Chapter 45 Life's Journey
Serious discussions in the village were conducted according to seniority: men sat at the table, and women were generally not allowed to get a word in. The conference table was packed with people. Director Liu sat at the head of the table, with Jiang Qing and Uncle Eight sitting at the other end.
Dozens of people crowded into the small conference room, with younger men and women standing by to watch. After yesterday's incident, work on the tea plantation had come to a standstill. Tea farmers crowded outside the windows, awaiting the outcome.
Nanjiu walked into the conference room and glanced around. There were no empty seats at the table; they had already taken their seats and were arguing. She turned around, went back to the outer office, picked up a stool, and patted the man sitting at the end of the table, "Sit over to the side."
The man looked up at her, then dragged his chair over. Nan Jiu put it down and squeezed into an inconspicuous corner at the end of the conference table, flipping open the notebook he had brought with him.
The tea farmers and management were still arguing when they met, ready to erupt in a quarrel if they were offended by a single word. Factory Director Liu tried to appease both sides, offering his thoughts: "I heard the general situation yesterday. My suggestion is that we wait for Boss Song to come back and make the final decision."
In the game of fighting and giving in, Director Liu proposed a third option - wait.
Nan Jiu raised his gaze from his notebook and looked at the thinning-haired Director Liu. Having worked at the tea factory for so many years, Director Liu clearly understood the irreversible consequences of this decision and its ripple effects. His words simply showed that he had already weighed the weight of this burden and couldn't take it lightly.
"What if he can't make it back?" Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, a clear voice suddenly rang out from the end of the long table.
This sentence stopped Director Liu from continuing. It was only then that most people noticed a young woman sitting at the end of the conference table. They immediately connected her identity with Boss Song's lover.
"Are you Nanjiu?" Director Liu looked her up and down, a little surprised.
"Hello, Director Liu, I didn't have time to greet you just now." Nan Jiu nodded to him and continued, "Can Director Liu make the final decision on continuing to wait?"
Director Liu gripped the teacup in front of him with both hands, his cheek muscles tightening slightly. "I'm just suggesting something. Right now, neither side is making up their minds. In previous years, Boss Song always made the final decision."
Nan Jiu turned his gaze to Jiang Qing and handed the notebook to him: "Please pass it to Manager Jiang."
The notebook was passed all the way to the front of the conference table. After Jiang Qing received it, Nan Jiu said to him, "This is the production ratio of the rush mining plan I calculated this morning. If the weather doesn't go according to the forecast, will Manager Jiang be responsible for the losses caused?"
Jiang Qing looked at the data item by item on the notebook, and his gaze finally fell on the break-even point marked with a red pen. His expression gradually became serious.
The tea farmers didn't understand the complex economic data; they only knew that a rush to pick would inevitably affect the quality of the tea, and might even ruin the good stuff. The villagers valued personal connections, and Nanjiu had connections with many of the tea farmers, so he naturally sided with them.
Sanwaizi sat diagonally opposite Jiang Qing, and seeing his embarrassed look, he couldn't help but feel happy.
Nan Jiu suddenly changed the subject and said to the tea farmers, "I've combined historical meteorological data with real-time forecasts to assess the level of damage a disaster would cause." She looked at Jiang Qing again and said, "Manager Jiang, please turn the page. It's right at the back."
Jiang Qing immediately flipped through the notebook and found the risk model Nanjiu had created. People from both sides gathered in the middle of the table, their heads tilted to read.
"A conservative estimate is that there is a 70% chance of heavy rain lasting 48 hours. If the actual rainfall is greater than or equal to this estimate, it will directly lead to a drop in tea quality by one level and a production reduction of more than 30%."
After Nan Jiu finished speaking, she remained silent. After waiting for everyone at the table to circulate the notebook and discuss it privately for a while, she turned to the older tea growers and said earnestly, "We have to be aware of the consequences of this, such as reduced production and loss of quality, if we don't seize the opportunity. I wonder how everyone estimates this."
By this time, the atmosphere around the conference table had shifted from the earlier frenzy of swordplay to a solemn and subdued one. Everyone understood that no matter which choice was made, risks were inevitable. But when these risks were quantified into concrete yuan and figures, laid out before their eyes, the burden became a painful burden.
It's not like the tea plantation is without someone capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility. Whether it's Jiang Qing, Old Eighth Uncle, or Director Liu, each one of them is capable of holding up half the sky. However, faced with the potentially crushing consequences, no one dares to take such a step lightly.
