asked, "What do you think?"

Cheng Xiangqian said, "How about asking Cheng Jun?"

Cheng Jun came home after a busy day. Before he could sit down and take a break, he was called into the study by the old couple.

The old man was very direct: "Plywood factory, are you interested?"

Cheng Jun straightened up: "Didn't you tell it to Big Brother?"

"Your eldest brother... still needs some practice."

Cheng Jun offered advice: "Give Big Brother a title, then hire a professional manager, have him take charge of the overall situation, and provide appropriate support to Big Brother. There are precedents for this kind of thing."

Cheng Xiangqian smiled bitterly: "I'm afraid your elder brother doesn't want to be inferior to others."

"Or... hire an assistant general manager for Big Brother, who can actually exercise the general manager's power?"

"What's the difference between this and undermining him?"

Cheng Jun scratched his head: "How about you just give him some practice?"

"After all, you just don't want to take over this factory?"

Cheng Jun smiled flatteringly: "Mom, you know, when I'm busy, I wish I could chop you in half with a knife."

Tao Zhi waved her hand and said, "I understand. You can go out now."

Cheng Jun took a few quick steps as if something was chasing him.

Tao Zhi spread his hands: "Just look."

"This brat."

"Cheng Jun has his own things he wants to do. As parents, it's fine if we don't support him. But if we force him to do other things, it will actually harm the child." Tao Zhi said earnestly.

"Old woman, what are you thinking? Cheng Jun is more slippery than a loach. Do you think anyone can force him?"

This is true. Worrying too much can lead to confusion. Tao Zhi also laughed.

"Then what should we do? Is it really like Cheng Jun said, just give Cheng Hui a training hand?"

The old man insisted, "How can I be worthy of the factory director's sincere heart?"

Tao Zhi disagreed: "Business is business. The transaction is complete. How can he still manage the factory?"

"I agree with his philosophy of building a plywood factory that is safe, non-toxic, reasonably profitable, and environmentally friendly."

"Why did you deny Cheng Hui?"

Cheng Xiangqian had a headache. "Cheng Hui is too gullible. Look at the data he described. Not to mention that I have investigated it myself, even you who haven't come into contact with it should be able to see a lot of tricks."

“There are quite a few exaggerations.”

"It's good to look forward to the future, but we also need to keep our feet on the ground."

"Don't forget, human energy is limited. You can't spare the time to do it, and Cheng Jun isn't interested in it. Now that the framework is set, what do you think we should do?"

Cheng Xiangqian looked at Tao Zhi eagerly.

"Don't look at me. I have grandchildren to take care of and a house to build. I don't have any free time at all."

"How about hiring a manager for you?"

"Then why not give the factory to Cheng Hui?"

"What if I only help Cheng Hui?"

"You want me to obey Cheng Hui's orders? Sorry, I can't do it."

"How dare he order you around? He still obeys you in everything."

Tao Zhi glared at him: "What's the difference between that and handing it over to me?"

Cheng Xiangqian fell silent. The people he wanted were unwilling to take the job, and the people he wanted to take over were not capable enough. He really couldn't think of any solution.

Seeing that he was worried, Tao Zhi suddenly had an idea.

"Did we forget someone?"

"who?"

"Cheng Xing."

Cheng Xiangqian stood up: "Cheng Xing?"

Tao Zhi confirmed him, "That's right. Don't forget, Cheng Xing found the job herself. Even though it was her brother-in-law's company, she was honest and went through all the tests and interviews herself to get in. No one knew she was related at the time."

Cheng Xiangqian remembered that more than a thousand people in the county had signed up, but he heard that there were only about fifty recruitment vacancies.

"Also, when we first opened the factory, Cheng Xing was in charge of all the welcoming and sending off of favors."

"Besides, Cheng Xing graduated from high school."

Tao Zhi didn't say anything more. It's not good to compare sons and daughters like this. But as it stands, if it comes to managing a factory, Cheng Xing is indeed more qualified than Cheng Hui.

Cheng Xiangqian hadn't considered Cheng Xing at all. The mainstream idea was that a woman should obey her husband, and even after the divorce, he didn't consider Cheng Xing. Tao Zhi's wake-up call made him reflect on himself, realizing that his daughter actually had equal rights.

Cheng Xiangqian pondered for a while, "Should we ask Cheng Xing for his opinion?"

Tao Zhi went to call Cheng Xing over.

Cheng Xiangqian explained the whole story and then asked Cheng Xing, "Are you willing to take over?"

"Dad, I've never done this before. It sounds difficult. Why don't you leave it to my eldest brother?"

"But Cheng Hui is also inexperienced."

"Brother at least wants to do it. Passion is the best teacher."

"Work and study are different. Passion for something is not a get-out-of-jail-free card."

"Dad, I don't understand at all and can't answer you right now."

"Then I'll take you to the factory for a walk tomorrow?"

Cheng Xing looked at Tao Zhi in embarrassment.

