Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Becoming the Boss Lady
Fu Xiuhuai finished the half bowl of noodles that Lin Wan had left, and then ate the two taels of noodles he had ordered. Finally, he took out four dollars and paid the noodle stall owner.
Lin Wan followed Fu Xiuhuai into his Santana parked on the roadside. She didn't have to squeeze into the bus to go home. Thinking about it this way, it was a good thing to meet Fu Xiuhuai.
The Fu family has two cars in total. One is a Hongqi brand car that the steel plant provided to the factory director Fu Xiutong, but it is not often used for personal purposes; the other is a Santana that Fu Xiuhuai bought with his own money, mainly for business purposes.
As soon as he got in the car, before Fu Xiuhuai started the car, he turned sideways to ask Lin Wan's opinion: "I came out in the middle of overtime and now I have to go back to the company. Are you tired now? If not, go to Kaihua and sit for a while?"
Lin Wan didn't expect that a businessman like Fu Xiuhuai would sneak out to eat a bowl of noodles during overtime. She thought for a few seconds and nodded.
Kaihua Construction Company is located in a six-story building in the south of Jiangcheng. The building is magnificent, with the words "Kaihua" printed in gold lacquer on the door, making it look like a golden signboard.
Some of the most famous skyscrapers in Jiangcheng were built by Kaihua, and almost everyone knows about them.
Lin Wan stood outside the gate of Kaihua Construction Company and remembered that she had taken a part-time job related to it during the summer vacation of her sophomore year. She earned dozens of dollars and saved enough for tuition and living expenses.
When Lin Wan was with Fu Mingjun, she had heard him mention his uncle Fu Xiuhua's business. Kaihua, which had accumulated wealth by building various shopping malls and hotels, later entered the real estate sector and was building one of the few commercial houses in Jiangcheng.
Now that she had really arrived at Kaihua, Lin Wan was indeed a little surprised to see Fu Xiuhuai holding a meeting with the company's employees to discuss the progress of the project at hand in a swift and decisive manner.
However, this kind of Fu Xiuhuai seemed to be in line with her imagination.
"There are newspapers and magazines on the table, the computer is available for use, and the Minesweeper is on the table. I also prepared apples, crispy ones, as well as chocolate, corn candies, and cookies... I'm in a meeting next door, so call me if you need anything." Fu Xiuhuai explained everything in detail and left in a hurry.
Lin Wan stared at the man's departing back, feeling that he was just giving instructions to a child, and that she didn't need that much care.
Fu Xiuhuai's office was not too big. There was a stack of newspapers on the red wooden desk. He had just asked his employees to collect them and put them in. However, Lin Wan usually loved reading newspapers, but now she had no interest in them.
She had only been exposed to computers in microcomputer classes in college, and at this moment she was more interested in Fu Xiuhuai's personal computer.
Jiangcheng University started offering computer courses four years ago. Because computers were expensive and in limited supply, it was considered a good opportunity for students to have a computer course once a month.
Every time there is a computer class, everyone is excited. They put on the shoe covers prepared in advance and enter the computer classroom in an orderly manner to learn typing and get familiar with the computer. Minesweeper is also the students' favorite computer game.
Lin Wan wasn't a computer science student. In her three years of university, as far as she could remember, she'd only taken about ten computer classes. At this moment, she placed her hand on the mouse, scrolling the wheel...
"Boss lady." Just as Lin Wan was concentrating on the computer, a female employee knocked on the door outside the office and brought a glass of milk. "Boss gave you some hot milk. Drink it while it's hot."
Lin Wan didn't expect Fu Xiuhuai to be so meticulous. She smiled at the visitor and said, "Thank you for your help."
This name is really fresh.
Jiang Li, an employee of the administrative office, didn't think it was a bother: "Boss, just come more often. Every time you come, the boss will buy a lot of delicious food, and we will enjoy it together in the end."
Hearing what was said, Lin Wan was a little surprised. Had she been here before?
"I came here before, you..."
"I'm always responsible for buying food. Boss, do you still remember me? Jiang Li, my hometown is the production team next to yours. We talked about it last time."
Lin Wan nodded. So that's how it is.
After asking a few more questions, Lin Wan learned from Jiang Li that she had been to Fu Xiuhuai's company two or three times after her marriage and seemed to have adapted well.
Fu Xiuhuai's meeting lasted more than an hour. When he returned to the office, Lin Wan had already obtained some information through the BBS and chat room, and carefully wrote it down on paper.