Nan Jiu's eyes scanned everyone's faces, taking in their expressions. He said in a heavy tone, "Since no one is talking, let me share my thoughts."
Everyone, including those standing around and those gathered outside the window, turned their eyes to the end of the table.
"Don't gamble with the weather, the accounts are settled with people. Gather the people and collect as much as possible. If this decision goes wrong, I will bear all the consequences." Her voice was clear and firm, containing unquestionable power, which caused a shock inside and outside the house.
Rushing to mine means facing a certain range of losses.
If you don't grab it, you are gambling on an uncertain return.
Nan Jiu knew better than anyone else that Song Ting wouldn't be back in a few days, so she couldn't wait. After a night of struggle and deliberation, she decided to fight the heavens.
The tea farmers exchanged incredulous glances. Last night in this room, Nanjiu had remained silent. Relationships between villagers were paramount, and the farmers assumed Nanjiu would consider their familiarity. Moreover, she had personally experienced the unpredictable weather on the tea mountain slopes many years before. No one had expected her to rush into picking.
Nanjiu was not unaware of the tea farmers' questioning and dissatisfied looks. These villagers who had been friendly to her were now staring at her face with burning gazes.
However, years of work experience have made her calm and decisive at critical moments, and she will not be swayed by emotions.
Nan Jiu didn't respond to Old Eighth Uncle's gaze. Instead, he looked directly at the head of the conference table. His tone was steady and firm. "I wonder if Director Liu has a legal officer or someone who can draft a contract. Could you arrange for an agreement to be drawn up, stating that if the predicted weather disaster doesn't occur, I will personally bear all losses incurred from the rush to mine. Once the agreement is drawn up, I'll sign it."
These words weighed heavily on the conference table like a rock. Nan Jiu's slender figure now carried an undeniable sense of oppression, silencing all the questioning glances that had been cast at him.
Zhang Jiang immediately looked over at her. "You..." His words got stuck in his throat, not knowing what to say. Zhen Min, who was standing nearby, was also worried.
The outrageous lie they told last night was an emergency measure they made to help Nanjiu out of trouble and obtain information.
But in reality, they weren't sure what Nanjiu and Boss Song's current relationship was. Even if they still interacted, it wasn't as close as they thought. Now she had stepped forward to take on such a large undertaking. For the tea farmers, such a loss would undoubtedly be astronomical, something they couldn't afford in their lifetime.
Nanjiu noticed Zhang Jiang's hesitation and quietly held his hand down. Zhang Jiang temporarily suppressed his worry.
"Okay, I'll take care of it." Director Liu agreed.
Nan Jiu turned to Jiang Qing and asked, "Manager Jiang, what plans do you have to ensure the best possible harvest standards?"
Sanwaizi snorted coldly: "Even if he has three heads and six arms, what can he do? He still relies on us."
Jiang Qing frowned and pushed his glasses up, ignoring Sanwaizi's sarcasm. He said to Nanjiu, "We'll focus on organizational supervision, and there will be some corresponding incentives. We'll have responsibilities in different areas, and there will be roving quality inspectors. But... with the rush to mine, the standards definitely can't be strictly enforced."
"The tea gardens in the east must ensure one bud and one leaf, while other tea gardens must adopt the standard of one bud and two leaves. Is there any way to achieve this?" Nanjiu's requirements were clear and precise.
After the run-in the previous night, Jiang Qing had gradually adapted to her quick thinking and immediately followed the rhythm: "We need more manpower."
"Where will the manpower be dispatched from?" Nan Jiu asked one question after another.
"All tea gardens have entered the picking period this season. Skilled tea pickers are in short supply, and it is very difficult to dispatch them temporarily." Jiang Qing looked troubled.
"I'm not afraid of the difficulty, just tell me where to find it?"
Uncle Eight took over, speaking faster than usual: "During a tea-picking rush, Boss Song went down the mountain and talked directly to the tea-picking team leader. However, those people were gathered piecemeal, so it would take at least two or three days to organize them. If there were more people, it would be even more difficult."
Nanjiu opened her phone again, the light from the screen illuminating her furrowed brow. The latest real-time weather information was like a death warrant: the first heavy rain would arrive in five days. Just recruiting workers would take two or three days, leaving subsequent rush mining impossible. Time was ticking furiously by the seconds.
She took a deep breath, the pressure was like a mountain, and the air in the conference room froze.
