1994: Starting with unpaid leave

The middle-aged team leader coughed lightly twice, silencing his two colleagues:

"Accountant Tian, ​​your factory offers good benefits. No wonder so many people want to work there."

Hearing the other party's probing, Tian Lina smiled slightly, showing no fear whatsoever:

"This is nothing! Our factory manager is a man of great vision and compassion!"

"Making sure these few people are well-fed and watered is nothing. He wants our Crane's Taste to be famous nationwide!"

"Really? Now that you mention it, I'm becoming more and more curious about what kind of person Director Dong really is."

A middle-aged man, with a slight smile, exudes elegance.

The group chatted for a while longer, during which time two more Liaoning-plated trucks loaded with goods drove away from outside the factory gate.

"They used to say that when a train whistles, gold pours in. Seeing these freight trains coming and going, your factory must be making quite a bit of money, right?"

When the topic of money came up again, Tian Lina couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

She knew that reporters interviewing her was a good thing, but she was also worried that these reporters would take advantage of the opportunity to promote the factory to extort money or bribes.

Back when I worked at the warp knitting factory, reporters would receive a writing fee or travel allowance when they published positive news about the factory.

Every now and then, they'll choose upscale restaurants for a meal and drinks.

As the cashier of the warp knitting factory at the time, she couldn't stand it.

The same is true now.

Although the factory is nominally Dong Jianguo's, it ultimately belongs to my good friend Xiuyun. I must protect my sister's wallet!

Thinking this through, she carefully chose her words:

"Actually, it's not as profitable as you think. The distributors knew we would be on holiday during this period, so they just stocked up on some goods in advance."

"It looks like you're making money, but in reality, it's just borrowing from the holiday period, so theoretically it's about the same as before."

The male reporter clearly sensed the other party's wariness, so he smiled politely and simply stopped talking.

For a moment, the air in the room became somewhat awkward.

Fortunately, the screech of brakes outside the window suddenly broke the awkward silence.

Seeing the familiar red car, Tian Lina couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

I've done all I can; the rest is up to Tung Chee-hwa.

Dong Jianguo jumped off the vehicle and immediately glanced at the pork on the tricycle, his brows furrowing slightly.

"This pig is clearly mostly fat, with far more fat than lean. If we get the fat ones, how are we supposed to feed our families?!"

The meat deliveryman recognized Dong Jianguo and stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

After all, the pig had already been slaughtered, and he didn't know whether it was fat or thin before he killed it.

If this guy refuses to pay and asks for a refund, that would be troublesome.

Several female workers waiting to receive their share of the meat gathered around and pulled Dong Jianguo aside:

"Factory manager, it's alright. Fat ones are even better. We can render lard ourselves when we get home, so don't complain."

"Exactly! The leftover pork cracklings are delicious too!"

They didn't treat Dong Jianguo as an outsider. They were all older women from the warp knitting factory. Although they respected Dong Jianguo as the factory director, they weren't afraid of him. The tone they used when talking to him was like that of an older sister talking to her own younger brother.

When Tian Lina saw Dong Jianguo being refuted by several female workers, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.

She was about to explain on Dong Jianguo's behalf that the factory usually didn't operate like this.

Unexpectedly, the reporter leading the group looked out the window with a hint of envy.

"I never imagined that the relationship between superiors and subordinates in your factory would be so harmonious."

Tian Lina was taken aback:

Is this how you journalists view issues?

Shouldn't a harmonious superior-subordinate relationship mean that subordinates treat whatever the leader says as gospel?

Dong Jianguo, who was in the courtyard, was also taken aback.

Lately, everything has been going smoothly for him, and his comfortable life has almost made him forget that he was reborn from an era of plenty where he never had to worry about food or drink.

Back then, doctors said we shouldn't eat lard because it could easily lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

But right now, it doesn't matter what kind of oil it is, as long as you can actually eat it, that's what matters!

Xiuyun, who got off the bus behind him, nudged his waist:

"Jianguo, how about we give everyone some more oil?"

"The Lunar New Year is just two days away, let's wish everyone a happy new year!"

Dong Jianguo nodded:

"Okay, we'll do as my wife says! I'll have Erzhu drive to buy it later! Ten catties of soybean oil each!"

Upon hearing that there was another benefit, the female workers in the courtyard burst into cheers!

Upon hearing this, the young male reporter couldn't help but let out a mournful cry.

This benefit... is miles behind!

"Jianguo, Xiuyun is here!"

Tian Lina couldn't stand seeing Dong Jianguo handing out "benefits" to everyone as soon as he got off the car, so she opened the gatehouse door and waved enthusiastically at the couple.

Let everyone continue dividing the pork.

Xiuyun went into the house first, and Jianguo went back to the car to wake up Zhang Cunyi, who had already taken a nap, before entering the gatehouse.

"Hello, Director Dong, I am Zou Menglong, editor of the business section of Hecheng Evening News. These are our reporter Liu Wenli and photographer Su Yuan."

"I'm sorry, I had some things to take care of today. I've kept you all waiting!"

Dong Jianguo smiled and extended his hand to shake hands with each of the three people.

Xiuyun, who came in behind him, followed suit, while Zhang Cunyi, who had just woken up, was still dazed and didn't know what to do.

Dong Jianguo pointed to the secondhand sofa he had brought from his own bungalow: "The conditions are simple, let's all sit down and talk!"

Zou Menglong smiled and nodded, then sat down with Liu Wenli.

Su Yuan stood outside and took out a camera from his backpack.

"Director Dong, my colleague might be taking some interview footage later, which will be included in the report."

Do you have any photo materials?

That means the section you're on isn't some obscure, hidden corner.

Dong Jianguo nodded happily and asked Tian Lina to prepare a chair for Xiao Su so that she could sit down and rest after the photos were taken.

He then let Xiuyun sit in the boss's chair, pulled up two plastic stools for himself, gave one to Zhang Cunyi, and then sat down opposite the two reporters with an air of superiority.

"Director Dong, to be honest, although this is my first time visiting your factory, I have tasted your products more than once."

"As you know, the nature of our work as journalists requires us to travel frequently."

"When I first tasted your factory's pickled chicken feet, I was really curious: what kind of person could research something so delicious and even find a way to sell it on trains? Seeing it today, I'm truly impressed by your talent!"

"What experiences led you to start your own business and achieve such success?"