Noticing a gaze coming towards her, Lin Wan raised her eyes and raised the corners of her mouth a little embarrassedly: "I borrowed your paper and pen for a moment."
"Well, feel free to use it." Fu Xiuhuai walked to the desk and glanced at the computer desktop, only to see a half-finished Minesweeper game. "I heard from them that you were very good at Minesweeper a few times before, but I didn't have the chance to see it. Finish this game before leaving."
Lin Wan was originally trying to kill time, and since Minesweeper was very attractive to college students who had taken microcomputer courses and had some exposure to computers, she naturally enjoyed herself after playing a few rounds.
But... there was a person like the headmaster beside her, and every click she made was a little unstable, until... she accidentally slipped and clicked a landmine.
Lin Wan: “…”
Sitting in the Santana on the way back to the Fu family villa, Lin Wan felt a little embarrassed and couldn't help but wonder if this man did it on purpose.
After getting off the car, Lin Wan and Fu Xiuhuai walked into the house one after another, muttering in a low voice: "I just accidentally ordered the wrong thing."
She was ranked first in the minesweeper class in the department's computer class, so it was imperative for her to restore her reputation.
After saying this, Lin Wan walked quickly inside, leaving Fu Xiuhuai behind.
"Then I'll watch you play a game next time?" The man's deep voice was mixed with a low smile of pleasure.
The only answer to Fu Xiuhuai was the sound of the wind at night.
***
In those days, personal computers were expensive and rare, and even the entire garment factory didn't have a single one. Newspapers and television were still the primary sources of information for people.
The information obtained from Fu Xiuhuai's office computer a few days ago was on the paper in Lin Wan's hand.
The internet spreads information at an astonishing speed. Lin Wan had come across some of the southernmost clothing news on a bulletin board. The ever-changing fashion revolution spread from south to north, with even many people in Guangdong and Shenzhen traveling across the ocean to Hong Kong to source goods.
On Internet forums, there are people who brag about how great they are. Apart from the arrogance in their words, there is actually a lot of useful information.
In addition, someone mentioned on the forum that the efficiency of factories in some areas is getting lower and lower, and wages are being postponed again and again.
Although she was not sure whether there would be any problems with such a popular state-owned factory, Lin Wan still kept it in mind.
While waiting for the factory meeting, Feng Tianjiao, the factory director who had just returned from leave, brought several old employees and new college students who were being trained as key personnel to talk freely and look forward to the future.
When it was Lin Wan's turn, she tried to raise the possibility of a crisis: "Nowadays, department stores and shopping malls sell a lot of clothes shipped from the south with fashionable styles and bright colors. Even the clothes sold on many street stalls are beautiful. They will really take away a lot of our factory's market share."
Feng Tianjiao, the factory director, was unconcerned. "Comrade Lin Wan, your words reveal a lack of confidence in our factory. We've grown step by step alongside the nation's development. When the Communist Party of China came to Jiangcheng for an inspection, they visited our factory and personally selected us to contribute to socialist construction. How could some shoddy clothing product compete with a factory as large as ours?"
As soon as Director Feng spoke, several others echoed him. They were all proud of the garment factory and could not bear to hear anything that would take away their business.
Yang Guifen smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Xiao Lin just joined the factory, and this is also for the sake of the factory. It's just that I overthink it. The starting point is good."
Lin Wan didn't say anything more. When the meeting ended and she and Sister Yang were walking out, she heard her whisper, "Xiao Lin, there are some things you can't say casually."
"Indeed." Lin Wan nodded and looked at Director Feng, whom she met for the first time today. He was the type of person who couldn't stand any unpleasant advice.
"Director Feng probably still has some issues with you. No matter what happens today, there's no need to make such a big deal about it. Don't take it to heart."
Sister Yang's words left Lin Wan confused: "That thing?"
Yang Guifen looked around and whispered in Lin Wan's ear, "It's all about your marriage, you're so careless, you forgot about it! Director Feng wanted to introduce her niece to your man, but it didn't work out. I guess she doesn't like you."
Lin Wan had no idea this was happening. Feng Tianjiao's father was the cousin of Fu Xiuhuai's father, so it seemed the two families were very close.
Today she vaguely realized that the director was indeed not very easygoing with her and was quite strict, but she just took it as the leader's arrogance.
Now that I heard the reason, I didn’t expect Fu Xiuhuai to become such a disaster.
......
Lin Wan worked on her own and was not too worried about Director Feng making things difficult for her. She even put the scene in the meeting behind her. After all, she had a stable job, so she just let her be.
