Chapter 44


Lin Qingping finally began to examine them seriously. After walking around them once, she looked surprised. “You’re saying… you all want to come work here?”

“Mm-hmm!”
A group of heads bobbed like a bunch of chickens pecking at rice.

“Are you… seriously and properly coming to work? Or is it like before, just clocking in and showing your face?”

The group all nodded again. “Seriously coming to work!”
“Working just as seriously as them!” one said, pointing at the temporary workers.

Lin Qingping nodded. “I understand.”

Joy appeared on everyone’s faces. Did that mean… she agreed?

But then, Lin Qingping added a “but.”

“But, I’m not an official employee of your factory. I’m only temporary, and I don’t hold any position. I can’t make any decisions. You all aren’t under my management. Whether you can come to work, what kind of work it is, or how the work is done — none of that is up to me. I can’t make that call.”

Lin Qingping spoke kindly and clearly, but there were barbs hidden in her soft tone — every word carried a sting.

The group was stunned again. Did that mean…?

Someone who reacted quickly immediately said: “I’ll go find someone who can make the decision!” Then turned and ran off.

In a moment, everyone seemed to catch on and rushed out after them.

The workshop, once full, became empty again.

Gu Youlian quietly moved beside Lin Qingping. “Weren’t you waiting for this moment? Why chase them off again?”

Lin Qingping smiled and replied softly: “This little battered boat of mine, tossed about in the wind and rain, isn’t something they can just hop on or off whenever they feel like it.”

It wasn’t long before that group came back, making a grand entrance. This time, they had a leader with them — Section Chief Fu. They were clever, after all. They knew that someone who could actually make decisions in the factory and also had a good relationship with Lin Qingping was none other than Section Chief Fu.

They had pleaded outside Section Chief Fu’s office for quite a while before he finally sighed and reluctantly agreed to lend them his old face and put in a good word. And so, this scene unfolded.

Section Chief Fu’s round face was full of smiles as he came up to Lin Qingping, and just like the temporary workers, he began calling her “Master Lin.” addressing the yellow-haired girl with a respectful tone.

“Master Lin, here’s the thing. The workers from our factory know they were wrong before, and now they want to come back and work together with everyone. You’re generous — what do you think?”

Lin Qingping looked even more troubled.

“Master Lin, look — our workers are all veterans. These clothes were originally made by them. They understand the structure better than anyone. If they’re the ones making the changes, it’ll be smooth and fast!”

“That’s exactly what I’m worried about…” Lin Qingping glanced at the people behind Section Chief Fu, frowning. “I’m afraid that the changes they make will end up just like before — not following my patterns.”

There was no need for Section Chief Fu to respond. The workers all rushed to pat their chests and make promises.

“Absolutely not! Since we’re coming back, we’ll make the changes exactly the way you want them!”

“But…” Lin Qingping was still frowning and hesitant. “Before, none of you accepted my designs. I’m really worried that the modifications won’t stay true to the original…”

“No, no, not at all! I never thought your designs were bad!” Meizi stepped forward. “What I said before… that was because… because… ah, forget it. Just treat what I said like a fart! Once it’s out, stinks for a bit, then it’s gone!”

That crude analogy sent everyone into bursts of laughter.

“Well… I have more than twenty workers coming tomorrow. That’ll make the number even bigger…” Lin Qingping looked worried as she glanced at Section Chief Fu.

Section Chief Fu once again pleaded earnestly: “Master Lin, I’m begging you. Please ask them to go home for now and not come! I’ll cover their losses — their travel expenses, meal costs — I’ll reimburse them! The factory can’t afford that, so I’ll pay out of my own pocket! I’ll compensate them! For the sake of my old face, please let our workers get to work. It’s the least I can do for the brotherhood I’ve had with them all these years.”

Section Chief Fu spoke as though he might burst into tears at any moment. It seemed that if Lin Qingping refused now, it would be unreasonable.

“Well… fine. After all, it’s you, Section Chief Fu, who’s in charge of the factory. I’m just a temporary worker.”

She still had to get in a little jab at the end.

Section Chief Fu sighed in relief and wiped the sweat off his chubby face. “Master Lin, don’t keep bringing up ‘temporary worker.’ Director Hu and I actually want to formally hire you! But you’ll have to agree to that, too!”

After saying that, he turned to the workers and made a respectful bow. “Brothers and sisters, I’m begging you! I’ve put my old face on the line for this. Please do me a favor and stop causing trouble, okay?”

“Alright, don’t worry, Old Fu!” One by one, the workers walked past Section Chief Fu, happily heading to their workstations.

Some asked about the benefits, quietly inquiring: “Old Fu, remember we agreed there would be a subsidy?”

Section Chief Fu nodded. “The factory will still pay the subsidy as promised, but as for the people Master Lin hired, she’s paying them herself. Don’t be jealous, it won’t help!”

Well, getting a subsidy was nice! Who wouldn’t want the money? Everyone regretted listening to Feng Debao’s nonsense in the beginning. How could they have fallen for that?

And so, the “spectacular” campaign to resist outsiders telling them what to do ended just like that. Except for Feng Debao, all the workers reported to their positions, and the workshop quickly became organized and efficient.

When they returned, some workers still hadn’t figured it out: perhaps Master Lin didn’t actually have twenty workers coming after all.

Maybe Old Fu had coordinated with Lin Qingping, putting on a show for them. But what did that matter? They had received their overtime bonuses, and after this batch of goods was shipped out, it sold out in no time.

The workers got another bonus. That was enough! As for what the truth really was, who cared? But that was all just background noise now.

Once the workshop was in full operation, everything seemed fine for Gu Youlian. She didn’t expect that this was just the beginning, and that worse things were yet to come.

At that time, for those who didn’t have a water heater at home, the factory’s bathhouse was the only option. Unless they used a big basin or bucket at home, they could go to the communal bathhouse. Gu Youlian even began to miss Gujia Village. “At least my brother treats Pingzi well!”

Gu Youlian had showered in the bathroom Gu Juncheng had built for Lin Qingping several times, and it was incredibly comfortable.

But now, in the factory, she could only go to the big bathhouse with the others. Moreover, the bathhouse was open not just to workers but also to their family members and relatives.

As long as they had a ticket, they could come. Some people from outside the factory even came to bathe.

Fortunately, the Clothing Factory’s bathhouse had individual stalls, each with a plastic curtain for privacy. However, Lin Qingping soon discovered something unsettling: whenever she was in the shower, someone would always try to lift her curtain.