This matter did not dampen Xie Sui's spirits. He could deal with them after the New Year. The priority was to have a good holiday first, as there were many things to handle.
Secretary Liu's term had ended, and he was promoted to deputy mayor of the city. Xie Sui was not home then and couldn't see him off.
He needed to pay a visit this time. He also had to build a good relationship with the new secretary. As for Secretary Tang, he remained in the county, serving as the deputy director of the Water Resources Bureau. While the title sounded good, it was a mere "empty position" in reality.
However, it was not easy to go from a secretary to a deputy director, and his future was promising.
Xie Sui used to have a good relationship with him, but now he had to maintain distance. After all, officials needed to be mindful of their image.
The factory would close for the year-end holiday. He needed to show his face and reassure the staff. More and more workers were being laid off, and few factories had such good performance. The New Year benefits were generous, amounting to thirty yuan per person, which was equivalent to more than half a month's salary.
Xie Sui was practical. He distributed pork, cooking oil, and flour – these were the most favored New Year goods by the employees.
After settling the factory matters, it was time for the management. Accountant Xu was indispensable, like the pillar of the factory. His year-end bonus, calculated as a percentage of profits, came to over three thousand yuan.
Accountant Xu was almost afraid to accept it, finding it too much. He wasn't very good at his job; his wife actually did the accounting work, supporting him. For a long time, he felt ashamed.
He never expected Xie Sui to value him so highly. Now, his wife served him slippers and washed his feet when he came home. He had never dreamed of such treatment.
"Uncle Xu, this is what you deserve. Fortunately, the factory has you to keep it running. Truly, having an elder at home is like having a treasure."
Managers like Gu Lei received red envelopes of five hundred yuan each, which made them very happy. Their usual salary was only a little over a hundred yuan, so this was equivalent to three months' pay.
As for Hu Pan, she received even more – ten thousand yuan. Without Hu Pan, his factories in other counties wouldn't be able to operate.
Ten thousand yuan was a small sum for Xie Sui, but it was a significant amount for Hu Pan, equivalent to ten years of a worker's salary. She was hesitant to accept it.
People were still very simple at this time. They just focused on their work and weren't as concerned about their personal gains and losses. Sudan Novel Network.
"This is what you deserve. Perhaps next year I can offer you shares, ten percent, is that okay?"
Hu Pan calculated it. Ten percent would be much more, potentially close to a hundred thousand yuan. Ten thousand yuan was indeed not much.
"Then I'll accept it. Actually, the salary you give me isn't low, and there's really no need to give me so much. People might think you're a nouveau riche, just throwing money around carelessly."
"We have indeed made a small fortune. Wanwan has a gift for you, so I won't give you anything myself, to avoid any misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding what? Misunderstanding that you have ill intentions towards me? Do you? No, should I say, do you dare? Sister Wanwan would have dismembered you."
Xie Sui pleaded, "Just kidding, of course I don't dare."
Lin Wanwan's gift to her was also gold jewelry. Hu Pan found it amusing, "People buy gold jewelry when they get married. I'm not planning to get married."
"You're still young and don't know the value of gold. If you don't want to wear it, you can give it to your mother, or your grandmother or maternal grandmother. They'll surely be happy."
"That works. My grandmother loves jewelry the most. I'll give it to her. My mother can't wear it; my father doesn't allow it, wanting to keep a low profile."
Hu Pan's father was the mayor. His wife wearing gold and silver would raise questions about her conduct.
Hu Pan and Du Feiyang continued to study English for a few more days and made rapid progress. Even Lin Wanwan could now converse fluently.
Doudou and Dingding found it very interesting that their mother could speak a foreign language, so they wanted to learn too. Soon, the house was filled with English learning.
Secretary Tang knew Xie Sui was back and proactively invited him for a meal at a small restaurant, not a state-run one.
Xie Sui hadn't been in the county much this year and felt it had changed a lot. There were more restaurants on the streets, and young women and married women wore more colorful clothes. Not only were stirrup pants popular, but jeans were also becoming fashionable.
"Don't stare at the girls, or you'll get scolded."
Secretary Tang nudged him. He seemed to have become quite lecherous after visiting Hong Kong.
"What are you talking about? I'm looking at their clothes. This girl's clothes don't fit well; her pants are too tight around her backside. Can't she buy a size larger?
It really doesn't look good like that."
Secretary Tang laughed, "You say you weren't staring? Jeans are quite sought after now. It's good enough to get your hands on them."