It was Saturday, the day after work, and we had a day off the next day. The factory gate was bustling with the constant hawking of various street vendors.
Lin Wan made an appointment with her good friend He Qiumei in advance to go for a walk, and also wanted to find out more information.
After all, she hadn't seen Fu Mingjun in the past half month, so she had no idea what happened between 1994 and 1995. Since she hadn't been able to find out anything from Fu's family, she decided to start with her classmates.
Lin Wan accompanied He Qiumei to the department store to buy an exquisitely made dress in preparation for a blind date, and saw that she looked surprised.
"Wanwan, you, Fu Mingjun and your current husband...you are still asking about him?" He Qiumei really couldn't understand the relationship between these three people, and felt so embarrassed.
Lin Wan remained calm. "What are you thinking? Fu Xiuhuai and Fu Mingjun are uncle and nephew, how can they be enemies? Fu Mingjun has gone somewhere to play, and as an elder, I'm concerned about him. We often see reports on TV and in newspapers about carjacking and roadblocks. It's so scary."
"That's right." He Qiumei pondered for a while and finally figured it out. Perhaps the Fu family wouldn't mind at all. "Why not ask Fu Mingjun's best friend from college next week?"
"You mean Liang Bin?"
"Yes, Liang Bin contacted his classmates a few days ago to show his support. His brother's karaoke parlor has opened a branch in the south of the city. I heard that the area is going to be developed, and a Hong Kong City chain of high-rise buildings will be built in the back. It's very impressive."
Lin Wan has a pretty good relationship with Fu Mingjun's group of buddies. They have eaten together a few times, so it would be appropriate to start with them.
"Okay, let's go together."
After finalizing the reunion with old classmates, He Qiumei reluctantly spent thirty yuan to buy a beautiful dress. She pulled Lin Wan to talk about blind dates, and finally did not forget to urge Lin Wan to buy a few clothes as well.
Lin Wan has been much more stable recently. Although there are some things she hasn't figured out, she still has to live her life.
Looking at the dazzling array of beautiful clothes, it is inevitable that one will be moved.
Lin Wan picked out a white shirt and a light yellow plaid dress. It was the first time she had ever spent 70 yuan. However, the fabric of the clothes was so good and the style was so fashionable and novel that she couldn't put them down.
As the two were about to leave, He Qiumei pointed to the children's clothing section in the mall and asked excitedly, "Isn't it too early to buy clothes for the children now?"
Lin Wan, who had been trying her best to ignore this matter, stopped and gently stroked her slightly bulging belly. She looked at the various small and cute clothes in the children's clothing area and moved her feet as if possessed.
......
An hour later, Lin Wan returned to the Fu family carrying a few paper bags. The old man and the old lady had already returned to their room to rest. Under the dazzling crystal chandelier in the living room, the brothers Fu Xiutong and Fu Xiuhuai were talking.
Zhang Meiying drank white fungus and bird's nest to beautify her skin. Seeing Lin Wan coming back, she did what she had to do: "Aunt Wang, bring up the bird's nest that Lin Wan left for her."
Lin Wan has now adapted well to her boyfriend's mother who insists on playing the role of sister-in-law. After thanking her with a smile, she was about to go upstairs to put her clothes away when she saw Zhang Meiying coming over.
"Lin Wan, you bought a lot of clothes?" Zhang Meiying knew her husband was talking to Fu Xiuhuai about a job and needed to borrow money to pay the factory's wages. Naturally, she had to be a good wife at this moment. "Look at how beautiful this dress is. It will look good on you. There are also baby ones. How cute..."
The enthusiastic voice echoed in the living room, attracting the attention of the Fu brothers.
Zhang Meiying was used to telling people what she wanted to hear and telling them what she wanted to hear. She knew what her husband's brother liked to hear, so she started to talk in a flowery way: "Second brother, come and see, your wife has bought a lot of clothes, hers, the children's, and yours. They say you should marry a virtuous woman. Lin Wan really cares about this family."
Listening to her sister-in-law's rumor-mongering praise, Lin Wan stared at the man walking towards her step by step, feeling a little embarrassed. When did she buy clothes for Fu Xiuhuai?
When she was at the mall, Lin Wan didn't think about this at all.
Lin Wan felt a little embarrassed as she had some beautiful dresses in her left hand, cute baby clothes in her right hand, and a tall and handsome man in front of her.
Which one can you wear? Take your pick.
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