In 1992, a small village owner became the richest man in the village by owning a car.

Chapter 602 Third Uncle, Times Have Changed

"Two thousand?!" Han Guofeng was startled and couldn't help but jump up from his seat. He wasn't just shocked, he was terrified.

Two thousand yuan! Even in big cities these days, you wouldn't earn that much!

His wife's younger brother lives in Harbin. He works in the city and earns about 1,000 yuan a month. He works as an electrician, and his salary only increased a couple of years ago.

I have no right to earn two thousand yuan a month!
"Too much, too much!" Han Guofeng waved his hands repeatedly, displaying the simplicity and honesty of a rural person. He couldn't hide his excitement. "I only make 580 a month at the grain depot. I only need 580 a month."

It's not that he doesn't want more Korean style, it's just that using those two thousand yuan for market research and analysis feels like a hot potato. He never felt that the work he did every day was particularly valuable.

"Is two thousand yuan a lot?" Duan Dahai was amused by the Korean-style simplicity and felt closer to this guy. "Market research is actually very important for our factory. If we can't predict and analyze market changes in advance, we will go astray in production. So I've wanted to set up this department for a long time. As long as you can do a good job, I will pay you more later!"

"This... Brother-in-law, look at this..." Han Guofeng was also at a loss. Money is a good thing, but you have to have the ability to earn it. He didn't feel that he was any great; he was just doing his job well.

Brother-in-law?

Duan Dahai and Boss Liang were both surprised when they saw Han Guofeng helplessly speaking to Yu Dawei. It turned out that Dawei at the grain depot not only had a brother-in-law, but also a brother-in-law.

“The salary is fine. When you go back to the old flour mill, just focus on your work. Besides doing your job well, you should also pay more attention to national affairs.” Yu Dawei gave Han Guofeng some advice: “When you have money, replace the radio at home with a TV. Now, many important news stories are easier to understand when viewed on TV.”

"Okay, thank you, Mr. Duan. Don't worry, I will definitely do my best to do what I'm supposed to do." Han Guofeng solemnly and earnestly promised Duan Dahai.

"I believe you." Duan Dahai nodded with a smile. "Go back first, and report to the old flour mill on November 1st."

"Okay! Then I'll hand in my resignation when I get back." In Han Guofeng's opinion, since he was already going to work at the flour mill, he might as well just resign when he got back.

Two thousand yuan a month! With this money, my wife won't have to suffer at the restaurant anymore, and we won't have to worry about the children's tuition, food, clothing, or other necessities. We can even enroll our youngest son and eldest daughter in tutoring classes.

The more Han Guofeng thought about it, the sweeter he felt, and he was also grateful to Yu Dawei. He felt that he wouldn't be able to earn such a high salary if it weren't for Yu Dawei.

On the other side, as the three watched Han Guofeng leave, Boss Liang suddenly joked, "Look, they're all from the same family, but the difference between Han Guofeng and Liu Liguo is huge."

"Hehe, they weren't born of the same mother, yet they're family." Yu Dawei continued to sit with his legs crossed, sipping his tea. "This second son of my mother-in-law's family has had a tough journey."

"Back then, his family was poor. Han Guofeng worked very hard to study and take the college entrance exam. But it seems that all the Han family's academic talent was concentrated on my wife. She was the kind of person who was very serious about everything, whether it was studying or working, but her grades were never very good."

Yu Dawei's frankness with his two older brothers was actually a way of giving Brother Duan a heads-up. It would be great if Han Guofeng could support a department in the future, but if he couldn't, then as he said today, this person is hardworking, but his abilities are still lacking.

"Some people are just naturally bad at absorbing knowledge." Duan Dahai leaned back in his chair and couldn't help but sigh. He thought of his own son, who was slow at learning, but thankfully he eventually managed to get into university.

It's like their ancestors' graves were emitting auspicious smoke.

"Han Guofeng isn't bad. I'll train him first. If it doesn't work out, I'll find someone more capable. He'll be a good support." Duan Dahai's words were a response to Yu Dawei's concerns.

The two looked at each other and smiled. Although neither of them said anything, they both understood what the other meant.

