MCB Chapter 5

Everyone: …

It’s still a familiar formula and a familiar taste.

The atmosphere suddenly became lively.

“Cong Qi, sit here.”

Cong Qi straightened her body, and the funny girl suddenly became serious, striding over to Jiang Ping and sitting down.

She looked at the person next to her.

“Yang Xiaohong, doesn’t your shoe factory off on Thursdays? Why do you have time to hangout here today?”

Yang Xiaohong had a neat short haircut, and she herself looked very tidy.

“Don’t mention it. There’s no work nor payment at the factory, so I can only go home and rest.”

She sighed: “Hey, I guess I’m not far away from being laid off.”

“Your pharmaceutical factory should be pretty good, right?”

Confronted with this unexpected news, she said, “The shoe factory is in trouble too? Our pharmaceutical factory is doing fine. We’re still operating normally, and there are no issues with salary payments”.

“That’s good.”

Yang Xiaohong gave a hearty pat on Cong Qi’s shoulder. “But hey, you should also think about what you can do in the future. I’m worried that the pharmaceutical factory might not hold up either.”

“Don’t think that I’m deliberately saying bad luck for you, it’s just that so many factories have closed down in the past six months. If it really happens, you can’t rely on the meager compensation from the factory.”

The government gave compensation for the buyout¹a buyout typically refers to a situation where employees can choose to receive a lump sum payment or compensation in exchange for voluntarily leaving their jobs, often with the condition that they won’t return to work for the same employer. This can be a part of a severance package or early retirement offer. The compensation is usually intended to encourage employees to leave their positions, either to reduce staff or to encourage voluntary retirements..

This situation can’t escape the fact that, layer by layer, the funding is reduced, and by the time it reaches the workers, there isn’t much left.

Going to make trouble?

It’s no use.

The Leaders keep shifting the responsibility around. The amount of compensation in each region can also be influenced by the local economic situation. As for how much they’ll actually receive, the workers can only make rough guesses based on the differences in compensation amounts from various factories. Even if they were to inquire, there might not be a definite answer.

At this time, government work was neither transparent nor open. Coupled with the natural awe of ordinary people for officials, it’s basically a “take whatever they give you” situation, and few people dared to question it.

Do they resent these situations?

They do.

But they don’t even know who to resent!!

When Yang Xiaohong thought about losing her job, she felt as bitter as if she had eaten huanglian²Huanglian is the Chinese name for a type of herbal medicine commonly known as “bitter melon” or “bitter gourd.” It’s used in traditional Chinese medicine for its potential health benefits, but it is known for its extremely bitter taste.

There was sadness on her face.

“If I had known that I would be laid off, it would have been better not to take over the job, my mom’s length of service is not only more compensation, but the government will also grant her a pension according to her length of service. Now I can’t get my pension because I’m working in a new job. I can’t get much compensation for my years of service. This serves as a cautionary tale; you all should be careful in your decisions!”

When she said this, her tone was particularly sincere.

She is now very upset that she didn’t pay attention to her studies in high school.

How beautiful she thought at that time!

It’s okay if her grades are bad. Anyway, she can take over her parents’ position and earn a living. At this time, the state-owned factories were actually similar to independent kingdoms in terms of welfare, and could meet a person’s basic needs from birth to death.

There are canteens, cinemas, hospitals, bathhouses, dormitories, schools and even entertainment and sports venues in the factory area.

And these are all reimbursable, so workers don’t have to pay for them themselves.

Everyone’s salary is also very good. The most important thing is that because workers are employed on a lifelong basis, everyone feels that they are the owner of the factory. Benefits, like wages, can only increase and cannot be reduced. Otherwise, the workers will be the first to protest.

Who knew things could change so quickly!

As private companies and foreign companies gradually occupy the market, these emerging companies do not have as many burdens as state-owned factories, there aren’t that many favors to consider either, people just need to think about the money.

These enterprises continue to grow and gradually threaten the survival space of state-owned factories.

