1994: Starting with unpaid leave

At 5 p.m., Dong Jianguo was waiting at the factory gate as usual.

When Xiuyun came out, she was visibly downcast.

"What's wrong, honey? Who upset you?"

Xiuyun shook her head and whispered the bad news she had just received that afternoon:

"The factory issued a notice that there haven't been many orders lately, and our work schedule for quality inspectors has been changed to one day on, two days off. We'll have to stay home for the next two days."

Dong Jianguo chuckled: "Isn't this a good thing? It's perfect since you're becoming increasingly inconvenient, so you can rest more at home."

"What's so great about it? Working hours are reduced, but so is my salary... My salary wasn't much to begin with, and now it'll be even lower..."

Seeing Xiuyun pouting with grievance, Dong Jianguo smiled and hugged her, comforting her, "It's okay, you still have me, I'll take care of you!"

Xiuyun pouted and muttered under her breath, "Hmph, all he knows is how to sweet-talk me!"

She knew that her family was not well-off.

Although the eggs brought in a good amount of money, the farm still needed to repay the outstanding debts.

In addition, Dong Jianguo also told her last night that he planned to send some gifts to the farm's managers in order to secure more goods.

As for how much money to give as a gift, Dong Jianguo told her bluntly that the profits from the past two days probably wouldn't be enough, and he would have to put some money into it out of his own pocket.

Although she didn't understand Dong Jianguo's decision, she still supported it unconditionally.

But now that I've had my salary cut, I can't help feeling a bit down.

Dong Jianguo affectionately reached out and pinched his wife's cheek:

"Who said that? I even stewed a whole hen for you at home! Come on, let's go home and have some chicken!"

Hearing that Dong Jianguo had personally prepared chicken soup for her, Xiuyun felt it was a bit too extravagant, but she still obediently sat on the back of the bicycle.

Just as Dong Jianguo was about to ride off on his old-fashioned bicycle, someone suddenly grabbed the handlebars.

Looking up, he saw Zhao Ruidong's henchman, Ma Qiang.

Seeing the other person's grinning face, Dong Jianguo couldn't help but tease, "Wait, why do I see you at the factory gate every day? What are you doing here, loafing around?!"

"Jianguo, what are you saying? I just heard you were selling eggs and came to say hello! How's business? How much are you making?"

Ma Qiang's tone had an inexplicable air of arrogance.

This morning, Dong Jianguo and Erzhuzi caused a scene at the Wufu Market's morning market, which was witnessed by many workers in the factory.

After a day of spreading the word, the story of Xiao Liming from the textile factory going into business selling eggs had spread throughout the factory.

Although the status of workers is not as good as before, they still feel superior to those street vendors who earn a meager living by working hard on the roadside.

Therefore, Zhao Ruidong specially sent Ma Qiang to find out what was going on with Dong Jianguo.

Dong Jianguo sighed, "What's the point of making money? This morning the manager almost overturned my stall!"

"Really?! Which administrator is so arrogant?! Didn't you mention our Brother Rui Dong's name to him?!"

It's true that Zhao Ruidong is the son of the former director of the textile factory, but once he leaves the factory, who cares about him?

Dong Jianguo almost burst out laughing.

Ma Qiang looked up:

"Hey, what are you laughing at? Dong-ge is pretty close with the people at the Wufu Market Management Office. We even had a big drinking session together the other day!"

Dong Jianguo smiled and shook his head:

"Oh dear, this is my fault. I forgot in my haste. Next time I'll just put up a banner saying that Brother Dong from the textile factory is my brother."

Ma Qiang sensed that Dong Jianguo was being sarcastic, so he reached out and patted him on the shoulder: "Jianguo, don't be upset, Brother Dong is just trying to be helpful."

"If you're having trouble, just tell your buddies. Why bother being chased around like a dog in the market?!"

"Brother Dong has spoken. If you want to go back to work at the factory, just tell him, and he can put in a good word for you. For this amount, I guarantee you can get back to your original position."

As he spoke, he waved the five fingers of his right hand in front of Dong Jianguo.

"Fifty?! Brother Dong is really generous!"

"What are you thinking! It's five hundred! Brother Dong said it, this matter can be settled for just 500 yuan, and the previous punishment will be wiped clean!"

Dong Jianguo smiled and looked at Ma Qiang with the gaze one would give someone a fool:

"You mean, I went to Zhao Ruidong's place to play cards, got fined by the security team, and had my salary suspended from the factory? Then I have to pay Zhao Ruidong another 500 yuan before I can go back to work?"

"yes!"

"Damn it! That bastard Zhao Ruidong not only scammed people but also brought them back to scam him?!"

The sudden change of attitude left Ma Qiang stunned and standing there dumbfounded.

Dong Jianguo ignored Ma Qiang, stepped on the pedal, and rode away from the factory gate with Xiuyun on his bicycle.

After he had walked away, Zhao Ruidong led Liu Xiangdong and the others over:

"Qiangzi, what did he say?"

He said, "Dong-ge, you're a bastard, and you keep ripping people off..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ruidong immediately flew into a rage!

He was already in a bad mood today.

Yesterday, I sent someone to find the workers who had been punished by the factory, but none of them wanted to come here anymore.

Without these people coming to play cards, my income has plummeted.

Now, having been exposed by Dong Jianguo's insults and scathing remarks, Ma Qiang was even more enraged and slapped him across the face.

"Damn it, he said that to me, and you just let him go?!"

Ma Qiang, covering his slapped face, explained aggrievedly, "Brother Dong, he was riding a bicycle, I couldn't catch up..."

Zhao Ruidong was furious:

"You fucking piece of trash!"

Ma Qiang covered his face and retreated to the side, looking dejected.

Liu Xiangdong chimed in, "Brother Ruidong, there's no need to get angry with your own brother. He's just a foul-mouthed guy like Dong Jianguo; we've got plenty of ways to deal with him!"

Zhao Ruidong asked curiously, "Hmm? What method?!"

Liu Xiangdong smiled mysteriously, shaking his head as he said:

"Didn't everyone in our factory say that Dong Jianguo and Erzhuzi are now selling eggs at the morning market in Wufu Market?"

"Let's go find Liu Da Nao from the market management office later. We can play mahjong and have a few drinks with them tonight, and then have Liu Da Nao and his men teach him a lesson first thing tomorrow morning, right?!"

"We'll just sit back and watch the show, and then jump in to mediate when Dong Jianguo can't take it anymore."

"You're going to mediate? I'll help him mediate?!" Zhao Ruidong narrowed his eyes, his expression shifting between light and dark.

Liu Xiangdong nodded: "That's right. Think about it, Dong Jianguo already made enemies with the market administrators this morning. If he gets punished tomorrow morning, no one can be blamed."

"When he's been beaten to a pulp, then you should step in and save him, Brother Ruidong. That little brat Dong Jianguo will be thanking you for eight generations!"

"Damn, why do I feel like you're praising me or insulting me!"

"Oh, that's not important. The key is that getting Dong Jianguo to come here to play cards and give us money is just a matter of a word from you!"

"Alright, let's do it this way! We can't organize a party anytime soon anyway, so let's just have some fun and mess with him!"

Seeing Zhao Ruidong nod, the group of thugs behind him echoed, "Yeah, kill him!"