Yu Dawei didn't want to have any more entanglements with his child's maternal grandparents' family in this life, especially in business. He was most afraid that the things from his previous life would happen again. Putting aside whether the business would succeed or not, he would lose his family first.

All he wanted in his life was to do business cleanly and simply do what he had always wanted to do but had never been able to.

However, even without my help, it seems unlikely that my brother-in-law will sell his body on construction sites to support his two children's education.

There will also be money to pay for my future sister-in-law's medical treatment, so that her illness won't be delayed due to lack of money.

That's perfect. We can just wait and enjoy the wedding banquet for his eldest and second eldest sons.

"I think that's about it for today. If not, let's leave early." Boss Liang glanced at the courtyard inside the grain depot again, but no one came out. He was getting a little impatient.

If it weren't for Lao Duan and Dawei's sake, he wouldn't have come at all. There are plenty of young men in the rural villages. Why bother coming all the way here to find those unrealistic young men with high aspirations?
The kids in the village can just make up a plan and they'll be as excited as if they've been injected with chicken blood. They can even work month after month in other cities without feeling tired at all, and they never ask for leave.

After all, the money is real money, which can immediately ignite the deepest desires in a person's heart.

"Wait a little longer. There are still many people in the grain depot who haven't come for the interview yet." Duan Dahai was the first to speak up to stop them. He was entrusted with a task and he didn't want to cause any trouble and create a rift with Director Yu.

He now gets along very well with Factory Director Yu, much like Xiang Yu and Fan Zeng during the Qin and Han dynasties. Factory Director Yu not only has experienced management skills, but also has meticulous control over the products. With him around, the factory's management is always very stable.

"There are still nearly two-thirds of the people left, and a large portion of them have been eliminated. Is there anything else we need to do?" Yu Dawei asked this question while looking at Duan Dahai.

He was the main character in this project, while Yu Dawei and Lao Liang were more like supporting characters.

“Sigh, we can’t say anything to the leaders. We’ve done everything we could. But we can’t leave these people without a way to make a living.” Duan Dahai pondered. “Recently, a brick kiln was set up in Yingchun Town next door. They are in dire need of manpower. If these people regret it or try to cause trouble for the leaders, we can just use this to shut them up.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Dawei and Boss Liang both nodded in agreement. This wasn't out of any saintly compassion on their part; rather, it was to avoid future troubles.

"However, I think we should still give the brick kilns in Yingchun Town a heads-up beforehand." Boss Liang chuckled. "They're all cunning, lazy, and greedy scoundrels. Although brick kilns will take anyone, we still need to know their background."

“Yes, but we don’t accept just anyone.” Yu Dawei leaned back in his chair and squinted. “I don’t think it’s necessary to accept someone like Liu Liguo. He’s two-faced and treacherous. Who knows what kind of trouble he’ll cause if he goes to the brick kiln.”

“No problem.” Duan Dahai and Boss Liang exchanged a glance and nodded in unison in agreement with Yu Dawei’s suggestion.

As Boss Liang said before, Liu Liguo will definitely not be able to stay in Luhe Town in the future; there is absolutely no place for him here.

Now that Yu Dawei has made his stance clear, if he uses a few tricks on Lao Duan, he will definitely be squeezed out of Luhe Town in one or two years, or three to five years.

Some people, once they lose their support, will have all their flaws ferment in front of those around them, until everyone smells an indescribable stench about them.

Soon, it was time for the grain depot to close.

People came out one after another. Those who had been rejected in the interview wanted to try again, but Yu Dawei and his group rejected them all.

As for those who didn't have an interview, perhaps they're still on the same side as Liu Liguo, waiting for their monthly income to exceed three thousand.

In the office, Accountant Yang was organizing documents and casually put the completed application form into his leather briefcase. Just as he was about to leave, he heard someone call out to him from behind.

"Wait a minute." Han Jianjun was writing something on his desk with his head down. "Take out the application form before you leave."

"Why?" Accountant Yang's expression changed slightly, then she turned around and showed her anger. "Everyone else has already gone for interviews, and some of them are even earning two thousand yuan a month. Why can't I?"