Zhenhua Shoe Factory was one of the famous factories in Rongcheng in the 1970s and 1980s.

Although many state-owned units in first-tier cities went bankrupt in the early years. The number of laid-off workers across the country is also increasing year by year.

But Rongcheng avoided the first wave of impact because of its late start. At that time, everyone was quite optimistic, thinking that those affected would probably be small factories with less than 500 workers, while large factories with a thousand employees would definitely survive. The government would definitely not let large factories close down, and there would definitely be supportive policies.

No one expected that the wave of layoffs would come so quickly.

Cong Qi heard the sighs and hard feelings in her words and knowingly took her hand and squeezed it.

“It’s okay, there’s always a way out.”

“We’re at least high school students, and there’s a place for us somewhere. Don’t lose heart, keep your spirits up. As long as you keep moving forward with determination, a bright and shining future awaits you.”

She spoke with such confidence and boldness!

Paired with her vibrant and sparkling eyes, it instinctively inspires people.

Yang Xiaohong was stunned for a moment, then laughed.

Her eyes were sparkling with little starlight.

“You’re right, I’m young, what should I be afraid of! Am I supposed to believe I won’t find work without the shoe factory?”

“At worst, I can just walk around the streets collecting scraps and make ends meet. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

The two of them were talking at a normal volume, and everyone could hear what they were discussing.

When it came to layoffs, those who had already been laid off or were on the verge of it had a somber look. At this moment, the value of education and working in the private sector seemed superior.

Yuan He’s eyes fell on Cong Qi from time to time.

Upon hearing this, he saw an opportunity to express himself.

He took two deep breaths, rehearsed his tone twice in his mind, and then came over with a beer.

“It’s just a layoff. In the early stages of our country’s economic takeoff, finding the right path is much better than getting a fixed wage in a state-owned factory.”

Yang Xiaohong replied with a skeptical glance, “It’s easy to talk when you’re not the one going through it.”

Yuan He glanced at Cong Qi quickly . Her smiling eyes made his ears feel hot.

He coughed twice.

He said: “I dare to say this because I’ve thought of a solution for sure.”

As he said this, the attention of the others, who were worried about becoming unemployed, was also drawn to him.

They looked at him with anticipation, waiting to hear his insights.

“Yuan He, Boss Yuan, quickly give us some guidance, bro.”

“Yeah, don’t keep us in suspense!”

Cong Qi also grinned her big white teeth and followed everyone to cheer: “What’s your idea? Yuan He, you are the best, take everyone to fly together.”

Her foxy eyes blinked with a playful charm that left anyone who saw them entranced.

Yuan He locked eyes for no more than three seconds before quickly surrendering, shifting his gaze away.

He cleared his throat with a couple of coughs and then chugged down a mouthful of beer.

Trying to calm his heartbeats that were racing like wild, untamed horses.

“Ah, you’re flattering me too much. I’m getting embarrassed,” he said.

After finishing, he shifted his gaze to Yang Xiaohong and said, “The company I work for, Xinghai Real Estate, has been recruiting salespeople. The requirements are just a high school graduate, good communication skills, and a friendly attitude. However, the base salary for the sales position is low; it mainly relies on commissions. The company pays a 500 yuan commission for each house sold. The more you sell, the more you earn, but if you can’t sell, you only receive the base salary. The benefits may not compare to state-owned factories, but there’s another advantage: all internal employees receive discounts when buying houses.”

After hearing the first part, everyone beamed with joy.

That’s five hundred!

Upon hearing the second half of his sentence, it felt like a disappointing letdown.

“Selling houses? Is it easy to sell?”

Yuan He: “I’m not sure about other real estate sales, but it’s not difficult to sell  Xinghai property.”

“Bragging!”

Jiang Ping snorted, making it clear that she didn’t believe it.

The others didn’t speak, but they also had doubtful expressions on their faces.

Yuan He was not affected and said with joy: “Our boss started his career in coal mining. Not only is he rich, he also has a great brain. We just negotiated a cooperation with the bank last month. In the future, Xinghai real estate can be bought with a zero-down payment loan. In Rongcheng, he is the first person to take advantage of it!”