Tao Zhi touched her head and said, "Go and take a look. If you don't like it, we won't do it."

"Can we call Big Brother? I want to go with him."

Tao Zhi's mind raced, and she immediately understood Cheng Xing's concerns. She said, "I'll talk to Cheng Hui for you."

Cheng Xing felt relieved and finally smiled.

Tao Zhi asked, "What time does get out of class end tomorrow?"

"I don't have any classes this morning. My accounting teacher is on leave."

"Then Mom will accompany you?"

Cheng Xing happily agreed.

Tao Zhi asked the old man to go wash up, and she went to the first floor to wait for Cheng Hui to come back.

When the clock pointed to nine o'clock, Cheng Hui came back dragging his tired body.

Seeing that he looked unhappy, Tao Zhi quickly filled the water for him to take a bath, and then went to the kitchen to cook a bowl of noodles.

After Cheng Hui came out, he took the bowl of noodles and inhaled it like a storm.

Tao Zhi told him, "Eat slowly, there's more in the pot."

Cheng Hui ate a bowl of noodles before slowing down.

Tao Zhi asked him, "Didn't you eat at the factory?"

Cheng Hui wiped his mouth and said, "Don't mention it. I was too slow today and almost couldn't keep up with production capacity. How could I have time to eat?"

When Tao Zhi heard this, she felt so distressed that her emotions took over. "Is there no one to help you?"

Cheng Hui was embarrassed: "Mom, everyone has their own job, and they have their own things to do."

Tao Zhi regained his senses and realized what a stupid thing he had said.

She tried to change the subject, "Then why are you so busy so late?"

"The team leader told me to prepare some for tomorrow so I don't have to rush when I get to work."

The other party’s arrangement was not wrong, so Tao Zhi couldn’t say anything.

She asked tentatively: "Can I take a day off tomorrow?"

Cheng Hui hurriedly shook his head: "I'm a little too busy right now."

"You're so busy at work, what about the plywood factory? Can you still work there?"

Cheng Hui nodded: "Sure, I'll just resign."

"Will it have a bad impact if you quit after working for a few days?"

"No, I told my team leader that I won't be able to do this for long, and my colleagues know that too."

No wonder he was asked to cut wood, but no one taught him the skills.

Tao Zhi sighed. The old man praised honest people, but apart from being hardworking and down-to-earth, she couldn't see what else was good about them.

"Then you should resign tomorrow."

"Mom, do you agree that I can open a factory?"

Tao Zhi didn't give in: "Let's not talk about this for now, but with your physique, if you continue to do manual labor for a few more days, I'm afraid I'll have to go to the hospital to see you."

Cheng Hui said stubbornly: "No."

Tao Zhi patted his shoulder hard, and he shrank into a ball with a cry.

Tao Zhi snorted coldly, glanced at him and went upstairs.

Arriving at the old man's room, Tao Zhi was filled with rage. "You were the one who made the final decision to buy the machine. Cheng Hui had nothing to do with it. Don't blame him for no reason. Yes, the proposal my son wrote isn't good, but so what. He might just be bad at writing. He's still very responsible. Don't think of rejecting him outright. I'm telling you, I don't agree with this."

Cheng Xiangqian looked at Tao Zhi in a daze, not understanding why she suddenly got so angry.

"I'm telling you, if Cheng Hui wants to do it, then he'll definitely do it. I don't want to listen to your nagging about this and that. My son is the one who can do it no matter what I think."

"Also, Cheng Xing, you should not only remember your son. If you don't care about your daughter, then we can get divorced. I will take care of our daughter and we won't be a bother to you."

This was a serious remark. Cheng Xiangqian jumped up in fright. He pulled Tao Zhi's hand hard and said, "Old woman, who made you angry?"

Tao Zhi glanced at him and asked, "Who's old?"

Cheng Xiangqian begged for mercy: "I, I am old, I am a veteran, you are still young."

"What do you want to do?"

"I'm afraid you're tired of standing, so I'll let you sit down and rest for a while."

Tao Zhi cursed for a while, and then she let out some of her anger. She asked the old man, "Did you hear what I just said?"

Cheng Xiangqian nodded: "It's crystal clear, not a single word is missing."

"So what do you think?"

"I'll do as you say. But I won't divorce you, and I'll take care of our daughter too."

"Why didn't I see you in charge before?"

Cheng Xiangqian wanted to plead his innocence, but he was afraid that Tao Zhi would convict him in anger, and then he would have no place to speak even if he was right.

"It's my fault. I was busy making money and neglected my family."

"My daughter and you are not close."

Cheng Xiangqian had no words to complain about. Apart from the two younger ones, he was not close to the two older ones, and he was not playing the role of a loving father.

"Now that you've pointed out my mistake, I'll definitely correct it in the future. You'll be responsible for supervising me."

"really?"

"I mean what I say."

"It's late at night now, and I'm afraid you're not awake. I'll ask you tomorrow morning when you wake up." Tao Zhi returned to her room leisurely.