Chapter 464: Veterans First

"Clap!" Deng Deng Zhangli slapped his thigh excitedly, "Zhou Andong, if you can arrange jobs for the disabled in the factory, I'll give you a banner, cut your taxes, and introduce my eldest niece to you."

Cheng Zhanjun chuckled, "Why don't you just offer your own daughter?"

Deng Deng Zhangli said, "I only have a son—I don't have a daughter. Otherwise, I'd have introduced her to you myself."

Zhou Andong grinned. It felt good to be valued by superiors.

Cheng Zhanjun shot Zhou Andong a glare and snapped, "What are you grinning about? You've got what's in your bowl and still want what's in the pot?"

Then he turned to Deng Deng Zhangli: "Even if you had a daughter, it's too late—this kid already has a girlfriend."

"Huh?" Deng Deng Zhangli didn't know, and sighed regretfully, "My niece is stunning—tall, a dancer with our provincial arts troupe. They say suitors could line up for two miles."

Cheng Zhanjun sneered. Deng Deng Zhangli frowned: "Why are you sneering?"

Cheng Zhanjun asked, "Is your niece prettier than Seeing Jian Qiu?"

Deng Deng Zhangli paused: "Seeing Jian Qiu from the distillery's union?"

Cheng Zhanjun said, "You just announced it—she's now vice chairwoman and CEO of Jiangzhou Yugong Group."

"Enough chit-chat!" Deng Deng Zhangli snapped back to the topic. "How many can you hire? What support do you need from us?"

Zhou Andong said, "The beverage plant needs four hires; one can be a disabled person. The government must investigate thoroughly and assign only those with genuine hardship—veterans get priority."

"Those with decent families, who don't lack food or clothing, should be put off for now. Priorities must be set. Anyone caught falsifying records or favoring relatives will be severely punished."

At first, when Zhou Andong mentioned government involvement in placing the disabled, some had schemed. But his final words instantly crushed their hidden plans.

Cheng Zhanjun and Deng Deng Zhangli were both men who tolerated no corruption. If Zhou Andong said it, they'd enforce it. Anyone who meddled in this matter would regret it.

Cheng Zhanjun asked, "What about the brewery? Can you hire there too?"

"Yes," Zhou Andong said. "But how many depends on negotiations with Zhao Hongxing and Qin Chi."

"Fine," Cheng Zhanjun said. "As long as you hire."

Deng Deng Zhangli asked, "How many can Yuxi Real Estate hire?"

Zhou Andong sighed, "Leader, Rome wasn't built in a day. This can't be rushed. Besides, what can a disabled person do in a real estate company?"

"Those with education can work in offices. Those without—send them to construction sites? Even guarding the gate won't work. Sites are chaotic—bricks, tiles, debris. One fall could mean disaster."

Deng Deng Zhangli nodded. "I was too eager."

Zhou Andong said, "I'm also launching a security company. All security for Yuxi Group's subsidiaries will be outsourced to it."

Deng Deng Zhangli asked, "Aren't you already have a security department?"

Zhou Andong smiled. "I'm forming this company to hire only veterans."

Deng Deng Zhangli said without hesitation, "Good. I'll notify all departments to greenlight you—get your paperwork processed as fast as possible."

Cheng Zhanjun asked, "Anything else?"

Zhou Andong shook his head. "No."

Cheng Zhanjun said, "Then that's settled."

Deng Deng Zhangli gripped Zhou Andong's hand firmly. "Zhou Andong, on behalf of the disabled and veterans, thank you."

Zhou Andong said, "Leader, I already said it earlier—good deeds are boundless, but we can't do them all. We'll make Jiangzhou Yugong Group the heart connecting hearts, hands holding hands, acting kindly, grounded in Jiangzhou Yugong Group, built on integrity."

"We'll give back to society, give back to the people, become pioneers for Jiangzhou, become the iron backbone of Jiangzhou Yugong. This isn't talk—it's mandatory."

Deng Deng Zhangli clapped Zhou Andong's shoulder hard. "Good, good, good. Myself and the secretary were right about you."

Cheng Zhanjun also patted Zhou Andong's shoulder and smiled, but said nothing, then turned and walked away.

Zhou Andong, Gu Bing, Qian Zhen, and the others saw Cheng Zhanjun and Deng Deng Zhangli off to the distillery gate, then returned to the factory office and called another meeting.

With the group now formed and so many new departments, urgent problems needed solving—especially the lack of office space.

Yao Jun waited a long time at the public phone booth before receiving Old Zhao's return call.

"How'd it go?" Yao Jun asked eagerly.

Old Zhao panted, "The factory director said yes, we can hire."

Yao Jun smiled. "Good. I understand."

He hung up, hurried back, handed a registration form to the woman, and said, "Go fill this out. Report to the distillery tomorrow."

The woman took the form, tears streaming down instantly. She couldn't believe it was real—she stood frozen for a long time.

"He said report tomorrow—not interview. I won."

Pei Pei Jingshu walked over with a radiant smile, stepped before the woman, gently wiped her tears, and said softly.

"You'll start at the distillery tomorrow. You should be happy—why cry?"

The woman finally snapped back to reality, startled, looking up to see a beautiful woman in police uniform. Her panic eased.

"Thank you!"

The woman bowed deeply to Pei Pei Jingshu, then turned to Yao Jun and dropped to her knees.

Yao Jun was startled, quickly pulling her up.

"Sister, you don't need to do this. It's the director's decision. Thank him, not me."

The woman tried to kowtow to Yao Jun, but she lacked his strength—he lifted her firmly.

"Thank you. I'll never forget your kindness."

Suddenly, the little girl dropped to her knees and bowed three times: "Thank you, Uncle."

Everyone watched. Finally, someone's eyes grew wet.

Yao Jun quickly picked up the child, turned his head, and wiped his eyes. "What's your name?"

The girl chirped, "I'm Cui Cui Hanying!"

Yao Jun asked, "How old are you?"

Cui Cui Hanying said, "!"

"?" Yao Jun held the light-as-a-feather girl—this wasn't normal height or weight for a child—"Do you go to daycare?"

Cui Cui Hanying said, "Yes!"

Yao Jun smiled. "Study hard, get into college, repay your mother, okay?"

"Mm!" The girl nodded firmly. "When I grow up and earn money, I'll make Mom eat meat every day."