"Because you're my nephew! You want to stand with Yu Dawei's gang and oppose me, just like them, right?!" Yang Jianjun slammed his pen on the table!

"Others may not know what I'm after, but you don't?! I wanted to work with Yu Da to get more benefits for everyone, but now it's like I'm blocking their path to wealth!" Yang Jianjun angrily slammed his fist on the table.

These past few days he hasn't been eating or sleeping well, just trying to get all the workers in order. But now! Those who got the job look at him like he's an enemy, and those who didn't get the job look at him even more so!
Although no one said it outright, they all seemed to have a lot of grievances against themselves! For whom? For what?

“Sigh, Third Uncle, you did nothing wrong, and no one said you did anything wrong. Nobody has any ill intentions towards you. They're just afraid you'll find out about the secret interview.” Accountant Yang put down his briefcase, came to Yang Jianjun, and poured him a glass of water from the thermos.

“You have managed the grain depot diligently over the years, and everyone has seen that. It’s just that times have changed, and people are more focused on immediate gains. Besides, you shouldn’t have listened to what Liu Liguo said.”

Accountant Yang is usually a man of few words, and he wishes everyone would treat him like he's invisible, which is related to his accounting profession.

He didn't want too much attention and just wanted to keep the accounts in peace. But even so, his third uncle kept trying to promote him and wanted to give him the title of head of the grain depot so that he could take his place and continue to protect the grain depot.

But he didn't like being told what to do; that's how he'd been told what to do for most of his life.

Although he had grievances against his third uncle, blood is thicker than water, and some things could be ignored. For example, the fact that Liu Liguo deliberately picked a fight with Yu Dawei and others had already gone viral among the people below.

But there were some things he couldn't ignore. His third uncle had lost a lot of weight in just three days, and looked as if he had been staying up all night for several nights in a row. He felt a little sorry for him.

"Liu Liguo is cunning, lazy, greedy, and slippery. He has some cleverness, but he only uses it for infighting and against his own people. Can't you see that?" Seeing that no one was in the office, Accountant Yang simply tore off the veil of pretense. "The day before yesterday, Liu Liguo took some people to see Yu Dawei. Do you know what he said?"

"Being arrogant is one thing, but they even treat the three bosses as equals, offering all sorts of unrealistic conditions. They insist on hiring all employees unconditionally, with salaries not less than two thousand, and these team leaders must earn over three thousand a month... Listen to that, is that something a human being would say?"

"They're in business, not charity. The grain depot is in this state because of incompetent management. What right do we have to expect them to take over everything?"

Accountant Yang's words were a wake-up call. Yang Jianjun had been living in a beautiful illusion he had created. The closer it got to the end, the more memories flooded his mind, and he kept thinking about how good all the workers at the grain depot were.

I have no recollection of who, through inaction and lack of responsibility, turned such a large grain depot into what it is today.

"Sigh." Yang Jianjun sat helplessly in his seat, looking at the list of personnel he was almost finished writing, and couldn't help but sigh again.

“Third Uncle, listen to your nephew’s advice. Come with me to apologize to Yu Dawei and the others. We all live in the same town and see each other all the time. You might bump into each other at the market. Wouldn’t that be awkward?” Accountant Yang bent down and looked at his third uncle. “I don’t know about others, but Yu Dawei is easy to talk to. Besides, I’m planning to work for him as an accountant, so he’ll give me some face.”

"Alright, I'll pack my things and go to the interview with you." Yang Jianjun stood up again, but at this moment he seemed to have all his strength drained away, numbly counting the things he usually brought home.

The two were among the last to emerge from the grain depot. There was no one left outside the canvas tent where the interviews were being held, and it was already dark. Yu Dawei and the other two were packing up their things to go back.

Yu Dawei was still lamenting that Accountant Yang hadn't come looking for him after all, when he saw Old Yang and Young Yang walk out of the grain depot side by side and head towards the three of them.

Xiao Yang was fine; once he saw Yu Dawei, his gaze didn't waver for a second. But Lao Yang, who had worked diligently at the grain depot his whole life, couldn't help but look back at the grain depot again as he left.

It was as if, after that one glance, the granary in Luhe Town would completely disappear.

(End of this chapter)