Chapter 478: Chapter 477 Facing Layoffs Chapter 478: Chapter 477 Facing Layoffs Bai Ju and He Wang were sitting in front of the stove, roasting peanuts and talking.
On such leisurely days, the two of them were worrying.
“Dad, the factory is going to close down, and we’re all going to be laid off. What are we going to do afterward?”
Due to the overproduction and poor management over the years, their food factory, along with other state-owned enterprises, was facing closure. Although their small factory might not shut down immediately, there was unrest among the workers because several large state-owned enterprises in the county were already discussing layoffs.
“There’s always a way when you get to the mountain. We’ve had tough times before, but we got through them, let alone now when we’re doing so well. We’ve saved some money, and both of us have the ability to work hard. We’ll make it through as long as we’re diligent and capable.
If the factory really closes down, at least I have my carpentry skills. I can always go back to doing carpentry for others. I can’t let you and the kids starve,” reasoned He Wang optimistically.
Bai Ju wasn’t complaining, but after working in the factory for so many years, whether as a temporary or permanent employee, the sudden risk of unemployment made her feel anxious and fearful about the future.
“Ah, how can a good factory just close down like that.”
“Stop talking about that. We’ve decided to spend the New Year in the provincial city this year. He Weng called early, afraid we wouldn’t go. I heard the business he’s conducting there is going quite well, booming in fact. It’s perfect timing; going there for the New Year, you’ve been missing your elder sister and Bai Xiao Bai Song, haven’t you? We can visit them then,” He Wang knew Bai Ju was thinking of her siblings too.
“Suddenly, they all moved to the provincial city. It used to be difficult to see them even occasionally, and now I feel a bit upset about it all,” Bai Ju felt her relatives had suddenly scattered in every direction.
“Don’t sigh. Next month is the twelfth lunar month. The factory is already out of work and stopped operating, so let’s just buy tickets and go as soon as the kids are on holiday. With that time, I can even take you and the kids around. It’s not often we go to the provincial city; we should show the children around a bit,” He Wang actually had his own plans in mind.
The last couple of years had seen them saving a considerable sum of money. The couple was used to being hardworking and frugal, and even though the financial burden at home was lighter, they were not the type to indulge in extravagances. Besides the regular monthly expenses, they managed to save quite a bit.
Moreover, this past year, his brother He Weng had sent money home twice, totaling ten thousand yuan.
In the years ’87, ten thousand yuan was certainly a lot.
He Wang thought that if the factory really couldn’t make it and closed down, and both of them faced unemployment, he could make use of his driving skills. He considered buying a vehicle to work in transport. Someone in their drivers’ team had taken unpaid leave to buy a vehicle and run a transport business, and reportedly, it was quite successful.
He was making his own plans for some kind of business venture.
His brother had always encouraged him to start a business. He might not know what exactly entrepreneurship involved, but he remembered the encouragement he had once given to his brother, and now he felt it applied to himself as well—”Necessity is the mother of invention.”
Facing such a situation, they needed a solution. This trip to the provincial city was also about scoping out the transportation market and checking vehicle prices. If possible, he was ready to buy a vehicle to bring back, though he hadn’t mentioned any of this to Bai Ju yet. Bai Ju’s mindset was still on finding a job and working hard. If he told her, she would probably worry so much she wouldn’t be able to sleep.