The sisters reunited and naturally had a good time catching up. That afternoon, when it wasn't so hot, they took a taxi back to their old school for a revisit. Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings, they were filled with emotion. The presence of several children adding to the otherwise somber atmosphere made the occasion much more joyful. Qian Sisheng treated everyone to lunch, while Zhao Mingyue hosted dinner. After dinner, everyone went their separate ways. Zhao Mingyue then took Tang Weihua and his family to her home for the night.
The next day, the sisters visited Zhao Mingyue's factory again. Looking at the large factory, everyone couldn't help but admire it, remarking that Zhao Mingyue was truly a strong woman. After the gathering, Li Chunmei took her children to visit Song Huaihai's residence. Yu Youqing and his wife and children went back to their hometown, also to pick up Yu Youfen's two daughters to come to Beijing.
As a seasoned and successful entrepreneur, Zhao Mingyue naturally knew how to identify and utilize talent, how to maximize employee motivation, and how to maintain the normal operation of the factory while freeing herself up to the greatest extent possible. Therefore, at this point, she basically no longer needed to do everything herself. During Tang Weihua's family's stay in Beijing, she also tried her best to spend time with them.
Tang Weihua herself was the tour guide. Having lived in Beijing for over four years, she was quite familiar with the city. Moreover, Qian Sisheng was also touring Beijing with Owen, so with the two families traveling together, Zhao Mingyue naturally didn't need to accompany them. All she had to do was to properly entertain Tang Weihua and her family when they were at her home.
Tang Weihua's family stayed in Beijing for about a week, had a great time, and left satisfied. Only then did Zhao Mingyue's life return to its original track.
The garment factory's business was booming, and the future seemed bright. However, Zhao Mingyue knew that relying solely on clothing production wouldn't make her rich; she needed to expand her business. Of course, becoming a high-end brand like Chanel or Armani would be ideal, but Zhao Mingyue knew she lacked the design skills, and the environment in China didn't seem to offer that opportunity. Coupled with China's awkward international standing, no matter how capable she was, it would be difficult to gain global recognition. This wasn't a matter of ability, but rather an ideological one. Even so, she was determined to make her Lucky Star as strong and successful as possible; if she couldn't reach world-class levels, she would at least achieve top-tier domestic standards.
Zhao Mingyue planned to include clothing as just one product category, and also intended to engage in import and export trade. In her previous life, she started out in the tea business, and later, by chance, she met a Japanese tea merchant and began exporting green tea. She discovered that the export business was highly profitable, so she consciously sought out foreign customers and gradually expanded into the European, American, and Middle Eastern markets.
Later, she expanded her exports beyond tea. In the early 1990s, foreign trade was arguably her most profitable business. Besides exports, she also started importing, making a fortune in the import/export sector and accumulating substantial capital. By chance, she ventured into real estate development. Her commercial empire was thus built. However, in retrospect, it seems that it was mostly buying and selling, with little actual product in hand.
While real estate is certainly lucrative, it's also a very sensitive industry. Frankly, it's a power-money industry. Now that Shen Xuyue is in politics, continuing in this field would be extremely risky. Moreover, she's heard he'll soon be promoted and transferred, so she doesn't plan to work in it. With such good opportunities, she can still make a lot of money in other areas.
Furthermore, when deciding which industry to pursue, one must first consider the opportunities available. In business, it's crucial not to do what you're not familiar with; a novice can only dabble in things superficially, and has no chance of truly achieving great success.
One Saturday in August, Zhao Mingyue drove back to the Shen family compound and found a new car parked at the gate. It was a Santana, and Zhao Mingyue guessed it was Yang Maolin's new car. The family had gone back to their hometown in Northeast China a while ago and probably had returned by now.
She got out of the car and went into the yard, where she saw Liangliang and Zhuangzhuang each holding a stick and making a ruckus, mimicking fighting sounds. Zhao Mingyue said, "Liangliang, be careful not to poke your eyes."
Upon hearing his mother's voice, Liangliang turned around and said, "Mom, you're back." However, he didn't abandon his fight and run over, clearly deeply engrossed in the role.
Zhuangzhuang obediently called out, "Second Aunt." This child was composed and had always acted like a little adult. According to Chen's mother, her eldest brother wasn't like this when he was young, so this composure must have been inherited from Fang Zhen.