Xie Sui ate the food. Despite the small restaurant, the taste was excellent, reminiscent of home.
"Director Tang, congratulations on your promotion."
Xie Sui clinked glasses with him. Secretary Tang began to complain, "Don't mention promotion. I spend my days reading newspapers and drinking tea. It's not as good as being a secretary. Everyone respected us, and though I wasn't the second-in-command, I had a say in major and minor county affairs."
Xie Sui said, "Take your time. If you achieve results, perhaps you can become the county magistrate, then the mayor, or even the provincial governor. I'll get rich following you."
"I hope your words come true. What can I achieve in the Water Resources Bureau? It's a dead-end department. I'll just have to wait it out."
Xie Sui said, "Don't underestimate water resources. This department is very important. All rivers are under your jurisdiction, but the responsibility is also huge. If there are floods, the consequences would be unimaginable."
"We won't be that unlucky, will we? It hasn't flooded in years, and it's been a drought this year. Don't jinx it."
Xie Sui replied, "Haven't you heard that a drought year is often followed by a flood year? After the New Year, we should inspect all the reservoirs and riverbanks one by one. Be careful not to make mistakes."
Director Tang took his words to heart. Speaking of the new secretary, he said, "His surname is Chen, Chen Gang. He's only thirty years old, a young cadre. I hear he has connections. He's quite low-key and even asked about you. You should visit his home as soon as possible.
And those projects of yours, don't let them really become unfinished. The county attaches great importance to them."
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't be angry. What's going on with that Lijia Village? If it weren't for them, would my projects have been halted?
Do they think I'm an outsider because I drove away the eldest young master of the Du family, and now they want to target me?"
Director Tang was also helpless, "We can't interfere. They are very cunning, and there are no severe criminal elements. They just want to annoy you, hoping you'll outsource the transportation of materials and waste slag to them."
"Impossible. Cement and sand are such profitable businesses. How can I hand them over? The key is that people like them are greedy and insatiable. They would use inferior materials, affecting the quality, and then I would be the one to get blamed.
You don't need to worry about this. I already have a plan."
After drinking, Xie Sui went to Secretary Chen's house with the prepared gifts.
Secretary Chen did not go home for the New Year. His wife and children had come along, making it lively.
Xie Sui's arrival pleased Secretary Chen greatly. He warmly invited him for tea and said, "Factory Director Xie, you're younger than I imagined. You don't look like a factory director, more like a university student who just graduated."
Xie Sui chuckled, "You're flattering me. If I could go to university, my ancestors would climb out of their coffins."
"Haha, Factory Director Xie, you're too modest. Your factory is already employing several university students, and they are all quite satisfactory. More and more university students are choosing private enterprises now, while state-owned factories are experiencing declining performance and worker layoffs. It's truly a headache how to resettle them."
Xie Sui replied, "The leaders surely have a way. However, you don't need to worry about our county. After the New Year, I plan to expand. Feel free to send any laid-off workers over. I can't promise anything else, but I can definitely help alleviate your burden in this matter."
Secretary Chen was overjoyed, "I've been waiting for you to say that, Factory Director Xie. You're saving the fate of countless families."
"I dare not accept such praise. You're exaggerating. These are pastries and tonics I brought back from Hong Kong. Just a small token of my appreciation. Please, you and Sister-in-law, try them."
"Thank you. Hong Kong specialties, they must be expensive, right?"
"No, it's only a little over a hundred yuan in total. This doesn't count as bribery, does it?"
"No, it doesn't. I've heard about Factory Director Xie's character for a long time. Secretary Liu has spoken very highly of you."
Secretary Chen's child was still young, only three years old, not as old as Doudou and Dingding. Xie Sui gave him a red envelope, "This is New Year's money, for the child. Secretary Chen, please don't refuse."
"I'll have to meet your children later. Four sons, Factory Director Xie, your pressure must be immense. The education of four children, and then their marriages and descendants, are all very troublesome."
"What can I do? I wanted daughters, but unfortunately, I didn't get any. Just more rambunctious boys."
He stayed for lunch at Secretary Chen's house. Xie Sui spoke about the prosperity of Hong Kong, and the economic development of Shenzhen and Pengcheng. Secretary Chen listened attentively, feeling as if a new world had opened up to him.
He chatted with Xie Sui until dinnertime before letting him go.
Xie Sui was almost afraid. He had talked so much all afternoon that his lips were dry. This Secretary Chen was truly a workaholic.