Chapter 140: Binding the Birth System to Become a Winner in Life Chapter 141: 1970s Hutong Daily Life (39)

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Shen Yao

Xu Huixin licked the corner of her mouth, her hands unconsciously gripping both sides of her sleeve. "I, I, I really can do it?"

It wasn't that she didn't believe it, but Xu Huixin knew her own weight; her bachelor's degree was enough to handle her current job with ease.

But to go further, Xu Huixin would unconsciously develop doubts, unable to eat or sleep, making it even harder to do her main job well.

Shen Yao smiled especially candidly. "Why not? You're a proper graduate of the Traditional Chinese Medicine University, with so many years of work experience."

"Sister Xu, as long as you want to go out and try, the job you find will definitely not be worse than what you have now."

After Shen Yao finished speaking, she gave Xu Huixin a chance to lower her head and think.

"I won't leave for another couple of days, so there's no rush for this moment. You can think it over when you go back. This is both an opportunity and a choice."

There's nothing wrong with a job within the system; it's just that the pay and benefits aren't as good as outside.

Shen Yao has always been generous with her employees; as long as they have real skill, she never shortchanges them on money.

As for Xu Huixin, if she seriously does her job well for Shen Yao, the salary and benefits she gets could be double or even several times what they are now.

If you count the annual bonus, giving her family a more spacious residence and letting the three children and several elders live happily—none of that is a problem.

Xu Huixin had studied the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in recent years; what Shen Yao was doing now would definitely become a sunshine industry in the future.

Now that the opportunity was right before her eyes, even a stupid person would know to seize it.

She went home excitedly, full of visions for the future, to discuss it with her husband.

As expected, before Shen Yao left Chuan Province, she received news that Xu Huixin was about to resign.

Smiling, Shen Yao handed her newly established empty-shell company over to Xu Huixin to manage, and advised Xu Huixin not to rush, since the medicinal herbs hadn't been planted yet: "At least teach them how to plant it by hand once before there can be a stable supply source."

Xu Huixin nodded. "Rest assured, I understand all this. Next time you take the car over, you're guaranteed to see a completely new side."

She also wanted to strive to show her true strength and impress Shen Yao.

A scholar dies for one who knows him; a woman beautifies herself for one who pleases her.

Shen Yao believed in her; she absolutely could not betray Shen Yao's trust.

Waving goodbye to Xu Huixin, Shen Yao led the others onto the train, heading to the next destination.

The Southwest Region is not small in area; Shen Yao also exchanged several telegrams with Tian Na in the meantime, confirming that Tian Na could go to Guang City a few days later, so Shen Yao simply visited all the cities she had originally been hesitant about.

Any place suitable for planting herbs was carefully marked by her.

Those she could negotiate were signed with contracts; those she couldn't reach an agreement with had follow-up plans arranged.

Shen Yao drew and marked for a while, and the content on the map in her hand became richer.

Not bad; as long as she followed this plan, her future career would rise to a higher level.

"Sister Shen, we've arrived."

Huating looked out the window; the sound of the train pulling into the platform made her especially excited.

No way; after being out for many days, she had finally returned to familiar territory—how could Huating not be excited?

Cheng Cheng pulled Huating, who wanted to frolic, from the side and quietly reminded Shen Yao that Shen Yao was busy.

Compared to Huating, Cheng Cheng had the mindset of a normal worker.

No matter how kind and approachable Shen Yao was, she was their genuine boss.

When dealing with the boss, one must be sensible and respectful; Huating couldn't just act recklessly because they were senior and junior schoolmates from the same department.

These two people, although they graduated at the same time and entered Shen Yao's company in the same period, because of differences in personality, their future achievements would definitely be different.

From Shen Yao's perspective, as long as she could smoothly complete the part of the work she arranged and her attitude wasn't too excessive, she could accept it.

Nowadays it's not a feudal society; everyone is working hard to live—who is more noble than whom?

"It's fine as long as you've arrived. In a while, you can get off the train and go straight home to rest for two days. Come back to work after you've recovered."

"Rest assured, this counts as a normal holiday; I won't deduct your wages."

Shen Yao closed the notebook in her hand, stood up, and greeted Huating and the others to get off the train.

Trains at this time were obviously more convenient than in earlier years, although the passenger flow was still very high.

"Sister Shen, then we'll be going first."

"Go on, go on. I'm going home too."

"Sister Shen, see you next time."

"......"

Waving her hand, Shen Yao turned around and called a slightly cute yellow bread taxi.

Jing Shi had a subway at this time, but the subway lines were few; the place where Shen Yao lived hadn't been connected yet, so she could only take other means of transportation to go out.

"Master, go straight to Fengshou Hutong."

Putting her luggage in the back seat, Shen Yao spoke sparsely and plainly.

The master responded with a sound, and the bread van beneath him drove off directly.

