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"We're going to select six people to go to Panyu to open a new bank. The list will be announced in two days. Don't worry if you're not selected. I heard that new Minsheng Banks will be opened in other counties, and they'll also recruit from here. Although going to other places will be harder and more tiring, you'll get a raise, and the supervisor will select from the senior staff. Of course, if you really don't want to travel far, you can come and see me. However, this is a rare opportunity, so I hope you can think it over carefully and don't do anything you'll regret."

It has been some time since He Ling became the accounting supervisor, and now she is quite familiar with holding meetings and conducting conversations.

Some things may not be effective if discussed in a meeting, and it is more convenient to communicate privately.

However, He Ling is still somewhat confident about the selected personnel. They are all smart and motivated girls, and there should be no problems.

The most important thing now was choosing her successor. With the establishment of China Merchants Bank, she would be heading to Panyu to oversee the overall situation, so Dongning had to choose a reliable new director. This place wasn't just the headquarters, it was also a training ground for accountants. Choosing the wrong person could lead to major setbacks.

As He Ling expected, the six people she picked all agreed to be sent abroad without hesitation. The performance of the others was a little different. Some of them came to her and said that they hoped to be selected next time, while a few hesitated and said that they did not want to be sent abroad. He Ling was not surprised by these people's retreat. After all, there were not many people who dared to leave their hometowns to work outside these days, let alone these women who had just learned counting for a few days?

Although it felt a bit regretful, He Ling wasn't discouraged. Currently, the Dongning bank alone already had sixteen accountants. As more banks emerged, there would undoubtedly be more accountants, and they would always be able to find the right candidates. If all else failed, they could wait until a new bank was built and recruit local talent, with those who were brave enough becoming branch managers.

However, this full confidence was shattered by the chosen successor.

"What? You don't want to be the supervisor?" He Ling was extremely surprised looking at the young woman in front of him. "Ayu, this is the supervisor of Dongning. If you do a good job, you might even be able to catch the eyes of Mr. Tian and the gang leader. Why don't you want to do it?"

Sun Xiaoyu was silent for a long time before she whispered, "It's not that I don't want to be a supervisor, I want to quit my job at the bank."

He Ling's expression changed: "What's going on? Is there something wrong at home?"

Sun Xiaoyu, a native of Dongning, was one of the first people to learn math and enter the banking industry. She was more intelligent than others, dedicated to hard work, learned the most words and the fastest, and kept accounts clearly and without error. Furthermore, she was also incredibly prudent in her interpersonal relationships and mentored new employees, making her a highly sought-after talent. After finally making it big and taking on the management position, why did she refuse to continue?

Seeing He Ling getting anxious, Sun Xiaoyu no longer concealed the truth and sighed softly, "I'm getting married soon, and my in-laws don't want me to show my face in public."

This answer was far beyond He Ling's expectations. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Are they stupid? Minsheng Bank is owned by the Red Flag Gang. Being an accounting supervisor is no different from being a manager in an ordinary workshop. Such a good job, not to mention the salary, but also the status is different. In the future, the children can also go to school. Such a good thing, others can't even ask for it!"

As if someone had touched a sore spot, Sun Xiaoyu pursed her lips and said with all her might, "His family has been farmers and scholars for generations, so they don't care about money. They only proposed marriage because they saw that I can write and do math."

"That family is confused, are your parents confused too?" He Ling almost yelled, "They're all members of the Red Flag Gang, how could they not know what's important? So what if you're educated? Didn't you study too? You worked so hard to learn, and you're not going home to nurse your child?!"

Sun Xiaoyu's eyes were red as she whispered, "What's said outside is not good. My parents also want me to marry into a good family. If I miss the opportunity, I'm afraid I will regret it for the rest of my life."

He Ling naturally knew what was going on. Countless people had been sarcastic, saying they weren't cut out for bookkeeping. Others claimed they were the gang leader's chosen recruits, destined to be sent out to warm someone's bed. He Ling dismissed all that as nonsense, and countless times had taught her subordinates not to care about what others thought. They were the gang leader's people, destined to be his supporters in the future. How could they back down because of a few gossips?

But out of nowhere, such a talented person actually left because of marriage. He Ling's mind was pounding. "Regret for the rest of your life? I think you'll regret it if you leave! The gang leader said that even if you get married, you can still stay in the bank. How can you find such magnanimity elsewhere? Do you really want to stay in the house for the rest of your life, just doing laundry and cooking for others?"

She didn't want to do it. She also liked working in the bank, liked listening to lectures, and liked calculating accounts, but this was her parents' wish, so what could she do?

Looking at Sun Xiaoyu who lowered her head and said nothing, He Ling stood up and said, "If you really don't want to, I'll talk to the gang leader and ask her to talk to your parents!"

Sun Xiaoyu immediately grabbed her sleeve and shook her head vigorously: "Don't tell the gang leader! I, I did it willingly."

