Chapter 53 Learning Opportunities
Bai Hui's tailor shop was located right next to Li Chunying's steamed bun shop. Separated by a grocery store selling soy sauce, vinegar, and other groceries.
Even though the two were several meters apart, they could still greet each other through their nostrils while standing at the shop entrance.
"Who left this soy sauce at my door? Whoever it is, take it away quickly." Li Chunying saw a pot of soy sauce on the ground in front of her shop and called out a few times, but no one answered. She didn't take it seriously, casually put the soy sauce down, and started directing Yao Deyi and Yao Weimin to work.
Yao Weimin and Yao Deyi were completely under Li Chunying's command. They worked through the night to apply cement, and they didn't waste the bricks and flooring. They built two rows of calf-high platforms with bricks at the entrance, and then put the floor tiles on them. That was their ready-made table.
Chopsticks, plates, bowls, dishes, a large pot for steaming buns, a large pot for cooking porridge, a large basin for putting vegetables and dough, a large basin for putting tea eggs, and a specially purchased tricycle—this time, Li Chunying really went all out.
In comparison, Bai Hui spent almost nothing except for the rent. She simply moved her family's equipment over and opened the shop smoothly. Looking at Li Chunying's shopping spree, she couldn't help but scoff, hoping that Li Chunying wouldn't fail to make a profit and then throw a tantrum.
Li Chunying felt like vomiting blood looking at Bai Hui. The key was that when she compared herself to Bai Hui, she realized that she had actually invested a lot of money. They were both opening shops, but she had invested so much money for nothing, and she would have to keep buying flour, vegetables, meat, oil, and salt in the future. Bai Hui, on the other hand, was practically making a profit without any investment. Li Chunying was extremely angry.
What's even more infuriating is that she works harder than Bai Hui running her steamed bun shop, constantly busy from dawn till dusk.
Bai Hui, on the other hand, would sit in front of the sewing machine, clattering away, or hold up a piece of cloth on the table and make a few cuts with scissors. In comparison, what she did was manual labor.
But looking at the number of steamed buns she sold each day and counting the money she earned, Li Chunying still worked hard.
Yao Fanghua came over for steamed buns on the weekend. She specially brought a large bowl and filled it with five meat buns and five vegetarian buns, each bigger than her fist. She also reached for a few tea eggs. "Mom, it's much more cost-effective to eat here than at home."
Before Li Chunying could glare at her, Yao Fanghua threw down the money, picked up the steamed buns, and ran off, saying, "I'll come back next week."
I'll freeze the steamed buns. Whenever I get hungry, I can just steam one. Great! Finally, the kitchen won't be filled with oil fumes, and I won't have to bother cleaning anymore.
After getting on her bike, Yao Fanghua didn't forget to turn back and give her mother some advice, "You should add some pickled vegetables. Steamed buns don't go well with pickled vegetables, they're too greasy."
Li Chunying was furious. She pinched the dough in her hands hard and said, "I'm exhausted. I don't even have the energy to speak. And you still want me to make pickled vegetables!"
Although, after a busy day, Li Chunying still cleaned up the pickle jar when she got home.
My back is killing me. Li Chunying is in tears. Money is hard to earn, and being a rich woman is even harder.
With May Day approaching, Wu Peng still hadn't returned, only writing letters and making phone calls. Yang Liu, on the other hand, returned each time looking more stylish than ever: floral shirts, small sunglasses, slicked-back hair, and even the end of his voice had started to whine.
"I'm busy, it's nothing." Hearing this, Yao Weimin wanted to punch someone.
Yao Fanghua was extremely busy, rushing everything forward. The new style of fan had been successfully produced and was just waiting to be shipped to various places.
The washing machine has also reached the sample testing stage.
Factory Director Yu walks with a swagger. Turning losses into profits, turning losses into profits, the fan factory is on the verge of turning losses into profits. This is a merit, this is an achievement, this is a significant milestone in his career.
Regardless of whether Wu Peng returned or not, Yao Fanghua planned to take leave to go to Shenzhen. This was also the reason why she was rushing to meet the deadline—she wanted to take a few days off. However, before she could even ask for leave, Factory Director Yu spoke with her first, bringing up the matter of visiting and learning in Shenzhen.
"This is a good thing, a good opportunity. You and several young cadres from the machinery factory will go together."
We'll depart after May Day; the train tickets will be bought for everyone.
It'll just waste half a month. Yu Jun was quite reluctant; he had put all his effort into producing the washing machines before the end of the year. With Yao Fanghua gone, he felt uncertain. But he couldn't very well stop her from gaining experience and prestige.
This is more than just a study tour; being able to secure this spot and be sent abroad signifies training, importance, and the possibility of promotion.