Jing Shi had many hutongs, but the area around Fengshou Hutong was the Machinery Factory, so this area was known by many people.

Shen Yao didn't waste effort; she prepared the fare to be paid in advance, then turned her head to admire the scenery outside the window.

The changes in Jing Shi over the past few years were indeed great; although they couldn't compare to the advanced prosperity of later generations, the capital style that should be there was not lacking in Jing Shi at all.

The driver was quite talkative; the two of them chatted from small matters around them to national affairs, also mentioning investment construction and the difficulties of factory management.

"Sigh, nowadays people find another job to do; otherwise, that bit of wages isn't enough to spend."

"Master, how many years have you been driving a taxi? Running back and forth, you must have picked up quite a few people."

"Of course not, dressed so flashy, with a pager at his waist..." Speaking of this, the master's loud voice immediately rose, clearly very interested in such matters.

Shen Yao didn't stop him, and even gossiped with the master about which General Manager these flashy people were.

The two chatted all the way until they saw the sign for Fengshou Hutong.

After getting off and handing over the prepared money, Shen Yao carried her luggage into the hutong courtyard.

Her return wasn't exactly timely; Tian Na and the two children weren't home.

Huh?

"Is it Yao Yao? Your mom took the two children to buy a car."

Zhao Meizhi was off today, just woke up from a nap, and happened to see Shen Yao when she went out.

Thinking that her family's current development was all thanks to the Xie Family's support and help, Zhao Meizhi's face broke into a smile.

"Just got off the train? Have you eaten? Sister's home still has some food, I'll bring some over for you to try."

After saying this, without waiting for Shen Yao to answer, Zhao Meizhi ran away in a flash.

Shen Yao:...

Shen Yao put down the luggage in her hand, sat on the stool in the small courtyard, wiped her face, reached out to take the soft pastry Zhao Meizhi brought over, and put it in her mouth to chew slowly.

From getting off the train until now, Shen Yao had indeed only drunk two sips of water and eaten nothing.

"How is it? These were all bought back from Haishi by Cheng Bing and them, said to be a century-old brand, once a royal tribute."

"I think they're just names used to fool people, not as chewy as the steamed sponge cake made at home."

Although she said this with her mouth, Zhao Meizhi's smile didn't diminish.

There's no way; when family life improves, everything goes smoothly and one feels carefree.

Many families' misfortunes are caused by lack of money; families with money, even when quarreling, are a bit more harmonious.

The Zhao Family where Zhao Meizhi is now is exactly this situation; all four sons at home are married, even if the two younger ones are good-for-nothings, but Zhao Meizhi herself is capable, using the bread and whip in her hand to lure and hook them, not afraid they won't be enterprising.

Shen Yao finished the pastry in her hand, clapped her palms, and asked about the situation at the Machinery Factory.

Unlike the Xie Family, the Zhao Family's four sons all work in logistics.

The factory's revenue is poor, and the first to suffer are these people.

Zhao Meizhi sighed, "Don't mention it, I've already planned to let Eldest Brother and Second Brother quit their jobs first."

"The two younger ones can still get by, but Jinbao and Yinbao's work is truly terrible."

Speaking of this, Zhao Meizhi couldn't help but pour out her bitterness; previously she thought getting people into the factory would mean an iron rice bowl, guaranteed harvest regardless of drought or flood, but who could have thought the iron rice bowl wouldn't be secure.

"... There's been no work for a while, if this continues it really can't be dragged on."

Zhao Meizhi lowered her voice, as if afraid others would hear.

Shen Yao understood the other's caution; after all, everyone living around were Machinery Factory employees.

Pulling one hair moves the whole body; no matter what, Zhao Meizhi raised her four sons relying on the Machinery Factory, secretly saying bad things about the factory behind closed doors was one thing, but loudly nagging in the open was somewhat like biting the hand that feeds.

"Yes, our family now relies on my mother being capable; otherwise, with so many children, how could they be raised?"

Shen Yao didn't feel there was anything shameful about relying on elders, saying Tian Na was better than airing one's own family matters.

Leaving other things aside, if the Xie Family lived too well in Fengshou Hutong, it might not necessarily be a blessing or a curse.

There are always people envious and jealous at any time; Tian Na's booming business couldn't be hidden, so the other members of the Xie Family unanimously tacitly used Tian Na's business as an excuse.

Putting it this way, although it somewhat damaged the Xie Family's external reputation, at least it made the Xie Family much quieter; otherwise, today someone comes to borrow money, tomorrow someone comes to join the fun, and Tian Na would be even more impatient.

Zhao Meizhi was a bit smug; after all, she also felt that although the Xie Family's Tian Dama was capable, she couldn't stop her family members from being too much of a drag.

Unlike their Zhao Family, whose business climbed higher and higher, completely without the worry of not being able to raise children.

"Hmph, with your mother-in-law around, you all can enjoy blessings."

