Chapter 45: Gu Yunze, Are You Hiding Your Private Savings?

After breakfast, the three of them went to the workshop together.

Wu Gang happened to come by. He had taken another order of thirty portions yesterday, bringing the total to three hundred portions a day, earning him nine yuan a day. His enthusiasm grew stronger each day; he wished he could spend twenty-four hours a day selling.

But he also knew that this was about as good as it would get. The county was so small; it wasn’t possible for every household to eat Liangpi every meal.

“Brother Wu, I happen to need you.”

Jiang Yiyi called him into the house and got straight to the point. “I plan to open a workshop in the city. Would you like to go there to manage the market?”

Besides her, Gu Yunchi and Wu Gang were responsible for market sales. Gu Yunchi couldn’t go, leaving only Wu Gang. Wu Gang was capable, and having him would be a great help. However, Wu Gang already had a job, so Jiang Yiyi only asked tentatively. It would be best if Wu Gang was willing to go with her; if not, she would hire someone else once she arrived in the city.

Wu Gang was somewhat tempted. The city’s market was much larger. If he went there, he would only do better than in the county and earn more. His dilapidated factory wasn’t paying salaries anymore, so it would be better to follow Jiang Yiyi.

“If you go, your monthly salary will be fifty yuan, with the same commission as here. The commission you earn here will still be yours; you can just have your wife send it over every day.”

Wu Gang stopped delivering Liangpi and went home to discuss it with his wife.

“What’s there to hesitate about? Go!”

His wife made the final decision. “Go resign now, and I’ll pack your things at home.”

Wu Gang went to the factory. The workers were gathered in small groups, chatting; hardly anyone was working.

The factory director had heard some rumors that Wu Gang wasn’t doing his sales job and was instead selling Liangpi everywhere. He was just about to call him in for a scolding when this happened.

“Wu Gang, this factory isn’t yours. You can do what you want, but this month’s bonus is gone.”

“I don’t want future bonuses either. You can give them to whoever you want.”

“You…”

“I’m here to resign. I’m never coming back to this broken factory.”

…

After Wu Gang left, Jiang Yiyi called Jiang Jinfeng and Zhou Fen into the house. When she asked them to help, she had planned to take them with her to the city.

Hearing that they were going to the city, they were both excited and thrilled.

“Over there, the monthly salary will increase to fifty yuan, plus a bonus.”

The two didn’t care about the bonus; their younger sister wouldn’t treat them badly. This time, their younger sister gave each of them one hundred yuan, ten ten-yuan bills. Except when selling grain, they had never seen so much money before.

“We can’t leave the workshop unattended. Brother, go home and ask Mom and Dad if they’re willing to come and help me watch it. As for the land at home, we can hire someone to work it or lease it out.”

“I’ll go home right away.”

Jiang Yiyi also asked several Liangpi makers, and only Zhou Widow was willing to go. Anyway, she was alone, so it didn’t matter where she was. Going to the city would earn her twenty yuan more, so she naturally agreed.

With these arrangements made, it was almost time. Jiang Yiyi and Gu Yunze took the Liangpi to the state-run restaurant. Gu Yunze waited outside while Jiang Yiyi delivered the Liangpi to the kitchen and then went to Manager Huang’s office. Just as she was about to knock, she heard a scolding voice from inside, “How did I end up with such a useless brother-in-law? He has no brains. That’s public property; how can you just take it?”

“It wasn’t just me.”

It was Li Ge’s voice.

“Were others caught?”

Li Ge didn’t answer.

“At best, you’re a petty thief; at worst, you’re stealing state property. If I hadn’t gone around asking favors, giving gifts, and entertaining people, you’d be in jail right now.”

“Now, you’ve lost your job too. You can just wait to starve!”

…

Jiang Yiyi didn’t know whether to knock or not.

“Ring ring…”

The phone rang. Manager Huang answered and heard Meng Fan’s voice. He remembered that Jiang Yiyi should be here to answer the phone, so he covered the mouthpiece and said to Brother Liu, “Go out for a while.”

Brother Liu walked out, and Jiang Yiyi “happened” to knock. Brother Liu opened the door, saw it was her, and was about to speak when he heard Manager Huang say, “Perfect, it’s Meng Fan’s call.”

Jiang Yiyi nodded to Brother Liu and quickly went to answer the phone.

“Yiyi, I’ve found the place. When are you coming over?”

Jiang Yiyi could go today, but if she did, Gu Yunze would surely follow. He only came back to visit his family once every two years, and he had been with her every day these past few days, not spending much time with his family.

“I can’t go for now, but I’ll send someone over today. Leave your phone number, and I’ll have them call you when they arrive.”

After hanging up, Jiang Yiyi didn’t leave.

“Sorry, Manager Huang, I just happened to overhear your conversation. Was Brother Liu fired from the factory?”

“That brainless guy stole aluminum and got caught by the factory. He almost went to jail.”

Since she had overheard, Manager Huang didn’t hide it. He had been running around begging for favors these past few days to save his brother-in-law, and he was still fuming.

The aluminum factory was doing well, but his brother-in-law wouldn’t take the right path and stole quite a bit. Now, he’s been fired. With this stain on his record, no factory would hire him even if he tried to ask for favors.

“I’m planning to develop in the city, and we’re still short of people to manage the market. If you agree, you might as well ask Brother Liu if he’s willing to go with me?”

Manager Huang immediately called Brother Liu in.

This was like a pie falling from the sky. Brother Liu had been drinking with Cui Yong and Wu Gang the other day and learned that Wu Gang could earn almost ten yuan a day, making him envious. He immediately agreed, “Don’t worry, sister. Brother Liu will work hard.”

“Mr. Meng just called about this. If Brother Liu is free, he can go to the city with my brother and sister-in-law this afternoon. The salary will be calculated from today, fifty yuan a month.”

“Okay.”

With another person added, Jiang Yiyi was in a good mood, and her steps were light as she walked towards Gu Yunze. He smiled as she approached, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Did you finish the talks?”

“Yes, I’ll have my brother and sister-in-law go first this afternoon, and I’ll go in a couple of days.”

“Are you all done?”

Jiang Yiyi nodded.

“Let’s go buy you a watch.”

Buy a watch?

Jiang Yiyi looked at him suspiciously. Didn’t Gu Yunze send all his monthly allowance home? Where did he get the money?

“Gu Yunze, are you hiding your private savings?”

Gu Yunze honestly admitted that he had indeed sent all his monthly allowance home, but not his bonuses. He had received several awards in the past two years, and the bonuses were considerable. He had planned to save them for emergencies.

“Hand it over!”

Jiang Yiyi reached out, but Gu Yunze grabbed her hand. If they weren’t on the street, he would have hugged her. His wife was so cute like this. “After I buy you something, I’ll hand over everything, not a cent left.”