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Recognizing familiar faces made things easier for Zhang Lan. Yang Nuo and Cong Tao took charge of selecting the workers. Even for those they didn’t know personally, their connections through their brothers proved valuable. After mutual discussions, they chose ten individuals, all known to them, making it easier for Zhang Lan to manage them in the future.
“Guys, this is my aunt. This factory belongs to her family, and I help out here. Do your work diligently. If I hear of anyone being dishonest or lazy, don’t blame me for being tough. Let’s be clear from the start. Don’t think I won’t uphold our brotherly bond. Work well for my aunt, and you won’t regret it,” Yang Nuo addressed the selected workers.
The previous night, Zhang Lan had discussed wages with the siblings. Wang Qian decided to align the pay with factory standards, ensuring that the workers felt fairly compensated. Additionally, there was a bonus incentive for those who put in extra effort.
During the conversation with the workers, Zhang Lan outlined these terms. Excited by the favorable conditions, one of the workers exclaimed, “Wow, such great benefits! Yang, we’ve truly found a good job. No one will underestimate us anymore. They think they earn more working in factories, but not this time. Auntie, just give us tasks that let us earn money, and we’ll work hard, regardless of the workload.”
Wang Qian walked into the room with a cheerful smile and addressed the group of young workers, “Dear brothers, if the factory prospers in the future, just like the workers, we will also provide year-end bonuses. Everyone, listen carefully. If you don’t work diligently, we won’t hesitate to let you go. Understand?”
Despite her petite stature, Wang Qian’s words carried authority. The young workers responded in unison, “Understood! We’ll show our dedication from now on.”
With the team assembled, Mingyuan began meticulously recording their details – addresses, contact information, family members – leaving no detail overlooked.
Upon learning that one worker’s father had experience making fruit wine, Wang Qian was delighted. It seemed like the perfect match.
“Li Hongbing, is your father still working?” Wang Qian inquired.
Li Hongbing scratched his head, “Working? He retired last year. He’s at home, idle as can be. Is there something you need from him?”
Grinning, Wang Qian nodded, “Indeed. We are considering having your father join us for night shifts, to offer guidance. Of course, he’ll be compensated. What do you think?”
Helping his father secure a job and earn some extra income, Li Hongbing was thrilled. “Great, I’ll go fetch my father right away. I’ll have him come over to see how he can help. Don’t worry, my father’s skills are top-notch,” he assured Wang Qian.
When Li Hongbing brought his father over, Wang Qian was impressed by the elderly man’s neat and jovial demeanor. With gratitude, he immediately thanked Zhang Lan.
“Manager, I truly appreciate you taking in my troublesome son. I was worried he’d end up loafing around without a job, unable to even find a wife. I’ve come to lend a hand, not for the money, but to ensure my son is on the right track,” the father expressed sincerely.
Zhang Lan greeted the elderly man warmly and explained the tasks he would handle. “Uncle, this is my first time undertaking such a venture. With your experience, please feel free to point out any mistakes and oversee our operations. This involves beverages, so hygiene is paramount.”
The elderly man readily agreed, emphasizing the importance of conscientious work over mere financial gain. He reassured, “You can trust me on this. I may not know everything, but I excel in this field.”
As the group listened to his stories from his previous workplace, Mingyuan and the others paid close attention, eager to learn from his experiences. They didn’t hesitate to ask questions to clarify any uncertainties. The elderly man enjoyed sharing his stories with these attentive listeners, grateful for the rare opportunity to engage such an interested audience.
“Grandpa Li, you’ve brewed white liquor and fruit wine before? That’s impressive,” Mingyuan’s admiring expression boosted the elderly man’s pride, satisfying his vanity.
“Ah, those were in the past. When the grain supply was insufficient, our factory transitioned from producing white liquor and fruit wine to soda. Fruit juice and soda are quite similar, just with different additives. Once I make it for you all, you can taste it. This craft has been passed down through generations, but it might end with my son’s generation,” the elderly man expressed with a hint of regret.
With his son not involved in the factory work and their family having enough food to sustain themselves, there was no motivation to teach them the art of brewing. The valuable craft of the Li family seemed at risk of being lost.
Wang Qian felt secretly delighted, realizing they had a skilled individual on board. Perhaps they could venture into brewing their own beverages in the future.
“Grandpa Li, now that you and your son are working together here, we finally have the opportunity to learn from you. Let’s start by producing this fruit juice. Next, you can pass on your family’s craft to Hongbing and the others. With your guidance, our factory will surely thrive,” Wang Qian reassured, hoping for a long-lasting collaboration.