Who doesn't envy the Xie Family having a mother-in-law like Tian Na; being a child of the Xie Family, born with a fate of enjoying blessings.

Shen Yao followed Zhao Meizhi's tone to flatter a couple of sentences, then turned the topic to other matters.

Zhao Meizhi's desire to share simply exploded; everything that could be said and couldn't be said was all spoken out.

All Shen Yao could do was smile and face it, occasionally saying a few "mm-hm"s and "ah"s so that Zhao Meizhi's words wouldn't fall to the ground.

"The time is about right; I should go back to cook for the children at home. Yao Yao, let's chat again when we have time."

After Zhao Meizhi finished speaking, she waved her hand and turned around directly; as a result, just as she left, Miao Dama from next door came over mysteriously.

Shen Yao:... Huh?

Miao Dama gave a white-eye to the departing Zhao Meizhi, and smiled at Shen Yao in a currying manner, "Yao Yao, your mother's business, do you think an old lady like me can do it?"

Can do it? Naturally yes.

"Auntie Miao, we are all neighbors and fellow villagers; if you have something to say to my mother, it definitely won't disappoint you."

"It's just Eldest Brother Qian's few children; if only the sister-in-law takes care of them alone, will it not be enough?"

Pan Laidi can give birth; even with family planning, she can't stop the other from giving birth one after another.

Now the Qian Family has seven grandchildren; the oldest has already dropped out of school to work, and the youngest is still breastfeeding.

The Qian Family's situation is basically counting on the elders to lend a hand; Qian Laoge er and Third Brother are not at home now, and Qian Jian'gang and Pan Laidi combined earn less than Qian Daye alone.

Miao Dama's face stiffened slightly; obviously she knew her own family's problems.

After a long while, Miao Dama slapped her thigh, her tone of voice carrying a crying sound.

"Hmph, it's really no other way; the factory's efficiency gets worse day by day, and there are so many children at home to raise."

Miao Dama had been pondering the matter of coming out to work for a while.

She is a very traditional woman; her whole life revolved around the stove and family.

Originally at an age to enjoy her later years, but because of poverty, she had to come out to find work.

For Miao Dama, mustering the courage to ask Shen Yao was already the biggest step she had taken.

Shen Yao soothed Miao Dama not to think too much; coming out to work and earning money through labor is not embarrassing.

"There are more people selling clothing and daily necessities outside; this work earns nothing but hard-earned money.

Miao Dama, if you can make it work, just get a tricycle, ride it to the countryside, and take a look around.

The Jing Shi countryside isn't as developed as the city; those living in the villages also can't possibly frequently enter the city to buy food, clothing, and daily necessities.

Shen Yao's suggestion is a bit like the peddlers of earlier years who walked the streets and lanes.

But for the already saturated Jing Shi market, developing downward is indeed a way out.

Miao Dama nodded repeatedly in excitement — it's just riding a bike to the countryside a few more times to sell goods; as long as she can make money, she'll do anything.

Shen Yao chatted with Miao Dama for a while; after Miao Dama left, she decisively stretched her waist, turned around, and was about to go inside to rest.

She didn't want to turn her head and see Xue Hongmei poking her head out from the Cheng Family gate.

Shen Yao:... What good day is this? How come all these aunties are in the courtyard?

Xue Hongmei didn't come over to disturb Shen Yao like the previous two; instead, she looked up at the person twice and went inside.

Shen Yao could only shrug her shoulders at this; after all, since the other party didn't come over, she couldn't very well go to their door to find them.

"You shouldn't have gone; you did the right thing with this matter; the Cheng Family's people don't need to be paid attention to."

Tian Na led Meimei and Manman back, carrying a bag full of snacks in her hand.

All were bought back by Tian Na; inside were also the candies Meimei and Manman love to eat.

Shen Yao laughed heartily and hugged the two children; she told the story of Miao Dama's matter, clicked her tongue, "Does Cheng Shen also want to learn from Miao Dama and take goods from our home to sell?"

It seems apart from this reason, Shen Yao also couldn't think of any other excuse.

After all, Cheng Shen and Uncle Cheng live in the Small Courtyard, and with no daughter by their side, their days are indeed quite tight.

Nowadays, the changes in Jing Shi can be called a miracle; basically, if you don't see it for half a year, it can change completely.

Earlier, when Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, the two people, returned from university, they still marveled that the area in front of their home was different; one novel shop after another opened, all of them ones they had never seen before.

Tian Na pursed her lips, "Take a fart; Xue Hongmei still doesn't have Miao Cuilan's two moves; she's probably thinking of getting me to help her inquire about Cheng Xue's news.

This girl, she ran off to the South for several years, not a single letter.

The Cheng Family couple are also deserving; they don't value the one they should, exhausting affection to death, yet the one they've always raised by their side they still can't keep.

They created their own karma; now the bitter fruit they've reaped has all fallen on their own bodies; it truly makes one not know what to say.