Zhao Laoshuan was the last to arrive. He carried an old cloth bag containing a chart he had drawn himself to control the heat. “Comrade Wanqiu, Comrade Shen, I heard you were hiring, so I came to give it a try. I worked in the commune canteen for five years, so I know how to stoke the fire to ensure the oven temperature is even, and I also know how to keep the flour from getting damp. This is the chart I drew; take a look.”
Shen Tingzhou took the blueprints, which were marked with pencil marks indicating the required temperatures and times for different pastries, even clearly showing the temperature differences in different parts of the oven. He smiled and said, "Uncle Laoshuan, your blueprints are even more detailed than the ones we drew before! The baking room is now in your hands. Don't worry, you'll definitely be well paid."
Old Zhao smiled so broadly his eyes narrowed: "Thank you for your trust! I will definitely take good care of the oven and make sure every pastry is delicious!"
By the end of the morning, six more workers had been recruited, bringing the total to fourteen, including the previous eight. Lin Wanqiu gathered everyone in the courtyard, holding a written set of rules and regulations, and loudly read: "Fellow villagers, our 'Wanqiu Food Workshop' has rules. First, be punctual for work; no lateness or early departures. Second, work diligently; no cutting corners or taking anything from the workshop. Third, help each other out; no arguing or bickering. As long as you follow the rules and work hard, not only will your wages be paid on time, but you'll also receive a year-end bonus!"
"We will all abide by it!" the villagers answered in unison, their voices full of enthusiasm.
In the evening, Shen Tingzhou drove his horse-drawn cart to the county town to deliver pastries to the county food factory, while Lin Wanqiu was organizing the account books in the workshop. Nian'an came back with his little schoolbag on his back. Seeing the numbers in the account book, he immediately came over and said, "Mom, let me help you calculate! We hired six workers today, and their wages are fifty cents a day, which is three yuan a day, and ninety yuan a month..." He picked up his little abacus and started calculating with great concentration.
Lin Wanqiu smiled and patted his head: "Our Nian'an is really a little accountant, he calculates so fast. When the workshop gets bigger in the future, we'll hand over all the ledgers to you."
Nian'an puffed out her little chest: "Don't worry, Mother, I'll definitely calculate it perfectly and won't make a single mistake!"
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Lin Wanqiu looked up and saw it was Sister-in-law Shen, Zhang Lan. She was wearing a newly made floral blouse, holding a basket of eggs, and had a smile on her face: "Wanqiu, I heard you're hiring, so I came to check it out. Look at me, I'm skillful and strong, could I come and help out in the workshop?"
Lin Wanqiu's heart sank. She knew that Zhang Lan was usually lazy and greedy, and always bullied people with Old Lady Shen. But in front of Nian'an, she couldn't refuse directly, so she could only say lightly, "Sister-in-law, you can sign up, but our workshop has rules. You have to take an exam and follow the rules. Come and try tomorrow. If you can do it, you can stay."
Zhang Lan thought Lin Wanqiu had agreed, and smiled even more happily: "Wanqiu, you're the best! Don't worry, I'll definitely do my best!" After saying that, she put down the eggs and left.
Nian'an frowned and asked, "Mom, Sister-in-law Shen always bullies you, why did you have to send her?"
Lin Wanqiu sighed and patted his head: "Our workshop is openly recruiting. If we directly refuse, the villagers will think we are biased. But if Zhang Lan wants to stay, she has to abide by our rules. If she continues to be lazy and shirk her duties as before, even if she is the eldest sister-in-law, she cannot stay."
As night deepened, the kerosene lamps in the workshop still burned. Lin Wanqiu looked at the names on the ledger, mentally preparing for tomorrow's assessment—she knew that hiring workers was not only for the workshop's development but also to give the villagers something to look forward to. But for someone like Zhang Lan, strict rules had to be established to prevent the workshop from being disrupted.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com