Zhao Mingyue said, "Zhuangzhuang, be good." She waved the pea flour cake in her hand, "Everyone wash your hands and eat pea flour cake."
Hearing that there was food, the two children quickly dropped the sticks they were holding and ran into the house. Zhao Mingyue looked at the two sweaty little devils and asked, "Have you washed your hands?"
Liangliang chuckled and held out his two little hands for his mother to see: "They're clean, no need to wash them."
Zhao Mingyue scolded him, "Have you forgotten again? Bacteria are invisible to the naked eye. Go wash your hands. You can only eat after you've washed them." Liangliang had no choice but to turn around and wash his hands.
Hearing the commotion outside, Shen Fuyu walked to the door and smiled happily: "Mingyue, do you see the car outside? Your brother-in-law bought it for me."
"Big sister's back? I see, she looks so beautiful." Zhao Mingyue nodded and went into the house, smiling as she said, "Sister, be careful not to scratch it."
Shen Fuyu chuckled and lowered her voice, saying, "I was actually a little afraid of scratching it, so I drove very slowly on the road and stalled the engine several times. Hehe."
Zhao Mingyue couldn't help but laugh. All new drivers have this problem. Luckily, there aren't many cars on the road now. If it were a time of heavy traffic, a new driver of this skill level would be crashing every day. "You'll get used to it after driving more. Every new car crashes a few times."
Shen Fuyu said, "I wouldn't want to crash it."
Zhao Mingyue entered the house and saw Yang Maolin sitting with Shen's father, drinking tea, while Jingjing sat beside them, flipping through TV channels with the remote. "Dad, brother-in-law and Jingjing are back from our hometown. Is Fang Zhen on the night shift today?"
Shen Fuyu replied from behind, "Yes, she's not coming back today."
Jingjing leaned lazily against the sofa: "Auntie." This child had already gone through puberty, and his voice sounded like a duck's—rough, hoarse, and unpleasant. He didn't like to talk much anymore. That's how rebellious kids are.
Zhao Mingyue responded, put down her handbag, and went outside to wash her hands. The two little children had already finished washing their hands in a water fight and were rushing back into the house to eat pea flour cakes.
Shen Fuyu followed behind Zhao Mingyue: "Mingyue, I have something I'd like to ask you."
Zhao Mingyue asked, "What's up, sis?"
Shen Fuyu said, "Let's talk about it when Xu Yue gets home."
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Oh, okay." Such a serious but unspoken matter probably involves money.
Shen Xuyue arrived home around 7:00 PM. Zhao Mingyue had already bathed her son, and the family was preparing dinner, waiting for Shen Xuyue. Zhao Mingyue took Shen Xuyue's bag and said to him, "I think my older sister will ask us for money today. I'm going to take this opportunity to bring up the issue of the shares." She had been wanting to bring it up before, but she felt it wasn't appropriate to offer shares so casually. If she brought up the loan today, it would be a good opportunity to say so. Although Fang Zhen and Shen Qixue weren't home, her parents could represent them, and they probably wouldn't mind receiving less.
Shen Xuyue nodded: "Okay."
The family enjoyed a harmonious dinner. Afterward, the children watched TV in the living room, while Shen Fuyu and her husband went to another room to talk with Zhao Mingyue and her husband.
Shen Fuyu got straight to the point: "Xiao Xu, Mingyue, I need to ask you for a favor today."
Zhao Mingyue nodded: "Sister, just say what you want to say."
Shen Fuyu looked at Yang Maolin, who said, "It's like this, we went back to our hometown this time, and our relatives there want to come to Beijing to find some work. Now that I'm in a better situation, it's only right that I help my family. You all know the situation back home; the land can only be planted once a year, the season is short, the winter is too long, there's hardly any income, and they're all struggling financially. I was wondering if your factory is always hiring, and if you could arrange some work for them."
Zhao Mingyue thought to herself, "Is this what they mean by not borrowing money?" She was in a dilemma. Refusing outright wouldn't be good, but accepting everything might also be inappropriate. "I wonder who these people are, men or women, and how old they are?"
