Cheng Hui smiled, understanding everyone’s thoughts, and continued: “Tomorrow, two different people will accompany me on a business trip. From now on, everyone will take turns going into the city with me… on business trips.”
The others understood, and their expressions immediately relaxed, shifting from petrified to radiant.
“Director, you must be thirsty! Let me pour you some water!”
“Director, your clothes are too thin. I have a sheepskin coat at home—I’ll bring it for you tomorrow!”
“Director, you must be tired from walking all day! Let me massage your legs!” said Aunt Qiao, another female worker in the factory.
Aunt Qiao was in her early fifties and should have been nearing retirement. However, she had a habit of spreading gossip—claiming so-and-so was involved with so-and-so.
Her rumors had caused nearly every factory employee to argue at home, and one couple had even divorced over it!
Some of the rumors were baseless, while others were purely her own speculations!
How absurd was that?
She had provoked collective anger and was eventually transferred here.
Cheng Hui avoided offending such people, fearing they might spread false stories about her behind her back….
She smiled and declined Aunt Qiao’s offer to massage her legs: “I heard you injured your leg while rescuing collective property back in the day? Aunt Qiao, you’re a hero of the people! Please don’t bend over—have a seat. Xiao Zhi, bring Aunt Qiao a stool.”
Now, Gao Zhi obeyed Cheng Hui without question and immediately fetched a stool for Aunt Qiao.
Apart from Cheng Hui and Director Guo, everyone else in the room was standing.
Aunt Qiao was deeply moved, her eyes reddening.
What moved her even more was that Cheng Hui knew about her past achievements!
Others no longer cared, yet Cheng Hui called her a hero… How heartwarming was that?
From then on, she would only speak well of Director Cheng!
Cheng Hui then asked Wang Hui to bring out all ten bottles of Maotai and place them on the table.
“As I said, this year, our factory’s benefits will be the best in the county. Can you find another factory that gives out Feitian Maotai as a benefit?” Cheng Hui said with a laugh.
The others, however, couldn’t bring themselves to laugh.
Guo Dajun said, “It’s a great idea, but it’s too extravagant and completely unnecessary…. We’re all used to regular cheap liquor—we can’t get used to anything else!”
He couldn’t bring himself to say the words “can’t afford it”—it was too embarrassing.
Cheng Hui smiled. She had been waiting for this very remark!
“They’re already bought and can’t be returned. How about this: I’ll take all of them. Deduct 80 yuan from my salary,” Cheng Hui said.
Everyone’s expressions relaxed again, though they felt somewhat embarrassed.
Director Cheng had the best intentions! She wanted to give them the finest things!
She must be so accustomed to luxury that she didn’t think twice about Maotai costing eight yuan a bottle, while they were too unsophisticated to dare drink it.
“Maybe…” Li Yan gritted his teeth, about to speak up.
Cheng Hui raised her hand: “It’s settled. I was inconsiderate. Next time, I’ll get everyone some more suitable liquor as a benefit.”
Everyone was instantly overwhelmed with gratitude.
Cheng Hui added, “Once the kraft paper is bought, this time, only cut ten large packages. Make the rest into small packages.”
Tao Juan immediately said, “Is that really a good idea? The large packages sell well too. With your skills, you could sell them off quickly. Although the small packages also sell well, selling them one by one is too exhausting. I’m worried you’ll overwork yourself.”
Today, Cheng Hui had done all the selling herself and had genuinely looked pale from exhaustion. Tao Juan was afraid such an important director might collapse from overwork… which would halt production entirely!
Cheng Hui smiled and said, “I know you mean well, thank you, but this approach is most beneficial for our factory’s development. You’ll understand in a few days.”
With a single glance from her, those who wanted to ask why immediately fell silent.
Guo Dajun blinked, desperately memorizing the look Cheng Hui had just given! He’d find an opportunity to use it himself later!
The people sent to buy sugar and oil returned first.
Cheng Hui and Gao Zhi then entered the workshop to continue production.
Someone wanted to go in and help—hadn’t Gao Zhi mastered the skill by now?