When she looked up again, Nanjiu said firmly, "It would take too much time to find someone down the mountain. We'd better find a way up there." She looked at Uncle Eight with a dark look in her eyes. "Heishiwa Village is the closest to us."
The wrinkles on Uncle Eight's face froze; Xiang Zhiyang straightened his back; and Director Liu's face showed a hint of worry. Zhenmin stared at Nanjiu in shock, as if she were looking at a relative who had done something unorthodox and unreasonable. Zhang Jiang's face darkened, his disapproval evident.
A villager outside the window couldn't help but shout out, "Many people from their village were taken by Li Hu to the top of Cuilan Mountain to pick tea for two seasons."
Xiang Zhiyang, who had been sitting silently at the conference table, suddenly spoke up, "Our village has never dealt with them. They're just a bunch of bandits!"
The conference room suddenly fell into silence.
"Who is Li Hu?" Nan Jiu broke the suffocating silence and asked the villagers outside the window with his head raised. His voice was particularly clear in the silence.
"He was the captain of our mountain for a few years, but now he's working outside."
"Distant water can't quench a nearby fire," Nan Jiu said quickly and forcefully. "Since someone from their village can be used, why bother looking for someone far away?" She looked at Xiang Zhiyang, who looked uneasy. "I understand Secretary Xiang's concerns. But if we're talking about concerns, I have more reason to worry than anyone here."
In this relatively isolated mountain village, clan ties, grudges, and hatreds are deeply ingrained rules. The villagers viewed Nanjiu's proposal as not just risky, but a complete subversion of this established order. They were shocked by her decision, and even more shocked by her ability to so easily set aside such a heavy personal grudge.
However, in Nanjiu's eyes, the world is like a chess game. There is no eternal hostility on the board, only a dynamic consensus of interests. In the face of life and death, personal grudges must be put aside to ensure that the collective interests take precedence.
After some thought, Xiang Zhiyang reminded them, "Their village has a feud with us. Even if we ask them, they may not send anyone to help."
Nanjiu raised his eyes and said, "No one can resist money."
Zhou Weining said worriedly, "We'll have to pay a lot of money to hire so many people. Boss Song is not here, and I can't make any decisions without his signature and authorization."
"Do you have any reserve funds?" Nan Jiu met Zhou Weining's gaze.
Zhou Weining nodded: "I guess it's not enough. Our own tea pickers don't have to rush, but the ones we find outside may not be able to delay."
"Keep the reserve funds for logistical support. Don't touch the money on the books for now." Nan Jiu finished his instructions and turned to Zhang Jiang, "Do you have the contact information for Li Hu?"
"have!"
"Add me on WeChat and recommend Li Hu to me. Then create a group and invite everyone here." Nan Jiu said as he flipped out the QR code and slid the phone neatly to Zhang Jiang.
With a snap, she closed the notebook in front of her and stood up abruptly. The people around her instinctively stepped back, leaving a space at the end of the conference table empty. Nan Jiu rested his hands on the table, his eyes sharp as a knife as he scanned the room, issuing instructions like a barrage of bullets:
"Manager Jiang, thank you for immediately launching the emergency plan and making a comprehensive plan. The logistics support must be foolproof."
"Uncle Laoba, Uncle Guoqiang, please estimate the number of tea farmers who need to be hired immediately and let Zhang Jiang know before noon. Zhang Jiang, please send this to the group chat."
"Director Liu, are the fresh leaf transportation and production capacity keeping up?"
"I need to go back to the factory to make arrangements immediately."
"Okay!" Nan Jiu raised her hand and checked the time. "I'll take care of the funding gap. Everyone, split up and act at 3:00 PM. Manager Jiang, Zhang Jiang, Accountant Zhou..." She fixed her eyes on Xiang Zhiyang. "I'll also trouble Secretary Xiang. We'll meet here and get to Heishiwa Village before sunset."
After the order was given, there was a moment of silence in the conference room. Everyone was shocked by the lightning speed and was a little at a loss for a moment.
Nan Jiu slowly stood up, an invisible aura enveloping her. She picked up the notebook and tapped it on the table, not too hard or too soft. The sound was quiet, but it was like the beating of a war drum.
Instantly, everyone woke up, their hesitation and shock vanishing. Figures swayed, commands were exchanged, and the silent conference room fast-forwarded. Busy figures and hurried footsteps instantly filled the space.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com