Chapter 80
The dining table is a magical place.
Weddings, funerals, good things, and bad things are always witnessed by the sound of chopsticks and bowls. Many stories and businesses are inseparable from the small world of the dining table.
It has been raining for several days in a row, making people feel uncomfortable.
This is the case with Mujie in the workshop.
When she was young, she was a well-known iron lady. She dug the earth to build the factory, and her hands could push the earth-carrying wheelbarrow to the sky. She was even reported in the newspapers at that time, and was called the "Iron Lady of the Fourth Food Factory."
But maybe she worked too hard back then, after she turned 40, she started to suffer from some minor illnesses, such as rheumatism. On rainy days, Mujie's shoulders and joints would ache slightly.
The same is true today.
She stared at the running production line and turned her shoulders uncomfortably.
"Sister Mu, your old problem is coming back again?"
Turning back, Atong came over and took out a pack of ointment from her mouth: "Have you used up the ointment I brought from Hong Kong last time? Here, I met the boss there this time, and I shamelessly asked for some more. Here you go."
"Hey, thank you for your help."
"What's the use of this? As long as it works, it's good. Is it effective?"
"Not bad," Mu Jie rolled her shoulders, "It really doesn't seem to hurt as much as before."
After a few pleasantries, Atong asked, "Actually, I want to invite you to dinner tonight. Afeng and Axin will all be there."
Mu Jie shook her head: "You young people should just get together. I'm old and don't like noise."
"No way," Atong hesitated and finally sighed. "Mujie, you should have heard about it, right?"
She lowered her head, looking a little lonely: "The original contract agreement is invalid. I will go to the supply and marketing department in the future, so I won't be able to work with you."
Mu Jie had heard about this matter. In her opinion, this was complete nonsense. Whether it was contracting or revoking the contract, Director Qian treated it as a joke.
Mu Jie frowned and said, "It's not easy for you either."
Atong smiled bitterly and said, "So, this is the first time I invite you to dinner, and it will also be the last time. Sister Mu, everyone is looking forward to your coming. After all, you have the most seniority in this workshop."
She raised her thumbs and said, "I have learned a lot from you these days. Sister Mu is half my master. Please give me a chance and have a meal together."
Having said that, Mu Jie couldn't refuse anymore, so she nodded: "Okay, I'll go then."
The sliced roast duck was brought to the table, and under the light, the crispy skin was shiny.
The table was full of people, all workers from the same workshop, chatting with each other.
"Don't mention it, the new packaging is really beautiful, just like a painting. Anyway, the ones produced in our factory have never been so beautiful!"
"The boss of Xiangjiang is really strict. Last time, their manager came over to watch us and adjusted the taste."
A worker pointed at Atong and laughed: "I'm sorry, I called you 'Tong Ba Pi' behind your back, hahahahaha."
Everyone laughed.
Atong also laughed: "What about now? What do you think of me?"
"We have worked together before, and most importantly, we have achieved results." The man slammed the table cheerfully, "Now, I treat you as my little sister!"
"Tsk," another person shushed him, "She's the head of our workshop, and she's a little sister."
"That's to show intimacy."
After eating and drinking for a while, the roast duck was eaten up, leaving only some duck bones.
Atong filled a glass of wine for herself and said, "These days, I have relied on your cooperation. I have nothing else to say, just two words - thank you."
She drank it all in one gulp and showed the bottom of the cup: "Thank you."
"We are all co-workers, what's the problem?" Mu Jie looked at her with a smile.
Atong shook her head: "I am a co-worker, but not just a co-worker. You may have heard that I may not be able to work with you anymore, but I will never break my promise to you."
She stood up, picked up a green leather bag at her feet and put it on the table.
When the zipper was opened, the workers on both sides couldn't help but exclaim "Wow".
It turned out to be a bag of banknotes!
Atong took out a stack of money and said as he counted it: "At the beginning, when I announced the contract for our workshop, I said that as long as everyone exceeds the work quota and we make a profit, everyone can share the bonus."
"We have only made the first batch of goods, and Xiangjiang Zhengmei Company has only paid for the first batch. Now, although this matter is going to be cancelled, I will never owe you any money."
Putting a pile of money aside, Atong said, "These should be handed over to the factory."
She pressed her hand on another stack of money and said, "These are the bonuses you all deserve. I don't know if I can come to the workshop tomorrow, so I'll give them to everyone today."
Atong called out names one by one and distributed money.
Mu Jie, who was sitting next to her, also figured out something. This girl was probably unwilling to see the contract go to waste.
Everyone who received the money was smiling happily.
Everyone knew that Atong could have completely denied the bonus like the factory manager, but she still gave it out.
But as they laughed, other expressions appeared on the faces of several workers.
This was the first time they received such a “more work, more pay” bonus, but it also seemed to be the last time.
Their expressions all turned serious.
After distributing the money, Mu Jie thought Atong would make some inspiring speeches, but in the end, she said nothing. She just silently toasted everyone with another glass of wine.
"Anyway, I wish you all a bright future."
Is there a bright future? I don't know.
However, when the workers left, the expressions on their faces were not pure joy of receiving the bonus.
