manynovel Chapter 43 Inviting Su Wanqing
Chapter 43 Inviting Su Wanqing
The morning sun was scorching, casting shadows of varying sizes on the concrete ground through the few trees in the factory. The factory area was unusually quiet. Lin Zhou stood in the open space in front of the office building, watching Su Wanqing's retreating figure as she jogged towards the office. Her white dress swayed gently in the breeze, like a white orchid blooming against the grain.
He didn't follow immediately, but instead strolled slowly through the factory area with his hands in his pockets. The cement road under his feet was full of potholes, cracked in many places, revealing the gravel underneath. The doors and windows of the factory buildings on both sides were tightly closed, the glass covered with a thick layer of dust, through which one could vaguely see piles of discarded parts and cardboard boxes. Moss climbed the corners of the walls, and a few wild grasses sprouted from the cracks in the bricks, stubbornly stretching their leaves in the sunlight.
Lin Zhou was thinking about how to invite Su Wanqing to his factory so that he could continue to be a hands-off manager. Although the equipment at Su's Radio Factory wasn't top-of-the-line, it was more than enough for a small, newly established appliance factory, and the price was quite reasonable.
More importantly, these devices are readily available. Once they are transported back, installed, and debugged, production can begin quickly, saving considerable waiting time. The patent for the air fryer will be registered soon, and the blueprints have already been drawn up. What's lacking now is the production line and manpower, and Su Wanqing's help has undoubtedly solved his urgent problem.
He walked to the door of a factory building, raised his hand, and pushed the slightly ajar wooden door. The hinges creaked with a dry, grinding sound. The factory was filled with the smell of machine oil and rust. The light was dim, with only a few beams of sunlight streaming in through holes in the roof, illuminating the dust swirling in the air. Several machine tools were neatly arranged inside; although covered in dust, they looked relatively well-maintained. Lin Zhou reached out and touched the machine tool's body; the cool metallic touch made him imagine how these machines had once operated at high speeds.
"Back in the day, Su's Radio Factory was a well-known enterprise in Yuen Long." A voice sounded from behind. Lin Zhou turned around and saw an old master craftsman with gray hair standing at the door, looking at everything in the factory with a complicated expression.
"Master, are you a long-time employee here?" Lin Zhou asked with a smile.
The old craftsman nodded and sighed, "Yes, I've been doing this for almost eight years, since the factory was built. My family lives nearby too. I haven't been to work for the past two months, and I've been thinking of coming to visit whenever I have free time. Back in the day, the radios we produced were used in countless households throughout Hong Kong. Orders were piling up, and the workshop was running 24/7. It was bustling with activity." His gaze swept over the equipment, his tone full of regret, "I never imagined that time would pass so quickly. There are so many radio factories now, and foreign goods are everywhere. Nobody wants what we produce here anymore, and the factory couldn't stay afloat."
Lin Zhou sighed along with the old craftsman and comforted him, "Times are progressing, and new things will always replace the old. Don't worry, these devices will definitely play a new role once they get to me."
The experienced craftsman looked at Lin Zhou with a hint of curiosity in his eyes: "Young man, Miss Su told me you're going to open a small appliance factory?"
"Yes, we're preparing to produce a new product called an air fryer. It can make fried food without oil, which is healthy and convenient," Lin Zhou explained simply.
The experienced worker's eyes lit up: "No oil needed? That's novel. If you can really make it well, there's definitely a market for it." He paused, then added, "The workers in our factory are all veterans who have worked for Boss Su for many years. Their skills are unquestionable, but now that they've lost their jobs, they're all anxious. Miss Su is a kind person and has always wanted to find a way out for everyone. If you can take them all in, it would be a great act of kindness."
Lin Zhou's heart stirred. He had originally planned to recruit these skilled workers, and now, after hearing what the old master craftsman said, he was even more determined to do so. "Master craftsman, that's exactly what I was thinking. As long as everyone is willing to come, I guarantee the pay will be no worse than here, and I'll also provide dormitories and a canteen so that everyone has no worries."
The old craftsman smiled with relief: "That's good, that's good. Miss Su didn't misjudge you."
The two chatted for a few more minutes. Lin Zhou glanced at his watch; it was almost time. He said goodbye to his mentor and turned to head towards the office building. Just as he reached the second floor, he heard Su Wanqing's clear and efficient voice coming from her office.
"Hello, is this Amin? This is Su Wanqing. Please inform everyone in the factory to come to the office building for a meeting at 2 PM this afternoon. There's something important to announce."
"Yes, it's about work. A factory is coming to recruit you all, so please make sure you attend on time and spread the word to each other."
"Also, notify Afang and Aqiang, make sure no one is left out."