The elderly man also hoped the new job would provide his son with a steady and meaningful occupation.
As everyone got busy, Qu Wan was brought over by her father. Seeing her older cousin now engaged, Wang Qian noted the difference in her demeanor – a blend of shyness and maturity.
Wang Qian pulled her cousin aside and advised, “Sis, help out with cooking and observe how things are done inside when you have free time. Learn the skills, especially the ones that are valuable. If needed, you can step in. It’s essential to grasp these techniques for yourself.”
She left it at that, knowing that some things come with practice and observation. Qu Wan should understand the underlying message in her words if she wasn’t oblivious.
Qu Wan, of course, caught onto her cousin’s intent and nodded with a smile, saying, “Sister, rest assured, I will definitely learn.”
With the workforce arranged, they awaited the arrival of materials. Meanwhile, Wang Qian brought in a batch of fruits for the elderly man to try making fruit wine.
With assistance from members of the Cong and Yang families in the store, Geng Lianhua rolled up her sleeves to help her granddaughter with cooking. She also encouraged the young girl to learn new skills in her spare time.
The elderly man, not holding back, shared his knowledge openly. Brewing was a common skill in the distillery, so he led a group of youngsters in the process, while Yang Nuo went to purchase the necessary ingredients and items.
Back at home, things were bustling. While Wang Zhenhe and his family had arrived in the capital and were impressed by the house they purchased. The spacious residence could easily accommodate everyone from their previous home, leaving Wang Zhenhe exceedingly satisfied.
“Son, you have a good eye. With so many rooms, we have plenty of space for our belongings. By the way, let’s go visit Grandpa Chen; it’s been a while since I last saw him,” Wang Zhenhe said to his son then they went to Grandpa Chen’s place.
Navigating their way with ease, Mingcheng and his sister reached Grandpa Chen’s residence. Despite their familiarity with the route, Wang Zhenhe couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement upon seeing Grandpa Chen, although he noticed the elderly man didn’t appear as radiant as before.
“Uncle, I’ve come to see you,” Wang Zhenhe greeted.
Inside, Chen Minghai was engrossed in a book. Upon hearing the familiar voice, he looked up and, upon recognizing the face, tears welled up in his eyes.
“Zhenhe, you’ve finally come. Uncle has missed you so much,” Chen Minghai expressed emotionally.
Noticing the change in the elderly man’s demeanor, Wang Zhenhe didn’t rush to inquire but instead helped Chen Minghai sit down, engaging in a heartfelt conversation.
Wang Xuan served tea to the two men before heading to the kitchen with her brother to prepare lunch. Despite stocking up on groceries before the new year, they had used up everything. At that moment, Chen Xu came in, out of breath. Seeing his siblings, he gasped for air and with a hint of excitement, said, “You’re finally back. Quickly help me persuade Grandpa. During the New Year, Dad and the others had a disagreement that really upset him. He’s been quite agitated these past few days.”
“Chen Xu, why did they have a falling out? Everything seemed fine before, perhaps just some minor disputes over benefits?” Wang Mingcheng inquired.
Chen Xu sighed, explaining, “Minor disputes over benefits weren’t enough to resolve their issues. My eldest uncle’s son is getting married soon, and the bride’s family has many demands. So, my eldest uncle came to Grandpa asking for money. However, Grandpa has three sons and numerous grandchildren. Choosing who to help became a point of contention. The argument escalated over this minor financial assistance issue. In the end, my eldest uncle suggested his son could live with Grandpa after the wedding if they didn’t receive the money. Grandpa didn’t agree, and neither did the others. They took over the house, leaving no hope for other family members’ children to get married. During the New Year, you and Xuan bought so many things, but we barely used any. They took the rest away.”
Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan and Mingcheng couldn’t help but wryly smile. “Chen Xu, no wonder Grandpa seemed upset. It’s all over this issue. Why not suggest Grandpa divide the money equally among everyone, without bias, based on the number of family members?”
Chen Xu shook his head, “If only they were thinking that way. The problem is, after money, they’ll demand the house. City houses are scarce, and they’ve set their sights on Grandpa’s property. Worried they might seize it, I changed the lock on the house and left. They didn’t get a chance to enter. Now, with Grandpa feeling better, they’re back. Frankly, I’ve lost respect for my father and uncles in this matter, but as a son, there’s little I can do.”