Chapter 104: Public-Private Partnership

"Zhang Ping'an, you're back?" Wang Xiaoling said with a look of surprise.

"Yeah, I arrived last night after dark. You had already gone home when I went to the pharmacy. Alright, let's talk as we walk."

"Oh, okay. Zhang Ping'an, why do I feel like you've gotten darker again?"

"Hahaha, a little tan is healthy."

How could he not be dark? For five days, from morning till night, he was either in the rice fields or at the threshing ground. The sun had been strong these past few days, but fortunately, the weather was good, so the rice could dry so quickly.

"Then I want to get a tan too."

"You don't need to; fair and tender is just fine." Zhang Ping'an pinched her pretty face.

Over this past month or so, Wang Xiaoling had been slowly nourished back to health by Zhang Ping'an, and her face already had a bit of baby fat, so Zhang Ping'an couldn't resist his "evil claws" again.

"Oh, okay," Wang Xiaoling said obediently.

"Let's go. I brought plenty of food; let's go to Master's place and have some."

"Mm." Wang Xiaoling was already used to being fed by Zhang Ping'an.

Time flew by to the end of November. Under Yan Bugui's guidance, Li Jing was now considered a qualified accountant. That day, San Jie, Zhang Xiaohua, came back to find Zhang Ping'an.

"Ping'an, someone from the Street Office came to our Clothing Shop today, saying they want to do some kind of partnership."

"Alright, I know. I'll go back tomorrow to pick up Mom and Dad."

It had finally come. This matter still had to fall on his father's head. There wasn't much work in the hometown anyway, so he might as well bring them over for a few days and go back at the end of the year. It would also be a good time to meet Wang Xiaoling's parents and set the marriage date.

In fact, a working group had already moved into the Rolling Mill, but the Rolling Mill was a massive enterprise, and it couldn't be audited in a short time. It was estimated that it would be after the New Year at the earliest.

The next morning, Zhang Ping'an dropped Wang Xiaoling off at the pharmacy and prepared to go home.

"Xiao Ling, I'm going back to my hometown later to bring my parents over to discuss our marriage. What do you think?"

"Mm." Wang Xiaoling was too shy to look at Zhang Ping'an.

"Hahaha, good. You should also find time in these two days to tell your parents."

"Mm."

Zhang Family Village, Zhang Ping'an's home.

"You're saying we have to donate our Clothing Shop to the State? No, Ping'an, what are you thinking?"

"Dad, this is the general trend. Besides, it's not a donation, it's a win-win cooperation. We'll have dividends; in the future, there will be wages and dividends. Plus, it's not like we can't take it back in the future."

"Really?" Zhang Laohan was silent for a long while before speaking.

"Yes, really. Also, this trip is to have you meet my future father-in-law and set the marriage date."

"Alright then, let's pack up and go."

"..."

At first, he was bitter and resentful, but as soon as he heard Zhang Ping'an was getting married, Zhang Laohan perked up, and the Clothing Shop didn't seem important anymore.

Finally, under Zhang Laohan's urging, they returned to the Siheyuan after eleven o'clock. After dinner, the family of four went to the Clothing Shop.

"Mom, you and Xile stay here for now. Dad and I are going to the Street Office."

"Alright."

The father and son took the documents and went to the Xinjiekou Street Office.

"Dad, you remembered everything I just said, right?"

"Mm, don't worry."

"Who are you looking for?" the old gatekeeper said.

"Uncle, we're from the Clothing Shop over there. We came to find the Director to consult about the Public-Private Partnership. Have a smoke," Zhang Laohan said.

"Mm, go on in. It's the office at the very end on the left."

"Alright, thank you very much."

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Please come in. Who are you?"

"Oh, hello Director. We are from that Clothing Shop at the intersection. I am Zhang Laizhong. I came here this time to ask about the Public-Private Partnership."

"Hello, hello. I am Zhang Laiwang. Boss Zhang, we are actually from the same clan."