Yang Maolin said, "They are mostly men, the oldest of whom is only in his thirties. They are young people looking for a way out, and there are also two unmarried girls."
Zhao Mingyue thought for a moment and said, "If they are men, why don't you take them to learn to drive? That way, at least they can learn a skill and then they can drive for you. If they come to my factory, men will only be able to work as porters and won't have any other future. Most of the workers in our factory are women. I can agree to let women come to my factory."
Shen Fuyu smiled and said, "Mingyue always thinks things through the most. I also think we can arrange for them to learn to drive."
Zhao Mingyue nodded and said, "First, arrange for them to learn to drive with your drivers. You already have an assistant in each of your cars, right? Just add one more so they can teach them." Actually, Yang Maolin and Shen Fuyu didn't need to hire assistants; they were all apprentices trained by the drivers themselves. These days, there aren't many driving schools. Learning to drive is all done by master-apprentice relationships, usually between the driver's brothers, nephews, or the like. Without connections or influence, where would you learn to drive?
Yang Maolin said with difficulty, "But I already have enough drivers. Even if I learn, there won't be any cars for them to drive."
Shen Fuyu glanced at her husband and said, "If we don't have enough cars, we'll just buy more. Mingyue, you know your brother-in-law's car fleet is doing very well. Sometimes he's so busy that he has to turn down a lot of business. We've wanted to buy a few more cars for a while, but we just don't have enough money. That's why I'm asking you for help." She smiled as she said this.
Zhao Mingyue understood; she decided to borrow money after all. She said to her husband, "Xuyue, go and invite Mom and Dad over." Turning to Shen Fuyu and her husband, she said, "There's something I want to discuss with my eldest sister and her husband today."
A moment later, Mr. and Mrs. Shen entered the room. Seeing everyone was there, Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, “My elder brother and sister-in-law aren’t here today, but Mom and Dad are, so let’s make the decision for them. Here’s the thing: Dad, Mom, elder sister, brother-in-law, I was able to start this factory thanks to the help of everyone in the family. Without you, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to open it. In the first two years, I made some money, but I used it all to expand the business, and I’ve never seen a single penny in cash. Mom and Dad know this; we only give them living expenses after Xuyue gets his salary. This year, the factory has finally gotten on track. Of course, we still owe the bank a large loan, which I’m slowly paying off. The factory’s business is doing quite well, and I should be able to pay it off in two years. I have an idea: I want to share some of the factory’s profit with you.”
Shen Fuyu and her husband exchanged a glance but remained silent. Shen's parents waved their hands and said, "We don't want any shares. We're old enough to eat and use as much as we can."
Zhao Mingyue said, "Dad, Mom, this isn't factory stock, it's just the dividends generated from this portion of the stock. It means that if my factory generates a profit of one million a year, a certain amount of that profit will be given to you. It doesn't mean that the principal of my factory will be given to you as well."
Father Shen shook his head and said, “We don’t need that. Seeing a doctor and buying medicine doesn’t cost any money. Your mother and I can eat and use as much as we need. You keep the money for yourself to do great things.”
Zhao Mingyue said, "If Mom and Dad don't want these dividends, then I'll give them to my eldest sister and brother. They can both use them, especially my eldest brother and sister-in-law. They both work in companies with limited income and are struggling financially. Xuyue and I thought we should help them out as much as we can."
Hearing her say this, Shen's parents no longer objected. Zhao Mingyue continued, "I plan to give each of my eldest sister and brother two percent of the company's profits. The annual factory profit sharing will be based on this percentage. What do you think?"
Mr. Shen said, "The factory is yours. If you think it's okay, then it's fine. I have no objections, and your older brother and sister-in-law probably won't have any either."
Zhao Mingyue looked at Shen Fuyu and Yang Maolin: "What about my eldest sister and brother-in-law?"
When Shen Fuyu first heard that they were going to be given shares, she was quite happy. However, when she heard that it was only two percent, and that it was just dividends and not actual shares, she was a little disappointed. She felt that it was too little. But since it was all Zhao Mingyue's money, she was willing to give some of it away as a gesture of goodwill.