*** ***
The bell for the last exam rang, and Chen Lanjun stood up and left the classroom.
In the small pavilion beside the pond, Atong and Pang Xiaopeng were waiting for her.
"Sister Lan, have you finished the exam?"
Chen Lanjun nodded and asked, "What's the situation now?"
"As you wished, we invited the workers to dinner," said Atong.
Pang Xiaopeng said: "I went to negotiate with the factory leaders on behalf of the company. If someone else is in charge of the product and the quality doesn't meet the standards, we will not place any more orders."
The execution ability of these two people is beyond doubt. During the two days of Chen Lanjun's exam, he completed all the tasks he was assigned to do.
"Okay, go under the banyan tree and have a good sleep. You've all turned into pandas." Chen Lanjun stuffed the exam supplies into their hands and said, "Please take them back for me."
Atong was still a little uneasy and asked, "What's next?"
"Next," Chen Lanjun said casually, "it's my turn to treat everyone to a meal."
The guest was Editor-in-Chief Xu, and the meal was chicken hotpot.
Put the fried three-yellow chicken pieces into the casserole and simmer slowly. Add tofu skin, potato chips and other ingredients to make a big pot of steaming hot chicken pot.
The private rooms inside the restaurant have average soundproofing, and you can faintly hear the noise outside.
Chen Lanjun took out two bottles of Guilin Sanhua liquor, which she bought at the supply and marketing store after she finished her exam. She herself didn't like drinking, but in her experience of having to drink for business, this kind of liquor with a hint of rice flavor was more to her liking.
The most important thing is, the last time she got close to the reporter who came to cover the campus competition, she learned that Editor-in-Chief Xu liked to drink this kind of wine.
Editor Xu glanced at the bottle and smiled: "It seems you came prepared today."
"Of course, I have to show my sincerity to the editor-in-chief."
Chen Lanjun smiled and poured the wine, offering a toast to the editor-in-chief: "First glass of wine, thank you for coming here."
After clinking glasses, Editor-in-Chief Xu asked, "What's the matter?"
"I mentioned this to you last time, about the contract." Chen Lanjun picked up the bottle and poured another glass. "The effect was quite good, or too good. The factory leaders suddenly disowned it."
After just two sentences, the knowledgeable Editor-in-Chief Xu had a general idea of the situation.
"From the look of you, you don't want to let it go."
Chen Lanjun drank a glass of wine and said with a smile: "I am a person who doesn't cause trouble, but I am not afraid of trouble. What belongs to me, I will not give it up to anyone."
She got straight to the point: "Actually, I have two things I would like to ask the editor-in-chief."
Editor-in-Chief Xu did not comment, picked up a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth: "Let me hear you talk about it."
"The first thing is that I have an article that I want to submit," Chen Lanjun said with a smile, "and the second thing is that I want to ask you something. I wonder if the editor-in-chief has ever dealt with the city leader in charge of state-owned enterprises."
She filled her own glass: "It's all uninvited. I'll have two drinks first."
After she finished her drink, Chief Editor Xu slowly said, "To be honest, I admire you very much. You can show me the article. The editors need to study it and see if it can be published. As for the leader, I know him. I have dealt with his secretary before when I wrote the article."
Editor-in-Chief Xu put down his chopsticks and said, "The deputy mayor in charge of state-owned enterprises is named Li. Maybe he is lucky because he values practical work. He is young and wants to make achievements."
"Thank you, editor-in-chief." Chen Lanjun toasted her again.
Although he didn't say much, the information Chief Editor Xu revealed was very crucial.
It is very pleasant to talk to smart people, especially those with no conflicts of interest. The chicken pot is delicious and the wine is good. Editor-in-Chief Xu smiled and sighed, "You are a girl, but you work too hard."
"There's nothing we can do." said Chen Lanjun.
Editor Xu looked at her and asked curiously, "But I heard that there are many rich people who like you."
Chen Lanjun looked at her and smiled: "As expected of the editor-in-chief, you are like a know-it-all in the world."
"I have no ill intentions," said editor-in-chief Xu, "because many people think that being a rich wife is also good, and it doesn't require so much hard work, it's easy."
Chen Lanjun shook her head: "Maybe, but it's not what I want."
Editor-in-Chief Xu suddenly laughed: "Okay. I'll introduce you to Mayor Li's secretary for dinner some other day."
“That’s what I want.”
Chen Lanjun smiled and toasted Editor-in-Chief Xu with another glass of wine.
Before dinner, Chen Lanjun went to the supply and marketing store again and bought several bottles of white wine.
This dinner was very important, so Chen Lanjun decided to take Pang Xiaopeng and Atong to attend it. She was worried that no one would take care of them when they returned, so she invited Shen Mudan to stay at her house for one night.
When Shen Mudan arrived, she saw the wine in the living room and her eyes widened: “So much wine! Can you drink it?”
Chen Lanjun sighed slightly: "What I'm drinking is not wine, but a token of my loyalty."
She really couldn't shake this conventional way of showing sincerity now, so she could only participate in it.
One day, she becomes the one who makes the rules, and then she will make sure that all the wine glasses on the dinner table are filled with juice.
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