Director Zhang's eyes lit up. This was the first person to take the initiative to come and ask about the Public-Private Partnership, and they were even from the same clan. Naturally, he had to treat them well and strive to close the deal quickly so he could have some glory himself.

"I wouldn't dare call myself a boss, Director Zhang. Actually, I only set up this shop in the city by emptying out my family's savings to find a job for my children."

"However, since the State has this policy, we naturally should support it."

"Good, good, good. Brother, your awareness is high. Rest assured, the State won't treat anyone unfairly."

At first, Director Zhang did indeed think this shop belonged to a Capitalist, but after investigating, he found out that the shop had only been open for two years, and the people working there were all relatives and friends.

Next came the dry facts, specifically regarding share distribution and compensation. The surplus would be distributed according to the principle of "Four Horses Dividing Profits."

"You are the first to voluntarily participate in the Public-Private Partnership. The general guidelines are fixed, but within the flexible range of the regulations, I can still help."

"Director Zhang, we can just follow the regulations. However, the shop's staff are all skilled workers. You see..."

"Mm, I understand. When I went to visit that day, I noticed that although it is a family business, your division of labor is clear, which really saved us a lot of trouble."

"How about this: I won't move the personnel. After the asset audit, we will send a Public Manager to be stationed there. Everyone needs to cooperate well then."

Actually, according to Director Zhang's original intention, he wanted to lay off two or three people, as a shop didn't need that many, but Zhang Laohan's active cooperation made him take a step back.

"No problem, no problem."

"Alright then, I will arrange for staff to come over in these two days to conduct the asset audit."

"Good, good, good."

After seeing off Zhang Ping'an and his son, Director Zhang lost no time in turning this conversation into a report to submit. He wanted to be the first person in the Street Office to achieve a Public-Private Partnership.

"Ping'an, this dividend..."

"Ahem, let's talk about it when we get back."

Before getting off work, Zhang Ping'an kept everyone behind, which also gave everyone some space to think.

"Our shop will be a state-run enterprise from now on, and we will have an Iron Rice Bowl; of course, there will be someone coming to determine the exact salary later."

"Also, the schedule might be a bit stricter; we can no longer come and go as we please like before, as there will be strict start and end times, and a Public Manager will be sent over later, so Xiaochen, you must cooperate well when that time comes."

"Understood, Uncle."

"Also, the Street Office will send people over in the next two days to audit the assets, so Xiaojing, you need to have your account books ready."

"Understood, Uncle."

"If there is anything you don't understand now, just ask."

"Ping'an, can we still bring our children here in the future?"

"Yes, you can."

This was indeed permissible and understandable; many women working had no parents-in-law and could only bring their children with them.

"Sister-in-law, if you have anything to say, you can ask directly," Zhang Ping'an said after seeing Tan Cuicui hesitating.

"Ping'an, if we can't go home early, what will Lao Yi and the others do for meals?"

"It will just have to be delayed; actually, it's no big deal, it's only eating an hour later, whoever gets home first can just cook."

"What about the Deaf Old Lady..."

Zhang Ping'an was a bit speechless; the simplest solution was to cook the food in advance and let the Deaf Old Lady heat it up herself at noon, but of course, he couldn't say that.

"Ahem, sister-in-law, you will have to discuss that amongst yourselves."

"Ping'an, will we still be paid by the piece in the future?"

"No, it should be a monthly salary; I estimate it will be over 200,000 per month, so everyone go back and discuss it, and give me your answer tomorrow."

If anyone here didn't want to do it, Zhang Ping'an could arrange for others to fill in ahead of time; he guessed that at most, Tan Cuicui might quit.

"Xiaochen, after the Public-Private Partnership, you all should transfer your household registrations to the city; as for you, Xiaoqing and Xiaomei..."

Zhang Ping'an hesitated for a moment; once Li Mei and Li Qing got married and had children, there was a high probability they would be sent to the countryside within ten years.