Having received favors from others, one knows the weight of that favor. She had already disappointed Miss He, so how could she trouble the gang leader again? Besides, she would have to get married sooner or later. How would she still work at the bank after having children? It was only a matter of time...

Looking at the slightly trembling hand desperately tugging at her sleeve, He Ling felt her anger grow even stronger. She'd said that anyone who wanted to be an accountant shouldn't marry. Now, after all the hard work she'd put into educating her, she'd ended up in the hands of an outsider! And how could she possibly keep this a secret? She'd already reported it to the young lady, and now the successor had simply run away. How could she not report it thoroughly?

Without even waiting for the next day, He Ling rushed to the camp that night and found Cheng Xi. "Miss, that Sun Xiaoyu we mentioned earlier actually wants to get married and quit her job at the bank! This is the most suitable successor among the accountants. Should we find her parents and explain this matter clearly?"

After listening to He Ling's complaints, Cheng Xi sighed softly: "No need for that. If you force her into such an important position like the bank, there might be trouble. If she wants to get married, just let her go."

He Ling didn't expect her to say that and said anxiously, "Ayu is really the most suitable candidate. Besides, we've taught her for so long. Even if she's just an apprentice, she can't just run away like that! And if she gets married, I'm afraid the bank's affairs will be revealed. Wouldn't that leak our secrets?"

Cheng Xi smiled and said, "Of course we can't just let her go. We can ask her to teach the female workers in the cloth workshop for five years to compensate for the effort we put into her. Isn't her husband's family a scholarly one? Being a female teacher wouldn't be considered a disgrace to the family tradition. As for leaking the information, it's not a big deal. There will be many people who will open banks in the future, and there are plenty of channels to find out. But I'm afraid no one would be willing to hire these accountants except us."

This statement slightly calmed He Ling's anger, but she still felt resentful. "What about the future? If the people I worked so hard to teach just run away like this, how can I continue to work? I think we should refuse to accept young women like this, with both parents still alive. No one who graduates from the bank should be allowed to marry in the future. Only then can we live in peace and stability..."

"That's a wrong idea." Cheng Xi interrupted her chatter and said directly, "What we should do is not to force all women not to marry, but to create an environment where even if they get married, they can still work peacefully. We should help them take care of their children, think about their difficulties and hardships, and share their worries. This world is already difficult enough, so we must be more tolerant and not turn away those who want to learn just for the sake of immediate benefits."

He Ling was stunned. She had never expected the young lady to say that. However, after a long moment, she said, "But what if they all get married and leave? Wouldn't the accountant position become a joke?"

"Don't be afraid. Some people will stay. As long as you and I are here, they will have choices and role models to emulate. They can make money and hold power, so why wouldn't they stay? As for those who left..." Cheng Xi smiled slightly, "They may also have branches and leaves. Those who have opened their eyes will not forget what they have seen. They will teach their children, influence their husbands, and even change their parents. Changing customs and habits depends on these subtle things. Women's education has a much greater impact than men's education."

This was something He Ling had never considered, but there was one thing she couldn't refute. Ever since the young lady revealed her identity, the accountants at the bank had been in high spirits, some no longer fearing the gossip. The leader of the Red Flag Gang was a woman, a remarkable woman who had single-handedly built a large gang and defeated the imperial army. So why couldn't they be accountants? Why couldn't they manage bank affairs like men?

Once ambition is born, it's impossible to suppress it. This is why she believes Sun Xiaoyu will definitely regret it. A supervisor position was right in front of her, but she gave it up to get married. If she had a clear mind, she would definitely regret it in the future.

As for those sayings about having many children, He Ling actually still had some doubts in her heart. It is natural to obey your father at home, obey your husband after marriage, and obey your son after your husband's death. No matter how capable a woman is, once she falls back into that situation, how can she have the strength to break free?

Seeing that she remained silent, Cheng Xi reached out and rubbed the top of her head: "You may still not understand it now, but there is one thing you should remember: don't be afraid of people leaving, think about how to make them stay. Those women who choose to get married and choose to leave are not your enemies, but the world is. Don't set up barriers for no reason, and don't hate or despise them. Instead, you should pave the way, open windows, and do your best to give those people the power to choose and a way out if they regret it. Words can kill people. It's hard for women to live in this world, how can we kill each other?"

Not only in this era, even hundreds of years later, similar things will happen one after another.

However, Cheng Xi firmly believes that the base number is the foundation for changing everything, whether it is productivity or changes in thinking. She needs more like-minded companions rather than divisive enemies.

This was what the young lady had taught her back then, on the island, when facing those silent women.

He Ling's throat choked slightly, and she nodded, "I'll remember that!"

"There will be many lonely and helpless girls in our gang in the future, and you will have more and more people to choose from. Now it is more important to stabilize people's hearts." Cheng Xi reminded again, and his eyes couldn't help but look into the distance.

I don’t know how Shen Feng is doing, I just hope those girls can return safely.