Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

The next day, early in the morning.

After having breakfast with Qin Jingru, Wang Feng sat at home for a while. When it was almost ten o'clock, he went to the steel rolling mill with Qin Jingru.

Upon arriving at the factory, Qin Jingru went to the third canteen, while Wang Feng headed straight for the factory director's office.

"Knock knock knock".

"Please come in."

As he entered the office, Li Huaide greeted him with a smile, "You're here, brother."

Wang Feng handed Li Huaide a Zhonghua cigarette, lit one for himself, took a deep drag, and then said:

"Brother Li, I heard that Soviet experts came to our factory?"

Li Huaide took the cigarette, lit it, and laughed, "Yes, it took me a lot of effort to invite the Soviet experts over so they could teach our factory's technicians. Otherwise, if our machines break down, we have to call the machine repair shop, which delays production."

As he spoke, Li Huaide took out a bicycle ticket from the drawer.

"Brother, could you please give this bicycle ticket to your wife? She's been a huge help to me this time. If it weren't for her delicious cooking, these Soviet experts wouldn't have been so easy to talk to."

"Brother, you have no idea how picky these Soviet experts are. A while ago, they were at the machine factory, and because the food there didn't suit their taste, they just slacked off all day. When they left, the technicians at the machine factory hadn't learned anything."

"Here's the thing, brother. These Soviet experts will be staying at the factory for ten days to half a month. Talk to your wife and ask her to work hard for you for a while. Once the Soviet experts leave, I'll see if there's any way to give her a raise."

Upon hearing this, Wang Feng waved his hand and laughed, "Brother Li, this is all Jingru's duty, so why would I ask for any extra reward?"

Li Huaide glared at Wang Feng, his tone very serious: "Take it."

Seeing this, Wang Feng had no choice but to accept the bicycle ticket.

Seeing Wang Feng accept the bicycle ticket, Li Huaide smiled and said, "Brother, you know my style of doing things. I reward those who have made contributions and punish those who have made mistakes. If I were like Director Yang before, only knowing how to talk the talk, who would work hard for you in the future? Don't you think so?"

Wang Feng nodded, agreeing with Li Huaide's words. This was also the charm of Li Huaide; he didn't mince words, and as long as someone made a contribution, they would receive real benefits.

"Brother Li, these Soviet experts have been staying at the factory for so long, and we have to entertain them every day. Can our factory provide that much food right now?"

Li Huaide sighed and said, "I'm also troubled by this matter now, brother. You'd better work harder on your end recently. The meat processing plant only delivers 1,000 catties of meat a month. We'll have to figure out how to provide the ingredients for entertaining the Soviet experts ourselves."

Wang Feng nodded: "Don't worry, Brother Li, I'll do my best. By the way, Brother Li, the reason I came to see you this time is to ask you for someone."

"Oh?"

Li Huaide was taken aback, then asked, "Who do you want?"

Wang Feng smiled and waved his hand: "Brother Li, it's like this. Yesterday, Jingru told me that a few new people came to their kitchen, one of whom is named Ma Hua. I know him. I heard that he has some connections in the countryside. Right now, our Purchasing Department is short of capable people, and I think Ma Hua would be quite suitable to come to our Purchasing Department."

Li Huaide laughed heartily: "Brother, no problem. It's a real waste to have such talent in the kitchen. Here's what I'll do: I'll have Secretary Zhang accompany you to the third canteen later."

Then, Li Huaide changed the subject: "Brother, I'm giving this guy to you. If Ma Hua is really capable, I'll immediately give him a permanent position and a raise. If he's not capable..."

Li Huaide stopped there.

Wang Feng smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, Brother Li. If Ma Hua isn't capable, just let him go back to the kitchen or the workshop. If he's really not up to the task, we can send him back to the kitchen or the workshop."

"By the way, Brother Li, there was another guy named Chen Dabao who came with Ma Hua yesterday. I heard from Jingru that on his first day of work, Chen Dabao was already trying to shirk his responsibilities and even questioned her work. I don't think he's suitable for the kitchen. How about we transfer him to the foundry workshop to train him?"

Upon hearing this, Li Huaide's face darkened: "He dares to question his sister-in-law's work on his first day? I'll have my secretary transfer him to the foundry workshop later. He's really gone too far."

"Don't worry, brother. I'll talk to the director of the foundry workshop later and make sure to give Chen Dabao a good workout."

"Hehe, thank you, Brother Li. I just received some mountain products from the countryside yesterday. I was in such a hurry to get to the factory that I haven't handed them over to the logistics department yet. I'll have to get back to work now."

"Okay, wait in your office for a moment, I'll call my secretary over right away."

Wang Feng nodded and waited in the office.

Secretary Zhang received Li Huaide's call and quickly arrived at the office.

Li Huaide gave Secretary Zhang a few instructions, and then Wang Feng walked towards the third canteen with Secretary Zhang.

The two arrived at the entrance of the third canteen, where Director Zhu was already waiting for them.

Director Zhu had received a call from Li Huaide earlier and knew what it was about. The three of them greeted each other and then went to the kitchen of the third canteen together.

Upon arriving at the kitchen, Director Zhu said to Qin Jingru, "Jingru, where are Ma Hua and Chen Dabao? Go and call them over for me."

Qin Jingru looked at Wang Feng, and Wang Feng nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"Okay, I'll go get them right away."

Qin Jingru agreed and then found Liu Lan and asked, "Sister Lan, where are Ma Hua and Fatty? I didn't see them in the kitchen."

Liu Lan smiled slightly, pointed to the cafeteria hall, and explained, "Those people? I arranged for them to wipe the tables. Aren't they outside?"

Qin Jingru looked towards the hall and, sure enough, saw Ma Hua and Chen Dabao wiping tables in the cafeteria. Ma Hua was alright, wiping the tables quite diligently, but the fat guy was not so good. He would look around after wiping one table, clearly trying to slack off.

"Sister Lan, go and call them over. Director Zhu is looking for them."

"become."

Soon, Ma Hua and the fat man arrived at the kitchen.

When Director Zhu saw Ma Hua and Chen Dabao, he pointed at Wang Feng and said, "Ma Hua, from now on, you don't need to work in the kitchen anymore. This is Wang Feng, the deputy head of the third purchasing department. You will be working in the third purchasing department from now on."

Upon hearing this, Ma Hua quickly nodded: "Yes, thank you, Director Zhu, thank you, Section Chief Wang."

Director Zhu then looked at Chen Dabao and pointed to Secretary Zhang, saying, "Chen Dabao, this is Director Li's secretary. From now on, you don't need to work in the kitchen anymore. I heard you're quite strong, so you'll work in the foundry workshop from now on. Go with Secretary Zhang to the foundry workshop now."

The fat man thought he had also been transferred to the purchasing department, and he was happy about it. After all, the purchasing department was a lucrative job with a lot of freedom, and it was much more promising than staying in the kitchen. But he didn't expect to be transferred to the foundry workshop, which made his heart sink to the bottom.