Lin Wan has ceded the greatest benefits to her. If Sister-in-law Zhang shares the same thoughts as the previous families, she really wonât be able to help.
Even though there are over fifty people in the factory, it can still be very profitable if managed properly. Lin Wan, although she proposed meal vouchers and a daily price not exceeding 80 cents per person, she mentioned that occasionally if some employees wanted to eat better, they could provide side dishes and stir-fries at an additional price.
"Xiao Wan, this is a big matter. Allow me to go back and discuss this with your Brother Huang."
What Zhang Cuiping said was reasonable; such a big matter indeed needs to be discussed with the family.
"Saozi, you and Brother Huang should discuss it well. Regardless of whether youâre willing or not, please give me an answer."
"Alright, weâll contact you once weâve made a decision."
Lin Wan escorted Sister-in-law Zhang to the courtyard. Sister-in-law Zhang wanted to invite her up for a meal, but remembering she had made plans with Tao Jia, she politely declined.
...
"...Mom, thatâs the situation. Initially, we thought of delaying it for two years, by then there wouldnât be much difference between a two-year-old and a three-year-old. Others wouldnât be able to see through it."
"Nonsense." For the first time in her life, Xie Lingzhi uttered a curse word.
"What do you know? From one to five years old, a childâs changes are the most obvious. Even a few monthsâ difference can be noticed, let alone one year." As Xie Lingzhi spoke, she pointed at Ye Qing who was by her side: "I just knew something was amiss. Which familyâs daughter-in-law gives birth to a child and doesnât let the family see after a year? Ye Qing, oh, Ye Qing. You have quite the ability. Youâve managed to confuse my son so that every day heâs lying to us, constantly getting into trouble because of you. If you ask me, youâre the cursed star of our Mei Family, here to bring trouble."
"Mom, I didnât."
"Mom, donât say that about Ah Qing. Iâve told you countless times, itâs all my fault."
Seeing her son protect this woman, Xie Lingzhi panted angrily.
"Fine, fine, keep protecting her. Letâs see what happens when your dad and grandpa find out."
"Mom, for the sake of your grandson, you have to help your son."
"Help? How do you expect me to help? The child is already this big. How can I help you?"
"Grandfather and grandmother have always missed their great-grandchildren. How about mom takes the child back? When the elders see the child, even if theyâre angry, their hearts may soften a bit."
"Enough already, taking the child back, the Tao Family would see such a grown child, and definitely know whatâs up. When you and Tao Jia divorced, you went over to guarantee them there was nothing outside. At first, the Tao Family thought you youngsters were just being impulsive and would reconcile after a while. But who knew, not even a few months after the divorce and youâve brought this one in? Donât you know how much blame the Tao Family harbors now? If we reveal such a grown child, the Tao Family would immediately understand."
"Mom, just donât let them see her?" Mei Langchi frowned and then added, "Like how weâre doing now, getting a nanny to take care of the child outside. Then, when the child grows up in a few years, bring her back."
"You..." Xie Lingzhi raised her hand, nearly slapping Mei Langchi across the face, but ultimately couldnât bear to, so she sighed and lowered her hand.
Ye Qing remained silent with her head hung low, leaving it to Mei Langchi to resolve.
...
"Old Huang, why did you come home so late today?" After returning home, Zhang Cuiping had already waited for their son to finish school, finished tutoring homework, and even had dinner ready for a while, just waiting for Huang Guozhong to return so she could discuss what Xiao Wan talked about earlier that afternoon.
She had just opened the door and upon seeing Old Huang, the already impatient Zhang Cuiping was about to complain when she noticed Qin Hongbing was following him.
Quickly she put on a smile and welcomed him in.
"Whatâs wrong, Saozi?" Qin Hongbing asked with a smile from the side.
"Oh, you know I canât bear it. Finished early and waited for a long time but didnât see him return. The foodâs almost cold. Hong Bing, sit down, Iâll go fry a few more dishes for you guys."
"Saozi, donât bother. Old Huang and I already had a bite outside. Today is my fault for dragging Old Huang out to drink, so weâre back late today."
"You guys too. If you want to drink, just drink at home. I can fry a few dishes to go with the drinks."
"Work-related matters arenât going well. Itâs better to chat about these outside."
"Whatâs wrong ... Whatâs wrong with work?" Zhang Cuiping exclaimed, showing mixed feelings of joy and worry.
"Oh, isnât it still about the two of us? You see, back then we were all in one dormitory. Han Yi is climbing higher and higher, that goes without saying. Yang Wei is also doing well, having been promoted. Gao Ran has his familyâs connections, was directly transferred. Now, except for Old Huang and me, both are still at a standstill."
Zhang Cuiping listened and did not agree, "What standstill? My Old Huang went from a deputy to a head! Youâre also going from a guidance role to a committee role soon. What do you mean standstill?"
"Haha, Saozi, itâs not just that, you know. It hurts a bit seeing the good battlers, the friends leaving."
"Whoâs gone? Except for Gao Ran, everyone else is still here. Even though Han Yi left, Xiao Wan is still here. I met Xiao Wan in H City today. She even brought me back. I was waiting for Old Huang so that I could discuss the matter Xiao Wan mentioned to me today."
"Whatâs the matter?" Huang Guozhong asked as he motioned for Qin Hongbing to sit down.
"Xiao Wan said that their clothing factoryâs cafeteria needs to be contracted out, and asked if Iâd be interested."
"Oh? The factory is already set up?" Qin Hongbing asked surprised.
"Yes, itâs about to start production. The employees are in place, the only issue seems to be meals."
"Why donât they do it themselves?" Huang Guozhong wondered.
"According to Xiao Wan, they donât have the energy for it, contracting it out saves them some worry."
"Ha-ha, sheâs busy making big money. Doesnât care for the small stuff like this. Contracting does seem easier."
"Easier huh? Why donât you come home sooner then," Qin Hongbingâs words had just settled when Liu Erhong arrived at the door with two children.
The door wasnât closed by Zhang Cuiping earlier, and she had heard Qin Hongbingâs voice from their house. So she came over with the children to call him.
"We were just talking about Xiao Wanâs clothing factory. Its cafeteria needs to be contracted, and she asked if I wanted to do it," Zhang Cuiping said.
"Contracting a cafeteria is good, thatâs profitable. Thereâs a middle school cafeteria in our hometown that was contracted, and within two years the family built a new house."
"Really?"
"Certainly, Old Qin knows about this too."
Perhaps Qin Hongbing suddenly recalled, he nodded in agreement.
After some joyful chatting, Zhang Cuiping furrowed her brows, "School students are many after all, but Lin Wan said, their factory only has about fifty people now. A personâs daily meal cost canât exceed 80 cents. Thereâs also a requirement for three dishes, one soup, and an alternate meat dish at noon. Plus, the monthly rent is one hundred, and two hundred meal vouchers need to be provided monthly. And..."
Following Zhang Cuipingâs explanation, everyone fell into contemplative silence.