Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

The group of people smoked a pack of cigarettes in the office, and Wang Feng was also planning this year's purchasing routes and techniques for them. Before they knew it, it was 11 a.m.

Just then, a purchasing agent from the Second Purchasing Section walked in and said, "Section Chief Wang, Factory Director Li just called and asked you to go to the factory director's office."

Upon hearing this, Wang Feng nodded: "Alright, then I'll go find Director Li first. You guys go do whatever you need to do."

With that, Wang Feng walked out of the office and headed towards the factory director's office.

"Knock knock knock".

"Please come in."

Wang Feng pushed open the office door and walked in. Upon seeing Wang Feng, Li Huaide quickly put down the documents in his hand and smiled:

"Here you are, bro."

Wang Feng took out a Zhonghua cigarette and handed it to him, then lit one for himself and asked:

"Brother Li, I heard you were looking for me?"

Li Huaide gestured for him to sit down and say, "Let's talk about it after we sit down."

Wang Feng sat down opposite Li Huaide, who then excitedly said:

"Brother, great news! This morning I went to a meeting at the Ministry of Metallurgy, and they said our steel rolling mill performed well last year and will be expanded this year. Brother, isn't that fantastic news?"

Wang Feng nodded and smiled, "That's indeed good news. I'll congratulate Brother Li in advance."

"Hahaha."

Li Huaide laughed heartily: "Brother, our factory was able to expand its workforce thanks in part to you. I, Brother Li, will never forget you."

Wang Feng was taken aback and asked, puzzled, "Brother Li, this has nothing to do with me, right? I'm just a lowly deputy head of the purchasing department. How could this credit not go to me?"

Li Huaide took a deep drag on his cigarette and chuckled, "Brother, do you still remember the pound of tea you gave me back then?"

Wang Feng nodded, then shook his head: "I remember, but Brother Li, this tea is really gone. I was lucky enough to buy it on the black market before, but I've been there many times since, and I've never seen this kind of tea again."

Li Huaide smiled and waved his hand: "No, no, no, brother, you misunderstood. I didn't ask you for tea. After you gave me a pound of tea before, I tasted it and then gave it to my father-in-law to help me pull some strings. If it weren't for that pound of tea, I don't know when I would have been able to overthrow Director Yang and take his place."

"Brother, you have no idea, this tea is really good. The other day I went to my father-in-law's house to pay my respects for the New Year, and he told me that he gave a pound of tea to a very important person. And look, it cured that person's insomnia that he had suffered from for many years. See, isn't this a benefit? As long as we do a good job, he will definitely promote you when the opportunity arises."

Upon hearing this, Wang Feng's lips twitched. He hadn't expected that just one pound of tea would have such a strong butterfly effect.

First, Director Yang stepped down a few years early, and Li Huaide took over. Now, the steel rolling mill is expanding ahead of schedule. Li Huaide has really risen to prominence with just a pound of tea.

"Brother Li, did the higher-ups say how many more people will be recruited this time?"

Li Huaide held up three fingers: "It's been decided from above. We'll expand recruitment in three steps. First, we'll expand our factory and recruit 2,000 people, then 3,000, and then 5,000, for a total of 10,000 people."

"Brother, tell Brother Li the truth, do you want to pursue a career in politics? Just say the word, and I'll first promote you to section chief, then recommend you for Party membership, and then find a way to promote you to division chief. You can go to whichever department you want."

"Brother, let me tell you, with this factory expansion, several departments have been promoted out of nowhere, from section chief to deputy director level. If you're interested in a career in politics, this is a great opportunity."

Wang Feng shook his head and gave a wry smile: "Brother Li, you know me. I just want to be a carefree person. I don't want to get involved in all your shady dealings. Jingru and I have such high salaries now, and I can earn quite a bit of extra money every month. We don't lack food or drink, so why should I bother with all that?"

Upon hearing Wang Feng's answer, Li Huaide showed a look of disappointment and frustration.

"Brother, you... sigh, such a good opportunity, what can I say to you? Others would be begging for this."

With a sigh, Li Huaide continued, "Fine, fine. Since you really don't want a career in politics, I won't try to persuade you anymore. Here's what I'll do: I'll give you ten permanent positions. You can decide what to do with them."

"Brother Li, I'm taking so many job openings all by myself, won't that cause any problems?" Wang Feng asked worriedly.

Li Huaide laughed heartily: "Brother, you don't know this, do you? This time, our steel rolling mill is expanding, and all the cadres in our factory will be allocated some work positions. These are all hidden benefits, so don't worry."

Upon hearing Li Huaide's explanation, Wang Feng's lips twitched. This hidden benefit was too much! Ten permanent positions were just a casual offer. Now, each job position was selling for over eight or nine hundred yuan. If he sold these ten job positions, wouldn't he instantly get eight or nine thousand yuan? This would definitely be getting rich overnight.

"Brother Li, does each deputy section chief have ten positions available for full-time employees?" Wang Feng asked.

Li Huaide rolled his eyes and said speechlessly, "Brother, what are you thinking? There are usually only two spots for deputy section chiefs, four for section chiefs, and even I only have twenty spots. The extra eight spots for you are privately given to you by your brother Li."

"Well."

Wang Feng smiled awkwardly. He thought there were ten spots for deputy section chiefs, but he didn't expect Li Huaide to be so generous and give him eight spots privately. If you were to calculate the cost, that would be about seven thousand yuan.

Wang Feng thought about it and realized that he wouldn't be able to use all ten job openings, and he wasn't short of money.

He planned to give three job openings to the old village chief of Lujia Village, and two more to the two sons of the second uncle of Qinjiazhuang. After all, the second uncle, Qin Jingru, was quite good, and he wouldn't be stingy if he could lend a hand. However, this would only be a one-time thing, and if they wanted to get carried away, then he would be sorry.

As for the old village chief of Lujia Village, it's because the old village chief had done Lu Banxia a favor. When Lu Banxia first came to Lujia Village, if it weren't for the old village chief's occasional help, Lu Banxia might have starved to death.

Now that Lu Banxia is his woman, he has to repay this debt of gratitude.

The old village chief's family happened to have three sons, and giving him three job openings was a way of changing their fate.

Thinking of this, Wang Feng said seriously, "Brother Li, I only need five job openings. You know I'm not short of money. I plan to give these five job openings to relatives and friends."

"Okay, but our factory won't be able to expand recruitment until next month. You can come to me then to get your job introduction letter."

Li Huaide knew that Wang Feng was rich, and very rich, so he didn't try to persuade him any further.

"Okay, thank you, Brother Li."