Chapter 257: Changes and Wild Boars

Rolling Mill

At the end of the month, Chi Ping'an successfully entered the First Workshop as a fitter apprentice.

This left the neighbors of the Sihe Academy dumbfounded; upon learning that Cao Weiguo had helped facilitate it, it immediately caused a sensation.

First, he got Yan Jiecheng of the Yan family into the rolling mill as an electrician apprentice.

Now, he had operated to get Chi Ping'an into the rolling mill as a fitter apprentice.

Such ability made the neighbors of the Sihe Academy itch with desire, like jackals that had smelled the scent of meat.

In this day and age, job positions were even scarcer than supplies; it was almost a case of one radish for one hole.

Let alone entering a large unit like the rolling mill, where getting into the factory was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Seeing that Cao Weiguo was so capable, many people wanted to beg Cao Weiguo for help to secure an iron rice bowl at the rolling mill.

It was just that they had never had any dealings with Cao Weiguo, and even when they thickened their faces to go to his door for help, they were dismissed in a few words.

This made many people regret so much they wanted to bang their heads against a wall, regretting that they had misjudged and hadn't noticed Cao Weiguo, this potential stock, in advance.

Before, they were indifferent; now, they couldn't afford to climb high.

Although Cao Weiguo shut these neighbors out, it did not affect these people's tendency to curry favor with the powerful.

The Lu family and the Chi family both closely surrounded Cao Weiguo.

The Yan family, led by the Third Uncle, also took benefits from Cao Weiguo.

Xu Damao and the Second Uncle Liu Haizhong also thought about currying favor with Cao Weiguo to help them get promoted and get rich at the rolling mill.

Other neighbors also wanted to suck up to Cao Weiguo, hoping to form a good connection and then obtain some help and benefits.

Compared to the First Uncle, who was all show and no power.

Cao Weiguo, this man of real power, could bring them tangible benefits.

As long as one wasn't a fool, everyone knew who it was more beneficial to follow.

Unknowingly, Cao Weiguo's voice in the Sihe Academy became heavier and heavier.

This atmosphere made the First Uncle Yi Zhonghai gloomy every day, looking at everyone with dissatisfaction.

He even regarded Cao Weiguo, who refused to be managed, as a thorn in his side.

It was just that Cao Weiguo was not interested in the trivial matters of the courtyard.

He was single-mindedly thinking about living his own life well, busy with "purchasing in the countryside" to prepare supplies for the rolling mill.

On the surface, he was busy running around for the rolling mill; in secret, he was getting rich and picking up leaks.

With Cao Weiguo's massive amount of supplies, the two groups led by Liu Shan and Dong Xiaoxue earned more and more.

In order to sell supplies better and faster, the two also expanded their manpower.

They made a name for themselves in the pigeon market and quickly grew bigger and stronger.

Cao Weiguo did not treat the two unfairly; although he did not increase their share, he increased the supply of materials.

This made the two earn more and more, and their lives got better and better.

The tangible benefits made the two full of gratitude toward Cao Weiguo, and they worked harder and harder.

After all, the more supplies they sold and the more expensive they were, the more they would earn.

Besides selling supplies, Cao Weiguo took the rolling mill's introduction letter and wandered around the surrounding communes as a purchaser.

On one hand, he purchased various supplies; on the other, he collected quite a few old items.

Now, just the antique cultural relics in his warehouse would be worth at least several hundred million in the 21st century.

This day, Cao Weiguo and Officer Li headed to the Yunyan Commune, more than thirty miles away from the rolling mill.

On the way, Officer Li gave Cao Weiguo a rough introduction to the situation in the commune.

After arriving at Yunyan Commune in the afternoon, Officer Li led Cao Weiguo to find the commune's Party Secretary.

"Secretary Gu, this is Cao Weiguo, the Deputy Director of our rolling mill's cafeteria."

"Director Cao, this is Secretary Gu."

After introducing each other, Secretary Gu Shouye warmly received Cao Weiguo.

Officer Li often came here to purchase and was very familiar with the local cadres.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Officer Li stated the purpose of this trip:

"I heard that wild boars are causing trouble on the commune's mountain, so the leadership immediately ordered us to come and help."

"The leadership said that our peasant brothers work hard, and instructed us not to lower the purchase price of the wild boars; we must give the peasant brothers real benefits."

After Officer Li finished speaking, Gu Shouye said in a dilemma: "Thank you for the leadership's consideration and concern, but, Officer Li, you also know that although we have killed a few wild boars, there are many purchasers coming to the village to collect wild boar meat."

"No matter whose purchaser it is, we cannot afford to offend them."

Although the wild boars that destroyed crops were a scourge, the wild boars that were killed were meat.

So, as soon as they heard that Yunyan Commune had wild boars, Deputy Factory Director Li and the Purchasing Director hurriedly sent people over to collect the wild boar meat.

Officer Li often ran to Yunyan Commune and was the main force of this purchase.

Cao Weiguo came over, firstly to assist in the purchase, and secondly to expand the scope of business.

Officer Li and Gu Shouye bargained, but there was no progress.

Cao Weiguo took a stack of grain coupons from his briefcase and stuffed them into Gu Shouye's hand without changing his expression.

"I know that the lives of our peasant brothers are not easy. I am willing to increase the price of purchasing wild boars by 20% this time, just as a token of my heart for our peasant brothers."

Cao Weiguo's generous move surprised Gu Shouye, who then said with a face full of joy: "Thank you, Director Cao, for your care. This time we caught a total of 12 wild boars; 5 have already been bought by purchasers from other factories. You can take all the remaining 7."

Although the purchase price was much higher than expected, being able to take back four wild boars was enough to complete the task.

After discussing the price, Gu Shouye took Cao Weiguo and the other to inspect the four killed wild boars. ===== CHAPTER 259 =====