Cheng Hui turned back and said, “The next few batches of Weifeng Cake are crucial for establishing our reputation. Let’s handle them ourselves for now. Once the new raw materials are approved and we need mass production, I’ll teach everyone together. For now, please go fold the packaging.”
Everyone readily agreed.
With Cheng Hui’s assistance, the next three batches were baked much faster.
Cheng Hui then busied herself writing on the packaging bags—over 400 bags took more than an hour, leaving her wrist sore.
This issue needed solving tomorrow; it was too time-consuming otherwise.
The sky had turned pitch black, past eight o’clock, yet everyone was bustling with activity, showing no signs of clocking out.
Suddenly, the sound of a horse cart echoed from outside the yard.
Cheng Hui paused, then smiled. “That must be Director Sun.”
She went out to greet her.
It was indeed Sun Tiemei.
“You haven’t returned so late—I thought something had happened! You scared me to death!” Sun Tiemei exclaimed upon seeing her.
Cheng Hui’s smile sweetened as she welcomed Sun Tiemei inside, personally preparing a bowl of egg water for her!
The others watching didn’t feel the slightest resentment.
They’d enjoyed Cheng Hui’s Geda Soup for dinner again, each with a fried egg! It was incredibly delicious.
Sun Tiemei glanced at the egg water, then at the sincere expressions around her, and felt considerably comforted.
Her mind, somewhat cleared by the day’s travels, grew dizzy again—she’d need to head out earlier and farther tomorrow!
“We’ve been busy with production and just finished. Your timing is perfect to take us home,” Cheng Hui said with a laugh.
Sun Tiemei hesitated, then had a sudden inspiration. “How about I deliver eggs twice a day from now on? Once in the morning and once in the evening.”
That way, she could give Cheng Hui rides both ways.
“That would be wonderful! Thank you, Auntie!” Cheng Hui naturally didn’t refuse and accepted immediately.
She then asked, “How many eggs did you collect today? I need to plan tomorrow’s production schedule.”
At this, Sun Tiemei looked somewhat embarrassed. “Not many, just over 130. It’s cold, so the hens aren’t laying much. Many families have slaughtered theirs, waiting to eat them for the New Year.”
That’s how it was in the Northeast—hens that didn’t lay eggs were useless, only consuming feed without producing. Most families would slaughter them when it froze, saving them for dishes like Chicken Stew with Vermicelli during the New Year, then raise new ones the following year.
Of course, this was the fate of older hens that laid few eggs. Younger hens, which took a year to start laying due to poor feed, could safely winter.
In short, the eggs most families had stored since autumn were mostly sold out by now.
Only specialized egg farms could continue production.
“That’s plenty for tomorrow,” Cheng Hui said.
The others, however, thought differently. Enough for tomorrow, but what about the day after? And the day after that? At this rate, it wouldn’t last long.
“I’ll figure something out for the future,” Cheng Hui assured.
The promise was made somewhat casually, yet everyone actually believed her!
After arranging for those on night shift duty, Cheng Hui left with Sun Tiemei for home.
She didn’t take the Maotai with her – it’s worth several million! The Educated Youth Spot wasn’t secure, but the Food Factory was safer, with three people standing guard tonight.
Everyone wanted to earn some overtime pay~
Just as the horse cart was about to depart, Aunt Qiao came running out and stuffed two IV bottles into each of their hands.
The IV bottles back then were all made of glass with rubber stoppers, reusable and leak-proof – they made the best hot water bottles.
Thanks to Aunt Qiao’s daughter working as a nurse at the hospital, she had so many of these IV bottles that ordinary people couldn’t get even if they wanted.
Gao Zhi was thrilled to receive two of them.
Cheng Hui sat in the horse cart, holding one in her arms and stepping on another with her feet, sighing contentedly.
Although Sun Tiemei already had two at home, her household actually needed ten! Getting two more now made her quite happy too. She saw them all the way to the entrance of the Educated Youth Spot before heading home.
As the two turned to enter the courtyard, a figure suddenly emerged from the shadows.