Lin Zhou stood at the door, listening to Su Wanqing's methodical phone call, and his liking for her grew even stronger. This girl was not only beautiful, but also so capable; no wonder she could manage a near-bankrupt factory so well without any worker disturbances.
After Su Wanqing hung up the phone, Lin Zhou gently knocked on the door.
"Please come in." Su Wanqing looked up and saw Lin Zhou. She gave him a polite smile. "Boss Lin, you've arrived. I've already discussed the equipment with them. As long as the money arrives, we can pick it up anytime."
Lin Zhou walked into the office and sat down in the chair opposite her, his gaze falling on her slightly tired but still bright eyes: "Ms. Su, the equipment issue isn't urgent. Could you please stop calling me 'boss' all the time? I have a name, Lin Zhou. You can call me A-Zhou. Also, I was just walking around the factory area and heard from the senior workers that your father is still hospitalized?"
When Su Wanqing heard him mention her father, the smile on her face faded slightly, and she nodded: "Okay, Lin Zhou."
She continued, "My father suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage a while ago and has been hospitalized ever since. His follow-up treatment will require a lot of money." She paused, her tone tinged with helplessness, "This is one of the reasons why I have to liquidate the factory. If I drag this out any longer, the bank loans will be completely ineffective, and the factory simply can't hold on any longer."
"So what are your plans for the future?" Lin Zhou asked casually, his heart pounding.
Su Wanqing lowered her head and gently bit her lip: "What else can I do? I'll go out and find a job first. I studied public administration in college, so I should be able to find a related job." There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice, after all, finding a suitable job is not easy in this day and age.
Hearing this, Lin Zhou was overjoyed. This was like a pillow being delivered just when he was sleepy. He suppressed his joy and tried to make his tone sound calm and sincere: "Miss Su, actually, besides buying equipment, I have another favor to ask of you."
Su Wanqing looked up at him curiously: "Lin Zhou, is there anything else? Please speak."
"I know you're a top student from university, majoring in public administration, and that's exactly the kind of talent I need," Lin Zhou said earnestly, looking into her eyes. "I've recently started a home appliance factory in Yuen Long, which is currently under construction and will be completed by the end of the month. Also, I recently developed an air fryer, which has already been registered with a global patent. The prospects are excellent, and it's sure to sell very well in the future."
He paused for a moment, then said, "To be honest, I know nothing about factory administration. Right now, the factory is in dire need of manpower, and I sincerely invite you to join my factory as the administrative supervisor."
Su Wanqing was stunned, clearly not expecting Lin Zhou to make such an invitation. She hesitated for a moment, then quickly waved her hand, "Lin Zhou, thank you for your kindness, but I'm afraid I can't do it. Although I studied public administration, I have no practical work experience, and I'm afraid I won't do a good job and will hinder your factory's development."
"Ms. Su, you don't need to worry too much," Lin Zhou quickly said. "I'm not asking you to manage the entire factory from the start. You'll just be responsible for some administrative tasks, such as employee recruitment, attendance, and benefits—basic work. These things shouldn't be difficult for you; you'll get used to them gradually. Besides, I believe in your abilities; I'm sure you can do a good job."
Seeing Su Wanqing's still hesitant expression, he added, "As for compensation, I won't treat you unfairly. Management staff earn between three and five hundred yuan a month, but I'll offer you eight hundred yuan a month. There will also be dormitory and cafeteria facilities, just like other employees. Your father needs money for his hospitalization, and this job will help ease your financial burden."
Su Wanqing fell silent, pondering Lin Zhou's suggestion. Eight hundred yuan a month was a very high salary at the time, plus room and board, which was indeed very attractive. More importantly, Lin Zhou's appliance factory seemed promising, and the air fryer, a new product, filled her with curiosity. She didn't really want to work in an unfamiliar place; staying with familiar people and working in a promising new factory would undoubtedly be a better choice.
"Lin Zhou, can I really do this?" Su Wanqing looked up, her eyes filled with uncertainty.
"Of course you can." Seeing an opportunity, Lin Zhou immediately said firmly, "I have a good eye for people. You're a smart and capable girl. As long as you're willing to learn, you'll definitely be able to get started quickly. Besides, I'll give you enough time and space to adapt gradually."
Su Wanqing bit her lip and finally nodded: "Alright then, Lin Zhou, I promise you. I will do my best to do this job well and live up to your trust."
"Great!" Lin Zhou was overjoyed and almost clapped his hands in delight. He secretly thought to himself, "It's not easy to meet a beautiful woman I like. Even if there weren't any administrative positions available, I would still hire her as my secretary. What's more, she's a high-achieving student about to graduate from university. I've struck gold!"