“When the advertisement is out, the house will definitely be snapped up.”

Cong Qi’s eyes widened, this is a loan!

She didn’t quite understand what a down payment was, but she understood the word loan firmly.

With a monthly salary of less than three hundred, if she saved rigorously and didn’t spend much, she could probably afford to buy two to three square meters in a prime location.

So, how much money would you owe the bank to buy a house?

Do you have to pay it for a lifetime?

What if you can’t pay it back?

Are the people eager to buy houses out of their minds?!

She looked at Yuan He, who enthusiastically praising his boss, with an expression that was hard to describe.

The expressions of the others were not much better. They just felt that Yuan He had been brainwashed so much by the company that he had started talking in his sleep.

Only Yang Xiaohong listened especially attentively, as if a drowning man had caught the driftwood³A drowning man had caught the driftwood is a figurative expression that means someone in a desperate situation has found a glimmer of hope or a potential solution to their problems. It implies that the person is clinging to any opportunity, no matter how small, to save themselves.

“Yuan He, are you serious about what you said? Is there really a future in selling houses in your company?”

Yuan He raised his chin, tugged on the collar of his suit, and showed off in a low-key manner: “This suit costs more than two hundred, but it only cost me… A quarter of the monthly salary.”

“Wow!”

“You are really prosperous.”

“It’s okay, okay, my boss is my role model.”

Yuan He glanced at Cong Qi proudly, but Cong Qi didn’t look at him, nor did she show admiration like others.

The curve of Yuan He’s mouth slowly retracted.

He touched the heart-lock bracelet he had prepared in advance, hoping that he and Cong Qi would successfully in relationships like the male and female protagonists of the TV series.

In the next two hours, everyone stopped talking about work and started talking about relationships.

Jiang Ping and Cong Qi were asked the most questions.

Yuan He had been waiting for the opportunity to confess his love. He was excited and nervous. In order to relieve the anxiety, he drank a lot of wine without knowing it.

Unfortunately, before he could mentally prepare himself to speak, another boy named Guo Hu took the lead and confessed his love to Jiang Ping while half-kneeling on the ground. Jiang Ping had obviously had a crush on Guo Hu for a long time and agreed without even half a second of hesitation.

Afterward, everyone got engrossed in gossip about when these two had started dating, completely disrupting his plans. He never got a chance to speak, and the conversation continued until they left the gathering.

Yuan He created an opportunity and suggested that he send Cong Qi home.

The others involuntarily revealed knowing and teasing smiles, and Cong Qi smelled the scent of the melon⁴Melon in this context could be referring to gossip or rumors, particularly those related to romantic or personal relationships. So, when Cong Qi says she “smelled the melon,” it could mean that she sensed or detected gossip or rumors about herself or someone else’s romantic interest. It can be a slang term related to romantic gossip., which was indeed her own.

She pretended not to see their expressions.

After all, they were old classmates. Even if she wanted to decline, there was no need to embarrass someone in front of their mutual friends. As adults, she understood this principle.

She pushed her bicycle while they walked in the direction of their old high school along the lake, chatting casually along the way.

As they were getting close to Fourth Middle School, Yuan He called out to Cong Qi.

“Cong Qi.”

“I, I have something I want to tell you.” Yuan He’s palm was sweaty, clutching the bracelet tightly.

Cong Qi sighed inwardly, here it comes!

She stopped in her tracks and carefully placed her bicycle.

She turned around, facing Yuan He directly, and after pondering for two seconds, she threw a direct question, “Are you wondering when I’ll find a boyfriend?”

Yuan He let out a surprised “Ah,” seemingly caught off guard by her directness.

Cong Qi pursed her lips and shook her head. “I don’t know, but I’m sure you’re not my type. I’d prefer to be friends with you.”

Yuan He: “….”

His confession hadn’t even started, and it was already over?

