1994: Starting with unpaid leave

At the breakfast stall in front of the Hecheng Fine Weaving Factory, steaming buns were steaming in the steamer.

Groups of workers in overalls surrounded the boss, holding up their banknotes, wanting to buy a hot breakfast.

Since the factory closed the canteen in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency, more and more people are coming here for breakfast.

"No, no... This is too much! The money spent could buy a pound of eggs!"

"Honey, don't worry, you can eat! You're not eating alone now!"

Dong Jianguo waved his hand and put the meat bun in front of him into the bowl and plate in front of Zhou Xiuyun.

The breakfast stalls in 94 were really cheap.

Three meat buns with thin skin and generous filling, bursting with oil with every bite, cost only one yuan; a steaming bowl of savory tofu pudding with gravy is only two mao.

Dong Jianguo, who brought his wife here for breakfast, was naturally generous and ordered six large meat buns and two bowls of tofu pudding for the two of them.

Zhou Xiuyun swallowed hard, but still couldn't help muttering to herself:

"But we don't have enough money. I'm not even sure if I'll get paid on time this month, and now you're on unpaid leave..."

Before the accident, the two, like most couples around them, were factory workers.

Dong Jianguo is an air conditioning operator in the factory's power workshop, earning 136.5 yuan a month. Zhou Xiuyun, as a quality inspector, earns less, but still 116 yuan a month.

If Dong Jianguo hadn't developed a gambling habit, this money would not only be enough for their daily expenses, but would also have some surplus.

However, as the factory's profits declined, it was often unable to start operations.

That's why Dong Jianguo, who was often idle, was dragged to the card table by his cronies, and as a result, after paying the fine, his family only had a dozen or so yuan left...

"Don't worry, honey! I'll take care of everything! Money won't be a problem for our family anytime soon!"

Dong Jianguo thumped his chest loudly.

"You're not expecting to win back your money at the mahjong table, are you?"

Zhou Xiuyun blinked her peach blossom eyes, her heart pounding again.

"Give me a kiss later, and I promise I'll never touch mahjong again in my life!"

"Ugh! How annoying!"

Zhou Xiuyun's face instantly turned crimson.

She looked around and saw that the people around her were either buying breakfast or walking into the factory. No one was paying attention to their conversation. She breathed a sigh of relief and quietly started eating her meat bun.

Dong Jianguo chuckled, picked up a meat bun, and ate it while thinking about what to do next.

In the autumn of 1994, although the wave of layoffs had not yet officially arrived, as the saying goes, "ducks are the first to know when the river warms in spring," and many factories had already begun to feel the grim situation.

The fine knitting and weaving factory where the two worked was like that.

Although the company has not yet started arranging for employees to be laid off, it has already begun to default on wages.

However, from the perspective of someone who has been through it all, this era is also full of opportunities.

Of course, the prerequisite is having capital or connections.

If none of those are available... then the only option left is to earn a living through hard work.

Dong Jianguo watched the busy breakfast stall owner and thought to himself.

Just then, a strange, drawn-out tone came from behind:

"Hey, isn't this our factory's gambling god?! Jianguo, want a piece of chocolate?!"

Dong Jianguo turned his head and saw a middle-aged man wearing glasses pushing a bicycle in front of the breakfast stall.

The newcomer was not tall, his glasses were not thick, and his not-so-long hair was parted in a three-seven split. He had a cold smile on his face and at first glance, he looked a bit like a translator in an old black and white film.

Having just been reborn, Dong Jianguo was still adjusting. For a moment, the person seemed familiar, but he couldn't recall their name.

"What are you looking at? You're pretending not to know me after just one day of suspension?! I'm the one who stamped your leave-without-pay notice!"

Dong Jianguo was stunned for a moment before he realized that the person in front of him was Wang Gaofei, the factory office secretary.

Before Dong Jianguo and Zhou Xiuyun officially got married, Wang Gaofei had also pursued Zhou Xiuyun.

Unfortunately, apart from his relatively stiff penholder, his appearance was rather... As a result, he was defeated by Dong Jianguo, who was known as the "Little Dawn of the Fine Weaving Factory".

