It takes fourteen hours to get from Ontario back to Southern Ontario.
Chen Xihua and Li Shisheng set off on the afternoon of July 20th. They rested for five or six hours at a service station along the way at midnight, and continued their journey at six o'clock the next morning.
At 2 p.m. on July 21, the truck entered Yunshi, the provincial capital.
"We're almost there." Chen Xihua stretched in the car. "Brother Shi, you've worked hard!"
She was exhausted just from being a passenger, let alone Li Shisheng driving.
Moreover, part of the national highway they were traveling on was under construction as a highway, so it was converted into a county road, which was quite bumpy.
For older people, a long bus ride for a whole day would probably break their bones.
"It's alright, Xi Hua, I'm used to it." At this moment, they arrived at the intersection leading into Yun City. It was a red light, so Li Shisheng stopped the truck.
Half a minute later, the green light came on.
"We'll go directly to the No. 2 Garment Factory; we won't go to the stores yet."
Chen Xihua knew that Shisheng must be very tired. This time, Li Guangrong did not accompany him in the car, and Li Shisheng drove alone the whole way.
Therefore, she decided to go to the No. 2 Garment Factory first, and let Li Shisheng stay there to rest.
Li Shisheng: "Okay."
...
At the entrance of the No. 2 Garment Factory
"Director Yang, why hasn't Boss Xiao Wu arrived yet?" Director Liao asked anxiously. She was supposed to be off today, but when she heard that Chen Xihua was coming to the No. 2 Garment Factory, she returned to the factory at noon.
Director Liao, who was in her forties, had received Chen Xihua before. Three years ago, before the contract was signed, she took Chen Xihua to visit the workshop and even exchanged a few words with her.
Actually, Director Liao had been thinking of resigning during that period. A friend suggested taking her south to Guangdong Province to do clothing wholesale, and she was tempted.
At that time, the No. 2 Garment Factory was facing a major crisis; it had to either declare bankruptcy or sell itself off.
I happened to run into Chen Xihua at the factory. Boss Xiao Wu said, "I will make sure that everyone in the No. 2 Garment Factory has work to do."
She was only twelve or thirteen years old, but her eyes were very serious and earnest. Director Liao thought to himself, "Let's keep her here and take a closer look."
It was by staying behind that she luckily escaped a disaster.
A few days later, Director Liao's friend and a fellow villager took more than 40,000 yuan to Guangdong Province, where they were robbed not far from the train station.
My friend's fellow villager was severely injured in the head by thugs and is still suffering from serious aftereffects.
Now, at the No. 2 Garment Factory, Director Liao's salary and benefits have increased significantly, and his job is stable.
Moreover, Director Yang is in charge of things at the new factory in Lihua, so she's basically in charge of everything here.
Director Liao was very grateful to Chen Xihua, but Boss Xiao Wu had been back in Gaoyang County for two or three years and had not returned to the provincial capital. This time, he was finally coming.
"They should be here soon; being half an hour late is normal." Director Yang was actually a little worried.
At noon, he called Chen Xihua, who said she was almost in Nan Province.
Since Chen Xihua got a cell phone, Factory Director Yang would call her from time to time to tell her about the progress of the new Lihua factory.
Starting in July, Lihua Garment Factory officially began producing clothes.
"We're here, we're here! Is that the big truck up ahead the one Mr. Wu is riding in?" Another Director Qin, whose eyes were fixed on the road ahead, suddenly shouted.
A minute later, the truck slowly stopped at the entrance of the No. 2 Garment Factory. It was Chen Xihua and Li Shisheng.
Factory Director Yang was relieved: "Boss Xiao Wu, you've worked hard."
Director Liao said excitedly, "Boss Xiao Wu, it's great to see you again."
Director Qin was a little hesitant to recognize him, but when he heard Factory Director Yang call out to him, he followed suit and greeted him, "Hello, Boss Xiao Wu."
Boss Xiao Wu seems to have grown taller and fairer, but as before, he remains confident, poised, and composed.
"Director Yang, Director Liao, Director Qin, it's been a long time! Why are you all waiting for me outside in this sweltering heat?"
Chen Xihua saw the three people at the gate of the No. 2 Garment Factory from afar while she was on the truck. When the truck stopped, she opened the door, jumped out, and strode forward.
Factory Director Yang and the others must have been waiting at the door for a long time, judging from the sweat on their faces.
Two minutes later, Chen Xihua and Director Yang and several others returned to the office on the second floor, where the agreement was signed.
Li Shisheng went directly to his dormitory to rest.
After Chen Xihua went inside and sat down, she immediately recalled the scene from that time. A slight smile appeared on her lips. Tomorrow, she would formally pay a visit to Grandpa Wang, the old factory director.
About half an hour later, Chen Xihua met with Factory Director Yang and the two directors to discuss work-related matters, including clothing styles and production plans for the second half of the year.
"Boss Xiao Wu, shall we go for a walk in the workshop now?" Director Liao asked excitedly after Chen Xihua finished explaining everything.
"Hmm? Oh, that's great." Chen Xihua noticed that not only Director Liao was excited, but Factory Director Yang and Director Qin also had a hint of anticipation in their eyes.
"Then I'll lead the way." Director Liao had already reached the door.
Chen Xihua was a little curious, and acting all mysterious, she got up and went to the workshop with Director Yang and the others.
On the way, Director Liao walked in front, and soon she jogged into the workshop.
Chen Xihua followed them inside, followed by Factory Director Yang and Director Qin.
She was startled when she stepped through the door.
"Hello, boss..."
"Hello, boss..."
"Hello, boss..."
All two hundred workers in the workshop stood up and greeted Chen Xihua in unison.
Their faces were beaming with smiles, their eyes filled with excitement, curiosity, and pride, while those at the very back of the workshop even squeezed into the aisle.
This was quite a commotion! The noise was deafening; they shouted for about ten seconds before stopping.
At this moment, Director Yang, who was standing nearby, produced a megaphone from somewhere. He handed it to Chen Xihua and said with a smile, "Come on, Boss Wu, say a few words."
Chen Xihua was actually quite excited and proud at this moment. Call it being vain or whatever, she was genuinely happy.
Taking the loudspeaker, Chen Xihua stood up straight, paused, and organized her thoughts.
"Hello everyone, I am Chen Xihua."
Thank you all so much for your enthusiasm, and even more so for your hard work and dedication...
Chen Xihua spoke for about two minutes, then waved to them and quickly slipped out. The workers in the workshop were so enthusiastic that she was almost overwhelmed.
Even when she went outside, she could still hear the workers talking.
“It really is the boss. I met her three years ago. I thought she was some leader’s daughter visiting our factory.”
"Is the boss really underage? Three years ago, wasn't he just under thirteen? That's incredible..."
"I'm not kidding you, you're new here, and you don't believe me? Our boss is a young woman..."
"She's beautiful, and she's already a boss at such a young age. My daughter is about the same age as her, so why is there such a big difference?"
"That's incomparable."
"......"
Chen Xihua waited at the workshop entrance for Director Yang and the others to come out.
She touched the invisible cold sweat on her forehead and asked helplessly, "Director Yang, will it be the same at Lihua Garment Factory later?"
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