Yuan He opened and closed his mouth several times. He understood, but he wasn’t willing to accept it.

Cong Qi had many friends, and what he wanted was never just ordinary friendship.

If Cong Qi wasn’t interested in him, why would she agree to let him accompany her home in front of everyone?

In a moment of impulsiveness, Yuan He asked the sentence that would make him deeply regret later: “Is it because I’m not handsome enough, my personality isn’t good enough, or I don’t have enough money? Are you afraid I can’t take care of you, so you’re rejecting me?”

Cong Qi: “….”

!!!

???

What does that have to do with anything?

The last sentence made Cong Qi quite upset.

Her pretty face was filled with a frown.

Faced with baseless and hurtful speculations, she couldn’t tolerate it anymore.

With her hands on her hips, she scolded, “You have good qualities, and I’d be happy if you liked me.”

Seeing the surprise on Yuan He’s face, Cong Qi raised her hand to signal him not to speak and continued, “I’m happy if anyone likes me because it means I’m cute and likable. But when it comes to relationships, just because you like me, does that mean I must accept it? By that logic, my boyfriend would have to line up from my doorstep to here. If someone gets rejected by me, does that mean I’m shallow, find them lacking money or not handsome enough?”

“I’m not like that—”

“Whoa, so you mean—”

“—If one person can’t support me, I’ll just date several more so all of you together can perfectly solve the problem.”

Yuan He’s face of surprise shattered into pieces from these words and fell to the ground.

“I’m sorry, Cong Qi, I didn’t mean that, I didn’t think that way, I—”

“Ha!”

Not far away, under a street lamp, a person stood, and it was unclear when he had arrived.

This individual was tall, with broad shoulders, a slim waist, and long legs.

He’s leaning against the utility pole with one leg slightly bent, he held a cigarette in his hand.

He chuckled and glanced in this direction.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist!”

After offering the apology, the person turned and walked away.

Yuan He was left bewildered, wondering, ‘That voice… why does it sound so familiar? Where have I heard it before?’

With a loud rumble, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck from the sky.

It hit the top of Cong Qi’s head⁵It means that she was struck or shocked by something unexpected or surprising. It’s often used metaphorically to describe a sudden realization or emotional impact., causing smoke to rise, and her face blushed with embarrassment!

Her mind was filled with only one thought—

‘That voice sounded so nice; her ears were pregnant with it⁶The phrase “her ears were pregnant with it” is a humorous and figurative way of saying that she found the voice very appealing and couldn’t get it out of her mind. It’s a playful expression to emphasize how captivating or enchanting she found the voice to be.! Oh no!’

• 1
  a buyout typically refers to a situation where employees can choose to receive a lump sum payment or compensation in exchange for voluntarily leaving their jobs, often with the condition that they won’t return to work for the same employer. This can be a part of a severance package or early retirement offer. The compensation is usually intended to encourage employees to leave their positions, either to reduce staff or to encourage voluntary retirements.
• 2
  Huanglian is the Chinese name for a type of herbal medicine commonly known as “bitter melon” or “bitter gourd.” It’s used in traditional Chinese medicine for its potential health benefits, but it is known for its extremely bitter taste
• 3
  A drowning man had caught the driftwood is a figurative expression that means someone in a desperate situation has found a glimmer of hope or a potential solution to their problems. It implies that the person is clinging to any opportunity, no matter how small, to save themselves
• 4
  Melon in this context could be referring to gossip or rumors, particularly those related to romantic or personal relationships. So, when Cong Qi says she “smelled the melon,” it could mean that she sensed or detected gossip or rumors about herself or someone else’s romantic interest. It can be a slang term related to romantic gossip.
• 5
  It means that she was struck or shocked by something unexpected or surprising. It’s often used metaphorically to describe a sudden realization or emotional impact.
• 6
  The phrase “her ears were pregnant with it” is a humorous and figurative way of saying that she found the voice very appealing and couldn’t get it out of her mind. It’s a playful expression to emphasize how captivating or enchanting she found the voice to be.