"Something is not right with this salary," Xihua was the first to be paid, and as soon as she had it in her hand, she felt something was off. She counted it three times and said, "Ji Ying, did you calculate this wrong?"
For over a year, Ji Ying had been managing the Chili Sauce Factory, and gradually, her personality changed. Before, she had been somewhat weak and even timid, especially in front of her mother-in-law Liu Sanmei. When faced with issues, she never dared to resist.
But the Ji Ying now was completely different in spirit, decisive and efficient in her actions, displaying the demeanor of a strong businesswoman.
"With the New Year almost upon us, everyone has worked hard for the factory all year. The boss has decided to give everyone an extra month’s salary. Next year, if we handle our tasks well, the boss will not fail to reward everyone," Ji Ying declared with forceful and resonant conviction, like a boulder thrown into still waters.
In everyone’s eyes, the Chili Sauce Factory was Pei Yicheng’s, with Ji Ying merely managing affairs.
Someone initiated, and soon, the workshop erupted into loud applause—an extra month’s salary!
Not to mention a box of chili sauce, rice, meat, and apples—adding all these together, the benefits were indeed much more than what those canning or textile factories earned.
Everyone excitedly received their extra month’s salary and benefits, all thinking the same thing: to work well at the factory next year.
After settling issues at the Chili Sauce Factory, siblings Xu Nianhua and Xu Nian’an started going through the furniture factory accounts.
The furniture factory had been open for over half a year and had received many orders. Many businesses directly purchased goods from the factory. The staff had continually increased from just a few to now over a dozen employees, most from the village with robust labor, some recommended by relatives.
"Xu Feng, I remember you also graduated from high school. Let’s go through these accounts together," Xu Nian’an invited Xu Feng, who sold bean sprouts, specifically to help with the accounting.
Since the furniture factory belonged to two families, it was crucial to have clear and transparent accounts without any ambiguities over financial matters.
"Nian’an, I’d better not. I’d stick with my dad selling bean sprouts." Xu Feng scratched his head, feeling a headache coming on at the sight of so many numbers. He had graduated from high school merely by luck, always among the last few, otherwise, he wouldn’t have made it into high school.
Unfortunately, he was finding it harder to learn as time went on.
"Don’t you keep accounts when you sell bean sprouts?" Xu Nian’an countered.
Xu Feng replied confidently, "I remember how much money I make each day, how much soybeans I buy, all of it’s easy to remember."
He kept track every day, and it was not difficult at all.
In the end, Xu Feng hurried off to the county to sell bean sprouts, leaving the accounting work to Xu Yuchun.
Xu Nian’an and Xu Yuchun worked on the accounts together, while Xu Nianhua was busy taking inventory.
"Nianhua?" Brother Cai Feng had been working alongside Xu Qinghe for a long time now.
Xu Nianhua held a notebook, recording the remaining wood and hardware pieces, along with the furniture made and so on.
"Congratulations, Brother Cai Feng, are you about to get engaged? I heard from my mom that Aunt Cai has arranged a match for you." Xu Nianhua congratulated Cai Feng, who was about the same age as his older brother Xu Nianji and was indeed of marrying age.
"Yes, I’m getting engaged." Cai Feng, looking at her bright smile, suddenly felt that he should seriously consider the match his mother had arranged for him.