Yang Maolin nodded and said, "We have no objections, so thank you very much." Originally, Zhao Mingyue had dragged him along to do business in Guangzhou, and the profits were to be split equally. This factory was also founded by Zhao Mingyue, so there was nothing to say if they didn't give them money, especially since she had offered to pay them.
Shen Fuyu said, "If your brother-in-law says he agrees, then he means he agrees. You've really gone to a lot of trouble."
Shen Xuyue, who had been silent until now, said, "I think it's best to have a written agreement for this matter, and have a lawyer witness it. Otherwise, words are meaningless, and no one knows what might happen in the future. There's another thing that Mingyue didn't mention, but I'd like to bring it up: the dividends went to my eldest sister and brother, but they don't actually own any shares in the factory. So I hope that neither of you will get involved in the factory's operation and management, and it's best not to send any relatives or friends to the factory, otherwise Mingyue will have difficulty managing it."
"Of course, everyone hopes their relatives' living conditions will improve, and we should help them if we have the means. But whether in a factory or in officialdom, the most dangerous thing is nepotism. Once this relationship exists, it easily breeds corruption, which makes it very difficult for those in power. If they don't deal with it, corruption will become more and more serious, affecting the overall operation. But if they do deal with it, it involves relatives and friends, which can damage relationships. I think this is something no one wants to see. I don't want Mingyue to be caught in the middle, nor do I want to damage the harmony between us brothers and sisters. I hope my brothers and sisters can understand."
Zhao Mingyue looked at her husband gratefully. She was supposed to be the one to say this, but Shen Xuyue said it all on her behalf, claiming it was his idea and that he had played the bad guy, leaving her completely uninvolved.
Shen Fuyu and Yang Maolin looked rather grim. They had previously mentioned arranging for their relatives from their hometown to work at Zhao Mingyue's factory, and Zhao Mingyue had agreed. Now, Shen Xuyue was saying something different. Did she agree or not? Shen Fuyu said, "What about our relatives from our hometown? I already promised them."
Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "What Xu Yue just said does have its merits, but the law isn't without human considerations. I think it's acceptable to arrange for ordinary workers. But once they arrive, they won't have any special privileges. They'll eat and live like the other workers and receive the corresponding wages. If they don't meet the standards, I can still fire them. Is that alright, sister?"
Shen Fuyu nodded: "Okay, sure." After all, she was hiring someone to do something, not to retire to old age.
Suddenly, Chen's mother, who had been silent all along, sighed, "With more money in the family, it seems that relationships have become more complicated."
Father Shen said, “Social development is like this too. The most obvious example is the imperial family. Because of layers of vested interests, where is there any kinship? Hasn’t patricide and fratricide been rare in history? I think Xu Yue’s request is very good. When you draw up that agreement, you should add these points as well. It’s reasonable for Mingyue and Xu Yue to give money to Fuyu and Qixue. It’s also reasonable for them not to. No one can say anything about it. So don’t take it for granted. Brothers and sisters are bound by blood. Helping each other is only right. If you help them, haven’t they helped you in return? If you get something in return for your help, you should be grateful. Only when both sides are grateful can the family be harmonious.”
Yang Maolin nodded, "Dad's advice is right." Yang Maolin admitted that he didn't have that kind of magnanimity. He had money, and he could help his parents and brothers when he went home, giving them money once in a while, and people would think he was kind and loyal. But he felt he couldn't do it by giving a fixed amount of money every year.
Shen Fuyu remained silent, and Yang Maolin reached out and squeezed his wife's palm.
Zhao Mingyue laughed: "Thank you for your understanding, Dad. We understand. Xuyue and I cherish the harmony and peace in our family the most. I hope everyone's life gets better and better. Whether we are rich or poor, we should always care for, understand and help each other. What I fear most is that people forget their roots when they have money, and that they will be suspicious and calculating towards each other. What they gain may not be more than what they lose."
Mother Shen nodded: "Mingyue is right. You siblings must always maintain a close and loving relationship. Mingyue is a capable and good daughter-in-law. Time will tell. She is wholeheartedly dedicated to Xuyue and this family. I support her."
