Pangxin just waited and waited, treating it like a vacation for himself. Every day, he was either calling friends out for drinks and meals or sleeping in at home, or strolling down the streets.
But time flowed by day after day, and before he knew it, October was almost over. When early November arrived, the inspection teams would be coming.
Pangxin sensed something was amiss and no longer felt as calm and collected as he did at the beginning.
With the inspection teams visiting, and as a translator, he needed to possess a lot of knowledge to avoid ineffective communication with the members of the inspection teams.
Unable to stay put at home, Pangxin asked around for information. He had no idea until he inquired—and what a shock he got!
Lou Fan had actually found another translator?
How was this acceptable?
Pangxin immediately went to the factory to find Lou Fan.
Lou Fan had just delivered the materials to the school and handed them to Xu Nianhua. He was in a great mood, finally free from Pangxin’s annoyance!
Lou Fan had great respect for knowledgeable and capable people, but he couldn’t take to someone like Pangxin, who acted all high and mighty based on a bit of skill. Before accomplishing much, he was already bargaining, which Lou Fan simply couldn’t appreciate.
In the year Lou Fan had been at the factory, Pangxin’s salary was raised every month and his benefits kept increasing. Lou Fan didn’t want to care about Pangxin’s condescending attitude as long as he did his job as a translator well. But Pangxin?
Pangxin’s demands had always been met as much as possible, but he remained insatiable. For this visit by the inspection team, Pangxin was demanding a hundred yuan a day.
A hundred yuan a day—that’s a few months’ salary for others.
They had just said they’d consider it, but Pangxin stopped working altogether, leaving the contract translation only half done.
The factory could afford the hundred yuan, but once this precedent was set, there would be more inspection teams in the future. Human desires are endless. If they couldn’t meet Pangxin’s demands each time, and he kept striking, the factory might as well serve Pangxin alone.
"Director Lou, Translator Pang is here."
These words abruptly spoiled Lou Fan’s good mood. He said, "Speak with the accountant, settle Pangxin’s salary, and add three months’ pay."
"Director Lou." Pangxin had found out that Lou Fan had found another translator from who knows where. Seeing Lou Fan’s polite face, Pangxin felt particularly displeased.
Deep down, Pangxin knew that his strike was not meant to lose his job but to bargain for a higher salary.
"Please, take a seat."
Lou Fan gestured toward the sofa beside him.
As soon as Pangxin sat down, he felt something wasn’t right. Lou Fan used to look at him as if he was nothing, and now why was he smiling?
"Director Lou, my leave is over. The inspection team will be arriving soon, and I should be getting back to work." Pangxin had no shame; when he took off, he had declared that Lou Fan must personally beg him to return.
However, the tables had turned.
Lou Fan didn’t ask, and it was Pangxin who had shown up of his own accord.
"No need." Lou Fan said with a stern face and indifferent tone, "Our factory cannot afford such an esteemed Buddha as yourself. I’ve already asked the accountant to calculate your salary and added three months’ pay. From now on, you and our factory have no further relations, and we won’t hold back Translator Pang from earning a high salary elsewhere."