Chapter 1579: Rural Absurd Past Events Chapter 1579: Inviting the Guest into the Jar

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Originally, the scale of Jiakang Mask Factory wasn't very large, but as a result of the opening Zhang Sheng created, it was revived at once — not only revived, but supply now exceeds demand.

Wang Erhai hurriedly organized several factory leaders for a meeting to discuss the possibility of expanding production capacity.

"Recently everyone also knows that industrial mask sales are pretty good, distribution channels have already been laid out, and judging from the current situation, market demand for our masks will definitely continue to rise."

Facing the five department managers Wang Jiayi, Zhao Minmin, Zhang An, Lao Chengjia, and Ou Chengxiao, Wang Erhai expressed his thoughts:

"So I thought, let's see if we can recruit some more workers, open another production line, then push output up — what does everyone think?"

Now the factory's five department managers are all completely obedient to Wang Erhai.

After all, Wang Erhai really revitalized this factory for them, and did so without laying off those disabled workers.

Ou Chengxiao spoke up:

"General Manager Wang, why not convert the line producing medical disposable masks to produce industrial masks as well!"

Wang Erhai immediately rejected it:

"That won't do — medical disposable masks are the foundation of this mask factory's operations; besides, our factory has cooperated with the county's medical system for so long, how could we just stop? Keeping one line for medical disposable masks is already the bottom line."

Zhang An said:

"Then add another line — we'll work like mad and earn back everything we lost before!"

Zhao Minmin and Wang Jiayi also agreed to add another line.

Lao Chengjia, however, frowned without speaking.

Seeing him like this, Wang Erhai asked:

"Manager Lao, what's your view on this?"

Only then did Lao Chengjia speak:

"Adding another line means one more equipment set, one more site — the cost isn't small; and the masks we produce are basic industrial goods with low margins, so I personally feel that adding a line is something that still needs careful consideration."

Wang Erhai nodded.

Indeed, with the profit margin on masks.

Who knows how many masks would have to be sold to earn back the money for a whole equipment set.

Not to mention adding a line requires hiring many more workers — labor costs would rise along with it.

At this point Lao Chengjia said:

"In my opinion, we can add night-shift production on top of the existing lines — that way we increase output and save cost, only needing to hire one more batch of people; labor costs would definitely be much lower than buying a whole equipment set."

This mask factory has always run only day shifts; the factory lines aren't the kind that lose money if stopped, so night shifts have never been run.

Wang Erhai agreed with Lao Chengjia's suggestion, but also had reservations:

"Most factory workers are disabled — can they accept night shifts? Can they handle it?"

Lao Chengjia immediately said:

"Why wouldn't they be willing? As long as wages are raised a bit, they'll be happier than anything!"

Wang Jiayi then said:

"General Manager Wang, we can do a survey first — see who's willing to work nights and who isn't; those willing get scheduled for nights with a raise, those unwilling keep their current wage level, then we recruit some new workers to supplement — night production should be up and running very quickly."

Wang Erhai nodded:

"Then this matter is assigned to you, Manager Wang — hope night production can be opened by month-end."

And at this time, the other side.

Zhang Sheng had just gotten off work and returned home.

His wife Deng Hongyun looked at him with displeasure.

"I heard that Jiakang Mask Factory was revived thanks to the opening you created."

Deng Hongyun's tone was icy, her face dark — clearly she was very dissatisfied with Zhang Sheng giving Wang Erhai that opening.

Zhang Sheng did not deny it:

"Right, correct — what's the problem?"

Deng Hongyun immediately said angrily:

"I think you've really gone senile! Since an opening could revive the mask factory, why didn't you take the mask factory down when Lin Xiaofang came to you initially! You handed this piece of meat to Wang Erhai for nothing — is Wang Erhai your biological son!"

In Deng Hongyun's eyes, Zhang Sheng had helped Wang Erhai far too much.

If it weren't for knowing Wang Erhai inside and out, she'd almost suspect Wang Erhai was a son Zhang Sheng had with another woman!

Hearing this, Zhang Sheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry:

"My business matters — you'd best not point fingers."

Deng Hongyun said coldly:

"I don't want to point fingers, but certain senile people are funneling benefits to outsiders behind my back!"

Zhang Sheng gave a dry heh-heh laugh, a face full of speechlessness.

At this moment Deng Hongyun issued a warning:

"Zhang Sheng, I'm telling you — if you mess around outside, I can turn a blind eye, but if you funnel benefits that originally belong to our family to outsiders, then I'm done with you! I don't want another Wu Moli — hope at your age you can leave yourself a last shred of dignity!"

Zhang Sheng was even more speechless:

"What kind of talk is that? Do you think I'm the kind of person who'd hand over benefits to outsiders for nothing? We've been husband and wife for so many years — you still don't understand me?"

Deng Hongyun gave a cold heh-heh laugh:

"Hehe, it's precisely because I know you too well that I've been too indulgent with you, and look what you've done — you've gone and gotten yourself a Wu Moli! You think I don't know about all those women before? I know perfectly well! Yao Xueqin, Liu Meiqi, and the like — I know them all! I just turned a blind eye because they didn't take much benefit! You men are forever lower-body animals!"

Zhang Sheng was left with no face by the scolding, his expression uneasy:

"Can you not bring up things that affect marital harmony?"

But Deng Hongyun said:

"Marital harmony my ass — the two of us don't have a shred of feeling left, only interests! Understand joint property? You funnel benefits outward, you must have my approval! Otherwise don't blame me for cleaning you up!"

Zhang Sheng sighed.

In the County Town, he could be said to call wind and rain, move freely in both the underworld and the legitimate world, an existence who could cover the sky with one hand, but at Home facing this mother tiger, he could only obediently coil up.

It wasn't that he couldn't fight Deng Hongyun, but rather that Deng Hongyun truly held too much black material on him.

If they really fought to the death, he, Zhang Sheng, absolutely wouldn't die but would have to shed a layer of skin.

"Rest assured, I won't funnel benefits to outsiders!"

Zhang Sheng could only hurriedly declare his stance.

But Deng Hongyun pressed to the bottom of it:

"Then what's the deal with you having Liguo Mountain open a back door for Wang Erhai's Mask Factory? Hurry up and explain clearly to me!"

Zhang Sheng then frankly said:

"This is 'lure the prey into the trap' — even fishing requires baiting the spot, understand?"

Deng Hongyun stared blankly, face full of puzzlement:

"'Lure the prey into the trap'?"