Shen Fuyu smiled and squeezed Zhao Mingyue's hand: "Okay, sister-in-law, I'll listen to you. Thank you!" She had always felt that she and her husband had played a crucial role in establishing the factory, so when Zhao Mingyue didn't let Yang Maolin work in the factory but instead bought a truck for transportation, she had always felt a bit resentful, thinking Zhao Mingyue was ungrateful and selfish. Now, after hearing her analysis, she realized it made sense. Letting Yang Maolin work in the factory was tantamount to using their kinship privilege, and over time, he might start looking out for himself. Zhao Mingyue might not say anything, but the relationship between them would definitely be affected. Now, she was willing to give them a share of the profits for free, probably to dispel her own resentment. Thinking about it this way, she suddenly felt narrow-minded and selfish.
Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "Of course, the factory's profits are limited right now. My brother-in-law wants to expand the fleet, but he doesn't have enough money. I can lend you some, but you'll have to sign an IOU."
Father Shen said, "Of course we should write an IOU. What is given is given, what is borrowed is borrowed. Even between brothers, clear accounts will prevent hurt feelings."
Shen Fuyu smiled and said, "Okay, thank you, Mingyue. We'll definitely write an IOU."
This matter is now perfectly resolved. Mr. and Mrs. Shen will help them convey this message to Mr. and Mrs. Shen Qixue. All Zhao Mingyue needs to do is draft the share dividend donation contract and have them sign it.
That evening, when Zhao Mingyue and her husband returned home, she felt a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. Zhao Mingyue hugged her husband and said, "Today, I really have to thank you for making me the bad guy."
Shen Xuyue kissed her forehead: "I should be the bad guy. After all, I'm their brother. If I say it, they can't do anything to me even if they blame me. If you say the same thing, they'll definitely think it's not that simple."
Zhao Mingyue smiled and said, "If you say that, they might still think it's a strategy we discussed."
“Let them think about it. Anyway, I didn’t take advantage of them. We’re the ones who lost out, so what do they have to complain about?” Shen Xuyue said.
The next day, when Fang Zhen came home from her night shift, her mother took the opportunity to tell her about it. Fang Zhen immediately felt like she had been hit by a pie: "Mom, Xu Yue and Ming Yue said they would give us two percent of the shares?"
Mr. Shen emphasized, "It's not shares, it's share dividends. I didn't give you the principal." Last night, Zhao Mingyue specifically explained the difference between dividends and shares to avoid any misunderstanding.
Mother Shen nodded: "Yes, Mingyue said she was grateful to your family for helping her back then, which is why she has achieved what she has today."
Fang Zhen laughed and said, "Hey, it's nothing. Mingyue is too kind, that's too much." According to Zhao Mingyue, with a 2% profit share, if the factory makes a profit of one million a year, they would get 20,000 yuan. Her and Shen Qixue's combined salaries are at most four or five thousand yuan a year. Isn't this a huge bonus?
Mrs. Shen smiled and said, "Take it. They understand you two only get a fixed salary and no extra income. They don't know when you'll be able to buy a house. This house is just for living in; the property rights don't belong to us. You two can't live in the company dormitory forever; you need your own home." Zhao Mingyue's willingness to help relieved the old couple's worries. Their house was allocated by the state; they only had the right to use it, not ownership. After they passed away, the state would take it back. Although Shen Qixue and Fang Zhen's income was considered middle-class, it was the worst among the three siblings. Parents always worry more about their children who are less well-off. Now that Zhao Mingyue was willing to lend a hand, wasn't everyone happy?
Fang Zhen smiled and said, "Then I must thank them properly."
Fang Zhen doesn't stay at home on weekday evenings except for weekends. She lives in Shen Qixue's company dormitory. So on Monday night, Shen Qixue learned that he had been given a fortune: "So much? How can we accept this?" This was a gift from his younger brother and sister-in-law.
Fang Zhen said, "I also think it's a lot. I told Mingyue and Xuyue that it's too much. Do you know what Mingyue said to me? She said, 'Just think of it as robbing the rich to help the poor. Isn't the national policy about letting the rich help the poor?' I think what she said makes a lot of sense. I was speechless."
Shen Qixue couldn't help but chuckle, "Alright, let's rob the rich and help the poor this time. We'll thank those two tycoons properly later."
Fang Zhen said enthusiastically, "Then let's plan where to buy a house." Fang Zhen had already begun to intend to use the money wisely.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com