Bu Ling recently discovered another advantage of state-run restaurants: early holidays. On the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, while other workers were still working overtime, [they could leave early].
State-run restaurants are preparing to close for the holidays.
Early on the morning of the 23rd, Manager Zhu arrived at the state-run hotel. "Is everyone here? Let's have a meeting in my office."
"Manager Zhu, Grandpa Tan hasn't arrived yet," Aunt Ma whispered a reminder.
Manager Zhu wasn't surprised at all: "Then Xiao Wu, you can tell him about the meeting's content later."
"Okay, Manager Zhu."
This is the first meeting Buling has attended since joining the company. To be honest, Manager Zhu is a very good leader. He never nitpicks at work, and he's very quick to ask for leave. He doesn't even have the common flaws of some leaders; his presence is incredibly low-key.
Once inside the office, Manager Zhu didn't mince words: "Our restaurant will be closed starting tomorrow. Everyone will have their annual leave until we resume work in October."
The two new employees, Bu Ling and Wu Yuanyuan, were beaming with joy, while the two veteran employees, Sister Ma and Han Yu, were somewhat surprised.
Han Yu: "Manager Zhu, are we releasing them so early this year?"
"This year's harvest is poor, and there's a shortage of supplies, so the higher-ups decided to give everyone an early holiday, so everyone can have a proper New Year celebration," Manager Zhu explained.
In fact, all supplies are now concentrated on the machinery factory, and the state-run restaurants are getting very little. So, the higher-ups simply ordered the state-run restaurants to close down.
Knowing what everyone cares about most, "the salary will still be paid this month, and the New Year's bonus will be delivered soon. It can't compare to last year, but it's still okay, and they're all practical things."
After finishing the most important point, Manager Zhu looked at the four people and asked, "Do you have any other questions?"
All four shook their heads; Manager Zhu had made himself clear enough.
"Alright, get back to work. Do your best on your last shift of the year." Manager Zhu didn't waste a single word.
The four filed out
For hardworking employees, nothing is more exciting than a holiday. If there is, then paid leave is the perfect bonus – it's every employee's dream.
Manager Zhu was indeed a man of his word.
The state-run hotel's New Year's perks were delivered along with today's supplies. After Manager Zhu signed for confirmation, before anyone could even call for them to move them in, Bu Ling and his four companions rushed over.
Without needing to be told, they were exceptionally eager to move things inside.
Manager Zhu shook his head and chuckled, then followed them into the state-run restaurant. Closing the door, he looked at the five pairs of bright, eager eyes and got straight to the point.
"Besides today's supplies, everything else is perk. Our restaurant has a small staff, so each full-time employee receives 10 jin of wheat flour, 2 jin of rice, 20 jin of cornmeal, 3 jin of oil, 2 jin of meat, and 10 apples."
The temporary worker received five jin of wheat flour, ten jin of cornmeal, one jin of oil, two jin of meat, and five apples each.
It's normal for temporary workers' benefits to be halved. Some factories don't offer any benefits to temporary workers at all. Restaurants, on the other hand, have fewer staff and offer more benefits, so they don't deduct from the temporary workers' pay.
Their state-run restaurant offered the best benefits among all the businesses in the county. This was mainly because state-run restaurants had fewer employees, but they were still legitimate businesses, meaning they received the same benefits as other businesses. This gave them a significant advantage, as smaller businesses generally had fewer employees.
This is the drawback of a one-size-fits-all approach; it lacks flexibility.
But as the beneficiary, Buling still thought it smelled great.
"Alright, everyone come forward one by one. I'll distribute the benefits, and then we can get to work." Manager Zhu clearly understood everyone's feelings and didn't wait until the end of the workday to distribute the benefits; he went straight to it.
Grandpa Tan was undoubtedly first, followed by Aunt Ma, and then Bu Ling. Their state-run restaurant had six people, four of whom were permanent employees.
Everyone is quite satisfied with this year's New Year's benefits. Although they can't compare to last year's, these are still quite good for the county.
Wu Yuanyuan was happy because her father's New Year's bonus last year wasn't even as much as hers as a temporary worker this year. She silently thanked Buling again for selling her the job.
The work environment is simple, there's little work, and the benefits are great—people would be incredibly envious if they knew.
After distributing the benefits, everyone got busy, though not really. Today's supplies were pitifully small; besides flour, there was only cabbage and about twenty eggs.
Seeing the meager contents, Grandpa Tan sighed, "Let's make dumplings, cabbage and eggs." There wasn't much else he could do.
"Han Yu kneads the dough, Xiao Wu chops the vegetables, and I prepare the filling."
Sister Ma also went over to help.
While making dumplings, Buling helped make a few, but Grandpa Tan was extremely disdainful: "Little Buling, why don't you go boil some water?" These ugly dumplings, mixed in with the ones they made, lowered their overall quality.
Buling glanced at the dumplings she had made, said nothing, and obediently went to boil water. Boiling water was good; it was warm and not tiring, and she enjoyed doing it.
Grandpa Tan decided to save some dumplings for the six staff members' lunch today, which is against the rules, but Manager Zhu didn't say anything and tacitly approved it.
"Come on, let me wish everyone a Happy New Year in advance!" Grandpa Tan said with a beaming smile, holding a bowl of dumpling soup.
"Happy New Year!" Everyone gave me face.
Everyone chatted and laughed as they finished their last staff meal of the year.
In the evening, after finishing the accounts, Bu Ling wished Manager Zhu and Grandpa Tan a Happy New Year and happily went home.
When Wu Yuanyuan and Bu Ling returned to the compound with their current annual benefits, they unsurprisingly attracted another crowd.
"Xiao Bu, did you go to the black market again?" Aunt Wu's breathing quickened as she looked at all the good stuff.
Aunt Zhao wasn't to be outdone: "Which black market still sells apples? Are they still available now?" If they were, she'd buy a few too.
"Oh, ladies, this is a perk from our restaurant, not something you can buy on the black market."
"My goodness! So many?" Aunt Lan's eyes were red with envy. Look at those big, red apples, so golden and oily! This is truly extravagant. If she had them, her family could have a prosperous New Year.
Bling smiled without saying a word; anything she said at this moment would be perceived as boasting.
Aunt Wu was genuinely happy at this moment. This was a perk! A great perk, a free perk! Sister-in-law Lu also forgot their previous misunderstandings and moved closer to Wu Yuanyuan, looking through the perks. The more she looked, the more envious she became. She wished this job were hers!
With so many benefits, she can hold her head high anywhere.
Just as Aunt Lan was about to untie the flour sack, Bu Ling immediately said, "Um, ladies, it's getting late, I'll head back now, it's too cold outside."
Aunt Lan's fingers were still covered in mud as she tried to untie the flour sack. How filthy! If she touched it, would she eat the flour or not?
As he spoke, he winked at Wu Yuanyuan, gave her her share, and then pushed his bicycle out of the circle of middle-aged women, went inside, and closed the door to block their view.
She knew these things would attract attention in the compound, but she still felt uncomfortable being stared at. She really was a shy person.
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