On the fan factory side were Yao Fanghua, Director Geng, and Yang Qing, the washing machine production manager who had been promoted by Factory Director Yu. Tang Xinyong was extremely dissatisfied with this and went to Factory Director Yu's office for a big argument. "Yang Qing is just a hothead who was recently promoted. What right does he have!" Tang Xinyong shouted, spitting as he spoke. Factory Director Yu sat behind his desk, looking at Tang Xinyong with a gloomy gaze.
It is said that many people secretly gathered around to watch, and in the following days, many people avoided Tang Xinyong when they saw him.
Zhang Hua was also dissatisfied. Even if Yao Fanghua could go, he should have been included, but unfortunately there were only three spots. Yao Fanghua's abilities were obvious to all, so he didn't directly cause trouble; he just drank a lot of alcohol in silence.
The machine factory has more people, seven in total.
Before her business trip, Yao Fanghua's only worry was her youngest son. She gave the front door key to Yao Weimin, asking him to come over every day to get some food and drink for him.
Knowing that there were many good things in Shenzhen, Yao Fanghua brought her bankbook with her. She also brought a few gold ingots as backup.
Wu Peng, who had already made plans to return, waited patiently in Shenzhen after receiving Yao Fanghua's call. He then reminded Yao Fanghua to bring a painting over.
?
"Didn't you say this was a keepsake?" Judging from your tone, you're planning to sell one?
"...I suppose the old man would also want it to be worth its price." Once this painting is sold, he'll have the start-up capital, and he doesn't want to wait any longer.
So, the reason he wanted to keep it as a souvenir was because it didn't meet his price expectations?
After thinking for a moment, Yao Fanghua not only brought the painting but also two bracelets.
Wu Peng learned that not only Yao Fanghua was coming, but Wang Huaizhi was also coming. But it was alright; he would talk to the guy with the slicked-back hair and ask him to borrow his factory so he could show Wang Huaizhi around.
He's already found the land and is just waiting for the money to come in so he can start construction. If Hua Hua can make the arrangements, he'll definitely take her to Hong Kong for a visit.
As soon as Yao Fanghua boarded the train, she bumped into Shen Jiao, who had permed hair and was dressed exquisitely. Shen Jiao was also wearing a jade pendant around her neck, its emerald green color barely visible. Yao Fanghua could tell at a glance that it was a valuable item.
Yao Fanghua looked at herself and thought, well, apart from her hair and the jade, there wasn't much difference, so she was somewhat satisfied.
She shared a bunk bed with Shen Jiao; she was on the top bunk, and Shen Jiao was on the bottom bunk.
"My old classmate is here. Be careful when you go upstairs, and try not to step on my sheets."
"Hmm." Shen Jiao had clearly put on a new sheet herself; she would have noticed even if Shen Jiao hadn't said anything.
"I heard you got a permanent position?" Shen Jiao's eyes flickered. Yao Fanghua must have used some underhanded methods. That factory director Yu isn't young anymore, but she's surprisingly ruthless. Who does she think she is, putting on that aloof act all day? She's probably doing all sorts of shady things behind the scenes to climb the ladder.
She would never believe, even if you beat her to death, that Yao Fanghua got her position through merit and ability. There are plenty of capable and hardworking people out there; how many people like her, without connections, have climbed up the ranks?
Unfortunately, she asked around several times but found out nothing.
"Hmm. If you can get a permanent position, why can't I?" What a joke! She, who was at the bottom of the class, got a permanent position so quickly, and she's lagging behind. Yao Fanghua leaned against the headboard and started reading. She had to work even harder; she really couldn't let herself be outdone by the bottom of the class after leaving campus—she was so resentful.
Pshaw, who do you think you are to compare yourself to me? What family background do I have? What are you compared to me?
"Stop pretending. You'll be exposed sooner or later." Shen Jiao also picked up a book and started reading, but her thoughts drifted to Qi Dongming.
Qi Dongming was the head of the machinery factory. Her father-in-law, however, lost the competition and was transferred out of the factory.
Her current position at the machine factory is somewhat awkward. She can sense that people aren't as enthusiastic as before; there's a distance in their interactions, as if they're afraid of being labeled as friends with her.
She can't stay in the position of department head forever. She has to change the status quo.
Her Shen family members are mostly in government agencies, so they can hold some influence. The key issue is that her father-in-law has thoroughly offended Qi Dongming; the two are practically irreconcilable enemies. Otherwise, she wouldn't be in such a passive position.
Qi Dongming was only in his early forties, and one could still vaguely see the charm he possessed in his youth. Besides, a man doesn't rely on his youth for a living. What's more important for a man is power, status, and mature charisma. Qi Dongming was always chauffeured around in a car, and since taking office, Shen Jiao had always found him extremely charming. His every gesture, even the way he spoke in meetings, made her heart flutter.
Shen Jiao didn't know how to win over Shen Dongming at work, but as a woman, she did.
Qi Dongming is very capable, more capable than her man. Thinking of this, Shen Jiao's cheeks flushed slightly.
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