Upon hearing the other party bring up his unpaid leave, Dong Jianguo frowned:

"Why do you seem so happy about my unpaid leave?"

"Of course! Director Gao originally thought he would give you a chance to reform, but I suggested that he be strict this time."

"I'm so glad that Director Gao listened to the voice of justice!"

After Wang Gaofei finished speaking, he snorted coldly and turned his gaze to Zhou Xiuyun, who was sitting opposite Dong Jianguo.

When he saw Zhou Xiuyun glaring angrily at him, Wang Gaofei snorted coldly again, then mounted his old bicycle and rode towards the factory gate.

"This is outrageous! How could he do this! This is settling a personal score!" Zhou Xiuyun gritted her teeth.

"Forget it, don't get angry with this kind of person, it's not worth it."

Dong Jianguo chuckled and patted his wife's hand.

Is the status of a worker really that valuable?

If he hadn't experienced that era, Dong Jianguo would certainly have given a positive answer.

But having witnessed a massive wave of layoffs firsthand, the identity of a low-level worker... is something I'd rather not have.

Zhou Xiuyun didn't understand why her husband was acting as if nothing had happened.

If she had to speak up, it would probably be because Wang Gaofei had pursued her in the past, and she was worried that pursuing the matter would embarrass her?

She ate her steamed bun while secretly glancing at Dong Jianguo.

His face was still that handsome face, but...

How come losing her job has made her more composed and confident?

After finishing breakfast, Dong Jianguo had only 10 yuan and 1 jiao left in his hand after paying the bill.

However, he still cheerfully escorted Zhou Xiuyun to the factory gate.

"Go ahead, don't overthink it. I'll come pick you up tonight!"

"Um."

Zhou Xiuyun nodded.

Seeing Dong Jianguo turn to leave, she hesitated for a moment, disregarding the people coming and going, and stamped her foot to stop him: "Wait."

Dong Jianguo stopped and turned around, instantly feeling a warm sensation on his face.

*Smack!*

"Oh~~"

Upon seeing someone setting up this place at the factory gate, the workers who were preparing to enter the factory immediately burst into laughter and whistles.

Zhou Xiuyun's face was already flushed. She didn't even have the courage to look at Dong Jianguo, and just kept her head down, talking to herself:

"You promised me you wouldn't play mahjong!"

After saying that, he ran into the factory amidst the commotion of the surrounding workers.

As he watched her figure gradually disappear, Dong Jianguo couldn't help but smile.

How come I never realized my wife could be so adorable?!

But cuteness can't be used as a currency.

As the man of the house, the most important thing is to find a way to make money as soon as possible.

Just as I was about to walk to my parents' house to borrow some start-up capital, I looked up and paused for a moment.

Because a familiar figure was walking towards the factory gate with a sullen expression.

Upon seeing Dong Jianguo, the other party gave an awkward smile.

"Brother Jianguo, what brings you to the factory?"

"Ah, I'm dropping my wife off at work. Erzhuzi, weren't you also on unpaid leave? What are you doing here?"

When I saw this guy take out two boxes of baijiu from behind his back, I immediately understood.

I guess this kid is unwilling to be suspended without pay just because he played mahjong, so he wants to come to the factory to socialize and maybe win some 'leniency'.

"Brother Jianguo, you know my dad's a veteran at this factory. When he heard I was suspended without pay, he almost whipped me with a belt last night!"

"He said if I don't try to get Director Gao to make an exception, he'll beat me to death when I get home tonight..."

Dong Jianguo chuckled upon hearing this: "Is this your method? To bring two bottles of wine and knock on the factory manager's office door during the day? Then point to the back door and ask to get back to work?"

Erzhuzi shook his head like a rattle drum:

"How could that be! Do you think I'm that kind of person?! I was just thinking of getting Director Gao to pay me the three months' wages the factory owes me first. Taking what's rightfully mine, how can that be considered using connections?!"

Dong Jianguo slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing: That's right!

Isn't the start-up capital readily available?